When I woke up, Oliver was gone. Maybe it was a dream. I hope it was a dream. The teachers didn't find Sirius Black, though. He's still out there. I hope they catch him soon because those Dementor things are really, really, freaky.

Alicia and I rolled up our bags and stacked them with the rest and we made our way into the common room. Oliver was on the couch. Nope, it wasn't a dream.

This isn't any fun! You can't like someone who told you that he doesn't want to talk with you! Why do I have to like him NOW? This is so stupid! This is so WIERD! I must stop liking him!

Alicia sits with him in the couch. Gosh, thanks Alicia. I'm your best friend, remember? Not HIM!

I need to find a NEW guy to like and quick! One who doesn't make me think of him all the time. No, I do NOT think of Wood all the time! I hate him!

AArgh, I think I'm in denial. Now I know what they mean when they say "Denial isn't just a river in Egypt." Ugh. I wish it was.

Quidditch practices have been really crappy lately. Not just because Wood doesn't want to know who I am, but because of the weather. It's been raining in torrents forever. AND, Madam Hooch oversees all our practices because McGonagall thinks Black is going to snatch Harry off his broomstick. I can't even swear during practice without losing House Points! My life is just peachy right now.

I was happy to have a distraction from all this "Merryment" in my life, by gearing up for a showdown with Slytherin. I can just imagine me kicking Flint in the groin and saying it was him first. Hooch would probably believe me.

Then things were starting to look up for me. Really they were. I was getting used to Oliver totally ignoring me. It didn't really bother me too, too much. I still get to look at him, don't I? He looks really good in soaked Quidditch robes... No! Must not think these things! Oliver equals EVIL!

But, at our last training session before Saturday's game, Oliver had bad news. More Merryment? Yup.

"We're not playing Slytherin! Flint's just been to see me. We're playing Hufflepuff instead."

"WHY?", we all asked.

"Flint's excuse is that their Seeker's arm's still injured," he said through gritted teeth. Apparently Hagrid's hippogriff bit Malfoy. Too bad he didn't take his whole arm off."But it's obvious why they're doing it. Don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll damage their chances..."

Then there was a rumble of thunder.

"There's nothing wrong with Malfoys arm! He's faking it!" said Harry furiously.

"I know that, but we can't prove it. And we've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead it's Hufflepuff, and their style's quite different. They've got a new Captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory-"

Immediately I started giggling. Cedric is really, really handsome! I'd like to get to know HIM better! That's it! I'll get a crush on HIM. Problem solved!

"What?" asked Oliver frowning at my giggling.

Next to me Angelina said, "He's that tall good-looking one, isn't he?"

I nodded and said dreamily, "Strong and silent..." and we started giggling again.

"He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together," said Fred. "I don't know why you're worried, Oliver, Hufflepuff is a pushover. Last time we played them, Harry caught the Snitch in about five minutes, remember?"

"We were playing in completely different conditions! Diggory's put a very strong side together! He's an excellent Seeker! I was afraid you'd take it like this! We musn't relax! We must keep our focus!" and he looked straight at me. Hey! I'm not the only one who looses focus sometimes! "Slytherin is trying to wrong-foot us! We must win!"

"Oliver, calm down!" said Fred, looking slightly alarmed. "We're taking Slytherin very seriously. Seriously."

I tried thinking of Cedric, in that THAT way. But, whenever I tried picturing myself with him, pleasant as it seems, Oliver was always somewhere in the background. He's even ruining my daydreams! I started feeling really pathetic about this whole "thing." I really don't know what to call it.

I even tried talking to Flint the day before my first Quidditch game. I really tried being nice to him, but it's kind of hard when every other thing he says suggests waking up next to each other in the sack. Ugh. So I told him that I wouldn't even be near the sack with someone who chickens out of a Quidditch match because of the weather. At least Cedric is sticking with it. Not to mention Oliver.

The morning of the match against Hufflepuff, I woke up early from a clap of thunder. I am really looking forward to playing in this crap. Honestly, I don't mind getting hit by lightning. I went down to breakfast and Harry was already there, sitting, staring into a large bowl of porridge. He wasn't really awake yet, so I buttered his toast for him. By the time he started eating it, the rest of the team showed up.

Oliver wouldn't sit down, he paced with his hands behind his back and wouldn't eat anything. "It's going to be a tough one," he said.

I wasn't going to say anything to him, because he wouldn't say anything to me. But next to me Alicia said soothingly, "Stop worrying, Oliver, we don't mind a bit of rain."

However, it was a lot more than a bit. As we changed into our Quidditch robes, Oliver stood there, looking from teammate to teammate. We waited for his pre-game pep talk, but he couldn't do it. He made an odd gulping noise, shook his head hopelessly and motioned for us to follow him. This was so unlike Oliver.

But, he was the least of my worries as soon as we stepped on to the pitch. I almost fell over from the wind alone. I could just see Cedric and the Hufflepuffs approaching the center circle, wearing bright yellow robes. Oliver and Cedric walked to each other and shook hand. Cedric tried smiling at Oliver, a peace offering no doubt, but Oliver just nodded.

Time passes slowly, and after I scored twice, I lost count. It was terrible. I couldn't even hear the commentation. With a flash of lightning, I saw Wood motioning for everyone to the ground. I landed with a splash. I was positive I must have looked like I just climbed out of the lake. I walked up to Alicia and whispered, "We don't mind a bit of rain, uh?" But she ignored me, she was shivering very badly as was Angelina.

Oliver shouted, "I called for a time out! Come on, under here-"

As we stood underneath the umbrella, Harry kept trying to wipe his glasses on his robes. But his robe was to wet, and it didn't help any. At that moment, I wished I had my wand. I could cast 'impervius' on them, and they would repel water. "What's the score?" he asked.

"We're fifty points up, but unless we get the Snitch soon, we'll be playing into the night," said Oliver. He was dripping and the water matted down his hair. I watched as the rain gathered on his lips and dripped off while he was talking. He looked really great for someone who was soaked to the bone, and shivering.

"I've got no chance with these one!" said Harry exasperatedly, waving his glasses.

At the very moment, Hermione Granger showed up at his shoulder. She was holding her cloak over her head and was beaming despite the rain. "I've had an idea, Harry! Give me your glasses, quick!"

He handed them to her, and everyone (but me) watched her in amazement as she tapped his glasses with her wand and said "Impervius! There! They'll repel water!"

My jaw dropped. I was just thinking that! Oi. If I had MY wand, I would've done it.

Oliver looked as though he could have kissed her. Ugh. I wish I had my wand then he would look at ME like that, because I would've cast the spell before she even showed up! Life is peachy.

We got onto our brooms again and ascended into the torrential rains. Angelina passed me the Quaffle, and I passed in to Alicia who scored. Love Alicia. Then there was another clap of thunder followed by forked lightning.

I silently cheered Harry on, so that he would catch the Snitch and the game would be over. Then I saw Diggory zoom by, followed by Harry. Come on, Harry! Come on, Harry! Come on, Harry!

I looked down, and at least one hundred dementors had there faces pointing toward us. It was terrifying. What was more scary was when I saw Harry go limp and fall off his broomstick. Right toward the dementors. As his Nimbus was blown away, I watched him fall. It was like slow-motion.

I saw him hit the ground with a sickening thud. A canary yellow blur flashed past me, and as I watched the dementors be fought away from a lifeless Harry, by Dumledore, I heard the whistle blow. Cedric caught the Snitch.

We all descended toward the ground and I heard Cedric arguing with Madam Hooch about having a redo, because he didn't see Harry fall. Oliver was staring at the ground, as he agreed that Hufflepuff won fair and square. He walked away, shocked. His eyes were closed tightly and he stuck his jaw out, with a huge frown spread over his lips.

Alicia, Angelina and I all quickly locked up our brooms in the locker room, where a shower was on, and ran toward the hospital wing, not even bothering to change out of our water and mud soaked robes.

We stood there watching Harry on a bed, covered in mud.

"Lucky the ground was so soft," said Alicia.

"I thought he was dead for sure," said Angelina

Fred and George appeared on either side of me. George said, "But he didn't even break his glasses."

I was trembling. Not from being soaked, but from the dementors and seeing Harry fall. It was just awful. "That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life," I said.

Two seconds later, Harry's eyes snapped open.

"Harry! How're you feeling?" asked Fred.

Suddenly Harry shot up in his bed, "What happened?"

"You fell off. Must've been - what- fifty feet?" said Fred.

"We thought you'd died," said Alicia, who like me was shaking.

"But the match. What happened? Are we doing a replay?" asked Harry, urgently.

None of us spoke. I watched Harry realize his first defeat. "We didn't - lose?"

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

"Where is Wood?" asked Harry. He and I both suddenly realized that he wasn't there.

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

Harry put his face to his knees and pulled at his hair. But Fred shook Harry roughly, "C'mon Harry, you've never missed the Snitch before."

"There had to be one time you didn't get it," said George.

"It's not over yet. We lost by a hundred points, right? So if Hufflepuff loses to Ravenclaw and we beat Ravenclaw and Slytherin..."

"Hufflepuff'll have to lose by at least two hundred points," said George.

Then Alicia said, "But if they beat Ravenclaw..."

But that didn't seem right to me and I said, "No way, Ravenclaw is too good. But if Slytherin loses against Hufflepuff..."

"It all depends on the points - a margin of a hundred either way," said George.

I didn't talk anymore, until it was time to go. I was feeling so sorry for Harry. He almost died, AND he lost the match.

I went back to the locker room to shower and change. When I was done, I went up to the tower. As I walked up the stairs I heard one picture talking about the dementors, and I shivered at the image of Harry falling.

When I got to the common room, Oliver was sprawled out over the couch in front of the fireplace. His eyes were still closed and he would've been staring at the cieling had they been open. He was alone. I suppose everyone was afraid to talk to him.

As I walked by, Oliver flicked his eyes open and put a foot out, so I couldn't pass him. "Sit down, Kates," he said.

I hesitated for a moment, but I sat on the couch a foot or so away from him. "I can't believe it! We lost..." he mumbled.

"Yeah...and it sucks," I agreed.

He looked at me and grinned, despite the fact that he was miserable and we weren't exactly friendly toward each other. "We can still win, Kates. It's not over yet."

OK, he said that magic word. No pun intended...I mean it would be funny, because I'm a witch and he's a wizard. OK, stopping. He said the magic word, and now I'm good to go.

Before I knew what I was doing, I was leaning back and I leaned my head against Oliver's leg. I was lying on the couch and using Oliver as a pillow. That's something I used to do when I was younger. I was very comfortable. Not to mention extremely surprised at myself.

I closed my eyes, lying there. I felt Oliver playing with my hair that was sprawled out over his lap. I opened my eyes when he picked up my hand. I looked into his eyes that were gleaming by the fire light, and he looked into mine. He gingerly held my wrist with one hand and laced his fingers with mine with the other hand. He touched the back of my hand with his soft lips, in a sweet, gentle kiss.

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Awwwwwwww. I hoped you liked this one. I need reviews to tell me if I'm headed in the right direction!

Resources: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, copyright 1999, Arthur A. Levine Book, Scholastic Press. pgs. 168-169,175- 181 'Grim Defeat'

Disclaimer: I am no J.K. Rowling and I am not aiming to make money off of this. A/N: This is short, and I don't expect many reviews.but I needed to do something! I was really busy today and wanted to give everyone a taste. This is why it's rated pg-13!

This isn't real. And yet, when I open my eyes again, Oliver is still there. I am rendered completely helpless in the moment. It was so simple. So pure. All I can do is sigh. His fingers fit nicely with mine. The light kisses that he plants on the back of my hand tickle me slightly.

I looked around the room and saw Fred and George sitting behind a large book, reading it. Only the book is upside down and they are watching me over the top of the book, eyebrows raised. I see Percy polishing his Head Boy badge (again) but I can see that he, too, is watching from the badges reflection.

When I close my eyes again, all I can hear is the soft smacking of Oliver's lips whenever he kisses the back of my hand. Suddenly, my stomach growls. I take my arms from his hands, to read my watch. I had been lying on him for nearing ten minutes. It was time for dinner.

I sat up and stood up. I extended a hand to Oliver, to help him up. He lazily got up and didn't let go of my hand for a few seconds. "Dinner," was all I said.

He stood where I had left him, not moving. We had been moving so slowly, laying around that it seemed so sudden that Oliver was wide awake. "Uh..." he trailed off. I turned around and tried tugging on his hand again to get him to follow me, but his feet remained planted.

"Honestly, what the problem?" I asked.

"I...er...nothing," he said.

"Then come on," I beckoned.

"I...er...left something in the locker room!!" he exclaimed. He still looked panicked. For the millionth time, I was completely confused by him.

"Ok...want me to come with--"

"NO!" he cut me off, loudly. I gave him a look, and he tried to recover, "Um..er...I mean, that's OK....you go and eat something. I wont be long."

I rolled my eyes and said, "Yes, Captain."

He gave me a short smirk. I turned around to go through the portrait hole. Then turned around again. He straightened up as soon as I turned around, from whatever he was doing. He still hadn't moved from that spot.

Before passing through the portrait hole I exclaimed over my shoulder, and he straightened up one more time, "You. Are. So. Odd!"

I went down to the Great Hall. I got evil glares from younger girls. Even more than usual. I couldn't imagine why. "Oh, dry up!", I said to one of them.

When I got to my seat, Fred and George were grinning at me. I gave them a look and started on my meal that appeared before me. When I looked up again, they were still grinning at me. "What?" I asked.

They just chuckled and began eating their dinners. After a minute or so George threw down his fork with a clatter and placed his chin on his hands. "So," he began. "Where's Ollie?"

"Shuttup," I said and chucked a piece of bread roll at him.

"So are you two an item now?" asked Fred. This question struck me like being hit by a Whomping Willow, not that I would know what the feels like. I never even thought of that. We really didn't do anything, Oliver and I. I guess it was just a sweet moment that we shared. It's just a crush. Right?

"No," I stated simply. George looked at me like I had horns coming out of my head.

"Then what was all that business in the common room?"

"What, doesn't he do that with every girl? Alisa, for example?"

Fred said, "Nah. I don't think he really liked her. He was always complaining about how he couldn't talk to other girls."

"Like you, for instance," said George. I hate hearing about someone's feelings through someone else.

Then our conversation turned to Quidditch. Harry's Nimbus was smashed by the Willow. Then I realized that had left my Nimbus model broom in my locker. I have a Nimbus Stratus. I wanted to get it so I could repair fibers that went wayward during the match. I got up to go to the locker room. I didn't think Oliver would mind me being there.

I went into the locker room and opened my locker. There was my broom, in all it's glory, muddy and messy. I took it out and examined it closely. Brooms are a Quidditch players best friend.

I was about to go when I heard running water. I supposed that someone had left the shower running from before. Same boys shower. I walked up to it and saw shadows cast on the shower curtain. Someone was inside. It was Oliver.

I smirked to myself. I wasn't really surprised that he was there. Anything to do with Quidditch...But one thing didn't seem right. There was no steam coming from the shower stall. I reached down and touched one finger to the water that flowed steadily to the drain in the middle of the shower hall.

I jumped back quickly and even stifled a squeal. The water was ice cold! He was taking a cold shower! Adrenaline pumped through me and tried tip-toeing out of the locker rooms, unnoticed.

He shut the showers off. I opened the door into the main school. The door squeaked. I heard a gruff "What the---" from the showers and heard footsteps.

If he caught me that would be it! I would be done for. I ran out of the room, not waiting another second and sprinted down the hall with my broom as fast as my little feet could carry me.

I came into the common room, and didn't stop to talk to anyone. I threw my broom on the ground and paced the dorm. I couldn't sit still.

I don't know how to feel about this. Head on lap...wouldn't come to dinner...wouldn't move...locker room....not letting me come to locker room...shower....COLD shower...AHHHHH! It makes sense! Oh my frikin' gosh.

I thought, 'Maybe that's why they call him Wood.'

I snickered to myself. He's right, I'm a funny kid.

Disclaimer: Me no own it!

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