DISCLAIMER: Anything you recognise was invented by JK Rowling. No Infringement intended.
Hope you Enjoy!!
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"Now," I look up at the pair of then, determined not to look at George, fixing my eyes firmly on Eoin's, "I wonder how Danny's doing with our kettle?"
-x-
-Katie-
As it stands, there's water all over the work surface, and the teabags look forlorn and confused on the sideboard.
"Danny?" He is standing there, looking upset with himself. He gives me the puppy-dog look and I relent. "It's alright. Give me a minute. Get some biscuits out of the cupboard. Honestly," I shake my head jokily, he half laughs, "Wizards these days."
Silence falls as I work on the kettle, the boys have taken their seats at the kitchen table, I suddenly feel like Molly - but a version that is completely out of her depth, a version that's worried for her husband to be, and a version that's scared of one of her "sons" because he seems to be infatuated… with her.
Bugger it.
"Well," I say as I pass around coffees, teas and a biscuit barrel. "What exactly happened?"
"Well we were going to go in-"
"There was this bloke on the street-"
"I kind of missed it - we'd lost Finn an-"
"Guys!" I yell out, they all look at me, terrified. "Please. One at a time. One after the other." I sigh and they look at me again. Eoin is the first to speak.
"Sorry Katie." He says softly, his light accent making me think of home. It's funny how all these Irishmen and Scotsmen can get onto the English team, isn't it? I smile to myself, remembering the six years Oliver had to play for an English side to qualify. "I… I'll let the others speak first."
Suddenly George has everything to say. His pace is fervent, almost pleading for approval.
"Well, see, we were going along to the next club - we'd been in the first one for about an hour, the music was getting to me - more Celestina Warbeck than the Weird Sisters, and the guys were getting a little bored too. Oliver was looking around a little nervously- we were heading to a magical club, he probably didn't want to be recognised - I didn't ask him, I probably should have, but…" He pauses for breath. "And I dunno, he must have looked shifty or something, because this bloke just strode up to him, I mean, Eoin, we could smell the alcohol on him couldn't we?" I look at Eoin; he looks concerned, but nods.
"Yeah, he was reeking. He staggered up to Oliver and goes, 'Oi, you, fucker.' and Oliver looks up at him, kind of worried he was going to… y'know. Oliver's still uncomfortable with being famous…" He pauses for a second, looks at me, weighs his words, "Kind of because of what happened to you, and how he doesn't want it to happen again…" I nod, sharply and Eoin seems satisfied. "Yeah, and anyway he said 'Oi, you, Fucker. Don't be looking at me like that.' and before anyone could… y'know, do anything, it sort of kicked off."
"Kicked off how?" I interrupt. George takes back the reins of the conversation.
"Well, in a flash, he'd grabbed Oliver around the neck, pushed him up against the wall, Oliver tried to get him off of him, but he was stronger - a bit like… my brother." He finishes his sentence on the quietest voice I have ever heard. "And," Suddenly, his voice is back to the awful adoration I never want to hear, "suddenly Oliver was on the floor, and they were kicking the shit out of him."
"Why didn't…" I'm suddenly very confused, and very, very angry.
-Eoin-
"Why didn't you do anything?" She says and I don't think she's realised it, but her face is pink and words terror-fuelled.
And I don't doubt she's noticed the Weasley boy, either. It's as if he can't take his eyes off her, like he won't look away for fear of missing something.
"We tried… in the end, but there were more of them, and they wouldn't let us get anywhere near. I got out my wand and blasted him off." Danny interrupts George's attempt at stealing the limelight again, and Katie looks absolutely relieved. "And the rest of them didn't know what hit them."
She looks, I think, more relaxed as George gets up, excuses himself to go to the bathroom, I smiles at her as she looks away, busies herself with putting mugs away, brushing her hand through her hair, sighing.
"We know… what it's like Katie." Danny speaks up in the end. "What all the letters, all the hate mail, all the curses are like."
"I know." She says flatly. "And I know it's not like your girlfriends have never seen any of this either… but… I am scared." She says softly. "And I think my friends are being weird too." She looks up at me.
"Weasley?" She half nods. "Flirting with you?" A soft nod.
"He's married." I hear in a weak voice, from her. "With two kids."
"You've been with him before though; I think Oliver said, once."
"Yeah." A small nod. "I'm worried he's going to do something stupid." I shake my head.
"He's not mental. He wouldn't jeopardise his or your happiness. You're good friends. Sometimes it's natural to feel that sort of stuff." A small smile back at me.
"Thanks, Eoin." she swallows nervously as thumping on the stairs indicates his return. "Thanks mate." She nods at Danny and retakes her seat, sighing nervously.
"You alright, Kat?" She looks up at him and smiles.
"Yeah. Just a bit… worried." She ends at a whisper.
"Don't be. You've got us if you ever need anything."
And she looks around at each of our faces - Danny, the sandy blonde, shaggy haired, blue eyed boy with boy band looks; George, the flame-haired, green eyed, torn-apart twin, with the look of somebody that's seen to much, but come through it for the better. Rugged, torn, handsome. And her gaze turns to me, lingers on me, watching my expression for a second. I think, around the table, I look the most like Oliver - dark hair, like Oliver's milk chocolate brown, only darker, mine nearly black, slightly wild eyed - though they are different colours to her fiancé's. Good looking, even if I do say so myself. The ladies can't be wrong.
I smile warily at her; she offers me a wary grin back.
"Do you guys need somewhere to stay tonight?"
"I'm alright," Danny says, looking at the time, "'Stelle should be awake still. She's such an insomniac," he grins, then steps around the table and kisses Katie on the top of the head. "See you next week… only," he checks the calendar, and then the time, "Only seven days to go now."
"Don't remind me," She smiles as she looks down, away, the blush rising in her cheeks. "I'll see you on Friday, then." She says as he strides out the door.
"I'd best be going too," George says, and I see the relief cross her face, only for a split second, innocuous enough to have been the stabbing of a headache, "You alright, Kat?"
"Knackered," She says, "not slept properly for a couple of days," She smiles at him, he wraps his arms around her in a lingering hug and smiles.
"Go and look after Oliver, get into bed with him, he'll let you sleep." He says softly, "I'll see you in the week… you're coming over on Wednesday, and Thursday, aren't you?"
"For Christmas?" She says, as though she's forgotten, "No… we're going to our friends… you might know them… they look like you, actually."
"Silly sod," He grins and kisses her cheek, "See you in the week, Kat," he turns to me; an expression of joy crosses his face at the hug, the intimacy of the hug. "Later, Eoin."
"Later, George."
We're left in the kitchen, Katie and I, watching each other warily, until George has apparated away. She visibly relaxes, lets out a small sigh.
"It's alright, Katie." I smile at her, "He's not going to be dumb."
"I know." I watch her chest rise and fall as though she's hyperventilating, "But I'm still… it's still… it's weird!" She half shouts, "I don't like it, you know? It's never been like this and it's freaky."
"Oh, come on, Katie," I realise I'm stepping closer to her; I have my arms around her. "Don't worry, come on…" She's shaking in my arms; do I really have to leave tonight? Yes. Yes, I bloody do. Don't hurt her any more. "You're alright, you're OK." She shudders again, tears seeping into my shirt. "I'm gonna have to go, Calli was expecting me about six, and it's nearly eight."
"Eight? In the morning?" She leaps back, looks at me, the hug and the moment gone. "Merlin, I didn't know I was keeping you all!" She squeezes me tight suddenly, lets me go, kisses my cheek and waits.
"It's alright, Katie," I have to try and calm her down, before she gets hysterical, "Seriously," a small pause, "Calli can… Calli will be alright with it."
"I know… but you've got to get home." A small pause.
"I'll see you soon." I mutter as she lets me hug her again, I kiss her on the top of the head, "Friday, right?"
"No," She grins sarcastically and hugs me. "I'll see you soon."
I watch the light go on in their spare bedroom before I apparate home. I wait for him to come to the window, for her to jump into his arms, almost knock him backwards. They're OK. Life's good.
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A/N: These seem to get longer every time I get down to writing them haha… lol.. Right:
1) Eoin is not in love with Katie. He is slightly drunk, and so susceptible. Katie doesn't love Eoin. She has found he is much like a shoulder to cry one.
2) Don't ask me about the ending… lol, I think it's kind of odd. … you can ask me, of course, I'm just kidding haha
3) "Oi you, fucker" - has anyone seen Patrick Kielty live at the Apollo? Very funny, "there are 3 drinks between I love you, and you fucker" - just how I imagined it being said… haha… sorry… lol…
Oh! And Yes, Eoin is on the England Team, as is Danny (see the argument about Charlie's seeking skills), but they've got special permission, as has Oliver. Lol… haha I love Quidditch teams, there are always spare people hahalol.
Hope you enjoyed and that answered any questions?!
Still looking for more suggestions for Christmas oneshots - anyone got any?
Hope you enjoyed
Please R&R
xxx
