first place, never settle for less - - - - KENZIE

[greyback]

There was a fine line between over-confident behaviour and cockiness, and in Oliver’s eyes most quidditch players seemed to inherit the cocky personality either from their parents or just because they reckon that they’re good. Sure some people had a huge passion for the wizard sport but what was it about flying around on a broom and throwing a large ball at each other that was labelled so enjoyable? He’d tried to understand the sport, he’d even tried it before he decided he hated it and trying it proved he really didn’t like the sport. Seriously, why did people enjoy it so much? He’d always want the Ravenclaw team to win but he’d never dare go out and support them, it was against his beliefs of hating quidditch. If he did support them every single game Rose would probably rip him apart and insist that they go flying together and that was something he didn’t want to do, even if he loved his friend dearly, he’d never go flying with her.

Since there was a game later this evening he felt this would be the best time to go up to the room of requirement when it would be completely empty. Everyone would be out supporting their team, well nearly everyone but Oliver knew Ravenclaw would be playing today and he certainly wouldn’t be supporting them, why would he? It was a Saturday afternoon so most people were dressed in their casual clothes and Oliver was notorious for wearing jeans and a white t-shirt which was what he was wearing now, it honestly showed off his athletic build which he had inherited from somewhere, probably his mother, not his dad. Only thing his dad had given him was that bloody werewolf curse.

Some of his siblings stressed about the curse but Oliver had learned to accept it and welcome it with open arms. After all he couldn’t live his life hating the other half of himself could he? It was only once every full moon and that wasn’t very often so normally he’d be normal Oliver with the last name of a werewolf and ex-death eater, it was something he had gotten use to over the years. Sure people questioned him occasionally and he’d never hide his werewolf curse, considering it was who he was and he wasn’t going to pretend to be something he wasn’t!

Oliver did the normal routine which was walk back and forth asking for a place to stay, to hide to be alone and then the large door formed right in front of his eyes and it surprised him every time. He walked into the large room that was normally cluttered with old trinkets but today it was empty and only a sofa lay in the middle of the room, which was perfect for him. A small smile formed on his face and he laid himself down on the sofa that fit his tall athletic build perfectly and he briefly closed his eyes and started to drift off into a nap.

[kenzie]

Kenzie was not amused. It was her first real weekend after a long time when she did not have a lot of schoolwotk to do and it was the first relatively warm day in months. Any normal human being would want to go out, stroll in the garden or walk down to Hogsmeade to shop. The day was filled with oppurtunities and when she'd woken up, her friends had been equally excited. And then she had spotted the numerous painted banners and flags, and all her excitement had run out like a deflated balloon. A Quidditch match. She felt like ripping her hair out.

So that is what the promising morning found Kenzie doing, strolling the seventh floor corridor, cursing her luck. She supposed she could have spent a few hours in the greenhouses but even her father was out in the teachers' stands, cheering silently for Gryffindor. Being the over enthusiast she was when it came to plants, she was not allowed there without him. As if she wasn't an adult or anything. Sighing, she decided to spend some time in the Room of Requirement.

Walking past the wall thrice, she hoped for a place to be left alone and smiled at the door which appeared. Her father had told her how they had found it in his fifth year with the help of an elf. She had found the story to be amusing ,really. Chuckling, she walked in an froze as she noticed her classmate, Oliver , on the sofa.

She took a few seconds to admire him. He was good looking, there was no doubt, and she would have pursued him if she wasn't still harboring feelings for James. She cleared her throat, a smile in place. "Avoiding the match, I see. Can't believe such a nice day is going to waste," she said, sitting on the edge of the sofa.

[greyback]

The four walls of the room seemed relatively comforting for the older ravenclaw even if he was alone. Whenever you saw Oliver he’d be alone or surrounded by books, either one. It was how he liked to spend his days, alone and avoid any dramatic events with people. He’d rather be studying in the study area in the library rather than getting drunk with a load of Ravenclaw house mates; even though it sounded really tempting to get drunk and forget his pathetically quiet life he couldn’t bring himself to drop so low. Sure some people enjoyed those sort of things but Oliver did have standards even if that did mean being behind in his social life. All he wanted was to pass his NEWTs and get that amazing job as an auror, once he did that he’d start to relive his teenage years, or try to. No one would bother him, hardly anyone knew he existed which played out perfectly for him, that way he wouldn’t upset anyone and no one would upset him, which was why he liked it. Being alone had its disadvantages.

Those individuals who could talk to anyone had so many friends, they could turn to anyone and pour out their feelings onto a plate and they’d receive sympathy. All Oliver had was his half siblings and the majority of them were Slytherin’s and the most common response he’d get they’d tell him to either grow some balls or pull himself together! Sure he liked his siblings but some of them disliked him because of the house he was in which didn’t bother him, after all it was their loss not his. He did have friends he could talk to like Rose Weasley, they’d been best friends since their first year and they did get along like a house on fire and she was honestly his best girl mate, and he rarely got along with girls because of his fear of upsetting them and he knew what girls could be like when you pissed them off.

Why had he chosen the room of requirement to avoid the quidditch match? Well, the room knew what he wanted and therefore he couldn’t hear those mindless first years screaming ravenclaw at the top of their lungs. If he heard that it would probably drive him up the wall, which was why he decided to sit this one out in the room of requirement until the game was over, which would be an hour or so, hopefully not to long because he had things to do and he did want to know if Ravenclaw would win or not but he wouldn’t make a fuss if they did, and he’d hardly make a fuss even if they did. He would be happy if they did though, but no fuss would be made, he was way too relaxed for that and being all big headed wasn’t his thing. Bigheaded people were seriously unattractive.

A soft female voice carefully stirred in his mind and he turned his head to the side and opened one eye to see a rather attractive fair headed female stood near by. At first he said nothing he just watched as she took a seat on the arm of the couch and smiled gently. Oliver Greyback and Mackenzie Longbottom had been friends since their first year, they were close, but not as close as himself and Rose. “Well, it’s what I do best, avoiding matches.” Both of them disliked quidditch but the difference was she was willing to support her team unlike Oliver who wouldn’t even bother with that. “I bet your also avoiding the match, otherwise you’d be out there cheering?” He cocked a eyebrow and looked at her with his dark brown eyes before he sat himself up and made room for her to sit next to him.

[kenzie]

Kenzie couldn't help but chuckle and nod as she sat beside him, letting herself relax completely. The book she'd brought with her, rested in her lap as she curled her feet under her and nodded. "Yeah, I suppose I should be cheering. Just didn't want to this time," she said, shrugging. She knew he didn't particularly like the game either, but he didn't even seem interested if his house was getting enough support or not. "I guess Gryffindor has enough vigor to cover for me. Besides...I wanted the day to myself and that does not mean standing in a pitch, covered in gold and red while screaming myself hoarse," she replied, laughing.

It was times like these that she really felt how much she was lacking in the true friends department. Sure, she had people she could talk to once in a while, people who didn't despise her. But she didn't really have anybody to really talk to, nobody to spend her free time with, nobody she could take for granted because they'd be there for her through rain and shine. James had been that for her once, a long time ago but she'd cut that cord herself. He was still confused as to why she did it and honestly she didn't want to tell people why she did because they wouldn't understand the fact that she'd rather pull herself out of his arms than have him grow sick of her and leave her later on. And now she didn't even have him.

She looked at Ollie, smiling. She'd known him since they were kids, their first train ride to Hogwarts, he'd sat with her and Rose. And later on when she'd found out he was a Greyback, that he might have the curse from his father, she hadn't really cared. Because she didn't judge people the way they always judged her. And she had no reason to not like Oliver because he'd always been terribly nice to her, much better than any of those other siblings of his who always had something to say about her. She didn't really care, or that's what she said, because deep down she cared a lot.

Shaking her head, she smiled at him. "So...are you planning on napping the whole afternoon, or what? The match only just started and who knows how long they'll take to find the snitch," she said, seating herself comfortably. She furrowed her brows and looked at him, wondering. When she and James had been together, and even before when they'd been close friends, she'd always gone to the match to cheer him on. "Wouldn't Rose mind if you weren't there to cheer her?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.