AN: Thanks everyone for the story alerts and favourites. A special thanks to DamonSalvetorelover, AnnabethWeasley22, WeasleyRainbow. Super special thanks to Adrian Patch who gave me my first long feedback! Happy thanksgiving to you too and to all the American readers! We don't celebrate thanksgiving in Australia, but I do enjoy the Black Friday specials I get online!
Oliver was completely out of line. He had no right to dictate who I talk to or who I get close to. It wasn't like Fred and I were doing anything inappropriate.
Fred and I were… close. There was no real other way to say it. It wasn't a strange thing for me to be close to boys. I had three older brothers and, Nicholas [my Quidditch captain] was my best friend. Fred and George were like a reminder of home; both were cracking jokes and the occasional prank but there was something different about Fred. I have to admit, I could see myself falling for Fred. I hadn't yet, but I could see how it could happen.
Fred and I were close. Not just talking and hanging out, but he and I seemed to be overly touchy with each other. The first Charms lesson was the start of it all; he had squeezed my leg – the most harmless of things that started it, an invitation of friendliness that had progressed over the weeks.
Oliver, however, didn't seem too happy about it. He began to sit away from Fred, George and I in Charms but 'allow' me to sit with him in other classes where I knew very few. I couldn't help but be a slight bit confused. What had I done wrong? If it was Fred and I's friendship, he had rejected the idea of he and I being 'close' in my first few days at Hogwarts, so he really had no say as to who I talked to and who befriended me.
All of these thoughts ran through my head as I sprinted around the Quidditch Pitch early on Saturday morning. I had awoken at 6:00am to start my training an hour early. On my final lap of a 10km run, I saw Oliver walking down the hill to the pitch followed by two red heads [obviously my favourite set of twins] and three others; clearly Harry, Katie and Alicia. I was looking forward to seeing the others techniques.
"Morning Jem!" George greeted with a slap on my back as I came to a halt.
"George," I acknowledged, slowing my breath as I warmed down, I walked over to Oliver with a bright smile on my face, "Morning Obi." I greeted warmly.
"Jem." He barked, "You could have told me you were down here. I was wandering all over the castle looking for you."
I cocked my head, "I'm sorry. Did you not actually hear me the, I don't know, eleven times I mentioned I'd be down here by six?"
Oliver looked at me questioningly as I followed him to the worn red cupboard that now housed my broom too, "You didn't tell me at all." He huffed, nearly throwing the brooms out of the cupboard.
"I did." I argued, "You probably didn't hear me because it had nothing to do with Quidditch Strategy. I could understand if I was talking to you about something random, but it's Quidditch." I was getting exasperated, "The only thing I can ever talk to you about because you don't listen to anything else!" I was almost yelling. Luckily, the other players were out on the pitch readying for the session.
Oliver looked at me, his face oddly soft, "Is that why you don't talk to me much anymore?"
I was confused again, "Huh? I try to talk to you plenty. I thought you didn't want to talk to me cause of the whole 'Fred' thing."
Oliver gave a sad smile, "I'm sorry LJ, I over reacted. You can talk to whomever you want – especially Fred, he's a top bloke. No one better than the Weasleys to show you a great time at Hogwarts…" I chuckled, he pulled me into a warm one armed hug, "Do I really talk about Quidditch that much?" he asked sheepishly.
I laughed aloud, "Merlin yes. All the time." Oliver laughed too, "Don't worry though. I can teach you how to hold a conversation without mentioning the dreaded Q word."
Oliver slung the bag of Quaffles over his shoulder and levitated the teams brooms over to the middle of the pitch, "Can't avoid the Q word now, LJ." He passed me my broom and watched me kick off, "Let's play some Quidditch."
The first team practice went swimmingly. I was exhausted as Fred, George, Oliver and I walked back to the castle. They had chosen to take me back via the lake at the back of Hogwarts; it was so beautiful for such a murky wad of water. Out in the middle of the lake, I could see ripples. Suddenly a giant tentacle emerged from the lake; deep purple with giant suckers on the bottom. I won't lie. I about shat myself. I leapt backwards into Oliver and Fred; both laughing at me as I grasped their arms.
"What the hell is that?" I cried, attempting to get my heart beat to relax.
Fred rubbed my arm, "It's the giant squid. He lives in the lake."
"He's… he's… scary." I concluded.
This time Oliver spoke, "He's a she."
I turned to look at him, "How do you know?"
Oliver led me over to the edge of the lake where George was sitting, "When I was in first year," he started as we all sat too, "I was walking around the grounds on a Friday afternoon when I saw Hagrid," he turned to me, "the grounds keeper," I nodded, "scooping something around the size of a dinner plate out of the lake."
"What was it?" George asked, he and Fred looked intrigued.
"A baby squid," I quessed.
"Bang on LJ," Oliver smiled, "I walked closer to Hagrid and he showed me. This tiny little thing would turn out as big as that," he gestured the tentacles that were slowing moving above the water, "it was so… awesome." He finished, slightly embarrassed.
"That is so cool." I whispered, "Hogwarts is beautiful." I lent on Fred's shoulder as I gave Oliver's leg a squeeze, "Nimirix is nothing compared to this."
The boys laughed, "Wish we could see it," commented George, "I'd love to get me some Australian girls."
I leaned over to swat him over the head as the boys laughed again. We stayed at the lake for a while rambling about Australia and Hogwarts until Oliver's stomach audibly began to growl.
Deciding it was time to eat, Fred and George lead us off to the kitchens to rustle up some food from the elves.