Disclaimer: Not my characters.
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Accident.
He couldn't believe it. When he received the letter from Fred - who had heard from Ron - he gave his apologies to the Puddlemere captain and apparated to Hogsmeade.
He ran. And he ran. All the way up the hill. He was exhausted by the time he had reached the top. But it would be worth it. Breathing heavily, he knocked on the huge front doors of the castle. Filch opened them.
"What'a you doin' here?! I thought we got rid'o you." Oliver grimaced.
"Move. I don't have time for this." He didn't bother to apologise for his rude behaviour, but pushed straight past him and hurried up to the hospital wing. As he opened the door, he saw her.
She looked as pale as death, her eyes sunken in and her mouth was as pale as the skin on her face. Oliver slumped into a chair and grasped her hand. It was ice cold. He could vaguely see the veins under the translucent skin, the veins that carried her blood freely around her body. Or at least, they were supposed to.
"Katie. Merlin. Please wake up. I – I -" His throat closed up. He sunk his head into his free hand, and rested the elbow on his knee.
"Oliver. We don't know when she will wake up." He turned to look at Madame Pomfrey as she swept into the room. His hair was tousled and his eyes were filled equally with pain and concern.
"Well then I'll just stay here until she does." When Madam Pomfrey walked away he leant over Katie and stole a kiss from her, attempting to bring some colour back.
And true to his word, he stayed.
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26/11/08