Catch Me If I Fall
By: Illuminate
Chapter 6
"God I hate potions," muttered Katie, setting her now finished essay on the bedside table.
It was now three days since she was admitted into the hospital wing. Professor Snape saw it fit to bring her an essay to write as make up for the test she missed. Twelve inches on the use of Veritaserum and where the ingredients come from.
"Stupid Snape."
Looking for a distraction, Katie saw someone come out of Madame Pomfrey's office, back turned.
"Thanks a lot, Madame Pomfrey," said a masculine voice.
"No problem. Take care, Mr. Flint."
Flint? thought Katie. What's he doing here?
She didn't need an answer as she saw him strolling over to her bed. Putting up her defenses, she scowled.
"What do you want?" she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.
He stood next to her bed and continued to gaze at her. Then he smiled, and bared his newly-fixed teeth.
And, Katie noted, it was quite an improvement.
"Stunned?" he said, sitting in the chair. "Professor McGonagall gave me a note asking Madame Pomfrey to fix them."
Katie replaced her scowl. "Why? They matched your personality."
He laughed and smiled at her again. Now, she could see where Alicia was coming from. With his fixed teeth, he was quite the looker. He had matured over the years she had known him. His hair was slightly spiked, and he had the most amazing body. Even Katie couldn't deny that. Now his smile...it made her go weak at the knees, even when she was sitting down.
"I know I have a rotten streak. It's the Slytherin nature."
Katie continued to scowl at him. He smiled yet again and cupped her chin with his strong, and surprisingly gentle hand.
"Such an intimidating feature doesn't belong on a face as beautiful as yours," he whispered. He took her hand, kissed it lightly and strode from the room.
Katie sat there, thunderstruck. Did he just...
"Katie!" came Angeline's voice as she came through the entrance.
Unfortunately, Katie had lost her ability to form coherent sentences.
"He...teeth...smile...said...hand..."
"Whoa. Slow down and try that again."
She took her gaze awar from her hand. "Did you see Flint?"
"Yeah, was he bothering you?"
Katie laughed as she rubbed her hand. "You didn't happen to see him smile did you?"
"No," retorted Alicia. "I'd probably fall over from the mere sight."
"No you wouldn't. He got them fixed."
Angelina yelped. "WHAT?" and Alicia's jaw dropped.
"Yeah, I know. And believe me, it's a definite improvement."
"You're serious?"
Katie sat up straighter in the bed. "Absolutely! He came out of Madame Pomfrey's office and talked to me. When he smiled...oh man. I think I turned into human jello. Then he told me I have a beautiful face, kissed my hand, and left."
Angelina floped into the chair. "I'm having trouble processing all of this. Are you sure it wasn't some psycho dream?"
"I FELT him kiss my hand. That should be enough."
Alicia sat on the edge of the bed. "So...how cute is he?"
Angelina grimaced. "Eww."
Katie smiled widely and fell back on her pillow, her hair fanned out behind her. "Very cute. His smile makes your knees weak."
"Taking about me?" said Fred, entering the hospital wing, followed by George.
"Sadly, no," Angelina scoffed. "Our friend Flint got his teeth fixed and now those two," she pointed between Alicia and Katie. "are fawning over him like idiots."
Katie picked up her Charms book. "I do not fawn, thank you."
Angelina hid behind Fred as she said, "Traitor!" over his shoulder and dashed from the room.
Katie glanced quizzically at Alicia. "What's got her knickers in a twist?"
Alicia shrugged.
The news of Flint's new teeth had spread quickly throughout the school. Oliver was a little slow on the uptake and stopped Katie's American roommate, Lauren, in the hall.
"What's up, Oliver?" she asked.
"What's all this chat about?"
"Didn't you hear? Marcus Flint got his teeth fixed."
"What?!"
"And apparently our girl Katie was the first to know."
Oliver checked his watch. "I've got to talk to her, but I've got class in five minutes."
"I'm going to see her now. Want me to tell her you'll come by later?"
Oliver smiled. "Thanks. I've got to go!"
Lauren watched him dart off and muttered, "Boys," before turning towards the hospital wing, where she found Katie immersed in a paperback book.
"What are you reading?"
Katie looked up and smiled. "Catcher in the Rye."
Lauren sat down in the chair. "Great muggle literature."
Katie put the book down and laughed. "How are things out in the real world?"
"Okay. The news of Flint and his teeth spread fast."
"Oh God, don't remind me. Angelina is already on my case about it."
"I would've guessed. He used to like her."
Katie's mouth went agape. "HUH?"
"Yup. Fifth year. That's why she's so bitter towards him."
"This is so bizarre."
"Want to know something else?" Lauren grinned.
"Sure."
"He likes you now."
No words could describe the utter confusion Katie was feeling.
"What? she croaked. "He...likes...me? Where on earth did you hear that?"
"Straight from the mouth of the snake. I dragged it out of him. I just have that way with people," Lauren smiled, positively victorious.
"This has proven to be one of THE craziest days ever."
Lauren laughed as she got up from the chair. "Well, that's it for the gossip report. I've got a potions essay to finish."
"I'm done. With both," said Katie, pointing to a large pile of parchment inside her textbook.
As Lauren started towards the door she said, "By the way, Oliver said he'd be down here later."
Katie nodded as Lauren exited the hospital wing.
Not even a minute later, Marcus Flint came back in and sat in the chair next to her.
"Yes?" snapped Katie.
"Before you start yelling at me, let me say something," She made no move. "I guess you heard that I like you."
Katie nodded.
"Well, I do. And I really want to get to know you better. You're smart, funny, and you're very pretty. So please, give me a chance."
Katie watched him after he finished. He seemed sincere, but this is Marcus Flint we're talking about.
"What's in it for you?"
He looked hurt. "Nothing! Why does everything I do have to be motivated? I just really like you."
Katie's expression softened. "Alright. But if I find out anything otherwise, I won't hesitate to disable you."
"Got it," he smiled.
For the first time in her life, she smiled back at Marcus Flint.
Angelina stopped outside the Great Hall as she saw Oliver come whizzing past.
"Where are you going? Dinner's started."
"I've got to talk to Katie."
As he turned the corner to the hospital wing, he heard muffled voices through the door. He opened it, and the scene before him made his stomach churn.
Marcus Flint was sitting on the edge of Katie's bed, chatting animatedly with her.
And she was laughing.
"I never knew Professor Snape was such a klutz," said Katie, wiping her eyes.
"He's replaced that statue of Salazar at least twenty times already."
Katie laughed again and turned towards the entrance, spotting Oliver. "Hey you! What's up?"
"Kate, can I talk to you, alone?"
She looked puzzled and turned to Marcus. "Do you mind?"
"Not at all. I'm quite hungry, so I think I'm going to head to dinner. I'll see you tomorrow," he finished, placing his hand over hers before exiting the room.
"What's up Wood?"
"Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into?"
"What?"
"Marcus Flint cannot be trusted! He's Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch Team."
"We all of a sudden can't trust him because he's talking to me?"
"That's not what I -"
"Get to the point, Oliver."
"Look. You're vulnerable right now and he could be out trying to pry some of our quidditch tactics out of you."
"For goodness sakes Oliver! Is quidditch all you think about?!"
"Well, no but -"
"Okay, for one, I am NOT vulnerable. I can take care of myself."
"I know -"
"Shut up and let me finish. Second, Marcus Flint will NEVER get any quidditch information out of me. And third, stop trying to control me! Just because someone actually likes me doesn't mean they have an ulterior motive."
Oliver stood up, exasperated. "I'l just looking out for our chances at the cup!"
Katie's expression now flared. "Yeah, and you couldn't care less if he was going to hurt me. I get it. It's always about quidditch."
"No it's -"
"Get out, Oliver," she hissed.
He moved to come next to her. "Katie, let me -"
She pulled away and said more forcefully, "Get out."
He looked at her before marching directly out of the room, but not before hearing small sobs coming from her bed.
A/N: Wow. That was a great chapter to write. Now we see where the complications come in. Well, hope you liked it! REVIEW! I love reviews. YUMMY. :)