(Author's note: I apologize for the lack of updates on this story. I've been feeling more motivated by my other KB/OW story, as well as some one-shots I had floating around in my head. Thanks for reading, I appreciate every single one of you.)
Oliver smiled happily as he and Katie approached the stadium. It'd been a long time since he'd attended a quidditch match as a fan, probably years ago. The familiar feeling of the bright lights, crowd noise and smell of pretzels was nostalgic, and Oliver was touched that Katie had come up with such a simple, yet thoughtful plan.
"How often do you come to matches?" Oliver asked as he and Katie took their seats.
"Not as often as I used to," Katie replied. "Maybe one or two matches per season. My dad still comes all the time. He and his friends have season tickets so he's here nearly every match."
"It's been years since I've been to a match that wasn't my own," Oliver said, gazing around the stadium. Their seats were high up, in a rather unpretentious section. Oliver appreciated that. He wanted to enjoy the afternoon without fans pestering him. "Merlin, I missed this."
Katie grinned. "Remember the time the Gryffindor team tried to sneak from Hogsmeade to go to a Montrose Magpies match?"
Oliver laughed as he recalled. "Of course. We were really thick enough to think we could fly there."
"We were even thicker for thinking we'd get away with it."
"What was it, three weeks of detention?"
"Three weeks of scrubbing the floors in the dungeons. I thought Fred and George were going to lose their minds."
A sudden crowd roar interrupted their reminiscing as the two teams took the pitch.
"There's Maxwell Hyde!" Katie exclaimed, pointing at the Wimbourne Wasps' Keeper. "He's incredible!" Oliver raised an eyebrow and turned to look at her. Katie offered him a sheepish grin. "Not as incredible as the great Puddlemere United Keeper," she added quickly.
"Have a thing for Keepers, do you?"
Katie shrugged. "Always have, I guess. Though when I was younger, I was all about Viktor Krum."
"You and every other girl to walk the Earth."
Katie smirked. "Not jealous, are you?"
"Of Viktor Krum? He's old news."
"Old news? Oliver, he's younger than you."
"Don't remind me."
Katie leaned over to press a swift kiss to his cheek. "Viktor Krum couldn't fly circles around you."
Katie and Oliver descended the bleachers after the match, which Wimbourne had won, 210-60. As they reached the ground level, they were discussing flying maneuvers when Katie suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Dad?"
A tall man turned at the sound of her voice and grinned in excitement. "Katie? Dear, it is you!" Katie rushed to hug her father and Oliver followed, standing with his hands stuffed in his pockets as the father and daughter embraced.
"Katie, dear, what are you doing here?" Mr. Bell asked.
"I'm here with… with Oliver," Katie replied.
She motioned to her date, unsure of how to introduce him. She hadn't planned on mentioning Oliver to her parents just yet, and she surely hadn't planned on introducing them in person.
"This is Oliver Wood."
"Well I'll be damned, it is, isn't it?" Mr. Wood extended an enthusiastic hand toward Oliver. "Finnian Bell," he said, shaking Oliver's hand. "It is a bloody thrill to meet you, lad. I've seen you in The Prophet. Hell of a Keeper, you are. I forgot you and Katie played together at Hogwarts."
Oliver grinned at Mr. Bell's kindness. "It's nice to meet you as well, sir. Katie tells me you're quite the Wimbourne fan."
"All my life," Mr. Bell replied proudly. "And all her life. I didn't know she'd crossed to the dark side, conspiring with Puddlemere players." He grinned. "Though she picked a damn good one."
"Dad." Katie blushed. "Can you please not?"
"Only if you lot agree to come to dinner at the house. What do you say, Katie? Your mum's making her famous shepherd's pie."
"Dad, I don't think-"
"I'm not taking no for an answer."
Mr. Bell placed a hand on Katie and Oliver's shoulders, turning briefly to bid farewell to his friends who seemed to have had too much to drink. "Away we go!"
The trio landed in the Bell family's living room, which was inside a quaint little cottage just a few miles from the Wimbourne stadium. Mrs. Bell was in the kitchen preparing an enticing dinner, and Katie suddenly realized how hungry she was.
"Dinner will be ready in 15 minutes, dear!" Mrs. Bell called as she dug through a cupboard. "I made some biscuits too so I do hope you're hun- Katie! This is a surprise!"
Mrs. Bell shuffled excitedly to pull Katie into a hug. "And… that Keeper who's been all over the papers?"
"Er…"
"Mum, this is Oliver," Katie said quickly. "Oliver Wood."
"Ah yes!" Mrs. Bell exclaimed. "I remember you from Katie's Hogwarts days. You've certainly grown up, haven't you?"
"Er…"
"Mum, please do your best not to embarrass me," Katie whined.
"Oh, Katie dear, I would never embarrass you. Now why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
"I'm afraid that's my fault," Mr. Bell said. "I ran into these two at the match and insisted they come for dinner."
"Well, the more the merrier. Katie, I'm so glad to see you, dear. It's been weeks."
"Sorry, Mum. I've been busy."
Mrs. Bell's gaze rested on Oliver. "Yes, I can see that."
"Mum!"
"Oliver dear, do tell me how you've been. Last time I saw you was during Katie's fifth year. I've been seeing a lot of you in the paper lately. Katie, didn't you write a story on him? I've been saving clippings on all your stories."
"She did," Oliver said. "That's sort of how we reunited. She wrote a brilliant story for The Herald."
"How wonderful," Mrs. Bell said. "From the sound of things, you've been doing quite well for yourself. And Katie, when did you start writing about quidditch?"
"I'm filling in for one of the quidditch reporters," Katie replied. "He's in St. Mungo's so they needed some help. It's only temporary, though I'm hoping I can earn some better story assignments from it."
"You always wanted to cover quidditch," Mrs. Bell said as she beamed at her daughter. "Now come, sit and let's have some dinner. I'd love to hear more on what you're up to, Oliver."
The group sat around the kitchen table and Katie suddenly felt very awkward. She hadn't quite planned to bring Oliver home to her parents so soon. She appreciated his willingness to spend time with them, but she also felt embarrassed by the situation. She'd wanted to spend more time alone with him before bringing any family into the equation. She wasn't even quite sure where she stood, considering she and Oliver hadn't had any discussions on what their time together meant.
Katie's parents peppered Oliver with questions and conversation, which he seemed to handle well. Katie admired his polite and charming demeanor, though she was also furious at her parents for putting her in this awkward situation.
"Mum," Katie whined as Mrs. Bell began asking Oliver about his love life. "Can you please not?"
"It's fine," Oliver laughed, waving a hand. "I don't have much of a romantic life these days, Mrs. Bell. Not much time for it. Life's been awfully busy since I got called up to the pro level."
"Ah yes, well, you'll learn to juggle all of your responsibilities soon enough," Mrs. Bell replied. "Plenty of time for romance while you kids are still young. Merlin, we thought Katie was going to marry her last boyfriend. When they split up, I realized she was only 23. Still so much time for love."
"Mum!" Katie's tone had become shrill as she glared at her mother from across the table.
Oliver had sensed Katie's sudden shift in tone and fell quiet, unsure of how to proceed. Katie hadn't mentioned her past boyfriends, not that Oliver had expected her to as they'd only started going out. Still, he was alarmed by Katie's resistance to discuss her ex-boyfriend. Oliver hoped they were on the same page. He wanted to continue spending time with Katie, but perhaps he'd misread their situation and Katie was still involved with someone from her past.
Dinner ended soon after the conversation fizzled to simple pleasantries, and Katie and Oliver soon said their goodbyes to the Bells.
"Come see us again soon," Mr. Bell said as he hugged his daughter. "Oliver, you're also welcome any time."
Oliver couldn't help but notice how eager Katie appeared to leave, so he made haste to keep up with her as they returned to London.
"Are you trying to get away from me?" he joked as he hurried to match her stride. The evening sky was clear and bright while the temperature remained mild. Oliver was hoping the pair could take their time and enjoy the walk to Katie's flat.
Katie sighed and slowed her pace to a near stop.
"Sorry," she said with sincere remorse. Her gaze lingered on the pavement for a moment before she finally turned to offer Oliver a small smile. "My parents just push my buttons at times. They don't always know when to leave well enough alone."
Oliver nodded in understanding. "I think that's all parents," he said. "Mine love to badger me about my personal life, though they know damn well I haven't much time for it. I haven't even been to see them in weeks."
"It's tough," Katie said sympathetically. "But I bet your mum and dad are so proud of you, Oliver. We all are – everyone from the old team, I mean. I'm sure anyone who's ever known you is proud of you."
Oliver smiled as Katie spoke. "You really must bring me along the next time you visit them. It'd be nice to catch up with everyone." He frowned for a brief moment. "Though I'd prefer it if George no longer made me a test subject for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."
"He's settled down a bit now that Angelina's there to keep an eye on him," Katie laughed. "Though he did manage to turn my hair purple last month."
The two continued in steady stride past a row of shops closing their doors for the evening. Oliver noticed a cluster of couples seated on the patio of a café enjoying their evening drinks. Maybe it was the sight of the pairs happily enjoying the company of their partners, or maybe it was the way Katie's curious eyes seemed to smile at everything around her. Whatever it was, it emboldened Oliver to reach for Katie's hand to hold as they walked.
"Will I see you at Tuesday's match?" Oliver asked as they reached the front stoop to Katie's building.
Katie, who was gently biting her lower lip, maintained her grip on Oliver's hand and turned to smile softly at him.
"Oliver," she said. "Would you like to come inside?"