Finder's Keeper || Oliver Wood [1]

Chapter 17: The Date

"You look okay," Oliver mumbled, averting his eyes from her.

Okay? Jessica thought. Bethany had picked out that outfit for her, used a mild glamour charm on her face, and blow-dried her hair for her to only look 'okay'? She didn't dwell much on her appearance on a daily basis, but she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed at his answer. Her smile dropped slightly without her noticing it, but Oliver did and quickly realized his mistake.

"I mean, you look good," he added in a hurry, sitting up straighter. "Great, actually. Er, pretty, even."

Jessica's cheeks grew warm at his words before grinning at him teasingly.

"Did Oliver Wood just compliment a girl?" she said, feigning shock. Oliver scoffed in reply.

"Do you want me to take it back?"

"Nope," she said playfully. "Thanks, by the way."

Oliver cleared his throat.

"No problem, Hawthorne. Um, have fun on your date."

★ ★ ★

After Jessica parted ways with Oliver, she met up with Terence at the entrance courtyard. She wasn't sure what to expect on a date nor was she sure how to act during one, but she tried her best not to think too much about all that. She and Terence did become friends over the summer through their letters, so perhaps all she needed to do was act like her usual self and carry their conversations the same way they did through their writings.

There weren't many restaurants or shops to eat in at Hogsmeade, so it was sort of expected that the first thing the pair did was head to the Three Broomsticks and have some butterbeers and snacks. They had barely even begun their conversation when Jessica saw some Slytherins walking over to their table from her peripherals. Unfortunately, Alista was not one of them. Instead, it was Adrian Pucey and Marcus Flint.

"Look, it's Higgs," Pucey pointed out, nudging Flint. Flint, with his troll-like features, smirked in amusement at the scene.

"Hey, Pucey, Flint," Terence acknowledged them, though not as enthusiastically as Jessica expected.

"On a date with a Gryffindor, eh?" Flint teased, but it sounded different from when pranksters like the Weasley twins would say it. The sixth-year boy sounded like he had no good intentions behind his words.

"And a muggle-born, no less," Pucey added, causing Flint to snicker. Jessica felt the blood start to boil inside of her. She knew not all Slytherins weren't like that, but it still irritated her to see so many of them uphold the stereotype. She fought the urge to argue with them right then and there, but she knew it wouldn't be good to cause such a scene in the pub.

On the other hand, Terence didn't want to disrespect the Quidditch captain, but he also didn't want them to stick around and make comments like that.

"Are you done?" he asked them monotonously as they continued to snigger.

"Relax, mate, we're only joking," Pucey said.

"Don't get your wand in a knot, Higgs. Don't forget that the House Quidditch Team tryouts are tomorrow," Flint reminded him in a low voice. He and Pucey left to head to the bar without another word, and Jessica wondered if that's how their team usually interacted with one another. Were they not friendly to each other? Why did it always sound like they were just spitting threats?

"Uh, aren't they your... friends?" Jessica asked hesitantly. She couldn't help but be curious about the dynamics between Slytherins.

"Eh, not really," Terence shrugged, sipping on his butterbeer.