He Knows
one.
The first time he hears her cry, he's wondering what she's doing up at this ungodly hour of the morning. It's five-fifty-five – the clock says so – and he's strapping on his Quidditch gear in the common room, rubbing the base of his hands against his bleary eyes. Usually, he's the only one in the common room at this hour, but there's a small first-year blonde girl in her uniform, tucked in a corner and crying.
She notices him, just then, and in a flash, she's gone up the stairs to her dormitory.
Oliver frowns and leaves. He isn't sure what to say – or do.
two.
The second time he hears her cry, he knows her name. She is Katie Bell, and she's the best bloody chaser that's been on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in years, a little spitfire who outflew even the most talented upperclassmen.
She is flying laps with Alicia and Angelina, and the Weasley twins are beating a bludger in between the two of them, and for one moments, Fred loses his concentration as Angelina zooms past him and -
There's blood everywhere, mixing and mingling with her hair and the green of the grass. Fred is so pale that his freckles look more shocking than usual, and they can all tell he feels guilty. Everyone is silent, and she cries out in pain.
This time, Oliver knows what to do. He very carefully lifts her up and cradles her – she's impossibly light – and carries her to the infirmary. She's still crying. He doesn't know what to say.
three.
The third time he hears her cry, it is off the pitch and outside of the common room – he's on his way to NEWT Transfiguration, and there's a sob from a hidden corner in the corridor. He looks out of the corner of his eye, and he can tell that it's her, vivid blue eyes and blonde hair, small enough to curl up in a corner.
He doesn't know what's wrong, but he makes his way over there. There is something pulling inside of him, something telling him that she has to stop, he doesn't like seeing her upset. It's a funny, unfamiliar feeling, but he decides he'll figure out what it means later.
"Katie?" he asks, and she nods, sniffling and quickly wiping her tears away.
"Sorry, sorry," she murmurs, attempting to push past him. He frowns as she bites her lip. He's still blocking her way, and he can tell the red on her cheeks is from embarrassment.
This time, he's pretty sure he knows what to do and say.
He takes a step back, letting her through.
"It's okay," he says, quietly, and he doesn't say anything more. He hopes it's enough.
She nods, and there's a small semblance of a smile on her face as she walks away from him.
a/n - For Lara, winner of the Rocky Horror Picture Show category in the Cinema Competition. A KBOW drabble for you, my darling :) Also for Milly's Off The Block Competition, Freestyle, Easy. Enjoy, and please tell me what you thought!