The next day, Friday, Gwen and Oliver spent their afternoon free period in the Room of Requirement. These "free periods" really were not as "free" as they thought they would be. More often than not, they used them to work on homework. Today, Gwen was writing an essay for Potions and Oliver was trying to translate something for Ancient Runes.
"C'mon, Gwen, it's Friday," Oliver whined. "Can't we do this later?"
"You have a Quidditch match tomorrow morning," Gwen told him. "It's better to get this done now. You'll be tired tomorrow night, and you'll have less to do Sunday."
He moved from his couch to hers, setting his work on the table between the two.
"But we can do our homework after dinner tonight, in the common room." One of his hands rubbed her shoulder and she tilted her head to the side. She knew this mood well. Now that he was closer, it started to affect her.
"It's Friday afternoon, and we have the room all to ourselves," he said in her ear.
She swallowed and bit her lip. "We have an hour before dinner." A simple fact.
"That's plenty of time," Oliver said.
"For what?" Gwen answered, trying not to laugh.
"For... you know..." He reached up and removed the clip from her hair, letting it fall loose. Gwen set her work materials on the table, then turned around and straddled his lap. "Well, that didn't take much convincing."
"Actually, I had something else in mind."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you're thinking a little too far ahead." She looked down as he reached for his belt buckle and gently pulled his hand away. He was definitely confused now. His condition only worsened when she leaned in and kissed him.
"Wait... so, what's going on?" he asked when she pulled her lips away. "If you're teasing, that's not very nice."
She chuckled. "If Gryffindor wins the match-"
"When Gryffindor wins the match," he corrected.
"Fine. When Gryffindor wins the match against Slytherin, I will meet you in the locker room after everyone leaves..."
"And..." he supplied eagerly.
"And then you can score again." She laughed softly at how silly that sounded.
"I like the sound of that," he said, settling back into the couch. "But what about now?"
"I'm afraid you'll have to keep your trousers on. Ooh, don't make that face! Think of it as an incentive for playing your best."
"But I always play my best." His hands held her hips and she slipped her hands to the back of his neck. "I'll make sure everyone else plays his best." He licked his lips and looked up at her.
Gwen gave him a small smile and leaned in again, pressing her lips to his. His tongue slid into her mouth and he rubbed her hips. She slithered down onto her back, pulling Oliver on top of her; she wanted to see how well he could contain himself. Her knees were still on either side of him and he pushed himself against her, as expected. His hands remained on her hips, though. He started kissing her neck, and over his shoulder Gwen tried to focus on the grandfather clock in the corner as it struck half past the hour.
"Dinner," she said vaguely. Oliver made some indistinguishable questioning reply. "We have to... drop our bags off at the tower before dinner." Oliver's hands moved a little higher. "Ooh, all right, five more minutes." His mouth found hers again and she lost herself until she heard the clock strike a quarter to five.
"Damn you, Oliver," she muttered, sitting up and trying to make her hair look neat.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"We're going to be late for dinner, that's what."
"You know you can't fool me. You were enjoying yourself, and you're really not annoyed. So stop pretending." He stuck his tongue out at her.
A smile broke loose on her lips. Ooh, damn him. With a wave of her wand, Gwen's homework returned to her bag, and she straightened her clothes. "We have to hurry."
"A little help here?" Oliver was waving his wand about, trying to copy her trick, but only succeeded in causing red and gold sparks to fly out the end. Gwen shook her head and did it for him, lowering his wand arm. Shouldering their bags, they set off for Gryffindor tower through the secret passageways used the day before.
Gwen and Oliver walked into the Great Hall just before five o' clock and took their seats across from Fred and George.
"You two sure spend a lot of time 'studying' in the Room of Requirement," Fred said quietly.
"It's quieter in there than the common room," Oliver answered.
"If you want quiet, there's no place more quiet than the library," George challenged.
"But we can't talk in the library," Gwen said.
"Oh, so you talk, do you?" Fred raised an eyebrow. Gwen shot him a look that made him raise his hands defensively.
"So, Gwen, what made you rush out of the common room with purple hair last night?" George asked. "Ron's friend Hermione said you were practicing Transfiguration, and then you just ran out without a word."
"It was nothing," she answered, looking down at her plate again. The twins looked to Oliver, who didn't meet their gaze either.
"Riiight," Fred said.
"So, I suppose it had nothing to do with Katie's return to the common room 20 minutes after you left, mumbling something about 'ruining everything'?" George asked.
"If I thought it was necessary to share everything with you, I would," Gwen said, staring fixedly at her plate, her palms flat on the table.
The rest of the meal passed in an uneasy silence, and Gwen finished her work in the common room afterward. Later that night, she headed to bed, ignoring the stares of her roommates.
Gwen woke early Saturday morning, meaning about eight o'clock, knowing that Oliver was already up and about, probably already in his Quidditch robes. She pulled herself out of bed, showered, and dressed, wrapping a Gryffindor scarf around her neck. Reaching the Great Hall by eight forty-five, she found the whole Quidditch team at the Gryffindor table. None of them were talking, and Oliver was filled with a grim determination. He was so preoccupied that he didn't notice when she sat down next to him. It must be the Slytherin brooms, she thought.
Before piling her plate with eggs, she placed a soft kiss on Oliver's cheek. He seemed to be staring at something far off and his lips moved slightly as though he were working through a decision. Quidditch strategy. Halfway through her breakfast, Oliver turned to Gwen.
"Oh, good morning," he said blandly.
"Good morning, love," she replied with a wide smile, kissing his cheek again. "Hey, check this out." She pointed her wand at her black school robes to Transfigure them into scarlet Quidditch robes.
"Fantastic." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, and kissed her temple. She rested her head on his shoulder and let him return to his ponderings.
More students entered the Great Hall for breakfast, whispering as they stared between the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables. The team in emerald green looked smug with their sleek brooms leaning against the benches next to them. At 10:15, Oliver rose from the table, the rest of the team following suit.
"I have to go," Oliver said. "We need to do some last minute preparations." He bent down and Gwen held the side of his face as he kissed her before leading his team to the pitch.
Long since finished with breakfast, Gwen slid down to talk to Hermione and Ron.
"Does Wood think they'll win today?" Ron asked. "I've seen those Two Thousand Ones in action."
"Oliver is as confident in his team as ever," Gwen replied. And he'll make sure they win.
"Gwen, I've noticed your robes," Hermione said.
"Oh, yes." Before she could explain her appearance, she was interrupted.
"Miss Pennington?" Gwen turned to see Professor McGonagall and rose from the bench. "Have you borrowed Wood's extra Quidditch robes?"
"No, Professor. Actually, I Transfigured my normal school robes." Gwen changed them back to black, and then again made them scarlet, smiling nervously.
"Excellent show of house pride, and magnificent Transfiguration work. Five points for Gryffindor." She gave Gwen a small smile. "You three had better run along if you want good seats."
"Yes, Professor." She walked away and Gwen led the two second years to the pitch, looking quite pleased with herself.
The three managed to squeeze into the front row of the Gryffindor section, then Ron and Hermione ran down to wish Harry luck before the game. They returned a few minutes later, settling in for the match. The teams came out of the locker rooms, and Gryffindor was met with loud cheers. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff wanted Slytherin beaten. Formalities required the two captains to shake hands, and Gwen rubbed her palm before letting the veil fall between her and Oliver.
The air was muggy for November, causing Gwen to loosen the scarf around her neck, and she could smell rain approaching. Madam Hooch blew the whistle and fourteen players soared upward. Tensions always ran high when Gryffindor played Slytherin, but the addition of the Two Thousand Ones added to the heavy atmosphere.
It wasn't long before rain started to fall. Luckily, Oliver had trained his team in all types of weather, so this was nothing new for them. There did seem to be an unusual problem, though. One of the two Bludgers repeatedly attacked Harry, no matter how hard Fred and George tried to deflect it. Bludgers never concentrated on one person, but instead tried to strike as many people as possible. The twins were so busy protecting Harry, they couldn't watch the other Bludger, and it showed. Not to mention the speed of the new Slytherin brooms. Slytherin led sixty to zero, and Oliver called a time out at George's request. They obviously thought someone had tampered with the rogue Bludger.
Gwen watched Madam Hooch approach Oliver and ask if the Gryffindors were ready to resume play. There seemed to be some sort of disagreement, but the match continued. The rain started falling harder as Harry was left to fight the Bludger on his own. From behind, Hagrid's big pink umbrella sheltered Ron and Hermione, and Gwen managed to squeeze in with them. Harry looked like he was training for some sort of broom ballet in his efforts to dodge the Bludger, soaring, diving, and twirling. Suddenly he stopped, but it cost him dearly. The rogue Bludger slammed into his elbow, nearly knocking him off his broom. Gwen was afraid he would fall, but he soon righted himself and took off toward... Malfoy?
People gasped and yelled as the Gryffindor Seeker dove for the ground, tumbling off his broom. The crowd slowly realized that he had caught the Snitch, and didn't just faint, and a deafening roar rose to congratulate the victors. Gwen and her housemates made a mad dash for the field and crowded around Harry, lying flat on his back in the grass, eyes closed. Oliver found her quickly.
"We won," he said brightly, covered with mud.
"Hang on a minute," Gwen laughed. "How's Harry?"
"Arm's broken. But we won! Let's go."
"Oliver." Gwen gave him a flat look before pulling him toward Harry, and they both become worried when Lockhart appeared, the Seeker obviously protesting his presence. To make matters worse, Colin Creevey showed up, snapping photos of Harry. Lockhart tried to persuade Harry to let him fix his arm, but Harry only became more agitated, asking to be taken to the hospital wing.
"He should really, Professor," Oliver said, grinning now that he was reminded of the win. "Great capture, Harry, really spectacular, your best yet, I'd say."
"Stand back," Lockhart said. Gwen got a bad feeling in her stomach, thinking someone should fetch Madam Pomfrey, but she was caught in the throng. She gripped Oliver's arm as Harry looked away, closing his eyes tightly. The people closest gasped and Lockhart began making excuses for his blunder. Harry's arm looked like rubber.
"Now can we go?" Oliver asked in a low voice, anxious for Gwen to fulfill her end of the bargain.
"Now we have to go visit Harry in the infirmary."
"But you promised-"
"I know I did. But as captain, it is your duty to look after the well being of your team members."
He threw his head back and groaned in frustration, then sighed heavily. Luckily the crowd had moved off since Ron and Hermione escorted Harry away.
The Gryffindor team got together and scrounged up sweets and pumpkin juice- mostly from Fred and George, who knew how to sneak into the kitchens. Everyone settled in around Harry's bed.
"Unbelievable flying, Harry," George said. "I've just seen Marcus Flint yelling at Malfoy. Something about having the Snitch on top of his head and not noticing. Malfoy didn't seem too happy."
Fred opened a bottle of pumpkin juice just as Madam Pomfrey stormed out of her office. "This boy needs rest, he's got thirty-three bones to re-grow! Out! OUT!"
Anxious to avoid the nurse's wrath, everyone scrambled out of the infirmary. The eight other Gryffindors headed up to the tower, but Gwen led Oliver to the Room of Requirement.
"Finally," he said. "It's starting to get painful, you know."
"Good thing I want to be a Healer then," she replied with a wink. "But you need a proper shower first."
After pacing up and down three times in careful thought, Gwen opened the door and pulled Oliver into what looked like the Quidditch locker rooms.
"A shower?" he whined. "What's the point? I'm just going to get all sweaty again. And I don't want to wait any more."
"Who said anything about waiting?"