DISCLAIMER: PLACES, PEOPLE AND SETTINGS YOU RECOGNISE weren't my inventions.
Two things:
Oliver's POV!
Kaitlyn is poetic licence. Nobody ever uses her full name, and I like Katie to be Irish, so I'm using a somewhat Gaelic name.
Oh! And ENJOY!!
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Defence Against the Dark Arts
I practically run from the greenhouses and into the castle, determined to avoid the end of that conversation. When I reach the classroom, I throw myself down at the desk in the front of the classroom and take my book out, staring down into it.
Umbridge sits down at her desk, taps the blackboard and the words appear, "Chapter 37, Page 342"
"You have your instructions. There will be…" She stops as there is a small knock at the door. Upon opening it, she stands to allow Katie into the room. For a second, she stands at the front of the classroom, then, "Miss Bell, before we all…" Katie shoots her a look and strides to the back of the classroom, pausing as she drops her books by accident, right beside my desk. I crouch down to help her, she leans away and gathers her books, folding her arms across them and blushing.
"Hem-hem." Umbridge clears her throat and Katie straightens up, determinedly avoiding my eye.
"Sorry professor." She says as she takes her seat in the back of the class, opens her book and Umbridge restarts her sentence.
"There will be no need to talk." A pause, "And two points from Gryffindor for Katherine being late and disturbing the lesson." I stop scribbling notes and turn to look at Katie. She sinks low in her seat and blushes red.
"It's Kaitlyn." I say reflexively.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Wood?" I look down and focus on my book. "Mr. Wood, you had something to say?" Umbridge says, stepping forward to look at me.
"No professor." I stutter, looking away from her and suddenly caught with the urge to laugh. I think it's just the ridiculousness of the situation. Surely she knows Katie isn't Katherine? It must be on the register.
"But Mr. Wood, I distinctly heard your voice."
"Oh, Professor, please, he was just telling you my name's not Katherine." Her voice comes out quickly and angrily. "It's Kaitlyn." She finishes weakly, realising she's in serious trouble.
"Katie, why did you have to-" Cullen pulls her back into her seat, as she's stood to talk, to use her height advantage over the four-foot-eight Professor Umbridge.
"Oh, Miss Bell," Umbridge says sweetly, "I didn't realise. I'm sorry." And simultaneously, our mouths fall open and we all stare at the toad-woman, confused. "I guess you can explain such an interesting name in detention." She stares at me for a second, "You too, Wood."
"But Professor-" Cullen says, confused, "You got her name wrong… is she not allowed-aargh!" He receives an elbow in the ribs from Katie, and a grateful smile, but it's too late for him as well.
"Three of you. Detention!" She roars, scarily for someone so small, "Tonight! Lines, in here at Eight!"
Katie gulps audibly and gets her head down, and starts to scrawl notes like there's no tomorrow. Cullen matches her frantic scribbling, but I don't feel like working any longer. She smiles when he defends her. I hate her. So much. But then… I look at her, her dark blonde hair cast messily across her bright blue eyes, swept back into a loose bun. Bloody hell. She's gorgeous, and… I want to be with her. Why do I hate her so much, for confusing me and for… making me think all these things, do all these stupid things…
Bloody hell.
Come the end of lesson, my mind us suitably distressed, I have taken no notes and I'm feeling rotten, I think I might be jealous of Cullen. I mean… she sits with him; she grins and laughs, and talks to him and… everything.
She stands beside him as we all line up opposite Umbridge's desk, her hand tight around her textbook.
"Now, the three of you, I'm taking ten points from Gryffindor, each, and I want you all here at eight o'clock sharp for detention. You will not need to bring anything with you." There's a small pause and she smirks evilly. "Not even a quill." a pause, "Dismissed."
We file out and Katie waits for the door to close before taking one look at Cullen and snorting with laughter.
"What's so funny?" I round on her, and she backs off immediately, her laughter abating instantly.
"Hey, step off, mate. She's only panicking." Cullen says, holding out his arm to keep us apart. "Come on."
"Yeah, right. She finds this funny," I turn to her, "Don't you?"
"Oliver!" She says, genuinely hurt, "How could you say that?" she turns away and after a few seconds, I hear a sniff. "You know I-" But the tears come before she can speak aloud. Cullen shoots me a furious look and goes after her, puts and arm around her and rubs her shoulder kindly. They walk down the corridor together, he prises her textbook from her hands and carries it for her, she shoves him playfully a little further down the hall, and I hear slightly choked laughter.
And suddenly, it hits me. I hate him. That's it. I've decided. If he wants her too… it's war.
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A/N: Lots of new things in this chapter: Oliver's Overreactions, Cullen, Kaitlyn - not Katherine… it's a whole load of random… and I hope you enjoyed!
Oh, or if you've read previously and enjoyed, I'd love to know!
So R&R, people, it makes me happy!!
xxx