Chapter Six – New Normal
August 10, 1997
The next morning, Oliver woke early, as he always did. His head was pounding. He made a mental note to raid his father's stash of potions when he got home; he hoped he had some Hangover Elixir already brewed.
Careful not to wake Ryan, who had snored like a mountain troll the entire night, Oliver gathered his things and walked down the hall. Knocking lightly, Oliver pushed open the slightly-ajar to Katie's room. Katie was sprawled out on her bed, her face buried in a pillow and her hair a tangled mess. She stirred and peeked her eyes open when she heard the door creak open. When Katie saw Oliver standing in her room, she sleepily sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
"What time is it?" she asked him groggily.
"A wee bit after 6:00," Oliver answered.
Katie groaned and stood up slowly from her bed. She was wearing an oversized t-shirt and a pair of striped cotton shorts. Oliver thought she looked beautiful.
"You must not feel as retched as I do if you're already up," Katie said, squinting her eyes and rubbing her stomach. "I feel terrible."
"Old habits," Oliver replied with a smile. He suppressed a laugh. He had seen Katie look sleepy before during early morning practices at Hogwarts, but she had always at least combed her hair and changed her clothes by the time she made her way to the pitch. "Besides, I have to be getting home. Kinna's coming for a visit and Mum wants to see us all. I'm sorry I can't stay longer," Oliver told her.
"Ok then, I'll walk you out to the garage. You can Apparate from there," Katie told him sleepily. She shuffled over to Oliver and looked up at him. All of the sudden, her eyes grew wide, her face turned red, and she looked away.
"What is it?" Oliver asked her with concern.
"Merlin, I just remembered I licked your neck last night," Katie said with embarrassment.
Oliver laughed. "I didn't mind," he told her truthfully.
The two walked through the kitchen and into the home's attached garage. They faced one another and Oliver wrapped his arms around Katie. She snuggled into his embrace.
"When can I see you again?" she asked as she rested her face against his chest.
"I'll be back at my flat in a few days, would you like to come visit me there?" Oliver asked. "I want to hear all about your visits to the League teams."
"Ok," Katie agreed. "I'll owl you after I get back and we can arrange the time."
"I'm counting down the days," Oliver told her sweetly. He leaned down and kissed her lips. The kiss was chaste but lingering.
"Take care of yourself, Oliver," Katie said when their kiss ended.
"I'll see you soon," he answered. He kissed Katie once more on the forehead, took a step backwards, and Apparated.
xxxxxx
Once Oliver arrived at his parents' home and passed his father's security question, he walked in the door and saw that his sister had already arrived. Kinna sat at the kitchen table chatting with their mum, drinking a cup of tea.
"Well, look what the kneazle dragged in!" Kinna declared loudly upon seeing Oliver. She stood to greet him.
Kinna was taller than most women, at an even 6 foot. She had a full but fit figure, and long blonde hair. Growing up, Kinna had always been a tomboy and had rarely lost a backyard wrestling match to their older brother Sean.
Kinna gave Oliver a sturdy hug, then pulled away to examine him.
"Merlin, you look like shite, Ollie!" she joked, calling him by the nickname his Mum had given him as a baby that his older siblings still insisted on using. "Mum says you've been out all night with some witch, but you smell like you've been at the pub."
Leave it to Kinna to leave nothing unsaid.
"Aye, I went to visit my girl yesterday," Oliver told her a bit self-consciously as he fidgeted with his shirt. It still felt odd to refer to Katie in that way. "We went out with her brother and I figured best to stay there and not splinch myself."
"Your GIRL?" Kinna repeated with disbelief. "And here I thought you were just off shagging another of your Bludger Bunnies. Not settling down already, are we Ollie?" Kinna gave him a teasing smile.
"Kinna," said Mrs. Wood, giving her daughter a disapproving look. Mum had given up long ago on her only daughter being dainty and ladylike, but Oliver knew she still wished Kinna would tone down her vulgarity.
"You're one to talk," Oliver defended himself. "Where's Yindi, anyway?" he asked. Kinna wasn't able to visit home often, what with playing on the other side of the globe, but her girlfriend had come with her the last few times she had been home.
"She's visiting her folks as well," Kinna said. "She'll be 'round for Christmas."
"Some post arrived for you yesterday, Oliver," his mum told him, gesturing to an envelope on the counter.
"Thanks, mum," he said as he gathered it. He walked toward the stairs that led to the second floor. "I'm going to take a shower," he called over his shoulder.
"You need it!" Kinna exclaimed. "And don't be in there polishing your broomstick, thinking about your girl." She gave a rowdy laugh.
"KINNA WOOD!" Mrs. Wood scolded.
xxxxxx
After he showered and drank some Hangover Elixir he found in the bathroom cabinet, Oliver strode across the hall to his bedroom.
Oliver's childhood bedroom looked just as it had when he'd lived at home. The walls were covered in Gryffindor regalia and Quidditch posters. He sat down on the edge of his bed and opened his letter.
In a hurried scrawl, Oliver read:
Oliver,
Thanks for your letter, and well done on being named first team. I'm visiting for a few days more before heading back to Romania. Come 'round the Burrow Wednesday evening and we'll catch up.
Charlie
The note was brief, but Oliver knew that Charlie had kept his words vague intentionally. Oliver hoped that his former Quidditch captain had found a way that he could be a benefit to the cause.
Oliver could hear the sound of more voices coming from the kitchen. His brother Sean must have arrived, and his family with him. Oliver grabbed the toffees he had packed for his nieces and pocketed them as he walked down the stairs.
"Uncle Ollie!" he heard as he was rushed by two red-headed girls. Sean's daughters hugged his legs.
"Hello, lasses!" Oliver said as he picked up each girl with one arm.
Oliver had been in his fourth year when Sean's first daughter Annis was born. Oliver had been very unsure what to do with a baby when first met her over the Christmas holiday. As she grew, though, Oliver found himself quite fond of his niece, and of her sister Isla when she arrived three years later. The girls were seven and four now, and they adored their uncle who would always bring them treats and roughhouse with them.
"Did you bring us any sweets?" Isla asked him in her squeaky voice.
"Aye, here you are, you little Nifflers," Oliver said as he put the girls down and gave the girls the candy from his pocket. They ran off in a fit of giggles.
"I'll send them home with you if you keep sugaring them up like that!" Oliver's sister-in-law Claire said as she smiled and shook her head.
"Aye, I'll take the lasses anytime," Oliver said as he hugged Claire with one arm and kissed her cheek.
Claire was a petite witch with a slim build, fair skin, and dark red hair. She had married Sean when Oliver was a first year at Hogwarts. She too was from a pureblood family. She was kind and funny, and Oliver always kind of wondered what she saw in his brother.
"Oliver," Sean said, extending his hand politely.
"Sean," Oliver said as he shook his brother's hand.
Sean was tall like Oliver, but with a slighter build. He favored their mum's side of the family, with his strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes. He was also a Ravenclaw like their mother. Of the three Wood siblings, Oliver was the only one to take their father's dark hair and eyes, but both he and Kinna were Gryffindors like their dad.
"How are you?" Sean asked him conversationally. "Mum said you were down in Cornwall earlier this month for the Quidditch Rookie Showcase, how was that?"
"Aye, it was good," Oliver answered with a nod. "I think Puddlemere's found a new Beater prospect they're going to sign."
"And you, Oliver?" he heard Kinna call out from the sitting room with a laugh. "Did you find any good prospects?"
Oliver cursed his sister under his breath. Kinna and her big mouth.
"What's that about?" Claire asked him with a quizzical look.
"Thanks for that, Kinna," he muttered. "I, er, ran into an old teammate of mine who was in the showcase and we…reconnected," Oliver said, looking at Claire but feeling Sean's eyes on him. Oliver hated being put on the spot about his personal life. He wanted to downplay the whole Katie business so that he wouldn't be grilled, but he knew Kinna would out him if he tried to be vague. "We…started seeing one another," he told his sister-in-law.
"Godric, Oliver," Sean chided, rolling his eyes. "You really do bounce from one witch to the next. And this one was in the showcase, you say? So that puts her at what, eighteen, nineteen? Bit young to be your newest fling, don't you reckon?"
Oliver felt anger flare hot in his face. The two brothers had never been much alike, but now that Oliver was an adult he found himself at odds with Sean more often than he cared to be. Sean thought Oliver was often too cavalier and reckless, and Oliver often thought Sean was a judgmental prick.
"I've known Katie a long time," Oliver countered as he looked to Sean, willing himself to stay calm. "And it's not like that with her."
Not wishing to speak on the subject of Katie or his past any further, Oliver went through to the sitting room to find his nieces.
xxxxxx
The rest of his visit home passed much the same, with Kinna taking the piss out of Oliver and Sean acting like a pompous arse. Oliver was glad to return to his flat two days later. After putting his things away in his room, he rifled through the bare cooling cabinet for a beer.
Now that he was away from his family, Oliver's mind turned toward his upcoming meeting with Charlie Weasley, and of course to seeing Katie again. He wondered how her meetings with the Arrows and the Prides were going. Merlin, he missed her. Before leaving his parents' house, Oliver had sent Katie an owl inviting her to visit him on Friday. Oliver smiled at the thought. Their whole reunion had been a whirlwind, but to Oliver it felt so right to finally be able to call Katie his. After all his years of noticing her but keeping his distance, it felt great to be able to hold her in his arms. Kiss her. His mind began to trail.
"You're back early, aren't you?" Evan's voice interrupted Oliver's thoughts. His roommate came out of his room wearing only a pair of athletic shorts, and Oliver noticed he had closed the door behind him. He must have company, Oliver thought to himself with a laugh.
"No, I told you I was coming back today," Oliver answered him as he closed the door to the cabinet. He looked toward the closed bedroom door and gave his roommate an amused look.
"Er, right," McKinnon replied. He returned to his room and reemerged several minutes later, fully dressed and escorting out a woman. Oliver vaguely recognized her as a witch who had been quite keen to go home with him from a party a few months ago. Though Oliver had turned her down, it looked as though she had found another Quidditch player who took her fancy.
By the time Evan returned from showing the witch out, Oliver was reclined on one of the couches in their living room drinking his beer. Evan got himself one and slung himself on the other couch next to Oliver.
"Cheers, mate," he said, raising his bottle to Oliver.
"Cheers," Oliver said, returning Evan's gesture. "Er, listen mate. I've got company coming 'round on Friday, so if you have any, er, dates planned, maybe take it back to her place, yea?" Oliver looked around at their flat, suddenly acutely aware of the state it was in. Dirty clothes were piled in a corner and takeaway containers were overflowing in the bin. "And maybe we could tidy this place up a bit."
Evan smiled impishly. "Company, yea?" he teased. "This couldn't have anything to do with a certain blonde with a magnificent arse that you snuck off from the pub with down in Cornwall, would it?" Evan gave a laugh.
Oliver gave his roommate an unamused look.
"Yes, Katie's coming to visit," he said, "and I'd appreciate if you would behave yourself and not parade your slags around the flat while she's here. Or comment on her arse," he added.
"Oliver Wood, look at you," Evan said incredulously. "It wasn't long ago you had your own parade of slags, you know," he laughed and took a drink from his bottle. "She must be one hell of a shag to have you wanting to clean up the flat. But yes, for you, I'll be on my best behavior."
Before Oliver could comment on his friend's assumption, he was interrupted by the sound of an owl tapping on the window next to him. Oliver opened the window, collected the paper, and paid the owl. It hooted and flew back out the open window, which Oliver shut behind it. He opened the newly delivered copy of The Daily Prophet and scanned the headlines.
"Anything in the Prophet today?" Evan asked him
Oliver flipped the pages.
"More names of Muggle-borns scheduled to appear before the Commission," Oliver commented. "And they're still looking for Potter," he said as he looked at the image labeling his former Seeker as "Undesirable No. 1."
"Mental, this all is," Evan said as he shook his head. Oliver's roommate was in no danger of being sought by the Commission, as he was half-blood, but Oliver knew he deeply disagreed with what was transpiring at the Ministry. He had lost several of his family members on his father's side in the first war.
"Aye," Oliver agreed. His thoughts returned to his meeting the following day with Charlie. Whatever he was asked to do, Oliver felt ready to help the cause.
xxxxxx
August 15, 1997
Three Days Later
Katie looked at her reflection as she finished applying mascara. She was going to see Oliver at his flat today; it had been nearly a week since they had seen one another, and Katie could hardly remember her nerves feeling more on-edge. She'd changed outfits three times before settling on a pair of white denim shorts and a purple Pride of Portree tank top that she had picked it up during her visit to the team. As she applied lip gloss to her lips, she paused to think of Oliver kissing her. Her nerves remained, but her excitement built. She wondered if she would ever not feel nervous before seeing Oliver. She still found it hard to believe that they were together, that he fancied her in that way. She longed for him to hold her again.
Katie stowed her wand in her purse, put on her sandals, and Apparated. She arrived with a crack in the courtyard outside of Oliver's flat building. After steadying herself, she looked around and saw him standing next to a wall, waiting for her. Her heart leapt. Oliver walked toward her with a smile on his face
"Hello, Katie Bell, who in my seventh year dragged me out of the showers after our loss to Hufflepuff and told me to quit being a prat and go check on Harry in the hospital wing," Oliver said, both greeting her and proving his identity. He put his arms around her and pulled back to look at her face.
"Hello, Oliver Wood," Katie answered with a giggle, "who was so properly chuffed to show me a photo of his new baby niece in his seventh year." Katie smiled as she thought of the memory.
Oliver leaned down and kissed Katie, his arms still wrapped around her.
"Merlin, I've missed you," he told her.
"I've missed you as well," Katie responded.
Hand-in-hand, the pair entered the building and climbed a set of stairs to Oliver's flat. As Oliver pushed open the door, Katie was met with what could only be described as a bachelor's flat. It was furnished with mismatched couches, and the sparse décor consisted of Puddlemere United wall hangings and an old poster for Firewhisky. Katie laughed to herself. It could have just as easily been Ryan's and Thomas' flat. Muggle or magic, men were much the same in some ways.
Oliver showed Katie around, which didn't take long. After returning to the sitting room, Oliver invited Katie to sit on the couch. She sat opposite him and folded her legs in front of her.
"So, I couldn't help but notice your shirt," Oliver said enthusiastically. Katie blushed at the thought of Oliver looking at her chest. "So does that mean you've committed to Portree?"
Katie smiled. "Yes, I've accepted their offer," she told him.
"That's brilliant, Katie, congratulations," Oliver replied. He leaned over and kissed Katie again. Now that they weren't standing in the courtyard, Katie felt herself drawn into Oliver's kiss more deeply. She forgot whatever it was she was going to say about her visit with The Prides as she leaned closer to Oliver, her hands settling lightly on his chest. Her lips parted and she felt his tongue lightly swirling against hers. Her whole body felt electric. Merlin, it had never felt quite like this when she had been snogging Andrew. Oliver shifted his head slightly and gently bit her lip, and a small sigh escaped from Katie's mouth.
The sound of a cabinet door banging closed noisily jolted Katie back to reality. She sat back from Oliver and looked up to see Evan fixing himself a bowl of cereal. He gave them an amused look.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said, hardly able to keep a smirk off of his face. "Katie, good to see you again."
Katie blushed. "Evan, you as well," she answered. She looked down at her lap. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Evan make a suggestive gesture to Oliver. Oliver responded with a rude gesture of his own then turned to Katie.
"Are you hungry? We could pop down to The Leaky Cauldron for some lunch," he suggested.
"Sounds great," Katie said with a smile. Her cheeks still felt hot from Evan's interruption.
"You two lovebirds have fun!" Evan called after them as they stood to Apparate.
xxxxxx
At Oliver's insistence, Katie recounted all the details of her visits to Appleby and Portree to meet with the Quidditch teams. Katie smiled at how genuinely excited Oliver seemed for her.
"They've released the schedules as well," Katie told Oliver after she'd finished describing the training facility for The Prides. "Portree and Puddlemere will play each other right before Christmas."
"Aye, that's right," he responded with a nod. "I'd better be on my game that match or the coaches will have my bollocks for being distracted by the sight of my opponent in Quidditch trousers," he joked.
Katie blushed again. Oliver hadn't often commented on her physical appearance, but she enjoyed knowing that he found her attractive. Merlin knew she returned the feeling.
"I forgot to tell you," Katie said, "I'll be moving in with Alicia next week as well." Katie had been so busy with her meetings with the Arrows and the Prides she hadn't been able to write to Oliver like she'd have liked. "I move in to her flat on Monday."
"That's great," said Oliver. "What's she up to now anyway?"
"She's started as a staff writer for Seeker Weekly," Katie answered.
"Well cheers to that," Oliver said.
They finished eating and rose to leave. Just as they reached the door, a brunette witch was entering. She turned and gave a surprised look.
"Oliver?" she asked, flashing him a smile.
Oliver looked uncomfortable.
"Oh, hello, er.."he paused.
"Gemma," she reminded him, her smile fading slightly.
"Gemma, right," he said. "Good to see you." He placed a hand on Katie's back and guided her through the door.
"Let's get together again sometime!" Gemma called after him, as Oliver's uncomfortable look turned into a grimace.
"Who was that?" Katie asked as they stepped out onto the sidewalk.
Oliver looked away and hesitated. "I, er, met her at the pub when we went out for Evan's birthday last year. She, er, she and I…"
Katie understood immediately.
"You shagged her," she supplied.
"Aye," Oliver said as he scratched the back of his neck, looking embarrassed.
Katie nodded her head and looked down at the sidewalk ahead of her as they continued walking. She knew about Oliver's past, but it was still rather unpleasant to run into it face-to-face.
They walked in silence for a few minutes.
"Look, Katie, can we stop for a moment?" Oliver asked. They had reached a greenspace and he gestured toward one of the park benches. Katie obliged and walked toward the bench. She sat down, her hands in her lap, and looked up at Oliver.
"Katie, I know you know that I made some poor choices in the past. I was stupid and careless," he said. He looked embarrassed but fervent as he continued. "I just want to make sure that you know that I've moved beyond that and that what I have with you is different. I really care for you, Katie. I never want to embarrass you or make you feel uncomfortable."
"Thank you for saying that, Oliver," Katie said with a small nod. She looked up at him, feeling self-conscious. "It just worries me that you'll get bored of me if we aren't as…physical…as your other, er, relationships." Katie felt very small. "I'm no nun, but I've not done, well, that, before." She snuck a glance up at his face again.
"Oh, lass," he said kindly as he reached over and stroked her hair, "I don't expect that from you. As I said before, we'll move at your pace. But I'm content if all we do is talk all day long," he added.
Katie felt reassured. "Thank you, Oliver," she said quietly. She scooted closer to him. He lifted her chin with his hand so that he was looking her in the eye. Katie closed the distance between them and kissed him. Oliver kissed her for a moment, then pulled back. Katie looked at him with surprise.
"There's something else I wanted to talk to you about," he told her, the look of unease returning to his eyes. He looked around to be sure they were alone.
Merlin, what now? An illegitimate child?
"I went to Charlie Weasley's family's home yesterday to speak with him and Kingsley Shacklebolt," he began. Katie recalled Oliver saying he had planned to reach out to Charlie when they had been at the beach.
"I told them I want to help with the movement against You-Know-Who, and they've found an assignment for me."
Katie looked at Oliver with concern. Any assignment that went against You-Know-Who and his supporters was bound to be dangerous. She admired Oliver's bravery, but felt a sense of worry beginning to creep into her chest.
"Puddlemere's seeker, Ian Cowley. He's never been shy about his pureblood status and his preference for purebloods," Oliver continued. "Kingsley thinks that he could have some involvement with the Death Eaters. They're not sure if he is one himself, but he is at least lending them support, and possibly funding. They've asked me to pay attention to him, befriend him better, and report back on his actions and such," Oliver said, his voice full of seriousness.
"Oh Oliver," Katie said. "Spying on a Dark wizard? That sounds incredibly dangerous." She shifted uncomfortably on the bench.
"Aye, it may be dangerous. But if my information can help in any way, then I want to do it. And I wanted to tell you, because I want there to be no secrets between us. About other women, or secret meetings, or anything," Oliver said as he took Katie's hand and held it between both of his.
Katie felt a deep sense of appreciation for Oliver in that moment. Not only for his bravery, but for his honesty. He was truly a Gryffindor.
"Thank you for sharing that with me," Katie told him. She leaned over and put her head against his arm. They sat in silence. After a few moments, Oliver spoke.
"Would you like to go back to my flat? WWN is doing a preview of the season on Talk Quidditch, I thought we could listen if you'd like. See if Portree's exciting new Chaser prospect is mentioned." He gave her a playful nudge.
Katie smiled and nodded. The two rose from the bench and walked until they found an empty alley and Apparated back to Oliver's flat.
xxxxxx
August 18, 1997
Three Days Later
Katie waved her wand as the last of her mementos glided on to a shelf above her desk. She looked around at her new bedroom in the flat she now shared with Alicia. Katie was excited to live with her friend again, to start Quidditch training, and to start her life. Ever since she had woken from the coma, learning that she had been Imperiused and cursed, losing six months of her life, Katie had been determined that her life after Hogwarts would be a fresh start.
Alicia walked in and plopped down onto Katie's bed. Although Alicia and Angelina had been a year ahead of her at Hogwarts, Katie had been close with them ever since she joined the Quidditch team.
"All settled in?" she asked with a smile.
"Just got the last of my things put away," Katie answered her.
"And your Muggle telephone?" Alicia asked with amusement. She had thought it was bizarre when Katie's dad had put it in earlier in the day, but Katie had explained it was so she could keep in touch with her parents, and Ryan.
"Yes, and my Muggle telephone," Katie answered with an eye roll and a laugh.
"So, I have to ask," Alicia began with a mischievous grin, "about something I heard from Angelina."
Katie gave Alicia a reluctant look. She knew where this was going.
"According to Angelina, you went out with our old Quidditch captain. Do tell," Alicia said, giving Katie an expectant look.
Katie blushed. She and her fellow Chasers had giggled and daydreamed about several good looking wizards during their time at Hogwarts, Oliver among them. She knew Alicia was going to demand full details.
"Yes, I saw him at the Showcase," Katie told her roommate. "We've…seen each other few times since then."
"What?!" Alicia exclaimed. "Are you, like, together now? Have you snogged him?"
Katie buried her face in her hands. "Yes. And yes," she answered.
"Kathrine. Elizabeth. Bell," Alicia said, her eyes wide and a look of disbelief on her face. "Tell me every single word!"
Still blushing, Katie told Alicia about the Showcase, Oliver visiting her at home, and her latest trip to see Oliver at his flat.
"Well, please be sure to set a muffling charm when he comes to visit," Alicia said with a smirk after Katie finished her retelling.
"Alicia!" Katie exclaimed at the implication, hitting her friend on the arm.
"I'm just saying!" Alicia retorted humorously. "I had to listen to him drone on and on during his speeches before our matches; I hate to hear what he sounds like when he's shagging you!"
"Oh Merlin," Katie muttered.
xxxxxx
Author's Note: Thanks for reading along so far! Chapter 7: Plans will be next. In case you're curious, this story has 19 chapters, plus an epilogue. Let me know what you're thinking so far! Have a great week :)