The Gym
Oliver Wood had just finished a grueling practice, his muscles aching from the intensity of the drills. He was more exhausted mentally than physically, though. His thoughts kept drifting back to Aurora. He couldn’t shake the unease that had been growing between them. His frustration simmered beneath the surface, and he knew he needed to address it before it boiled over.
After seeing her slip into the gym about 45 minutes ago and noticing all his other teammates had left, Oliver decided he couldn’t wait any longer. He hesitated at first, lingering by the door, watching her from afar. Aurora moved with an intensity that rivaled the way she approached everything—fiercely focused, almost like she was trying to work out more than just her body. She was clearly frustrated, fumbling with the machine in front of her, her brow furrowed in concentration.
He moved silently toward her, his steps soft against the floor. Without saying a word, he reached out and placed his hand over hers, guiding her through the correct motion. His touch was gentle, but it sent a surge of electricity through both of them. Aurora looked up, surprise and confusion flashing in her eyes.
"Oliver?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The sound of her saying his name sent warmth through him that he hadn’t expected, and it took everything in him to remain composed.
“I saw you talking with Liam earlier,” he began, his voice low, almost as if he was confessing a secret. “I saw you laughing together, and… I hated it.” The admission slipped out before he could stop it. He wasn’t even sure why he felt the need to confess how much it had bothered him, but he couldn’t ignore the jealousy that had been gnawing at him.
Aurora stared at him, her expression unreadable. He searched her face, desperate for any clue about how she was feeling. The silence stretched between them longer than Oliver was comfortable with until she finally spoke.
“I— I didn’t think… I mean, it was just a friendly conversation. I didn’t mean to—” she stammered, clearly taken aback by his admission.
Oliver believed her, but it didn’t make the sting of jealousy any less potent. How could she be so friendly with someone else when she was so distant from him?
“It’s not just about Liam,” Oliver pressed, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “It’s about… us. Everything between us has felt off, and I don’t know why. I didn’t want to confront you like this, but I couldn’t help it.”
Aurora took a deep breath, her anxiety becoming more apparent as she fidgeted.
“I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable last night,” Oliver wanted to make it very clear. I missed reading the signs, Aurora. I'm really sorry. I just do not want to make things weird between us forever.” Oliver knew he wouldn't have tried to kiss her if he hadn't thought she would kiss him back.
Her gaze dropped to the floor, and when she finally spoke, her voice was barely audible. “You didn’t misread anything. When it came down to it, Oliver, I just couldn’t go through with it.”
Oliver’s chest tightened. Had she really hesitated because of him? Did she find the idea of being with him so unappealing? He must have let his thoughts show on his face because Aurora quickly clarified, her voice shaky.
“Not like that. If you and I had been in a different situation, there would have been no hesitation. The reality is that we’re coworkers now, and I... I just didn’t want to complicate things.”
Oliver knew he wasn't hiding his disappointment well, but he was running out of things to say. “I get it… Is it possible that we can still be friends?” The words came out softer than he intended as if he was hoping she wouldn’t hear them. He didn’t want to just be her friend, but the thought of losing her entirely was unbearable.
Aurora’s lips curved into a shy smile. “That would be lovely,” she murmured.
Oliver felt his heart sink. He had laid everything on the line, and all he had gotten in return was a polite smile and the offer of friendship. It wasn’t enough, but what choice did he have? He stood up, preparing to leave, silently praying that she would stop him Just as he was sure she wouldn’t.
Aurora called out just as he was about to walk away. He turned, hope flickering in his eyes.
“Can you keep a secret?” she blurted out, her words rushed and urgent. Oliver blinked, not quite understanding at first. He stepped closer, drawn in by the intensity of her gaze.
Before he could process what was happening, Aurora closed the distance between them and kissed him. The surprise made Oliver’s eyes widen, but the kiss was everything he had been longing for. It was like a release of all the tension that had been building between them, an unspoken acknowledgment of the emotions they had both been suppressing.
When they pulled apart, both of them were breathless. Oliver stared at her, his heart racing. “I can,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Aurora looked confused for a moment before he clarified, “Keep a secret.”
This time, Oliver kissed her, pouring everything he felt into that moment. It was a deeper, more deliberate kiss, one that conveyed the desire he had been holding back for so long.
When they finally separated, both of them were breathless and a little dazed. The gym was empty, the late hour casting shadows across the room. For a moment, Oliver wished he could stay in that moment forever, he would have gave away all his gold and swore to never touch a broomstick again if it meant they could live in their little cocoon like this forever.
“I’m willing to keep a secret if it means we get a chance to figure this out,” he said, hoping Aurora would give him a serious chance. But we need to be careful, especially with our new roles.”
Oliver knew that Aurora had cared greatly for her work, and now that she was beginning to do something more interesting, he didn’t want to ruin this opportunity for her.
Aurora nodded, her expression serious. “I agree. We have to be careful, but I can’t deny how I feel.”
Oliver reached for her hand, brushing his fingers lightly against hers. “One step at a time,” he said, his voice filled with quiet determination. “We’ll keep this between us for now and figure things out as we go.”
Aurora smiled, and it was like the sun breaking through the clouds. “One step at a time,” she repeated, her voice soft but filled with hope.
They both knew the risks they were taking, but in that moment, nothing else mattered. They stood there, forehead to forehead, their breaths mingling, silently agreeing that this was their secret to keep, one more precious than anything locked away in Gringotts. Oliver couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face as he realized that, for now, they had each other. And that was enough.