Prompt #2
Requested by @antihoshial

Part Two will be in Book 2!

Summary: You're dating Oliver Wood, but your relationship is a secret. It's been fun hiding it, but now you're ready to just give it up and be open about it. Oliver, however, is not...

QOTP: Hermione and Ron or Hermione and Fred?

Word Count: 1430

The Owlery isn't exactly the most romantic place in the world, but it's what you're dealing with — and, honestly, it's worth it.

It's one of the only places you get to see your boyfriend, Oliver Wood, and actually act like he's your boyfriend.

Your relationship is a secret. Has been since it started around the big Quidditch game between Gryffindor and Slytherin a number of months ago. You didn't want anyone thinking anything was going on because you knew whoever lost would accuse the other for cheating or something — it just would've been a whole mess. After the game — which Gryffindor won — you just kept it a secret. Oliver wanted to; he said it was more fun that way.

"I wish I could live in this moment forever," you say quietly, your head on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around you while you sit on the floor.

He chuckles. "Really? Because it doesn't smell too great in here."

You shove him lightly. "Oh, you know what I mean."

He kisses your forehead. "Yeah, I do," he admits. "And I wish I could, too." He looks up, out the window in front of you. "The sun's about to rise; we gotta go."

You groan, standing with him. "Why?"

He kisses you, a little amused. "I'll see you at breakfast."

You frown. "Not really."

"Then I'll see you tonight. Empty classroom this time. It's a bit gross in here."

You sigh, smiling a little when you think about seeing him later tonight. "Okay. Love you."

"Love you, too."

And you part ways, heading to your respective common rooms, experts at not getting caught by now.

////

You walk into the Great Hall with your best friend — who doesn't know about Oliver — having only got a couple hours of sleep. As you talk about meaningless things, your eyes search for Oliver at the Gryffindor table. You find him.

He's already looking at you.

You smile a little, then turn away, going to sit down at the Slytherin table.

You wish you could just go over there and kiss him good morning. Something just that simple.

Or you wish you could smile at him — really smile at him — and tell him, "I love you," at any time of day. You wish you could sit near him in the classes you have together and sit in the library and study together. You wish you could sit by the Black Lake, under the tree, just like you sat in Owlery.

You sigh.

"What's wrong?" your friend asks, spreading butter on her toast. "Who do I need to punch in the face?"

You laugh lightly. "No one, Y/F/N. I'm fine. Just tired."

But you're not fine. Not really. You resist turning around to look back at Oliver.

////

Class with him is even worse.

You walk into Potions and sit down with your friend, glancing over at him across the room. He looks back at you, smiles a little. You smile, too, then turn away. You turn back to the table, still smiling. Reminding yourself you get to see him tonight.

Your friend looks at you, mouth open. "Merlin's beard..."

"What?" you ask.

"I knew it," she says.

"What-"

"Don't think I haven't noticed you sneaking out at night," she interrupts. "And I thought I saw you looking at him a few times, but I wasn't sure. This time, though... Wow. I actually can't believe it."

"What are you talking about?"

"You and Oliver Wood," she says, rolling her eyes. "You're dating."

A little panicked, you insist, "We aren't dating-"

"Oh, please."

"We're not."

She's still skeptical. "Yeah, okay."

You glance back at Oliver. "We're not..."

It certainly doesn't feel like it half the time.

////

When you meet him in the empty classroom that night, he's smiling. "Hey, love." He kisses you, but you don't kiss back. His brows furrow. "What's wrong?"

You sigh, leaning on the nearest empty table. "I don't want to keep this a secret anymore."

His face falls. He seems disappointed. "Why?"

"It's frustrating seeing you and not being able to be your girlfriend all the time. I wanna tell you, 'I love you,' and kiss you and-and be with you. I mean, I can't even look at you for too long in case someone finds out. Y/F/N figured it out in Potions today because I looked at you for two seconds."

He runs a hand through his hair, biting his lip. "Will she tell?"

You step forward and grab his hands. "No, she won't, but — Oliver, I want to tell. I can't do this anymore. It's only a matter of time before we get caught by Filch sneaking out like this anyway."

Oliver sighs. "But, Y/N, we have to."

"Why?" you ask. "Because of the next Gryffindor versus Slytherin match?"

"Ye-Yeah," Oliver stutters. "I mean, people would think-"

You drop his hands, stepping back and gesturing with your own. "Who cares about what people would think?!"

"Y/N-"

"All you care about is Quidditch."

"That's not true!" he shouts back, both of you having throwing caution to the wind at this point. "I care about you!"

"If you cared about me, you would be okay with us not being a secret!"

"But we can't!"

"Because of stupid Quidditch?!"

He hesitates. "Y/N-"

You scoff. "Merlin's beard, it is because of Quidditch."

"It's not!"

"Then what's it about, Oliver?! What else is there?!"

He goes quiet, and when he speaks again, his voice is much lower. "Look, when we get out of Hogwarts, we won't have to keep it a secret anymore-"

"Oliver, that's ridiculous! That's far too long!"

"Well, what do you want me to do?! We don't have any other options here!"

"Why not?! And if you tell me it's because of Quidditch, I promise you I am going to lose it-"

"You've already lost it-!"

"Just tell me why, and I'll drop it! I deserve to know why!"

Oliver runs a his hand through his hair again, hesitating, then finally tells you. "You're a Slytherin, Y/N!" He shakes his head. "You're a Slytherin..."

You're speechless for a few moments, and when you can speak, all you say is, "What?"

"You're a Slytherin," he repeats. "If my House knows I'm dating you, then that's it. I-I'll be made fun of, I'll be labeled a traitor-"

"You think I won't? The You-Know-Who, Pureblood devotees would get the entire House to shun me, probably even spit in my face. And you know what? I wouldn't care. Not if I had you."

He sees that you've started to cry, and he can only sit there and look defeated. "Y/N..."

"But you don't want to lose your precious spot as Quidditch Captain, do you? Because they'll surely take that away from you if they find out you're dating an evil, horrible, Death Eater Slytherin."

"Y/N, that's not what I meant. You're not like that..." He sighs. "Out of all the Slytherins, I chose you-"

"Oh, please-"

"Because you're you. You're not like them."

"You think I'm the only good one?" you ask angrily. "You think I'm the only good egg in basket, do you?"

"I-"

"Do you think Y/F/N is evil?"

"No, of course not."

You shake your head as if you can't believe you're having this conversation with him right now. "Yeah, we've had some bad people in our House. Yes, we have some in there now. But being a Slytherin doesn't automatically mean you're evil. I stand by my House. Always. That's my family."

"I'm sorry-"

"I know you are. You should be. And I know it's not your fault that the rest of your House — and the rest of this school — thinks that we're all evil. But you care so much about their opinion that you're ashamed of me."

"I'm not."

"I find that hard to believe."

"I love you," he says weakly.

"Obviously not enough. Have fun being Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Oliver. Hope it's worth it." And with that, you sneak back into your common room, crying silent tears until you manage to fall asleep.

But you'll get over him eventually. You deserve better. You know that.