Over the course of the summer Aderyn traveled between the house she now shared with just her father, and the homes of Charlotte and Brianne. Slowly but surely the ability of her aged broomstick to function properly became more of a concern, some days it refused to leave the ground.

"Don't worry Snidget. We'll get you a new one before you return to school. Although you might not need one to fly, what with your Animagus training." He would joke when she asked.

Her father, (and her friends, although they hadn't done more that tease her about it), were convinced her animagus would be something capable of flight. Ryn wasn't sure if it was because of her love of it or if he was referring to her as flighty. Regardless of the prospect of a new broom, the young witch was determined to get every last use out of the one she had. She had started taking quick flights in the morning, but this morning her flight would not end well. The broom had been stubborn since kickoff and Ryn had thought nothing of it. She was returning home when she started falling out of the sky at a high rate of speed.

Somewhere along the way down she must have fainted, because when she came to she was in a hospital bed, and becoming increasingly aware of how sore her body felt. Her mother's screams could be heard from out in the hall.

"Are you happy now? Our daughter is in the hospital because of a faulty broomstick! How could you let her go out on that thing?"

"She told me it had been acting up, but didn't tell me to what degree. If I had known it was so far gone I would have had it destroyed." she heard her father explaining as coolly as he always did.

Her mom huffed, "I feel it would be best if she stayed with me for the remainder of the summer, that way I can manage her recovery."

Recovery? How bad had she been hurt? Her answer came when her father entered her room, his expression was pained.

"Hey Snidget. How're you feeling?"

She shrugged a shoulder. It hurt. "I'm sore. How bad was I hurt?"

Placing a hand on hers, he wouldn't meet her eyes, "You were busted up pretty bad. Your left knee was a mess. The healers have done the best they can fixing it, but you might not be able to play Quidditch this year. Even when it's healed they're not sure how well you'll be able to manage a broom."

She tore her hand away, clutching it to her chest. Ryn turned her face away and furious tears burned her eyes.

When she left St. Mungo's a week later, she was on crutches and her knee in a heavy brace that restricted movement of the joint. Staying with her mother wouldn't have been so bad except that the bitter woman had taken time off of work to watch her as well as to lord the injury over her daughter.

"I told you it was dangerous. You should have listened to me." there was a smug tone in the way she said it.

Ryn had taken up practicing her violin in a desperate attempt to get her mom off of her case, but it didn't help much.

"You would be so much better if you spent your time practicing music instead of running around with that boy."

That had been the last straw. Aderyn stood up with the violin by the neck.

"You know what, why don't you play this damned thing then!" and she slammed the instrument against the floor, splintering it into a mess of strings and wood.

Her mother seethed, "You ungrateful little bitch! I have tried to protect you and care for you all your life and this is how you thank me?!"

Nails raked across her cheek when her mother slapped her.

Ryn glared, "Dad has protected and cared for me. You have tried to control and live through me. But I'm not like you and I never will be!"

To say that relations with her mother went from tepid to frosty would be an understatement. The trip to Diagon Alley a few days before start of term had been made in silence and Ryn had slipped away the first opportunity she had. She found herself stroking the polished handle of a new racing broom when she heard the bell over the shop door ringing followed by her mother's voice.

"Of course this is where I would find you."

Throwing a cross look at the woman, Ryn said flatly, "Yeah, funny thing, considering you can't tell me what position I play."

She watched her mom cross her arms, "That you PLAYED. And you were a beater, like your father."

Limping up to her mother, she didn't even look at her, "I AM a chaser."

The look of horror on Oliver's face when she limped onto Platform 9 3/4 made her gut twist painfully.

"What happened?" he croaked, looking from the knee brace to her face.

"My broom finally died. Tried to take me down with it." she said in an attempt at humor.

"Does Charlie know?"

"I wrote him. He wasn't thrilled but said they would find another Chaser if it came down to it."

Bri sat with them on the train, her warm personality lightening the mood. They had started discussing class schedules and the girls would both be taking Ancient Runes and they were in the same Muggle Studies hour. When Oliver went to talk to the rest of the Quidditch team, Bri leaned towards her friend intently.

"So spill. What's bugging you?"

Slightly taken aback by the Hufflepuff's sudden forwardness, she shook her head and told her about the fight she had with her mom and about trashing the violin. She absentmindedly touched her cheek where the scratches had since healed.

"That's terrible!" her friend cried when she finished her story.

"Yeah it is." Oliver grumbled having returned to their compartment.

He sat slumped down on the bench looking none too happy.

"When do you think you'll be able to fly again?" he asked the blonde expectantly.

She didn't meet his eyes and just shook her head.

By the time Quidditch try outs rolled around Ryn had been given the okay by Madame Pomfrey to try flying again. She wrote an excited letter to her father and the next morning after Ancient Runes there was a brand new broomstick on her bed. What there still was of the Gryffindor team was excited to see her on the Pitch that Saturday when the prospective new beaters and chasers were waiting.

There were two open Beater slots and only two people who were trying out for the positions. Needless to say they got it. They were twins and bore a startling resemblance to Charlie (Ryn would come to find that they were his younger brothers.)

"Charlie's told us about you."

"Rumor has it you're the best Chaser on this team."

Their praise made Ryn blush a bit. Charlie had said that about her?

"Well, I need to see if I can even handle riding a broom this season." she had said in response.

Everyone looked at her expectantly and she took to the air, nodding at the other Chaser and the new girls trying out. She was given the task of determining whether or not to take the prospects on, and they had all impressed her.

Her coordination hadn't been affected, but by the time the girls had taken their shots and she had decided that Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell would take the open starter slots, and Alicia Spinnet would be the reserve, her knee had begun to throb painfully.

She landed and flopped down on the grass, letting the pain subside.

"You going to be okay Rivers?" one of the new girls asked.

"Nothing a muscle rub won't help." she had smiled, secretly praying she could handle a full game.

Oliver helped her back to the castle, an arm around her waist to steady her.

"You want to go see Pomfrey?" he asked, concern written all over his face.

She winced climbing the steps, "Yeah, I think that would be a good idea."

He was worried that she would push herself and end up more injured than she already was, but didn't say anything.

Madame Pomfrey nodded as Ryn told her about her pain, "Well it's to be expected after the extent of damage your knee sustained Miss Rivers. I can give you something to help ease it, but only rest will get rid of the pain completely, I'm sorry."

Ryn walked back to the Common Room without his assistance, and she seemed to be feeling a bit better.

"Do you think you'll be able to handle practice?" he asked her, finally braving the topic they had both been avoiding.

She turned the tin with the topical salve Madame Pomfrey had given her, "I really don't know yet Ollie...I really hope so."

At dinner that night the Weasley twins Fred and George had joined the team along with Angelina, Katie and Alicia.

"So Aderyn, can we call you Ryn?"

"Would you teach us a few of your tricks next practice?"

Ryn laughed, "Yes, please call me Ryn, and I don't think your brother would appreciate me teaching you two things not related to his strategies."

They pestered her until she finally excused herself, wanting to change her clothes before her first lesson with McGonagall.

Her extra lessons this year would be on Saturday nights, making it much easier for both of them.

"Good evening Aderyn. I trust you've read the material I assigned?"

Ryn nodded and sat the text on a desk beside her, "I had trouble understanding a few of the spells towards the end, but other than that I had little trouble with it."

"Tonight I'm going to have you working with a moving target. The point of this exercise is to transfigure your target without immobilizing it first..."

Quidditch practices started the following week. Aderyn had been scolding Oliver the whole way from the castle to stop worrying. It wasn't until she had crowned him with the Quaffle later in the day that he realized she was going to be fine.

"I told you not to worry. I'd much rather be in pain on a broom than in pain off of one." she had explained, after apologizing for hitting him (but that was more a courtesy than a sincere apology).

Slowly but surely the year picked up pace. Professors assigned more homework and longer essays, Ryn had less and less time for herself with her extra Transfiguration work, and having picked up a tutoring session every other weekday. It was the week of the first Quidditch game when McGonagall had asked Ryn to stay behind after class.

"Aderyn, I would like to ask a favor of you."

Ryn was curious, "Of course Professor."

"There is a student of mine who seems to be having a particularly tough time with the subject. Would you be willing to tutor him?" the older witch eyed her intently as if daring her to refuse.

"I'd be happy to. May I ask who?"

"Percy Weasley."

She had caught Percy after class the following day and they had agreed to meet in the Common Room after dinner. Ryn rubbed her tired eyes. Oliver and Percy were dorm mates and from what she has experienced and heard about him, he wasn't exactly a fun guy, always serious and to the point. Having met with him two days of the week already it wasn't long before somebody noticed something.

"Is there something going on between you and Perce?" one of the twins had asked out of nowhere.

She almost choked on her food, and, coughing, she told him a firmly as she could, "No, there's nothing going on between your brother and I."

Her cheeks burned at the implications, and she left before anyone else could catch her off guard.

Later in the evening she was sitting by the fire, having changed into a white tee that was loose, comfortable, and 'borrowed' from her male friend, along with a pair of sweat pants that hung low on her hips.

"Aderyn." Percy greeted her stiffly, sitting beside her with his Transfiguration text.

"Hey. Alright, you want to start off with Thursday's lecture?" she said, rubbing a hand over her face.

"Actually, just today's. I know you have a game tomorrow so I'll try not to keep you up..." he mumbled.

She cocked her head to the side, "You alright?"

When he didn't answer she figured he was fine and she began her explanations and as she set her now empty coffee mug on the table for him to practice a particular spell, a slightly perturbed Oliver came down from the dorms.

"Ryn I wish you'd stop lifting my clothes."

The witch grinned at him, "I can't help it that they look better on me."

Percy picked up his books and hurried away to the dorms, leaving the other two staring after him curiously.

"Well, guess that means I get to go to bed early. See you tomorrow Ollie."

Before he could ask her why she had been down here with Percy in the first place she had started up the stairs. Oh well. Maybe he could corner his dorm mate into an explanation.

A terrible storm had blown in overnight and both teams were already soaked through and cold by the time they reached the Pitch. Oliver wouldn't so much as look at Ryn, but this time not because his head was already in the game. No, this was because Percy refused to tell him why he had been with Ryn last night and his mind had settled on that they were seeing each other in secret. Why did he care? She could see whoever she wanted, right? But PERCY? And why didn't she say anything to him? They were supposed to be friends.

Well, it affected the game, too. Instead of handing a recovery over to her, he tossed it to Angelina but it was snatched up quickly by a Slytherin Chaser who turned it into a goal. This continued throughout much of the game, and with the cold and the pain in her leg Aderyn was not the least bit amused, and was even more frustrated when the Slytherin Seeker caught the Snitch.

"What the hell was that all about?!" she screamed at Oliver back in the changing rooms, shoving him roughly into the lockers.

Fred and George grabbed her arms and she fought them with all her might.

"I was set up for the recoveries! What is your problem?!" she continued."

"How long have you been seeing Percy? He refused to tell me anything last night, said it wasn't any of my business." he snapped.

"That's why?!" she screamed.

Shaking off the twins she lunged for her friend, knocking him back into the lockers. Clutching at his wet robes and her forehead against his chest, her shoulders shook and he thought she was crying until she looked up and burst into laughter.

"Oh my god Ollie! I'm just tutoring him in Transfiguration!"

Christmas holidays had come and Brianne had invited Ryn to spend them with her family. She couldn't refuse and was looking forward to spending a few days with muggles. The girls departed the first day of break and were both more than happy with the change of pace.

Bri's parents were very friendly people, a librarian and an English professor; they were also very well read. She knew now where her friend got her love of reading.

Later that night the girls were in Bri's bedroom and talking about anything and everything.

"So how're your tutoring sessions with Percy going?" the brunette asked.

"They're alright. He keeps getting more and more weird...he won't look at me and he mumbles when I start talking about anything besides Transfig." the blonde shrugged.

Bri's jaw hung open in awe, "Rinni! He likes you!"

"Oh come on. Percy? He's so bo-ring." Ryn groaned at her friend.

"You mean to tell me that if he asked you on a date you'd turn him down?" she now had her head in her hands, looking completely fascinated by this topic of conversation.

"I...I don't know. I figure not...but"

"But what?" the Hufflepuff prodded.

"I think that I might have a crush on Oliver..."

Her friend's excited squeal made her wince, "Oh I told Josh you did but he swore there was no way you could like your best guy friend! Just wait until I tell him he was wrong!"

"Bri, no! You have to promise me you won't tell anyone!"

With a sigh she slumped down, "Aww...alright. I promise."

When the girls got back to Hogwarts Ryn took her friend by the arm, "Remember, you promised you wouldn't say anything."

"I remember, I won't."

Aderyn had barely set one foot in the Common Room when she heard someone shout "Rivers!" and her blue Quaffle was flying at her face.

She caught it and laughed," How did you get this?"

"I asked Alicia to get it." her friend smiled in greeting.

The twins hugged her in turn, asking how her holidays with the muggles were. She told them about some of the things she wasn't used to and she turned to her other friend.

"So how was it here with these guys?"

Oliver shook his head, "You would not believe the things these two come up with."

"Hey!" the twins said simultaneously.

"I don't know how you guys enjoyed this place without us." George said with mock indignance.

After they had gone off to pull a prank on an unsuspecting victim, Ryn sat beside her friend.

Shadow crawled up onto the couch and settled himself in the boy's lap.

"Oh you traitorous feline." she joked.

"He stayed with me while you were gone." he said, stroking the cat's fur.

"Hey, lovebirds!" a girl's voice sing-songed.

Looking over the back of the sofa, Angelina Johnson was there with the twins, her arm extended above the sofa, and the friends. Following her arm, she was holding a sprig of mistletoe above them.

"What are you doing Angelina?" Ryn croaked, her face burning.

The younger girl smiled, "I'm testing a theory."

She stood, "Well test it somewhere else." and she stormed off to her dorm.

Grudgingly she sat on her bed and hiding her face in her hands. Shadow jumped up beside her and meowed loudly. Looking annoyed at the cat, Ryn noticed a slip of parchment folded under his collar.

"What the..." she unfolded the note and recognized Oliver's tight scrawl.

'Ryn, meet me at the pitch tonight at 11'

At about a quarter to eleven she made her way outside, having to hide and wait out Filch more than a few times, but thanks to some dungbombs she had acquired from the Weasley twins earlier in the year it wasn't all that difficult.

He was waiting for her with that familiar smile on his face.

"Thought you might've stood me up." he said, handing her her broom.

She gave him a look that said 'really?' and laughed lightly," I haven't yet, why would I start now?"

They kicked off and, like they were known to do, tossed a borrowed practice Quaffle back and forth, neither one saying much. It wasn't until she took both hands off the broom to catch the ball over her head and threw her hips to execute a tight backflip that Oliver spoke.

"You know Charlie's been watching us, thinking about who he's gonna make Captain for next year."

She shrugged and lobbed the ball back at him. He noted that the throw was weak.

"I think it's rather obvious. Who else but the Keeper who's always talking strategy?"

He worried the ball between his hands, "I'd love to be Captain, but you're the best player on the team."

Ryn brought her broom next to his, blue eyes meeting brown. A mischievous grin broke out on her face and she swatted at him with the tail end of her broom. Startled, he had to drop the ball and take hold of his broom to keep from being knocked off.

"What was that for?" he demanded, but she was already halfway to the ground, the Quaffle in her hands.

"Something the matter, Wood? Can't handle a little roughing from a girl?" she 'tsked' and shook her head, darting off to the goal hoops closest to them.

"You'll never make it as a pro that way!" she goaded.

They played a one on one game until the early morning. When the sky started to change from blue to pink and orange they called it a night, sneaking back into the castle and Common Room as best they could.

Ryn had slipped off her wet shoes and when she lay down on a sofa he noticed her scarlet and gold striped socks.

"Nice socks." he teased before claiming another sofa and falling asleep.

The Quidditch season had wrapped up, having just played the last game of the season against Ravenclaw (and losing), the team was moping about in the changing room. Ryn was stretched out on a bench with an ice pack on her knee and talking to Alicia about the Holyhead Harpies (a team both of the girls admired).

"Aderyn?" someone asked.

The whole team looked up and Percy was there in the door.

"Ah it's the whole Hogwarts Weasley set." she joked, "You need something Percy?"

He looked nervous, "Um, can we talk privately for a moment?"

The twins exchanged scandalous looks as the blonde stood up and limped to her housemate. They took a few steps away from the changing room.

"Aderyn Rivers, would you accompany me on the last Hogsmeade trip of the year?" he asked stiffly, his face almost as red as his hair.

His question had caught her off guard and she sputtered a moment before managing to tell him, "Of course."

Percy nodded once, "Great. I will see you next Saturday then. Good day, Aderyn."

'Why did I just agree to go on a date with him?' she thought as she watched him walk away.

"Sooo? What did our dear brother want?" George teased when she came back in.

"He asked me to go to Hogsmeade with him." she said, still sounding stunned.

The sound of someone slamming a locker made them all jump.

"Enjoy yourself." Oliver snapped as he walked back to the castle.

"What's eating him? Can't still be sore about the loss?" Angelina said.

Aderyn watched after her friend suspiciously, "You don't know Oliver."

"I heard Percy asked you out." Bri had stated later in the library.

Ryn sighed, "It is going around the school or something?"

"Oliver told me...He seemed really upset."

"He's just torn up over losing the last game of the season. He'll get over it."

The twins cornered Oliver in the Common Room in the evening.

"What's eating you, Wood?"

"Is it the fact that Perce beat you to her?"

Looking up from the book he was pretending to read, he glared at them," What do I have to do to make you two go away?"

"Tell us the truth."

"It's that simple."

He groaned, rubbing a hand over his face, "I never really thought about her dating other guys. Guess I kinda figured I'd always have her around."

Over the course of the following week Aderyn and Oliver didn't talk much to each other except during Potions, and even then it was cordial and only relating to the class. He never mentioned her upcoming date, and she wrote his silence off as upset over the poor season.

When Saturday finally rolled around Ryn was anxious, albeit she was unsure of why. Percy sat quietly opposite her, neither of them saying much. The atmosphere of the tea shop made her skin crawl. She felt out of place, and anyone that knew her properly would have avoided bringing her here.

"Are you alright Aderyn?" her date finally asked.

"I'm fine. How are you doing in Transfiguration?"

Percy began rambling on about his classes and how he wanted so badly to work for the Ministry of Magic after Hogwarts. Nodding every once in a while to acknowledge him, she slouched back in her chair. A small smile of satisfaction graced her features as some of the other girls gave her a disapproving look. It was all so dreadfully boring and when he asked if he could see her over the summer, she politely refused.

It was the last day of term and the Quidditch team sat together for the end of year feast. Charlie had just informed them that he had made a decision as far as who he had appointed Captain for the following year.

"Now, I hope you'll show him the same respect and dedication you have shown me. Your Captain next year will be Oliver Wood."

Ryn stood up on the bench and yelled over at the Hufflepuff table, "Brianne! I told you our boy'd make Captain! Pay up Josh!"

An excited 'Whoop' came from the other girl, and a box of Bernie Bott's Every Flavor Beans came flying across the way towards the Gryffindor girl.

Satisfied with her prize, she sat back down, ignoring the looks from the Professors.

"You bet on whether or not I'd be Captain?" Oliver asked incredulously.

She popped an orange bean in her mouth and winced, "Ew Carrot. Well, it's not really a bet when you know what the outcome's gonna be."

"Oliver! You've got company!" his mom called.

Coming out of the den, he grinned when he saw Ryn at the door, broom and Quaffle in hand. In an attempt to act cool, he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the door jamb.

"You trying to secure your spot on the team next year?"

She rolled her eyes, "No, this is me wanting to make sure my Captain's in top shape."

"Alright. Let me go change real quick."

As he disappeared further into the house, his father came to the door.

"Oh, I thought it was you Aderyn. He's been making notes and talking to himself for days. Glad to see someone get him out of the house." he leaned in closer, "Besides, he can't say no to a girl in Quidditch gear."

Then he too left her standing at the door, laughing slightly to herself.

"You know, it wouldn't be so bad if our grandkids looked like her!" Ryn heard Mr. Wood yell at his son.

The sound of something breaking followed by an epithet that sounded like Oliver echoed through the house.

Said person appeared a moment later, broom in hand and face a bit pink.

"You ready?" she grinned.

He only nodded in response but once they had stepped away from the house and left the ground, they laughed at the absurdity of it all.