Thank you to all my reviewers! I am so glad people are reading my story
despite its lack of plot. Thank you again.
Author's Note: Hope this chapter is a bit more intriguing. I'll make a time jump in the next chapter or so, I promise.
Disclaimer- I can't compete with JKR's utter genius, duh!
Chapter 3- Tryouts and Blackouts
"Hmm, I wonder if Oliver is awake yet?" Katie said to herself. Looking to Oliver's window, Katie saw only a set of snitch curtains. "Guess not."
Katie tiptoed downstairs and out the front door. She walked across the emerald lawn shivering a bit at the early morning breeze. 'I should have worn my shoes,' Katie thought, as her feet grew numb due to the dew- covered grass. 'Almost there, you can make it, c'mon Katie!' Touching the Wood's porch steps with her bare feet, she smiled in victory. 'Mental note- wear shoes next time.'
"It's definitely too early for anyone to be up! Oliver better appreciate this," Katie muttered to herself as she rubbed her hands together in attempt to create some warmth. "Okay, now I just have to get to Oliver's room without waking anyone else up. Could it be simpler for Katie the Klutz? I think not." A sudden wind came up and blasted Katie with ice- cold air. Similar to the feeling one gets when trying to breathe while sticking their head outside a moving car's window, Katie found it difficult to inhale. Desperate for oxygen, Katie gasped causing her to cough. Between her bouts of severe coughing, Katie heard the door open.
"Katie, what are you doing here?" a groggy Mrs. Wood asked. No longer coughing, Katie replied.
"Good morning Mrs. Wood. I was just wondering if I could see Oliver."
"It's 6 AM, I'm positive my son is still sleeping."
"I just wanted to go and give him something."
"Alright, go ahead," Mrs. Wood said a bit annoyed with Katie's early morning appearance.
"Thank you, I won't be long."
Katie ascended the stairs, thinking about what had happened to her out there. Why was she coughing so much and why did she have difficulty breathing? Fully appreciating the Wood household's heating system, Katie made her way to Oliver's room. Walking in, she saw a boy of twelve sleeping soundly, brown hair tousled, quilt in a mess, and overall quite content.
"Oliver," Katie gently whispered. "Oliver wake up." Realizing the subtle approach had no effect on her friend, Katie decided to increase the volume of her voice. "Oliver Wood wake up!"
"Bloody hell Katie! What are you doing here?" Oliver said bolting upright in bed.
"Good morning to you too. I like the bed hair," Katie said trying to stifle a laugh.
"Waking me up at an ungodly hour for friendly jeering? Thanks Katie you shouldn't have," Oliver retorted.
"Merlin you're absent-minded Oliver!"
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah you ARE absent-minded."
"Katie its 6:15 AM, my brain can't handle your enigmatic words."
"Today's August 12."
"Yeah Katie, it's a phenomenon that happens every year."
"I know! I meant to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVER!"
Oliver temporarily became stolid.
"I just wanted to be the first to wish you a happy birthday and to give you this."
Katie pulled out a long narrow package from behind her. "Happy Birthday Oliver," Katie said again as she handed Oliver the package.
Taking the package, Oliver had a pretty good idea what it was. Instinctively, Oliver tore off the wrapping paper to reveal a broomstick. It was exactly what he had expected with the exception of one thing. It had the words Nimbus 1800 engraved in the ash handle. Awestruck, Oliver just stared at the broom and then at Katie.
"Katie, when- how, how did you get this?"
"Well, my grandfather has a friend who makes brooms and he-" Katie was cut off by a deluge of 'thank yous' from Oliver. The next thing she knew Oliver was hugging her. For some reason unknown to her, Katie turned scarlet.
* * *
Oliver had just finished breakfast when he decided to go outside for a bit. Now early autumn some leaves had fallen from the surrounding trees. Walking amongst the amber colored foliage, Oliver led himself to Katie's house. Even though he knew Katie wasn't home he couldn't help looking up at her window every now and then. He missed her; there was no doubt about it. It had only been a week since she had left for her grandfather's house but to Oliver it seemed longer. He tried telling himself that he would see her at Hogwarts two weeks from today but this worked to no avail. Oliver trudged back inside and upstairs to his room. He plopped onto his bed and stared outside at Katie's window.
* * *
(Second year has begun at Hogwarts)
"Alright! Quiddtich tryouts this weekend!" Katie shouted. "Where's Oliver? I gotta tell him." Katie said to Alicia and Angelina. Oliver and Katie had been waiting for tryouts since they had set foot in the enchanted school.
"I'm right here and I already know about tryouts Katie."
"Sorry, but I thought you'd be a bit more excited."
"What? Just because we have tryouts I'm supposed to jump up and down and smile idiotically!?"
"Whoa, calm down Oliver. I just wanted to know if something was wrong." Katie said in mild defense.
"You know Katie-" Oliver stopped talking. He turned around and ran up the stairs to the boy's dorms.
"What's bothering him?" Alicia asked.
"He IS a boy, knowing that, it's probably something stupid." Angelina said in attempt to lighten the mood.
* * *
Oliver hadn't talked to Katie all week and Katie hadn't the slightest idea why. Whenever she walked into the common room Oliver would disappear to the dorms or the library. As much as she wanted to go and talk with Oliver, something told her to stay away. She knew her stubborn friend would come around soon, or so she hoped.
Saturday morning came and Katie did not know how Oliver would avoid her at tryouts.
"Alright, before we start with the tryouts I'd like you all to know that not all of you will make the team. Quidditch is a strenuous sport and time-consuming as well. I want all of you to give it your all up there and show me everything you've got. Now chaser tryouts will be first. There are three of you but there are only two vacant chaser positions on the Gryffindor team. Don't be disappointed if you aren't selected. Right then, Lisa if you'd go first."
Oliver did not hear one word of Charlie Weasley's talk, he was too busy fumbling with his Nimbus 1800. His new broom glinted in the sunlight; it was the best present anyone had ever given him. Then why was he not speaking with Katie? She hadn't done anything wrong, had she? Yes she had. She had left him for practically a month in Shutterly! Why shouldn't he be mad at her? She didn't even think about Oliver before leaving and now she acted like everything was fine!
"Good job Lisa but you need to work a bit on your passing. Okay, um Katie you're next." Oliver was snapped out of his daze when he heard Katie's name. She looked nervous and her face had gone slightly pale. Alicia and Angelina couldn't make it to tryouts. Angelina had detention with Snape while Alicia claimed to be busy. That left Oliver as Katie's only source of support.
'I'm her friend. I'm supposed to support her and encourage her not shun her. Maybe I'll wish her good luck. No, that'll make her think that I believe she needs the luck. Um, I know, I'll just smile at her. Yeah, that's what I'll do.'
Katie walked out to the center of the pitch mounted her broom and kicked off. Within seconds Charlie was zooming in front of her.
"Now Katie I want you to try and get the Quaffle out of my hands and then I want you to pass it to Kevin. He'll then pass it back to you and then I want you to try and score a goal. Got it?" Katie nodded and accelerated her broom. She felt so tense she thought would surly vomit any second.
Now in possession of the Quaffle, Katie just had to get it through one of the golden hoops. Looking down, Katie saw Oliver looking up at her with a smile on his face.
"Nice goal Katie!" Charlie praised. "Iris you're next."
Touching the ground, Katie smiled. Picking up her broom, Katie rejoined the rest of the students on the bleachers. Looking across the Quidditch pitch, Katie saw a bunch of Slytherins standing on the field. She recognized one of them as Marcus Flint, the boy in need of a dental alignment.
"Now onto keeper tryouts. Oliver you're first and then Allen." As Oliver walked down the bleachers to the pitch Katie mouthed the words 'good luck' to him. Those two words somehow took away all the anxiety Oliver had. He knew he had to talk to Katie after tryouts were over. He had to explain his ridiculous behaviour to Katie.
"All of you did well for your standards but some were better than others. I want none of you to take this decision personally. The team and myself have decided who would make the best addition to the team lineup so here are our decisions. The two new Chasers for the Gryffindor Quidditch team will be Iris Balmer and Katie Bell."
Upon hearing this, both Katie and Iris grinned in glee while Lisa Chandis grunted and complained to her friends who had come to support her. "And the team's new Keeper will be Oliver Wood. Now I'd like all team members to stay behind. I'd like a few words with you all."
Reality hadn't hit the young brown haired boy's head yet. Still staring at the floor, eyes closed and bottom lip bit, Oliver failed to register what Katie had. "Oliver we made the team! This is great! We did it!" Katie shouted at the oblivious twelve year old.
"Huh? Wha? What?! We did?"
"Oliver, are you alright? You haven't been talking to me all week and now you seem a bit out of it." Katie said putting her hand to Oliver's forehead.
"I'm fine. Look Katie, I'm really sorry about this week. I can't exactly explain myself."
"It's okay. C'mon, Captain wants a word." Katie spoke pulling at Oliver's sleeve.
After a brief talk with the Captain, Katie and Oliver made their way back to the Great Hall for lunch. "I'm starving," Katie said as her stomach rumbled.
"I can tell." Oliver managed to stifle a chuckle as Katie glared at him.
"Hey, have you seen my book?" Katie abruptly asked.
"Book? What book?"
"Nevermind, I must have left it on the bleachers. You go ahead I'll be right back."
"Okay, I'll save you a spot." Oliver was glad he was talking to Katie again.
'Where were we sitting? Oh yeah over there,' Katie thought as she walked toward the stands. Searching for her book, Katie grew frustrated when she couldn't find it. 'Great, and I was on the last chapter too!'
"Looking for something?" Katie's thoughts were interrupted by the question. Turning her head to see who it was, Katie wished she hadn't.
"Are you looking for this?" Marcus Flint held up a thick book with a deep blue cover.
"Yes, yes I am. Thank you for finding it. Can I have it back please?"
"Maybe."
Katie was in no mood for toying around with the Slytherin. "Can I just have my book?"
"You want it then come and get it." Flint said while taking a step back. Katie walked forward grabbed the book from his hands and turned to leave when an arm stopped her. Flint had a grip on her left wrist and he showed no signs of letting go. Panic grew in Katie's body as she found it harder to breathe. She tried to pry his hand off but her vision blurred and she found it difficult to remain standing. Everything blacked out in a few seconds time and Katie succumbed to the darkness.
Not wanting to be caught at the scene, Flint dropped the book and ran back to the castle. He had no intentions of telling anyone where Katie was.
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I'll try and write more soon, tell me if u like it or not in a review. It's a bit typical but nothing is original. There's just too many of us on the planet. 5?, no I'll aim higher-okay 8 reviews and I'll update. Utilize the 'Submit Review' button now! Please. . .
Author's Note: Hope this chapter is a bit more intriguing. I'll make a time jump in the next chapter or so, I promise.
Disclaimer- I can't compete with JKR's utter genius, duh!
Chapter 3- Tryouts and Blackouts
"Hmm, I wonder if Oliver is awake yet?" Katie said to herself. Looking to Oliver's window, Katie saw only a set of snitch curtains. "Guess not."
Katie tiptoed downstairs and out the front door. She walked across the emerald lawn shivering a bit at the early morning breeze. 'I should have worn my shoes,' Katie thought, as her feet grew numb due to the dew- covered grass. 'Almost there, you can make it, c'mon Katie!' Touching the Wood's porch steps with her bare feet, she smiled in victory. 'Mental note- wear shoes next time.'
"It's definitely too early for anyone to be up! Oliver better appreciate this," Katie muttered to herself as she rubbed her hands together in attempt to create some warmth. "Okay, now I just have to get to Oliver's room without waking anyone else up. Could it be simpler for Katie the Klutz? I think not." A sudden wind came up and blasted Katie with ice- cold air. Similar to the feeling one gets when trying to breathe while sticking their head outside a moving car's window, Katie found it difficult to inhale. Desperate for oxygen, Katie gasped causing her to cough. Between her bouts of severe coughing, Katie heard the door open.
"Katie, what are you doing here?" a groggy Mrs. Wood asked. No longer coughing, Katie replied.
"Good morning Mrs. Wood. I was just wondering if I could see Oliver."
"It's 6 AM, I'm positive my son is still sleeping."
"I just wanted to go and give him something."
"Alright, go ahead," Mrs. Wood said a bit annoyed with Katie's early morning appearance.
"Thank you, I won't be long."
Katie ascended the stairs, thinking about what had happened to her out there. Why was she coughing so much and why did she have difficulty breathing? Fully appreciating the Wood household's heating system, Katie made her way to Oliver's room. Walking in, she saw a boy of twelve sleeping soundly, brown hair tousled, quilt in a mess, and overall quite content.
"Oliver," Katie gently whispered. "Oliver wake up." Realizing the subtle approach had no effect on her friend, Katie decided to increase the volume of her voice. "Oliver Wood wake up!"
"Bloody hell Katie! What are you doing here?" Oliver said bolting upright in bed.
"Good morning to you too. I like the bed hair," Katie said trying to stifle a laugh.
"Waking me up at an ungodly hour for friendly jeering? Thanks Katie you shouldn't have," Oliver retorted.
"Merlin you're absent-minded Oliver!"
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah you ARE absent-minded."
"Katie its 6:15 AM, my brain can't handle your enigmatic words."
"Today's August 12."
"Yeah Katie, it's a phenomenon that happens every year."
"I know! I meant to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVER!"
Oliver temporarily became stolid.
"I just wanted to be the first to wish you a happy birthday and to give you this."
Katie pulled out a long narrow package from behind her. "Happy Birthday Oliver," Katie said again as she handed Oliver the package.
Taking the package, Oliver had a pretty good idea what it was. Instinctively, Oliver tore off the wrapping paper to reveal a broomstick. It was exactly what he had expected with the exception of one thing. It had the words Nimbus 1800 engraved in the ash handle. Awestruck, Oliver just stared at the broom and then at Katie.
"Katie, when- how, how did you get this?"
"Well, my grandfather has a friend who makes brooms and he-" Katie was cut off by a deluge of 'thank yous' from Oliver. The next thing she knew Oliver was hugging her. For some reason unknown to her, Katie turned scarlet.
* * *
Oliver had just finished breakfast when he decided to go outside for a bit. Now early autumn some leaves had fallen from the surrounding trees. Walking amongst the amber colored foliage, Oliver led himself to Katie's house. Even though he knew Katie wasn't home he couldn't help looking up at her window every now and then. He missed her; there was no doubt about it. It had only been a week since she had left for her grandfather's house but to Oliver it seemed longer. He tried telling himself that he would see her at Hogwarts two weeks from today but this worked to no avail. Oliver trudged back inside and upstairs to his room. He plopped onto his bed and stared outside at Katie's window.
* * *
(Second year has begun at Hogwarts)
"Alright! Quiddtich tryouts this weekend!" Katie shouted. "Where's Oliver? I gotta tell him." Katie said to Alicia and Angelina. Oliver and Katie had been waiting for tryouts since they had set foot in the enchanted school.
"I'm right here and I already know about tryouts Katie."
"Sorry, but I thought you'd be a bit more excited."
"What? Just because we have tryouts I'm supposed to jump up and down and smile idiotically!?"
"Whoa, calm down Oliver. I just wanted to know if something was wrong." Katie said in mild defense.
"You know Katie-" Oliver stopped talking. He turned around and ran up the stairs to the boy's dorms.
"What's bothering him?" Alicia asked.
"He IS a boy, knowing that, it's probably something stupid." Angelina said in attempt to lighten the mood.
* * *
Oliver hadn't talked to Katie all week and Katie hadn't the slightest idea why. Whenever she walked into the common room Oliver would disappear to the dorms or the library. As much as she wanted to go and talk with Oliver, something told her to stay away. She knew her stubborn friend would come around soon, or so she hoped.
Saturday morning came and Katie did not know how Oliver would avoid her at tryouts.
"Alright, before we start with the tryouts I'd like you all to know that not all of you will make the team. Quidditch is a strenuous sport and time-consuming as well. I want all of you to give it your all up there and show me everything you've got. Now chaser tryouts will be first. There are three of you but there are only two vacant chaser positions on the Gryffindor team. Don't be disappointed if you aren't selected. Right then, Lisa if you'd go first."
Oliver did not hear one word of Charlie Weasley's talk, he was too busy fumbling with his Nimbus 1800. His new broom glinted in the sunlight; it was the best present anyone had ever given him. Then why was he not speaking with Katie? She hadn't done anything wrong, had she? Yes she had. She had left him for practically a month in Shutterly! Why shouldn't he be mad at her? She didn't even think about Oliver before leaving and now she acted like everything was fine!
"Good job Lisa but you need to work a bit on your passing. Okay, um Katie you're next." Oliver was snapped out of his daze when he heard Katie's name. She looked nervous and her face had gone slightly pale. Alicia and Angelina couldn't make it to tryouts. Angelina had detention with Snape while Alicia claimed to be busy. That left Oliver as Katie's only source of support.
'I'm her friend. I'm supposed to support her and encourage her not shun her. Maybe I'll wish her good luck. No, that'll make her think that I believe she needs the luck. Um, I know, I'll just smile at her. Yeah, that's what I'll do.'
Katie walked out to the center of the pitch mounted her broom and kicked off. Within seconds Charlie was zooming in front of her.
"Now Katie I want you to try and get the Quaffle out of my hands and then I want you to pass it to Kevin. He'll then pass it back to you and then I want you to try and score a goal. Got it?" Katie nodded and accelerated her broom. She felt so tense she thought would surly vomit any second.
Now in possession of the Quaffle, Katie just had to get it through one of the golden hoops. Looking down, Katie saw Oliver looking up at her with a smile on his face.
"Nice goal Katie!" Charlie praised. "Iris you're next."
Touching the ground, Katie smiled. Picking up her broom, Katie rejoined the rest of the students on the bleachers. Looking across the Quidditch pitch, Katie saw a bunch of Slytherins standing on the field. She recognized one of them as Marcus Flint, the boy in need of a dental alignment.
"Now onto keeper tryouts. Oliver you're first and then Allen." As Oliver walked down the bleachers to the pitch Katie mouthed the words 'good luck' to him. Those two words somehow took away all the anxiety Oliver had. He knew he had to talk to Katie after tryouts were over. He had to explain his ridiculous behaviour to Katie.
"All of you did well for your standards but some were better than others. I want none of you to take this decision personally. The team and myself have decided who would make the best addition to the team lineup so here are our decisions. The two new Chasers for the Gryffindor Quidditch team will be Iris Balmer and Katie Bell."
Upon hearing this, both Katie and Iris grinned in glee while Lisa Chandis grunted and complained to her friends who had come to support her. "And the team's new Keeper will be Oliver Wood. Now I'd like all team members to stay behind. I'd like a few words with you all."
Reality hadn't hit the young brown haired boy's head yet. Still staring at the floor, eyes closed and bottom lip bit, Oliver failed to register what Katie had. "Oliver we made the team! This is great! We did it!" Katie shouted at the oblivious twelve year old.
"Huh? Wha? What?! We did?"
"Oliver, are you alright? You haven't been talking to me all week and now you seem a bit out of it." Katie said putting her hand to Oliver's forehead.
"I'm fine. Look Katie, I'm really sorry about this week. I can't exactly explain myself."
"It's okay. C'mon, Captain wants a word." Katie spoke pulling at Oliver's sleeve.
After a brief talk with the Captain, Katie and Oliver made their way back to the Great Hall for lunch. "I'm starving," Katie said as her stomach rumbled.
"I can tell." Oliver managed to stifle a chuckle as Katie glared at him.
"Hey, have you seen my book?" Katie abruptly asked.
"Book? What book?"
"Nevermind, I must have left it on the bleachers. You go ahead I'll be right back."
"Okay, I'll save you a spot." Oliver was glad he was talking to Katie again.
'Where were we sitting? Oh yeah over there,' Katie thought as she walked toward the stands. Searching for her book, Katie grew frustrated when she couldn't find it. 'Great, and I was on the last chapter too!'
"Looking for something?" Katie's thoughts were interrupted by the question. Turning her head to see who it was, Katie wished she hadn't.
"Are you looking for this?" Marcus Flint held up a thick book with a deep blue cover.
"Yes, yes I am. Thank you for finding it. Can I have it back please?"
"Maybe."
Katie was in no mood for toying around with the Slytherin. "Can I just have my book?"
"You want it then come and get it." Flint said while taking a step back. Katie walked forward grabbed the book from his hands and turned to leave when an arm stopped her. Flint had a grip on her left wrist and he showed no signs of letting go. Panic grew in Katie's body as she found it harder to breathe. She tried to pry his hand off but her vision blurred and she found it difficult to remain standing. Everything blacked out in a few seconds time and Katie succumbed to the darkness.
Not wanting to be caught at the scene, Flint dropped the book and ran back to the castle. He had no intentions of telling anyone where Katie was.
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I'll try and write more soon, tell me if u like it or not in a review. It's a bit typical but nothing is original. There's just too many of us on the planet. 5?, no I'll aim higher-okay 8 reviews and I'll update. Utilize the 'Submit Review' button now! Please. . .