The news of Jessica getting the position of prefect excited her parents a little bit too much. It was only the beginning of August and they insisted on taking her to Diagon Alley to buy her something special as a congratulatory present as well as to stock up on her school supplies already. It would be wise to avoid the back-to-school rush they always ended up experiencing on the week before she was set to return to Hogwarts.
Jessica wobbled on her feet as she landed by the entrance of Diagon Alley, her hands gripping her parents' arms a little bit too tightly as if she were a child. She had never gotten used to Apparating, but she hoped she would soon because she would be taking her Apparition test in less than two years already. Once she had stabilized herself, she let her parents go and straightened up.
"What do you want us to do first?" Katherine asked her daughter excitedly.
"You sound like it's my first time here," Jessica laughed.
"Well, this is a special occasion! It's not everyday you get chosen as Prefect."
"She's right," Ian said. "We'll get you something special. How about a cat?"
"An owl?"
"A toad?"
"Customized robes?"
"A fancy new quill set?"
"A gold cauldron?"
"How about..." Jessica began, causing her parents to look at her eagerly. "You two get my books and supplies while I look around for something I might like?"
Katherine and Ian glanced at one another before staring down at their daughter accusingly.
"You're making us do the dirty work," Katherine said with narrowed eyes.
"She tricked us," said Ian, feigning disappointment. Jessica could only shrug unashamedly because it was exactly what she was doing. Though she loved books and learning, she couldn't deny that it was always such a tedious task to gather her materials for the incoming school year.
"We did ask what she wants us to do, though..." Ian sighed, though he sounded amused at her antics. "You win."
"Let's meet up in front of Madam Malkin's at noon, okay?" Katherine gave in. "I think it's about time we get you new robes, anyway."
Jessica beamed triumphantly as her parents handed her a few Galleons and Sickles in case she wanted to buy something on her own. She hadn't even gone back to school yet and she was already experiencing the perks of being a prefect, such as getting extra money from her parents.
"Shall we start in Whizz Hard Books since her set of books are different this year?" Katherine asked Ian as they left to do as Jessica requested.
"Actually, can we go to Slug & Jiggers Apothecary first?" he replied. "I need to stock up on my Blood-Replenishing Potions."
"Or you can stop getting yourself injured in your missions."
The sound of her parents' bickering faded away as they blended into the crowd while Jessica, too, made her way elsewhere.
She began with Magical Menagerie, wanting to look at the various animals displayed there. It didn't smell pleasant at all and was crowded — not by witches and wizards, but by the countless creatures in the store. She ignored those when she spotted all the adorable animals scattered around: owls, cats, kneazles, pygmy puffs, rabbits, and nifflers. She badly wanted a niffler, but she knew those pesky creatures would steal everything shiny in sight and they weren't allowed in Hogwarts. She could also picture Bucky disapproving the presence of another pet inside the house, so she decided against the thought of getting it at all, moving onto the next shop.
Taking her father's advice and remembering that she needed a new bottle of Color-Change Ink for taking notes, Jessica found herself walking to Scribbulus Writing Elements. However, she slowed her pace down when she spotted a group of children crowding outside of the shop next to it: Quality Quidditch Supplies. Based on the excited murmurs coming from them, she could only assume that the Nimbus 2001 must have been on display already. In an instant, the image of Oliver Wood popped into her head.
I wonder if he knows it's out already, she thought, her feet taking her closer to the shop without her realizing it. As if the stars had aligned perfectly, the person she was thinking of was right behind her.
Oliver Wood just so happened to be in Diagon Alley at the same day and time. He had managed to convince his parents to shop for his school supplies early just so he could get a glimpse of the Nimbus 2001 as soon as it was released. While his parents had gone off to buy the rest of his books that he hadn't already purchased at Flourish and Blotts, he obviously went straight for Quality Quidditch Supplies only for him to spot a familiar black-haired girl standing outside it. Grinning mischievously, he snuck up behind her and placed both his hands on her shoulders.
He assumed she was going to be startled, so he expected her to merely jump at the sudden action. However, Oliver wasn't prepared for her to swing her arm and elbow him on the stomach at all.
"Ow! Hawthorne, it's me!"
Jessica gasped when she found Oliver Wood slightly bent over and clutching his stomach.
"Oh my Godric, Wood!" she said in surprise.
"Y-You're pretty strong, lass."
"I'm so sorry," she said, but let out a small giggle.
"You're laughing?"
"Sorry, sorry, but it's your fault for startling me."
Oliver huffed and straightened up, wincing a bit as he was still feeling the slight pain from being elbowed.
"I'm only going to forgive you because it's been a while since I last saw you," said Oliver.
Jessica grinned sheepishly before saying, "Are you here to see the Nimbus 2001?"
"Of course. I was just about to before you attacked me," he said, receiving an eye roll from the girl standing before him.
"Stop complaining. I was just about to look at it, too. Now, let's go."
She grabbed ahold of the nearest piece of cloth on Oliver that she could reach — the ends of his long-sleeved shirt that ended at his wrists — and tugged on it to force him to follow her into the shop. Her hand brushed his hand momentarily and he couldn't help but stumble slightly, both from that small action and the sudden pull she gave for him to move along.
The two Gryffindors entered Quality Quidditch Supplies excitedly, heading straight for the Nimbus 2001 displayed behind the wide glass window. It was incredibly sleek and polished, black and silver in color, and looked hi-tech. The crazy Quidditch fanatic inside of Jessica was screaming at how impressive the broomstick looked and she wished she could try flying on it, but there was no way she would get her hands on that broom since she didn't even play Quidditch regularly, save for the times she did with Charles when they were younger and whenever he was free nowadays.
"It's a literal masterpiece," Oliver said in awe, leaning closer to the broom to get a better look.
"I knew Potter's Nimbus 2000 already looked gorgeous from afar, but this is on another level," Jessica admitted, bending down beside him.
"I know. Why are broomsticks so bloody expensive?" Oliver grumbled. Jessica couldn't help but laugh at how childish he sounded.
"Maybe you should get a job already so you can buy this model for yourself."
"Well, if I get into a professional Quidditch team in the future, then I wouldn't need to spend my own money on one."
"You want to play Quidditch professionally?" Jessica asked.
"Without a doubt," Oliver replied, not missing a beat. Before she could question him any further, it was his turn to drag her along with him. "Come on, Hawthorne. Help me choose a new Quidditch helmet."
She scoffed at his demand, following him anyway. They didn't take long to choose one, Oliver already having set his mind on the brand that he wanted, so he only needed her opinion on which of the three versions he picked was the best. Jessica waited by the entrance as he paid for the helmet they settled on and another item she couldn't quite see at the counter.
When he had finished, they finally left the store, lingering just a bit to get one last look at the Nimbus 2001. Jessica would have forgotten that she was supposed to meet up with her parents again if not for the fact that they were already standing outside the store, speaking to a wizard and witch she didn't recognize.
"My parents are here," Jessica told Oliver.
"Mine, too," he said back. The two of them shared curious glances before they slowly faced the four adults standing before them. It took a moment for it to click — their parents were all speaking to one another already.
"Oh, there he is! Oliver, come meet the Hawthornes," the woman next to Jessica's mother said.
"That's him?" said Katherine, eyes flitting from the boy and to her own daughter.
"Yes."
"Well, that's my daughter right there with him."
"Of course!" the man standing next to Ian said. "They're both Gryffindors. We should've known they'd be familiar with one another."
"Oh, hello," Oliver politely said to adults he now knew were Jessica's parents. "I'm Oliver. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Jessica quickly did the same, greeting Oliver's parents with a polite smile.
"Ian and I were roommates during our time in Hogwarts," Mr. Wood explained before his son or Jessica could ask. "It's been a while since we've seen each other, though."
"Those Auror missions sure do take up a lot of your time, don't they?" Mrs. Wood added.
"They do, and we fortunately aren't busy right now," Ian said good-heartedly.
"Were you doing some school shopping, too? We've just about finished and Oliver needed some Quidditch supplies here, so we were just about to have lunch."
"Yes, we finished pretty quickly since there aren't any long lines at this time. Say, why don't you all have lunch at our place, instead?" Katherine offered, causing Jessica's eyes to widen at her suggestion.
"Oh, we wouldn't want to intrude," Mr. Wood said instantly.
"Nonsense. We have a lot of catching up to do," Ian waved him off. "Besides, Oliver and Jessica seem to be friends, so it wouldn't be a problem, would it?"
★ ★ ★
At the beginning of her fourth year, Jessica never expected Oliver Wood to accuse her of being a Slytherin after she was caught relaxing in the Quidditch Pitch with Alista's green and silver scarf around her neck. It was even more of a stretch to end up becoming friends with him to the point that they started exchanging letters by the time summer arrived. However, the one thing she truly did not imagine at all was that he and his parents would actually be sitting across her and her own parents at her dining table, all of them having lunch together.
In all honesty, the lunch consisted mostly of the adults catching up with one another. Jessica and Oliver learned that their fathers, though not best friends, were very friendly with one another during their time at Hogwarts due to being roommates. Mrs. Wood and Katherine were in different houses and years, but they were acquainted with one another briefly for a year when they were both prefects.
More than half an hour had passed and the adults were still deeply engrossed in their conversation. They had moved on from the "good old days" at Hogwarts to what they did right after graduating. Katherine had just finished telling her success story of making it into the top position under the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, and now, Ian was telling the tale of his first few months training to be an Auror that caused him to be known in his field from the very beginning. Jessica just knew that the discussion would take up even more time because Mr. and Mrs. Wood had yet to update her parents with their stories, too. Then, they would all eventually move onto what they were up to with those jobs in the present. With all the drama that went on within the Ministry of Magic and the entire wizarding community in general, they were going to be talking for a very long time for sure.
At that point, both Jessica and Oliver's plates were empty. They were quietly sitting at the corner of the long table that the Hawthornes transfigured from their regular four-seater, awkwardly nodding at whatever their parents were saying.
Jessica lightly kicked Oliver's foot under the table. It got the Scottish boy's attention right away, his head whipping away from the adults chatting and to the girl in front of him.
She tilted her head towards the living room. Thankfully, Oliver understood and nodded. The two of them quietly got out of their chairs, and it's either their parents did not notice them or they just did not care, but they were able to successfully slip out of the dining area and into the living room.
"It's been an hour and they're still talking," Oliver let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"They're going to take a while," Jessica said with a shake of her head, plopping down on the couch.
"The food was really good, though," Oliver complimented. "I'm still feeling the effects of eating egg and sausages for almost an entire week that time my parents went on a trip, so it was a nice change."
Jessica let out a small laugh at his words. Instead of sitting next to her, Oliver made his way to stand in front of the fireplace. It didn't take long for her to realize that he was looking at her family and childhood pictures displayed there.
"Where's this from?"
Jessica leaned forward in her seat to look at what photo Oliver was pointing out.
"I can't remember the name, but it's an amusement park in China. I think we went there to visit my mum's side of the family when I was eight."
"Amusement park?" he repeated in confusion. "What's that?"
Jessica paused. She knew he was a pureblood, but to not know what an amusement park still shocked her. When he continued to stare at her questioningly, she let out a small gasp.
"Good Godric, you're serious."
Oliver blinked a few times.
"Er, yes?"
"Well, an amusement park is a big place with a bunch of fun and exciting rides, games, and attractions," she tried to explain in the simplest way possible. "I'm riding something called a carousel in that photo."
"Ca... Carousel? What does it do?"
"Oh, it just... goes in circles."
Oliver chuckled. "That's supposed to be fun?"
"Hey, when you're a kid, it's one of the best things in the entire world," Jessica huffed.
"Quidditch was the best thing in the entire world for me even as a kid."
"Why am I not surprised?"
Oliver moved onto the next few photos. He saw one of Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne when they graduated Hogwarts and a more recent one of Jessica holding a puppy in her arms, which he assumed was the same dog currently curled up in a doggy bed at the corner of the Hawthornes' living room. However, it was a picture of the black-haired girl at around four or five years old that caught his eye. She looked to be in the middle of a tantrum, clutching a plushie toy of a niffler as she cried on the floor. He didn't know the story behind it, but it made him chuckle fondly.
"What is it?" Jessica asked. Her curiosity got the best of her. She stood up, marched towards Oliver, and tiptoed behind him to get a better look.
"You look cute here," he said, turning his head to show her what he had seen. Oliver's breath hitched when he found her face right next to his. He cleared his throat and took a step backwards, his back now touching the fireplace.
"Oh, thanks," Jessica said quietly. Did he notice how close our faces were, too? she wondered, her face growing warm. She mentally cursed, asking herself why she had to step so close to him in the first place and why it affected her so much, anyway.
Suddenly, the fireplace lit up in green flames. Surprised by the sudden noise and force from the magical flames, Oliver and Jessica scrambled to get away from the fireplace, only for their feet and legs to tangle with one another. In a split second, they had fallen to the ground with a thud, Jessica lying flat on the ground while Oliver was quick enough for his hands to catch himself before he could collapse directly on top of her.
"Uh, what's going on here?" a male voice said.
Jessica was grateful to have an excuse to tear her eyes away from Oliver who was literally on top of her. She craned her neck to look over his shoulder and her jaw dropped at sight of the man who had just arrived. Similarly, that tall and muscular twenty-two year old standing by the fireplace was staring back at her and Oliver on the ground in shock.
"Charles?"
A/N: I think I've been watching too much kdramas bc that last scene felt just like it came straight outta one tbh HAHA. What do y'all think is gonna happen since Oliver is an intense Puddlemere United fan and Charles arrived out of nowhere? :>