Fifth Year,
Golden Snidget.

Care of Magical Creatures was a subject she enjoyed. For one it was outdoors which was better than being stuck in a boring classroom. And two she got to spend her day with Magical creatures, she often found herself wondering how her cousin could ever be scared of such things.

As she made her way across the field towards the edge of the forest, where the class took place. She stumbled over the uneven ground, dropping her books, a person knelt down to help her. She looked up to thank them, she found them smirking down at her.

"Why are you helping me?" she questioned Oliver, taking her books from him.

"Is it so hard to believe that I can be nice to you,"

"No, it's just you never are," he smiled at her as she fought the urge to smile back.

"Well, I can be nice," he smiled at her again, quickly eyeing her up and down, "You look pretty today," he continued towards their class, while her feet stayed rooted to the ground.

Pretty? He's complimenting me now, what's he playing at?

She was certain that Oliver had an ulterior motive to compliment her for no reason. Helping her pick up her books, could he have actually been sincere? No, he couldn't. She shook her head there was no way he was complimenting her to simply be nice.

"Can anyone tell me, what animal was used in early Quidditch games?" Louisa's hand shot into the area. "Yes, Miss Parker,"

"The Golden Snidget, many wizards hunted the animal to the point of near extinction, until the Golden Snitch was created to replace the bird,"

"Excellent, 10 points to Hufflepuff," he awarded, turning to the rest of the class "the bird is critically endangered, many live in sanctuaries, and wildlife parks, you most likely wouldn't find one in the wild today,"

She smiled as the little bird fluttered around the students repeatedly going back to its handler for a little treat. She caught Oliver's gaze, he quickly turned his attention to the bird, surely he knew the answer too, why didn't he answer?

This new attitude of his wasn't going unnoticed, whatever happened over the summer clearly had affected his ability to be himself around. This persona he was projecting wasn't the Oliver Wood she knew. He was kind enough to offer her help, comforting her over Ethan's new relationship with Penelope.

She continued to listen in class pushing Oliver out of her mind and failing miserably. Her mind was stuck on him, something wasn't right he wasn't acting like himself, the arrogant, self-entitled, prick he would be to her.

He couldn't change that much, she would know for sure whether he had changed during their first Quidditch Match, however, there were two games before they would play against each other. Gryffindor verse Slytherin, while Hufflepuff played against Ravenclaw.

She made a plan to watch him during his first game to see if he played differently if he didn't then she knew nothing had changed. Unless he only played differently with her on the opposite team, she shuddered at the thought of her affecting him.

What am I thinking I could never have an effect on him.

"Hey, Lou, fancy going to the lake with me?" Penelope asked.

"Actually, I need lulu for something," Oliver butted in, she shook her head at him.

"No, he doesn't-

"I do, need you Lou,"

"Okay we, another time then," Penelope said, walking away with Percy and Ethan

"Why would you do that?" she asked, "and it's Louisa to you, not Lou and certainly not lulu,"

"Aww, you don't like Lulu, I think it's cute," she decided to play his game, twirling her hair she smiled.

"You think am cute," she let out a little giggle, "I think you're cute too," she whispered, "I guess I never noticed it before just how cute you are,"

Then he smiled, genuinely smiling at her the kind of smile he would have around Ethan, laughing with his best friend. It did make him look cute. What the hell am I thinking? She quickly smiled, he looked around making sure nobody could hear him when he leaned in and whispered.

"I'm more than certain you'd look hot in nothing but my quidditch shirt," her mouth fell open unable to conjure words. He lifted her chin closing her mouth for her, "I like this,"

"Like what?" she said quietly.

"This, you and me, not arguing for a change," he said, she cursed herself for smiling at him. "Ethan was going to the lake, I doubt you wanted to watch him and Penny,"

"You know Ethan and I didn't have a bad breakup and we never did anything just kisses here and there, I did like him, but some part of me thinks we were never meant to cross that line of friendship," she looked away from him when he didn't speak.

"What are destined to be?" he asked, she pursed her lips.

"Quidditch Rivals for Life," he chuckled.

"No seriously, are we destined to be friends, foes, lovers,"

"Not lovers that's for sure," he smirked at her, "stop that," he smirked more. "Serious, stop before I hex you," he chuckled

"That's my Girl," he quickly grazed his thumb down her cheek, before walking away.

"What the hell was that?" she questioned everything that just happened, he was flirting with her and worst of all she liked it. For the first time since knowing Oliver Wood, she had no idea how to respond to him.

Do I call his bluff?

Or play along?