Author's Note: Happy Sunday, and thanks for last week's birthday wishes. Chapters 8 & 9 are a bit shorter than previous chapters, so I am posting them both this week. I hope you enjoy!

xxxxxx

Chapter 8: Birthdays

October 18, 1997

Katie and Alicia arrived with a crack outside Oliver's flat building. Pausing to look around, they entered the building cautiously and made their way up to Oliver and Evan's flat. It was a Saturday evening, and it was Oliver's birthday.

About a week before his birthday, Katie had asked Oliver how he would like to celebrate. She had been a bit nervous for his answer; when she'd dated Andrew, he'd had certain suggestions, or rather expectations, for how they would spend his birthday, but Katie had instead spent the day unconscious in St. Mungo's. Oliver had responded that he would have liked to have gone out with her on a nice date, but given the current climate he felt it would be better to stay in and perhaps invite a few friends over. He had mentioned no expectations of intimacy and true to his earlier promise, he continued to let Katie set the pace for their relationship.

Katie knocked on the door and was greeted by Evan. After they exchanged security questions, he admitted her and Alicia. The two walked in to see Angelina already there. They traded hellos and hugs with her, then Katie went to look for Oliver. She found him in the kitchen pouring himself a drink. He smiled widely when he saw her.

"Happy birthday," Katie said as she strode over to Oliver and wrapped her arm around his waist.

"Thank you, lass," he replied. He leaned down to kiss her.

Katie tasted Firewhisky on his kiss. Without breaking their connection, he set his drink down on the counter then cupped Katie's arse with his hands and lifted her up onto the counter. Oliver stood between her legs and rested his hands on Katie's hips as she put her arms around his neck. Katie pressed against Oliver as her tongue swirled against his. She wasn't typically one for such a public display of affection, but Quidditch had kept them apart recently, and Katie had missed him. Plus, it was his birthday.

"I don't think we brought him the right kind of gift, George," Katie heard a familiar voice call out. She broke her connection with Oliver and looked up to see the Weasley twins leaning against the door frame to the kitchen, amused looks on their faces.

"You're right, Fred, it looks as though he's only accepting sexual favors."

Katie blushed as she slid down from the counter. She turned to face the twins, and Oliver wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

"I almost didn't believe it when I heard it from Angelina," George said with a laugh.

"But then I vaguely remembered Oliver tripping and falling onto Katie's lips when he was so pissed he could barely stand after we won the Cup," Fred continued with mock contemplation.

Katie felt her blush burn redder.

"We're just taking the piss," George said as he strode over to Oliver with a smile.

"Happy birthday, Wood," Fred said as both twins clapped him on the shoulder.

xxxxxx

The group laughed loudly at a joke the Weasley twins had made. Boxes of pizza were scattered across the kitchen counters, and people were slung across couches and leaned against walls of Oliver and Evan's flat. The previous year, Oliver and his friends had gone out to the pub for his birthday, but this year it was decided it would be safer to have a more low-key gathering at his flat. Oliver's old Hogwarts Quidditch team (minus Harry) and a few members of his Puddlemere team had gathered to celebrate with him, but his eyes were only for Katie. He gazed at her as she sat across his lap, giggling harder as the beer in her hand got lighter. Oliver found himself wishing everyone else would leave so he could be alone with her.

Inevitably, the conversation turned to Quidditch. Alicia and Evan were playfully arguing about a foul that had been called on Evan in Puddlemere's most recent match. Angelina was asking Katie about the attendance at the Prides' last game, which Katie reported had been scant.

"No one feels safe going out in public, of course they're not going to Quidditch matches," Angelina lamented. "It's crazy that they're continuing the season with all this madness going on."

"Aye, well, you know how closely the League is tied in with the Ministry," Oliver chimed in. "I reckon they're getting pressured to keep the season going because cancelling it would be admitting that things are getting bad."

A somber silence fell over the group. Oliver knew many of them were thinking of the players on their various teams that were missing this year, Muggle-borns who had been arrested by the Ministry or had gone into hiding to avoid the Commission.

After a few moments, one of the Weasley twins cracked another joke, and the group was loud with rowdy laughter again. Oliver noticed Evan still flirting shamelessly with Alicia, who seemed to be returning his advances. Oh Merlin, Oliver thought to himself as he rolled his eyes.

After a while, the crowd began to dwindle as the party-goers said their goodbyes and left. Katie and Alicia hugged Angelina goodbye, then Alicia turned to Katie.

"Do you, er, mind if we crash here tonight?" Oliver heard Alicia ask Katie in a low voice.

Katie raised her eyebrows at her friend, who glanced over at Evan with a teasing smirk.

"Alicia," Katie replied with a cautioning look.

Alicia leaned in closer.

"Look, I know," she admitted with a grin. "Evan McKinnon, notorious womanizer. It's not like I'm in love with him or anything. A witch just needs to have a little fun." She gave Katie a playful nudge.

Katie rolled her eyes then turned and stepped closer to Oliver.

"I guess we're staying here tonight," she told him, a look of nervousness in her eye.

Oliver nodded.

"I'll sleep on the couch," he offered. "You can have my bed."

"No, it's ok," Katie said quickly, then gave him another uncertain look.

"If you're sure," Oliver told her as they walked toward his room.

Oliver summoned a Puddlemere t-shirt from his dresser and handed it to Katie.

"I don't think I have any shorts that would fit you," he said. "I could try to shrink some…" He too was beginning to feel nervousness creeping in to his mind.

"That's ok," Katie said as she accepted the shirt. "I'll just…" she glanced toward the bedroom door.

Oliver took the hint and stepped out. When Katie opened the door to let him back in, Oliver stared. His t-shirt came just below her bum, and her legs looked deliciously long and smooth. Oliver swallowed hard. He shook his head to clear it, then summoned a pair of sweatpants. He quickly changed into them from his jeans, then pulled off his shirt. The sound of Alicia's flirtatious giggle from the other room turned Katie's head, her face turning red.

"Oh Merlin," she muttered. "I really don't care to listen to that all night."

Oliver laughed.

"Don't worry, Evan's good about remembering to set muffling charms," Oliver assured her with a smile. Katie returned it with a smile of her own. She strode over to him and took his hands.

"Happy birthday," she told him as she looked up at him.

Oliver gave her a quick peck on the lips.

"Thanks, lass," he replied. "Thanks for coming over." He sat on the bed, pulling Katie by the hands to sit next to him. She leaned her head on his shoulder as she yawned widely. Oliver laughed.

"Tired?" he asked her.

She nodded as she fell backward on the bed. She scooted to lay her head on the pillow then pulled the blankets over her.

"Practice was gruesome this morning," she answered him. "Coach Alves has been on a rampage since we dropped that match to the Tornados. I'm knackered."

Oliver lay next to Katie and wrapped his arms around her. She smelled wonderful. She turned to face him and snuggled close.

"I think I'm going to keep this shirt," Katie said playfully.

"It looks better on you," he told her. "Just don't let anyone from Portree catch you in it."

Katie giggled and leaned up to kiss Oliver. He turned to reciprocate, and they began to kiss deeply. Katie pressed her body against his as she ran her fingers through Oliver's hair. Oliver kissed Katie's neck as his hand sneaked under the blue t-shirt she wore, resting on her hip bone. Katie gave his hand a light but intentional nudge upward, and Oliver obeyed willingly, caressing her bare breast. Katie let out a pleasurable sigh as she arched her body into his. Oliver worked his kisses back up to Katie's lips.

"Oliver," she whispered between kisses.

"Yes, lass?" he murmured as he continued to kiss her.

"Should we, I mean, do you want to…?"

Oliver could hear the apprehension in her voice. He stopped kissing her and pulled back a bit to look at her. She looked up at him nervously.

"Not tonight, lass," he answered her. Katie looked surprised.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "I just thought –"

"My birthday is just another day," he told her tenderly. "You don't owe me anything. I want you to be ready. I'm not in a hurry."

Katie gave him a small, appreciative smile, then snuggled in to Oliver's chest and hugged him. He kissed her on top of the head. Katie yawned again.

"Get some rest, lass," Oliver told her with a chuckle. "G'night."

"Good night," she told him. She pecked a kiss on Oliver's lips then rolled over so that she was facing away from him and snuggled into his embrace. Oliver brushed a piece of Katie's hair out of his face, kissed her shoulder, then laid his head down on the pillow next to hers. He inhaled the floral scent of her hair. Soon, Katie's breathing became slower and deeper, and Oliver knew she was asleep. He laid next to her as he enjoyed the warmth of her body against hers. He propped himself up on his elbow and looked at Katie as she dozed. Merlin, I think I love her, he thought to himself. If he was being honest with himself, he had for a while. He smiled, and leaned down to kiss Katie's temple lightly. She did not stir. He smiled again, then laid his head back down next to hers. He drifted off to sleep holding Katie in his arms.

November 1, 1997

Two Weeks Later

"Dinner was delicious, Mum," Katie told her mother as she hugged her. It was a Saturday evening and Katie was at her parents' home to celebrate Ryan's birthday.

"Yes it was," Ryan agreed as he hugged their Mum and kissed her forehead.

"Thank you, dear," she told Ryan. "Happy birthday." She turned to put the rest of the food in the refrigerator. While the door was open, Ryan grabbed two beers and tossed one to Katie. Startled, she fumbled the glass bottle but caught it before it hit the floor.

"Going to have to work on those reflexes if you're going to make first team," Ryan teased her. "C'mon, let's sit outside for a bit."

The two siblings took their usual chairs in the back garden, and Katie waved her wand to set a warming charm.

"Happy birthday, Ry," Katie said as she raised her beer to him. "I can't believe you're only spending it here with us. I thought surely Thomas would have taken you 'round to a strip club or something. Is twenty-four too old for a good time?" She laughed.

Ryan laughed as well.

"He offered, but I told him I'm staying in this year," he responded. "Dad's request," he added more somberly.

"Yes, I do think I remember seeing an article in the Prophet about how much the Death Eaters enjoy Muggle strippers," Katie joked. "But yea, best to be safe," she added with a nod.

The two each fell silent for a moment as they took a drink of their beers.

"So how's my mate Oliver?" Ryan asked, breaking the silence. "Are you still seeing him?"

"Yes, you must not have scared him off when he came to visit," Katie said with a smile.

"Pity," Ryan replied, matching Katie's smile. "I'll have to try harder next time."

Katie rolled her eyes at her brother.

"He's playing a match in Wales today. Last I heard they were at the ten hour mark."

"I see," Ryan said with a nod. He looked at Katie with a more serious expression. "And how are things going? Does he treat you well?" he asked.

Leave it to Ry to cut straight to the chase, Katie though.

She looked at him and nodded. "He does," she assured him.

"Good," Ryan stated. "I may not have a wand, but I reckon I can still kick his arse if isn't good to you," he said in his most protective-big-brother tone.

Katie rolled her eyes again.

"He just had a birthday too, yea?" Ryan said

"Yea, a few weeks ago," Katie replied.

"I thought I remembered you mentioning that. So he's what, twenty-one now?" Ryan asked.

"Twenty-two," Katie corrected. Ryan gave her a dubious look, to which Katie gave him an unimpressed one.

"Well, as long as you're happy, I suppose. He seemed like a good bloke when you brought him 'round," Ryan admitted reluctantly. "You are being careful, right?" He gave her a cautioning look that reminded Katie strongly of their dad.

Katie met her brother's eye, then looked down at her beer.

"It's not - we've not done that yet," she stammered. She peeled at the label on the bottle. "I've actually not ever," she said quietly.

"Kates, I'm sorry," Ryan said hurriedly. "I didn't mean to assume."

"It's ok," Katie told him as she continued to fiddle with the beer label. "It's not that I don't want to, and I know he does…" her voice trailed off.

"He's not pressuring you, is he?" Ryan asked her. Katie noticed his tone was getting more protective by the moment.

"No, not at all," Katie assured him hurriedly. "Quite the opposite."

"Good," Ryan said, looking a bit more relaxed. "Don't let yourself feel rushed. You'll not regret waiting."

Katie gave her brother a small smile.

"Thanks, Ry," she said.

"And when you do, please use protection," he said, again reminding Katie of their dad.

Katie laughed.

"Don't worry, we've got a spell for that," she informed him.

Ryan sat back in his chair and took a drink of his beer.

"Of course you do," he said, shaking his head and laughing.

"When was your first time, anyway?" Katie asked. Her brother was very open with her, but somehow she'd never heard that story from him.

Ryan snorted.

"I was sixteen," he replied, "with Janet Newbury. I snuck out of the house and met her in her back yard tree fort." He shook his head and laughed at the memory.

"Janet from down the street?" Katie exclaimed with disbelief. "Wasn't she two years older than you?"

"What can I say?" Ryan shrugged with a mock arrogance. "I've got game."

Katie rolled her eyes at her brother and laughed.

"Oh, Merlin," she muttered.

Ryan laughed again.

"Enough about me," he said. "Tell me all about how Quidditch is going."

Katie launched into a discussion of her latest match, and how exhausting the team's practices had been. The pair talked, joked, and laughed until Mum came outside and told them to go to bed.