A Katie Bell X Oliver Wood story
I think Charlie was probably Gryffindor captain in Katie's first year and I'm not sure who the other chaser was before Katie so I'm just leaving that bit out. You will recognise all players; Charlie might be on the team as seeker.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognise, I was hoping JKR would give me Oliver for Christmas this year, or Seamus, or Fred…but no such good fortune has come my way.
Please review if you want and be honest! On with the story.
Katie looked levelly at the ground, upon the green of the grass rested an old broom. Out of all the wonderful experiences to be had at Hogwarts, this was the one she was most looking forward to. Although she was half-blood, her parents never would have spent money on a broom for her, thinking it too much of an impracticality. She didn't blame them; after all, brooms were expensive.
She looked up quickly and surveyed her fellow first-years, Gryffindors and Slytherins. Many of them were looking out of their depth, in fact one Slytherin was being beat about the head with his broom. She giggled at the sight and then refocused upon her own broom. Merlin, she was nervous, what if she was no good? It was the one thing she longed to excel at. She took a deep breath and once again glanced at her motionless broom.
"Up!" She commanded. The broom leapt straight into her outstretched and awaiting hand. A grin broke out on her young face. Looking up she noticed many of her class mates watching her with poorly hidden surprise. Madam Hooch smiled and caught Katie's eye,
"Well done Miss Bell, 10 points to Gryffindor" Madam Hooch congratulated her. Katie was pleased; she was the first in her year to score points for her house. She completed the rest of the tasks set by her professor with grace and ease. She turned to head back to the castle for her charms lesson when a voice called her back.
"Miss Bell? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Madam Hooch shouted after her retreating form. Katie turned and hurried back to where her teacher was waiting expectantly.
"I wondered if I could have some help taking these back to the broom cupboard." Madam Hooch motioned at the now still brooms. Although Katie suspected the witch could have completed the task in under a couple of minutes with a flick of her wand, She thought that maybe Madam Hooch wanted to talk about something else.
"Katie, I'm very impressed. I don't think I've seen anyone as good as you since Wood. Anyway, I just thought, if you carry on like this, you might think about trying out for the team next year." Madam Hooch said to her, depositing the brooms she was holding in the old damp shed. Katie was shocked. She had heard of Oliver Wood, many girls seemed to talk about him in the Gryffindor common room. She was beyond happy that Madam Hooch believed in her abilities even at this very early stage.
"I'd love to! However, professor, I don't have a broom and I doubt my parents would buy me one." Katie explained before turning to place the brooms she had carried in their correct places.
"We have a special fund at Hogwarts for cases such as yours, so don't worry, if your parents don't come around, there are always options for you." Madam Hooch advised her, smiling down at the small girl.
The professor dismissed her and Katie beamed at her and thanked her. Hurrying up to the castle, not wanting to be late for charms, her blonde hair flying out behind her.
At lunch she found herself sat in the great hall between second years Fred and George who were beaters on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. She liked them immediately, they made her laugh and it was a nice welcome to the Gryffindor house. Picking up a bread roll she daintily cut it and buttered the sides, she was still amazed at how good the food was here at Hogwarts. She laughed at the twins, mucking about with their food as usual. She looked up to see Angelina, a chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team roll her eyes, and Katie stifled a giggle.
"Just ignore them, they're total clowns. Just be thankful you don't have lessons with them." Angelina quipped, a sparkle in her brown eyes as she slid down the bench opposite to Katie. "Hi, I'm Angelina, Welcome to Gryffindor, thought I should save you from these two buffoons." Katie smiled; thankful she wasn't going to be a total loner at Hogwarts.
"Aw, come on Angie, that's not what you were saying last night baby." George grinned and leaned across the table. Angelina tried to look stern but just ended up laughing at him.
"Ok, they can be quite funny sometimes Katie. Be careful though, when the Weasley charms are turned on you, you have a snowball's chance in hell." She then leaned in towards George before grabbing a bread roll and returning to her original seat. Grinning across at each other Katie and Angelina burst out laughing at the look on George's face.
"Bloody hell George, have we done something wrong already?" Fred interrupted the girls.
"What are you talking about Freddie?" George looked only slightly concerned.
"Madam Hooch seems to be coming over here," Fred explained. Katie blushed and looked down at her treacle tart; she hadn't noticed the professor striding down the length of the Gryffindor table. She had a nasty feeling she was about to have a very embarrassing conversation. She wanted Fred, Angelina and George of all people to like her. She looked up to see Angelina looking at her with a curious expression, before ducking her head once more.
Madam Hooch cut in "Katie, I'm glad you seem to have met the rest of the Quidditch team." Looking towards the rest of her audience she continued, "Katie here has a great skill for flying, she's thinking about trying out for the team next year." Looking around Katie saw Fred and George break into simultaneous grins and Angelina looking seemingly astonished but pleased. She smiled back happily at her new-found friends.
"You know, I was thinking Katie, you should go watch them practice sometime, it might give you an early advantage." Madame Hooch suggested.
"You've got the early part right." Fred mumbled under his breath.
George put in, "I don't know how you feel about 5'o clock but you may have to get used to seeing two of them each day." Madam Hooch laughed and explained,
"Oliver likes early Quidditch practice, I'm not sure the rest of his team are too enthusiastic about it." She bade them goodbye and swept from the great hall.
Angelina turned towards Katie, "Why didn't you tell us!" Katie blushed once again.
"I think Madame Hooch is slightly overconfident in my abilities." She explained.
"Is that so?" Fred asked, "Why don't you let us judge that for ourselves?"
"Yeah" George continued, "outside. You, me and Freddie here, game of Quidditch. What'd you say little Katie?"
Katie scowled. "I'm not that little, you three are just freakishly tall."
"I wish I could join you guys but I have so much potions homework." Angelina sent a death-stare towards the teachers table, where Snape was sat, looking stern. "Hopefully catch you later Katie, be careful with these two, they can be rough."
"You'd know all about that Angie" George shouted after her retreating figure, grinning as he did so.
"Wow, well I think we've found ourselves a new chaser for next year. Don't you Freddie?" George winked down at the small figure between them.
"I certainly do Georgie! Do'ya think we can get old McG to let her on this year?" Fred replied. Katie looked down and began to blush before clumsily tripping over her own feet. She wasn't used to compliments and she hadn't expected the team to welcome her so openly already, well, those she'd met.
George noticed. "Oh my Katie, you're just as bad as our Ollypop - Clumsy on the ground and a genius off it." That was the second time today she had been compared to Oliver Wood, and she hadn't even met the guy yet.
"Is it dinnertime yet? I'm starving." Katie complained, not exactly knowing how to respond to that last remark.
"You Miss Bell should be a part of the Weasley family!" George said whilst Katie chuckled behind her hand. "Oi," George protested, nudging Katie in the ribs "that was meant to be a compliment."
"And what a fine compliment it was" came a voice from behind them. Alicia appeared beside George "torturing first years already are we?" she leaned across to Katie and offered a smile and her hand introducing herself as she did so. "Angie told me about you" she paused, "I saw you back there" motioning with her thumb the direction they had just came from. "You're pretty good."
Katie thanked Alicia with a smile, not sure the Gryffindor actually thought she was any good but altogether too happy to be concerned. The four of them reached the great hall taking their places at the Gryffindor table. Angelina almost immediately slid in between Alicia and Katie.
"Hey guys," she said, greeting them with a warm smile. "How was your afternoon?"
"Brilliant." Fred and George said at the same time, beaming.
"How do you two even do that?" Katie asked open mouthed.
"We're linked" Said one twin.
"Synchronised" put in the other.
"Spooky" whispered Angelina in Katie's ear and then, to make a point visibly shuddered. Alicia looked across at them with a strange look in her eyes.
"What's wrong with Alicia?" Katie asked Angelina in a small voice that none of the others would hear.
"Oh, you've noticed, Alicia's not very comfortable around new people. Don't worry, once you get to know her she'll be fine." Katie smiled down the table at Alicia; she was going to make an effort to be friends with her. She didn't seem that bad, just a bit abrupt. Alicia smiled back slightly before turning her head.
"Hey guys," Fred interrupted Katie's thoughts, she looked up. "Has anyone seen Oliver recently?"
"I saw him on the way to charms this morning" Angelina replied.
"I mean like since this morning, did anyone see him at lunch" Fred seemed to be trying to get at something, something Katie didn't necessarily understand.
Alicia did, "Oh no" she looked at Fred. "Do you think he's at the pitch?"
Angelina groaned, "We have practice this evening." She turned to Katie to explain, "Which means he will probably be down at the pitch already and won't have had anything to eat since this morning."
"Must we always look after that boy?" George complained, "I thought it was meant to be the other way around."
"Right come on team!" Alicia took charge and they all left the hall laden with food after Katie had suggested that Oliver may be hungry. On their way to the Quidditch pitch Alicia caught up with her, slowing to match Katie's pace.
"Hey, Katie, look, I'm really sorry about before and everything. I really did think you were good, I just get a bit tetchy sometimes when I think people are trying to elbow in on our group. Some people think it's a good way of gaining popularity or whatever. I can tell now you're really not like that and I'd like us to be friends, is that ok?" Alicia took a breath, something resembling fear in her eyes.
Katie beamed, "I'd love to be friends with you Alicia" Alicia grinned back at the smaller girl.
They reached the changing rooms and slipped inside, Katie wasn't sure she should be in there but the team liked her so they obviously didn't see it as a problem. They found Oliver sat on a bench drawing out plays on the opposite whiteboard with his wand. He looked up when he saw them, grinning and looking like he couldn't believe his eyes. Oliver shouted,
"You're early!" He sounded extremely excited.
The rest of the team broke into laughter.
"No, Oliver, we came to find you." Alicia said, still chuckling. "And bring you some food." She added realising no one else was yet in a position to speak. Oliver's face fell,
"Oh" He said, sounding dejected.
Looking up, his eyes surveyed the group until they came to rest on Katie's face. As she studied his expression it began to change, he didn't look sad anymore, he looked angry.
"Who's she?" A tone of malice crept into the otherwise very nice voice. The others followed his line of vision, seemingly they had forgotten that she was there, or alternatively that Oliver didn't actually know who she was yet. She would have found the scene comical in another situation she mused, as the rest of team turned to her slowly, confused expressions plastered all over their faces. Fred was the first to recover.
"Very rude Oliver, since she's an honorary Weasley, and we know how much you love the Weasley family" He said.
"Especially Percy" muttered George.
Angelina then took her turn to pipe up, "Yes, and you should be grateful for this little one-" Katie winced "-she's your much stressed over chaser for next year."
"Yeah" Alicia smiled at her, "didn't Madam Hooch mention anything?"
"Wh-" it seemed Oliver was having difficulty in processing the information being thrown at him from all sides. "She might've said something. I don't remember" He looked back at Katie. "but she's a first year…" he trailed off.
"Hence the reason she's not on the team this year, you know Ol, you'd think you'd know the rules by now." George joked.
"Well what's she doing here now then?" Oliver demanded, looking anywhere but at the girl he was actually talking about. Katie knew she should respect the older boy but his unwelcome attitude rather put her off.
"I'm here to observe, where should I sit?" Katie looked directly at Oliver, her face betraying no emotion.
"Er, I…Um…" Oliver stammered.
"In the stands, Katie, I'll show you." Alicia gently pulled Katie's arm, heading out of the changing rooms. As soon as they were out in the open, Alicia started ripping into Oliver, whilst Katie walked quietly beside her, not uttering a word.
"What's wrong Katie?" Alicia asked.
"Nothing, as much as I may dislike him, he will be my captain next year and he deserves respect." Katie answered her, feeling more upset than she was letting on.
Alicia sighed and gave a small smile, "Listen, Oliver's used to it, he works us hard and gets a lot of abuse for it, I think he secretly enjoys it." Alicia told her, before turning and sprinting back towards the changing rooms.
Katie had an excellent view from where she was sat, although it was September there was a definite chill in the air and Katie regretted not bringing her long red and gold scarf out to the Quidditch pitch. She heard the whistle below and all her future teammates rise into the air, along with two others, one she assumed to be a Weasley from the shade of his hair. She studied the team as they trained, Alicia was right, Oliver did work them hard, but she could see how well they played for it. Angelina and Alicia worked very well together but she could already see how she could fit into their formation. Fred and George were excellent beaters, she was almost positive that at times they were aiming for Oliver. And Oliver himself was…. well she was sure she would never tell him how good he was.
After they had finished Katie waited for a while before going down, she certainly didn't want to bump into Oliver Wood. She hurried down the stairs, and ran straight into her worst fear, Oliver himself.
"Oh, sorry." She looked at the floor not wanting to get him even madder.
He looked down at the terrified girl, his expression softening, "it's ok, don't worry about it." His Scottish accent was much softer when he wasn't shouting. "Um, Fred and George told me to tell you they had to go; they have a detention with Filch apparently." He trailed off.
Katie sniggered, "trust them" she looked up slightly, "What about Angelina and Alicia?"
"Oh" now Oliver looked at the ground, "they told me I should apologise." Katie raised an eyebrow.
He caught her expression, "no wait-" he started, "-it's like, if anything gets in the way of Quidditch…" stopping again he looked at her levelly, "I'm just really passionate about it." He blushed.
"Oh, me too" Katie wasn't lying, she did love Quidditch, but mainly she wanted to make him feel better.
"Really?" he almost squeaked at her, she was quite taken aback at his level of enthusiasm.
"Well not to the point where I would skip meals" she joked with him, he laughed.
"Well if you want I could give you a bit of tuition this year, only if you want though." She smiled at his nervousness.
"I'd love that" she grinned at him, knowing she had her first crush on a boy who was completely unattainable both in age and looks.
"I think Ol's got a soft spot for you Katie" Fred stated, bringing her out of her reverie.
"What?" She said looking incredulous and somewhat confused.
"Yeah, he's so much softer on you than us" George chipped in.
"Just wait till she's playing proper matches" Angelina grinned back at him.
Katie put her head back on her hands and zoned out, not noticing the worried glances Alicia and Angelina exchanged.
It's the little things she notices now, his long, soft lashes closing over the now familiar chocolate brown eyes. The way the corner of his mouth quirks when he finds one of the twins jokes funny but doesn't want to admit it. His hand as it touches hers when correcting her grip, sometimes she does it wrong for that purpose, even if he does get frustrated at her. She dares to hope, even if she knows her hopes are futile because a boy like him would never even look twice at a girl like her.
I didn't particularly plan to write either of them liking each other so soon, because of the age gap, but I think it's realistic she would like him. However, I have a plan now so it's ok!
This story will be four or five chapters long at the most and I will try my best to update when I can. Eek!