Intense

By Seniya

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It wasn't as though finding Katie Bell fully awake under her polyester quilts at such an obscene hour was a rare occasion.

It wasn't.

She could often be found lying awake in her bed a night staring at the white washed ceiling above her, trying to make out the answers to the universe in the timber.

What was different about this time however was that for once, Katie was staring at her ceiling, happily. Well, perhaps happy was too strong a word but there was definitely a bubble of contentment swelling in her chest this night.

Oliver had almost kissed her.

She was certain of it. And she wasn't certain about a very many things.

Sure, it hadn't been like in her thousands of fantasies, where angels would sing and shout their blessings from above and bells would toll and somewhere fireworks would go off. But she supposed in these occasions one couldn't be choosy.

And it was still almost kissed. It hadn't been the real event. Those fireworks could still be waiting to go off.

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Why had he stopped anyway?

The voice that belonged to reality, the one that only appeared from out of the depths of Katie's mind on such occasions was of course back again. And it hadn't lost its ability to force her mind into a state of self-criticism either.

In her head she immediately began to list the reasons why he could have terminated his idea to kiss her. Had it been her breath? Her hair? Of course it was her hair, it was always her hair wasn't it.

Or maybe it had been due to the fact that it was her. Katie, Kate.

Somehow she felt herself leaning towards the last reason.

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But they had kissed before. Sure she had been six, it had only lasted about two seconds and afterwards Oliver had claimed it to be the most disgusting moment in his life. The fact remained they had kissed.

But one almost kiss doesn't mean that he's going to cancel his wedding Katie.

Reality was just rubbing it in her face now.

So what if it hadn't been a real kiss, so what if it hadn't been anything at all, so what if Oliver had been standing that close to her because he had liked the smell of her shampoo or the aroma of her fabric softener. So what?

The point was that for a moment she had felt that after years of lusting after her best friend for a moment that maybe he was lusting after her too.

And it had felt pretty damn good.

Maybe you should just go to sleep.

For once she and reality could agree on something. The more Katie pondered about what exactly had happened, the smaller the happy bubble in her chest had become.

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What the hell were you thinking?

Oliver hadn't gone very far. In fact he hadn't really gone at all. He had re-apparated outside Katie's bedroom, on her balcony.

He really couldn't tell you why.

But it was there he had stayed for the past few hours pacing absently mindedly and muttering nonsense to himself.

He knew that he must look like a lunatic to those watching him from the streets a few stories below him, he knew he should care but he really did feel like a lunatic at the moment and if someone were to call St. Mungos right now, he couldn't say that he would blame them.

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What had he been thinking? He had almost kissed her. Her. Katie.

Was he insane?

You don't try to snog your best friend. Oliver muttered between strides. You don't. It was some unwritten rule he knew that.

And you especially don't try when you have a fiancé.

Luckily he had stopped himself before anything could happen. But still if he hadn't stopped, would she have stopped him?

Was she mental as well?

He knew what the solution was. He should barge in there right now and demand an explanation, or maybe he should give her one. Whatever, something more should be said.

But his feet refused to discontinue their pacing and he had to say he was impressed. He had always had relatively intelligent feet.

And he couldn't trust himself to be around Katie right now anyways. Whatever it was that had made him try to kiss her the first time might come back again.

And he didn't need that.

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Yes, I'm here for the apparating test

What's your name dear?

Katie, Kathleen Bell

Hold on just a second

The witch at the front desk was ancient. Katie was surprised that she wasn't falling apart at her seams.

She was a comfort in a way how ever. She did make Katie feel like she wasn't the oldest person in the world right now. Which after looking around the room with the other test takers, Katie had to say was an accomplishment.

The others, were practically children. Probably just out from Hogwarts. It made Katie feel incredibly stupid for not taking the test with the rest of her age group.
For not trying to be normal.

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You're late

Well of course I am, I can't apparate like the rest of the world.

Sorry, I had problems getting a train

You're number two hundred and seven, go straight into room seven, you're tester is Maurice DuPount

She thrust a plastic number into Katie's palm, and stared at her crossly, until she had shut the door of room seven behind her.

Miss Bell?

Katie jumped at the voice. Did I frighten you?

An olive colored hand was now thrust at her. My name is Maurice DuPount

Katie replied but didn't take his hand.

She didn't like him, for he had scared her with his stupid French accent and booming voice.

Well, is the first time you are taking this test?

Katie nodded. She didn't see why he was asking her this, the witch from the front desk had written all of it down on the sheet of parchment that he was holding his hands.

Well let's get started, do you know where Surrey is?

Katie nodded again.

Well concentrate for me on getting there His departure was signaled by a loud bang.

Katie immediately clamped her eyes shut. Okay Katie just concentrate. You won't loose your head. You won't loose your head.

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She felt dizzy and then heavy. The sensations stopped quickly enough and she peeked through one open eye to find herself looking at Maurice.

Did I make it?



Do I still have my head?

Yes but a hand is gone

Are you serious

His laughter answered her. She really didn't like him. He obviously didn't understand her fear of loosing body parts.

There you are He wrote something on a piece of parchment and tapped it with his wand. It disappeared.

You can now legally disapparate and apparate as you please

That's it?

That's it

Well that hadn't been that hard, it just went to show that she could be good if she put her mind to something.





I was wondering if you would like to go out with me, sometime

I don't understand

Would you go to dinner with me tomorrow

Hell no.

I'm sorry I think I'm busy, maybe some other time

Am I coming on too strong?

This one was a genius. Since when was a simple I'm busy' not good enough anymore?

No it's not that, it's just that

You have a boyfriend?

No, but

A child



Well then what?

I'm busy

Great Katie, that was really convincing.

You know you have really beautiful eyes



Your eyes, they are gorgeous

This guy was something else. Her eyes. Now she knew he was lying. He might as well have said your hair is like golden silk strands or something along those lines.

Thank you but

It's just one date

she sighed, knowing that he wouldn't soon go away.

his tanned face split into a smile. Tomorrow night at nine then, meet me here

she knew her force lack the enthusiasm required to make it sound convincing, but Maurice obviously didn't notice so why should she worry?

He was gone a second later.

Okay, concentrate Katie, home, home.

It wasn't much longer after that when Katie decided to take the train instead.

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Thank you again for your support. I am almost done the final chapter. Also I filled in Oliver's thoughts in the second part, in case you didn't notice. Thank you again.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.