Title: Of Chasing Quaffles and Katniss Everdeen, Part 2

Author: kaceywithak (tumblr: starks-and-mellarks)

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or Harry Potter

Author's Note: This is a short followup to my one shot "Of Chasing Quaffles and Katniss Everdeen" for the most recent Prompts in Panem round. Thanks for reading!

Peeta worked a hot trail of kisses down Katniss' neck, trying to distract her from her recap of his most recent match. A match which ended about twelve minutes ago.

"And you really need to pay attention to your left side, that's where you're getting the Quaffle taken the-oh!" Her voice cut of on the last word as Peeta backed her against one of the cubbies in the Appleby Arrows changing rooms.

"Are you finished analyzing me, sweetheart?" He slid both of his hands under her well worn Arrows shirt and she let out a soft moan.

It's been over two years and he has never gotten tired of hearing that sound come out of Katniss.

"I'm trying," her voice was coming out in pants now as he slipped his right hand under her bra and started working her breast. "To help," She rested her head against the wall. "You."

"And I love you for it," Peeta brushed a soft kiss against her lips. "But right now I really want to celebrate a crushing victory with my fiancee." It was impossible to miss the way his eyes lit up when he said it, how his voice became more excited and hopeful.

Katniss rolled her eyes.

"You really can't stop saying that, can you? It's been nearly a month." He peppered her cheeks with kisses.

"The girl I have loved since forever agreed to be my wife." He pulled back slightly. "I'm just getting started." And then he lifted her up off of the ground and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his middle. He pushed her against the wall and kissed her deeply before a throat clearing interrupted him.

"Really?" The couple let out matching groans. Finnick. Of course. "It was cute when you were doing the whole 'I'm a little Quidditch star, Katniss is the team healer, let's snog in the changing rooms' routine. But as I recall from your housewarming party last year you two have a beautiful flat, your own beautiful flat. And yet here you are, like two sixth years in a broom closet."

"Why are you still here, Odair?" Peeta looked back at him pointedly and Katniss leaned forward to bury her head in Peeta's chest.

"Had an on-pitch interview with Witch Weekly. They had the nerve to ask about 'how it feels to be playing professional Quidditch 'at your age'. I'm twenty-eight for Merlin's sake, I'm not ancient!" He grabbed his duffel bag from his cubby and swung his broom over his shoulder. "Anyway, I told them to ask Johanna that question during their next sit down with her. Promised a real eloquent and educated answer."

"You didn't." Katniss stifled a snort.

"Oh, but I did." Finnick looked positively overjoyed. "Well I'm off you two lovebirds, enjoy your snogging session in our smelly old changing rooms."

"Give my godson a kiss!" Peeta called after him. Killian O'Dair was two years old and the little light of Peeta's life. He had bought him a toy broomstick for his last birthday and spent the day chasing him around in the backyard. He spoiled the child rotten, something which Johanna (who for some reason had been named Killians' godmother) teased him about.

"He's right though," Katniss reached her right hand up and ran a soft hand through Peeta's mess of curls. "We should take this back to our flat."

Our flat. Peeta wondered if she feels the same way about their living arrangements as he does. When they moved in together, they decided it would be easiest to stay in London. It was close to Katniss' job at St. Mungos and her sister had recently gotten a flat in Diagon Alley after graduating Hogwarts. Prim took a job at the Ministry of Magic in their Department for then Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She worked as a Goblin Liason and Peeta loved inviting her over for dinner and listening to her stories.

But though their flat was convent and had a fantastic view of the London skyline, there was a "home" element missing. As a Muggleborn, it was hard to feel completely at ease in either of his worlds. Truthfully, the only place he ever felt completely home was on the Quidditch pitch.

But before he could discuss it with Katniss, the brunette had wiggled her way out of his hold and ducked under his strong arms.

"Come on then, fiancee." And with a little shake of her hips, she made her way out of the changing room.

—

Peeta nervously tapped his left foot while he waited for Haymitch to come into the office. His team manager had requested a meeting and he was a little worried it had to do with the fact that he sometimes used the changing rooms for more than suiting up or motivational team speeches.

Not that it would have been the first time Haymitch had to have the talk with Peeta.

"Damnit, you're worse than Odair! I don't care that you're screwing the Team Healer, but can you keep it in your damn pants and out of the medical room?"

"We're not just screwing." Peeta was used to his surly manager but his words stuck a nerve. Haymitch rolled his eyes and took out a bottle of firewhiskey from his drawer, pouring himself a glass.

"Look, I don't care what you're doing but if I walk in on the two of you again I am trading you to the Chudley Cannons."

It really wasn't Peeta's fault Katniss had a thing for him when he was fresh of the Quidditch pitch, still in his match-day robes and with a broom over his shoulder. And once she started wearing the MELLARK jersey he really couldn't help himself.

Haymitch, as it turned out, was not there to reprimand Peeta for his post-match antics.

"Last time around you were too young last time to be considered. You're still young, but they are looking at you and they want you." Haymitch pointed his wand at the wall and a poster sized parchment rolled out, showing the potential roster.

The English National Team wanted Peeta to play in next year's World Cup.

To say he was shocked was an understatement. Sure it had always been a dream, playing at the back of his mind when he was feeling particularly optimistic, but Peeta knew so many talented Chasers in the league. He laughed off the questions in interviews, always saying it "would be an honor, but for now he's happy where he is."

And he was happy: playing for the Arrows was a dream come true. He helped lead the team to two League Cups in his four years. He knew how the players worked; the seven starters were so good together they were often referred to as a family rather than a team. He was comfortable in Appleby and he loved Appleby. Playing on the worldwide scale…that could change things.

He looked at the roster, recognizing all of the names. There was Darren Thresh from Puddlemere United who had been nicknamed "untouchable" because of his ability to weave in and out of the opposing team and Credessa Collins from the Falcons as the other chasers. Brutus and Gloss, the terrifying but talented Beater team from the Wimbourne Wasps, Pollux Christopher as Keeper and Rue Devons, a seasoned Seeker from the Holyhead Harpies.

Not only would he be the youngest on the team, he would be the only new member.

"I don't know Haymitch." Peeta's hand went to the back of his neck and rubbed. "Do you really think I'm ready?"

"Boy, you've been ready since you were seventeen." Compliments from Haymitch were rare and it threw Peeta for a minute. "I know you're all about being humble but you're a phenomenal player. You have the skill." Peeta took a deep breath, feeling torn and unsettled.

"I need some time to think about it." Haymitch nodded.

"Take a few days. Keep it quiet, but talk to who you need to." Peeta nodded and stood up. He knew where to go next.

—

Walking along the streets of Lincolnshire always gave Peeta a sort of sad, nostalgic feeling. The town was where he grew up, and yet it wasn't: eleven years and holidays somehow could not hold a candle to the seven school years he spent at Hogwarts.

He opened the door of the bakery and smiled at the familiar sight. Mellark's had barely changed in the fifty years of his family owning it. His father looked up from behind the counter and gave his youngest son a bright smile.

"Peet! I didn't expect you today,"

"Thought I'd say hello." Peeta stuck his hands in his jeans pockets. "Need a hand?"

"That'd be great," His father's warm smile set him slightly more at ease and he followed him back into the kitchen.

Summers of working side by side with his father and brothers had taught Peeta his way around the kitchen and the importance of patience with baking. With magic, Peeta found so many tasks could be completed simply and quickly with the flick of a wand, but baking took time and precision. They would listen to the radio or listen to stories of his dad growing up and the mischief he would get into.

"How are things with Katniss?" His father asked. Peeta had brought Katniss to meet his family a few months after they started dating. Truthfully he had been terrified: Katniss was not a prejudiced Pureblood by any means, but his family was still apprehensive and wary of wizards. Not to mention his mother thought he was an absolute freak.

But the dinner, although slightly awkward, had gone well and Katniss had accompanied Peeta on many visits to the bakery after (though she still swears his homemade cheese buns are the best.)

"She's brilliant." Peeta had the goofy and starstuck smile he always had when talking about Katniss. "She's doing amazing at work, did I tell you about her new position? Working on this new form of wolfsbane, it's finally ready to be used in a dose for children-"

"Wolfsbane?" Mr. Mellark furrowed his eyebrows. Peeta stopped kneading the bread and winced: after over a decade years of living in the wizarding world and accepting a lot of strange things as normal, he sometimes forgot how things like werewolves were a myth to Muggles rather than a reality.

"Er, yeah." He stammered and decided changing the subject was his best course of action. "Anyway, dad I need your advice. I mean you've known me forever, and even when I went away to school you've still always been my father and I really respect your opinion," Peeta paused to take a breath, grateful his father had not poked fun at his rambling. "The English National Team wants me to play for them. The Quidditch World Cup is next year and they want…me."

"Wow," Mr. Mellark sounded shocked. "Peeta, that's brilliant!"

"Yeah, it is." Peeta allowed a smile to stretch across his face but his mind was still racing. "I mean, it would mean a year of extra practices and more time away and even though we're not even thinking about wedding plans, I don't want to leave it all to Katniss. Plus I'd miss a few matches with the Arrows and it would be a whole other team to get used to. I just…" He trailed off and looked down at the bread dough again, flipping kneading it.

"You're not sure if you are ready for it." His father's soft voice made Peeta's shoulders deflate and he looked back up to meet his gaze.

"I don't want to let anyone down." And now that he said it, he realized that was what caused the anxiety and uncertainty. There were already so many days that felt like a blur, times when he felt like he had to work twice as hard just to be present in his loved one's lives like he wanted to. Playing for the National Team meant even more of those days.

"Peeta," A strong hand clasped his right shoulder and his father smiled softy. "You care so much about others but sometimes I think you forget we care just as much about you. We want to see you shine and be happy. This is an honor to your country and a testament to you as a player."

"It was always supposed to be a pipe dream." Peeta ran a hand through his hair. It would be a miracle if he still had it by the end of the day.

"Well, if I remember correctly, you always said your crush on Katniss was 'just a pipe dream'." Peeta chuckled.

"Can a bloke really get so lucky twice?"

"Maybe it's magic," Mr. Mellark winked and Peeta relaxed and started actually laughing.

He had just one more stop to make.

—

Katniss worked in The Lupin Wing of St. Mungos, a department dedicated to the treatment and support of children bitten by werewolves. The week after the full moon was always her busiest, but Katniss loved her job and was proud of her work on a wolfsbane potion suitable for children. Last year the Ministry had honored her research team and Peeta was incredibly proud of her.

"Hello Peeta," Sae, one of the older healers and the leader of the research team greeted Peeta when he passed her in the hallway. "Here for your girl?"

"Always," Peeta responded with a bright smile.

"She's working with a few of the kids in the blue room down the hall, making sure their movements and motions are back to normal after the full moon earlier this week. I'm sure they'd love to see you."

"Thanks Sae." He headed towards the back, waving a quick hello at one of the interns. He stopped before he entered the room and looked through the large window.

Katniss was reading a book aloud to twelve children, all of them young and crowded around her. A few of them had arms in slings or bandages wrapped around different parts of their body but they looked up at her in awe. Peeta slowly walked into the room.

"Healer Katniss?" One of older ones raised his hand. "Would you choose the stone, the wand or the cloak?"

"I don't know Dylan," she smiled softly at the boy. "The cloak seems like it would be fun to have after bedtime, don't you think?" A few of the children agreed and Katniss met Peeta's gaze. "Would you like to hear another story before we get back to play time?"

"Yes!" They answered in unison.

"Alright, I have a special guest here today," She pointed to the back of the room and twelve little heads whipped around to stare at Peeta.

"Peeta Mellark!" One of the kids shouted and soon they were on their feet and running towards him, jumping around in excitement and asking him questions.

"Thank you so much for letting me come to story time!" He said excitedly. It took a few minutes for everyone to calm down, but soon he had taken Katniss' spot on the stool and the children were now crowded around him. Katniss lightly rubbed his shoulder before stepping out of the room.

"Mr. Peeta, Mr. Peeta!" A particularly animated girl waved her hand. "Can you tell us a Quidditch story?"

"Of course," Peeta beamed. "Hm…how about one from my fifth year of Hogwarts…"

—

"And to this day, Gale Hawthorne is still bitter that I scored on him twelve times." Peeta wrapped up his tale just as Katniss walked back in to the room.

"He is not," She laughed and shook her head.

"He is too!" Peeta nodded dramatically and a few of the kids confirmed his story.

"Alright, Healer Sae is coming in for playtime. Can you say goodbye to Peeta?" They gave him an animated goodbye and he gave almost all of them hugs before he and Katniss left the room and walked down the halls of the hospital.

"I can't believe you told them that story. We just had dinner with Gale and Madge last week and he adores you."

"There's a little something in his eye sometimes," Peeta slipped his hand in hers when they approached the elevator.

"Do you think he'll be bitter when you play for the English side next year?" She raised one eyebrow and Peeta looked at her in complete shock. "Haymitch owled me this morning. Said you might need some encouragement."

"Of course he did." Peeta grumbled.

"Come on," They stepped off the elevator and cut through the lobby. Peeta threw a couple galleons in the fountain before they exited the building. "Hold on to me, I want to show you something."

They apparated without any issues and Peeta looked around at where she took them. The village was quaint; small and old fashioned and he saw a few children ride past on bicycles. A slight breeze picked up and leaves swirled around his feet. Cottages lined the street with well manicured lawns and a couple pushed a baby carriage past them, smiling at him.

"Where are we?" He asked, still holding on to Katniss' hand.

"Godric's Hollow." She said, and there was something in her voice he couldn't quite place. "Come on then," she led him to the village square where a large statue transformed as they passed it. They sat on the edge of a fountain and Katniss waited for Peeta to speak.

"I'm nervous." He admitted. "A lot would change if I say yes."

"Funny, that's how I felt when you asked me to marry you." She gave him a cheeky smile and Peeta relaxed, pulling her closer to him and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Do you know what I remember about you from school?"

"My abysmal performance in Care of Magical Creatures?"

"Oh Merlin, you were awful!" Katniss laughed. "How did you manage to kill a flobberworm?"

"I don't know!" In Peeta's defense, their Professor has assured him that he must have gotten a sick one. It pained his thirteen year old heart that the one project he managed to get paired up with Katniss Everdeen for was the one project he failed at.

"No, what I remember…" Katniss nuzzled closer into his side. "I would go for walks on the grounds sometimes on my bad days, when I couldn't stop thinking about my dad." Peeta reached out and took her hand in his, rubbing his thumb over hers comfortingly. "And I would see you out there practicing on the pitch. I would wonder if you ever slept, because I'd see you there all the time."

"I got a few detentions for using it after hours." Peeta admitted.

"I'm not surprised. But I admired you so much. You worked so hard to be the best player you could be, not just for yourself but for your whole team. The English Side doesn't just need you to throw a Quaffle through a hoop, you know." Peeta raised his eyebrows. "They need you. Because you're a phenomenal player and teammate and I for one think you could do some good." They were quiet for a minute while Peeta pondered her words. Katniss didn't often make speeches, but when she did she was usually right. She tucked her head back into his chest and waited for him to speak up.

"I hear we will play Italy in the first round." He could feel her smiling against his chest. "They've got a good Seeker, but their Chasers are a mess."

"Not to mention their Keeper has a nasty habit of drinking elf wine before the match." Peeta ran a hand through her hair this time, untangling her braid in the process. He looked around at the Village Square.

"Why did you bring me here?" Katniss pulled her head back and smiled at him.

"Well, at the risk of putting too many decisions on your plate in one day…" She took his hand again and pulled them to their feet. "I think we should buy a house here." She looked earnest, excited and a little nervous.

Peeta looked around at the families out on an evening stroll, at the young boy walking a dog and the setting sun over a small lake. It was a quiet community, one where he and Katniss could start the rest of their lives together. After a long day or practice, he could come here and he would be…home.

His answering smile was blinding.

"I'm going to play for Quidditch for the English Side, real or not real?"

"Real." Katniss' face lost any trace of apprehension and she grinned.

"We're going to get married and buy a house in Godric's Hollow."

"Real!" She was laughing now at the overjoyed expression on Peeta's face.

"And fill it with a bunch of kids and turn the backyard into a Quidditch pitch during the summers!" He picked her up and spun her around and Katniss let out a shriek.

"Well not quite yet!" He put her down, cupped her face in both of his hands and looked in to her gray eyes.

"You love me, real or not real?" And though she was blinking back tears, her answer was steady and her voice completely certain.

"Real."