Disclaimer: The world and characters (most of them) belong to JK Rowling. The story title belongs to the Cure. (Go check out the song if you haven't heard it already.)

Chapter Two: Girl Talk

Same Night

Hogwarts

"Late night owl," Leanne announced. "Must be Angelina."

Up north, two girls were tucked into the Gryffindor common room revising for NEWTS and looking forward to the Hogsmeade trip the next day. The fire in the hearth was roaring, keeping the cold at bay as snow fell outside. The blonde girl, one Katie Bell, opened the window to admit the owl and a howling swirl of snow along with it. She offered a few treats to the flashy, snowy owl before it flew away.

"It's only eight o'clock," she informed her friend. "Hardly late night."

Settling into her favorite chair in the Gryffindor common room, Katie unrolled the parchment. The letter was indeed from Angelina, but the appearance of Harpy had told her that. The great, white owl had been a congratulatory gift to herself when Angelina made the Holyhead Harpies. That had amused the twins to no end.

Fred laughed, "Angie, aren't you supposed to let other people send you gifts?"

"I don't know, Fred," George chimed in, "I'm rather impressed with her choice in gifts. I would have thought she'd buy—"

"Shoes!"

Angelina gave them a look, eyebrows raised haughtily. "And what do you boys call those fancy dragon hide jackets you bought?"

"Investments!" the twins chorused.

Later, Angelina had confided in Katie that she had indeed bought five new pairs of heels. "They make my legs look fabulous."

Katie herself only had one pair of shiny, black heels bought for her fifteenth birthday party. She also had a very nice pair of Doc Martin Mary Janes and a closet full of trainers. Really, great legs or no, she couldn't understand why anyone would wear heels to anything other than a wedding. They hurt her feet, and no one could run in them—at least not without looking like a prat.

Katie turned her wayward attention back to the letter in her hand:

Dear Katie,

I have a game during Christmas hols and I have set aside two tickets for my third-favorite Chaser. Bring the boyfriend if you must, but warn him that if he wears an Arrows jumper, I will turn his hair green. Fred and George have some great new products that do just that.

I saw Oliver last week. The Harpies vs. United. Don't ask how it turned out. We went out for drinks afterwards. If you thought he was fit when we were in school, you should see him now! Rumor has it that Puddlemere has a grueling practice schedule, and it clearly agrees with Oliver. I think he's even taller, if that's possible.

Anyway, he asked about you. Turned into a proper mooncalf about it too. If you ever ditch the boyfriend, I think I know a Quidditch player who would love to be your Keeper. Well, have to run. Give Slytherin hell for me (on the pitch, of course).

Lots of love,

Angelina

PS—Alicia says hello, and if you don't want Oliver, she'll gladly have him.

Rolling her eyes, Katie pulled out a fresh roll of parchment. Briefly, after her fifteenth birthday, Katie had fancied Oliver and her friends wouldn't let her live it down. He'd only ever seen her as a kid sister. A pest, more like. Angelina and Alicia insisted this was not the case. They claimed that Oliver secretly fancied her, but she knew better.

For a moment, Katie let herself relive her fifteenth birthday—not the mad party that Fred and George had thrown in her honor or her first kiss with that creep Roger Davies. No, the best part of the night was when Oliver came to her rescue. Well, she'd rescued herself, but Oliver had broken Davies' nose in spectacular fashion. Then he'd walked her back to the common room.

oOo

"You going up to bed, Bell?" he asked.

"I'm not really ready to sleep," she replied, and tugged uncomfortably on the form fitting dress she was wearing. "But I do want to get out of this."

Oliver looked at her in shock, all color drained from his face.

Katie laughed. "Well, not in front of you, silly."

He made a strangled noise. "I knew that." He cleared his throat and looked at a spot on the wall over her shoulder. "Do you want to play Gobstones?"

Katie giggled at the delightfully childish suggestion. She'd gone out that night wanting to be all grown up and that had turned out rather disappointingly. Playing Gobstones was exactly what she needed. She wondered if Oliver knew that. Probably not; Oliver was rather oblivious to the finer human emotions.

"I would like that very much."

Twenty minutes later, she returned to the common room, having washed away the makeup and brushed out her hair. She even went so far as to plait it. She was wearing blue flannel pajamas with penguins on them and fuzzy slippers. Oliver was still dressed, but he'd cleared a spot in front of the fire and was sitting cross-legged on the floor.

Katie was struck, not for the first time, by how handsome he was. Over the last year, his features had hardened into a chiseled jaw and broad cheekbones. The last time his nose had been broken had left it permanently crooked, which somehow added to his appeal. It was the silky, dark hair that Katie fancied most. She just wanted to run her fingers through it and watch his fringe fall into his brown eyes.

Oliver looked up and smiled broadly. He so rarely smiled like that; it made her breath catch in her throat to see it. He was just too serious, and that was a shame because she rather fancied that smile too. Not that she fancied Oliver at all. He was her Quidditch Captain, and a proper pain in the arse too.

"Those are cute pajamas, Bell," he said, that heart-melting smile still on his face. "Are you ready to lose at Gobstones?"

She dropped down across from him. "You can't be that competitive."

He cocked one eyebrow, looking rather rakish. "Have you met me?"

Katie giggled. "Fair enough. But I warn you, I am pretty good."

"We'll see about that."

Oliver trounced Katie five games straight.

Finally, Katie threw her hands up in surrender. "Okay, no more. I beg for mercy."

"Don't feel too badly. I've beaten better players than you," Oliver said with a boyish grin.

"Oliver Wood, are you winding me up?"

"I'm trying to. Is it working?"

She scrunched her nose up. "A bit," she admitted. "How'd you get so good anyway? I can't imagine you taking time away from Quidditch long enough to master anything else."

Oliver didn't take offense at her comment. That was something that always impressed Katie about him, that he accepted his madness completely. He was either very self-aware or he didn't realize just how mad he was in comparison to the rest of the population. It was easy to assume that he was oblivious, but Oliver was smarter than he was given credit for. He held his own with Percy Weasley, after all. Besides, the detail and planning he put into his Quidditch plays took a quick and thorough mind.

"You know Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff?" he asked.

"He's in Harry's year? Rather pompous?"

"That's the one," Oliver said with a cheeky grin. "He's my little cousin and he is bloody great at Gobstones. Well, it has always been a cardinal rule amongst me and my brothers that we never let our Macmillan cousins beat us at anything. So…"

"So? So you spent dozens of hours perfecting your game?"

"More like months."

"Oliver! You spent months perfecting your Gobstones game just to trounce your little cousin?"

"What? I was nine," he said as he scooped up two Gobstones and began fiddling with them. "Besides, Fergus and Dougal were away at school so I had nothing better to do."

An image of a young Oliver manically perfecting his Gobstones game with the same determination with which he now played Quidditch came to Katie's mind. She couldn't help but giggle. Soon Oliver was laughing too. It was a lovely sound, deep and melodic. It sent shivers down Katie's spine.

"I know you lot think I'm mental," Oliver said after a while. "And maybe I am. But haven't you ever been passionate about something?"

Katie stopped laughing and regarded the young man before her. His honesty humbled her. She had been right: he was aware of his madness, and he accepted it as a part of who he was. She wondered if he'd ever spoken so openly about his love for Quidditch with another person. It made Katie feel special thinking that maybe she was being shown a part of Oliver he had never shown anyone else.

The longer she stared at him, the more his smile faded. He looked shy and unsure of himself, and that made her heart ache. She never wanted to see Oliver look that way. She much preferred the blazing madman.

The madman is there for anyone to see, said a voice in her head. You are being allowed to know the private man.

"No," Katie finally said, picking up one of the Gobstones. "I've never felt that passionate about anything."

He was putting his Gobstones back in their velvet pouch. "You love Quidditch, you love to fly. I can see it every time you are on the pitch. It's why I wanted you on my team. I liked to watch you fly."

Katie blinked, too stunned to speak. She scooted across the floor to sit beside him. "Blimey, Oliver, I don't know what to say."

Oliver shrugged. "I don't reckon you have to say anything."

"Don't you enjoy flying?"

"Of course, I do, but…" He stopped what he was doing and looked across the room blankly.

"But what?"

"I think too much," he admitted. "I have to keep my eye on the Quaffle and stay five steps ahead of the other team's Chasers. I have to make sure my team is executing the plays. That everybody is where they are supposed to be. I can never be in the moment."

Katie threaded her arm through his and rested her head against his shoulder. "You and I should go flying, just flying for no reason."

Oliver looked down at her, a soft smile on his lips. "That would be nice." He pressed a kiss onto the top of her head. "I hope you had a happy birthday, Bell."

She thought over the last hour spent with Oliver. She had had a happy birthday. Sure, her first kiss turned out rather disastrously, but the time spent with Oliver more than made up for that. She wondered what it would be like to kiss Oliver. She hid a smile behind her hand.

"Yeah," she mumbled, sliding the Gobstone into his hand. "It was the best birthday."

oOo

"Katie…Katie…Kates!"

Katie dragged her mind back to the present to see her boyfriend standing in front of her. Hal Sparrow was a tall wizard with sandy hair and a ready smile, though at the moment, he was looking rather sheepish. They were in the same year and had been dating for almost two years. Katie fancied herself in love with him.

"Sorry," she said, remembering Angelina's letter and crumpling it in her hand. "I was woolgathering."

"So I see," he replied.

She made room for him in the chair and he dropped into it beside her, throwing his arm across the back.

Hal looked at his lap, his brow furrowing. "I have something to tell you."

"Well, don't keep in suspense."

"I got detention—for tomorrow."

"Hal!" she screeched, turning to look at him. "We had tomorrow all planned out."

"I know, I know. But it was Snape and you know how he is."

Katie pursed her lips, but gave in. "I know," she huffed. "He's horrible and –"

"He hates Gryffindors," they chorused, making Katie laugh.

"There's that laugh I love so much," Hal teased. He slung his arm around her shoulders and pulled her back against him. "I really am sorry, Kates, I was looking forward to tomorrow."

Cuddling into his side, she shrugged. They'd done Puddifoot's before and she didn't really enjoy it the first time, but they were planning to commemorate their first date. She supposed they were feeling sentimental, what with it being seventh year and all.

"Maybe we can go for a stroll up to the Owlery or something," Hal suggested. "I know it's not the same, but…"

"I would like that," Katie said quickly. "In fact, I have a letter to finish up, so maybe we can meet in twenty minutes or so?"

He gave her one of those broad grins. "I love how you're never fussy, Kates," he said.

She returned his smile and kissed his cheek. A devilish look came into his eyes as he leaned in and gave her a lingering kiss.

"Hal!" Katie hissed, feeling heat prickling her cheeks. She looked around at all of the people in the common room. Leanne was sneaking looks at them and Ritchie Coot and Jack Sloper were openly staring. "Anybody can see!"

"So?" he retorted. "What's so wrong with kissing my girlfriend, hm?"

"We weren't kissing, we were snogging, weren't we?" She shook her head. "I like our private moments…well, private."

Hal leaned in so he could whisper in her ear. "There's a broom closet up by the Owlery that is very private."

Katie gave him a side long look and chided, "Ever the romantic one, Hal." But she dimpled anyway. She knew she'd end up in that broom closet one way or another.

"That's my girl." He kissed her cheek and pushed out of the chair. "Back in twenty."

Katie waved him goodbye. Once he was out of sight, she pulled out her parchment and quill again. She began to write:

Dear Angelina,

The boyfriend and I would love to attend the game. I would love to see my third-favorite Chaser in action. You needn't worry about his jumper, but I warn you: You will rue the day if his hair mysteriously turns green!

I saw Ollie over the summer, remember? We all met up at Fred and George's new shop. I am quite aware of how fit he is. I am also aware that he has grown several centimeters since leaving school. Or, as you backwards half-bloods and purebloods say, inches. That does not change the fact that: a. I do not fancy him anymore, b. I have a very nice boyfriend whom I love, and c. Oliver sees me as a little sister.

Quit meddling. It doesn't suit you. Heading off to the Owlery with the boyfriend. Ta!

Lots of love,

Katie

PS—Of course I'll give Slytherin hell!

oOo

Catriona had skipped the formality of the dinner table and brought supper right into the sitting room as it was just the two of them. Catriona's Chicken, despite its name, was not her own dish, but a traditional Scottish dish of chicken and vegetables in some sort of spice that Oliver couldn't remember the name of. Catriona liked to make the time-honored Scots meals; it reminded her of home. That he did remember.

Oliver offered to do the clean-up and she didn't argue. He noticed two plates under warming spells tucked away on the counter as he set a scrub brush to cleaning the pots and put away the leftovers. Back in the sitting room, Catriona was curled up on the sofa, hands resting atop the mound of her belly. Oliver went to sit next to her, taking her hand in a brotherly gesture.

"So," she said, smiling up at him, "there's a girl?"

Oliver averted his eyes, feeling his cheeks grow warm. "You heard that?"

"Aye, I did. And I want to hear all about her."

He was reminded of the rest of the conversation he'd had with his brothers and cringed. "Does that mean you heard about…the other?"

She sighed, giving his hand a squeeze. "I did, but you have to know that I already knew about what happened at Dougal's stag party."

"I reckon," he mumbled, still not looking at her.

He should have known anyway, but he'd never given it any thought. Of course, as mad as Dougal had been, he would have told Catriona. They did not keep secrets from each another. Yet, Oliver just felt it was one more humiliation piled on.

"Oliver," Catriona said in a soft, soothing voice. She sat up so that she could look him in the eye. "How do you feel about that night?"

Looking away, Oliver tried to think of ways to avoid answering her question. He'd been very drunk that night. Maybe Dougal was right, and he hadn't been capable of making his own decisions, but Fergus had brought in some old friend of his and she kept touching Oliver's hand and arm and face. The next thing he knew, they were snogging madly, and he'd felt dizzy with lust.

"I was fifteen, Catriona," Oliver said evasively. "You know how fifteen-year-old boys are."

Oliver vaguely remembered that there had been a second witch that was hanging onto Percy. Dougal, Fergus, Bill and Charlie had thought it a great lark to bring the younger brothers along for the night and ply them with drinks. He remembered Bill and Fergus fighting about the witches, even Charlie had sided with Bill. That was when Percy's witch had disappeared and Bill had become attached to his little brother's side like a permanent sticking charm. Percy told Oliver later that he'd been really mad at Bill for interfering, but really relieved at the same time.

"I do, Oliver," Catriona agreed. "And they are a bunch of bluster, they're too afraid to admit that they are scared or inexperienced for fear of looking like less of a man in front of their friends."

"And randy as hell. The lot of them," Oliver put in, yanking his hand out of hers and crossing his arms over his chest. "Ready to go with the first witch to show interest."

Dougal had been drinking early that night and was pissed before they'd set out. By the time the witches showed up, he'd already been passed out in a chamber above the taproom. Oliver remembered wondering, later on, how he'd been left with the reckless brother.

"And you were ready to go?" Catriona asked pointedly, her eyebrows raised.

Oliver sighed, turning his face away from her. "I was willing," he said, repeating the words he'd said to Dougal both the next day and this very night.

"But…"

"I was scared as hell. I'm not even sure how I managed it, except that she was a lot more experienced." Oliver knew he was bright red with embarrassment by that point. He knew that Percy suspected how Oliver felt about the whole thing, but they had never actually spoken about it. Oliver had never spoken to anyone about it, not really.

"And," he continued, glancing at her, "I wish I could have that night back, I do."

"Fergus deserves to be flogged," Catriona snarled.

"He's sorry about it in his own way," Oliver defended, his eyes flicking to Catriona's face. "I think he thought he was doing me a favor. Inducting me into manhood and all that."

"I'm sure he did, the miserable bastard."

Out of the blue, Oliver remembered a History of Magic lesson on Valkyries and he nearly laughed at the absurdity of the thought. Oliver usually lived his life in one mode: single-minded determination usually directed at Quidditch. Occasionally, he allowed himself to dwell on other feelings. Like thinking about Katie late at night or listening to Percy talk about Ministry life, which Oliver decided was code for how much Percy missed his family. Sometimes, he let himself think about the war and let it scare him. At that moment, he felt as if he'd been dragged through twelve different emotions and it was overwhelming.

"Just," he started, "don't tell Dougal all this."

"I'm not going to break your confidence, Ollie," Catriona said, her words were gentler and she took his hand. "I know it wasn't easy for you to talk about. Besides, Dougal and Fergus do not need this between the two of them right now."

A heavy silence fell between them. It was nice that Catriona was in his corner. Oliver remembered being rather pleased the next day at the towering rage Dougal had been in when he found out. Fist fights between the two older Wood boys were not unheard of, but Oliver had never seen Dougal go after Fergus so savagely. In hindsight, Oliver thought that Fergus had rather uncharacteristically backed down and let Dougal do his worst.

Oliver was pulled from his memories by a soft, happy sigh from Catriona.

"Here," she said, a secretive smile playing at her mouth. "You want to see something amazing?"

"Sure," Oliver said with a shrug.

He looked over and Cartriona was lifting her shirt, exposing her firm, white belly.

"Oi! What are you doing?" he exploded.

"Relax!" Catriona snapped. "Just watch this."

Oliver looked at her belly rather reluctantly. Before his eyes, a bump appeared in the smooth mound and moved across her tummy in a rippling motion. Catriona laughed, smoothing her hands lovingly over her belly.

"What was that?" Oliver whispered, his mouth hanging open.

"That was your godson…or goddaughter."

"I know that," he replied defensively. "It's just that…"

He stopped, watching an imprint appear in the wall of her belly that looked for all the world like a foot, complete with five little toes. Oliver had not been much interested when his mum had been pregnant with Alex, though he had felt the baby kick a couple of times. But he'd never imagined actually being able to see the baby move. It was odd and amazing.

Oliver reached out to touch her belly, but realized at the last moment what he was doing. "Um, can I…I mean, is it okay if I…"

Taking his hand, she placed it firmly on her lower abdomen. Oliver felt a thump against his palm. A small smile spread across his face. That was bloody awesome. A pregnant Katie flashed through his mind, causing a shiver to snake down his back.

"Blimey, Catriona," he gushed. "No wonder Dougal can't keep his hands off you."

"Dougal can't keep his hands off me because he thinks I'm hot," she teased, a twinkle in her eye.

Oliver took a deep breath and pulled his hand away. He wanted to roll his eyes. He wanted to tell her she was being gross. Blimey, Catriona was like his sister for Merlin's sake. He'd also like to feel like an adult around his brothers and not like their baby brother. So, he just changed the subject instead.

"So," he said loudly. "What are you naming him?"

"I'm not telling."

"Come on, I'm his godfather," Oliver wheedled.

Catriona's eyes flashed merrily. "You'll just have to wait like all the rest. By the way, it could be a girl."

Oliver shot her a disbelieving look. "We haven't had a girl in the Wood family—"

"In seventeen generations," she finished exasperatedly.

"I think it's more like—"

"But, that was when you pureblooded Wizards were inbreeding. Now that you have Muggleborn blood introduced to the gene pool, anything can happen."

Oliver smirked at her. "Katie's Muggleborn."

"Interesting," Catriona commented, giving him a knowing look. "We talk about babies and you bring up your girl."

Oliver blushed, feeling caught out. "She's not my girl," he denied. "She has a boyfriend."

"So? I had a boyfriend when Dougal started pursuing me."

"You were twelve, I hardly think that counts."

Catriona chuckled. "I was fourteen, thank you very much."

"Still, I don't think it's quite the same thing."

"If you are meant to be," Catriona said seriously, "it won't matter. Love will out in the end."

"Katie was my Chaser," he said irrepressibly. "She loves to fly. You should see her on a broom, Catriona, she's so happy. And she giggles, too."

"Oliver Wood!" Catriona's eyes went wide. She sat up as if to get a better look at Oliver. "You are in love."

He smiled sheepishly, his eyes hidden by thick lashes.

"Well—" Catriona stopped, staring at him. Then, "Well, it's a good thing you are talking to me about it and not your idiot brothers."

"Dougal got the girl," he defended.

'"Aye, but she was a bloody idiot." Catriona laughed. "Seriously, I do have some important advice."

"I am listening."

"Be patient," she started, then stopped. She seemed to be rethinking her words. "I know you have already been patient, Oliver, and I think that is bloody wonderful. I am so proud of you, I can't say."

Oliver blushed. This seemed to be a great night for that.

"Anyway," she continued. "What I meant to say is that Muggles are more cynical about love than Wizards. They don't understand the power of a love connection like I have with Dougal or like your parents."

Catriona had his undivided attention. "What do you mean?"

"Just…It's not common to marry young in the Muggle world, or at least not in the last few generations. Don't be surprised if your Katie is hesitant to understand what is already in your heart."

"Who said anything about marriage?" Oliver protested.

She chuckled. "Oh, Oliver, if there is one thing I know about you Wood men, it's this: You never do anything by half measures. If you love this girl enough to wait three years for her, you'll want a ring on that finger the moment she's finally in your arms."

Oliver made a face. He'd had about all he could stand of all this talk about love and past events.

He harrumphed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Can we talk about Quidditch now?"

"Sure, just let me put my pajamas on," Catriona said, struggling to get up from the sofa. "You can bore me to sleep."

A/N: I'll post again on Tuesday and we will finally hear from Katie. Thanks for reading and please review!