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Chapter Twenty-Three: Hogsmeade

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in. I had spent most of my Hogwarts career wanting to avoid Oliver Wood and there he stood, asking me to go to Hogsmeade with him. Strangely enough, my gut instinct wasn't to say no…in fact, it was rather the opposite.

I looked at Oliver, straight in the eye and said," I suppose I could make an exception…but right now Madame Pomfrey is probably already planning to murder me for being late so…I'll see you in detention."

He smiled," See you there."

I walked away smiling.

Wait, smiling?

I had to stop myself…this wasn't supposed to be a date. What had I just signed myself up for? After several moments of not doing anything and simply staring off into space, I took a few steps forward and continued walking to the medical wing.

I tried to keep mum about the trip to Hogsmeade. In fact, I didn't tell any of my friends, but I knew I would have to eventually because all of them typically stayed at the castle during the trips and would notice if I didn't show up. Therefore, my story was that on Tuesday Professor Snape had kept me for a prolonged detention session and I wouldn't be able to see any of them.

This worked on most of them, but Benjamin was the main one was a little leery.

"So, you're telling me he's keeping you from a Hogsmeade trip?" He asked as we walked toward the common room.

"Benjamin, don't act too surprised. Honestly, it's Professor Snape," I lied through my teeth, looking straight at him.

"It's just a little odd is all," He added with a simple shrug of his shoulder.

Eventually, I pulled the conversation off of the trip and onto other small talk. Holly was similar, but I was able to seamlessly cover the tracks without too much difficulty. It wasn't until Tuesday morning that the nerves kicked in as I woke up early to get ready for the trip. It took some careful walking to get myself up and ready before rushing down to the Great Hall.

Just as I ran through the doors where the gathering was ready to leave, my heart nearly stopped beating.

Benjamin and Anna were standing at the front of the group with their backs turned to me. Quickly, I tried to hide myself in the crowd and it was as soon as I hid behind a boy in Gryffindor attire that I was noticed.

"Lana?" He asked and I was paying him little attention.

"Yeah?" I answered, not even looking.

"Are you…hiding from someone?" He asked, but my eyes were still glued to the couple at the front, how had I forgot to ask if he was going?

"I-um," It was at this moment that I looked up to meet eyes with Oliver Wood. Nearly instantly, I swallowed and stood up straight. "No, not at all-"

"Lana, for some reason I don't believe that," He answered, looking at me much like a parent would their child.

I sighed and looked away as Professor McGonagall gathered the students together. There was no point in lying to him as I did the others.

"Listen, I tried to keep this down low, alright? I didn't tell any of my friends that I was coming with you and I sort of lied to Benjamin and Anna. I apologize its not fair to you really or-"

"It doesn't bother me, Lana," He interrupted strongly, looking straight at me.

I blinked several times as I studied his face," What?"

"I didn't tell anyone either. It's really just a big drama isn't it? I mean you tell people and they automatically assume your planning a wedding right? It doesn't bother me. We can avoid them best as possible," He said, smirking as we followed the back end of the crowd.

Had he really just said what I thought he did? If so, then I most certainly respected him quite a bit more.

Realizing that he had just said that due to the incredibly awkward silence that followed, I looked up at him and smiled," Well, I'm glad you think the same way I do of it."

He shrugged," It's only common sense right?"

Again, I smirked," I suppose. And its only slightly anti-social and detrimental to having friends in the first place…but-"

"We can ignore that part for now," He said, still smirking as we walked by Professor McGonagall, handing her our forms as we did so. "Plus, no one really needs friends anyways right?"

"So, friends are…overrated?" I asked, good-humouredly.

"Clearly. There are more important things in life than friends," He continued joking all the while as I shook my head at the ridiculousness of this conversation.

"Says the Quidditch-obsessed captain? If the shoe fits…"

He rolled his eyes," Okay, everyone says that, but I swear there's more to me than just that."

I raised a brow as we continued walking. About this time, we watched a group of Slytherins walk by us on the trail. At their front was none other than Marcus Flint, who was glaring terribly at the both of us. I noticed a blonde-haired boy at the end of their group; he couldn't have been any older than a first year. In fact, I believe he was a Malfoy, but I couldn't place his first name.

I was expecting some sort of a smart aleck comment, but seeing as all of them were simply glaring….it was not nearly as intimidating as it was awkward.

After they passed, I looked to Oliver with a furrowed brow," Was that supposed to be…"

"Intimidating? Because I am certainly shaking now," He joked as we both laughed whilst walking along, by this point we were already half-way to Hogsmeade.

I laughed at this," As am I."

And with that conversation with my detention mate flowed quite flawlessly. I surprised myself several times when I reminded myself that this was the one whom I couldn't stand before. This was the one who exploded our Potions experiments and nearly got both of us kicked from the class. As we walked through the shops, ate at the Three Broomsticks, and simply enjoyed conversation while all the while keeping a close eye on Anna and Benjamin who seemed to disappear midway through the trip…not that I was complaining.

Our conversation drifted back to Potions and detention that was finally coming to a close soon.

"I never liked Potions to begin with," Oliver told me as we walked through the brisk fall air, watching the others waltz from store to store.

"Then why did you opt for the second year?" I asked, genuinely curious.

He looked down clearly embarrassed," It's really just academic stuff."

I could tell by the way he instantly turned off to conversation that this was not a topic to speak of at this moment. I cleared my throat before trying to shift the conversation off of the potions class.

"We all have classes we don't like," I added before saying. "I suppose that when you're as dedicated as you are to Quidditch, then the others don't really matter much anyways. How is the Quidditch team doing?"

Even though I knew Oliver a tad better, I still knew this question was a dangerous one with him. Sure enough, I got him off the subject from before, but I apparently signed up for a long, mundane spiel about every single player and their personal attributes. I hadn't the slightest clue what any of the terms meant, but I tried to follow best as I could.

"Sorry, did I…do it again?" He asked after a lengthy talk.

"Do what?" I asked, trying to sound oblivious.

"You know what. I have a tendency to ramble about Quidditch,"He said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

I swallowed before looking back to him," Only a bit, but it wasn't that intolerable."

"You're being modest," He said.

"At least I'm learning something," I said, still not directly denying or confirming his statement.

"You genuinely don't know that much about Quidditch?" He asked, his instincts coming out.

"Not particularly. I once received a broom for my birthday, but I never necessarily used it much," I answered as the day started to grow late and the Hogwarts students started gathering at the back of the village.

His jaw nearly dropped to the ground," You at least know how to fly it. Right?"

"Not well," I admitted.

In all honesty, my family's drama had distracted me from any sort of flying that I used to enjoy with my father.

He stopped walking," I'll teach you."

"I'm not asking for flying lessons, but thank you anyways," I said cordially, being completely honest with him.

He was adamant," I'm serious, Lana. It's ridiculous that you claim to not be able to fly well."

I shook my head and crossed my arms as I stared right into his brown eyes," And I'm just as serious when I say I don't have a desire to."

He sighed and I could tell that it was eating him that I didn't show any concern about this meager trait. We walked in silence for several moments before he stopped again and pointed to me," I'll make a bet with you."

I rolled my eyes," Really?"

"Really. If you get the higher test score on the next Potions test…no lessons and I won't talk about Quidditch for the next week after in class…but I get the higher score, then you learn how to fly like a Quidditch player," He offered, raising a brow at me.

I furrowed my brow as I stared back at him. Between the two of us we knew who was more skilled in the department of Potions and test-taking. I didn't mean to be arrogant, but it seemed to be a rather unfair deal on his end. Nevertheless, if it pleased him and shut him up about my lack of flying, then I certainly would take him up on it.

I offered my hand," You're on."

"Very well then," He answered.

Just after, Professor McGonagall made an announcement for all the students to gather at the front city gate. We made our way to the front and as we reached it, my heart once more nearly stopped beating as I saw who was looking at me eye-to-eye.

Benjamin.

I swallowed hard and looked at Oliver. We may have failed in camouflaging ourselves.

A/N: Sorry for the delay, but here's your Hogsmeade chapter :D Let me know what you're thinking!