Chapter 7

I could finally get out of the ward and go down to school. I was so excited, a day – well half a day of seeing my friends! And Cedric too! I strode into the Great Hall, Cedric saw me walk in and came up and gave me a huge hug. "Come with me!" He said quietly. And we sailed back out to the staircase.

There standing on the steps, even with a few students milling about, he gave me a proper kiss and held me tightly to him. Over his shoulder I could see Karla and Alicia standing by the side of the doors. Karla giggled and waved when she saw me but Alicia just turned away. Huh? What was wrong with her?

When Cedric finally let me go back into the Hall for breakfast, Alicia came up and sat down next to me.

"Hey my love, how are you feeling?" she asked, I smiled wanly at her "Not bad actually. I'm really happy to be back with you guys. What was your letter about, Lish? Is there anything wrong?"

Alicia gave me a quick hug "No Katie. I just wanted to tell you how sorry I was that I didn't come and see you more. And that I'm sorry we haven't talked so much. I am really glad to have you back" she said meaningly.

"I'm glad I have you." I whispered back. But when she pulled away from me, something was hiding in her eyes. Like she hadn't told me the full story, maybe I should ask Karla.

Transfiguration. Maybe I should have stayed in bed, I have so much work to catch up and I really want to cry. Oliver leaned over to me and whispers "We still on for Hogsmede?" I nod quickly back at him. Hmm I should tell Cedric about Hogsmede, Alicia would've been told by Oliver already, I wonder if I can catch him on the way to Potions.

"Hey I've been looking for you!" I say to Cedric as I'm going down the stairs to the dungeons.

"I've been missing you." He said saucily.

"Look, Oliver asked me this weekend to go into Hogsmede with him and help him buy a gift for his mother? Its cause Alicia won't be here, she's going home. Is that chilled?" I ask.

He gives me a strange look, "Well you don't need to ask for my permission love, I trust you. Look, I'm slightly uneasy by it all. But I trust you after all; you are my girlfriend – not his. So I guess have fun"

"Oh you're the best Cedric!" I tell him and give him a quick peck. Maybe potions will be half decent after all!

Yummy! Lunch time! I am so glad to be back with all my friends, sitting round the table eating and laughing. Karla rushed up to me holding something behind her back.

"Here, look what we all made you while you were away!" she said and thrust out this huge card. On the front of the card were dancing elephants in tutu's all singing the 'Circus Theme' tune. Inside it looked like the whole of Gryffindor had signed my card; I felt tears welling up at the corners of my eyes.

"Oh thank you so much guys! This is so brilliant. I love my card and I love you!" I told them, smiling. Professor McGonagall came up to the table.

"I'm glad you're feeling better Ms. Bell, but its time for you to leave and go back and rest. If you wish you can go back to the dormitories to sleep or back down to Madam Pomfrey." She told me quietly.

"I'll go to the dorms thanks Professor." I replied. So taking my card, I walked up the stairs to the Fat Lady. I was so happy to be home.

It was Saturday, the clouds banked over the sky casting grey light everywhere but at least it wasn't raining. Alicia had left last night just after dinner, and I had stayed with Cedric half the night who told me he wasn't going to Hogsmede at all but was staying in the castle to catch up on some work.

Karla was getting ready in the mirror, jumping around listening to her latest collection of muggle music. She picked up her hair brush and started to sing along:

"Should I wear a dress and high heels / Should I go out in my blue jeans / He's the boy I met in my dreams / And I tell you girls... he's unbelievable!"

"Who's that?" I asked her as I watched her sing. "Sarah Connor, I love her! So seeing as Oliver and you are going out, what are you going to wear?"

"I dunno" I told her "Probably a jumper and jeans, looks cold out." I added.

"Yes, but what jumper? Colour? Which jeans? Slim fitting or loose?" she cackled away at me. I held out my grey-wash jeans, they were kind of tight, but comfortable and I knew that they made me look good.

Karla nodded in approval at the jeans "Yeah, they make you look good Katie. I have an idea for your jumper. How about my blue one? The stretchy woollen one."

I looked over at Karla; she had a big bust and small waist "Nah I don't think so Karla, I wouldn't look any good in that jumper. I don't exactly have assets like yours."

She laughed "Don't worry; you'll fit it if I do! Here just try it on..." so I did as I was told and tried it on, you didn't say no to Karla.

"Shit Katie, you look hot!" she told me. I looked in the mirror, I liked what I saw. The jumper was slightly clingy and made my bust look bigger, but the colour brought out my eyes. I smiled at her "Thanks... wait! Karla this isn't a date, I am helping a friend. I HAVE a boyfriend – he's hot and I like him remember?"

Karla smiled winningly "Date? I never said that. Just making sure you look good, want some makeup?" she asked sweetly. I glared at her "No, no makeup. It's not a date. I'm going like this. Goodbye!" I said.

"Sure you don't want some lip-gloss? To protect your lips of course, it's very windy out there and you don't want chapping to happen now, do you?" again in her sweet sugar voice.

I relented "Ok, just give me the gloss. You're right I don't want chapping at all." Karla chucked me a stick of Watermelon Kisses. I rolled my eyes at her, collected my bag and started to walk out the dorm...

"So tonight I'm gonna get him / Got a rendezvous at seven / And I tell you girls... he's unbelievable!" Karla sung out after me.

It had been a great afternoon of walking around Hogsmede. Oliver's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw my outfit "Wow! Katie! You look absolutely fantastic." He told me, I'd grinned and blushed.

We were at Gladrags Wizard Wear checking out the latest fashion robes and laughing about the ugly styles they had on display.

"What do you think? I think I'm hot!" I said holding up a bright pink robe patterned with orange stars. The colours clashed horribly!

"Oh no daaarling!" He told me in a faux-pax fashion voice "That isn't nace at all. You need to look bee-yooti-ful! I'll show you some faaab-ulous dinnah wear." He showed me a mustard yellow robe with dark red blotches all over it.

"Eurgh" I said "It looks like someone got a robe and dipped into mustard and then spread tomato sauce all on it." He held up the sleeve and mimed licking it "They have!" he replied. I laughed, Oliver was so much fun and I was having such a great time being with him.

"I still don't know what to get mam" he said to me as we walked up the main street.

"You know what I remember about your mum when we were getting on the train in 3rd year?" I told him "We were all standing by some kid and she saw that bracelet, the charm one. She loved the look of that, Oliver? Why don't you get her one and start a charm bracelet for her?" Wait on, I thought and crinkled my nose "Hang on, she's already got one, hasn't she?" I asked him.

He was looking at me, a half-smile on his face. "I can't believe you remember that." He told me. I smiled up at him and shrugged.

"Katie, that's a brilliant idea. She still doesn't want one and she loves charms and things like that. Says it's a muggle thing she's always wanted to do."

"Great!" I told him "And I know just where to go... Isadora's Palace down here" As we walked down the alleyway he asked me "Do you always crinkle your nose when you realise something?" I smiled again "I dunno. It's a habit I guess." He looked down at me "Well, I think it's cute."

Isadora's Palace had all sorts of things inside. Kind of like a muggle op-shop, she even had a section at the back of the store devoted to all things muggle. That's where we found a beautiful bracelet already with one charm on it.

"It looks like a thistle" I told Oliver. "Great" he replied "A thistle is the emblem of the Scottish history, mam will love that!" As he went up to pay for it, I looked around the rest of the store. On one of the shelves I found a little glass cube, inside it was a lush green country side with little people flying on brooms, it was a beautiful sight. Wherever these little people on brooms went, you went with them. It was like the world in a glass cube. It was the perfect gift for Oliver!

"Are you coming Katie?" he asked me walking towards where I was standing. "Sure, but I'm just going to see if I can use her toilet. I'll see you outside ok?" he nodded and walked off. And so I carried the cube up to counter, paid for it and slipped it into my bag.

It was Saturday night and I was telling Karla about my day. I showed her the cube.

"Oh God Katie, it's so beautiful. He'll love that." She told me as she watched the world go by inside the cube.

"Hey Karla, I left my bag in the common room. I'll grab it and come back up, then I'll tell you more about my fantastic day!" I told her excitedly.

I ran down to the common room and straight into Oliver! "Hey Katie, I was just looking for you. I want to say thanks for coming with me today, and I hope you don't mind but I got you a present. To say thanks, so um... thanks." He said quietly.

"Oh thank you Oliver. You didn't have to do that! I'm happy I came with you, and I hope your mum likes her present" I smiled at him. He smiled back and walked off.

I rushed back up to the dorms to open the present with Karla. "What is it? What is it?" she asked as soon as I told her, I shrugged at her. I started ripping of the wrapping paper, it was a... book!

Hans Christen Anderson – A collection of FairyTales. Reading the cover Karla yelled "Oh my god, Katie he gave you muggle stories. You love them! How did he know?" I looked in wonder at the book, it was so beautiful. Hardcover with gold imprints, it was lovely.

"I think Karla, that he remembered me telling him from when we were best friends in 3rd year." I said, Karla just sighed.

I opened the cover and inside was an inscription:

To the real Princess,

May all your dreams and fantasies come true!

Yours Ever,

Oliver.

I felt like I was going to cry.

Being sick right now, I have had plenty of time to write a new chapter! Now with more words! Keep your reviews coming in, I love them.

With love (and no sick vibes)

Nadine XxXxX