Chasers, Keepers, and Bludgers
Prologue
1994: 5th Year.
Katie Bell sat uncomfortably in the wooden chair. Her vision was unfocused as she avoided eye contact with the professor in front of her. Her hands, which were growing clammy and moist, clung to the arm rests. She hated everything to do with being here.
"Quidditch." She replied, her tone wavering.
"Excuse me?" Professor McGonagall adjusted her glasses and peered at the girl. Katie glanced up for a brief moment, nervous for her Professors reaction.
"You asked me what career I want. And that's it. I want to play quidditch." She exhaled loudly, like this had been something she had been dying to get off her chest. She had always loved quidditch, and it was truly the one thing she was absolutely superb at. Flying was her escape and her muse. Sure, she'd gone over the pamphlets. She couldn't be a healer, blood and other bodily fluids made her uneasy. Being an Auror was out of reach - she'd never get the grades. She detested politics, so the ministry was generally out, and her hand cramped up when she wrote even the shortest of essays, so there was no way a job at the Daily Prophet interested her. So that left... Quidditch. It had been so obvious, she wondered why she hadn't thought of it immediately. Instead she had spent countless sleepless nights pouring over what she would say when she had her Career Advice meeting. Her O.W.L.'s were quickly approaching - this was something every 5th year at Hogwarts was going through.
McGonagall ruffled around with the papers on her desk, until she finally pulled a folded sheet and handed it to the girl. "Here's information on the Department of Magical Games and Sports..." She began.
"Professor... I want to play Quidditch." Katie added, her hand half reached for the leaflet. She didn't want to dictate the sport - she wanted to be a part of it. Professor McGonagall made a brief disapproving noise.
"Miss Bell, It is very hard to get a career in quidditch-"
"-I know."
"The odds of this happening-"
"-Professor, I know." Katie explained. "I know the facts, I know the stakes. I want to play quidditch."
And she knew, in that moment, Oliver Wood would have never been more proud. A slight grin curved around her lips as she thought of him.
Chapter One.
One Year Earlier, 1993, 4th Year.
Katie Bell sat idly in class, her eyes staring at the board but registering nothing. There was a high chance drool was spilling from the curves of her lips, but she was too zoned out to notice if it was. Her quill touched the paper but didn't move. Recently, an extreme rise in quidditch practices, brought on by there tyrant quidditch captain Oliver Wood, had left her sleepless and a bit touchy.
All the while, Professor Binns droned on about the Goblin Wars. His transparent figure pacing in front of the class. Many of the students had fallen asleep at this point, but the ghostly teacher hadn't even noticed, or if he had, he hadn't cared.
A loud snore erupted from the seat beside Katie, and she was awoken from her stupor. She wiped the drool from her lips and snapped her head to the side. Next to her slept a girl, whose dirty blond hair was draped across her face in an unceremonious fashion. Katie nudged the girl slightly with her hand, but the girl only shifted in her seat. A soft giggling sound fathomed from behind her. Katie turned to see a strict faced girl with long black hair and glasses, laughing at their misfortunes.
"Is there a problem, Miss Bell?" The ghost beckoned from the front of the class. Katie turned around again, dreading being reprimanded from the professor. Detention was the absolute last thing she needed today.
"No, Professor Binns. No problem." Katie smiled politely. Half of the class was now paying attention - it wasn't often that Professor Binns reprimanded anyone.
"It seems Miss Brand, behind you, is more interesting than my class, Miss Bell." He added.
"No! No sir! I was just... asking her about some of the material! I missed what you were just saying about the Rebellion of 1612. Did you say it took place in Hogsmeade?" Katie raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, Miss Bell..." The proffessor returned to his usual drone and pacing. "During the Rebellion of 1612 the Three Broomsticks Inn was used as a stronghold for the goblins, as well, this particular Rebellion was the main reason for the Ministry of Magic decree of 1631, which prevented magical beings other than wizards and witches from carrying a wand..."
Katie scribbled furiously, eager to make it seem as if she had been paying attention all along.
"Sorry." Whispered Gwendolyn Brand from behind her. Katie shot the girl an unamused glare and went back to her work, trying to remember what it was Urg The Unclean did to lead to the riots of the 18th century.
A booming bell sounded, and Professor Binns abruptly stopped his teaching. The girl beside Katie shuffled awake, pushing her hair from her face.
"Well, that was a nice nap." She yawned, as she gathered her book and quill into her bag.
"Oh I'm sure." mumbled Katie, still irritated. She would have killed to nap during that particular class, but she couldn't let her marks suffer.
"Hmm?" The girl raised an eyebrow at Katie.
"Nothing. Lets go to Herbology." Katie grabbed her bag and followed her classmates from the room.
"Can I borrow your notes later?" The girl caught up to Katie.
"Victoria Frobisher, I am appalled!" Katie teased her friend. "But, sorry, you'll have to ask Gwen. I don't have much."
"Urgh." Victoria grumbled as she situated her bag over her shoulder. "I'm thinking about skiving Herbology. I can't stand to rearrange dragon dung for another hour, or whatever it is we do in that class. What do you say?"
Katie shook her head reluctantly. "I need to keep my grades up - for quidditch."
Victoria rolled her eyes. "The only thing my charms club cares about is my charms marks."
However, when Professor Sprout announced to the class that they would be collecting bobotuber puss, Katie, too, was ready to ditch.
"I think I feel a nose bleed coming on." She muttered as she adorned her garden gloves.
"I'm tempted to subject myself to one of these just so I can get out of here." Victoria groaned as she picked up one of the potted plants. What looked like a thick, black, giant slug stuck out vertically from the soil. It squirmed slightly at the movement, and Victoria faked a gag reflex. "What is it good for, anyway?"
"Acne." Katie sighed as she readied a glass jar to collect the pus.
"Shame Eloise Midgen doesn't know that. That girl could use some help." Victoria grinned devilishly as she squeezed at the bobotuber.
Katie snorted a laugh, nearly dropping the container that was now slowly filling with yellow pus as she did so.
"Katie Bell, I swear to Merlin I will hex you into next year if you drop any of that pus on me!" Victoria threatened with a shriek which earned themselves glances from their classmates. Katie simply rolled her eyes, and the pair of girls continued on with their task.
As the class continued, Katie silently cursed needing decent marks to stay on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. The idea of having this hour free to spend how she pleased seemed immensely appealing to her. Though, she knew she'd spend it practicing flying. What did she need Herbology for, anyway? She didn't want to be a gardener after school, for Merlin's sake!
As their jar filled, Katie capped it, and set it down possibly too harshly on the tray beside them, where other pairs were finishing up their jars. A few jars later, the girls, Victoria two steps ahead of Katie in left the classroom - dinner was long past overdue.
"I'm starving." Victoria moaned as they trekked across the ground. The N.E.W.T. Care of Magical Creatures class was making their way towards the castle as well, and Katie and Victoria consequently meshed into them.
"BELL!" A tall boy with a Scottish accent shouted over the crowd. Katie paused abruptly, leaving her brown pony-tailed hair swinging side to side. Oliver Wood, her quidditch captain, was beckoning her towards him. Katie reluctantly waved to her friend, who gave her a small wink, and made her way towards the 7th year.
"Yes, Wood?" She asked, almost bitterly. Hunger was biting at her stomach, all she wanted was to make her way into the cozy great hall and stuff her face. If Wood called an early practice, she'd have to off herself.
"Why do you smell like bobotuber puss?" He scrunched his nose when she approached. Katie groaned, and made to stalk off, but Wood grabbed her arm.
"If you called me over here to bicker about my scent-"
"How's your Woollongong Shimmy coming along?" He interrupted, mentioning a high-speed zigzagging chaser move which was intended to throw off opposing chasers.
"I'm making the opponents positively dizzy." she smirked almost too ruefully. She was in no mood to be lectured on her quidditch playing at this particular moment. She knew she had limited time until their night practice, and she needed at least a bit of food in her stomach before dealing with it.
"So you're ready to try it at practice tonight?" He asked, ignoring her tone.
"I'm going to try my Translyvanian Tackle if you don't let go of my arm!" She yanked her arm from Wood's remaining grip. He seemed to have forgotten that he was clutching her arm, and looked almost embarrassed at the mention of it.
"Watch your attitude, or you'll be off the team, Bell!" He growled. "Cormack McLaggen is looking very appealing right now."
Katie crossed her arms, bearing her green eyes into his deep brown ones. "I always knew you had a crush on him." She quipped, a smirk playing across her face. She waved at him briefly and stormed off to the castle.
She entered the great hall, spotted Angelina and Alicia sitting near the end of the gryffindor table, and took her seat across from them, stuffing her bag angrily under the table as she did so. Angelina and Alicia exchanged glances as Katie moodily dumped mashed potatoes onto her plate.
"Hello, Katie." Angelina smiled at the girl. Katie stuffed her mouth.
Alicia clenched her nose. "Why do you smell like bobotuber puss?" She cringed. Katie sighed.
"Herbology." She muttered.
"Ah, fourth year Herbology." The girls giggled. "To be young again!" said Angelina dramatically.
"So bobotubers got your knickers all in a twist?" Alicia asked as she poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Oliver Wood." She stuck to her short answers. Angelina cocked her eyebrows, a grin on her cheeks. "Ew - not like that!"
"I'm sure." She teased, and glanced to the doors where Oliver was now walking in, talking animatedly with one of his house mates. "What I wouldn't do for that boy to put my knickers in a twist..." She said quietly, a dreamy look on her face.
"You two are always at each others throats. What's Wood done this time?" Alicia questioned shortly after Katie had given Angelina a repulsed look.
"He's always threatening my place on the team." She sighed, as she piled her plate with more delicious food.
"You know he'd never really kick you off, though. Besides, who's he going to replace you with, McLaggen?" Alicia laughed to herself.
"McLaggen doesn't even play Chaser." Angelina added. "He only tried out last year because the keeper position was filled. Wood would never be that daft."
The girls glanced down the table to where Cormac McLaggen, a blond, wirey haired boy was currently boasting about his summer nogtail hunting trip with his uncle Tiberius. His friends looked positively bored, and only responded with occasional nods in his direction.
"Besides, Katie," Alicia began. "Wood wouldn't put you on the team if you weren't the best. And you know he wouldn't jeopardize his last year to win the cup, he wouldn't kick you off. He needs you." She said the last line with a wink. Katie rolled her eyes and dove back into her dinner.
"Ah, just how I like my women. Head first in mashed potatoes." Greeted a red headed boy, his twin brother in tow directly behind him. Katie glanced up.
"Hi, Fred, George" She muttered, downing a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Evening." Fred smirked. "Woods going to have a flobberworm if were not at the pitch in 5 minutes. He told me on my way up here." He added, sitting down next to Katie and biting a chunk out of the roll that was previously on her plate.
"Wood can off himself, for all I care." Katie snapped as she snatched back the roll from Freds hands. She downed the rest of it in 3 quick bites.
"Things with you and our lovely captain not going so well?" George asked, sitting next to Alicia on the other side.
"To say the least." Angelina laughed quietly, answering for her friend. She grabbed her bag from the seat beside her. "Anyway, I'm not about to watch Wood lose his head. You guys ready?"
Katie sighed deeply, and watched Fred and George pile as much food into their greedy hands as they could, preparing for the walk to the pitch. She slung her bag over her shoulder and followed the older crowd out of the room, leaving the sweet, sweet scent of delicious food behind.
Her broom held tight in her hand, Katie pushed off from the ground. The sun was preparing to set, leaving her to squint every time she looked towards the goal posts. She supposed it wasn't so bad, as every glance in that direction meant a glance of Oliver Wood, whose usually disapproving gaze she was eager to avoid.
The practice went as well as could be expected. Katie had demonstrated her Woollongong Shimmy to perfection, and, as well as evading her fellow chasers from stealing the quaffle, she also managed to score on an unsuspecting Oliver Wood. He grinned wildly, impressed with his teammates skill.
"Great Job, Katie" He congratulated as they made their way to the locker rooms. Feeling good about herself and forgetting their previous encounter, Katie gave Oliver a quick hug, leaving them both feeling slightly awkward as they broke away.
"Er... Good Practice." He said. His hand toyed with the hairs at the nape of his neck.
"Yeah, Yeah. Good practice... nice job blocking that throw from Angelina..." Katie nodded, trying to repay his previous compliment.
"That was a tricky one." said Oliver, his smirk returning to his face. Katie half-smiled back at him, and retrieved her clothes from her locker. "Nice steal from Alicia."
"Yes, well, Fred had just tossed a bludger at her..." Katie shrugged. "Nice er... nice... hair." She replied stupidly. She mentally slapped herself in the face.
Oliver gave her an odd glance. "Are you poking fun at my windswept hair?"
"No! I..." She paused. Why was she defending herself on this? Teasing Oliver was so much easier, and so much more fun. Complimenting him was much more foreign. "Yes. Yes, Oliver. Your hair looks ridiculous." She finished.
"Yours isn't much better, Bell." He ruffled it even more than it probably had already been, and opened his locker, pulling his clothes from it. The two had joking smiles on their faces.
"Well, see you..." She said quietly as she watched the rest of the team file out of the room.
"See you." He replied, and made his way to the showers.
Feeling slightly uneasy from her rendezvous with her usually quite irritating quidditch captain, Katie carried herself, and her clothes, back to the Gryffindor tower. What had just happened? Katie couldn't remember a moment since she joined the quidditch team that she and Oliver had had even a close to normal conversation, especially when the rest of her team wasn't around, and even more oddly, one that included the two laughing. This was one of those things that she had constantly been teased of - it was common knowledge that Oliver Wood was one of Hogwarts most sought after males. Seventh Year, Quidditch Captain, gorgeous, deep brown eyes, Scottish accent - what wasn't there to love about him?
Katie bit her lip at the thought - he was insufferable, to say the least. Why didn't every one else notice this? He was egotistical, rude, and could never even possibly like a girl as much as he liked Quidditch. Winning the cup this year was more important to him than anything else. She knew he'd quickly give up his first born child if it meant winning the cup. Possibly even his second.
Not that he'd ever even have children - Katie grinned at her own ridiculous thoughts. Oliver Wood probably spent so much time on that broom that it was now completely impossible for him to reproduce - even if he could find a girl that was, to him, worthy of reproducing with. He had a small reputation of being unappeasable.
The thought of Oliver Wood reproducing quickly disgusted her, and she shook it from her mind. She entered the Gryffindor common room, and plopped herself down on a fluffy arm chair adjacent to where Victoria was copying down notes from Gwendolyn. Gwen was pointing out the strong points in her set of notes for Victoria to copy down onto her own.
"Why are you still in your quidditch robes?" Gwen asked, glancing up from the parchment in front of her.
"I plan to go to bed in a few minutes. Long day." Katie yawned, directing her attention from the crackling fire in front of her.
"It's barely 9 o'clock, Katie." Victoria scoffed as she rolled up her finished notes and stuck them into her bag. "The nights still young! And now that I know everything there is to know about the Goblin Riots, I feel as if I can do anything!" She smirked.
Katie raised an eyebrow at the girl. "I wasn't aware you felt so highly of Goblins, Vic."
"Ah, Katie, if you didn't spend so much time with your Quidditch mates, and more time with your roommates, maybe you'd learn these things." She winked. "Though, with Oliver Wood on the team, I don't blame you..." She added thoughtfully. Katie furrowed her brow.
"Oliver Wood can shove himself through the broken vanishing cabinent, for all I care." She retorted, and the two girls beside her snickered.
"You can't honestly tell me you don't find him attractive?" Victoria asked. "Even Gwen thinks he looks great in those quidditch robes -"
"-And you know how I feel about quidditch players." Gwen finnished with a shrug. "What can I say? That boy has it." Katie quickly pondered just what "it" was, and indefinitely decided that it was not something Oliver Wood had.
"Anyway." Victoria took a seat on the arm rest of the chair Katie was plopped on. "Hogsmeade on Halloween. Just a week away. I'm hoping to go with Justin Bradley, and Gwens going with Eddie Carmichael. Any dates?"
Katie shook her head. "Ravenclaw's? Both of you?" She laughed.
"They're so much more mysterious. I already know everyone in our house. It's time to branch out." Victoria shrugged.
"Eddie asked me while you were at quidditch practice." Gwen admitted. "It was quite nice, actually. I was working on my potions essay in the library, and he offered to help me. We ended up chatting about his upcoming O.W.L.'s for a while, and how he was eager for a break at Hogsmeade... and well... he asked me if I'd like to go." Gwen blushed slightly. Katie patted her friend on the back.
"Can you really pick up guys in the library?" Victoria asked pensively, practically ignoring the story. This caused Gwen to blush even more furiously.
"That wasn't why I was there." She muttered.
"I'm really glad for the both of you two, but what am I supposed to do?" Katie moaned. Her two house mates had dates - man, growing up was a pain.
"Find a date." Victoria said, as if it was the easiest thing to do. Well, if you re Victoria Frobisher, it probably is. Katie secretly envied her perfect, bouncy blond hair and flawless skin. She absentmindedly played with the ends of her dull brown hair that was casually pulled into a pony tail, just as it always was.
"What about Angelina and Alicia?" Gwen offered.
"Those two always have dates." Katie frowned. She knew it was true. Angelina had previously mused on how she was hoping to go with Lee Jordan, and Alicia had been eyeing up Ryan Summerby of Hufflepuff. "Maybe I'll just stay here and work on some homework." She huffed.
"Nonsense, Katie. Let me find you a date!" Victoria's eyes lit up. Merlin knows she'd been dying to fix Katie up with one of her many male friends. Katie shook her head fervently.
"Never. No way. Absolutely not."
"Aww, C'mon, Katie!" Victoria begged, her wide blue eyes staring at her friend hopefully.
"No!" Katie crossed her arms. "Absolutely not."
"Fine. Stay here and become a nun. Celibacy is very in right now." Victoria looked down and picked at her nails as if she didn't care whether her friend had a date or not.
Katie groaned. She knew she'd rather be at Hogsmeade having fun than sitting in the library pouring over a nonsense potions essay. Why did all of her friends have to be so attractive to the opposite sex? Katie, meanwhile, had been on one date in her life. The second Hogsmeade trip of third year, Lorcan Mylor of Hufflepuff asked her. The 'date' was awful. He tried to hold her hand on the way there, but their clammy palms mashed and left Katie feeling disgusting. When they went to the 3 broomsticks for butterbeer, there was little to no conversation. Lorcan was interested in things like gobstones and Arithmancy, while Katie only knew a vast array of knowledge on quidditch. Lorcan hated sports.
"Fine, Fine." Katie mumbled. "You can set me up. But!" She stopped her friend from opening her mouth. "Please, no one too bad."
"Oh, don't worry, Katie. I remember the Lorcan incident of 92. Besides, I think I've known you long enough to know your type." She ruffled her friends hair and took off merrily up the girls stair case.
"Merlin, what have I just gotten myself into?" Katie wonder aloud. Gwen shook her head at her miserable looking friend.
A/N: I know, I know, another story! But c'mon, I've worked very hard on this one! :) And I know, I know, I usually just write Lily/James stories, but it's always been a secret desire of mine to do a Katie/Oliver. C'mon, they're perfect for each other! (how, you ask? Well, they just are. I will show you in the following chapters!) However, if you're new to the lovely Jen Riddle (Hah! That's me!) Hi! I'm so grateful that you're reading! You know what I'd be even MORE grateful, however? REVIEWS. I love them. I love them more than I love pizza. (Which, might I add, is a whole bunch of a lot!).
So, I know this A/N is quite long, but I PROMISE future ones wont be. I just wanted to point out a few notes that you guys are probably like "OMG, THATS TOTALLY NOT RIGHT!" about.
1.) Truth: I am using the Oliver Wood from the movie, as apposed to the description of Oliver Wood from the books. I like to think of Oliver Wood as a deliciously adorable Scottish boy. (Which of you girls ISN'T in love with Sean Biggestaff, am I right?) I'm sorry if you're apposed to this, but every other fact will be book-esque as apposed to movie-esque.
2.) The books kiiinda make it seem as if Katie's BFF's are her quidditch friends, and Leanne, the Ravenclaw girl. However, it's kind-of ridiculous to assume that Katie is not friends with anyone in her own house and year. Right? I mean, she goes to classes with them, shares a room with them - she has to have SOME friends, right! So I've created two. Both are (Semi) real characters. Victoria Frobisher is the girl who tries out for the quidditch team when Harry is captain in his 6th year, and flies really well, but doesn't make the team because she claims her Charms Club would rank higher than Quidditch Practices to her. While it doesn't say which year she is in, I really wanted to use a REAL character, so here she is! As far as Gwendolyn Brand goes, I've got quite a back-story for her, that is very canon-esque, especially if you've read Quidditch Through the Ages. I'll try not to spoil much, as I REALLY hope to fit her back-story in here somewhere. Okay, I'm rambling now. Enough is Enough, here you go. :) Oh, also, I solemnly swear that I wont make these two mary-sues. They each have their own personalities, as you seemed to get a glimpse of here!
3.) The story starts in 4th year. Theres a short Prologue, which you guys read, thats a glimpse into 5th year. I feel like it really sets the mood for the story - but I'm still kind of worried that It's a bit confusing. Is it? I hope not. Remember when Harry had to go to his Career advice meeting before his 5th year? Well, thats what that is. Make sense? I hope it makes sense. :X I'm just nervous about how this story will be received, I guess!
4.) I've (very) recently made a twitter solely for updates on my fanfiction. I plan to use it JUST for updates on my stories, what I'm working on, etc. If you're interested in following it, the user name is JenRiddleFF. This is the first I'm posting about it on any of my stories, so we'll see how it goes. It's a trial-run right now.
5.) Ah, yes, I don't usually post these on my stories, am I supposed to? Anyway, Disclaimer: I'm not J.K. Rowling, yada yada yada.
Yours Truly;
-Jen Riddle.