I groaned as a sharp knock on the door brought me from a particularly pleasant and deep slumber that only a certain level of intoxication could bring. "Rue," Sean's silky and muffled voice called, "breakfast's about to be served and after we're going to hit the pitch."

I mumbled something incoherent as I rolled over and buried myself further into my blankets. There was a shuffling outside and more muffled voices before the door squeaked open.

"Go away," I moaned, pulling the sheet over my head.

The bed sunk in as someone joined me in the bed, and a hand gently pried the sheet from my grip. Soft lips brushed against my temple. "Good morning, darling," Clancy's warm voice murmured against my skin. A small smile tugged on my lips as his arm wrapped around me and I snuggled against him.

"One more hour, please?" I yawned, already feeling sleep's claws sinking into me once more.

"No," he chuckled. "C'mon, get up."

I muttered something incomprehensible in German.

"What was that?"

I paused thoughtfully, squeezing my eyes shut. "I don't even know."

"Rue," he began.

"I don't want to," I said flatly, burrowing further.

"It won't be that bad. I'm going to be there, and I honestly doubt Sean is going to force any of you to do things you don't want to. Besides, didn't you play Quidditch in school?"

"Well, yeah, but that's not the problem, and you know it."

He was silent for a moment, clicking his tongue. "Oh, right, that Wood fellow," he said flippantly.

"Yeah, him," I managed as sarcastically as an exhausted person could. I adjusted the pillow beneath me before settling back down.

"Alright, on that note," Clancy said, prodding me.

"No," I moaned, rolling out of his reach and sinking further into the blankets piled on top of me. I could feel Clancy pulling them away.

"Rue, if you don't get out of bed, I'm just going to have to pick you up and carry you down to breakfast."

"But I'm in my jim jams," I protested, glaring up at him.

"All the better," he smirked.

I rolled my eyes before finally sitting up. "Let me get ready, I'll meet you downstairs," I managed through another yawn as I stretched.

Clancy smirked before ducking out of the room.

A cold December chill seeped through the trainee robes I wore, and I couldn't help but shiver. Toni looked the most uncomfortable, her arms wrapped tightly around her body as she desperately tried to hide her chattering teeth. It wasn't all that cold, but the drizzle falling from the sky certainly added to the depressing ambiance of the scene. Sean was sitting in the stands, furiously writing away. He was always busy with something, and so the three of us were essentially left to our own devices on the field.

Clancy was sitting in the stands a short distance from Sean, a bright smile on his face as he looked down at me reassuringly.

The entire Puddlemere United team, including Reserve, stood before us in all their glory. It was rather intimidating. I was doing everything in my power to avoid Oliver's eyes, something that was proving to be rather difficult. Robbie stood next to the team's Captain, Edward March.

"Alright," Edward began, "have any of you played Quidditch before?"

I glanced at Lara and Toni before hesitantly raising my hand.

"Ah, yes, very good. And you two," he said turning his attention towards them, "I expect you're at least familiar with the sport?"

They nodded stupidly.

"Very good. Well, to give you an idea of the next week, we're going to start with basic training and technique, something I'm sure Rue's familiar with, but it'll be of benefit to all of you. From there, we'll work on more advanced tactics, breaking into specialized units so you can become more attuned to the art of your position. We'll take a break from intensive training on the sixth day and separate into teams. And the week will close with a final match between the two teams. Sound reasonable?"

We nodded hesitantly, wondering just what we had gotten ourselves in to.

"Now that's cleared up," Edward huffed, a smile finally tugging at his lips, "we're going to start you with a basic warm-up: four laps around the pitch."

"You're kidding," Lara whined. "It's cold and rainy! Plus, how're we supposed to run around in these robes."

I rolled my eyes, gently nudging Lara as I passed by her. "C'mon, you lazy twat," I said lovingly before I took off at a light jog with a snickering Toni at my side.

"That's offensive!" Lara called from behind us, the reserve players coming up behind her.

"How're things today?" Toni asked, curiously looking over at me.

"Manageable."

"Oliver's girlfriend was givin' ya quite the look while Ed was ramblin'," she commented.

"I didn't really notice," I said as we passed by the clump of the team crowded around Edward. The girl with ebony hair and alabaster skin glared at me as I ran past.

"Did you notice that?" Toni asked.

I rolled my eyes. "How could I not?"

The afternoon continued in much the same way. It took Lara a few times to get properly situated on her broomstick, and, when she finally did, she spent much of the time complaining or listing the reasons why she preferred to be on solid ground.

We practiced extremely basic techniques for each position. Lara was quick to point out the dangers of each one, and decided that she was best suited for Keeper, which she deemed the least perilous role. I noticed Oliver's smirk when she announced her conclusion, and I myself couldn't help but snort.

Toni, however, found joy in whacking away at bludgers after we had practicing dodging them. The first time she hit one of the black buggers, she snickered evilly as it darted off towards Lara who nearly fell off her broomstick trying to get out of its path.

As expected, I assumed the role of Chaser, which, after several years, still seemed second nature to me. As I sped down the pitch, the cool air whipping past my shoulders, I was reminded why I had so loved Quidditch during my schooldays. I managed to get the Quaffle just past Oliver and through the hoop, which was celebrated with a loud whoop from Toni as she pumped her fist in the air.

"That was great!" she exclaimed as she came up beside me. "I never woulda guessed you were so good at Quidditch, Rue. You're a natural!"

"Yeah," Oliver's girlfriend, who I had come to learn was named Keira Bray, drawled slowly. "Who knew German dwarves had any athletic ability at all?"

I raised an eyebrow, ready to shoot back an equally ridiculous comment about vampires, but I held back when Toni spoke up for me.

"What, you threatened by my girl's skill?"

Bray rolled her eyes. "Don't be foolish. There's nothing threatening about a half-assed attempt to play Chaser," she said haughtily.

Merlin, this girl was getting on my last nerve, and I had barely known her for a day. I lurched my broom forward, pulling up alongside her.

"Look," I said lowly, not making eye contact, "if you really want to play this game, I'm all for it. In fact, I'm the master of it, go ahead and ask your boyfriend, yeah?"

She scoffed.

Finally, I met her glare. She raised her eyebrows, disbelief on her face. "Now, we can play nice, or you can keep it up and things'll get pretty damn ugly pretty damn fast, that I can guarantee," I finished in what was the most American I had ever sounded.

Without waiting for a response, I guided my broom downward, my feet landing gracefully on the solid ground as Edward dismissed us for the day. Oliver began to approach me, but I was quick to start off in the opposite direction. Toni came up beside me.

"You're my hero, ma'am, and I'd like to shake your hand," she said, a smile on her lips. I laughed, giving her hand a firm squeeze as we joined Lara at the end of the pitch before disappearing into the changing rooms.

The next day was much the same, however we broke off into smaller groups. Lara was training with Oliver and the reserve Keeper, Richard Jacks. Toni with the Beaters, a pair of twins who reminded me very much of Fred and George, only they weren't gingers. I worked with Edward March, the Chasers of the reserve team, Jamie Kirk, and, to my great displeasure, Keira Bray.

We were practicing throws and moving down the Quidditch pitch, but my mind couldn't help but wander to that thing Oliver was so taken with.

She seemed so perfect, her ruddy dark hair perfectly tied in a ponytail that flew perfectly behind her. Her nails were perfectly manicured. Despite the cloudiness of the day, her skin was so damn radiant I was nearly blinded. And, to top everything off, she was far more fit than I could ever dream.

Even I knew I wasn't an unattractive person, but how could I compare to that?

No wonder Oliver was dating her.

But, regardless of how perfect she was physically, she had one of the most atrocious personalities I had ever had to put up with. Only the night before, we were all at the pub and I was trying to appear as lovey with Clancy as possible. However, she completely ruined the moment when she had "accidentally" spilled her lager down my shirt front. She made quite the show too, exclaiming a shrill, "Oh, how clumsy of me! It was a complete accident, I swear. Now I have to go get another beer." She even pouted for show up at Oliver.

How one accidentally does that is beyond me, and she wouldn't have apologised had Oliver not insisted. And she did so begrudgingly, lying through her teeth, before Oliver ordered her another and guided her away from me and Clancy as I sat seething in my seat, anger bubbling inside of me.

Clancy, after a little persuasion (and by persuasion, I mean snogging that I'm sure the entirety of Puddlemere United saw), managed to take a hold of my arm and led me back to my room where he helped me remove the soiled clothing and, er, well... he participated in a little crash course of the more physical variety.

I was pulled from my pleasant reminiscing when the Quaffle collided quite violently with my nose, a loud crack reverberating in my head, and I scrambled to catch it before it plummeted to the ground. At the same time, I brought my sleeve to my nose and pulled it away only to see blood. A slew of curses rolled from my tongue as I held my nose with one hand and clutched the Quaffle angrily, glaring at Bray as she looked on with raised eyebrows.

Edward was soon beside me, prying my hand from my face. He let out a low whistle, before turning to look at Keira, the last one to handle the Quaffle. "Proud of yourself there, Bray? You broke her nose."

She shrugged, a smirk on her face.

"Here, I'll fix you up," Edward said gently, noticing the tears prickling my eyes. He motioned for me to follow him to the stands.

However, instead of doing that, I hurled the Quaffle at an unsuspecting Bray. She let out an oomph! as it hit her squarely in the chest, knocking the wind out of her.

I zoomed to the ground, quickly dismounted, and stormed off the pitch and in the general direction of Trenthide Downs. Sean called after me, threatening that if I didn't get my ass back on the broom, I'd be out of a job. He was lying, I knew, so I continued on my way and didn't stop until I got back to my room and was hunched over the sink.

I coughed up blood as it dripped from my nasal cavity to my throat. I gingerly began wiping what was on my face so I could better inspect the damage. I barely brushed my finger down the length of my nose, crying out as the pain felt like a dagger to my face.

"Merlin dammit, Rue, you're acting like a baby," I said through angry tears as I pressed a hand towel under my nose and went in search of my wand to repair the damage.

So, I finally updated, and I'd like to apologize for the ridiculously long wait! I've been overwhelmed, but I promise to try to update more regularly. Anyway, as you know, J.K. Rowling created the great and wonderful Harry Potter Universe, that which you don't recognize from it is of my own creation. (Speaking of, how excited are we for Part 1?) Also, I've started a new ficlet, The Course of Empire which is a Barty Crouch Jr./OC; you should wander over there and check it out. As always, do me the great honor of leaving a review! Yours.