For Pairing the Character (OliverDaphne)

Count Your Buttons (broom)

Daphne delights in the way Oliver stares at her. Her hard work has clearly paid off. She pauses, smoothing a hand over her emerald grown and offering him a grin with her perfectly painted red lips.

She expects him to tell her how nice she looks. After all, she spent hours picking out the right dress and fixing her hair and makeup to impress this famous Quidditch player. Instead, he raises his brows and says, "Can you fly in that? I can wait for you to change into something more comfortable."

Fly? Daphne purses her lips in confusion. Really, she shouldn't be surprised. She remembers him from Hogwarts; his passion for Quidditch has always been ridiculous. Still, most people don't take their dates out flying.

She offers him a shrug, tossing her dark curls over her shoulder. "I think I can manage."

Oliver offers her his hand, which she accepts. "Then, by all means," he says.

…

Daphne lets out a thrilled squeal as she soars through the air. The wind whips at her hair and destroys the style, but it doesn't matter. There's something about the adrenaline in her veins that makes worrying about her appearance feel silly. Besides, Oliver looks at her like she's the most spectacular thing in the world.

"Never seen anyone fly in an evening gown," he notes as they land on the ground. "I'm impressed."

Daphne beams and kicks off her heels, enjoying the feeling of the cool grass against her bare feet. "You can be stylish and talented at the same time," she laughs.

He watches her for a moment before chuckling. "I wonder if you can handle a Beater's bat like that."

"I've never actually played Quidditch before," she admits.

"Well," he says, closing the distance between them, "I guess that can be our second date."

He says it like it's a natural thing, like he isn't out here with her just because she'd won the date in the Quidditch League's charity auction.

"Second date?"

"If you want to go on one, that is."

Her lips quirk into a soft smile, and she nods. "A second date would be lovely."

As she mounts her broom for another flying session, she can't help but grin. She thinks of her friends who have won dates with other Quidditch players. Undoubtedly, they are out at fancy restaurants or something similar. But, in the end, they won't have anything other than a few good memories.

Daphne has the start of something real with Oliver Wood.