Chapter 15 – The big deal
The Ball got off to a good start with Dumbledore opening the ball introducing a famous Wizarding band called The Hexes. It was hard to believe that, that was just over and hour ago. It seriously felt like two. Or maybe even three. I could tell that Oliver was bored too; he was counting the bubbles in his butterbeer. The problem with this was that butterbeer doesn't have many bubbles and that this was Oliver's sixth one. I looked up from Oliver's butterbeer and towards the dance floor where Alicia, George, Fred and Angelina were dancing it up along with the other 98% of the attending years at the Ball. I focused back to Oliver.
"Oliver this bites." I said tugging his butterbeer out of his hands and taking sip myself.
The buttery substance soothed my throat and heated up my stomach. Oliver sighed.
"I know. I was just about to say that." He said looking up at me from the opposite side of the table.
In the last hour we had tried to stay away from the centre of attention at the Ball. Rumours spread like wildfire at Hogwarts and when the people in the rumour fuelled them, it didn't take long to get around. That's what we were trying to prevent. Someone noticing, then someone telling Michelle, especially before we told her ourself in a couple of days. The rule between Oliver and I started off good in theory but watching everyone dance, 'let their hair down' and have fun was hard. Especially when Oliver and I could have fun if it wasn't for Michelle. Oliver suddenly sat up and leaned across the table.
"I have an idea." He said excitedly.
I raised my eyebrows.
"After having six butterbeers, Oliver is it worth listening to it?" I asked sarcastically.
Oliver rolled his eyes.
"Katie, butterbeer doesn't affect me. Trust me I've had worse. Anyway do you want to hear or not?" he said raising his own eyebrows.
I laughed.
"Ok then. Go on."
Oliver smiled.
Do you think that anyone would actually notice or even care if we had fun together? I mean we've been so worried that someone will find out that it is sickening. No matter what happens we're going ahead with us aren't we?"
I looked stunned at Oliver. Was I really hearing this clear little speech out of someone with so many butterbeers? Even as hard it is to believe, I actually did agree with him after some thought.
"Of course we are going ahead with us." I said sarcastically. "Do you really think that I would deny myself fun if we weren't?" I said smartly.
"Are you saying that I'm boring?" he said calmly, a smile playing upon his features and laughter in his eyes.
I loved winding him up. Come to think of it I loved winding anyone up.
"Could be." I said teasingly.
Oliver jumped out of his seat.
"Right." He said eagerly. "I'll show you boring." He said grabbing my hand, pulling me out of my seat and towards the dance floor.
Oh Merlin. What had I done?
"What are you doing?" I hissed as we pushed though many couples of dancing people.
Oliver smiled devilishly as we came to a clearing spot on the dance floor.
"Well," he said drawing me into him and pulling me into a dance position. "I'm showing you that I am not boring. Ever."
I laughed.
"Oliver I was joking." I said rolling my eyes. "Plus," I began this time a lot more seriously. "Isn't this going against everything about the Michelle policy."
Oliver nodded as he steered me around the dance floor.
"Yes. I guess you could say that. " He said systematically. "But Katie, I'm sick of it. Sick of sneaking around, sick of pretending to be happy about you and Diggory,"
"Oliver it was fake for one, two you weren't happy about Diggory you didn't even pretend for pretending sake and three we needed to cover it up." I added cutting him off.
"Did we?" he said thoroughly. "Why didn't we just let it leak out? Why not tell Michelle then?"
I had a problem with this conversation. It was Oliver's idea not to tell Michelle. Not mine!
"Because," I said angrily. "That was you're idea."
Oliver nodded.
"I know. And I regret it." He said bowing his head to my eyelevel. "But back to what I was saying. I am sick of pretending that we don't exist. Because you know what? We do."
I laughed at Oliver's lame ending.
"Exactly." I said quietly.
"Exactly." Oliver did a double take. "Did you just agree with me?" he asked trying hard not to laugh.
I nodded.
"I think so. Don't tell anyone." I said jokingly.
Oliver beamed.
"Not a word."
We danced for a minute to the Hexes music in silence. Then Oliver opened his mouth again….
"Were we just fighting over something or what? I sort of forget the point of what I was saying." He said chuckling.
I giggled.
"You were going on about how sick you were of pretending that we don't exist." I informed as the song changed.
Oliver nodded.
"That's right….I'm just well…" he laughed. "Sick of it."
"And when exactly did you become sick of everything?" I asked looking around at all the fellow dancers.
Oliver stopped thoughtfully. He crackled up laughing.
"While I was drinking butterbeer." He confessed.
I snorted.
"And you say it doesn't have a affect on you? I think you judgment is foggy."
"Nope my judgement is as clear as it had been for a long time."
I raised my eyebrows.
"Ok ok. Maybe a few hours at least but my point is I can't believe I didn't think of this earlier." He said nodding at the dancing. "We could have been out here having fun as us rather than sitting there being bored."
I laughed.
"I think that butterbeer is the reason you didn't think of it sooner." I said sarcastically.
Oliver drew me if possible closer, so that I was pushed right up against him. He smiled.
"You have this thing about me and butterbeer don't you?"
I nodded.
"Of course. I think something is going on between you pair." I said using a mock tone of seriousness.
Oliver smiled widely.
"I didn't know you'd get so jealous. If I did I would have started drinking sooner." He said teasingly.
I just smiled.
"I didn't know that you could dance." I said changing the subject. "Otherwise I would have started lessons myself."
Oliver leered.
"Long story. When I was younger, my mum made my sisters, my brother and I…" he trailed off deep in thought. "Take lessons." He added solemnly.
A smiled crept upon my face.
"It couldn't have been that bad."
Oliver nodded, his eye's flicker.
"You's be surprised." He added trying to sound happy. "Dancing can scare you."
I noticed the fault in Oliver's voice. Something was wrong. I could tell. I had never seen his mood flicker like this. It scared me slightly.
"Do your brother and sisters still dance?" I asked trying to bring back his happy mood.
Oliver shook his head.
"No. They gave up when I did. At that point my dad was determined to show that his sons weren't into the prissy nonsense." He said spirited again. "So he pushed us to play Quidditch."
I laughed.
"And thus, the highly strung Quidditch maniac was born." I added dramatically.
Oliver chuckled, although his eye's still seemed to be less bright and happy than before.
"I am a little obsessive aren't I?' he admitted biting his lip.
I nodded.
"And that's why I love you." I said squeezing him tightly. "For pushing me all the time in training. Thus that is why I am behind in potions." I added happily.
He laughed.
"You know I wouldn't push you so much, if you listened to me during training." He said teasingly.
I slapped him playfully on the shoulder.
"Maybe I'd listen to you in training, if you actually stopped telling me how to play the game." I replied cheerfully.
"I don't," Oliver stopped for a moment and shrugged his shoulders. "Ok so I do tell you how to play the game but well I'm the captain, so I'm suppose to do that." He said defensively.
I giggled.
"Ok so you win." I declared biting my lip. "But that's the only argument I let you win ok?'
Oliver nodded.
"Deal." He said kissing me.
When we broke apart I looked around to see if anyone saw. Thankfully no one did. Why is that thankful? A voice in my head asked. I considered it and agreed. Why is it thankful that no one saw? Why the hell am I listening to a voice in my head?
"So tell me more about your family." I said eagerly.
Oliver nodded.
"What do you want to know?"
What did I want to know?
"Mum's name?"
"Carol."
"Um…Dad's name?"
"Derrick." Oliver said smiling. "I have two sisters, Laven and Erin. And my brothers name was…Duncan." He said awkwardly.
Was?
"Was?" I asked cautiously and immediately wanting to take it back.
Oliver nodded.
"Yeah. Duncan died about a year ago." He said voice trembling.
Oh Merlin.
"I'm sorry…I didn't know." I said as we stopped dancing.
Oliver pulled away and I watched him run a hand through his hair.
"Not many people did. I didn't tell anyone." He said solemnly.
I felt bad. Miserable. Terrible. Why didn't I realise before, when his voice and eyes flickered at the mention of his brother. I placed a hand on his shoulder. It hurt me to look at him like this. And the worst thing was…I had never had any idea. Oliver took hold of my hand resting on his shoulder and pulled me back to our table. I sat down beside him and pulled my chair closer.
"What happened?" I asked quietly.
Oliver looked up.
"A freak accident." He said sighing deeply. Then a smile crept upon his face as if relighting memories. "Duncan was younger than me. There was six years between us. He was the baby of the family. Anyway every holidays or whenever I went home, we used to go out fishing on this lake that was near our property. Sometimes we would just go out to paddle around. This one-day, Christmas holidays last year we got up early and went fishing." He frowned. "That's when it happened. We'd been out there for a couple of hours and the sun was just starting to come up. Neither of us had had a bite since we'd been there. So Duncan got a bit restless and started shoving me around trying to push me out of the boat. He though it was funny. He finally succeeded and I got pretty shirty with him. So I swam back to the shore and as I got there he starts screaming. The last thing I remember was turning around and seeing him splashing about in the water."
I took in a deep breath.
"He drowned?" I asked breathlessly.
Oliver nodded.
"I had no idea how it happened. It wasn't like he couldn't swim or anything as we had taught him to. I blamed my self for ages. I hadn't thought about it in a long time. Even if it was only a little while ago. I tried to shut it out. "
I studied Oliver's face. All the excitement that was there before had been removed and all that was left seemed to be a cold mask. I had never seen Oliver like this. Never. And I couldn't believe that I didn't know. I felt bad for bringing it up and I felt even worst seeing him like this. It cut me up. I leaned forward and hugged him tightly. He hugged me back.
"I had no idea. I feel so bad." I said pulling back and kissing him gently. "I didn't know." I stressed again.
He smiled weakly.
"That was why no one knew. I didn't tell anyone at Hogwarts. Of course Mum and Dad told Dumbledore, they had too. He was suppose to start Hogwarts this year."
I didn't know what to do. So I did the only thing I knew that could give him a little comfort. I kissed him. Kissed him slowly at first them more passionately. Oliver relaxed and returned the kiss.
"Well, well, well. This looks mighty cosy." A fierily voice came from behind me.
I noticed it at once as Michelle's. Oliver and I broke apart and stood up instantly. I looked at Michelle. She was standing in front of me with the fiercest look on her face. I have to say something. Something good.
"It's not what it looks like." I said regretfully.
Regretfully because it was exactly what it looked like! Why I had ever been possessed to say that I didn't know. If possible my comment made Michelle even madder.
"Well it looks like you and my boyfriend were sitting in the middle of the Christmas Ball that I had been looking forward to for sometime, snogging. Is that not what it looks like?" She yelled at me.
"Michelle I can explain." Oliver said calmly stepping forward, trying to calm her down.
Michelle turned to Oliver.
"Can you Oliver?! Well I think that you'd better start." She yelled.
"Don't yell at me." He said warningly. "I will explain but not here why you are making a scene." He said though gritted teeth.
"Don't you dare tell me what to do Oliver! I can make a bloody scene if I want!"
I think that it's time I stepped in.
"What's new!" I added pushing Oliver aside. "You always make a scene out of everything."
Michelle's eyes flashed.
"How dare you criticize me Katie! You're the one making the move on MY boyfriend." She bellowed.
Some of the dancer's stopped and looked our way.
"Will you keep your voice down?" I hissed. "Can't we talk about this in privately?"
Michele shook her head.
"No! No we can't. I want to know NOW what's going on?! Don't you think I have a right to know?!"
"Of course you do." Oliver scolded. "And we were going to tell you."
Michelle laughed angrily.
"Tell me! Tell me what?" she asked angrily.
"About us." I chorused in calmly.
"About you?! Care to explain dear boyfriend?" She said turning back to Oliver.
Oliver nodded.
"Katie and I have been seeing each other for a couple of weeks." He said rationally. "We were going to tell you when you got back."
"A couple of weeks! Behind my back!" She turned to me. "You're supposed to be my friend Katie. Best friend!" she hollered.
I laughed.
"You know we aren't best friends Michelle you know it! We haven't been friends since I realise that I hated you! And sadly it wasn't sooner." I yelled.
Michelle looked like she had been slapped.
"What about Cedric?!" She yelled. "You've been cheating on Cedric ad well. Does he know anything about this?"
"Yes I know." Cedric's admitted stepping forward from behind a row of people who had become bored with dancing and were watching the light entertainment. "But Katie and I were never together anyway. I knew from the start. That's why I got involved."
I rubbed my eyes. This was getting worse. If that was possible. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Not in front of half the school and teachers.
"It was a lie? A lie to cover it up! " Michelle yelled almost close to tears. "Anything else you want to throw at me?" she said distressed.
"No not really." Oliver added angrily. "But I'd like to know why you're back early." He said relieving my of a burning question.
"To surprise you." She said shortly. "I wanted to surprise you but it looks like you surprised me. The funeral was yesterday and my parents decided that I could come back for the ball, for Christmas." She bit her lip irritably and took a deep breath. "I never and I mean never want to talk to you again." She said looking at me. "So much for being friends but as you so kindly put it I was wrong. Very wrong." She turned to Oliver. "Looks like I was wrong about you too." She said picking up a glass off the table beside her. "I hate you. Positively hate you. You ever come near me again and I'll kill you." She said throwing the glass of water on Oliver. "Merry Christmas." She said huffily storming out of the Great Hall.
Everyone that had stopped dancing shrugged and turned their attention back to the ball leaving Cedric, Oliver and I standing there, dumbstruck. Beside me, Oliver wiped the water off his face.
"Well that went well."
AN: Wow I am so sorry that it took me so long to get this chapter up. I had writer's block trying to start it. Hope you guys liked it! I know we saw side that we had never seen of Oliver. The Duncan thing I got the idea from my favourite show, Monarch Of The Glen. Seen it before? Then you'll realise that I changed it a little! Review. Did you like it?????? I have no idea what I think of this chapter. Questions;
1. What would you give this out of 10? (me probably a 6!)
2. Did Michelle take it a little too well or well enough for the brat she is?
Special question for Azkaban Canuck: Did I do you suggestion justice and are you happy with it?
I have one last think to say before I got to bed tonight, the next chapter will be the last of 'Totally Clueless.' And to go out with a bang, I would like EVERYONE who reads it (Zoe of you are reading this bloody review!) to review and make me a very very happy person!