Hello again wonderful readers! This chapter is still building the plot, but I still hope you enjoy it!

I still felt terrible, but decided to go to qudditich practice anyways. I know how Oliver can get and how upset he would really be if I missed practice. Qudditich is his number one priority. No matter what.

I knew I made the right decision for the team, but with every step towards the pitch my mood got worse and worse. By the time I got to the locker room I was in no mood to talk and practically ignored everyone around me as I got dressed. As we headed out to the pitch I kept repeating to myself that I had to be there.

To say it was my worst practice ever on the team was an understatement. My passes were weak, and not quite on target. My catches and shots were sloppy. What made it worse was the look of disapproval I got from Oliver on our way into the locker rooms. I didn't want to deal with his disappointment in my performance, so I put my broom in the shed and jogged to my spot on the far side of the lake.

As I sat in my alcove trying not to think about my beyond terrible practice, I noticed someone walking towards me. Dread filled me as the person came nearer. Even in the fading light I noticed it was a tall male with brown hair. Great, I didn't want to talk to Oliver. Obviously that was why I left without listening to him lecture. I looked down at the grass as the foot steps became closer.

"Oliver I REALLY don't want to talk about this right now," I said before he was close enough to actually join me. Maybe he would get the picture and just keep walking.

"I'm guessing by your state of dress and lovely tone when you thought I was Oliver, that you didn't have the best qudditich day," came a voice next to me as he sat down. He had a tired smile on his face and shrugged. "I've had one of those kinds of days as well."

I blushed in pure embarrassment, "I'm sorry! I only saw you at a distance, and assumed Oliver was hunting me down to yell at me."

Cedric laughs, "I doubt Wood would yell at you for one bad practice."

I simply shrug and look around the sheltered area with trees all around. This is my favorite place to go when I just need some peace and quiet, but I surprisingly don't mind that Cedric joined my solitude. "Well I did just have the worst practice of my qudditich career and who knows with that crazy captain of mine. What happened in your day? You seemed fine in potions?" I asked him to be friendly. Plus it was easier to talk about other people's problems than my own.

"Oh I just got a letter from my father today. You know how it is. The pressure from home to be perfect. Our families are similar in that sense. At least I know that's how your Grandmum Montessor is," Cedric finished with a smile.

I laughed, knowing all too well of the pressures Cedric was feeling. My grandparents were not as hard on me, because I was the only granddaughter they had. Kevin and my 4 cousins on the other hand had a lot to prove, especially since the males 'carry on the wizarding name.'

"Diggory I have no idea what you have to worry about. You're qudditich captain, at the top of our year, and well-mannered when it comes to social events like the New Years Ball my Grandmum has every year. I can't see how your family is worried about you. Now my brother Kevin on the other hand.."

Cedric gave me the first real smile of the evening, "Your brother does seem to do his own thing, but I respect him for that. Plus he went pro, so even if your Grandparents pretend to be upset. You know they're really proud."

I smile, "Maybe my Grandfather, but he could NEVER admit that when my Grandmum is around."

Cedric laughed, because he knew I was completely right. Our grandparents were friends so our families know each other, but most families in the wizarding world know each other in some way or another.

I stand up and dust myself off, "Well I better get going before my team gets too worried. It was nice talking Cedric."

"It was very pleasant indeed. See you around Miss. Bell," He said with a wave as he stayed by the lake.

I walked back to the common room and sat on the couch waiting for the team to get back. Oliver must still be lecturing them. I felt bad leaving, when it was probably my fault he was still lecturing on the terrible practice.

..

"Kates! What are you doing down here?" Oliver's voice pierced through a dream I had been having. I sat up suddenly, and found that I was on a couch in the empty common room. Whoops, I must have fallen asleep when I was waiting on the team.

I stood slowly to make my way to my dorm, when Oliver grabbed my arm, "Kates you shouldn't have gone to practice tonight. I could tell you didn't feel any better. How about we work on your Arithmancy tomorrow in the library." He finished with an encouraging smile.

I nodded and smiled. At least he wasn't mad, "Night Ol."

He let go of my arm, but the place on my arm where his hand had been holding was tingling from this touch, "Night Kates."

..

Now that we were in full swing of qudditich season, I couldn't be any more busy. Balancing qudditich, classes, eating, and sleeping was getting difficult. But just to make things more challenging, Professor McGonagall decided the 6th years needed to have another career meeting to make sure we were on track starting off the year in NEWT classes.

As I sat down in her office I could feel her calculating gaze on me, "So Miss. Bell, how is the semester going thus far."

I shrug, "I am feeling fine in every class but arithmancy, but I can handle that."

She nods, "Your marks are looking fine, but I was surprised at the work load you decided on. The list of classes seems to have grown since we talked last year. This many NEWTS is not mandatory for someone wishing to go to play professional qudditich."

I blush and look down at my hands, "I actually thought a bit about what you said about potentially becoming a Healer, and decided to keep my options open this year."

She smiled approvingly, "Well in that case. If you would like some help in making that decision, you could work occasionally with Madam Pomphrey in the hospital wing."

I look at her in shock. I had never heard of a student doing this before, "That would really help me to decide if this was the right thing for me. I didn't know students could do that."

"I actually cannot take credit for this idea. It was actually Professor Snape who thought of it. He said you would have the most promise in your year to become a Healer, since the potions portion is the hardest part in healer training. He thought it would help you for the future. How about we plan on you starting when you're ready? Maybe once ..Oliver has cooled down on his qudditich." She smiles.

I look at her in shock, and can only nod my head in acknowledgement as she dismisses me. The next student can come in. I can't believe Snape volunteered me for that. What is the world coming to?

..

The evening before the big game against Hufflepuff I found myself with Oliver in the library while the stormy weather raged outside. He finally had time between telling all the people on the team what to do at the game to help me with my homework. I swear he's come up to me 5 times today telling me to "be more aggressive with the quaffle."

We were working on my arithmancy when the twins came up, "Who wants to join us to the kitchens for a pregame team snack!"

"Sorry boys but I really need to get this done!" I said anxiously. This class was starting to stress me out.

They looked at Oliver expectantly, "Sorry but she needs me here."

The twins frown at exactly the same time, "PARTY POOPERS!" they yell as they run out of the library before Madam Prince can kick them out.

I frown and return to my essay, "Now which one did you say?" I asked him, but he didn't reply. I was forced to look up from my book, which I had been trying to avoid all night because I didn't want to be distracted, "..Oliver?"

Oliver was paying no attention to me, but was glaring straight ahead. I followed where he was looking, and was not too surprised when I saw Flint. Oliver seriously hates Flint more than any other person after he got his team got out of playing the game tomorrow in this weather.

When Flint saw me look at him he gave me a wink and turned his back to walk away. Oliver started to stand with his fists formed in a hard ball, "Oliver?" I ask putting a calming hand on his arm. "he's not worth it. He's just scared of how good we are, but which one do you think I should put first in the essay?"

It took me a while, but soon Oliver was back to his regular cheerful Scottish self. Helping me with this terrible essay, and turning it from an A to an E.

After a while I could tell Oliver was getting tired, "You should head up to bed captain. I can handle it from here."

"No I'm fine. It should only take a wee bit longer from here anyways. Plus I won't get much sleep tonight, and you have a calming personality. If I go up to the common room I'll just get nervous."

I just nodded and tried to hold back my laugh as I went back to my essay. Sure he still has his Scottish accent instead of English like most of the school, but he rarely says words like 'wee' or 'aye' or 'lass'. Every time he does, I have a hard time keeping a straight face.

"What's so funny Kates?" Oliver asks. I just look at him innocently and his eyes narrow. "Ha, ha, ha." He's self-conscious about his accent at times, but I don't know why. I find it adorable.. then again, who am I? His cousin's, friend's, kid sister.

"Really Oliver, I'm sorry. You know how much I love your accent," I look into his chocolate brown eyes.

"I guess I forgive you," he smirked as he gave me a glare and joke push… See this is the thing. Oliver never knows his own strength, so as I went falling out of my chair

"…OW" I say from the floor, while I look up at him.

"I'm so sorry Kates! I didn't mean to," He said as he helped me up. I start laughing at the situation.

"Maybe we should just head to the common room but… keep your distance!" I joke as we pack up and make our way up to the common room.

…

We made our way to the locker rooms through the pouring rain in silence. We changed and suited up in our scarlet robes in silence as well, but the eeriest part of it all was that Oliver couldn't seem to get his speech out. He just stood before us in silence, or attempting to speak, but only making gulping noises.

We eventually just followed him out onto the pitch. The wind was so strong we couldn't even hear if the crowd was cheering. I looked around at the pouring rain, and wondered how on earth Harry was going to catch the snitch in this.

As Madam Hooch blew her whistle we were off. Angelina Alicia and I worked together and somehow got up 50 points, but the weather was only getting worse. Oliver called a time-out for us to regroup. Under the umbrella I was feeling a little hopeless until Hermione came over and did something to Harry's glasses. Oliver looked so happy that it had to be something good.

Suddenly we had to get back up into the air, and it was hard to even see the other chasers let alone Harry or Oliver. I was trying to concentrate when suddenly Alicia screamed. I looked over to her to see if she was hurt, but she was only looking down. About one hundred dementors were beneath us, and I could hardly breathe. Suddenly I saw something falling from above me, and watched in horror as I realized it was Harry.

..

It was bad. So bad. We had lost by 100 points after Cedric caught the snitch. We were all huddled around Harry as he laid on his hospital bed. Hermione and Ron were there as well. We were all muddy and soaking wet still from the game, but none of us cared enough to change.

"Harry! How are you feeling?" Fred asked looking white.

"What happened?" Harry asked sitting up quickly.

We all looked around at each other before Fred finally answered, "You fell off. Must've been – what- 50 feet?"

"We thought you died!" Alicia said sounding distraught.

"But the match, what happened? Are we going to replay?" Harry asked anxiously. No one dared to reply, "We didn't lose?"

"Diggory got the snitch," George answered at last. "Just after you fell. He didn't realize what happened. When he looked back and saw you in the ground, he tried to call it off. Wanted a rematch. But they won fair and square ..even Wood admits it."

"Where is Wood?" Harry asked looking around.

"Still in the showers. We think he's trying to drown himself," Fred informed him.

I sighed and stood up to leave. I should probably go check on our captain to make sure he hasn't in fact drowned himself. I left the hospital wing as Fred and George were trying to console Harry.

I hurried back down to the locker rooms, and wasn't surprised to still hear the showers running when I opened the door. I walked over to the boys side determined to get Oliver out of the shower. He was in the last shower stall and I was hoping he wasn't naked.

I stopped just short of his shower, "Oliver Wood you come out here this instant, and stop sulking."

Suddenly I see him sit down on the far wall fully dressed from the game, so the water is hitting him in the face. I sigh and go over to sit next to him, "Oliver everything is going to be alright. We can still win."

He turned his head, and looked at me with the most dead look in his eyes, "Kates I really wish I could believe that, but I feel as if I've failed as a captain.."

I glare at him and shake my head. I stand up and turn off the water, "Come on Oliver, Harry woke up. We both know you're the best captain, but we should be up there." He nods, takes my hand I've been holding out to help him up, and we head up to see Harry with the rest of the team.

Okay, wasn't too exciting, but I had to set some more things up. Next chapter is worth the wait!

Please review!

~Grace