Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related material. All materials in this story are copyrighted by people that are a hell of a lot better off than I am.
Author's Notes: I intended for this to be out on the first. I, however, was travelling on that day. I like this chapter... because, well, a favorite character of mine is introduced into the story. So yeah... This is for Lia06. Happy late Birthday.
P.S.
If anyone can name the reference to a song I made in here, I'll let
them choose something that happens. Whatever they like, within
reason, that is. Oh yeah, and I'm so sorry that these have been so
horribly short. I have a few weeks of camp coming up, but I'll try to
update at least once. Edited: 07-02-07
International
Delight
Chapter Nine: I've Been
Sleeping With Ghosts
The Atlantic rushed below us at a breakneck speed. I held a new respect for Muggles. The way they got through life without magic was absolutely commendable. Witches and Wizards have had the ability to fly for centuries, but, still, the Muggles were not daunted. It may have taken them hundreds of years, but they still developed the ability to fly! And Muggles could transport hundreds of people at a time! It truly was amazing. Arthur Weasley was right; Muggles were fascinating.
With a sigh, I turned to Ginny. She was next to the aisle and a little sleeping boy with blonde hair separated us. "What's wrong, Kate?" She asked with a concerned frown.
"Why are we going to America, Ginny?" I asked as Alex stirred between us. After a few intense seconds of staring to make sure that he was fine, I turned my eyes back on Ginny. Our eyes locked. Green met brown, and she ran a hand through her hair, which was a nervous habit of hers.
I smiled. I could tell that it unnerved her. "It's for the chance to actually play," she replied simply.
"Excuse my French, but that's bullshit, Ginny. I know playing if big for you, but there's something more. I can see it in your eyes. Now why don't you stop lying to me, your best friend, and just tell me what's going on?"
"Can you keep a secret?" Her big brown eyes shone with. . . Well, I couldn't really tell what, but they shone none the less!
Oh, here was the good stuff! "Of course I can keep a secret, Gin."
"I sort of met someone."
"Really!" Godric! This was quite the development for Ginny. After the incident with Aidan, I didn't think that Ginny would ever look at another man for the rest of her life.
"No." Mirth. Her eyes were shining with mirth. Ginny always found a way to trick me into believing stupid stuff. With a sigh, she took on a serious tone and said, "Katie, I just want a chance to start over. I've been sleeping with ghosts, okay? I want to go somewhere where I won't always be reminded of the war and Harry."
"Ginny, do you really think this is going to work?"
She shrugged and brushed her hair from her eyes. "How the Hell should I know? If it doesn't, do you want to start a rock group with me?"
"Only if we're called The Crotchless Panties," I said with a completely serious tone.
"I. . . uh. . . well," Ginny spluttered helplessly. "Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Ginny gasped. "Really?"
I laughed, "No!"
"Katie, you're incorrigible!"
"Carpe diem, Gin," I said as I leaned back and closed my eyes. "Carpe diem."
"How does that apply to this situation?"
I shrugged and breathed in deeply. "I don't know, Ginny. It just sounded good."
After that, I must have drifted to sleep. The next thing I could remember was Ginny shaking me awake. "Katie, wake the Hell up!"
"No," I mumbled before turning my head away from her. I was very sleepy, and the air plane's seat happened to be very very comfortable.
"Don't worry about it, Ginny. Bell obviously does not want to see me," a very familiar voice from my past muttered.
"You have to teach me how to do that, Ginny," I muttered before yawning. I didn't turn, nor did I open my eyes. "You sounded just like Oliver there. Clever ruse, but I'm too tired to talk. Wake me up when we get to the airport."
"Bell, get up," Ginny demanded in her Oliver voice.
I sighed, "Ginny, stop that. I don't feel like remembering the asshole that put me in the hospital wing for a week."
"I told you I was sorry about that! I was tossing the copy of Hogwarts; A History at Angelina! She just ducked in time for it to smack you in that thick head of yours."
My heart rate sky rocketed. There was no way in Hell that Ginny could know such minute details of that encounter. My head snapped to the side, and my eyes popped open. And there he was, Oliver Wood, standing before me in all of his former glory.
Oliver Wood, the extraordianry quidditch capatin. The Scottish heart throb. My one and only when I was fourteen, although I never told him. Seeing Oliver Wood standing there was like a blessing. He had abruptly disappeared from my life when I was almost eighteen, and I truly thought that I would never see him again. I only wrote for a year before figuring out that he would never write back. Oh, and he was a bastard of the highest order.
Oliver smiled warmly at me, and I abruptly turned away. "Ginny," I mumbled, "next time you wake me, would you please make sure that there is a legitimate reason?" Granted, all blessings held hidden curses.
"Katie," Ginny gasped in surprise. Her surprise was not completely unfounded. I had never acted as childish as I just had.
A heavy sigh escaped Oliver's lips, and, in my mind's eye, I could see him chewing on his lip. (Yes, I picked that insufferable habit up from that twit.) "Don't worry about it, Ginny. She doesn't want to talk to me, and I can't say that I blame her. I'll just see you ladies later."
"Bye, Oliver."
Once he had adequate time to leave, I turned to face Ginny. "What did he mean he'd see us later?"
"Well. . ." Ginny stalled. She cleared her throat nervously.
"Answer me!"
"He's the new keeper on the team, Katie."
My heart sank to my knees. Oh, this was spectacular. Not only was I moving an ocean away from all of the people I loved, but I was also going to be forced to be around a man that had refused my friendship. Somehow, the rejection of my friendship by Oliver hurt me more than the rejection of Alex by Seamus. I couldn't explain it, but his friendship had meant the world to me when I was younger.
When I was in St. Mungo's during my seventh year, he didn't bother to visit me. Apparently, even Charlie had stopped by to offer my parents condolences. Granted, Oliver and I had never had sex. My face grew hot at the thought. I really had to stop thinking about Charlie. It only hurt me. I sighed. I hated men. With a deep fiery passion. Especially quidditch players and Irish men.
"Ladies and gentlemen; the plane will be landing in five minutes at the McGhee Tyson Airport. Please buckle your seat belts."
With a sigh, I woke Alex and helped him buckle. My belt was soon buckled, and I began to chew on my lip. When I realized what I was doing, I scoffed disgustedly. Merlin! Screw chewing on my lip!
"Mommy, are you okay?"
I shook my head. "Honey, one day you'll be a man."
He looked at me in confusion. "Mommy," he asked, "is that a bad thing?"
"Men can do terrible things."
"Katie, stop it!" Ginny scolded. "They can't all be bad."
"Yes," I said simply as the airplane touched down, "they can."
"Mommy. . ." Alex started in uncertainty. His green eyes shone in confusion, and he clearly wanted to ask a question. The plane touched down, and the cabin shook momentarily. Once the plane was stabilized, he asked, "Why doesn't Leslie have a daddy?"
I cocked my head to the side. Why in the world would he ask that? "Well, honey, her daddy passed away."
"What does that mean?" He asked after we were told we could start exiting the plane.
I grabbed our carry on bag and sighed. Did he have to pick an airplane to have this conversation? As we started to walk from the plane to the airport, I replied, "Leslie's daddy is in the same place as Grandma and Grandpa."
"Oh." We were standing by the baggage exchange when he asked, "Mommy, why don't I have a daddy?"
