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 was walking to the Quidditch pitch for the game with her friends and a crowd of people excited for the match.
She painted both Ravenclaw and Gryffindor colors on her cheeks to cheer for both of them and Pansy rolled her eyes, clearly not proud of her friend. She should have cheered only for her Slytherins fellows.

Fred and George looked at the students from afar at the pitch with their quidditch uniforms on and their brooms in their hands.
Fred spotted Aria from the stands, her hair in two ponytails and her bright smile. His heart skipped a beat and that's was odd, he didn't know why was happening, but just shook his head.
He suddenly remembered their first meeting days ago, when he saved her life in the forbidden forest. She was different to him, not just a popular and obnoxious slytheryn.
As Fred thought about that, George made a comment about how snob slytherins were.
Fred frowned at George, unsure of what to say. He couldn't defend or nominate Aria, after all they were from different houses, so like enemies in the Hogwarts's mindset opinion, and couldn't tell about his encounter with her, or George would be mad about it. He knew his twins and his Gryffindor friends so damn well.
But he did it anyway.

"Oi, George, that's not fair. Aria's not like other Slytherins. She's different"
George raised an eyebrow surprised.
"And why do you say so? None of us ever interacted with her and never will, she is popular, admired by all the students and that will certainly made her feel like the princess of the school... But she is a Slytherin, so the worst spices. 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 the stereotypes"
"Did you interact with her to say so?"
"I may not have interacted with her much, but I have seen enough to know she's not what everyone thinks. Give her a chance, mate"
George gazed at him, thinking what Fred was hiding and what really happened.
"Look, just stay away from her, I don't mind what you did, but stop before something bad happens. Stop thinking about that girl and continue your life as usual" Said George heading to the locker room to their team as Fred gave a last glance to Aria before following him with a sigh.

"Hey Fred, good luck out there. Do you want an encouragement kiss?" Angelina tapped his back with the broom, a smirk appearing on her lips as the rest of the team giggled.
Fred blushed embarrassed and rolled his eyes.
"How many times do I have to tell you that you shouldn't provoke me? We broke up, there's no point in insisting"
She pretended to be offended.
"It's about that girl you've been eyeing for weeks, isn't it? In my opinion you're just wasting your time, I heard that she and Draco... They do things... Together"
He turned around to face her, nervous and irritated.
"I appreciate your concern, but you're not my psychologist, and you shouldn't mind her business either. Just think about playing better than last time, we need it"
The team laughed and Angelina crossed her arms, offended by his words.
Fred took to the field with the other members of the team, nervous and irritated, his concentration had now abandoned him.

As the match started, Aria was looking the quidditch game with her friends from the stands. She smiled involuntarily at the sight of the boy with red hair, and she had to admit that the uniform looked good on him.
It was Gryffindor against Ravenclaw and Fred was ready to start the game, trying to not think about Aria, who was watching, and Angelina or George's words.

Fred, on the other hand, was too distracted that couldn't focus on the game. He was struggling. His usual skill and confidence seemed to have vanished. He couldn't help but kept throwing glances at Aria throughout the game, causing him to fumble and make mistakes.
George glared at him.
"What's going on?! Focus on the game!" Said George yelling to Fred.
"Just shut up and leave it to me, I know what I'm doing!"
Short story long, Fred was suddenly hit by a bludger and fell from the broom after ten minutes the game started.
Aria gasped in shock, her heart racing with worry as Pansy, Draco and other Slytherin laughed. She glared at them, making them stop in an instant.

Fred was taken to the infirmary, surrounded by his team and friends.
"He will be fine, now everyone go away, he needs to rest" Said madam Pomfrey as they all walked outside.

It was now dinner time and when no one was there, Aria entered to check ok him.
She was a volounteer as a nurse and had to check the patients that night.
Fred smirked seeing her, knowing paths put them together.

"Look who is there. 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 started checking his wounds as Fred grimaced for the pain.
"I'm a volunteer here in the infirmary, I took the course and I can take care of silly wizards who get hurt like you" She said sarcastically, stifling a smile.
"Guess it's my lucky day then, to have such a talented volunteer taking care of me. But next time, let's meet under better circumstances, would you mind?"
"I think we have a gift to meet under unpleasant circumstances" Replied her remembering their first meeting in the forbidden forest against a dangerous magical creature, and now after an accident.
"I guess so, but at least we get to spend some time together"
"Patients should shut up and get well, not make friends with nurses" Said Aria playfully making Fred smile even more. 
"I can't help it if I enjoy your company, Ary. Even if it's in an infirmary"
She shook her head.
"You don't know me, we just had a chat of ten minutes weeks ago, how can you assume that you enjoy my company?"
"Because in those ten minutes, you were able to make me laugh and forget about my worries. That's a pretty good sign in my book, don't you think?"
Aria stood still, speechless.
"You are silly, 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 trust me, I won't let you forget about me that easily"

Aria rolled her eyes and touched his wounds. He felt the pain, but suffocated it.
"Does it hurt?" Asked her looking into his eyes.
"Of course it hurts, I fell from my broom! But if being hurt means I get to spend time with you, then maybe it's not so bad after all"
She placed her hands on her waist.
"Are you always that flirty?" Asked annoyed as she started to treat his wounds with bandages.
"You have no idea. But I have a feeling you'll find out soon enough" He said with a playful wink. "Besides, who wouldn't want to flirt with someone as beautiful and charming as you?"
She sighed annoyed.
"Everyone does. That's the problem. I am the prettiest girl in school and everyone flirts with me, I'm used to it" 
"Pretty or not, I can't help but be drawn to you. And I can't wait to see what we have in common"
She sighed once again.
"Look, don't do it, it's nonsense. We are from different worlds and it's better if our paths don't intertwine. Aaand... Done" Said after she finished to put patches on his wounds and he looked at that.
"We may come from different worlds, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends"
Aria ignored him and filled a spoon with a medicine for Fred.
"Take it, so you will recover faster"
Fred reluctantly took the medicine, but his mind was already racing with thoughts of that beautiful girl next to him and how could convince her to give him a chance.
I refuse to give up on her, no matter how stubborn she may be. Thought drinking the medicine.
"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. It's useless force things up, just let it go"
And with that, Aria went to another patient to help him.

Fred couldn't help but be mesmerized by Aria's confidence and independence. Even as she tended to others, his thoughts were consumed with finding a way to change her mind.

As the night arrived, Fred was still in the infirmary bed. Madam Pomfrey said that he needed be controlled after his accident.
Aria was still working there since she had the night shift and Fred knew it. Suddenly he noticed that the emergency button was right next to his bed, and with a mischievous grin he couldn't resist pressing it to summon Aria by his side.
She walked to him, but when she saw Fred all healthy she crossed her arms.
"Why did you press the button? You are fine"
"Well, I didn't press it for me, I pressed it to see you again"
She rolled her eyes and threw a pillow to his face.
"You should sleep to recover faster, maybe you just needed an extra pillow" Said sarcastically.
"Is that the legendary Slytherin charm? Because I'm not buying it"
She giggled.
"I'm serious, sick people have to sleep. You are in the infirmary because you get hit during the Quidditch game, and now you have to get well"
"I can sleep better knowing you're by my side"
Fred couldn't believe that his smooth talking actually made Aria smile.
As she helped him lay down, he couldn't help but feel grateful for his second "accidental" encounter with her.
"You are not the only patient here in the infirmary, you know that?" Asked her filling another spoon with the medicine.
He rolled his eyes.
"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 that and sleep" Said giggling, but Fred frowned.
He patted the spot next to his bed, wanting her to sit and chat to know her better, she was a hard one and Fred wanted to know her deeply. He watched as Aria hesitated before eventually sitting next to him, cautious but curious.

Fred felt himself getting lost in her piercing gaze and wondering what else there was to discover about this mysterious Slytherin.
"If I sit here, will you sleep?" Asked her with a gentle expression.
"I'll sleep just to impress you"
Aria laughed at his statement.
"That's nonsense. What does that mean?" Her laugh was like music to his ears and he found himself wanting to make her laugh more.

They started to talk and Aria ended talking about herself like if Fred was an old friend.
"My mom is a wizard and my dad is a werewolf. People think that kids usually are 50% of both sides but I am 100% wizard, only the earing, sight and sense is the one of a werewolf" Said her as Fred listened amazed.
"That's fascinating. You must have some incredible abilities. And you never told anyone about your werewolf heritage?"
She scrolled her shoulders.
"It's not the first people notice about me. They just think I am a Slytherin so I am a pureblood with a cold and wit personality, and probably they don't notice my werewolf heritage because I am a nice and beautiful wizard with a nice scent and no body hair. But at least I am 100% from the magical world" Said giggling making Fred smile lovingly.
"So that explains the mysterious aura around you. You're one of a kind, Aria"
"I'm just a normal girl that no one really knows because they stop at the appearances and at the fact that I am pretty, so they only want me and my attention. It's not like people are really interested in me"
"But I am interested in you. And I promise to never stop discovering all the different parts of you, no matter how mysterious or hidden they may be"
Her eyes widened in surprise and find herself blushing, so she simply looked away.
"That's stupid, forget about it, I don't have anything special, really. But tell me about your family"
"Well, I have one twin brother, George. We inherited our father's sense of humor and love for pranks. But I also have a big, loud, and chaotic family that I wouldn't trade for anything.
She smiled sweetly.
"It must be nice, having siblings I mean. How many are you?"
"Well, there are seven of us in total, including George and I. Our parents always say: 'The more, the merrier!'"
She laughed amused by Fred.
"I am the only child in my family, my mom has two brothers and my dad was an only child too, sometimes I wondered how it is having a brother"
"I can assure you, having a brother is both a blessing and a curse. But I wouldn't have it any other way. So, why are you a nurse here at school?"
"I studied first aid so I can help and assist here at the infirmary, it's nice and no one knows about it. I always do the shifts here in the weekend and at saturday I do the night shift, since on sunday we don't have any classes, so I can sleep the following day and study or do my homework sunday afternoon" Said Aria proud of herself.
Fred was captured by her.
"I wish I could help you with some of your duties here at the infirmary. Maybe I can sneak in to assist you sometime"
"I don't think so, I like the fact that I can work here all alone, away from all the eyes of students, I can be myself... Also, you need a course of first aid. But if you want to help me now, you can close your eyes and sleep, tomorrow you will be completely healthy" Said winking.
"Are you trying to get rid of me, Aria? I'll have you know, I am a great nurse in training and I can assist you with any first aid duties"
She shook her head.
"Just close your eyes and sleep, tomorrow you will be out of the infirmary and we won't see each other anymore" Said standing up and yawning, it was already two am.
Fred's heart hurt, he was having a fun time with her.
"You can't get rid of me that easily. I'll make sure to come find you around school or help you with your duties here at the infirmary, even if it means sneaking in after hours"
"Then I'll be careful to avoid you. Goodnight Fred"
"I can't wait to see you try, Aria. Goodnight"

The next day, Aria finished her shift at the infirmary and went to her common room to sleep.
When Fred woke up, she was already gone and he was finally dismissed.
He searched for her all over the castle, wanting to surprise her and help her with her duties, or simply hear the sound of her voice and laugh. But she was nowhere to be found, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment that she had avoided him on purpose.

George saw Fred and run to him.
"You are finally dismissed, you didn't tell us. Where have you been?" Asked George.
"I was trying to find a certain Slytherin who seems to be avoiding me"
George rolled his eyes.
"Stop being so obsessed with this situation, don't you see that you two don't belong together and you are forcing things up? Why don't you try to make things right with Angelina instead?" Asked George annoyed by his brother wanting to spend time with Aria.
Fred rolled his eyes. Angelina was his ex and didn't want to go back with her. She was selfish and didn't care about him at all.
Instead, Fred found Aria really interesting and didn't want to quit, even if he knew that had to let the universe work and not force things up, so he just sighed and waited for something to happen that would lead him and Aria together.
Meanwhile, George kept pestering him about getting back together with his ex-girlfriend Angelina. In reality, Fred couldn't stop thinking about Aria and the strange pull he felt towards her. Her absence only made him want to find her even more, but at the same time he couldn't shake off George's words about not belonging together. As he walked through the halls, he wondered if their paths would ever cross again and if fate truly had a plan for them.