DISCLAIMER: It's still all JK Rowling's (and boy, am I jealous!)
Katie's POV!
Enjoy!
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Dinner
Tonight, dinner is uncomfortable, awkward to say the least. I take a seat at the end of the house table, close to the doors to the entrance hall, trying to avoid Oliver's uncertain gaze from halfway down the Hall. He has not spoken to me for two hours, I ran to the girl's bathroom on the third floor, he, I assume, retired to the common room to work on the newest set of Quidditch plays.
I don't want to eat. There's nothing here that is appealing to me at the moment, chicken, rice, mashed potato, even those mint humbugs aren't looking good. It's so out of character for me… I mean normally I'm on my second portion by now; tonight I've barely touched the roast beef on the table before me.
A note lands on the table beside my pumpkin juice, folded in a pretty shape. I look around and make sure nobody is looking, catch Oliver gazing at me again, clearly concerned, then open the piece of parchment warily.
Katie,
I didn't mean to shout at you. I didn't mean to hurt you earlier. It was out of line, I know you can make your own decisions, but… I don't want to see you hurt… I don't want to lose you… Can we talk later?
Oliver.
I look back up. He's determinedly avoiding my eye now, staring into the piece of pork he has drowned in gravy. I scribble a small reply and get up, shoving my plate away and tapping the parchment to return to sender.
Gathering my bag and striding from the hall, I walk straight into Cedric Diggory, smile awkwardly and try to step past him. He blocks my path.
"Hey, Katie…" He starts, but I shove past him with more strength than I know I have and run up the main stairway, then, stride back to the common room, sit down in my dorm room and put my head in my hands.
My stomach hurts, and at first, I think it is because of the Fainting Fancies, but when I've returned from the bathroom, after chucking my guts up, I realise that hollow feeling remains.
For the first time in my six-year education here, I really wish I could see my mum and ask her for help, because I don't understand what's going on. One minute I hate him, the next I want to sit with him, have fun and relax, just be with him forever and then I hate him again, for making me feel all these emotions.
I heard Granger say something to Weasley about having the emotional range of a teaspoon a couple of months ago. I think that pretty much covers it. I've got the whole kitchen, and right now, the blender is on and it's twisting me every which way.
"Bloody Hell!" I groan as my stomach churns again and I run to the girls loos again. When I return, I just sit on my bed and cry.
"Katie?" A soft voice, Alicia, pulls my curtain back at about twenty past nine. "Are you alright?"
"Hmm…" I whisper, trying to turn my face away.
"Wh-what's wrong?" She says, seeing I have been crying and immediately assuming the worst. "Who did you fight with? Oliver?"
Why is she so insightful? She is about as superficial as a graze on my elbow, but… she can be damn smart sometimes.
"Yeah." I breathe.
"I figured. He was looking for you. In the common room." She says, putting her arms around me and conjuring a box of tissues. I gratefully take one and blow my nose, then expend the rest wiping my eyes. "He seemed really worried… I think he really likes you, Katie."
"No." I shake my head, "If he did… he would have said something." I say, but I rise anyway, waste precious minutes pulling my pyjamas on, and slowly make my way down to the common room, half expecting it to be empty.
No such luck.
"I've got toast." He says as I sit down on the sofa next to him. He offers it, but I don't take it.
"I'm alright." I mutter, not quite meeting his eye.
"Yeah, alright." He curls his fingers around my shoulder and gently runs his hand down my upper arm, rubbing it… affectionately? Consolingly perhaps. "I want you to eat something, Katie." He says, "I know you've been sick."
"I haven't-" I start to argue but realise that it's probably not a good idea to. "I know."
"I figured… after last time, you'll want something dry, so I went to the kitchens, and-" he offers the toast again and I take it, suddenly grateful.
"Thank you." He leans forward and gently cups my face with his hand. My heart must start to race, he must hear it, but he never seems to notice me. He never seems to notice what I'm feeling. Is it that hard to see?
"I didn't mean to shout at you." He says, looking into my eyes. I'm screaming for him to realise, to understand. "I… was out of line. It was your choice, and I should have been grateful for you getting me out of lesson." I close my eyes, breathe out, then lean forward, and hug him.
"Thank you." I murmur into his shirt. I could stay here all day. And I mean that seriously. He rubs my back gently, "And I'm really sorry for saying you didn't care." I say as I pull away.
"You know I do. You know I'd be lost without you." he winks and I am suddenly reading deep into his words. "Who else would listen to my Quidditch plays for hours on end?"
I smile widely, but inside, I'm sure I'm crying.
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A/N: Poor Katie! I'm feeling really bad for her now!
... And so onwards to another day...
Hope you enjoyed it?!
Please R&R!
xxx
