Author Notes: Hello Everybody! This is a little story I've been working on with a friend of mine Nikita. Please read and review!

CHAPTER ONE

It all started with a card game. I was a naïve little second year and I somehow ended up playing Rummy with a couple of third year girls.

With everything to lose.

I don't know what was running through my head when I accepted the challenge, but I knew I had to prove them wrong. Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet were convinced that Wood and I were made for each other, ever since I sat next to him after being sorted into Gryffindor and he winked at me. I always told them, "It wasn't a wink. He just had a speck of dust in his eye that was bothering him and he happened to look in my direction at the time." But they remained unconvinced.

I once thought that Oliver Wood was rather daft. He was an athlete. And a rather thick headed one, might I add. He was obsessed with Quidditch. On one occasion, Percy Weasley even informed me that he always wears boxers with quaffles or snitches imprinted on the cloth. You would think that one would get tired of Quidditch at some point. I assumed that after years of playing the game, the initial excitement would eventually wear off. Don't get me wrong. Quidditch was a fun game to watch and occasionally play; even I knew that. And during the holidays, I would play a little Quidditch myself. But the way Wood lived for this mind-numbing game slightly disturbed me. From what I could tell, Oliver Wood was a prick. A prick and a batty Quidditch captain as well.

They challenged me to a card game. If I won, they would stop pestering me about Oliver. I thought this bargain was too good to be true…that is…until I heard the other half of it. If I lost, I would have to try out for the Quidditch team. I was appalled! "Absolutely not," I spat. "I don't even play Quidditch."

"Oh don't give me that," Angelina snapped. "Alicia and I both know that you play with your cousins during the summer. And we also happen to know that you're a damn good player too! Good enough to be the lead chaser for the Gryffindor team."

"And besides," Alicia added, "This would be the ideal opportunity for you to get closer to Oliver." Both girls erupted into a fit of giggles. As they laughed, my anger came to a boil.

"Why in the hell would I want to get closer to him?" I shouted at the two infuriating girls in front of me, "The boy can't even say a word without relating it to the damn game in some way or another!"

"Oh, shut it Bell. We know you like Oliver. You know you like Oliver. The only one who doesn't know you like Oliver is, well, Oliver. If you want, you can win this game and attempt to prove us wrong," Angelina said, raising her eyes expectantly.

I sighed heavily. The only way to get out of this unruly mess that I had found myself in was to accept the challenge. So, that's exactly what I did.

The game was excruciatingly slow and exhausting. But despite my efforts, I found myself losing very badly.

"It's funny," Alicia commented, smirking slightly. "Everyone says I'm the worst card player. So, if you think about it, it's very ironic how I ended up winning this time."

I got up from my seat and stomped back upstairs to go to bed. There was no hiding that I was angry with myself for taking that stupid bet. What was I thinking?

I decided that if I was going to try out for the Quidditch team, I should at least try and do it with a smile on my face, and do my best to conceal the volcanic-type anger inside me. With each stomp up the stairwell to my dorm, I came up with reasons why trying out for the Quidditch team might be good for me. Stomp – maybe it would be fun. Stomp – I would get the chance to spend more time outdoors, instead of being cooped up inside. Stomp – I'd get some exercise (if you can even call flying haphazardly on a broom exercise). Stomp – There were some decent guys on the team, excluding Oliver.

As soon as Oliver's name popped into my head, I was unable to stop my rage from rising once more. Stomp – I hate Oliver. Stomp – why is he so obsessed with this bloody game? Stomp – Angelina and Alicia can go to hell.

And with that, I trudged into my dorm, slammed the door shut and went to bed.