"Word on the street is that you make an excellent chaser," a voice
murmured right next to Katie's ear. Katie grimaced, but didn't dare look
up. "Oh, which street is that? I'd really like to know," she muttered as
she continued to rake leaves from the yard. "This street so far, but soon
enough the word will get out farther," she knew that Oliver was only trying
to be nice, but Katie couldn't help but be a little annoyed. She finally
stood up straight and tucked her blonde hair, which was glinting in the
morning sun, behind her ear. "Well maybe as not as far as the word about
you, Quidditch captain and Keeper," Katie said in a featureless tone, not
daring to look into Oliver's eyes. "Congrats to you," she mumbled, and then
bent over again to continue raking up the fall leaves. It was quiet for a
long time before Katie glanced up again. Oliver stood there with hands on
hips. Wow, at thirteen he's already starting too look pretty good. Wait,
what am I thinking? He's my best friend. Or at least he was my best friend.
Katie bit her lip and frowned. "Are you going to stand there attracting
crows or are you going to help me or are you going to go home?" she
demanded. "Which do you think is best?" Oliver asked. A tinge of annoyance
was seeping back into her blood. "I don't know, close your eyes and pick
one. It'll enlighten us all, I'm sure," she said sarcastically.
"Alright then, I guess I'll stay here and help you," he decided. "Oh goodie," Katie grumbled. Oliver dropped to his knees and reached around Katie for the big black trash bag behind her. Katie felt her face go red when Oliver's hand brushed her ankle. "There we go," Oliver said brightly when he snatched the trash bag towards him. He began grabbing an arm full of leaves and shoving them down the trash bag. "You know, its nice being together again," Oliver murmured thoughtfully. Katie paused in her raking. "What do you mean?" she asked quietly. "As friends you know, I missed hanging out with you," Oliver confessed, grabbing another arm full of leaves. Katie stood up and leaned against the rake for support. "And this has stopped you before...how?" she demanded. She clearly saw Oliver grimace and came to her conclusion. "You know, just because I'm in Slytherin doesn't mean we can't still be friends," she reasoned out. "I know... I know that. I just... I don't know why I...," Oliver began to fumble in picking up the leaves. Suddenly, Katie's face went red again, but in a completely different way. "You just don't want to ruin your reputation," she finished for him, her hands balling into fists.
Oliver quickly glanced up at her. "That's not what I meant Katie," he said apologetically. "Well clearly I misunderstood you, care to tell me what you truly meant?" Katie smirked down at him. A crimson color of red slowly began to creep up Oliver's neck. He seemed to be trying to rake his brain for an explanation, judging by the prolonged silence that surrounded them. "You know Oliver, I think I'm done for the day," Katie sighed, reaching down and taking the plastic bag from him. "Thanks for the help," he glanced up at her and she did her best to force out a fake smile. It always fooled her mother so it might as well fool Oliver. "You sure?" he croaked out. "Yeah, no worries. I'm alright," Katie said. She turned around and brushed away the tears that were starting to form. She wouldn't let Oliver see her cry. "I'm pretty hungry," she said huskily, "I think I should go inside and get some grub," and with that she began to walk away. "Katie?" Oliver called for her. "Yes Oliver?" Katie sighed as she turned to face him. "I'm sorry," he said gently. This time, Katie felt that she didn't need to fake the small smile that was coming. "I know," she said. Then she turned, walked up the front steps, and went inside her house.
Maybe Katie was right, Oliver thought as he stepped inside of his own home and pulled off his coat. Maybe I've been avoiding her because she's in Slytherin. Oliver sighed and gently closed the door behind him. "Oliver?" came his step-mothers voice from the living room. "Yeah mum, I'm in here," Oliver answered her. He draped his coat over the stair railing and walked into the living room to greet his step-mother. She was nestled comfortably on the big couch that was placed next to the fireplace. She glanced up from the book she was reading and smiled at her step-son. "Where did you go Oliver?" she asked gently, saving her spot in the book and then closing it. "I was outside helping Katie with the Bell's yard," Oliver explained, pulling off his boots. Tegwen glanced out the window which had a perfect view of the Bell's yard. "It appears you didn't get much work done you two," she said in a critical tone.
"She erm... she was hungry so she went in to eat breakfast," Oliver said, running a hand through his short hair. "Why didn't you ask her to come over for breakfast?" Tegwen asked innocently. "I haven't talked to Katie for years you know," she added. She reached over and grabbed her mug of steaming tea. "It's a bit odd, it's like she's avoiding us," she murmured, her gaze trailing to the window once again. "Mum, you know she's in Slytherin right?" Oliver asked. Tegwen bit her lip. "Yes, such shames for a girl like her. I was so sure that she was going to be put into Gryffindor," Tegwen sighed. Oliver raised and eyebrow and smiled. "You know mum, it would be hard to figure out you're a muggle. You act more of a wizard than a muggle you know," Oliver chided her gently. "Being a muggle is so boring," Tegwen said hastily. "I wish I could see what it's like at Hogwarts, it sounds fascinating," Tegwen said in contentment.
Oliver smiled at his step-mother. She had been his step-mother for...what had it been seven years so far? His original mother had packed up and left his father, she too had been a muggle and a foolish one at that. Maybe she was tired of trying to keep down the word that her husband was a wizard, or she just couldn't take anymore magic. Oliver never knew. But all he remembered was she had left them, and she never glanced back. Now looking at Tegwen with a content look on her face, Oliver couldn't help but feel the same kind of love as he would have if Tegwen were his original mother. He stood up and walked over to her. "Oliver, is something wrong?" Tegwen asked worriedly, breaking her gaze from the window. Oliver bent over and gave his step-mother a long hug. "What's this for?" Tegwen laughed although she hugged him back. "For doing a good job at being the best mother I've known," he murmured in her ear. Tegwen smiled, warmth spreading throughout her body that over passed that of the blazing fire in the fireplace. "No worries," she whispered back.
Katie sat at the breakfast table, a blank look on her face. He doesn't want to be my friend because I'm in Slytherin? That's so messed up, I wouldn't abandon that prat if HE was in Slytherin, Katie felt her blood go hot once again. "Hey Katie, I can't have the day off today," Ariel said apologetically as she rushed into the kitchen, snapping on her wrist watch. Katie stood up suddenly, pushing her chair across the floor. "Why not mum? You said we can go shopping for new robes today. I need new robes you know," Katie said pointedly. "I'm sorry honey, it's just this is an emergency. A kid got hit by a truck coming home from school," Ariel explained as she buttoned up her doctor's uniform. Katie dragged the chair back to the table and sat back down on it, defeated. Ariel glanced over her shoulder as she prepared her morning coffee.
"Honey, I'm really sorry," Ariel said, her heart dropping at the sight of Katie's downcast expression. "I know you are mum, another day then," Katie tried to sound cheerful and not disappointed. "Why don't you ask Mrs. Wood?" Ariel suggested, sounding as though it was the best thing in the world. "Erm... I'd rather go shopping with me own mum," Katie said flatly. "If you're sure then," Ariel trailed off, giving Katie a last minute decision. "I'm sure," Katie said firmly. "Alright honey, another day it will be. But for now I'm running late," Ariel bent over and kissed her daughter on the forehead. "If you need anything Katie, just call me. There's some left over meatloaf from last night. If you want some blueberry muffins, they're in the pantry," Ariel said quickly while struggling to pull on her shoes. "And honey, I'm really sorry," Ariel added just before she was about to leave the house. "I know mum," Katie sighed. Ariel gave her a small smile and left, a cold draft of fall air billowing inside.
Katie sighed and stood up. She walked over to the kitchen window which had a view overlooking the drive way and yard. She watched her mother fumbled with the car keys for a moment. She watched her mother unlock the car, a look of triumph on her face. She watched her mother slide into the car and turn on the ignition. She watched her mother back away, pausing to wave one more good-bye to Katie. She watched her mother drive away.
"Alright then, I guess I'll stay here and help you," he decided. "Oh goodie," Katie grumbled. Oliver dropped to his knees and reached around Katie for the big black trash bag behind her. Katie felt her face go red when Oliver's hand brushed her ankle. "There we go," Oliver said brightly when he snatched the trash bag towards him. He began grabbing an arm full of leaves and shoving them down the trash bag. "You know, its nice being together again," Oliver murmured thoughtfully. Katie paused in her raking. "What do you mean?" she asked quietly. "As friends you know, I missed hanging out with you," Oliver confessed, grabbing another arm full of leaves. Katie stood up and leaned against the rake for support. "And this has stopped you before...how?" she demanded. She clearly saw Oliver grimace and came to her conclusion. "You know, just because I'm in Slytherin doesn't mean we can't still be friends," she reasoned out. "I know... I know that. I just... I don't know why I...," Oliver began to fumble in picking up the leaves. Suddenly, Katie's face went red again, but in a completely different way. "You just don't want to ruin your reputation," she finished for him, her hands balling into fists.
Oliver quickly glanced up at her. "That's not what I meant Katie," he said apologetically. "Well clearly I misunderstood you, care to tell me what you truly meant?" Katie smirked down at him. A crimson color of red slowly began to creep up Oliver's neck. He seemed to be trying to rake his brain for an explanation, judging by the prolonged silence that surrounded them. "You know Oliver, I think I'm done for the day," Katie sighed, reaching down and taking the plastic bag from him. "Thanks for the help," he glanced up at her and she did her best to force out a fake smile. It always fooled her mother so it might as well fool Oliver. "You sure?" he croaked out. "Yeah, no worries. I'm alright," Katie said. She turned around and brushed away the tears that were starting to form. She wouldn't let Oliver see her cry. "I'm pretty hungry," she said huskily, "I think I should go inside and get some grub," and with that she began to walk away. "Katie?" Oliver called for her. "Yes Oliver?" Katie sighed as she turned to face him. "I'm sorry," he said gently. This time, Katie felt that she didn't need to fake the small smile that was coming. "I know," she said. Then she turned, walked up the front steps, and went inside her house.
Maybe Katie was right, Oliver thought as he stepped inside of his own home and pulled off his coat. Maybe I've been avoiding her because she's in Slytherin. Oliver sighed and gently closed the door behind him. "Oliver?" came his step-mothers voice from the living room. "Yeah mum, I'm in here," Oliver answered her. He draped his coat over the stair railing and walked into the living room to greet his step-mother. She was nestled comfortably on the big couch that was placed next to the fireplace. She glanced up from the book she was reading and smiled at her step-son. "Where did you go Oliver?" she asked gently, saving her spot in the book and then closing it. "I was outside helping Katie with the Bell's yard," Oliver explained, pulling off his boots. Tegwen glanced out the window which had a perfect view of the Bell's yard. "It appears you didn't get much work done you two," she said in a critical tone.
"She erm... she was hungry so she went in to eat breakfast," Oliver said, running a hand through his short hair. "Why didn't you ask her to come over for breakfast?" Tegwen asked innocently. "I haven't talked to Katie for years you know," she added. She reached over and grabbed her mug of steaming tea. "It's a bit odd, it's like she's avoiding us," she murmured, her gaze trailing to the window once again. "Mum, you know she's in Slytherin right?" Oliver asked. Tegwen bit her lip. "Yes, such shames for a girl like her. I was so sure that she was going to be put into Gryffindor," Tegwen sighed. Oliver raised and eyebrow and smiled. "You know mum, it would be hard to figure out you're a muggle. You act more of a wizard than a muggle you know," Oliver chided her gently. "Being a muggle is so boring," Tegwen said hastily. "I wish I could see what it's like at Hogwarts, it sounds fascinating," Tegwen said in contentment.
Oliver smiled at his step-mother. She had been his step-mother for...what had it been seven years so far? His original mother had packed up and left his father, she too had been a muggle and a foolish one at that. Maybe she was tired of trying to keep down the word that her husband was a wizard, or she just couldn't take anymore magic. Oliver never knew. But all he remembered was she had left them, and she never glanced back. Now looking at Tegwen with a content look on her face, Oliver couldn't help but feel the same kind of love as he would have if Tegwen were his original mother. He stood up and walked over to her. "Oliver, is something wrong?" Tegwen asked worriedly, breaking her gaze from the window. Oliver bent over and gave his step-mother a long hug. "What's this for?" Tegwen laughed although she hugged him back. "For doing a good job at being the best mother I've known," he murmured in her ear. Tegwen smiled, warmth spreading throughout her body that over passed that of the blazing fire in the fireplace. "No worries," she whispered back.
Katie sat at the breakfast table, a blank look on her face. He doesn't want to be my friend because I'm in Slytherin? That's so messed up, I wouldn't abandon that prat if HE was in Slytherin, Katie felt her blood go hot once again. "Hey Katie, I can't have the day off today," Ariel said apologetically as she rushed into the kitchen, snapping on her wrist watch. Katie stood up suddenly, pushing her chair across the floor. "Why not mum? You said we can go shopping for new robes today. I need new robes you know," Katie said pointedly. "I'm sorry honey, it's just this is an emergency. A kid got hit by a truck coming home from school," Ariel explained as she buttoned up her doctor's uniform. Katie dragged the chair back to the table and sat back down on it, defeated. Ariel glanced over her shoulder as she prepared her morning coffee.
"Honey, I'm really sorry," Ariel said, her heart dropping at the sight of Katie's downcast expression. "I know you are mum, another day then," Katie tried to sound cheerful and not disappointed. "Why don't you ask Mrs. Wood?" Ariel suggested, sounding as though it was the best thing in the world. "Erm... I'd rather go shopping with me own mum," Katie said flatly. "If you're sure then," Ariel trailed off, giving Katie a last minute decision. "I'm sure," Katie said firmly. "Alright honey, another day it will be. But for now I'm running late," Ariel bent over and kissed her daughter on the forehead. "If you need anything Katie, just call me. There's some left over meatloaf from last night. If you want some blueberry muffins, they're in the pantry," Ariel said quickly while struggling to pull on her shoes. "And honey, I'm really sorry," Ariel added just before she was about to leave the house. "I know mum," Katie sighed. Ariel gave her a small smile and left, a cold draft of fall air billowing inside.
Katie sighed and stood up. She walked over to the kitchen window which had a view overlooking the drive way and yard. She watched her mother fumbled with the car keys for a moment. She watched her mother unlock the car, a look of triumph on her face. She watched her mother slide into the car and turn on the ignition. She watched her mother back away, pausing to wave one more good-bye to Katie. She watched her mother drive away.