At Long Last Peace
Oliver wiped the sweat off his brow as he balanced on his broom, watching as the chasers moved down the field in formation. The closer they got to him, the more tense his body got, his focus zeroing in on the quaffle as they tossed it back and forth at lightning speed. A small smile came over his face as he recognized the chaser in the lead and knew exactly which hoop he was going to aim for, even at this distance. He leaned forward, gripping his broom tightly and hovering just below the middle hoop, waiting and ready to make his move.
Flint always was rubbish at hiding his tells from Oliver. Though they did have several years of experience playing against each other, so it wasn't as though it was difficult. Helped that Oliver was easily one of the better keepers in the British and Irish Quidditch League. Not just anyone could predict plays or scores like he could.
His teammates were constantly asking what his secret was, and he constantly infuriated them by replying it was hours of practice and conditioning. As though there were a magical spell he used. The idea of it made Oliver laugh.
And there was the fact that a lot of it came from the fact that he watched a lot of quidditch matches when he wasn't playing. Had devoted a good portion of his life to the game. And his friends certainly had a lot to say about that. Most of which Oliver conveniently ignored. Especially when it came to them teasing him about his lack of a love life.
The chasers came closer and closer, but Oliver stayed still, the only thing moving his eyes. At the last second, he shot over to the left, catching the quaffle easily. A smug grin came over his face as he tossed it up in the air and caught it a few times.
"Gonna have to try harder than that to get passed me," he shouted before throwing it back through the air. Flint caught it easily as well, a dark look on his face.
"Knock it off, Wood!" Wilda Griffiths shouted, though she was smiling. "You're teammates now! Stop trying to rile him up!" Oliver kept smirking until Flint finally smiled slightly and chuckled.
"At least I'm not playing against you anymore," he said before tossing the quaffle over to Griffiths.
"Suppose there's that," Oliver admitted.
"Alright you lot, bring it in!" the coach shouted. The team flew down and landed in the center of the pitch and waited. Coach Smithers walked up and looked around the group. "That was a good practice, though we need to tighten up a bit." He looked at the three chasers. "I want those formations flawless. No room for anyone to get in." He then looked at Oliver. "Nice saves. Keep the speed up…" He went through a few more notes before nodding. "Alright, hit the showers and I'll see you lot tomorrow." He then turned and walked off.
The team started back to the locker room, Flint falling into step with Oliver.
"Nearly got that last one through," Flint said. Oliver chuckled and glanced at him.
"Not nearly," he replied. Flint frowned. "Going to need to bring up your speed. But not like you need it against me. Certainly, ready for the Falcons, though." Flint snorted slightly.
"Like I'd have to try that hard. Their keeper's shite," he retorted. "You saw how many he let through in their last match with the Magpies. It'll be a joke when we play them."
"Aye, but every so often he's got a good move or two in him," Oliver replied. "Might happen to have his rare good game with us."
"There we are. From rivals to teammates," Roger Davies said, coming up from behind them with a bright grin on his face. "Only took a season to get you lot to stop fighting in the locker room."
Both Flint and Wood shot him annoyed looks.
Yes, it had taken the better part of a season to get them to stop glowering at each other and making snide remarks. But they certainly hadn't been brawling in the Puddlemere locker room. Well… not after the first few months. After they had nearly started slugging each other the sixth time. Smithers had threatened to suspend them until Griffiths had the idea of locking them in the locker room until they worked things out with their words rather than their fists.
It had taken the entire night and most of the next day, but they finally talked through some things and got to the point where they wouldn't kill each other. Taken a fair bit longer for the two to become cordial on a daily basis.
But it seemed that finally - once and for all - the feud between Oliver Wood of Gryffindor and Marcus Flint of Slytherin had come to an end. Though you wouldn't hear either call the other best friend. Or even friend, really. But at least they were no longer at each other's throats.
Their respective friends considered it a miracle second only to the fall of Voldemort.
"Stop it," Griffiths said, playfully shoving Davies aside. "No one needs your cheek today."
"What cheek? I don't have cheek!" Davies declared loudly, causing most of the team to roll their eyes. The chaser annoyed them more often than not. And certainly more than Wood and Flint's incessant fighting had. At least they could place bets on that.
They kept walking into the locker room, each player going to their locker and starting to strip down.
"Thank Merlin it's nearly the weekend," the seeker, Maddie O'Connell, said with a happy sigh as she moved to pull off her practice robe. "Don't know about you lot, but I'm intending to enjoy it."
"You enjoy every weekend," one of the beaters, Miles Pendleton, shouted at her with a grin.
"And usually you're right there enjoying it with me," she replied with a wink, her green eyes dancing.
"Oi, lay off, you two. It's bad enough I have to walk in on you every other day snogging in the locker room," Davies shouted, frowning at the pair. Oliver just chuckled and shook his head as the seeker and beater gave him dirty looks.
He was of the mind that the two should save it for one of their flats as well, but he knew how wicked Maddie's right hook was.
"I have no idea what you're referring to," Maddie said primly as she pulled her jersey off and tossed it into her locker. Though she shot another wink to Pendleton as she shimmied out of her trousers.
"You're just jealous, is all," Pendleton replied. Davies rolled his eyes.
"I've got a date this weekend, if you must know," he replied haughtily.
"With who? Your hand?" Maddie asked lightly. Davies cheeks turned red as he scowled at her.
"What are you up to, Wood?" White then asked, diverting the conversation before Davies said something that would earn him another black eye.
"Just resting up, I suppose," he replied as he continued to get undressed. "Might catch some matches."
"We rarely get entire free weekends and you're seriously going to fill it with quidditch?" Maddie asked him, her eyes wide. Oliver chuckled. He wasn't sure just why she was shocked. It's not like he had done much differently in all the years they had been playing together.
If he wasn't playing in a match, he was in the players box watching one. Had to stay up on all the other teams' plays and all.
"Should have seen him in school," Flint said. Oliver narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked over at the chaser. "Much worse."
"Alright, so just what are you up to this weekend?" Oliver asked, turning to look at him. Flint shrugged.
"Usual. Out with the lads," he replied, still getting undressed. "Pucey's got this new club he wants to try."
Figured. If Marcus Flint wasn't playing in a match, he was out with Pucey, Warrington or Higgs – or all three – picking up women at some hot new club or bar. He had always been a bit of a ladies' man at school and that had only continued and increased since then.
"Should take Wood with you. Perhaps he could finally find a woman to distract him from quidditch," Pendleton said. Oliver turned to glare at the beater as Davies laughed loudly.
"That'll be the day. When Wood and Flint go out on the prowl together… Merlin...," he said, trying to catch his breath.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Oliver griped, now frowning at him.
While he didn't say anything, Marcus had also turned his dark eyes to the chaser, a curious look on his face as though he were daring Davies to continue. Davies took in both of their expressions and stopped laughing immediately, gulping.
"Nothing," he said, turning back to his locker.
"Wood on the prowl… that'll be the day," Griffiths said, smirking at him. "Merlin knows, he'd probably date a quaffle if it were possible." Oliver just sighed and shook his head. Wasn't the first time he had heard that line. He was long used to it. Though he sometimes wished they would come up with something new. "And Flint, well… we all know your type…"
"Now, what's that supposed to mean?" Flint shot at the team captain who chuckled softly.
"Let me see… tall, blonde and busty, I believe. The dumber the better," Maddie said, pulling her long red hair out of her bun.
"Do not," Flint said.
"That's what your last three birds have been," White added.
"And the ones you dated at Hogwarts," Davies continued. "In fact, the only brunette I think I ever saw you talk to was-" He stopped speaking when he saw the glower that the chaser was sending him. "Nevermind," he squeaked, turning back to his locker.
"Alright, I know I played along, but enough. Let's not hurt poor Wood and Flint's feelings," Griffiths said as she pulled on a robe and grabbed her towel. She winked at the two as she walked by.
"I do not have a type!" Flint shouted. Griffiths just snorted in response.
"You do too. So does Wood - any girl who can talk quidditch more than he can," White said as he started towards the men's showers. "And as she doesn't exist, we now understand why he's perpectually single."
"That is not fair," Wood shouted after him.
"It's accurate," Pendleton said. Oliver sputtered a bit as the others continued to laugh on their way to the showers. He turned and looked at Flint, who was tossing a towel over his shoulder.
"I don't… that's not," he stopped. Flint just chuckled and shook his head.
"Whatever," he replied.
Oliver couldn't help but stew throughout his shower and then as he got dressed.
He was not obsessed with quidditch. He had had girlfriends. Dated. Just he hadn't met many women that kept his fancy for long. No one seemed quite right. Was that such a bad thing? Waiting to meet the right person?
"Wouldn't let it bother you," Marcus said quietly, glancing around at the others. Oliver looked over at him, eyes wide. It wasn't like him to be offering Oliver any sort of comfort.
"Doesn't. Been hearing it for years," Oliver said as he finished tying up his trainers. Marcus just chuckled as he slung his team bag over his shoulder. Oliver followed him the two walking out of the locker room together.
"You could join us this weekend, if you want," Marcus offered. "Usually a fair amount of lovely birds out wherever Pucey drags me."
"I really am going to catch a few matches. And well… got plans tomorrow," Oliver said. Before he could say more, a cheerful blonde woman bounced up to the two, throwing her arms around Oliver's neck.
"There you are, Wood. Been looking all over for you," she said, a bright grin on her face. She then looked over. "Hiya, Flint."
"Bell," he replied, smiling slightly. The bright healer tended to have that effect on everyone. She turned her attention back to Oliver as she let go of him.
"Just wanted to remind you about tomorrow. Don't be late," she said. "It's a big deal."
"Hadn't forgotten," he replied. She grinned and then kissed him on the cheek before turning and walking off, her medic robes flowing behind her.
"See you at 7 pm, sharp!" she called out over her shoulder.
"So that's why you were so bothered. You do have a date, don't you?" Marcus asked, grinning slightly. "Been wondering when you'd get around to asking Bell out." Oliver snorted as they started walking down the corridor again.
"Kates? Merlin, no," he replied. "Been friends far too long for that sort of thing... Her cousin just moved back in town and we're all going out tomorrow. Used to hang out back in Hogwarts."
Marcus stopped, a look of concentration coming over his face.
"Bell's cousin?" he asked. Oliver chuckled.
"Yea, she's got several… You don't remember Adam, Bernard, Charlie and Lottie Bell?" Oliver asked as he stopped and looked back at him. "Adam and Bernard were in Gryffindor - few years older. But Charlie and Lottie were in our year. Ravenclaw. Lottie moved to the US just after we left school and has just come back. That's who we're all meeting tomorrow."
A look of recognition came over Marcus' face as a face entered his mind.
"Smelly Bells?" he asked, looking over at Wood. Oliver chuckled and nodded.
"Merlin, can't believe you still call her that," he said,starting to walk again. Marcus caught up to him. "It was one mishap in second year potions."
"Can't help it. It stuck," Marcus said. "Didn't really help herself, did she? Always walking around in those horrid glasses and such…"
The poor girl had practically painted a target on her back, from what Flint remembered. Wasn't like he and his friends had been the only one to tease her. Even some Hufflepuffs had gotten in on it. Though looking back, he couldn't help but feel a bit bad about it. She had been rather kind. Quiet.
Unfortunately, she blushed far too easily, and he had enjoyed seeing it fly over her face a bit too much.
"Not like she didn't bathe or actually smelled," Oliver said, thinking back to their school days. He always thought Lottie had been a nice girl. Intelligent, but quiet. Shy. Though she had a love for quidditch that rivaled his own. Unfortunately, she had never tried out for the Ravenclaw team, too nervous to even consider it. Now that he thought about it, she was rather skittish.
"She was far too easy to tease," Marcus said.
"Tease?" Oliver said with a slight snort. "She was terrified of you." Marcus frowned.
"I wasn't that bad," he said. "Just… didn't waste the opportunity when it came up. Came up a lot."
"Thank Merlin you grew out of that," Oliver said. Marcus chuckled and nodded.
"Suppose you're right," he replied. "So… Lottie Bell… Smelly Bells… what's she been up to? And how did she end up in the US?" Oliver shrugged.
"Ehm… not sure. Lost track of her, to be honest. Though Kates has kept in touch. Been over to visit her a fair bit. Think she still keeps in touch with Penny Clearwater too," Oliver said, his brow furrowed. "Suppose I'll find out tomorrow." He glanced over at Marcus. "Care to join us?"
Marcus snorted.
"As much as I would love spending the evening with a load of Gryffindors," he drawled. "I've got plans, if you remember."
"Right… the lovely birds and all… Fair enough," Oliver said. "See you tomorrow." Marcus nodded as Oliver stepped up to the apparition point. He waved at his teammate and then pulled out his wand, thinking of his home before disappearing with a pop.
So I wasn't about to let this idea go to waste. Started on this one just after I finished "Love By Another Name" and almost halfway through writing it and got all of it planned out. Hope you guys enjoy! It's just a fun little rom-com.
Thanks for reading!