Another chapter! I don't have much to say. Odd. I hope you enjoy! Sorry if the format is a little weird. I hate computers.

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Chapter 7: Seeds and Stems

True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

George Washington

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Katie ducked down slightly, hoping that Oliver wouldn't notice her. But Hugh
seemed to have other ideas, "Hey! Isn't that Oliver? Oye! Olive--oof!"

Katie quickly elbowed his ribcage. "Ow!" Hugh exclaimed, "What was that for?"

Katie smiled at him nervously as she attempted to shield her face, "Sorry!
Reflexes?"

But she had been too slow because Percy and Oliver were already heading over to them. Katie ducked even further down, practically sliding underneath the table.

"Err…are you okay Katie?" Hugh asked clearly bewildered by her abnormal behavior.

"She's peachy," Angelina said. "I guess you could say Oliver just has an odd
affect on her." She threw Katie a grin.

Oh, Angelina Johnson was a regular comedian, Katie thought darkly. When Katie had come to Angelina and explained the argument she and Oliver had had, instead of taking Katie's side and blacklisting Oliver Wood, she had merely burst out laughing.

"That has to be the most idiotic fight I've ever heard, you two better get things sorted out before his suspension is over."

And now she was making a mockery of Katie's anger.

Hugh seemed to have taken Angelina's words the wrong way however, he grinned, "Oh…I see. Well, you'll never going to get his attention acting like--"

"NO!" exclaimed Katie, "I don't want his atten--"

But before she could explain further, Oliver and Percy arrived at the table.

"Weasley. Wood." Hugh said with a grin. Katie wondered distractedly if Hugh ever found reason to frown. "This is a surprise. I don't think I've ever seen you here Oliver."

"Er…yeah. This is only my second visit," he looked at Katie nervously through the corner of his eye. Katie, however, was determinedly staring at her glass of butterbeer, refusing to even glance at Oliver.

"Yes, yes," Percy interjected. "Poor Oliver has never had time to make it down to Hogsmeade. I find that I am rarely ever able to make it myself. What with my duties and all."

He paused here clearly hoping someone would ask about his duties. No one took the bait however and he continued, "For some reason, Oliver was absolutely intent on going this weekend. Seeing as how I am quite an expert guide, I thought I'd show him around."

Since when was Oliver ever intent on anything besides Quidditch? Katie frowned. Well, this was certainly odd behavioral change.

"Why don't you join us?" Hugh asked. "I could use some pointers for the Hufflepuff game. I need all the help I can get."

Oliver opened his mouth to reply but Percy interrupted before he could get a word out, "No, no Hugh. I don't think that's such a good idea. Oliver is supposed to make a clean break from Quidditch during the next few weeks. I've taken it upon myself to monitor him. Anyways, we must get going we're following a strict schedule. So much to do, so little time!"

Katie stared at Percy, mouth agape. Was he for real? She had heard stories of his pompous nature, but they seemed like a gross understatement compared to his actual self.

Oliver cleared his throat.

"Err…actually…I was wondering if I could have a word with you, Bell."

Katie choked on her drink.

"Err…you know if you aren't busy or anything."

Oliver looked at Katie and then looked away quickly.

Katie coughed, "Actually, I am. Busy, you know I promised Angelina and Alicia that I would spend the day with—"

"Oh, no," Angelina said with a grin, "we don't mind and all. If our captain needs a word with you, then by all means, go."

"I don't want to be rude," Katie said giving Angelina a death glare.

"No, no!" Hugh insisted, throwing Katie a sly wink. "Go! Alone time is always a good thing."

Katie felt the blood rush to her cheeks and she nearly moaned in humiliation.

"Yeah, Katie, alone time is always good," Alicia added dreamily. She was staring, however, at Hugh in a way that suggested she wouldn't mind some alone time with him.

"Er…alone time? Yes, yes, I suppose it's a good thing," said Percy never one to resist putting his two cents in. "I suppose we could take a 5 minute break from our schedule, Oliver. But do be hasty! There's a lot to do in Hogsmeade! Much fun to be had."

Katie doubted Percy knew anything about fun. She wearily looked around at her supposed friends. They were gazing back at her expectantly.

She sighed, "I guess I have a few minutes to talk to you."

"You do?" Oliver said quizzically, hardly believing she had agreed. "Err…well, why don't we go outside then? It's quieter there."

Katie glanced at him, wondering what on earth he could possibly want to discuss in private. Perhaps he had found some new flaw in the way she played Quidditch. But his face looked hopeful and Katie could find few valid reasons to argue with him. She sighed crossly and nodded as she stood to follow him out.

Once they were outside, Katie turned and looked at Oliver impatiently, "Well then, what is it you were so eager to discuss?" She did not bother to hide the hint of edge in her voice.

"Oh…er…yes, that. Well, I mean—that is to say," Oliver began muttering unintelligibly. He was apparently nervous about something.

It probably didn't help any that Katie was looking at him like he had grown an extra arm.

"I'm sorry."

Katie didn't understand, "Pardon?"

Oliver glared at her and looked away before repeating, "About what I said earlier and the way I've been acting lately. I'm sorry."

Had he really just done that? It was an apology. Albeit, a very brief and very to point apology. Oliver Wood was not one to waste words.

First a visit to Hogsmeade and then an apology, perhaps McGonagall's punishment was working on Oliver. Katie looked up and realized that Oliver was still waiting for her response with a hint of anxiousness in his eyes.

Maybe she should let him wait it out and not forgive him immediately. Keep him on edge for a bit, he did deserve it. After all, he had been quite disrespectful to her.

"I don't know, Wood," Katie said frowning, "I don't know if I'll be able to for—"

"Oh come off it, Bell," Oliver snapped impatiently. "You know you were just as rude to me as I was to you."

Katie scowled irritably. He was right.

She looked at him wearily and sighed, "Well, I guess that's part of the reason why you make such a great captain."

Oliver gazed back at her confused, still not quite sure if she had accepted his apology.

"I mean you don't take rubbish from anyone."

"So, you agree? You forgive me, then?" Oliver asked hopefully.

Katie shook her head resignedly, "I guess I don't have a choice."

Oliver smiled triumphantly, "Then we're friends."

"Wait a minute there, Mr. Wood," Katie said with mock indignation. "I merely forgave you, I said nothing about friendship."

Oliver stared back at her, at a loss for words. Clearly, he was not used to rejection, or jokes, for that matter.

Katie rolled her eyes and smiled, "It was a joke. Although, you should know, friendship requires a lot of effort. You can't just call someone your friend and then run off to play Quidditch when they need—"

"Right, yeah, effort," Oliver said distractedly. "Percy's going to kill me. I really have to get going." And with a wave, Oliver Wood turned and made a mad dash towards the post office, turning his head to yell out, "I'm really glad we talked this out Bell!"

Katie started after him, exasperated. So much for trying to teach Oliver Wood about friendship, she guessed she should be happy enough with a trip to Hogsmeade and an apology.

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A few hours later, Katie entered Honeydukes' with a mission. She immediately proceeded to the shelves lined with Honeydukes' world famous chocolate and began unloading the bars into her hands. She would leave with as much chocolate as she could carry.

"You might want to slow down there, Bell," said a voice from behind her.

Katie jumped up and quickly turned around. Oliver Wood was standing directly behind her, looking at the large amount of chocolate in her hands with a entertained grin. His eyes were alight with amusement and his cheeks were red from the cold outside. His expression was incredibly relaxed compared to his usual look of stern focus and determination. Katie couldn't help but suddenly realize why so many girls made such a fuss about Oliver Wood. To her surprise, she felt herself blushing.

"Err…just trying to stock up," Katie muttered, backing into the shelf and nearly knocking a few bars off. He was a safe distance from her but Katie still felt as if he was invading her space.

Oliver was now looking at her quizzically.

"Is that why you came over here?" Katie asked, saying the first thing that came into her head. "So you could monitor my eating habits? Don't want me to fatten up anymore before the next game?"

Katie winced as she realized her questioning came out more bitingly than she had intended it too.

"Err…no. Actually, I was—I was going ask you about chocolate," Oliver said hastily.

"Chocolate?"

"Yes, chocolate. You know what kind is good here. What kind is your favorite, what do you recommend?" Oliver grinned, "You seem to be quite the expert."

Katie glared at him before deciding to accept his attempt at civility. "Well, do you have a preference? What do you like? Milk, dark, caramel, nuts, crispy?"

"Milk," Oliver said resolutely.

Katie wrinkled her nose, "Well, that's a bit boring."

Oliver frowned and shrugged simply, "I like what I like."

"Why did you even ask for my help, then" Katie muttered under breath. "You know it wouldn't hurt to try something new everyone once in awhile. I, for one, can never decide which type I like best."

"So you get one of everything?"

"Exactly," Katie nodded, "it works brilliantly."

"But that's a bit of a waste, isn't it?" Oliver asked. "I think it's better to just figure out what you want and stick with it."

"More efficient, I suppose," Katie agreed, "But definitely not as interesting. Anyways, this is getting to be the longest conversation I've ever had about chocolate. Why don't we just compromise, then?"

"Compromise?"

"Right, you get one bar of milk chocolate and one bar of something new."

Oliver nodded slowly. "I suppose that will work."

Oliver raised an eyebrow as he stared at the vast variety of chocolate on the shelves, "I'll need your guidance, of course."

"Of course," Katie nodded sagely. "Well," she continued thoughtfully, "it's a tough call between the dark chocolate and the caramel. But I think you should go with the caramel. It's already got your favorite milk chocolate with a caramel addition that I think you'll like."

"Caramel it is," he said picking up a bar of Honeydukes' milk chocolate with caramel. "I'm trusting you on this one, Bell."

"You won't be disappointed," Katie smiled back.

"Oliver, where are you!"

Katie turned to the doorway, where Percy Weasley stood searching the through the throngs of people in the shop, looking quite annoyed. "We are behind schedule!"

"Oh no," Oliver groaned. "Mother Weasley is back."

"Wood!" Katie reprimanded with a laugh. "Why did you ask him to give you a tour of Hogsmeade, anyways?'

"I didn't" Oliver grumbled, "I told him I was coming and he insisted that he give me a tour. It wasn't so bad at first, but after he named every species of owl in the post office, things got rough."

"I can imagine," Katie giggled. "Well, sorry Mr. Wood, but it looks like your time is up. Mother Weasley has returned."

Oliver gave her a panicked look. "No!" he said desperately, "You have to help me! Hide me!" He moved behind her and crouched down. Hiding behind her was not very effective however, as he was quite large.

"Oh yes, Wood," Katie said rolling her eyes. "He'll never be able to spot you here. Look over there," she said pointing a large crate of Cockroach Clusters, "Go hide behind those."

"Right, and if he asks you, you never saw me," Wood replied as he made a dash for the crate.

Katie nodded but she couldn't help laughing at the silliness of the situation.

"Bell!"

Katie turned and came face to face with Percy Weasley himself.

"Do you know where Oliver is?" he asked exasperatedly.

Katie shook her head, feeling a bit bad about lying outright.

"We were just about to head to Dervish and Banges," Percy sighed. "But Oliver saw you in here and he insisted that he needed to speak with you. I assumed there was some pressing matter he needed to discuss; I only hope it didn't have to do with Quidditch."

Pressing matter? Katie wondered confusedly. Since when was buying chocolate a pressing matter?

"I really haven't seen him," Katie said with a look she hoped was innocent. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a group of fourth year girls gathering around Oliver's crate. One of them spotted Oliver and soon the entire group was giggling and blushing as they stared at him.

Percy didn't seem to notice the small spectacle Oliver was creating, however.

He looked around Honeydukes distastefully, "I have never understood the fascination with this store. Really, it only spurs on unhealthy habits. I purposely left it off of our tour. You should really pay more attention to your health, you know."

Katie thought it was best to pretend like she couldn't hear him.

"Anyways, I must get going. Oliver will just have to miss the rest of our tour because I do have business to attend to," Percy said importantly.

"I'm sure he will be quite disappointed," Katie replied sardonically. She could barely keep her laughter in check as Percy made his way to the exit.

"Bell, you're a lifesaver," Oliver said grinning as he stood up from his hiding spot causing the fourth years to scatter. "You were brilliant."

Katie shook her head, "I didn't do anything. Percy's so concerned with himself and being heard, he doesn't really notice anything going on around him."

Oliver shook his head smiling, "True, but I still owe you."

Katie sighed at his eager gratitude. If only he were this easy to please on the Quidditch pitch.

"Well," Katie responded wryly, "what are friends for?"

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I feel like Percy might be coming off more as more flamboyant than he actually is. I apologize.

REVIEW! Please let me know that you like what I'm doing. Are people reading this? Helloooooo out there!

But thanks to everyone that does review, some people just amaze me with their responses. They point out things that I never even saw myself and I'd just like to say thank you! Ok, I'm done talking, go continue being amazing reviewers.