Winter break crept up on me quicker than I anticipated, and I was standing in the kitchen of my old home, preparing for the New Years.

"So how was your fifth year at Hogwarts dear?" My mom asked whilst cleaning the house for the arrival of our Christmas guests, the Woods.

"Oh you know, pretty good." I shrugged.

"I heard Oliver was also made Captain." She said nonchalantly, setting the dishes down.

"Yeah, unfortunately." I grunted, grabbing a handful of almonds from the cupboard.

"Oh don't be like that." I could hear my mom's smile. "I know you'll soften up to him."

"Mom it's been what, 10 years now?" I said, shoving the handful of almonds in my mouth. "I haven't softened up to him yet, and I don't intend to any time soon."

"He's a nice boy-"

"It's almost like you want him more as a son than you want me as a daughter." I sneered.

"Quite handsome too." My mom wiggled her eyebrows, ignoring my last remark.

"If you like him so much, then go marry him." I rolled my eyes.

"That's what I'm hoping you would do." She giggled. "Besides, I love your father very much, even if he's not with us anymore."

We fell silent. My father had only died a few years ago, a terminal blood disease given to him during the first war. The house still felt quite empty without him at times, and I couldn't imagine what my mother must have felt. Father was a muggle born; Conrad Emory Stone. He was an Auror up until his untimely death. I remembered him working late shifts, and to make it up always coming home with sweets or small trinkets. Sometimes I would get up early just to watch him drink coffee before heading off to work. He was the one that taught me how to ride a broomstick when I was only two and a half. I smiled at the memories, and looked over to my mother who too, had a sad smile turning up the corners of her lips.

"He loves you very much too, ma." I said softly, before exiting the kitchen.

~~~~

DING DONG

"Coming!" I shouted down the stairs, as I rushed to the door.

Throwing open the door, I saw Oliver Wood standing timidly next to his parents. It was easy to tell who he got his genes from, as his father was very easily decipherable as a once tall handsome young man. Oliver's mother on the other hand was a short and plump woman, with a kindly face, and a warm smile.

"Hello Mr. And Mrs. Wood." I smiled warmly. "Hello Oliver."

"Oh hello dear, how nice to see you!" Mrs. Wood exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Come on Margaret, you're suffocating the poor girl." Mr. Wood smiled, his gaunt features instantaneously lighting up with a bright smile, showcasing his perfect teeth that were identical to Oliver's.

"Marge, Richie, how good to see you!" I heard my mom shout, running up to the door.

I was let go almost instantly, and the bear hug of Margaret Wood was now being reciprocated by my Mother.

"Well come in won't you?" My mother said, slightly panting from the tight hug.

"Well we weren't planning to head back." Mr. Wood laughed, stepping inside.

"Y/n, show Oliver to his bedroom, and while your at it, occupy yourselves with something to do until dinner." My mom smiled, shooing me off.

I started walking up the stairs, only to turn around half way up.

"Are you coming or what?" I asked grimly.

"Where's the Christmas spirit, Stone?" Oliver snickered, hauling his suitcase up after me.

I led him down the narrow upstairs corridor into a small room with a single bed and a roll-top desk squished so tightly inside of it they were practically touching. A small lamp stood on the table, facing the old bed, with crisp white sheets and a woolly red blanket pulled tightly over them.

"Say, isn't this where your father's old study was?" Oliver asked, warily placing his suitcase on the bed.

"Wow, your observational skills are slightly better than a goldfish's!" I said bitterly.

"I'm sorry..." Oliver mumbled, anxiously rubbing the nape of his neck.

"Mum had everything taken out last summer. She said it was too painful to look at." I sighed.

"She's been erasing all signs of him from the house."

Oliver stood still for a moment, his eyes looking at me with the same kindness his mother's did.

"He was like a father to me as well." He chuckled softly. "When my father was too busy with his work to teach me how to play quidditch, your dad would drop by to practice with me."

"Really?" I asked feeling myself smile at his words.

"Yeah," Oliver walked towards the window looking out on the bustling city street below.

"I only recently realized how busy of a man your father really was, and how much time he really set aside for me."

"Remember when he taught us to speed on our brooms by having us play tag?" I laughed, remembering how Oliver face planted on the living room carpet while trying to catch me.

"How could I forget." Oliver gazed dreamily out over the street, watching the cars zoom by. "He actually gave me my copy of Quidditch Strategies 101 when I was five."

"Me too!" I giggled. "I guess he was expecting us to become rival captains."

"Your father was a smart man." Oliver grinned, and for once, his grin didn't make me want to punch him in the nose.

We stood in silence for a bit, looking at the light snowfall outside. I could see people walking around, excitedly scuttling somewhere to spend Christmas.

"Hey Stone?" Oliver said, snapping me out of my daze.

"Hm?" I looked over at him.

"What if we go out?"

"Right now?"

"Well, my mom gave me some muggle money, and said I could use it on something in town as long as I was with you," Oliver said, pulling ten quid out of his pocket and waving it around.

"Is that the only reason you're asking me?" I snickered.

"Well, yeah." He grinned.

"And what if I say no?" I crossed my arms.

"I'll drag you out of the house with me." He crossed his arms, mocking my stance.

"No." I smiled.

"Alright Stone, you leave me no choice." Oliver sighed, and before I could react flung me over his shoulder.

"WOOD PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!" I yelled, flailing helplessly.

"I warned you," Oliver said, walking out of the room and down the stairs into the foyer.

"Wood put me down!" I screamed, trying not to laugh.

"Why?" He asked, stopping in front of the main door.

"I don't have my jacket, hat, or shoes!" I said breathlessly.

"I see what you mean." Oliver said, standing still for a moment before calling out into the hall, "Mrs. Stone, could you come here for a second?"

"What is it dear?" I heard my mother's cheerful voice, followed by herself.

"Mom can you tell this a-"

"Mrs. Stone, could you give me Y/n's jacket, shoes, and hat? A pair of mittens too. We're planning to go on a walk you see." Oliver said, turning to face my mom, giving me a nice view of the wall and his back.

"Of course, that sounds wonderful!" I heard my mom exclaim, rushing around the foyer collecting the items needed.

"Mom this is betrayal!" I yelled, trying and failing to suppress my giggles.

"Have fun, and be home by six!" She said, opening the door.

"Alright, can you at least adjust me to be more comfortable?" I asked, giving up.

"That's the spirit!" Oliver exclaimed, expertly flipping me over on his back. "Wrap your legs around my waist."

I did as he said, and he stepped out into the cold.

"I'll let you put on your things on that bench." Oliver chuckled, carrying me away from the house.He carefully seated me on the green bench, giving me my things to put on."Merlin, you're insufferable." I giggled, slipping on my boots.

"Not Merlin, but the next best thing." Oliver gave a dramatic curtsy.

"Alright you win, I'm outside, but," I gave a devilish grin, "I don't want to walk."

"And that means?" Oliver smirked, knowing exactly what I was hinting at.

"Piggyback ride or no walk," I stated matter of factly.

"Bet." Oliver shrugged, stepping in front of me. "Hop on loser."

I took the opportunity and jumped on his back, wrapping my legs tightly around his torso. I felt the warmth of his back against my stomach, and his arms around my legs. It seemed almost natural, and dare I say, nice? It was unlike anything I've felt before.

"Where to?" He asked, adjusting his grip on my legs.

"Hot Chocolate sounds nice." I giggled.

"Are you expecting me to pay?" He said, grinning ear to ear.

"You have ten quid don't you?"

"Alright, what's the nearest place you like?" Oliver questioned.

"Only a block from here, follow my pointer finger."He carried me through the snow for what seemed to be about five minutes, before plopping me down in front of the entrance to the coffee shop.

"After you m'lady," Oliver said, opening the door for me.

"Thank you not so kind sir," I smirked, walking inside.

"Oh, Miss Stone, back for the holidays I see?" An old man said from behind the counter.

"Hello Mr. Barnes, yeah I've come back for winter break." I smiled warmly.

"What would you and your boyfriend like?" He asked, making Oliver let out a little sputter.

"Two hot chocolates with marshmallows," I smirked. "He's paying."

"Coming right up," Barnes said, going into the kitchens.

"Boyfriend?" Oliver asked when Barnes was definitely out of earshot."In your dreams." I snickered, pulling his hat over his eyes."But you-"

Oliver seemed flustered as he pulled his hat back.

"If you think I'm any closer to liking you than I was at the beginning of our acquaintance you are sorely mistaken." I sneered.

~~~~

"Wood?" I knocked on his door early Christmas morning. "Are you up?"

I heard a rustling in the sheets in the room.

"Come in."I opened the door to find Oliver sitting upright in bed, looking groggy.

"There better be a good reason for you to be in my room at six am on Christmas Day." He grumbled.

"I got you a present." I huffed angrily. "It's fine if you don't want it."

"A present? I thought you didn't like me?" Oliver was looking at me closely.

"Mom made me get you one."

"So you don't want to give me a present?"

"Just take it before I change my mind you ass," I hissed, throwing the small box at him.

"That's an aggressive way to give a gift." Oliver chuckled, carefully opening the box.Inside was a small golden necklace in the shape of a snitch.

"Wow Stone, an actually thoughtful gift?" Oliver smiled, quickly putting on the necklace.

The necklace lay smoothly against his skin, glimmering in the dim light of the table lamp.

"Hey, I got you something too, by request of my mom as well."He stretched over to the desk and grabbed a small bag, tossing it to me.

"What's this?" I asked, glancing into the bag only to find an even smaller box.

"Open it and you'll see."

I pulled out the box, letting the bag drop to the ground. Upon opening it, I could see a small silver ring with a broomstick on it.

"Great minds think alike eh Stone?" Oliver grinned.

"Don't flatter yourself Wood." I smiled.