Disclaimer: I do not own Oliver Wood or Katie Bell or any of the characters i have in this story, i have merely borrowed them from the amazing J.K.
It was all to much. The rain, the thunder, the strangely deafening silence. Why was he back? Why now? He had left with no intention to return, so why had he come back to her?
"I can't do this Katie. We can't do this." The words echoed around my head continuously, never giving me peace. The words which had ruined my perfect world stayed long after he had walked away. The only thing he had left me were those words "I can't do this Katie. We can't do this". No matter how much I hated those words, how many times I wished them from my memory, they wouldn't leave me. Not because of the time, not because of the event, but because I wouldn't let them go. It doesn't matter that those words are commonly used, nor does it matter that he wasn't the first one to string those words together. All that matters is that they are the only part of Oliver that I'm allowed to own. The only memory I can replay without feeling like a thief, robbing a sliver of perfection from a perfect existence. My life isn't perfect, it's bleak and full of his face as he utters those nine words, his final, perfect gift.
His gift is the solitary ray of perfection in my obsolete world. How can something so raw, honest and full of emotion have an air of imperfection?
Another sign of my robbery, a small photo, catches my attention as it has done everyday for seven months. A picture of a young couple dancing in the middle of a crowded London street. Her dirty blonde hair swaying, as though doing a dance of it's own, and his dark brown eyes shining with warmth and love. They were free spirits, not confined by the fast pace of society. For them life was about having fun and being with those you love. Their love for one another is obvious, and that's why it hurts so much. Because muggle cameras capture one frozen moment, with no chance of correction or change. They are eternally in love and the warmth never leaves his eyes. That's why I put myself through this pain everyday, so I can pretend for a second that I'm perfect and those eyes still shine for me.
I focus upon the man in the picture and ask the question that has haunted me for months but I never dared to speak, "Why?" I can feel tears prickling in my eyes as I continue to search those brown orbs, desperately searching for answers, hoping to see more than love. "Why wasn't I good enough? Why don't you love me? I thought you did. I really did…"
I can't do this anymore, I don't want to do this anymore. But I don't want to let him go. He brought out the best in me, made me the strong, determined woman I am today… and then he took it away. I have to let you go. I gently trace his smile on last time before picking up the picture and placing it in the bottom draw of my desk. "Out of sight, out of mind." I mutter with a sad smile.
The next few months pass in the usual blur of work and meeting up with friends, until one night at the Leaky Cauldron
"So, I was thinking, you and I get along great and, if I may say so, we have great chemistry, so perhaps we could have a date next week in place of our weekly nightcap?" Lee asks with a grin very similar to that of Fred and George.
"I, well… no -actually yes! Ok. It's about time I -" and there he was, after months of not seeing him or hearing him except for on the radio talking about Puddlemere's latest win, was Oliver Wood, standing at the bar of the Leaky Cauldron, probably ordering his favourite drink, a stiff Firewhisky. I try to put on a face of indifference and pretend I didn't notice him.
"Hey, isn't that Oliver Wood?" Lee asks with excitement written across his face, "Oi! Ollywood![1" Lee shouts with his trademark grin in place before I can tell him not to. All I can do is turn my head and hope he doesn't see me. "Wow, it's been ages since I've seen Wood, well in person anyway!" Lee says. I hold my breath as Lee rambles on. It's almost as though I can feel Oliver's heavy footfalls as he crosses the pub.
I'm not ready, I can't do this, I can't let go. I can't look at him. I can't see those eyes when they are so different to those in the photo, so familiar, but so achingly different. The footsteps get heavier and closer before I feel his presence next to me and the warmth radiating off him. Out of the corner of my eye I can see two butterbeers placed upon the table. Two butterbeers? Maybe it isn't Oliver joining us after all? My eyes focus upon large, worn hands and I follow them to well defined arms with a light tan and freckles scattered across them which I follow to a strong neck and a strong jaw, and finally rich, chocolate eyes.
"Hey Kates." the deep, familiar voice rumbles. My heart stops and my eyes widen.
"Oh hey Charlie! Been ages since I've seen you!" I exclaim with a relieved smile.
"Yeah, too long. Wood should be over in a minute, I think he's chatting up some blonde bird at the bar." Charlie says with his legendary smile. His smile falters as my eyes tear up and my mind goes blank of all rational thought.
This is too much to take and the clearest of all my half formed thoughts is to run, to put as much distance between me and Oliver Wood as possible. "I have to- I need to- I need to get out of here." I gasp, trying to hold back my tears before I stand up and try to get back to the fireplace to Floo home. Tears roll down my cheeks as I stumble past confused people and wave off Tom's offer to talk.
"I just need to get home." I gasp before I run into somebody, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" I cry as I look into the face of the one person who could make this any worse.
"Katie? Are you ok?" Oliver asks with concern shining in his deceitful eyes.
"I just need to get home." I repeat before I race to the fireplace and throw in a pinch of powder as I step into the green flames while saying my address.
I'm barely aware of the spinning and the passing fireplaces, all I care about is getting home. I'm spat out of the fire and onto my rug but I don't get up, I just cry, sobbing into my hands about how much it still hurts. My sobs grow harder as everything I've held in for the past nine months comes tumbling out.
I shakily stand up and take in the sight before me: a room full of empty photo frames, dust covered shelves and magazines littering the floor. My life is bleak and empty and it's all his fault. I race over to the desk tucked into the corner and rip open the bottom draw and pluck out the well worn photo. As I look into his eyes I still see love, nothing more, no hints or clues.
"This isn't fair!" I scream as I throw the photo across the room. I fall to my knees as the glass shatteres and continue to sob. "This isn't fair."
A/N[1 Borrowed the 'Ollywood' reference from Ollywood3, they have a really good story called 'Seducing Oliver Wood', good read.
the refence to dancing in the middle of a busy street is from the song 'Almost Lover' by A Fine Frenzy.
and the idea of Katie falling to her knees and just crying, is not a rare idea, but inspired by Emma Watson in 'Ballet Shoes'
on a final note, should i continue? it works as a oneshot but does anyone actually want more?
Love ya,
WoodIsGood (my new pen name which will be in operation in two days)