Please note that this work takes some information from the films, and some information from video games and other sources. However, I've only taken pains to make it comply with the facts presented in the books. Other details, such as Leanne being in Hufflepuff, were changed for the ease of the story as there was no information in the books to support that this was Leanne's house. Keep in mind that there may be mistakes, but this story has been looked over and to the best of my knowledge, does not contradict the information presented in the books. Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy the story.
Katie Bell flipped her dark brown hair away from her face, her brow furrowing in annoyance as the locks drifted back down across her face. This cut was too short for her tastes, but her mother had insisted she not use a potion to grow it out, 'it's cute', she'd said. Katie rolled her eyes at the thought, who cared if it was cute, it wasn't very practical. It kept falling in her face, and if she was going to try out for the quidditch team this year, it was just obnoxious. How in the world would she be able to fly if her hair was all in her face? She sighed.
"Please, keep up young lady." Professor McGonagall snapped. The remark lifted Katie out of her thoughts, and she quickly ran to catch up with the group, her hand jumping up to hold the hair out of her face as she did so. Her eyes widened as the group entered the grand hall, taken by its splendor. Just as she was admiring the high ceilings and floating candles, the group stopped and the teachers began talking in turn. Finally, the sorting began. As the names went by, a jittery girl with dark hair turned to her, "What house do you want to be in?" she inquired, a nervous smile across her face. "Uh-I . . . well I don't know." Katie giggled. The girl joined in, "I'm Leanne by the way."
"I'm Katie."
"Katie Bell!" Katie's head snapped up as she heard her name and she quickly scrambled up towards the front. However, in her scurrying she tripped, barely catching herself before she hit the floor. A surge of laughter spread throughout the hall, and Katie blushed. Her eyes downcast, she walked carefully the rest of the way and settled herself on the stool. The sorting hat was placed on her head, and she waited with bated breath for its answer. The hat hummed and hawed briefly, but it was barely 5 seconds before it shouted in its booming voice, "Gryffindor!" A broad smile broke across her face and she rushed towards the Gryffindor table, her hands shaking from the excitement. The Gryffindor table greeted her with cheers and patted her back and shoulders as she joined them at the table.
To her excitement, Leanne was sorted into Gryffindor as well, but their attention was soon swept away by the quick conversation and delicious food at the Gryffindor table.
After the meal, the first years were lead to their towers, and introduced to their rooms, and by extension, their roommates.
Over the next couple of days, Katie tried her best to keep up with classes and be friendly towards her classmates, and felt nearly overwhelmed by everything. But still, when she ended up sitting next to two girls murmuring about the Gryffindor quidditch team tryouts at breakfast that morning, she couldn't pass up the opportunity to poke questions.
"I'm sorry," Katie blurted out, lurching forward in her seat, "When did you say tryouts were?"
"Tomorrow after school," the one girl replied, "On the quidditch pitch." The other girl leaned forward, "So many people graduated last year that the captain's holding tryouts for the entire team, -well, other than seeker." The girls continued conversing, but Katie was lost in a wave of determination, and building excitement.
The next day, Katie rushed out onto the pitch, pads on, broom in hand, and hair flying about. She fell into line amongst the dozens of other Gryffindors trying out. She wondered how many of them were for going for chaser, she hoped not too many. She glanced around, spotting the two girls from breakfast the other day, she vaguely wondered which positions they were trying out for.
"Alright then, we're going to divide you up based on position." Katie could hear the commanding voice, but couldn't see the person with the long row of people blocking her view. She leaned forward slightly, peering around the group to spot the captain. He was a pale, red-headed fellow with freckles and strong features.
"Keepers over there, chasers-there, and beaters over here." He motioned. A small group of students was scattered throughout the stands, and as Katie moved over the chaser section of tryouts, she spotted a gaggle of girls giggling and pointing at the captain. "What's up with them?" she muttered to no one in particular. "It's Charlie Weasley," a voice informed her. Katie glanced over to see the girls from the other day lined up next to her, "He's a star quidditch player, and fairly good looking if you hadn't noticed." One girl smiled. "He's got a fantastic smile." The other girl added. "It's nice to see you here, I'm Angelina by the way, and this is Alicia." She motioned to her friend. "I'm Katie." She nodded. The girls smiled at her. They were quiet for a moment as Charlie began a speech about the importance of teamwork.
"See those twins over there in the beaters section?" Alicia pointed. Katie turned, spotting two red-headed boys, making silly hand gestures and laughing. "They're in our year. They're Charlie's younger brothers, Fred and George."
"Oh, and you're . . . ?"
"We're second years, and you?" Angelina piped up. "First." Katie smiled sheepishly. "Ooh, tough luck, first years never make the team." A boy chimed in. "Shut up." Angelina snapped, and she turned back to Katie, "Don't listen to him, he's an idiot." The boy rolled his eyes. "Is it true though?" Katie wondered, her grip on her broom tightening nervously. Alicia and Angelina exchanged nervous looks, "Well, there's a first time for everything isn't there?" Angelina offered hopefully. Katie drooped, she had been looking forward so much to these tryouts, and now it turned out there was no point. Alicia and Angelina were quiet for a few moments, until a slow smile spread across Alicia's face. "Angelina fancies Fred." She whispered. Angelina's eyes widened in horror as Katie and Alicia giggled. "Alicia!" she scolded. "I myself think I'd prefer dating another chaser, they've got a leaner build you know?" Alicia shrugged, "How about you? See anyone you like?" Angelina was still stewing as Katie scanned the groups, not paying much attention. Her eyes fell on a boy in the keeper section. He was tall and had short brown hair. He was a little plain looking, and had a very serious expression on his face, he appeared to be taking in every word of Charlie's speech. In fact, he seemed to be the only one paying attention to Charlie's speech at all.
"That's Oliver Wood." Alicia informed her. Katie's attention shifted back to the girls as they grinned playfully at her, "He was on the team last year," Angelina added, "a righteous good keeper." But before any more information could be exchanged, Charlie finished up his speech and called the chasers up first. "Three at a time please, whoever's first in line." Charlie ordered, "Wood, do me a favor and guard the hoops." Oliver gave a nod and mounted his broom, quickly taking his position amongst the hoops. As it happened, there were 6 students trying out for chaser. First up was an older student, that nosy boy, and Angelina. Katie observed from her spot on the ground, momentarily forgetting her disappointment as she was caught up in the game. The nosy boy was fairly decent she supposed, but Angelina was the clear star on the field. The older boy was just sad, his efforts were clumsy and even when the quaffle managed to go towards the hoops at a healthy speed, Oliver Wood blocked it with little effort. The nosy boy almost managed a goal or two, and Angelina scored twice. But despite the efforts of the chasers, Katie found herself increasingly impressed with Wood's skills. And as her turn drew nearer, she grew more and more nervous, and more and more excited.
Finally, the three touched ground, and Alicia, Katie, and a 7th year boy who had been on the team last year were called up. Katie swallowed nervously as she flew up into the air, her palms sweating and the adrenaline in her system rising as Charlie took to the center of the field. As soon as he tossed the quaffle, there was a flurry of movement. The 7th year caught in, and sped off towards the hoops. Katie noted Alicia's impressive speed and agility on her broom as she took her position by the hoops to acquire the quaffle after his shot. The 7th year took his shot, and Katie watched as Wood caught it in his hands, reeling back slightly before tossing it to Alicia so she could take her shot. Katie's eyes widened, he was even more impressive up close, but she refused to be intimidated, and took her spot beside the hoops. After Alicia's turn, Katie rose up to the hoops, quaffle in hand and took her shot. It flew out from her hand, curving as it did so. Oliver whipped to the side of the hoop, his eyes widening in shock as he just barely managed to catch it, his broom spinning him all the way around as he did so. Katie let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding, because for going up against someone like Oliver Wood? It was a pretty decent start.
By the end of chaser tryouts, Alicia had scored twice, and the 7th year had scored three times. Katie had only managed one, but it had been a proud moment. And as she dismounted her broom, she felt a surge of confidence. She watched the rest of the tryouts intently. Keeper tryouts were fairly uneventful, there were only two contestants and Oliver was clearly the more talented of the two. The beaters she vaguely paid attention too, but she did notice some skill in Charlie's younger brothers. To nobody's real shock, the members chosen were Angelina, the nosy boy, the 7th year, Oliver, Fred, and George. Alicia has made the reserve team. Katie was disappointed, but with such entertaining tryouts she couldn't say she was entirely depressed. And as she walked off the field, her muscles sore and her robes dusty and dirty, she felt a sense of accomplishment. "Hey! Wait up!" Katie didn't pause in her walking, but glanced back at the voice. An excitable Oliver Wood was hot on her trail, and he soon fell into step beside her.
"You surprised me, you were pretty good out there." He complimented. Katie's brow furrowed, "And that surprised you?" she asked. "Well, you were so little, I reckon you're only a first year too."
"So what if I am?" she inquired defensively. "Hey now, don't be so upset." He stepped in front of her, cutting off her path. Slowly, she looked up to meet his eye, he had an amused smile on his face. "I was paying you a compliment." She was silent for a minute or two as his smile never wavered. "Well…thanks." She murmured, and she slowly began walking again, pushing past him. He trailed along beside her. "All I meant, was that you have skills, and should be refining them for next year. I'll bet you anything you make the team then." Katie snorted, "And how would you know?"
"Well, I don't know for sure exactly," he admitted, faltering, Katie rolled her eyes. "But!" he interjected, "You're talented, I reckon you just barely missed the cut this year." Katie stopped dead in her tracks. She stopped so abruptly that Oliver was still walking for a couple seconds before he realized she had stopped. And he paused a few feet ahead of her, glancing back at her as she eyed him suspiciously ". . . really?" she asked slowly. His face slowly broke out into another smile, "Why would I lie to you?" he joked. Katie's skepticism slowly melted as she looked at the face of this boy she had thought so plain. He was plain, actually, but when he smiled…well, that brought a little color to him. She carefully began walking again, "So…what year are you?" she inquired, attempting to appear nonchalant. "Me? I'm a fourth year, this'll be my third year on the team. I'm really looking forward to the season this year actually, I think we've gathered a pretty good team."
"Yeah . . . pretty good." Katie responded flatly. Oliver suddenly stopped, "Hopefully next year you'll be on it. Anyways, I've got to go. I'll be seeing you." And with another brief flash of his amused smile, he turned and headed back to the quidditch pitch. Katie watched him go for a moment, and then continued her trek back to the castle alone.
He was only a few people down the table from her. And quite frankly, she wasn't quite sure what interested her so much about him. He wasn't particularly good looking, or charming really. His quidditch skills were impressive, but he was awkward in conversation. He seemed entirely focused on the game during practice, but went out of his way to compliment her. And for everything that he was, or was not, or might be, she couldn't get a proper read on him just yet. "Staring at Oliver Wood?" Alicia whispered in her ear as she settled down beside her. Angelina took the seat on her other side, grinning ear to ear. "He's . . . interesting." Katie admitted. "Interesting in a cute kind of way?" Alicia teased. Katie scrunched up her nose, "No, not really. More of an…awkward, good at quidditch kind of way." She admitted. Alicia rolled her eyes, "Well you're no fun." She teased. Katie opened her mouth to protest but Alicia and Angelina burst into giggles. "I'm just joking." And soon Katie was smiling too.
The first game of the season, Katie made sure to get a good seat to cheer on Angelina and Alicia, not the mention the rest of the entire Gryffindor quidditch team. She and Leanne sat together, waving their Gryffindor flags and screaming proudly. "You really like quidditch don't you?" Leanne observed as Katie let out a particularly loud scream. "I love quidditch! I tried out for the team, but didn't make it." She admitted. "That's too bad, which position do you play?" Leanne inquired as they sat themselves down on the bleachers. "I'm a chaser." Katie replied, her eyes glued to the pitch as the teams entered. A boy making announcements as they did so. "Wow, the tall red-head's kind of cute." Leanne observed. "That's Charlie Weasley, he's the captain." Katie replied. "Hmm…is he taken?" Leanne asked playfully. Katie laughed, "He's 17!"
"So?" Leanne giggled. "We're 11! He's 6 years older." Katie rolled her eyes as Leanne burst into laughter, "Anything's possible when you're in love!" she joked. "Yeah, I'm sure you'll get married and have dozens of little red-haired babies." Katie added. And soon the girls were laughing and grinning ear to ear.
Sadly, they did not win the quidditch cup that year, and Katie had little thought again of Oliver Wood until her second year came around.
