Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Katie Bell has been alone for the last four years. After the wedding of her best friend, she heads to the Leakey Cauldron. After she gets drunk, will she make some mistakes that she'll regret later? Oliver Wood/Katie Bell

Disclaimer: No, I don't have the pleasure of owning Harry Potter, so you don't have the pleasure of suing me. We're all happy!!

Chapter Seven: Surprises Come in Bundles

I woke up early in the morning in early June with a groan. I told Ginny that we shouldn't have gotten take-out seafood last night!! I thought, feeling my stomach turning. I had pasta with clam sauce, and I had felt my stomach cringe as the food hit it. Note to self, never listen to Ginny ever again except for the latest gossip. Oh, and fashion tips, but other than that, no food suggestions.

But then again, I was really stupid to think I was immune to food poisoning...

I nearly rolled out of my bed, feeling nauseated. I swayed, feeling dizzy. "Oh, no..." I muttered and I ran to the bathroom, and without a second to spare, I spilled the contents of my stomach into the toilet. I spat once, feeling my throat burn because of the bile. "Urgh..." I said. I wrinkled my nose. "Urk...that smells nasty..." I stood up and flushed the toilet.

I stood at the sink, staring at myself. "Ok, I look like an Orc..."

Not entirely true, but it was certainly close enough. My hair was a mess, and my eyes were red and puffy from staying up late last night finishing a case on a misfiring wand during a duel. The two drunk idiots had nearly killed a hoard of Muggles coming out from a movie theatre. They were arrested on two counts of S.U.I (Spelling Under the Influence), and were taken to Azkaban for the night. I shuddered at the thought of those scary Dementers. One second is enough, but a whole night? I'd go insane! Well anyways, Hermione had been dispatched to perform the Memory Charms while I did damage control with my senior officer, Tanya Minski, and guess who got stuck with the paperwork? Right in one. Me!

I lugged my butt to the shower and turned it on full blast. I step into the hot stream of water and just let it pour over my hot body.

I couldn't believe it had been two months since I started work at the Magical Catastrophes Division. It seemed to go by so fast without even slowing down. Ginny, Hermione, Susan, Erica and I had become such good friends in the last two months, I felt like I had known them my whole life. Ginny was incredibly wonderful to me, and constantly badgered me about my dates with Oliver. (I made her promise not to leak any rumors to the Daily Prophet, and she swore on her brother's love for the Chudley Cannons.) Hermione was very helpful and made sure I didn't get on the bad side of Kevin, though it was incredibly hard to get on his bad side, and yet Ron seemed to do it so well... Erica was a tilt of humor every time I saw her, and she had more dates than all of us put together, and ended up doing a Memory Charm on every other date. Susan didn't like to date that much, but when she did, she didn't let us know until about three weeks after it.

My dates with Oliver were sporadic, since he was constantly at Quidditch practice, but I didn't mind. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. But each time we got together, we had a wonderful time. He loved bragging about his team, but who wouldn't? He was on a world-famous Quidditch team!! Harry and he had played against each other just two weeks ago. Harry was now playing for Pride of Portree, something Ginny had mentioned to me about a month ago, and she had brought me to a game. Harry wasn't the little kid I remembered. He didn't recognize me at first, and we had a very happy reunion.

I was perfectly content with letting the warm water flow over my tired body, but I knew if I didn't wash my hair, I'd look like a hedgehog on wheels. I scrubbed it clean and washed my face thoroughly. Just my luck, the doorbell rang the second I got out of the shower.

"Just a minute!" I screamed, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around myself. I nearly ran to the door, which happened to be on the other side of my flat, so I was breathless to open my door to...

"Ron!" I exclaimed, blushing. Why did I choose to the shortest towel? Why why why??? Ron looked nearly as embarrassed as I did.

"Er...Don't you remember? Ginny's birthday...? I said I was going to pick you up at 10..."

I smacked my head. Ginny's birthday! It was June sixth, wasn't it? Great going Katie, forget your friend's birthday! Ron had been planning this surprise birthday party for a month and a half, making sure that Ginny hadn't caught one whiff of it. (Surprisingly, she didn't. And she calls herself a reporter...)

"Ohmigod, I totally forgot!" I said, turning redder, if possible. "Here, I'll be out in five minutes, just let me get dressed!"

"Dumb, dumb, dumb..." I muttered, searching around my room to find the outfit I had chosen. Ah, there it was, a black knee length skirt with sandals, and a oversized peasant shirt that flowed along my arms. I fixed my hair with magic, not trusting my shaking hands and I ran out to meet Ron. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's ok." Ron said with a grin. "It was worth seeing the look on your face when you opened the door."

I punched him in the arm. He yelled, "Ow!" He rubbed his arm. "I swear, you turn into Susan more each day."

*+*

I arrived at the Burrow with Ron and was greeted warmly by Mrs. Weasley. "It's good to see you again dear!" She said brightly. "I know for a fact that twins are looking for a new test subject, so don't accept anything from them."

Mrs. Weasley had long since given up reprimanding the grown men for playing pranks on people. Since they owned three shops of Weasley Wizard Wheezes, on in Hogsmeade, another in London and another in Paris, they now had a flyable reason to play pranks. I giggled and gave her my thanks. "So, what needs to be done?" I asked, looking around at the decorations. Very well picked, Ginny's favorite colors, blue and green were the themes.

"I'm baking the cake now, but you can help Fleur with setting up the tables." She smiled at me. Two identical girls with strawberry blonde hair chased each other around the kitchen, laughing. "Calais! Sidonie! Stop doing that, you'll crash into something."

"Sorry Grandma!" One of the twin girls said.

"They spend too much time with Fred and George." Ron muttered in my ear, and I laughed. Bill and Fleur had gotten married about two years after the Triwizard Tournament from what I heard. Calais and Sidonie were the eldest of three kids, the last one, Annick, was a baby girl with a mop of Weasley hair and Fleur's gorgeous blue eyes.

Hermione chose that moment to walk in the door, and Ron choked. "Breath, relax." I said softly. "She's not going to bite your head off. Hey Mya!" I said loudly. I walked over and gave her a hug.

Really, for someone that aced nearly every class in school, include Potions (while being a Gryffindor with a Slytherin favoring teacher) Hermione is very dense to not be able to see that Ron likes her. I can remember them fighting like cats and dogs in my seventh year, their third...well actually it was a cat and a rat, but you know, who cares?

"So when's Ginny getting here?" Hermione asked, looking over my shoulder.

"She should be getting here around noon, but knowing her and Harry, it might take them longer." Ron said with a smirk.

I chuckled as I walked out back to help Fleur set up the tables.

*+*

Did you know crouching behind a couch for ten minutes is REALLY uncomfortable??

And why in bloody hell is Harry taking so long to bring Ginny inside?

I bet anything that their snogging.

I swear I'll take off Harry's head if he doesn't get in here in the next thirty seconds.

Ah...the odd things that go through my mind when I've exhausted all other options. Mr. Weasley had spotted Harry and Ginny in the front yard nearly ten minutes ago, and we had all gone into hiding, thinking Harry would bring Ginny right into the Burrow, but nooooo...He had to stop and snog her for a while, so we have to hide so she doesn't suspect anything.

Oh wait...the door!! It's opening! Finally!

"Harry!" Ginny giggled. I inwardly groaned. "Stop, you goof! What if my parents are..."

Suddenly someone switched on the lights and we all jumped out and yelled, "SURPRISE!" Ginny gasped, blushing. Harry's hair was more messed up than usual, and I didn't even want to imagine what they were doing outside.

"Harry!" Ginny gasped, and smacked him on the arm. "I can't believe you!"

"Hey!" He said, cringing. "It was all Ron's idea!"

Ron stepped forward. "Happy Birthday Ginny." And enveloped his little sister in a hug. There were a couple 'awww's from the crowd. (Mostly coming from the female population.)

Ginny was released a few seconds later, and she was smiling. She gave Harry a small hug before going into a group of her friends from work. I grinned at Harry and walked over to him. "Did you purposely stand out there for ten minutes, huh?"

Harry gave me an sympathetic grin. "It was all Ginny's fault."

I made a face. "Somehow, that doesn't surprise me!"

I mingled around with guests having fun, until it was finally the point that Ginny blew out the candles of her cake, outside, sitting at the tables that Fleur and I had taken so much pain to set up. (Ok, so we used magic, but it was tiring!!) I was sitting in between Ron and Hermione, and I could just feel them shooting looks at each other when the other wasn't looking. How come both of them were so dense??

Harry stood up and clinked his fork against his glass. "I'd like to make an announcement."

We all fell silent and turned to Harry. Ginny was blushing. "Ginny and I," He pulled up his girlfriend to stand next to him, "are pleased to announce that we're getting married!"

There was a moment of silence, before the crowd burst out clapping. Ginny blushed hard. When the applause had calmed down, Ginny spoke. "I'd like to ask my best friend, Hermione Granger to be my maid of honor." Hermione started blushing next to me. "And Katie, Susan, Erica, and Nicole to be my other bridesmaids."

Great. I'm another bridesmaid. Will the madness never cease?

Harry grinned. "I don't think anyone has a doubt of who my best man is going to be."

Ron jumped up and yelled, "Yes!"

There was laughter, as usual.

By the end of the party, I had fallen asleep on the couch in the living room. I was extremely tired from last night, and I would have slept on the floor if necessary to get a little shut-eye. I woke up to someone shaking me. "Katie? Katie." It was Ron. He laughed when I stuck my tongue out at him. "Come on, you'd better go home."

"I'm going, I'm going..." I muttered, my voice rusty. I tried to stand up but fell down. "Sorry, klutz moment." I said, still groggy.

"Ok, I'm not going to trust you to Apperate." Ron said. "Take the Floo Network, ok? You might splinch yourself if you're this tired."

I nodded, too tired to respond. Somehow I made it back to my flat in one piece, and I fell into my bed not even changing into my pajamas.

*+*

The next day I showed up at work. I had overslept, and that damn clam sauce was still bothering me and I had thrown up twice. I ran into office, hoping no one would notice I was late. My path was blocked by Cassidy. "Hello, Bell..." She said in a silky voice that reminded me strongly of Snape and hair that hadn't been washed in several days. Ok, gross...don't throw up on Cassidy, Katie... I thought to myself. Not a good idea....

"Hey there Cassidy." I said brightly. "Mind moving? I'm late."

"No I don't mind." She said, and she just stood there. "I just wanted to tell you to stay away from Ron. He's mine."

I rolled my eyes. "Get over yourself. Ron doesn't want you, he doesn't want me either. He wants Hermione, and I happen to have a boyfriend."

She sneered at me. "Imaginary ones don't count."

I saw red, and then I saw my hand fly and hit Cassidy's perfect cheekbone. She cried out and fell down. I covered my mouth in horror. My eyes were round with terror. "Oh freakin' shit..." I muttered. I performed a quick Memory Charm on her and ran. I was in a cold sweat when I reached my cubicle.

There was a pile of paper work on it. Ron was working on some in his cubicle next to mine. "Hey there, you're late." Ron said. "What happened?"

"I dunno." I said. "I went to be as soon as I went home last night, and I overslept. I might have forgotten to set my alarm last night."

Ron shrugged. "You're lucky that Kev hasn't visited yet. He'd go mental."

I sighed, feeling relieved. "I know Ron, I know."

Kevin did come by twenty minutes later. He was wearing his tie and jacket today, unusual for him, since he usually didn't like to wear the jacket on a hot day, but Kevin was a strange guy in general. He talked to some of my colleages before getting to Ron. "Hey there Ron." He said with a smile. "How's the Jackob-Stone Case going?"

"Bloody Brilliant." Ron said sarcastically.

"Good." Kevin said. "If you need an extra hand, ask Sean, he finished with a case yesterday, and he needs something to do."

"Yessir." Ron said with a fake salute.

"Katie, are you alright?"

The sound of my name jolted me out of the deep pool of thinking I had been in. I had been staring at a case file for the last couple minutes, totally zoning out. "What? Oh, er-- yeah, I'm fine sir." I said, still feeling tired. I needed to get more sleep!

"You're looking pale." Kevin said. "Have you been feeling fevorish lately?"

I shook my head. "Not really sir."

"Well in any case, I think you should see a doctor. There's a stomach flu going around, and I can't afford losing too many officers to it." Kevin said.

"Yessir."

He left me feeling even worse than before.

"He's right you know."

I turned at the sound of Ron's voice. "You're looking kind of sick. You should see a doctor."

I threw my hands up in the arm. "Did I miss the memo that said that everyone has to be a worrywart about my health?" I said loudly.

"Katie, calm down." Ron said looking bewildered. "We're just concerned..."

I let out a breath loudly. "You know what? I'm a bit tired of people telling me I look like shit, thanks!!" I slammed down my hand on the desk, feeling it tingle. "I'm going to the bathroom."

I saw Ron cringe as I slammed off to the bathroom to relieve myself.

*+*

How did I end up in a doctor's office?

The next day at work, Kevin insisted that I go see a doctor if I had the stomach flu. If that what it was, then a quick potion would fix it. Why didn't I pay attention in Snape's class?? Oh, wait, I remember. If I paid attention, he'd notice my glazed look and take points away from Gryffindor. Kevin near damn gave me a suspension from work to see the doctor. One half of my brain really wanted to give him a piece of my mind, but my reasonable half was in charge that early in the morning, so I lucked out and kept my job for another day.

"Bell, Katie?" The nurse said. She was pretty looking, tiny with auburn hair pulled back. "Come with me please."

I followed her, carrying my coat slung over my left arm. My hair was mussed up since it was raining today. I don't get England. Usually in other countries, it's sunny during the summer, but here, it rains. The nurse lead me into a room and smiled at me. "The Doctor Witson will be with you in a second." And she closed the door.

I heard the rain pounding on the window, and let it soothe my nerves. Just calm down, think calm ocean... I thought to myself. I just needed a good long vacation or something. Maybe go to Australia or something. Visit the Outback. I began to dream about my vacation to Australia when the good doctor came in.

She was on the heavy side, but with a bun that tied up her hair on the back of her head, her ears slightly protruding from her head. She held a clipboard in her hand, pressed up to her side as she surveyed me. "Ms. Bell?" She inquired, looking at the clipboard. She had on some jeans and a light blue shirt underneath the white lab coat. She looked like a mother that wanted to go home to her children. Her overlarge nose held a pair of glasses, which she used to peer at me.

"Yes that's me." I said.

"So what are you in her for honey?" She said with a pleasant smile. I felt slightly better.

"My boss thinks I have the stomach flu." I said. "I haven't got a fever though."

"Have you been throwing up?" She asked, writing something down.

"Yes I have." I said. "I think it's only food poisoning... I had some bad seafood a couple days ago."

"Well food poisoning isn't supposed to last a couple days." Doctor Witson said. She looked at me quizzically over the top of her glasses. "Has anything else been out of the ordinary lately?"

"No, not really." I said slowly. "I have been feeling quite tired a lot lately, but that might because I've been working too hard..."

"Um-huh." She said, writing something down.

"Would you look at me?" I said sharply. "I am a person you know!"

Doctor Witson looked taken aback. Then a look of compensation dawned her pudgy face. "Ms. Bell, have you been having many mood swings lately?"

Now I was taken aback. "Well, I guess I've been a bit irritable lately, but that could because I've been overworked these past couple of weeks...."

"When was your last period?"

I shook my head, trying to clear it, and to make sure I had heard her question right. "Excuse me?"

"When was your last period?" Doctor Witson repeated.

I had to think about it for a second. I had been so wrapped up in work that I didn't even realize... "I haven't had my period in two months..." I whispered. "Doctor...you don't think..." I couldn't even say the last part.

Doctor Witson put a calming hand on my shoulder. "It's just a hunch sweetie, ok? I'll run some tests."

She took out her wand and asked me to lay on the table, with my stomach exposed. I was sweating by now. I couldn't be... I just...couldn't!! I heard Doctor Witson mutter a few words in Latin, tapping my stomach three times. A whirl of spinning lights flew from her wand, and into my stomach. I felt a sort of ticklish feeling as they entered my skin. I held back a laugh as they re-emerged as light gold balls of light, flying low against the skin of my stomach.

I heard Doctor Witson give a small sigh and waved her wand in one fluid motion, making the balls of light disappear. "So, doctor?" I asked.

"Katie...you're pregnant."

I did the first thing that came to my mind.

I fainted.

(A/N: I'd like to mention, that I really wanted to end it here, but since I know what it's like to read cliffhangers, I decided to go on. Be happy and don't flame please, thanks.)

I woke up to the smell of smelling salts. "Oh, that smells awful!" I said, wrinkling my nose and feeling light headed.

"I'm sorry Katie." Doctor Witson said, looking indeed sorry. "You fainted."

"Thanks for the update Captain Obvious." I muttered, sitting up. I glanced at my stomach. I'm never going to look at my stomach the same way again. I thought.

"Katie." Doctor Witson said. "You're about two months along. I think you need to see a Obstetrician, I'm not qualified enough for prenatal care. I can recommend a very good one. Her name is Dr. Soorenko, and she has excellent credentials."

I nodded mutely, feeling just drained of any energy. A baby. I wasn't ready for a baby! I was only 22-years-old. I had just gotten a job. I'd be able to support it, if I kept working until I absolutely had to leave work. I knew that The Department of Magical Law Enforcement did give maternity leave. Oh god...Oliver! How would he react? There was no doubt in my mind that I was carrying his child. I hadn't had a sexual relationship with a man since seventh year of Hogwarts! I felt my breath catch in my throat and I nearly choked. Doctor Witson looked at me. "Katie, if you don't want this baby..."

I knew what she was going to say, but I shook my head firmly. I was pro-choice in the case of abortion. I knew there were people that didn't want babies, but they were allowed to their own opinion, but I refuse point-blank to destroy a human life, no matter what. "I'd like to keep this baby, thanks Doctor." I said with the smallest grin manageable.

Doctor Witson gave me a small smile back, and helped me up off the examination table. Her touch was warm and comforting. I felt like I wanted to cry, but I couldn't get the tears out. "I'll send Dr. Soorenko an owl, and you can set up an appointment." She said sternly. "You need to take care of this baby, Katie, alright?"

I nodded again. Oh Merlin's Beard, what was I going to do?

*+*

I curled up onto my couch and held a pillow close to me, leaning up against the arm of the couch, and a warm wool blanket was over me, keeping my feet warm, as I stared at the TV, one of my favorite Muggle inventions, and I was watching Moulin Rouge.

I was listening to Satine sing "Fly Away" and I was nearly in tears. I just wanted to fly away from this, go somewhere where nothing was wrong, where I had a job, I wasn't pregnant and I was stressing about telling Oliver that I was pregnant with his child! I clutched at the pillow, wishing it was a Portkey to transport me to that special place, but yet, not all the same. My hair was loose around my face, curling slightly, but damp. I had taken a shower as soon as I gotten home. I had stared at my stomach for the longest time, before deeming it not looking different at all. I probably wouldn't be saying that in a couple months. I'd probably be wondering where my feet were at.

There was a knock at my door. "Coming, I'm coming." I muttered, regretting taking off the wool blanket, so I wrapped it around myself as I shuffled to the door. I opened it and gasped.

Oliver stood at my door, smiling ear to ear, and holding a bouquet of pink and yellow flowers. "Kates!" He exclaimed and he picked me up and swung me around. I yelped and grabbed his shoulders trying not to fall. "You'll never believe what happened!"

"Oh my god Oliver, if you don't put me down, you'll end up with a hospital bill larger than Ireland!" I cried. He set me down, and hugged me.

"You'll never believed what happened to me Kates!" He said, looking me in deeply in the eyes.

"Erm, Oliver, I have to tell you something..." I said softly. Oliver looked at me curiously.

"Ok, Kates, what's up?"

I felt flustered. "Oh, you first. You said something good happened?" I needed some good news before the bad news hit him. Well having a baby isn't exactly bad...but you get the gist right??

Ok..." Oliver didn't look convinced, but his face lit up and he grinned. "Sit down, you'll never believe this."

"Sure Oliver." I said, giving a small smile. I sat down on the couch, one leg tucked underneath my butt. "What's up?"

"Well first of all, let me give you these." He handed me the bouquet of flowers. I took them and placed my face close to them, inhaling the sweet smell of roses and honeydew on their soft petals. I closed my eyes and just let my mind wander for a second.

I looked back up at Oliver, his hair dangling dangerously over his eyes, which I pushed back so I could see those dark brown eyes of his that I love so much. "Thank you Oliver, now tell me! Don't leave me in suspense!"

"Well there's good news, and a bit of bad news, honey. I've been telling you that my team has been doing well right?" Oliver said. "That we've been winning more than a few games, and we're starting to get noticed?"

"Yeah..." I said slowly.

"Well our manager told us today..." Oliver stopped and grinned at me.

"You can't stop there Ollie!" I said, smacking his shoulder. "What happened?"

Oliver grinned shyly. "We're going on a World Tour!"

My mouth opened in astonishment. "A...a World Tour?" I asked.

"Yes!" He said with the biggest smile in history on his face. "Can you believe it? Puddlemere United is going on a World Tour!"

My heart fell. I think it made it to the core of the Earth. "How long are you going to be gone?" I clutched at the stems of the roses so hard that my knuckles started to go numb.

Oliver's smile faded. "That's the bad news. We're going to be gone a year."

A year. A goddamn year. There is no way in hell that I'm telling him now. He'll quit the Quidditch team if I tell him, he'll ruin his career for the sake of this baby, I'm not going to tell him...I'm not going to tell him...

Oliver put a hand on my shoulder. "It doesn't mean that I don't want to stop dating you."

I felt my temper start to flare up, but I threw some water on it. That would last a few minutes at least. "Oliver..." My voice wavered. I cleared it and continued. "Look, I care about you a lot. I'm...Oh...It's wonderful!" I said, just reverting back to the original subject of him going on a World Tour. "You're going on a World Tour! I think our dating is the least of your worries." Liar, liar pants on fire. Stupid inner-voice. Why do we have those things anyways??

Oliver took my hands in his own. He looked at me. I turned away slightly. "Katie, look at me." Those eyes again. I hate him for knowing me so well. "I want us to stay together, I really care about you, more than anything in the world right now. But this is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

I gave a small laugh that sounded more like a bark. "Look Ollie, you don't need to convince me, I want you to go. Just...no sleeping with bimbos out there kay?"

Oliver laughed for a second, before calming down. "Katie." Oliver said, looking serious. "What did you want to tell me?"

I froze. Don't tell him... I thought. "Oh...nothing. Just that Harry and Ginny are getting married. I guess you'll have to miss that." I smiled grimly. "I'm going to be a bridesmaid for the ninth time."

A/N: *ducks the flames* I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's plot development!!! Don't hurt the author!! *runs away*