It's funny how our cat lady hasn't removed quidditch from school activities. She probably also has a soft side for young boys in uniform too, but the real question is: who will she be rooting for today? Ravenclaw vs Gryffindor is certainly the most coveted match of the season, but the author will not reveal its preference. May the best team win.

The Whispering Quill, L.V.

Aria walked toward the Quidditch pitch with her friends, joining the excited crowd gathering for the match. She had painted both Ravenclaw and Gryffindor colors on her cheeks, cheering for both teams. Pansy rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. To her, Aria should have been supporting only her fellow Slytherins.

On the pitch, Fred and George watched the students from afar, dressed in their Quidditch uniforms, brooms in hand. Fred's eyes immediately found Aria in the stands, her hair in two playful ponytails, her smile bright as sunlight. His heart skipped a beat, a reaction that puzzled him. Shaking his head, he recalled the day he first met her in the Forbidden Forest, when he had saved her life. Aria was different, far more than just a popular, sharp-tongued Slytherin.

As Fred pondered this, George remarked about the snobbishness of Slytherins. Fred frowned, unsure how to respond. Defending Aria would be tricky, after all, they were from different houses, considered natural rivals in the Hogwarts mindset. He certainly couldn't reveal the details of their encounter; George would never let him live it down. Still, he spoke.

"Oi, George, that's not fair. Aria's not like the other Slytherins. She's different."
George raised an eyebrow in surprise. "And why do you say that? None of us has ever interacted with her, and we probably never will. She's popular, admired by everyone, which probably makes her feel like the princess of the school... But she's a Slytherin, so that's all we need to know."
"She may be a Slytherin, but she's not all bad. I've seen her kindness and bravery firsthand. Don't judge her based on stereotypes."
"Did you interact with her to say so?"
"I may not have interacted much, but I've seen enough to know she's not what everyone thinks. Give her a chance, mate."
George stared at him, suspicious of what Fred was hiding. "Look, just stay away from her. I don't care what you did, but stop before something bad happens. Stop thinking about that girl and get on with your life." He headed toward the locker room, leaving Fred to steal one last glance at Aria before following.

"Hey Fred, good luck out there. Want an encouragement kiss?" Angelina tapped him on the back with her broom, a playful smirk on her lips as the rest of the team giggled.
Fred blushed and rolled his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you? Stop provoking me. We broke up... there's no point in insisting."
Feigning offense, she leaned closer. "It's about that girl you've been eyeing for weeks, isn't it? Honestly, you're wasting your time. I heard she and Draco... they do things... together."
Fred turned to face her, irritated and nervous. "I appreciate your concern, but you're not my psychologist, and you shouldn't mind her business either. Just focus on playing better than last time; that's all that matters."

Angelina crossed her arms, offended, as Fred walked to the field with the team. His mind, however, refused to concentrate.

From the stands, Aria watched the match with her friends, her gaze drifting to the red-haired boy on the pitch. She had to admit, the uniform looked good on him. Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. Fred tried to focus on the game, blocking thoughts of Aria and the warnings from Angelina and George.
But he was too distracted. His usual skill and confidence vanished as he kept glancing at her, fumbling and making mistakes.

"Focus, Fred!" George yelled.
"Just shut up and leave it to me! I know what I'm doing!" Fred snapped.
Ten minutes into the game, a bludger hit him, and he tumbled from his broom. Aria gasped, her heart racing with worry, while Pansy, Draco, and other Slytherins laughed. Her glare silenced them instantly.

Fred was quickly carried to the infirmary, surrounded by his team and friends. "He'll be fine. Everyone, go away, he needs rest," Madam Pomfrey instructed.

By dinner, when the infirmary was empty, Aria returned to check on him. She was a volunteer nurse, taking care of patients that night. Fred smirked upon seeing her, their paths converging once more.

"Look who's here. Thanks for checking on me, Aria. I guess I owe you one for saving me from this boring infirmary. Are you here for me?"
She shook her head and began inspecting his injuries, eliciting a grimace from him.
"I'm a volunteer. I took the course and can handle silly wizards who get hurt, like you," she said, suppressing a smile.
"Guess I'm lucky to have such a talented nurse. But next time, let's meet under better circumstances, okay?"
"I think we have a gift for meeting in unpleasant circumstances," she replied, recalling their first encounter in the Forbidden Forest.
"I guess so, but at least we get to spend some time together."
"Patients should be quiet and get well, not make friends with nurses," Aria teased, making Fred smile.
"I can't help it if I enjoy your company, Ary. Even if it's in an infirmary."
"You don't know me. We just had a ten-minute chat weeks ago. How can you assume you enjoy my company?"
"Because in those ten minutes, you made me laugh and forget my worries. That's a pretty good sign, don't you think?"
Aria froze, speechless. "You're ridiculous. Just forget about me, I'm here to take care of you as a patient, nothing more."
"Maybe, but I hope you'll think differently once I'm back on my feet. And I won't let you forget me that easily."
Aria rolled her eyes as she tended to his wounds. He winced but bore it.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, meeting his eyes.
"Of course it hurts! I fell from my broom! But if it means I get to spend time with you, maybe it's not so bad."
She placed her hands on her hips. "Are you always that flirty?"
"You have no idea. But I think you'll find out soon enough," he said, winking. "Besides, who wouldn't want to flirt with someone as beautiful and charming as you?"
"Everyone does. That's the problem. I'm the prettiest girl in school; everyone flirts with me, I'm used to it," she sighed.
"Pretty or not, I can't help being drawn to you. I want to see what we have in common."
"Look, don't. It's nonsense. We come from different worlds. Better if our paths don't intertwine. Aaand... done." She finished patching his wounds.
"We may come from different worlds, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends."
Aria ignored him, filling a spoon with medicine. "Take it. It'll help you recover faster."
Fred reluctantly took it, his mind racing with thoughts of her and how he could convince her to give him a chance. I refuse to give up on her, no matter how stubborn she may be, he thought.
"Is there anything I can do to change your mind, Ary? I promise, I won't give up until I win you over."
"I'm serious. Forget about me. Forcing things won't help. Just let it go." With that, she moved on to another patient.

Fred couldn't stop thinking about her confidence and independence. Even as she cared for others, he was consumed with thoughts of finding a way to win her over.

Later that night, Fred lay in the infirmary bed, while Aria completed her night shift. Spotting the emergency button next to his bed, he couldn't resist pressing it with a mischievous grin.
Aria appeared immediately, arms crossed. "Why did you press the button? You're fine."
"I didn't press it for me, I pressed it to see you again."
She rolled her eyes and tossed a pillow at his face. "You should sleep to recover faster. Maybe you just needed an extra pillow."
"Is that the legendary Slytherin charm? Because I'm not buying it."
She giggled. "I'm serious. You're in the infirmary because you were hit during Quidditch. Now you need to get well."
"I can sleep better knowing you're here."
Fred's smooth talking made her smile as she helped him lie down. He felt grateful for their second "accidental" encounter.
"You're not the only patient here, you know?" she asked, filling another spoon with medicine.
"Can you at least pretend to care, Ary? I was hit by a bludger."
She nodded and handed him the spoon. "Sure. That was terrible. Now eat and sleep."
Fred patted the spot next to his bed, hoping she'd sit. She hesitated, then cautiously joined him.
He got lost in her piercing gaze, wondering what else there was to discover about the mysterious Slytherin.
"If I sit here, will you sleep?" she asked gently.
"I'll sleep just to impress you."
Aria laughed. "That's nonsense. What does that mean?" Her laugh was music to his ears, and he wanted more.

As they talked, Aria shared personal details as if he were an old friend. "My mom's a wizard, my dad a werewolf. People think kids are usually fifty-fifty, but I'm 100% wizard. Only my hearing, sight, and senses are like a werewolf's."
"That's fascinating! You must have incredible abilities. And you've never told anyone about your werewolf heritage?"
She shrugged. "It's not the first thing people notice. They see a Slytherin, a pureblood with a cold, sharp personality. They don't notice my heritage because I look like a normal, pretty wizard, nice scent, no body hair. But I'm 100% magical." She giggled, making Fred smile.
"So that explains your mysterious aura. You're one of a kind, Aria."
"I'm just a normal girl no one really knows. People stop at appearances and think only of my looks, craving attention. They're not truly interested in me."
"But I am. And I promise I'll never stop discovering all the different parts of you, no matter how hidden."
Her eyes widened, and she blushed, looking away. "That's stupid. Forget it. I'm not special. Tell me about your family."
"I have a twin, George. We inherited our father's humor and love for pranks. Our family is big, loud, and chaotic, I wouldn't trade them for anything."
She smiled sweetly. "It must be nice. How many siblings do you have?"
"Seven, including George and me. Our parents always say: 'The more, the merrier!'"
"I'm an only child. My mom has two brothers; my dad was an only child. Sometimes I wonder what it's like to have a sibling."
"I can assure you, having a brother is both a blessing and a curse. I wouldn't have it any other way. So why are you a nurse here?"
"I studied first aid to help at the infirmary. It's quiet, and no one notices me. I always take weekend shifts and the Saturday night shift. Sunday's free for homework or rest," she said proudly.
Fred was captivated. "I wish I could help you here. Maybe I could sneak in sometime."
"I like working alone. Also, you'd need a first aid course. But for now, close your eyes and sleep. You'll be fully recovered tomorrow." She winked.
"Are you trying to get rid of me? I'm a great nurse-in-training. I can assist you."
"Just sleep. Tomorrow you'll be out of the infirmary, and we won't see each other again," she said, yawning—it was already two a.m.
Fred's heart hurt. "You can't get rid of me that easily. I'll find you around school or help you in the infirmary, even sneaking in after hours."
"I'll be careful to avoid you. Goodnight, Fred."
"I can't wait to see you try. Goodnight."

The next day, Aria finished her shift and returned to the common room to sleep. Fred woke to find her gone. Dismissed from the infirmary, he searched the castle, hoping to see her or hear her laugh. She was nowhere, and he felt disappointed, suspecting she avoided him deliberately.

George found him. "Finally dismissed! Where have you been?"
"I was looking for a certain Slytherin who seems to be avoiding me."
George rolled his eyes. "Stop obsessing. You two don't belong together. Why not try making things right with Angelina instead?"
Fred rolled his eyes. Angelina, his ex, had no claim on him. He was drawn to Aria and refused to give up, even if he had to let fate work. George continued nagging, but Fred couldn't shake the pull he felt toward Aria. Her absence only made him want to find her more, though he couldn't ignore George's words. Walking through the halls, he wondered if their paths would cross again and if fate had a plan for them.