Sorry this is so late. I forgot completely about a vacation to see my sister this weekend, and me even getting on the computer for personal purposes (aka to post a notice that there wouldn't be one Saturday) would've caused major problems. But here ya go - enjoy. :)

So far, camping has turned out to be an unmitigated disaster - that's right, I went there. A disaster without mitigation. And we haven't even left yet - we're waiting for his royal highness Wood to finish taking role, which will be followed by a rule briefing, and then we'll actually be going on our three-hour hike to the spot.

All the prefects and other sorts of officially-trusted students have been paired up. We're supposed to be deciding who will be stationed where around the students so that we can help get the hike underway once his royal highness has finished. We're also supposed to be carrying a bunch of extra gear, in addition to our own stuff for the weekend.

Take all that, add in the fact that it's seven thirty and Professor Wiggins gave me a ten-inch essay on some weird Draught I've never heard of last night due Monday, and it all adds up to me hating camping. Really, this year has just become a year of hating everything that crosses my path - slime, Wood, Tom, Brendon, Wiggins, dirty floors, moving before eight o'clock, and of course brooms.

I think last year I hated a total of Wiggins, slime, and dirty floors - Brendon was nice to me when I was dating Tom. Not the freaky, slightly deranged boy who is eying me up almost continuously in the hallways. Not that I'm special, or anything close to his only flame - I'm just finally available, and any available girl under three billion kilograms makes his pants twitch.

Ginny was taking care of getting us a spot, as she was my partner, and I trusted her judgment. That, and I pity her for the rough year she's been having, what with her boyfriend going into hiding and leaving her in a widow-like-state. She deserves to walk where she wants in the group hike, among other privileges.

She smiled over at me, giving me a thumbs up - I guess we got the spot we wanted. I glanced at the board hovering in front of us to see that we were in the back, away from the prying eyes of teachers and most of the students. Well, if she wants to be a recluse.

"And now I'll need someone to come up and help me make some demonstrations. Any volunteers?"

Wood looked hopefully into the crowd, and I glanced up at him - what the hell does he need to be demonstrating? Alright kids, here's how you PROPERLY sneak out into the woods to have sex with me. I smirked to myself at my own joke - I really cheer myself up.

"Darling volunteers," Some girl called obnoxiously from the middle of the student-group. Like hell I do... Wood glanced at me hopefully, and I shot him a glare.

"Uh, no, no, I don't think that was her."

Wood's stuttering? Oh God, he's dying a painful death up there, isn't he? Why wasn't I watching? I'm such an idiot, not watching as my new-found mortal enemy dies in front of a crowd due to stress. I'm off my game.

I felt a sharp poke in my side, and glanced over to see Ginny giving me a sad look. What does she...? Oh no, no way. "Go help him out."

"No," I whispered back at her, as Wood questioned people, "He's doing fine."

"He doesn't know how to talk to older teenagers - he's only comfortable with the younger children. Help him out."

"If you're so concerned with his being hung out to dry, then you go help him."

"I can't, it's complicated."

My brow furrowed, It's complicated? What does she mean it's complicated... Complicated usually means... no, no way. Not in any way, shape, or possible half-form di- "Darling, did I hear you say something?"

My jaw dropped a little, and I glanced between Ginny's puppy dog eyes and Wood's flushed face. Oh, come on, at least it isn't publically complicated with you, Ginny. Don't do this to m- "I'll come help you out," I gave in to Ginny's all but trembling lip.

Really, I thought Ginny was this strong, tomboyish Gryffindor. She can't suck up some weird relationship bull to help out her brother's friend? And what about Potter? Rumor has it she's liked him since second year, but... AGH! NOW I'M ALL CONFUSED!

Wood seemed generally surprised as I stood, glaring at Ginny before the students parted like the Red Sea to let me help out my rumored-lover. God, I hate Ginny's sad little lip, I thought as I looked back at her to see her smiling happily.

"Now, what we're most worried about are trolls. You can usually hear them coming, but if you happen to stumble upon one, then there are some very specific steps you'll want to follow. First and foremost, secure your wand in your hand. Darling, please demonstrate."

I looked at him oddly, reaching into my back pocket and holding my wand up into the air, "Look! My wand is firmly placed in my hand!"

Some students laughed, and Wood smiled thankfully at the sound, and probably reveling in the fact that they weren't laughing at his foolishness, "After that, you'll want to get safe. Darling."

Oh, come on, give me something to work with. We're standing in the middle of a lawn. I finally decided to walk in a nice loop and hide behind Wood - having a human shield counts as being safe, right? Definitely. Especially if it's someone as inconsequential as Wood.

"Cute, Darling, cute," Wood commented dryly.

"I thought so," I replied, taking a firm hold of his shoulders and throwing him around about a bit.

I could hear him chuckle as I gave him one final shake, "And then you want to call to me."

"Want me to demonstrate that one?"

"No, I think we all know how to shout. In the event that I'm too far away to hear you, shoot up red sparks for a troll, blue sparks for any other creature, and green if you need any medical attention. Does everyone understand that?" After a choir of 'yes' and 'whatever,' Wood clapped his hands and told everyone to start for the woods, following him. He smiled, patting me on the back as everyone started to walk off in the general direction of the woods, "Thanks."

I stood there in shock for a second, letting all the other students pass me by. Did he really just thank me? I could almost feel Ginny's happiness radiating from her body, though, as she hugged me from behind, "You are a good person."

"Yeah, yeah," I yawned at her, "We're going to talk about why I'm such a good person, later."

"Alright, everyone," Wood called from his spot near the front of the group, "It's time for a break!"

I groaned as I let my pack fall to the ground, my butt following it. "Really," I told Ginny as she sat down gracefully beside me, "We're a freaking school for magic. Why the hell can't we just magically float the packs there? Would it really be too much to ask?"

"I think McGonagall wanted us to carry them for the experience. Make us appreciate the struggles of living a Muggle life."

"She just hates us cause we wanted to be cool and do something other than a feast," I retorted. Ginny snorted at me, and I looked over at her, "So, why is it complicated with you and Wood."

"He and my brothers had a bit of a falling out, and I was caught in the middle of it all," she said, not exactly easily, but because she knew she owed it to me.

My brow furrowed, No, no, they really didn't... "Were they fighting because you guys..."

Ginny's eyes went wide as she met my gaze, "God, no! No, I don't know why they fought, but I was the closest friend Wood had besides the twins, but George and Fred are my brothers."

It went without saying that Ginny meant that she'd been Wood's closest friend at the Order. As an ex-member of Dumbledore's Army, Ginny had come to trust me with the fact that her family was part of the Order. Not with the actual location or anything, but not to try and hide the fact that she spent her time out of Hogwarts fighting the war that I planned on becoming a part of ASAP.

Ginny bit her lip for a moment before adding, "Though if it weren't for Harry, and Oliver might actually go for it..."

"Ginny," I groaned, "I live with hearing that constantly, and I share my dorm with a guy! Don't tell me you've become a Woodie too."

I'd decided a few days ago to call the girls who were obsessed with Wood Woodies. It just seemed to fit. I could've been meaner about it - I also considered calling them Termites, but that just seemed dirty.

Ginny giggled, "No, no, I'm no Woodie, but still. He's a sweet guy, really, under his very one-minded exterior. He had a hard time with his father, I think."

"Oh, a sob story."

Ginny rolled her eyes and slapped my arm, "Not a sob story. I've just met his father once, at a shop in Diagon Alley. Wood and I were going to visit Fred and George at their shop the summer before last, and he nearly died when his father walked by. Said his father hadn't spoken to him in years, and that was all. His father didn't even look at us." Ginny shook the memory away, "But really - he's a great guy. Very sweet, thoughtful, perceptive, humble, self-sacrifising, that sort of man. As long as you aren't on the opposing team - then he's merciless."

I watched Wood as he lined up students for cups of water, barking orders at them and cracking a joke every now and then, "Really? Cause all my experience with him as proved him to be no better than most cavemen."

Ginny laughed at my metaphor, "Didn't you get into a fight with him in second year?"

"Yeah, over Quidditch. God, I hate Quidditch."

"He remembered you," Ginny commented.

I wondered briefly, remembering the fact that Wood is my teacher in addition to my least favorite person on this trip, if I should know this. Of course I should. "What do you mean?"
"I asked him once why he was always so intense about Quidditch, and he said that he'd always had been and he loved flying, the typical answer, but he added that if it wasn't for people like you he might not find it worth it."

"Huh?"
"He wants to prove that Quidditch is just as demanding as being a Healer, or an Auror. Well, I should say wanted."

"What does he want now?"

"I'm not quite sure, really. I haven't talked to him since the summer before last; then he got into a fight with my brothers and voila - instant ex-communication. I've got not idea what's going on in that head of his."

"That's probably a good idea," I commented, still watching Wood deal with my classmates. He's gotten better with them, I guess. He still looks tense, though.

Ginny stood, then, brushing off her butt, "Yeah. I just wish some of these girls would give him a break. He's not all Quidditch and muscle and sex god. I can't imagine him liking all that attention."

I looked up at her, my brow furrowed, Wood doesn't like his Woodies? Maybe termites would be more appropriate. "Really? Why would you say that?"
"Oh, he's deathly shy with girls." She laughed, accepting a glass of water from the male Hufflepuff prefect, "You should've seen him this one time in a bar. I mean, er-" She glanced around, making sure the boy was well out of ear-shot, "You won't tell if I was in bar, would you?"

"No," I replied, rolling my eyes. Some Head Girl I am.

"Alright, well," she sat back down Indian-style, leaning in to whisper to me, "This one time, it was the four of us, me and him and the twins, and some girl recognized him. She was just absolutely thrashed, throwing herself all over him and very loudly declaring that he had nice ears." Ginny giggled, "He blushed eight different shades of red, and he isn't even a red head! All he could do was offer an autograph and hide in the loo for the rest of the night. Oh, it was classic."

"Alright, you lot, let's get going! We'll make it before lunch, easily. Just another hour and a half," Wood declared from the front of the group.

I tugged at the end of my ponytail as I watched Wood leading the way, trying to imagine the shy, sweet picture that Ginny had painted for me. Talking to Ginny enough had proved that she was both a good judge of character and honest, a potent combination when it came to reshaping my personal belief system. And he did say thanks before...

Around the end of the hike, Wood finally came around to the back to make sure Ginny and I were doing alright. "Oi," he called to us, "How're my favorite girls?"

Immediately, this inexplicable feeling of anger and the certainty that Wood was nothing but a womanizer entered my chest, pulling at my heart and throat, "We're fine."

Wood's brow furrowed, "You sure, Darling? You sound like you just ate a bug."

"I'm just a little thirsty," I lied, trying my best to use my eyes to communicate my thoughts, so Ginny wouldn't be subjected to the fighting, Leave me the fuck alone.

"Oh, well, I've got some water right h-"

"No thanks, it just magically went away," I replied, giving him a tight-lipped smile.

Wood glanced between me and the front of the group, where Tom was leading everyone in the hike, "Ginny, would you please tell that Head Boy that he's going the wrong way." Ginny nodded, hurrying towards the front of the group without glancing back. I narrowed my eyes at her back, Traitor.

Wood inched closer to me, speaking softly, "Darling, what's wrong?"

I looked up at him, "If I didn't say while Ginny was here, why would I say it once she's left if I like her more than you?"

His jaw dropped a little, "What have I done to offend you today?" I gave him one final glare before turning back to keep my eyes on the straggling students, "Darling, I'm sorry, but what did I do?"

"Just go back to your Woodies," I replied.

His eyebrow cocked up in confusion, "My what?"

"Tom 'requests politely' that you rejoin him upfront, because he has no idea where to head if not straight," Ginny said, running back to my side.

"Straight will take us right into a swamp, the idiot," Wood muttered, glancing between me and Ginny. He took a few steps forward before snarling at me, "Detention, Darling. A real one this time."

Oh, that sounds innocent to all the NON-INNOCENT-MINDED EARS! Why, Wood, do you insist on fueling their fire? "You can't give me a detention for that!" I yelled after him as he reached the edge of the crowd of students.

He turned back to face me, "For referring to my... Woodies? I think I can. That is highly inappropriate."

"THAT'S NOT WHAT YOUR WOODIES ARE!" I screamed desperately back at him, "I am not going to a detention with you!"

"Then you'll get two. Make my day, Darling," Wood replied, slipping into the crowd of students to set us on the right course.

"How did you do that," Ginny questioned.

"Do what?"

"That! Make him so... angry," Ginny gestured towards her ex-friend, "So he'd give you a detention, and then threaten another."

"I wouldn't tell him why I was angry," I replied quietly, glaring at the back of Wood's head.

"Why were you angry?"

'He called us his favorites girls," I replied, "I find that to be a very sexist comment and I did not appreciate it."

"Whoa."

"What?"

"Nothing."