I kissed her hand, once, twice, three times. Then I made a game out of it. I spelled my name with kisses. O - L - I - V - E - R. She didn't seem to object, so I spelled Q -U - I - D - D - I - T - C -H.

Soon enough Katie took her head off my lap, and stood. And then I just realized just how extremely close Katie had been to...certain parts of me.

Katie helped me stand up. "Dinner," she said.

And something 'risky' was going on down there. Crap, not now! Not NOW! Think of something, I told myself. "Uh..." I started.

She turned around again and took my hand and tried pulling me along after her. But I was too scared that...it would show! I kept my feet planted, still thinking of a reason not to go down to dinner.

"Honestly, what's the problem?" she asked.

"I...er...nothing," I said. Why did I have to say 'nothing?' I better think of something or risk years of embaressment! Need to get to a shower!

"Then come on," she pried.

Bingo! "I..er..left something in the locker room!" I said, hoping she couldn't hear how panicked I really was.

"Ok...want me to come with--"

"NO!" I shouted. How stupid am I? Katie gave me one of those looks. "Um..er...I mean, that's OK....you go and eat something. I won't be long."

Katie rolled her eyes, "Yes, Captain."

I smirked shortly. She just came off so innocent. How sexy. No! I must not think this.

She turned to go to the portrait hole, and I glanced downwards to make sure....nothing was...showing. She turned around once more, and I straightened up as not to draw any attention to any one place. "You. Are. So. Odd!"

After Katie left I decided it would be better to take care of this problem before it got really bad. I snuck down the halls, taking short cuts and avoiding any place where people were.

I got into the locker room, finally. I threw my shoes and socks off, tore my shirt over my head, and pulled off my dungarees.

Down went the boxers. Nice job, Katie, I thought. I wrapped the towel around myself and walked into the boys shower hall.

Turned the water on, and let the cold water wash over me. Damn, it was cold!!! Very cold! Go back to normal, it's too cold!

When I was done, I shut the showers off and some feeling came back into my toes from standing in such cold water.

I wrapped the towel around myself, when I heard a creaky door. "What the ---" I said, walking out of the showel hall. I heard the door shut and when I got to the teamroom, holding the towel over me securely, noone was there.

I shrugged it off, thinking it was one of those girls who had nothing better to do than worship me. I am just too good-looking, right? Thought so.

I got dressed thinking to myself. When did Katie become trouble? I would have to be really, really careful now.

If I had...let Katie come down to the locker room for my shower, what then? I shook my naughty thought off remembering that those are the kind of things that cause 'problems' like these.

Mental note: practice self control

I ran a towe, over my head to get the water out and went up to the feast where everyone was still eating. Except Katie.

"Hullo," I said and sat with Fred and Alicia. Angelina and George were furiously insulting each other, and yet they were both grinning widely.

"What d'you reckon that was in the common room, Oliver?" said Fred.

I remained calm, "nothing."

Alicia looked up. "What was what, Fred?"

Before I could stop him saying anything, Fred said, "Oliver was kissing Katie."

Alicia's jaw dropped. She stared at me.

I waved it off saying, "On her hand!!!"

Alicia frowned, "Fred, you wound me up!"

Fred retorted, "What'd you expect from me?"

"Nothing less," I said.

Alicia looked at me, "Well, where is she?"

I shrugged. "I dunno."

"She went to the locker room, to get her broom. She said she wanted to repair after today's brutal game."

I sighed. The pain of loosing was still there. "We ought to visit Harry tomorrow, d'you reckon?"

Alicia nodded, "Good idea. Hey, I'm gonna look for Katie in the locker room. See you all later."

I looked up at her. "She's not IN the locker room, I was just there...." But they really didn't need to know just why.

"Alright then, Oliver..." she said. "I'll look in the tower."

She walked off.

"You frothy-mouthed, beetle-headed, foot-licker!" Angelina exclaimed to George.

George answered, "Saucy, clay-brained wench!"

Beyond him, my American room mate Jimmy, joined in. "Yo mama's so stupid, she fell up the stairs!!!" He continued laughing at himself as we all stared at him, completely speechless.

Angelina turned back to George. She rolled her eyes and cleared her throat, "Mhm!...Well, there goes that..."

"You don't get it?!" asked Jimmy. "Here, let me explain..."

"We get it!" said Angelina and George at the same time, and looked, smiling at each other.

Jimmy and his American humor. He has proved to me that is entirely possible to have a conversation consisting of the words "Dude, whoa and yo."

I stood up to leave. "Jimbo," I said. I suppose the Americanisms have rubbed off on me. "You coming up soon?"

"Yeah!" Jimmy said and stuffed a dinner roll in his mouth. He stood up and started talking through the crumbs. We left the Great Hall. "Tahg-hay.."he mummered and continued chewing with his mouth open.

"What?" I asked. "I can't understand you."

Jimmy held up his index finger telling me to wait for him to swallow. I waited a long time, we were already walking up the Grand Staircase. "Tough game, I said."

I shoved my hands into my jeans pockets. "Yeah...Don't even get me started."

"No prob, Bob," he said.

"Bob?"

"Nevermind."

We proceded through the common room where Katie was not there. Maybe she turned in early.

Up in the dorm, Tom and Dave were there.

"Let's comtamplate this," said Tom to Dave. "What does it mean when they say ''no?'"

Dave rolled his eyes. "That's easy. It means 'yes', of course. What do you think, Oliver?"

I pulled my shirt off an pulled a baggy t-shirt on. "Think of what?"

"When a girl says 'no', what's it mean?"

"Well I'm think that 'no' means 'no'. But, that's just a guess,"I said.

Tom gave me a disgusted look. "Of course it doesn't!"

"What is this pertaining to anyhow?" I asked.

"The games that girls play," said Jimmy. "The ones where they string you along until you go crazy. Or need a cold shower."

"I second that!" said Dave.

"Funny you should mention that..." I said.

"What?" said Tom.

"The very last thing Jimmy said."

"Ha! Cold showers?" asked Dave.

"That," I said laughing.

Jimmy stood up, "You? Sportin' wood, Wood?"

"Sod you!" I said.

"Can I shake your hand?" he said walking over to me. "Wait, maybe not," he said pulling his hand back.

"Was it Katie?" asked Dave.

"Yeah, that makes for very uncomfortable Quidditch practices..."

"If I were you, I'd ignore that bit. That's what pretty girls do to weak bloke's like us. And if you're brave enough to deal with Katie Bell, I'd say go for it," said Tom.

I thought for a second. Why not just try? I mean, there was nothing to lose. It's not like I had her in the first place. "Heck, why not?" I said, agreeing with him. One thing is for sure, self control is a must.

Jimmy laughed, "And maybe next time, she'll be joining you in that shower."