Chapter 2
Kate and Charity had decided to throw Amelia a birthday party on the Saturday after they returned to school. By the end of dinner on Thursday, they had invited all of the Gryffindor 5th and 6th years. They were contemplating putting one more name on the list when Amelia approached. "What are you lot doing?" she asked.
"Nothing," Kate answered, a bit too quickly. Amelia glared at her until she finally caved. "We're planning the party for Saturday, the same thing we do every year at this time."
"Please don't make it too big," Amelia begged. "Just keep it to Gryffindors."
Charity scowled; she had been hoping to invite Roger Davies, but she also knew that Amelia would get payback at her birthday party if she disobeyed. She and Kate exchanged a look, however, which agreed that they would put Oliver Wood on the guest list. They were convinced that Amelia could get Oliver to fancy her and that she could learn to fancy Oliver. If that worked out, they would, by association, be part of the cool crowd in Gryffindor.
They found Oliver coming out of his Transfiguration class. "Oy! Wood!" Kate called. "Do you have a minute?"
"Sure," he answered, somewhat skeptically. "You're Amelia's friends, right?"
"Yeah, I'm Kate and this is Charity," Kate said. "We wanted to invite you to Amelia's birthday party on Saturday."
"It'll just be in the common room," Charity promised. "We usually shoo the young ones off to bed and start the real festivities at 9 or so."
"And Amelia knows I'm on the guest list?" he asked; he had only really met Amelia the day before.
"She doesn't entirely know, but she knows that there's a party and the guests are all Gryffindors," Kate explained. "You'll come, then?"
"Sure," Oliver promised. The girls started to leave, but he stopped them. "Oy!"
"Yeah?" Charity asked.
"What do I get her for a present?" he asked.
"Be creative," Charity ordered.
"She likes sports," Kate offered.
Oliver shook his head and walked away. He would have to find a present for this mysterious girl who he only just met, and to do that, he would need help. He decided to go to the Weasley twins. He found them lurking outside the library. "What are you lot doing?" he demanded.
"Nothing you need to worry your pretty little head over, Wood," George promised.
"We're just doing some research," Fred added. "Now, the real question is what are you doing?"
"I was looking for you lot," Oliver confessed. "I know you are mates with Amelia and her friends just invited me to the party on Saturday."
"And you need help choosing a present," George finished. Oliver nodded. "You've come to the right place. We'll sneak out to Hogsmeade on Saturday and help you find the perfect gift."
"Or you could just give me a suggestion and I can sneak out on my own," Oliver suggested.
"No, that will never do," Fred replied. "We will have to accompany you and ensure that you don't get into trouble or get lost trying to find your way back. Meet us in the common room at 10 tomorrow." Oliver reluctantly sighed and nodded; he left the twins who smirked at each other. "Our little Ollie is growing up," Fred joked.
"He might just get himself a girlfriend," George teased.
"And if he has other pursuits, maybe he'll ease up on us in Quidditch," Fred finished. "We've got to get them together." George agreed and they began plotting ways to make Oliver and Amelia spend more time together.
Oliver met them the next morning as directed and they led him to a secret passageway and into the village. Once they reached the village, Fred and George set off for Zonko's, promising Oliver that they would meet him behind the Three Broomsticks in an hour. Oliver wandered around, puzzling as to what to get Amelia since he didn't know her that well. Her friends insisted that she liked sports, so he stuck with what he knew and went to find her a book on Quidditch. He returned to meet Fred and George just in time.
"We were beginning to think you'd got lost, mate," George said. "What did you get her?"
Fred grabbed the bag and tutted. "Quidditch? Really, Oliver, you can do better."
"Weasley, I met her 3 days ago. I know that she is a prefect who likes sports. What else was I supposed to get her?"
"Since we know her better than you," George stated, "we can offer help. She does enjoy sports, but muggle sports. I don't know that she knows much about Quidditch."
"Which is why I got her the book, Weasley," Oliver said forcefully.
"I don't think she knows how to fly," Fred suggested, devising a plan to get Oliver to give Amelia flying lessons, and thereby spend loads of time with her. "Perhaps you could add to your present and offer to teach her."
Oliver stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Fred for a moment. "That's not a half-bad idea, Weasley. I am a fair flyer."
"Better than fair," George goaded. "And she might like the tutoring."
"Well spotted," Oliver joked. "Alright, I'll do it. I'll offer her flying lessons."
Oliver took the book up to his dorm when they returned to the common room to wrap it for her. Before wrapping, he wrote a quick inscription, which included an offer of flying lessons. He almost hoped that she would accept his offer of lessons.
By the time the party started, Oliver was second guessing his offer and concerned that she would see the offer as some sort of affront. Unfortunately, the present was wrapped and he couldn't take it back. He considered not bringing it until Fred and George barged into his room, grabbed him by the arms, and dragged him to the party. George also grabbed the present and brought it with him, placing it on the table when they arrived.
"I wasn't expecting you to come," Amelia said when she found Oliver 20 minutes later. "You probably had better things to do."
"Honestly, I didn't," Oliver promised. "And your friends invited me. They really are loyal sots."
Amelia laughed, not a giggle, but a real laugh. Oliver noted it because he rather enjoyed that she laughed; most girls just giggled. "They really are loyal. Someday I'll get them back for it." Oliver chuckled with her quietly.
Across the room, Charity and Kate exchanged knowing glances with each other. "What are we watching, ladies?" Fred asked.
"Just young love blossoming," Kate joked. "They seem to really like each other."
"Wait until you see his present," George promised, wiggling his eyebrows.
"What did he get her?" Charity asked, somewhat nervous.
"A book on Quidditch and an offer of flying lessons," Fred answered. Charity and Kate exchanged another look, almost nervous, but also, hopeful.
"It's about time," Kate exclaimed. "She needs to get herself a boyfriend. I mean, I know Paul was a jerk who messed her about, but Oliver seems like a decent person."
"He is a decent person," Fred promised. "A little fanatical about Quidditch, perhaps, but he's a good bloke."
On the other side of the room, Oliver and Amelia noticed the quartet together. "I think our friends are plotting something," Oliver whispered.
"Charity and Kate want desperately to see me paired up with someone. I guess they figure you'll do," Amelia joked. Oliver laughed out loud. "It's at least good to know you have a sense of humor."
"I do try, especially with Weasley and Weasley as beaters," Oliver answered.
"Can you tell them apart?" Amelia asked; Oliver shook his head. "George has an extra freckle on his neck and Fred is half an inch taller."
"Cheers," Oliver mused, catching that she was right, at least about the height difference. "I'll be sure to use that to my advantage. Of course, in the middle of a Quidditch match, it might be difficult to tell."
"George is left handed and Fred is right handed," she added. "Just watch which arms they use for their bats."
"Do you know Quidditch?"
"Not very well," she replied. "I play football since the rest of my family are muggles, as are the neighbors."
"What position do you play?" he asked.
"I'm a striker; I score goals," she explained. "And I know that you're the best Quidditch keeper in school."
"I don't know about the best," he answered.
"I do," she promised. "I've been to a few games."
"Why don't you play?" he asked.
"Honestly, I can't fly," she said. "I had a really hard time in first year and haven't been on a broom since."
"We'll have to remedy that," he said, with a wink. Then, he invited her to dance. Amelia was surprised, but took his outstretched hand and joined him in the middle of the common room where a make-shift dance floor had been set up.
Noticing that Amelia and Oliver were dancing, Fred motioned to Lee, who was the DJ, and got him to play a slow song. Amelia was going to leave Oliver when the music changed, but he grabbed her hand and held on to her. She nodded and danced with him, mentally kicking herself for letting herself like a boy again after Paul cheated on her and embarrassed her terribly in front of everyone.
"Whoever did it wasn't worth it, love," Oliver promised.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Whoever hurt you enough that you think you're not worthy of more than one dance wasn't worth your time, or your tears," he explained.
"Thanks," she replied smiling. "It was my last boyfriend, Paul. He cheated on me and embarrassed me in front of everyone last year."
"I remember that," Oliver said, recalling the events. "He stood on the Hufflepuff table and announced to everyone that you wouldn't shag him, right?"
"Thanks for that, but yeah, that was me," she answered.
"If I had known it was a fellow Gryffindor, I would have hexed him for you," he promised. "And that arse is definitely not worth anything. I promise I'll get him back for you."
"Cheers, and don't worry. Fred and George got him back for me," she said with a small smile. "The song's over." She left Oliver on the dance floor and went over to the drinks table.
"Everything alright, love?" George asked.
"It's fine, George," she answered. "But this party is getting old fast and I should probably get to my presents."
"Wait! What did Oliver say?" he demanded.
"Nothing bad," she replied. "He promised to get Paul back, but I'd really just rather forget the whole experience."
"Tell him that," Fred suggested. "He's a good bloke and he won't do anything to intentionally hurt you. Now, what about some presents?" She nodded and sat down to open her presents. She loved the jokes from Fred and George, would have rather lived without the naughty knickers from Charity and Kate who shared evil grins, and was pleasantly surprised to find a present from Oliver.
"You really didn't have to," she said quietly. He gave her a look and she opened the present. "A quidditch book? Nice."
"Read the inscription," he offered.
She read the note he had written on the inside of the book and smirked. "I'd love to," she answered.
"Then meet me here tomorrow morning at half-eight, yeah?"
"Yeah," she replied. "But I haven't got a broom."
"No worries, love. You can borrow one. I'm sure Fred won't mind, will you Fred?" he asked.
"Not at all, princess," Fred replied.
Amelia bade her friends good night and climbed the stairs to her dormitory. She changed into her favorite pajamas and snuggled under the covers on her bed. She was almost asleep when Kate and Charity barged in. "OH NO YOU DON'T," Kate shrieked. "You are not going to sleep right now."
"Why not?" Amelia demanded. "I'm tired and in my bed. I think it's the perfect time to go to sleep."
"We want to know what you and Ollie will be doing at half-eight tomorrow morning," Charity added, wiggling her eyes.
"Flying lessons," Amelia answered. "Nothing more, I promise."
"When these 'lessons' are done, we will, naturally, want all the salacious details," Kate prodded.
"I'm certain that there will be no salacious details," Amelia promised. "Now, I've got to get up early to meet Oliver tomorrow, so I'm going to bed."
The next morning, Amelia woke early and got dressed to meet Oliver. She brought the book with her and was reading by the fire when he entered the common room. "Are you always up early or was this all for me?" Oliver teased.
"Bugger all! You scared the life out of me," Amelia chided. "And I couldn't sleep, so I came to read. Thanks for the book."
"I'm glad you're enjoying it, love. Now, if you'd like to follow me for your lesson, we can head down to the pitch. Best to fly on an empty stomach if you're nervous." Amelia nodded and followed Oliver out of the portrait hole and down to the pitch.
She waited on the pitch while Oliver collected brooms from the changing rooms. "I've brought you Fred's broom," he said. "It's not the fastest broom on the team, which is probably best for a beginner." Oliver set the broom next to her on the ground. "Now, put your arm out over the broom and say 'UP.'"
Amelia did as Oliver instructed and the broom leapt into her hand. "Well done. Now, swing your leg over and mount your broom." Again, Amelia followed Oliver's instructions. "Great. For steering, put your dominant hand in front. To take off, bend your knees slightly and push off the ground. Hover for a few feet and set back down."
Amelia managed to hover, just as Oliver had told her, and set the broom down without incident. The next time she pushed off, she flew a little higher. She kept flying higher until Oliver mounted his broom and took off to catch up with her. "Keep training, love, and you can be a fair flyer," Oliver suggested.
"Thanks," she said. "I've never been able to do this before. I got really nervous when everyone else was learning with me."
"Are you ready to set back down and have breakfast?" Oliver asked. She nodded and they landed, returned the brooms, and headed into the castle for breakfast. At breakfast, Oliver agreed to keep giving Amelia lessons, as long as they would not interfere with Quidditch, and she gratefully accepted.
After breakfast, Kate and Charity were waiting for Amelia on the stairs to the girls' dormitory. "They want all the salacious details," she whispered to Oliver.
"There were no salacious details," he whispered back, their heads very close together.
"I know," she said.
"Let's give them some," he winked and kissed her, gently, on the lips.
"Thanks for the lessons," she said.
"Anytime, love. It was a pleasure flying with you." He smacked her arse as she strode to the stairways, earning a quick glare and a shout of, "Cheeky bugger" before she trotted up to the girls' dormitories.
Kate and Charity stood with mouths gaping as Amelia trotted by. They shook off the shock and followed her upstairs. "What just happened?" Charity demanded.
"You were watching," Amelia cheeked. "You saw everything."
"Those must have been some good flying lessons," Kate teased. Amelia giggled and told the girls that nothing interesting happened on the pitch except flying and that Oliver was just being cheeky in the common room. "I doubt it," Charity insisted, but Amelia wouldn't budge.
In the boys' dormitories, Oliver was set upon by Fred and George. "Don't worry, Fred, your broom survived," he promised. "She's actually set to be a fair flyer."
"We heard, from a little birdie," George started.
"That you just kissed her," Fred finished.
"Aye, I did," Oliver admitted. "It was a joke on her friends who were waiting for the details of a whole lot of nothing."
"Olly, when are you going to wise up and get a girlfriend," George demanded.
"I don't have girlfriends," Oliver replied, rolling his eyes. "I have friends who are girls, but I don't date."
"Maybe it's time to start," Fred suggested. "She's pretty, smart, athletic, and funny."
"Also, she's not entirely impressed by your Oliver-ness," George finished. "She's the perfect girl for you." Oliver rolled his eyes and sent the twins out of his room. When he was finally alone, he heaved a sigh; if he was being truthful, what the twins suggested wasn't a bad idea. He really did like Amelia and enjoyed all the time he spent with her.
But he worried that she might not like him, at least not in a way that the twins (and he, for that matter) wanted. It had happened before; he had liked a girl and found out either she was a total twit or she didn't like him back. Amelia seemed different though. She definitely wasn't a giggling twit, and she seemed like a genuinely good person.
Oliver decided not to do anything for the moment. He agreed, to himself, that he would keep giving her flying lessons and simply see what happened. If they were both still single by the next Hogsmeade trip, he might invite her for a butterbeer.