Freebs: You're making me blush. I really hope it continues to live up to your expectations.
Karen Walker: I updated as soon as I could, but it's tough to find time. Be patient. I have school, too.
Kathy: I fully intend to continue this story. I'm very glad you're enjoying it.
Spexy: I hope it stays unique.
Disclaimer: Once again all that is the Harry Potter universe belongs to JK Rowling, not me. I don't know her either.
Afternoon Tea
There was a bad taste in Katie's mouth when she woke up from a restless sleep, and, for a brief moment, she forgot why she was lying on her couch and not in her comfortable bed. Then, the bottle of vodka and small letter on her table caught her eye reminding her of the horrible truth. Alicia was dead, and she'd fallen asleep crying.
With a slight groan, she got up and grabbed the bottle to return it to the kitchen, making a small mental note to never drink vodka before sleeping again. The after effects were not pleasant.
"Dear, you look horrible," her mirror exclaimed as she walked past.
"Thank you Captain obvious," she muttered in reply.
She knew she looked horrible with her eyes red and puffy, blotchy tear stained face, and bed-head. Not that it mattered. No one would see her anyway. She pulled a hair tie off her wrist and pulled her hair into a ponytail.
"Morning, Katie."
"Morn…" she started to reply when she realized the voice did not belong to Dumbledore.
Instantly, she went into survival mode, ripping her wand from her robes and turning around to curse whoever had managed to break through the charms on her flat.
"Now if you had been able to respond like that in DADA, you might've done better on your NEWTS."
At first, Katie thought she had to be dreaming. It was all she could do not to pinch herself. Dumbledore was there along with four familiar faces.
"Angelina," she whispered, "Oliver, Fred, George, how…"
Dumbledore smiled to her. "I thought being alone was doing more harm than good so I brought a few old friends to visit you."
She threw her arms around the wizard. "Oh thank you, thank you so much."
"Hey," Fred protested, "What about us? We're risking our lives just being here."
Angelina swatted the back of his head, causing Katie to laugh. She gave them each a quick hug.
"I missed you all. I wanted to write, or floo, or apparate, but I didn't know who might see me and I couldn't bear if…" she trailed off.
She didn't need to finish the sentence. They all knew what would happen if Voldemort knew that they were her friends. Oliver felt his stomach clench. Even as a member of the Order of the Phoenix, he was afraid of death. Not his own death, but the death of his family and friends.
"It's all right," he assured her, "We understand. Dumbledore got us here safely and that's what matters."
She nodded, a lump forming in her throat. Two years had been a long time to go without seeing her friends, without knowing what they were doing or even going out for butterbeers. She didn't realize how much she'd missed that.
"So would you like something to drink?" she managed to ask, "I was just about to make myself some tea."
"Ah, sadly I must decline," Dumbledore told them, "I have things to attend to, but I will be back in 2 hours to return the Weasleys and Mr. Wood to their homes."
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A mere hour later the four friends were gathered around Katie's coffee table, sipping tea, eating chocolate, and regaling each other with tales of their exploits. At least, for the time being, their sorrow was forgotten.
"He was being such a prat," Fred explained, "we had to teach him to lighten up a bit."
"By giving him a new product we developed," George added.
Oliver was frowning at the two. "It was a bad idea to give our squadron leader flaming fireballs."
Katie set her tea down and looked at them questioningly.
"Flaming fireballs?"
A smirk crossed each of their faces. It was a look she knew all too well. They used to get the same look on their faces before playing a prank on Snape.
"Eat one," Oliver informed her, "and you'll be shooting flames out of your mouth for hours. McGregor was not happy."
Katie burst into laughter.
"I missed hearing about your pranks. Hell, I even missed canary creams!"
Angelina looked at her in disbelief.
"Would you like to trade places," she muttered under her breath.
Fred gave the appearance of being mildly offended.
"But darling, then why ever did you marry me?"
"For the sex of course."
He grinned, apparently satisfied with being known as a sex god, at least to his wife. Quickly, he grabbed her around the waist and dipped her down across his lap, planting a giant kiss on her lips. She slapped him playfully when he allowed her back up.
"Do you two ever stop?" Oliver asked.
George rolled his eyes.
"Have they ever? Remember the time they were in the girls' dorm and Alicia…"
It seemed as though everyone froze at the mention of the name. The mention of their dear friend was too much this soon after her death.
Finally, Katie broke the silence. "To Alicia…"
They raised their teacups in her memory.
"We should probably help you cleanup before Dumbledore gets back," Oliver offered.
Katie waved the thought away. "I don't have much to do alone at night. Washing the dishes will keep me from going crazy."
"So the solitude has finally caused you to go crazy?"
They all jumped at Dumbledore's voice.
"You really need to give me warning before just apparating in," Katie grumbled, "One of these days I'm going to think you're a deatheater and curse you."
"That's why I always use a shielding charm," he looked to the former Gryffindors, "Are you ready?"
"Not really," Angelina answered, "But I suppose it doesn't matter."
Dumbledore patted her softly on the back. "Do not worry. I will be willing to bring any of you back to visit Miss Bell whenever you like. After all, solitude is not good for the heart."
The offer seemed to cheer them up considerably. They each gave Katie a hug good bye before promising to return as soon as their schedules allowed for it. But even with promises of a next time, Katie couldn't help but feel a strange emptiness settle over her as soon as they had left.
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Oliver stared out of his flat window watching the fat raindrops splatter against the glass. Katie's flat had had only one window. He wondered if she was looking out it, watching the rain and mourning the loss of a friend she hadn't seen in years. It was a pain he knew he would be unable to handle. To never see one's friends again before dying…
He pushed the thought away and forced himself to picture Katie's flat. It had been incredibly small and empty. The only furnishings he had seen were a coffee table and couch with a bed in the corner. Of course, Katie probably spent every day hoping that it would be the last in complete isolation. To fully furnish the tiny living space would be to admit that she would be there a long time.
The situation seemed unfair. When they'd been in school together, Katie had loved people. It was probably the reason she'd been selected to join the Blue Flame Order. Whenever there had been arguments amongst the team, she had been the first one to help them settle it.
Today she had looked positively miserable when they'd shown up. She wasn't the same Katie Bell with sparkling eyes and shiny hair that he'd gone to school and played Quidditch with. She looked tired and ready to admit defeat. She looked lonely.
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Sorry, that Oliver hasn't been in there too much, but I'm working on fitting him in. Hopefully, I can write more of Oliver in next chapter.
So read/review. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Plus, I'm looking for a Beta reader. Anyone with prior experience is welcome to apply (I make it sound like a job).
Ariana