"Sullivan! Pay attention!" I shook my head. "This is the B team's first match of season look alive!" I couldn't, my mind was on other things. On another person. "We're against Gryffindor, our greatest enemies!"

"There you go again with the rivalry." Juan audibly growled. "But let's go." I led the way onto the pitch and took my position. I scanned the crowd almost immediately. Then I saw him, in the stands. I smiled.

"Sullivan, stay focused!" I shook myself and turned my attention on the game. During the game, I scored a few points and then the Snitch was released and I saw our Seeker go for it. I scored a few more points. One of the Gryffindors sent one of the balls my way and it hit me in the head. Dazed, I fell off my broom and then everything went black.

When I woke up, I was in the infirmary and my head was pounding. I looked around, though my vision was fuzzy. I heard Madam Pomfrey's voice. "Okay, but only for an hour." The boy she was talking to walked over to me.

"Sully! I was so worried!" He said and I instantly recognized him.

"Alder! How long have I been out?"

"About two days."

"Two days? Who won the match?"

"You wake up and that's the first thing you ask?" I blushed.

"I don't know what else to ask."

"It's fine, Slytherin won. After you passed out your Seeker caught the Snitch ending the match." He smiled at me.

"Oh cool..." I murmured, trying to withhold the  joy that he'd come to visit me.

"You were really great up there until, the ball hit you and you passed out." I blushed a bit at the compliment. "And I wanted to thank you for standing up for me the other day, and that Silencing Charm was brilliant."

"Well, he called you something rude and I... I.... guess I snapped."

"I admit, you are kind of scary when you snap."

"Eh!" I said quietly, smiling. He giggled.

"But I.... liked that you stood up for me. It was really brave." If I wasn't already as red as a tomato, I bet I was now.

"T-Thanks," I stammered. "It was nothing really." Alder gave me a look but grinned. His gaze softened. "I wonder how getting hit in head with a ball knocked me out for a few days?"

"I don't know either," Alder replied. He looked at the clock. "Still have a few minutes." He looked back at me.

"Awesome," I said and we chatted for a bit more.

"Time's up!"

"I have to go, hope see you in class again." I smiled as he left, letting the suppressed joy flow over me.

———
When I was healed, I was sitting in Defense Against The Dark Arts. The teacher looked at me as I walked in. "Ah, Sullivan, the head of the gossip."

"Head of the gossip?"

"Nevermind, Nevermind. Today, we'll be revising the Patronus Charm. Henry, care to demonstrate?"

"Gladly," replied the Slytherin. "Expecto Patronum!" A silver fox came out of his wand before disappearing.

"Excellent! Benny?"

"Expecto Patronum!" A porcupine walked out of his wand before disappearing. He returned to sitting next to me. "You're next."

"Sullivan?"

"Okay." I focused on a happy memory. Meeting Alder and then I shouted,"Expecto Patronum!" What came out of my wand surprised me. Instead of a hare, as it usually was, it was a she-wolf. It changed. My Patronus changed. I'd seen Alder cast the spell before. His Patronus was a wolf.

"It changed! Oh my word!" Benny said, dumbfounded. "Can it even do that?" The teacher walked over to me.

"Meet me in the hall," he said and I followed him. "Why did it change?"

"I don't know."

"Did you know it changed?"

"No."

"Sullivan, you do know what this means right?"

"No."

"Your Patronus would only change if you felt a strong attraction to someone. Meaning, you like someone, a lot." I blinked.

Is that person Alder?