Chapter 4 - Football

September 6, 1997

Oliver gathered his duffle bag from his bedroom in his flat and Apparated into the grove outside his parents' house. He hadn't been 'round since Christmas, and although he knew he'd hear about that from his mum, he was glad to be going home for a few days.

His parents lived in a white two-story cottage-style home in the countryside of Aberdeenshire. The home had been in Oliver's mother's family for several generations. It overlooked rolling hills and green leas and had provided plenty of room for him to run, fly, and practice Quidditch when he was growing up.

As he neared the house, Oliver saw the back door open and his father step out. Oliver opened his mouth to greet him when his father pulled out his wand and pointed it in Oliver's direction. Oliver stopped short, startled. Instinctively, he drew his own wand.

"What gift did your mother and I give you when you were named Quidditch captain at Hogwarts?" Mr. Wood asked authoritatively.

Oliver was puzzled. What was his father doing?

"I – er – Quaffle, my owl," Oliver answered him.

His father lowered his wand and walked toward Oliver.

"Bloody hell, Dad, what was that about?" Oliver asked, still reeling from the shock of his father drawing his wand at him.

"Security question, son," Mr. Wood explained as he clapped Oliver on the back. "The Ministry's recommending them. Have to make sure you haven't been Imperioused, or someone else using Polyjuice Potion. Welcome home," he added. The two men walked in to the house.

Merlin, Oliver thought. The situation must have gotten more serious in the last few days. He thought to Bill Weasley's wedding, the family being interrogated by Death Eaters. Suddenly the events of the last few days felt a bit trivial. He had been watching Quidditch while You-Know-Who's supporters were growing bolder and more dangerous. Oliver made a mental note to write to Charlie Weasley later that day.

"Oliver!" he heard his mother call out from the kitchen. "How are you dear?"

Mrs. Wood wore an apron over her floral house dress. Several wisps of hair had fallen out of her graying plait. Though she came only halfway up Oliver's chest, he still often felt small in her presence. Her face was kind and wise. And from the smell wafting in, she had baked bannocks.

Oliver walked into the kitchen. He hugged his mum and kissed her on top of the head. Oliver had a close connection with his mother. When he was a lad, it had often been just the two of them. Sean and Kinna had been at Hogwarts, and at the time his father travelled with the Montrose Magpies Quidditch team and served as their mediwizard. When Oliver was eight, his dad had retired from his mediwizard duties and now ran a small apothecary shop in wizarding Aberdeen.

"How was the showcase?" Mrs. Wood asked him.

"It was good," Oliver answered. "I think Puddlemere's found a Beater prospect they're pleased with. Ran into a few people I knew." He didn't care to go into the whole business with Katie right away. He didn't need another lecture from Mum about witches.

His dad walked into the kitchen and sorted through the post that was lying on the table.

"Did you hear about all this business at the Ministry?" Oliver asked him.

"Aye, aye," his dad replied without looking up. "It's quite something. Best to mind our business, keep our heads down."

Oliver sighed to himself. His family had never been particularly active or connected when it came to politics or social issues. They were Pureblood, which Oliver felt made them sometimes complacent. He knew that they would never support You-Know-Who, but he also knew they wouldn't take kindly to the idea of Oliver helping the cause to fight back against him either.

Just then, an unfamiliar owl flew in through the kitchen window of the Woods' home. It dropped a letter on the table and flew back through the window. Oliver picked up the letter and saw that it was addressed to him. He opened the envelope and read the neat handwriting:

Dear Oliver,

How are you? I hope you are enjoying time with your family. I'm writing to invite you to visit and join me at my brother's football game Saturday. If you're able to come, Apparate into the Wizarding portion of Hollywells Park in Ipswich at 9:00am and I'll meet you there. I hope to see you soon.

Yours,

Katie

Oliver could scarcely hide his grin. Despite the madness going on in the world, he was still exited by the thought of seeing Katie again. It had been wonderful reconnecting with her at the Showcase, and Oliver found that despite telling himself he would let her go all those months ago, he still noticed his Chaser. Not only noticed her, but fancied her. He thought back to his visit to the Three Broomsticks with Katie two years ago. It had been apparent to him at the time that Katie had had feelings for him, but he had let that flame dwindle out. Now, it appeared, he was getting a second chance at a connection with Katie. He was determined that this time, he would not allow himself to waste it. When Saturday arrived, Oliver told himself, he would be bold. If there was a flame to be kindled with Katie, he would be sure that it would not be extinguished.

xxxxxx

September 9, 1997

Three Days Later

"Where are you headed today, son? I thought you were staying a few more days," Mrs. Wood asked Oliver as she came into the kitchen. He was dressed in jeans and a polo shirt and had a leather knapsack slung over his shoulder.

"Going to Ipswich," Oliver answered her. "Katie Bell lives there. I saw her at the Showcase and she's asked me to come and visit."

His mother gave him a weary look.

"She was your Chaser at Hogwarts, aye?" his mother asked.

"Aye," he agreed.

"Oliver, I thought we agreed that your focus was best kept on Quidditch and not on chasing witches," his mother said. She gave him a cautioning look.

"I'm not chasing witches, Mum," Oliver said, rolling his eyes. Merlin, he was a grown man, but his mother had a way of making him feel like a teenager with his first crush. "Katie's asked me to watch her brother's match with her. Besides, she's not just some witch. We played together for three years. She's a good friend of mine." And maybe something more, but Oliver didn't care to go into that with his mum right now.

"Then you'll do well to remember not to toy with your good friend's heart," his mum said, her eyebrows raised and her lips pursed.

"Yes, Mum," Oliver said respectfully. She may be meddling, but she was still his mother.

"And do be careful, son."

"Yes, Mum," Oliver said again. He kissed her on the head and headed out the back door.

"And don't forget the security questions!" Mrs. Wood called after him.

xxxxxx

Katie sat on a bench in Hollyswell Park, looking around. Ahead of her she could see two small children running after one another and waving sticks, pretending they were magic wands. Her ears were trained to hear the crack of an incoming Apparitioner. It had been a week since she'd seen Oliver, and she found her mind drifting to thoughts of him often. She'd replayed their kiss over and over in her mind.

It had only been a week, but already things were beginning to feel different at home. Katie's father had assured her that although there was definitely Death Eater infiltration at the Ministry, his office had yet to feel the pressure of many changes. The Muggle-Born Registration Commission was definitely troubling, but not an imminent threat to their family, since both Mr. Bell and Katie were half-blood. The Ministry was aware of Mr. Bell's marriage to a Muggle though, and that was worrisome. Katie's parents had decided that the best course of action at the moment was for Mr. Bell to continue to report to work as usual so that he could keep a closer eye on the status of anti-Muggle sentiments. If, or when rather, the Death Eaters at the Ministry began targeting wizards with Muggle family members, Mrs. Bell and Ryan would need to go into hiding. They had put together a plan, and now the whole family could only hope that it would go unused.

Crack.

The sound of an Apparition brought Katie's thoughts back to the present. She saw Oliver appear next to a fountain and look around. She stood up from the bench and cautiously headed in his direction. She stopped short in front of him. Though she knew she probably should, she didn't raise her wand at him.

"How did I get injured during Quidditch trials my second year?" Katie asked Oliver.

"You broke a finger when a Bludger struck your hand as you shot the Quaffle. You didn't tell anyone until after the trial was over," Oliver said with a smile, as though the memory amused him. "What was my lucky charm I kept in my Quidditch locker my 6th year?"

"A pair of socks your sister wore when she won a week-long match in South Africa," Katie replied. She laughed; Oliver had sworn they were lucky after the team won their match on the day they'd arrived in a package from his sister. They were yellow with green stripes and smelled foul.

Each satisfied with the other's answers, they moved toward one another and embraced. Merlin, it felt good to hold him. In a world full of shifting uncertainties, she felt she could rely on Oliver Wood to stay just as he always had.

"Do you fancy a cup of coffee?" Katie asked him as she pulled away to look up at his face.

"I thought we were going to your brother's game?" Oliver asked her as he put his arm around her as they began to walk at a leisurely pace.

"It's not until 10:00, but I thought we could catch up a bit before," Katie told him.

"Aye then, let's go," Oliver said. They strode through the park until they reached the Muggle section. As they passed through the invisible barrier, Katie looked back. The beautiful tree-filled area they'd just come from looked like an out-of-order loo in front of an area roped off for construction from the Muggle side.

The pair reached a coffee cart and ordered. They carried their hot beverages over to another bench and sat down. Katie took a sip of coffee and looked at Oliver.

"So," she began, "I've told my family you'll be visiting today. My dad's quite excited; he's followed Puddlemere since he was a boy."

Oliver nodded.

"It will be nice to meet them," he replied. "Did you tell them why I'm coming?" he asked.

Katie frowned, confused at the question.

"I told them we'd seen each other at the showcase and that I'd invited you to visit before you begin training again," she told him.

"Did you tell them you're my girl?" Oliver asked casually.

Katie stared at him. Was this a trick question?

"Did – am I your girl?" she countered with a stutter. Her heart began beating very hard.

"If you'll have me, aye," Oliver said, his voice sounding calm and reassured. He did not seem to be the nervous, flustered mess that Katie now felt like.

Katie stared at him silently for a moment.

"Well, ok then," she said finally. She grinned shyly and looked down at the coffee in her hands. Merlin, what had just happened? It was true she'd thought many times over the past week about what it would be like to have Oliver as a boyfriend, but this all felt very sudden. With the exception of the two days at the Showcase, they hadn't seen each other in years. But there was something about being with Oliver that felt very familiar and comfortable, even if she simultaneously felt her stomach doing flip-flops every time he gazed into her eyes.

"Ok then," he repeated with a smile. He scooted closer to her on the bench and put his arm around her.

"So," he asked her, "Muggle football. How is it played? What are the rules?"

Katie smiled. She had hoped that the football game would interest Oliver. She launched into an explanation of the players' roles on the team, the rules, and common ways to foul an opponent.

"So there's really only one ball?" Oliver asked when Katie had finished.

Katie laughed.

"Yes, there's only one ball, but I think you'll see that it's not as simple a sport as it sounds. I think you'll actually rather enjoy it," she replied.

"Aye, well, I'll be there with you," Oliver said.

Katie blushed. Merlin, would she ever get used to the idea of Oliver Wood fancying her? She looked at her watch.

"We've got to crack on," she said as she stood. "The playing fields are about 10 minutes away by taxi." She paused for a moment, looking at Oliver. "Have you ever ridden in a car before?" she asked him.

Oliver suddenly looked a bit nervous. "Er, no," he said as he stood to join her.

Katie gave him a reassuring smile. "I'll hold your hand the whole time," she assured him.

Oliver smiled and pulled Katie in for a kiss. Merlin, he was a good kisser. Katie brought her hands up around Oliver's neck. Just as his lips parted and his tongue traced her lips, she pulled back.

"We really must get going," she said with a bashful smile.

"Lead the way, lass," Oliver said as he reached for her hand.

xxxxxx

Oliver hadn't been sure what to expect from a game of Muggle football, but he had to admit, he had enjoyed the match. Even if some Bludgers would have made it a bit more interesting.

But even more than watching the game, he'd loved watching Katie. She had cheered loudly when her brother's team had made a goal, shouted at the referee when he'd made what was apparently a poor call, and joined in with the crowd when they'd done a chant. Merlin, she was amazing.

The game ended with Ryan's team victorious. Katie and Oliver stood and exited the bleachers, and she guided him by the hand through the crowd. She led them to a row of portable toilets. Oliver gave her a puzzled look.

"Come on, behind these," she said as they walked between the toilets and an administrative building. "We can Apparate from here to my parents' house. You can Side-Along." She offered her arm to him. He took it, and she spun on the spot.

They reappeared in the back garden of a red brick bungalow home. A man opened the back door and pointed his wand at Oliver and Katie. He was stocky with a solid build and reddish brown hair, and his face was covered by a tidy beard.

"What was the first Quidditch game we attended?" her father asked.

"Puddlemere versus the Catapults," Katie answered. "I ate so many Bertie Bott's I threw up and we had to leave early. It's us, dad."

"I had to check of course," said Mr. Bell as he lowered his wand. "Come inside."

They climbed the three steps into the back door of the home. Mr. Bell stepped aside so they could enter. Oliver suddenly felt nervous. He'd met some of his friends' parents before, but never Katie's. And never had he met parents of a girlfriend. Best to remember his manners, he told himself. Oliver extended his hand to Mr. Bell.

"Oliver Wood, Mr. Bell. Thank you for inviting me to your home," he said politely.

"Lovely to meet you, Oliver," said Mr. Bell. "Call me Christopher. So, I read you've made first team for the upcoming season, well done!"

"Thank you, sir," Oliver said.

Oliver was introduced to Mrs. Bell as well, who immediately welcomed him with a hug and insisted he have a cup of tea. Oliver and Katie sat at the kitchen table sipping their tea while Mrs. Bell busied herself preparing lunch.

Just then, there was a knock at the back door. Mr. Bell opened it halfway and drew his wand.

"What was the first football match we attended together?" he asked the person standing outside.

"Chelsea versus West Ham when I was six, just after Katie was born," a deep voice answered. "You told me I was to be her best protector."

Mr. Bell stood aside and held the door open. Katie's brother walked in and set his bag on the floor next to the door.

"Bloody unnatural that is, having to knock on the door of my own home," he said. He crossed the floor and tried to nick a bite of the steak and kidney pie Mrs. Bell was making. She swatted his hand away and scolded him.

"Well done on the win, Ry," Katie said to her brother from her seat.

"Thanks, Kates," he said as he turned toward her. He looked at Katie, then over to Oliver. Oliver stood and extended his hand.

"Oliver Wood," he introduced himself. "Great match today."

Ryan shook Oliver's hand.

"That's right, Oliver, you're Katie's friend" he said, shooting Katie a mischievous look. She narrowed her eyes at him and glared. "But we've met before, of course. At the hospital," Ryan said, looking back at Oliver.

"Right," Oliver said as he sat back down awkwardly, avoiding Katie's inquiring look. Oliver had been hoping that Ryan had forgotten that encounter, or at least that he wouldn't bring it up to Katie. He'd yet to mention that he had visited her at St. Mungo's, and he wasn't sure how to broach the topic.

"Lunch is ready!" declared Mrs. Bell.

Lunch passed without further mention of Katie's stay at St. Mungo's, or of Oliver visiting her there. The conversation was carried mostly by Katie and Ryan's enthusiastic play-by-play of the football match. Oliver smiled as he ate his food. He would have never described Katie as quiet before, but he had never seen her quite like this, joking and gesturing wildly and taking the piss out of Ryan for a goal he had missed. It seemed that despite being so different, the two siblings had a strong bond.

"What did you think of the match, Oliver?" Mrs. Bell asked him warmly. She must have noticed he'd barely said anything since they sat down. "Was that your first Muggle football game?"

"Aye, it was," Oliver answered her. "It was quite fun. "That – er –," he turned to Katie, "what's the Keeper called again?"

Katie laughed. "The goalie," she told him, taking a bite of the treacle tart that Mrs. Bell had brought out.

"Right," Oliver replied. "That goalie had some brilliant saves."

"Yea, did you see that last penalty shot he blocked?" Ryan asked, and he and Katie launched back into their energetic discussion.

After everyone had eaten and the plates had been cleared (Katie had done so with the flip of her wand, to which Ryan had jokingly called her a show-off), Ryan and Mr. Bell had gone to the garage to look at an issue with Mrs. Bell's car. Mrs. Bell went to the sitting room to telephone her sister. Katie and Oliver found themselves standing alone in the kitchen.

"I'm really glad you came today," Katie told him.

"Aye, me too," Oliver said as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "The match was fun and your family is very nice."

"Do you need to get back?" Katie asked as she put her hands on his chest. "If you can stay a while longer, Ryan had mentioned going down to the pub for a bit."

"I've nowhere else to be," Oliver answered her with a smile, though he felt nervous at the thought of being out with Katie's brother without the buffer of their parents. He got the feeling that Ryan was quite protective of his sister.

"Alright then," Katie said with satisfaction. "Would you, er, like to see my room?"

"Lead the way," Oliver said.

The two walked down a hallway and entered the last room on the left. Katie's room was small but cozy with a window that faced the back garden. Her small bed was pushed against the wall, and a wooden writing desk stood opposite it. A motionless Muggle poster featuring five women in odd garments and the words "Girl Power!" hung on the wall next to a Gryffindor Lions banner that shook its mane and roared silently. As Oliver stepped into the room, he saw a stuffed unicorn toy on top of her chest of drawers. Next to it was a framed photo. It featured the Gryffindor Quidditch team after they won the Cup in Oliver's seventh year. In the photo, Oliver hoisted the cup in the air as Katie, Angelina, and Alicia hugged Harry and the Weasley twins pumped their fists in the air.

"Colin Creevey gave me that," Katie said as she noticed Oliver's gaze.

Oliver smiled, remembering the pride he'd felt in his team after that win.

"That was quite a day," Oliver said.

"It was," Katie said simply. Her eyes shifted to the other side of the room, and her stare looked distanced and unfocused. Oliver became concerned.

"What is it, lass?" Oliver asked her as he took her hand.

Katie shook her head, clarity returning to her eyes as she looked at him, then down at her lap.

"I was just remembering," she said, a touch of embarrassment in her voice. She looked up to meet his eye. "It's a lingering effect from the curse. Sometimes my memories play in my mind, without me trying to recall them," she explained. "It's a bit like daydreaming, I suppose, but it's memories. I can't really control it, but it happens from time to time."

Oliver nodded, unsure what to say. Katie cleared her throat, then continued speaking.

"Oliver, I think we should talk," she told him with an uncertain look. "About you and I. Us."

Oliver felt his stomach drop. He wasn't sure what to expect. He thought the day had been going well.

"Ok," Oliver agreed, apprehension in his voice. Had Katie changed his mind about him?

Katie led him to the bed, and they both sat on the edge, her hand still in his.

"I just want to be clear about our…expectations," Katie said as she nervously toyed with the edge of her blanket with her free hand. "I know you've had a lot more, er, relationships than I have and I wanted to make sure we're on the same page with what we're doing here. I'm really not looking to be a casual shag." She looked up at him. A vulnerability that Oliver had rarely seen shone in Katie's usually-confident eyes.

"Katie, lass, let me stop you there," Oliver said as he took her hand between both of his and looked her in the eye. "I know I've made some, er, poor choices in the past, but I've moved beyond that. I really care about you, Katie. And I don't want to make you uncomfortable. We'll take things at your pace." Oliver hated that Katie had felt that she'd had to bring up his past, but he hoped he had reassured her.

Katie smiled and looked relieved.

"Thank you," she told him.

"I've fancied you a long time, Katie, and I'm not keen to make a mess of this," Oliver told her.

Before Katie could respond to his confession, he moved closer to her on the bed. He brought one hand to her face and leaned in to kiss her. She returned his kiss with more passion than she had before. She leaned her body into his and twisted her fingers through his hair. Merlin, he thought. He had kissed plenty of witches, but it had been a long time since one had made him feel this intensity. They kissed fervently, and Oliver moved his lips slowly down Katie's neck. She let out a small moan as she exhaled.

"Eh hem," a voice came from the doorway.

Katie jumped and she and Oliver immediately separated. Katie's face burned red and she bit her lip. Oliver looked up to see Ryan leaning against the door frame, his eyebrows raised and an amused look on his face.

"We'd best crack on if we're going to make it to happy hour," Ryan said, barely able to hold in a chuckle.

"We'll be there in a moment," Katie answered, and Ryan walked away wordlessly, his face still amused.

"Shall we?" she said to Oliver, her cheeks still pink.

"Aye," he said, and they rose from the bed and walked in the direction Ryan had just left. Great, Oliver thought to himself. He didn't have any younger sisters, but he could imagine how it must feel to walk in and see one snogging some bloke. He expected the next few hours to include at least a few awkward moments.

xxxxxx

Author's Note: Thanks for reading along so far, and for the follows/faves and reviews! Come back soon for Chapter 5: Tequila. If you like what you've read so far, drop me a review! Have a great week!