Prologue, Part 2: Vigil
March 29, 1997
Oliver walked past the information desk at St. Mungo's. It was his third visit to the Artefacts Accidents ward, so he did not need assistance in finding his way. The ward looked much the same as it did the last time he was there, at Christmas time. During that visit he had briefly met Katie's brother, who had thanked Oliver for the stuffed unicorn he brought her and set it in the windowsill next to a bouquet of poinsettias. He never stayed long during his visits, uncertain if he should be there to begin with. He wasn't sure what compelled him to come when he knew that Katie was still lying unconscious in bed, but the moment he heard she had been cursed, he had no other thought than his need to see her.
xxxxxx
Oliver had been visiting Angelina Johnson on that October evening. Puddlemere United had wrapped up a match against the Holyhead Harpies earlier that day. Angelina was on the reserve team for the Harpies, like Oliver was for Puddlemere. Neither of them had played during the match, but they had enjoyed getting to see one another and had made plans to grab dinner and catch up. Oliver's roommate Evan McKinnon had unceremoniously kicked Oliver out of their shared hotel room so he could bring a woman back, and Angelina's roommate, another reserve Chaser for the Harpies was conspicuously missing as well, so the two had ordered takeaway and were sitting at Angelina's tiny kitchen table eating it. The former teammates were laughing about something Angelina had seen in the Weasley twins' shop when an owl pecked on the window. Angelina had let it in and sat back down to read the note it had delivered. She opened the envelope, glanced at it for a moment, then let out a gasp. Her eyes became wide and she covered her mouth with her hand.
"What is it?" Oliver had asked her with concern.
Angelina had looked at him with tears brimming in her eyes.
"Oliver, it's Katie," was all she had been able to whisper.
xxxxxx
When Oliver had gone to visit Katie a few days after she arrived at St. Mungo's, he was unprepared for how he would feel seeing Katie lying in the bed. He had never seen her so still; he was so used to seeing her flying, or smiling, or laughing with her friends. This Katie lying in front of him looked like an empty shell.
Oliver had always noticed Katie; he had been impressed with her flying when she had tried out for the Quidditch team in her second year. More than her skills, though, Oliver was captivated by her sheer determination and focus. He had named her as one of the Chasers and never regretted the decision. As their shared years at Hogwarts continued, Oliver continued to notice his Chaser. He got the feeling that she noticed him too, and perhaps harbored a crush on him. He was keenly aware of their age difference, though, as well as his position of authority over her as her team captain. He made a decision to keep their relationship friendly and appropriate, but he never stopped noticing her. And on that night in his seventh year when the Firewhisky had gotten the better of his self-control… well, he hoped she hadn't minded that kiss too much.
When Katie had invited him to join her at Hogsmeade the previous year, Oliver had accepted with uncertainty. He knew that Katie likely still had feelings for him; he got her letters, and he enjoyed writing her back. But he was unsure if it was appropriate for him to be visiting her, given that she was still a student, and a sixth year at that. He hadn't wanted to hurt her feelings though, so he had agreed to meet her. And truth be told, he was looking forward to seeing her as well. Oliver wasn't sure when his feelings for her had progressed from noticing her to fancying her, but as he looked at her lying in the hospital bed, he knew it was true.
"Excuse me, mate," a voice said behind Oliver, interrupting his thoughts. A wizard who was about four inches shorter than Oliver with slicked back dark hair was standing behind him, holding a vase full of Easter lilies and waiting to pass through the doorway into Katie's room. He looked like he was still a student. Oliver stood aside to let the other man by. He placed the bouquet in the window of Katie's room (where, Oliver noticed, the stuffed unicorn he had brought at Christmastime still sat).
"Andrew Cameron," the other wizard introduced himself as he extended his hand.
"Oliver Wood," Oliver replied as he shook his hand.
"Of course, you were Katie's Quidditch captain," Andrew recalled. "She talks about you all the time."
Unsure what to make of that comment, Oliver shifted in the doorway.
"How is she?" he asked Andrew.
"She's much the same," Andrew answered as he stood next to Katie's bed, gazing down at her. "The Healers don't quite know what to make of it. I just hope she comes back to us soon." He brushed a piece of hair away from Katie's face, then leaned down and kissed her cheek.
Oliver felt strongly out of place watching the display of affection. Of course she has a boyfriend, he thought to himself.
"Right, er, well I just wanted to check in on her," Oliver said awkwardly. "Take care," he told Andrew as he turned and walked out.
Oliver's head spun as he returned to his flat. What had he expected, for Katie to just be available forever while he took his time to figure out that he fancied her? Of course not. He'd had a chance to stay connected with her, even pursue a relationship beyond friendship with her, but he hadn't. He had no right to be feeling jealous or put out. Yet, here he was. Oliver rifled through the bare cabinets of his and Evan's kitchen until he found a half-drank bottle of Firewhisky. Tonight, he told himself, he would forget about Katie Bell. And tomorrow, he would throw himself into Quidditch training even harder.
xxxxxx
A week later, Oliver received an owl from Angelina. Katie was awake.
Relief and joy washed over Oliver. He wanted to immediately Apparate to St. Mungo's and see her. But, he reminded, himself, he'd promised to move on from Katie. She was awake, and settling back to her life. With her boyfriend. Oliver wasn't going to stand in the way of Katie's happiness just because he had figured things out too late.
If he somehow ever got another shot with her though, Oliver told himself, he wouldn't bollocks it up this time.