In the first week of July Aderyn was in the recovery ward at St. Mungo's. Her procedure had gone well and her prognosis concerning further procedures was good. At any given time someone was at her bedside. The twins had come by once, kissing her cheeks under the reproachful glare of her boyfriend. Char and Bri had made a day of their visit by bringing food and modeling some of the clothes that they had made.

"Bri's such a willing victim. No complaints, unlike someone..."Char teased, throwing her friend a look.

"Have you stuck her with pins yet?" the blonde teased back.

"See if I ever make you anything again..." she huffed, making the other two witches laugh.

When she finally went home she stretched out on her bed with Quidditch Through the Ages.

"How does it feel being in your own bed after a week?" her dad asked, poking his head into her room

She smiled up at him, "It's like heaven."

"I'm surprised Oliver's not here. That boy barely left your side. Granted, all he did was talk Quidditch..." he was cut off by a knock on the door.

"Speak of the devil?" Ryn quirked an eyebrow, "We do have a training schedule to finish."

Her dad smiled and shook his head,"So long as you bring my grandbabies to visit once in a while, the devil can talk about flying monkeys and pink panthers for all I care."

"Da-ad!"

September first, the whole Gryffindor Quidditch team was squeezed into a compartment on the familiar scarlet train. Alicia had Ryn's full attention, being excited and sad about taking up the Chaser position.

"I'm so thrilled to have the position, but I feel bad because you have to give it up."

"Ali, just be excited about it. Besides, you learned from the best." she joked, throwing a playful wink at the other girl.

"Humble as ever, Ryn." Katie laughed.

"You lot hear that Harry Potter's on the train?" Fred chimed in.

Everyone turned to him, "Seriously? Like THE Harry Potter?" Angelina asked.

"Yup. Met him on the way in. Got the scar and everything." George affirmed.

"We have OWLS this year...ugh! Get ready for the Professors to load us up with work." Bri grumbled on the way back from Muggle Studies.

"At least next year we'll be able to take whatever classes we want." Ryn told her.

The other girl hugged her Herbology book closer to her chest," But what if you don't get the scores to take the classes you want?"

"Why? Unless you're trying to make it into Advanced Potions you'll be fine Bri. What is it you want to do when you get out of Hogwarts anyways?"

"Something to do with plants. I think it would be fun to grow them for a living..."

The first Saturday of the term was the first late night Transfiguration lesson.

"Well, are you ready for your training?" McGonagall asked the young witch, a glimmer in her eyes.

"Yes Ma'am. I can feel it. I just can't get my body to shift." Ryn said, eyes downcast.

"Let's see if we can't draw that animal out then, hmm?"

Quidditch tryouts were the second week of term and the four Gryffindor Chaser girls made their way to the Pitch together. Alicia had explained the previous night at dinner that it didn't feel right just taking the position. So she had wanted to 'try out' and make sure everyone approved of her appointment. (Which they all did, but since it meant a lot to her, they decided to go with it.)

Alicia took a deep breath and locked eyes with Aderyn for a moment, the older witch watching intently from the ground. Ryn watched as she worried the ball, could practically hear the wheels in her head turning.

'Come on Spinnet.' she thought.

When the girls locked eyes for a second, she nodded and held her breath as her replacement tucked the Quaffle under her arm, ducking low and picking up speed. She raised her arm to throw, poised to take a shot for the far right hoop, lining up the shot. Instead though, she released the ball.

Oliver cursed under his breath when Alicia let go of the ball. He recognized the feint as one of Ryn's favorites, but by then it was too late. The Chaser had spun her broom around and spiked the ball through the hoop farthest from him. Despite his desperate dive, it went in.

"That's my girl!" Ryn's call echoed, her fist thrown proudly up in the air.

No one came to try for the open Seeker position. Robert had quit after receiving a broken jaw during the last match so this year Gryffindor was hurting.

Monday Ryn sat in Charms passing notes with Oliver when Professor McGonagall stepped into the class.

"Excuse me, Professor Flitwick, could I borrow Wood for a moment?" she asked.

Ryn looked at her confused friend and mouthed 'What did you do?'

'I don't know.' he mouthed back before getting up and leaving the classroom.

Oliver stared at McGonagall and the dark haired first year with her.

"Potter, this is Oliver Wood. Wood, I've found you a Seeker." she said.

He lit up at that, "Are you serious, Professor?"

When he returned to class Aderyn noted that he was practically giddy. She raised an eyebrow in question and he took her hand and squeezed it.

"We've got a Seeker." Oliver leaned in and whispered to her.

She had to bite her lip to keep from laughing in joy.

Harry Potter had joined the Gryffindor team. Once or twice she had snuck down to watch them practice and was more than impressed by the first year. Despite the joy of having such a phenomenal new addition to the team, Ryn couldn't help but feel a little bit of resentment at it all.

With Oliver having to train the newest team member she saw very little of him until the day of the Slytherin game the first week of November.

Now, you see, Oliver had a bit of a quirk that worried his girlfriend. When he got his mind fixed on something or when he was stressed he neglected himself in favor of his task (or in this case, teammates). Before Quidditch matches he wouldn't touch food in favor of making sure everyone else ate. In the years prior, he and Ryn were both up before everyone else and would sneak into the kitchens for a very early snack. It wasn't much, but she at least made sure he ate.

Today however, she had either slept in or he had woken up earlier because for the life of her, Ryn couldn't track him down.

"Well we'll have to do something about this..." she muttered, sneaking into the boy's dorm and appropriating his Quidditch notes that were laid out neatly on his bed,"This will at least make him semi-cooperative."

Sliding the notes under a sofa, she took her place in a chair that obscured her from anyone walking in, knowing full well that Oliver would come back to take another look at his notes just as breakfast was wrapping up.

The Common Room was empty, everyone down in the Great Hall. All he wanted was one last look at his notes before the game. He was halfway between the portrait hole and the stairway to the dorms when a figure sailed up and over one of the armchairs, knocking him to the ground. Slightly winded he looked up at a scowling Aderyn.

Where the hell had she been hiding?

"Now you listen and listen well, Oliver. This is one of the best teams Gryffindor's had in years and I'm not going to let you ruin things by not being at the top of your game. So, if you ever want to see your Quidditch notes again..."

"Wait, you took my notes?!" he scolded, sounding stronger than he felt.

He tried to sit up but her hands on his shoulders pushed him back down.

Ryn leaned in close, her hair tickling his face, "For insurance. Now, you are to get downstairs and get something to eat. Are we clear?"

"Crystal."

Bri, Joshua, and Ryn all sat together and cheered as Gryffindor took the lead. The acquisition of Potter seemed to fuel a new fire in the players and Ryn beamed. Every Gryffindor on that Pitch had pro potential and she was lucky enough to call them her friends. Everything pointed to a sure win until a sickening thud and gasps at the sight that unfolded curdled Aderyn's blood. Bri clutched at the blonde's robes as Oliver fell, unconscious, into the sand beneath the goal hoops.

"What is it with your man and Bludgers?" Josh had mumbled.

Ryn hissed at him and a flash of scarlet out of the corner of her eye told her that the Seeker had spotted the Snitch. Her eyes were trained on the crumpled form of the brunet young man on the pitch. Even Lee Jordan's screams of "Harry Potter has caught the Snitch! Gryffindor Wins!" sounded like a far off echo.

Oliver slowly opened his eyes and looked around groggily.

"You lied to me." Ryn's voice chided.

He looked over and she threw his notes at him.

Unable to meet her furious gaze, he mumbled,"Who told you?"

"Who didn't?" she cleared her throat," Well, if you think you can make it downstairs, it's time for dinner. And if I don't make sure you eat, Madame Pomfrey will. You won't like what she has in store."

Aderyn wouldn't even look at him for the next few weeks. When she did she would close her eyes and put as much space between them as possible. To get to the bottom of the issue he cornered Brianne as she was leaving for the holidays.

"What's going on with Ryn? She won't even look at me..." he asked dejectedly.

"It's really not my place to say..." she said, voice wavering nervously.

"Bri...please?"

The Hufflepuff sighed," She...she loves you. And it scares her. That's all I'm gonna say, you really should talk to her."

It was worth another shot.

He found the blonde witch in the Common Room transfiguring her cat. When she turned him back he sat there and licked a paw. Oliver swallowed the lump in his throat. She was good with rodent spells and with her cat right there...

"Ryn?" he asked.

The cat looked at him, but his girlfriend didn't.

"Whatever I did, I'm sorry. Please talk to me." he begged, taking one of her hands.

"You worry so much about the team..." she looked at him with teary eyes," And I worry about you worrying about them. Ollie...you have a habit of getting so focused on something that you seem to forget you're human. It scares me sometimes."

Ryn wiped her eyes, "I want you to promise me something."

Where was she going with this? He nodded his head anyways.

"Before a match, you and I get up and get something from the kitchens just like we did for the past 4 years. You take care of the rest of the team, so let me look out for you."

He gathered her up in a hug and she knew she had her answer.

Everyone was gathered for the Halloween feast, all sorts of pumpkin related foods laid out on all the tables. Ryn wrinkled her nose at most of it. Pumpkin really wasn't one of her favorite things to eat.

"Aren't you going to eat, Ryn?" Lee asked her around his bite of food.

"Uh, I'll stick to the bread, thanks. Not all that hungry."

Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the hall, turban askew and terror on his face. When he reached Dumbledore's chair he slumped against the table, gasping, "Troll...in the dungeons...thought you ought to know..."

He sank to the floor in a dead faint.

Everyone was ordered back to the dormitories and Ryn latched onto Oliver's arm.

"So Flint ducked out of here early. Didn't know that was such a big deal." she joked, only loud enough for him to hear.

"Ryn..." he attempted to scold her, but couldn't hide the smile on his face.

The food had been sent up to all the Houses and everyone sat around eating. Just like every meal the team sat together, talkiing.

"Well, this has to be upsetting for Flint. I mean, family comes to visit and everyone gets sent to their dorms." Fred said, waving a leg of chicken as he talked.

"When I made a troll joke earlier this one here," she stabbed her thumb in Oliver's direction,"Didn't think it was funny."

With things back to normal between her and Oliver, Ryn found herself wishing he would leave already. She had arranged for a lesson with McGonagall over the break and both witches were confident that she was only a few attempts away from successfully becoming an Animagus.

"Well are you ready Rivers?"

It took everything in her not to giggle out of excitement, "Yes Professor."

"Alright then. Breathe. Focus, and don't force it." the older witch instructed calmly as ever.

Ryn took a deep breath, letting her mind go blank and willing her body to change. Her skin tingled and she felt a tug in her bones and muscles. when she opened her eyes everything was sharper and larger.

McGonagall clapped her hands to her chest, "Now, just picture your body and shift back, Aderyn."

Being back in her own skin the young witch looked up at her instructor.

"Congratulations. Your Animagus is a Snidget. I'll send a letter to the Ministry to have you registered at once."

Happy tears welled up in Ryn's eyes, "I can't believe it! Thank you so much Professor!"

"I still have much to teach you in the art of Transfiguration. Don't thank me yet."

By the end of the week Ryn had her letter confirming she was a registered Animagus, which she sent home to her dad. He wrote how he was proud of her and that he would treat her to something special over the summer. All that remained was to show Brianne and Oliver.

"Come on Ollie...I know you're back." she muttered, pacing the Common Room, Quaffle in hand.

The portrait moved and she held her breath as Oliver stepped through.

"Wood!" she called.

He laughed as he caught the ball, "So did you miss me?"

"You know I did. Guess what?" she kissed him lightly.

"What?"

"I'm a Snidget."

He looked at her for a second until it registered, "Rinni that's awesome!"

A few of the other Gryffindors stared as he twirled her around, both of them laughing like idiots.

"I'll show you tonight after everyone else is in bed." she whispered when he put her down.

They walked back from dinner together and sat in the Common Room talking about training for the next Quidditch game against Hufflepuff until they were alone with the dying embers of the fire.

She looked around to make sure they were alone.p

"Promise not to laugh..."

"I won't."

Ryn closed her eyes and sighed. With the exhalation of her breath her form became smaller and smaller until a small golden bird was in her place. The little bird chirped, fluttering in front of him and he held out a hand. She landed in his palm and fluffed her feathers, deep blue eyes watching him closely.

"I had a feeling you'd have wings." he laughed.

She chirped in annoyance and started to grow in size and change until the human Aderyn stood there, his hand on her hip. Neither of them made to move it.

"Do you know why the Snitch is most often spotted around the Keepers?" he mused, tucking a strand of hair behind Ryn's ear.

"It's theorized that it knows it's safer there than anywhere else on the Pitch. Supposedly something copied over from the instincts of the Snidget. Why?"

"I always want to be your Keeper."

She placed her hand on his chest, "Ollie...Snidgets are delicate little birds. If one of them has chosen you to protect it, it is trusting you with its life."

Oliver pressed his forehead to hers, "I'll always protect you, Rinni."

Morning before the Ravenclaw game Ryn woke up early and Oliver was waiting for her downstairs. They enjoyed their breakfast in the kitchens then headed up to the Great Hall to join their housemates.

With Potter incapacitated the match was painful to watch. The loss suffered that day was one of the worst in history of the school.

All fifth year students had OWLS the last week of school. They were all on edge, but Ryn seemed to be a bit more stressed than her classmates.

"Why are you so worked up about your exams? You're going to go on and play professional Quidditch, so it's not like they matter." Josh had told her one day when he was in the library helping the girls study.

"If the procedure this summer on my knee doesn't go well I'll never play again. And since I don't know what else I would do, it's kind of a big deal that I keep all my options open." she had growled at him.

"They aren't that bad. Well, except maybe Potions...and History of Magic...and I remember we had to write a pretty lengthy essay for Defense Against the Dark Arts..."

Bri clapped a hand over her boyfriend's mouth, "Okay, I love you, but you're not helping."

At the end of the year the House Cup went to Gryffindor and the Common Room was abuzz with activity.

"Can you believe it was Quirrell? He seemed so..."

"At least Potter's alright. We'll have a chance at Quidditch next year..."

Aderyn had snuck some cookies from the kitchens with the intent on keeping them to herself. The twins however, had discovered her theft and immediately began pursuit.

"Seriously guys? It's just a bag of cookies!" she cried, leaping over one of the sofas and out from the grasp of George (or was it Fred?).

"Fine! I surrender!" Ryn yelled, landing across the armchair Oliver was sitting in.

Her feet hung over one arm and she tossed the bag of sweets to her assailants. She pouted, a face he hadn't seen her make in a long time.

"You know, there's always next year." she smiled up at him.

"Yeah, next year. The Quidditch Cup will be ours." he reaffirmed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as she curled up against him.

"So, I know you're intent on getting the new training schedule finished, but Char's throwing a party tonight and I was wondering if you'd like to go?" Ryn asked.

Oliver looked down at her knee in the heavy brace then at her face," You feel up to it?"

"Well at least you know I won't try and talk you into dancing." she teased, smiling.

When he saw the muggles crowded in the house he suddenly regretted coming. Aderyn latched onto his arm and glared at a few of the passing girls.

"What are you doing?" he whispered to her.

"I just don't want one of these girls thinking you're fair game." she said, looking around.

"RINNI! You made it!" Charlotte screamed over the music inside.

As tends to happen among teenagers, everyone found their groups. The backyard seemed to be the hangout for the witches and wizards. Some of Charlotte's friends from Beauxbatons had come, along with a few other people from smaller private schools neither of them had heard of.

"Vat 'appened to your knee?" one of the Veela's asked.

When she began explaining how she fell off of her broom the girls instantly became bored and turned to each other with a change of topic. The guys however, who had overheard, were very interested.

"Do you play for your school?" one of them asked.

Ryn was seated on the ground, her injured leg out in front of her. She leaned back against Oliver and looked back and up at him affectionately.

"No, not since I got hurt. This one here though is a star Keeper."