A/N: Hey, I got such an awesome awesome response for Riding the Line, that I thought it would be cool to start a story coinciding with that one! Like the other one, this is a POV story, from Oliver's head.

Disclaimer: me no jk rowling!!!



"I really don't understand all the fuss, Ollie. It's a messy sport that makes you all sweaty and muddy," Alisa whined at me. Then she tripped on her high heel shoes and grabbed on to my arm for support, consequently digging her fake nails into my arm. "Girls definetly should not play."

It was getting extremely annoying listening to her, or rather pretending to listen to her like I cared.

"I just don't like Quidditch," she continued. I rolled my eyes up into my head and started walking faster through the dungeons to Potions. Even that was better than this.

I walked in and Alisa dragged me into the seat next to her and applied what must have been a tenth coat of lipstick to her lips. I wasn't very much liking the idea of kissing those things now.

Professor swept into the room quickly startling Alisa who dropped the cap of her lipstick.

She pointed to the ground. "Pick it up!" she mouthed at me.

I sighed, but obeyed her anyway. I bent down under the desk and nearly was kicked in the head by Alisa's bobbing foot. I found the stupid little pink cap and picked my head up to climb out from under the desk.

"Crap! Ow!" I exclaimed. I bumped my head very hard trying to get back into my seat.

"Mr. Wood, what are you doing?" Professor Snape asked harshly, turning around.

"Nothing," I said rubbing my head.

"Don't lie, Mr. Wood," he glowered at me.

"But Professor, I didn't do it!" I tried protesting. Snape is a gormless oik, in my opinion.

"Wood, get up to the front of the class before you cause any more accidents with Mrs. Roumeur" Professor Snape said, with a wicked smile on his pale sallow face. "And twenty points from Gryffindor."

Angrily, I dragged my things up to the empty desk up front.

I sat up front very bored and alone, but thankfully away from Alisa. Who happened to be my girlfriend.

When class finally started settling down, there was a loud bang at the back of the room and a girl raced in. I recognized her as a Quidditch team mate, Katie Bell.

"Ms. Bell, class began ten minutes ago." Professor sneered, holding his wand.

Katie stopped to catch her breath. "I'm sorry Professor!" She exclaimed. "My alarm clock didn't go off this morning, I'm really sorry!"



"No excuses. "Sit down, Ms. Bell." Snape hissed. "You're ten minutes late. That makes ten points off Gryffindor." Snape said turning on his heel back to the black board, smiling that he had the opportunity to take thirty points of off Gryffindor already.

Katie shot a look at Alicia Spinnet, who looked at the ceiling as if it were the most interesting thing she had ever seen, trying not to laugh. I almost laughed myself.

Katie was still standing frowning after Snape, looking for her seat. Marcus Flint was sitting next to the empty seat that had always been hers. He nodded to her and she looked horrified. I don't blame her. He's the enemy!

She quickly plopped in the seat next to me, completely deflating Flint, and gave me a look out of the corner of her brown eye. "Sorry," she mouthed. She crossed her arms and stared directly forward.

Katie looked different today. She was a little pink in the face from her run from the seventh floor down to the dungeons. Her color brought out the small amount of freckles she had on her cheeks. I noticed that her hair was not in the usual pony tail or braid but it was long and cascaded down her shoulders in smooth waves, and her fringe (bangs) fell neatly on her forehead.

I swallowed hard and tried to pay attention to the formula Snape was writing on the board, realizing what I was doing. I kept glancing at Katie out of the corner of my eye.

I guess I was a little too obvious, as she turned to me gave me that evil look. Boy, if looks could kill. But this look was accompanied by her mouthing "what?" at me.

I shrugged and turned back to the bored. Suddenly Katie turned around and glared at Alicia who tried to keep a straight face.

She turned back and her long brown hair brushed my face as she flipped it off her face, turning back to the front of the room and I caught a whiff of her coconut shampoo.

Crap, I thought, if Alisa finds out she is going to shred me into little bits by walking on me with those high heels of hers, because I thought that Katie looked...well...pretty.

Alisa was pretty, too...If you like a girl that layers her face with make- up so that you have no idea what her real face looks like, I thought. I laughed at my little remark to myself.

Katie looked at me all wierd, obviously thinking I had lost it. I'd have to lose it, to go out with Alisa. I chuckled to myself again, imagining myself slapping the little voice in my head.

Katie whipped her head sharply in my direction with a face that clearly said "Do you mind?"

When did she get so rude? She wasn't always like that, I remembered.

Snape handed back the potions papers we did nights back. I couldn't believe it, full marks! "I just threw some things on a paper and handed it in!" I exclaimed to no one. "I can't believe this! I did nothing!"

Katie gave me the look again, this time worse. Even when she was frowning she looked cute.

She turned away from me, writing something down and a few strands of wavy hair fell into her face, and I really wanted to tuck it back behind her ear.

Ignoring my urge,I turned around and showed the grade to Alisa who leaned over and gave me a lipsticky kiss on the cheek. It was like glue, her lipstick. I was glad the little lip smudge was on the side of my face that Katie couldn't see.

The bell rang and Katie dissappeared and soon enough Alisa was clinging to my arm.

I dropped Alisa off at the Hufflepuff table and proceded to the Gryffindor table, where the twin Weasley's were.

"Oi, Oliver!" called Fred, or George... I wasn't very sure which. But it didn't really matter because I always called one of thier names, and one of them would always answer.

"Wealeys," I nodded to them and took a seat. "Ready for some pre-season practice?" I asked excitedly.

"Whoopee" said Fred, or George.

I was about to say something when Alicia, Percy and Katie walked behind the twins. Katie still had her hair down, im little seperate curls. Yes, she looked very pretty.

"Earth to Oliver, oi, what are you spacing for," asked one of the twins, possibly Fred, waving a hand it front of my face.

I stuffed my mouth full of potatoes so they wouldn't hear me. "Katie," I said, trying to sound as jumbled as possible.

"What about her?" said George.

I cleared my throat. "She looks very nice today," I said. Fred who was drinking some orange juice nearly choked on it, and I dodged out of the way of the line of Orange Juice he was now coughing out.

"Where have you BEEN, Oliver, honestly," said Fred, like I was extremely stupid.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked defensively. I was obviously NOT stupid, as I got top marks on my Potions essay!

"She looks good EVERYDAY!" said George.

"But you've been too wrapped up in Quidditch and having fun with Alisa to notice, right?" said Fred.

OK, now I felt stupid. "Alisa is my girlfriend, you guys..." I said matter or factly.

"Who you love SOO much," said George sarcastically.

They were being such prats! "Wait 'till you get a girlfriend, eh?" I said to them.

"Eh? Eh?" the twins taunted me. God forsaken accent always had to be my downfall.

"Sod off..." I said stabbing the piece of chicken on my plate.

But Fred wanted to taunt me more. "Dump Alisa and you can have Katie!"

I shot him a look hoping to convey the message that he was skating on thin ice and he backed off.

"See you at practice," I said getting up from the table.

Muggle Studies went by quickly and it was time for my favorite part of the day, Quidditch practice.

Awesome practice! I was blocking shots left and right. Katie seemed extremely brassed off at me. Then I realized that I didn't let one of her shots through, which surprised me, because she was easily the best chaser. But then again, they all looked the same on a broom with pony tails up.

Maybe I ought to let her feel like she had some dignity left and let her score one? I smirked thinking to myself. She saw this and glared at me. Or maybe I wouldn't let her score.

I did try to dive for the Quaffle but I missed it. I snapped sarcastically. "Nice Job, Bell! I knew it was coming!"

She retorted harshly. "Yeah, you did! There's more if you like."

I thought of taking her up on her offer, but I thought I would spare her the humiliation. "No, that's quite alright. I think that's all for today." I turned around to yell at the twins, "Bring it in guys!"

When we all landed I told them, "That's all we have time for."

I looked at them all, but I seemed to be noticing things about Katie a lot more than I had been. She had small trickle of sweat running down the side of her face. Alisa would have freaked, and the thought made me smile, as I looked at Katie. Katie took in a deep breath and stared blankly back at me.

We all walked back to the locker rooms. Angelina, and Alicia were walking together, "fencing" with their brooms as foils, which I HIGHLY disapproved of. Gred and Forge were sandwhiching Katie on either side of them. She was laughing her head off, and I wanted to be a part of all the fun.

Next to me Harry seemed disturbed as usual, but I decided not to ask, because it probably had to do with you-know-who.

I took a very quick shower and threw some clothes on. The team cleared out and I took out my Quidditch Practice Journal.

Oliver -EXCELLENT

Harry - best he's ever been!

Fred and George- who can tell the difference?

Alicia - BETTER BROOM CARE - no fencing

Angelina - same as Alicia

Katie- VERY CUTE

I read over my notes and noticed what I had written under Katie's name. Being cute had absolutely NOTHING to do with Quidditch. What am I thinking?

I heard a shuffling and I picked my head up to see Katie sitting on the bench across from me in a very lazy position. Her legs were sprawled out in front of her and she was wearing baggy sweat pants and a t-shirt that fitted nicely. It said "Canon Fans" on it. Her hair was wet and lying on her shoulders, soaking the yellow t-shirt in places.

I decided it would be better if she didn't see what I wrote about her in the journal so I closed it and looked up at her. She was staring blankly back at me.

I cocked my head to the side and smiled at her. She smiled back, probably thinking 'Your such a dork'. But I got a smile out of her didn't I? She had a really cute smile, that made her look as sweet as little girl.

"Katie," I said.

"Wood," she answered lazily.

Maybe we could actually have a civilized conversation? Let's try; "That was some practice today, uh?"

"Really just spiffing..." she muttered. I didn't know what she was so crabby about.

"It was just a practice, Kate. Don't worry about it," I told her trying to reassure her that she wasn't a horrible player.

"Yeah. Right, Wood. Sure, just a practice..." she muttered staring at her bare feet.

Now, I hadn't spoken to Katie in a long time but I would bet twenty galleons that she wasn't always this down. "Is something bothering you?" I asked her.

She looked up at me and her eyes widened, and for a second there I thought she was going to open up to me. I was starting to become very interesting in the inner workings of Katie Bell.

She frowned again and crossed her arms. "Well, your sharp aren't you?" she said in a scathing tone. "I'm pretty sure you wouldn't understand."

Me? Not understand? Phaw! Besides I really needed to know what was bothering her so she would be the cheery Katie I know that likes to put Stink Pellets in Harry's locker. It kind of hurt that she thought the only thing I cared about was Quidditch. I just needed to know...

"Cause you know you can tell me...." I said almost whispering, hoping she would soften up.

She frowned a bit looking thoughtful. When she uncrossed her arms I thought she was going to tell me something, but she just said "That's nice of you, thanks." then she added in what might have been a whisper, "I guess."

I leaned back against the lockers and said "Anytime." I wrinkled my nose thinking that I want her to know that she could tell me stuff if she wanted, "Seriously," I said as an after thought.

Then she shot up off the bench unexpectedly and said quickly, "I'm going to go back up to the tower now."

I stood up too. Maybe she really was crazy. "Me too," I said just as fast and I picked up my duffle and Katie was already leaving, not waiting for me. I trotted up next to her, trying to keep up with her. "Now about your broom technique..." I started.

She groaned and crossed her arms looking straight ahead. As I went on I noticed a bit of a smirk pulling at the corners of her lips, which by the way were not layered in lipstick.

We got to the tower and she started up the stair to the girls dorm. "Night, Kates," I called out after her. I wasn't quite sure where I had gotten that from...But, it sounded very familiar.

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