Authors Note: Hey, somehow the chapters got messed up, so if this all sounds familiar to you, it's because I think the first half was already posted. So just skip to the end and there should be new stuff there. This is a really long chapter, it's 17 pages on my word...so enjoy. The one after this is better though...so get excited. Haha.

Chapter 4

Kissing

Katie walked into the locker room. The rest of the team except Oliver had gone to the hospital wing, without even changing or showering, to wait for Harry to come round. Katie had elected to go prevent Oliver from killing himself. She did not find him in the locker room immediately. She wondered where else he would have gone. Rather than wait around looking a mess, she took a hot shower.

She couldn't deny her disappointment in the outcome of the game. She was upset, of course, but her feelings would be nothing compared to those of Oliver's. This was his last shot to win the cup. It was hers too, of course, but she did not have as much invested in this victory as he did.

As she pulled her robes over her head she heard someone enter the locker room. She came out of the girls half and saw Oliver, still covered in mud, looking lost. His face had mud on it, and his hair was sweaty. Katie didn't care, she found him just as attractive as the day she had first noticed him.

"Oliver." She started. He looked up, appearing sad. "You played really well, don't worry about the match. We still have a chance to win. If Slytherin beats Hufflepuff and then lose to Ravenclaw, and then we beat Ravenclaw, then we'll have a shot at the cup. A really good shot, actually." Katie told him encouragingly.

"It's not that." He admitted. Katie almost dropped to the floor in shock, for once Oliver was thinking of something other than Quiddich.

"Then what is it?" Katie asked curiously.

"Margaret just dumped me." Oliver told her. Katie knew she should feel sad, but she couldn't stop her heart from soaring at this news.

"What? Why? How can she dump you if you haven't even been on a date?" Katie asked, doing her best impression of outrage.

"That's what I asked her." Oliver said glumly. "She said, and I quote, 'I only date winners, Oliver. You should know that.'"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Katie asked, now actually outraged. But only slightly.

"I have no idea. I suppose she meant quiddich. She only thinks I'm cool while I'm a winner." Oliver told her, looking depressed.

"Well then she's really shallow and doesn't deserve you anyway." Katie told him.

"I guess. Maybe she's right though. What if I'm just a loser?" Oliver said.

"Oliver, you're not a loser. I don't think you're a loser at all. You're my best friend, and I think you're just great. You're smart, you work hard, you're friendly, kind, considerate, motivated, and really really cute, and sweet…" Katie stopped herself, blushing hotly. She had gotten really carried away there.

Oliver looked surprised at her outburst as well. Katie was about to apologize and leave when he did something most unexpected.

He leaned forward and kissed her, full on the mouth. His lips were soft and firm at the same time. She felt the sweat in his hair and the dirt on his face as he grabbed her back to support her. The walked backwards until she was leaning against a locker. It felt cold against her back, but she didn't care. She ran her fingers through his sweaty, dirty, rain soaked hair as they kissed.

It was everything that she had thought it would be and more. She felt herself exploding in his arms as she leaned into him, deepening the kiss. He kissed her harder, more roughly. Her tongue had just started to fully explore his mouth when he pulled back for breath.

"Katie I-" Oliver started. She pulled back, looking at him puzzled. "Katie, we-" He stopped again. "We shouldn't be doing this. This is a mistake. That was a mistake. We're friends, you're my best friend, I don't want to ruin that. I'm really sorry, I just got carried away." Oliver said.

"No, Oliver, I'm sorry. For being such a fool. I can't believe myself. What am I thinking?" Katie said, turning and running as fast as she could out of the locker room.

"Katie! Wait!" Oliver called after her. She didn't stop, and he did not run after her.

When she got outside she stopped, leaning against the side of the building to catch her breath. It was not the running that had made her lose her breath, it was the kissing. Her first kiss. She ran her fingers through her hair, letting the rain fall onto her face. How could she have been so stupid? Of course Oliver did not care about her. He thought of her as a friend and nothing more. Now she had ruined that friendship beyond repair. Maybe she should resign from quiddich.

She pounded her fist against the wall of the building. Why had she done that? Why had she said that? She wasn't ready for him to know, and he had just broken up with Margaret. He was on the rebound. Did it really apply though if they hadn't gone out, or done anything? They had only dated for a day after all, Katie told herself. But she thought it still counted as a rebound, since he had liked her for a while, and he felt the same way about her as he would have had they actually been going out. So she had been his rebound girl.

It had been a really nice kiss though. Katie thought as she started to walk back to the castle. At least she thought it had been. She didn't really have anything to compare it to, but still. She rubbed her lips. There was dirt on her cheek. She would probably have to wash again, as she was now soaked by the rain and covered in dirt again. Her robes would need to be washed. It was amazing how muddy the grounds could get from one storm.

When she got into the castle she saw Cedric standing the entrance way, waiting for someone, apparently. He was standing alone, fidgeting nervously. He looked up as she entered and walked over to her.

"Katie, hi." He said awkwardly.

"Hey Cedric." Katie said confused.

"Well. I wanted to apologize actually. For the game. I feel rather responsible for Harry's falling."

"Don't be silly, Cedric. It wasn't you fault. Unless, you didn't push him did you?" She asked worriedly.
"Of course not! No, I just feel as if Gryfindor ought to have won is all. Well, that's all I wanted to say." He concluded lamely.

"Were you waiting down here for me?" Katie asked. She had been on the point of walking away, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I was." Cedric told her.

"Oh." Katie said. She did not really know how to respond to that. What was going on? Cedric and her had just had a longer conversation now than they had in the past seven years at Hogwarts combined, and it hadn't even been a long conversation. She started to walk up the marble staircase to Gryfindor tower when he called to her again.

"Hey Katie?"
"Yes?" She replied, turning slightly so she could see him.

"Will you go out with me?" Cedric asked.

"Out where? Outside? In this weather? I should think not, I've just come in and it's dreadfully cold and-"

"No not outside." He said, cutting her off.
"Oh." Katie said, confused.

"Will you be my girlfried?" He asked her.

"Oh!" Katie said, comprehension dawning on her slowly. "Oh." Katie said again. She did not really know what to say. She didn't really know Cedric very well, but then again that was the point of going out wasn't it? To get to know thee other person. But why on earth would Cedric be asking her out? That seemed dreadfully sudden. "Ok." She said, making up her mind. She had seen Oliver through one of the windows and had him in mind as she said yes.

"Ok?" Cedric asked, apparently surprised.

"Yeah, sure." Katie said. She was not too enthusiastic. She still did not understand why he was asking her out. She had never been asked out before.
"Ok, well I guess I'll see you around." Cedric said, shuffling his feet awkwardly.

"Yeah, well, I have to go." Katie said, hurrying away. She rushed up to Gryfindor tower.

She did not understand anything that was going on right now. She just wanted to relax in front of the fire and sleep. This was so bizarre, why would Cedric ask her out? Why would Oliver kiss her? What was she going to do about it?

"Katie?" It was a little later. Katie did not know exactly how much time had passed. The fire a dying and the common room was emptying slowly. She realized immediately that she had dozed off, and it took her a moment to remember where she was. Then it all came rushing back, the confusion, Oliver's lips. She looked up sharply, almost having forgotten about the person who had said her name.

"Yes?" Then she located the speaker. It was Oliver. He was standing next to her chair, shuffling back and forth. He seemed to find his shoes exceedingly interesting. "Oh. It's you. Look, much as I want to do this I'm going to bed." Katie said coldly. She was mad at him. She couldn't help feeling bitter and rejected. He didn't want her, so what? That was his right. He didn't have to want her.

"Look, Katie wait." Oliver said, looking up as she was about to stand. She ignored him, turning away. She knew that if she met his eyes she would not be able to tear herself away. She knew that she would see sorrow and remorse in his eyes. The only thing he regretted was losing a sympathetic listener.

"I'm tired of waiting Oliver." Katie said. She regretted it the moment the words crossed her lips. She could not believe she had said that. There was no way he could fail to pick up on the message behind that statement.

"Katie I'm sorry, okay? I take it back, I'm not sorry for kissing you. It wasn't a mistake. I was just surprised is all." He told her, looking hopeful. She sank back into her chair. What had she done? He wasn't sorry? What did that mean? What was he saying?

"What?" She said, voicing her confusion.

"I want to do this. To do us. You know, the whole you and me thing. I like you Katie, as more than a friend. It was just so fast I didn't know what we were doing. I thought you would be angry with me." Oliver told her.

"Oliver-"

"Look, Katie, say you'll give me a chance. Just one date is all. I promise, you won't be sorry" he tempted her.

"Oliver I really wish I could." Katie told him regretfully.

"But?" He proded.

"But I can't" she explained lamely.

"Why not?" Oliver asked, looking shocked.

"Because I have a boyfriend." Katie told him. He stared at her uncomprehendingly.

"What? Who?' He asked, recovering. He looked as if he had just been slapped.

"Cedric Diggory. He asked me out right when I got back up to the castle. He was waiting for me." Katie said, also feeling very sad and disturbed. "Oh this isn't how it was supposed to happen!" She cried out, flying up to the girl's dormitory in tears.

"What's up girl?" Asked Alicia, sitting on Angelina's bed playing a round of exploding snap.
"Oliver broke up with Margaret." Katie told them, blubbering.

"And why is that bad?" Alicia asked, looking at Angelina. "I thought you had this huge thing for him."
"How do you know that?" Katie demanded horrified.

"So obvious hun." Angelina informed her.

"Oh. Well it's bad because he was really upset, and then he kissed me." Katie explained, looking up through blurry eyes.

"And? That's good isn't it?" Alicia asked, still puzzled. Angelina just looked as if she wanted someone to explain it to her in small words because she would never understand if she just took guesses.

"Would be, only then he pulled back and was all 'sorry, that was a mistake.'" Katie said, making her voice lower and very snide, doing an imitation of a very obnoxious Oliver.

"Oh. Uh-oh." Angelina said with a sigh. "Well-"

"And it would be fine if that were all!" Katie said, cutting in before she could hear all the sympathizing.

"There's more?" Asked Alicia. "How come your life is so interesting?"

"Yes, there's more. And it's not interesting. I'm fortunes fool. I came back to the castle and Diggory was waiting for me." Katie continued. She was calmer now. She was no longer crying, but telling her story slowly and clearly, with occasional gesticulations for good measure.

"Why?" Angelina asked, clearly not grasping the connection.

"He asked me out." Katie said. This statement met a dumbfounded silence.
"Like, on a date?" Alicia asked.

"As in, you're an item now?" Angelina repeated.

"I suppose so." Katie said.

"Why did you say yes if you're hooked on Oliver?" Angelina queried.

"To make him jealous, obviously Ange. You are too thick sometimes." Alicia said, rolling her eyes.

"Well that's good then, right? Oliver will realize his mistake and come crawling back. It's only a matter of time really." Angelina said, brightening.

"Too late," Katie informed them morosely.

"I'm sure he'll get over it Katie, honestly-" Angelina started.

"Ange, come on! Too late as in he's already realized and now Katie's stuck with Cedric!" Alicia interjected.

"Oh." Angelina said, stopping mid ramble. "Well, that does pose a slight problem I suppose. You could just dump Cedric and then tell Oliver that you love him and want to jump his-"
"No Angelina. That would be so cruel to Cedric! Besides, I already told Oliver that I was seeing him now. He won't forgive me in a hurry." Katie said, bound and determined to be depressed and gloomy.

"Well, I don't know what to tell you then. I could always dig up some dirt on Cedric and give you a reason to dump him. That way you two would be done and then you can be single. You don't have to run back to Oliver, you could just hold tight and see what he does. What's the worst that could happen? You go back to being the way you were this afternoon?" Angelina suggested.

"You know Ange, that's not a dismal idea. You might be on to something." Alicia agreed.

"One problem guys." Katie told them. "You have no dirt on Cedric. He's as close to perfect as possible." Usually this would be a compliment, but in this case it was the worst possible thing.

"You leave that to us. You forget who we're dating." Alicia told her. The two burst out into grins that were so similar to those of Fred and George that it was almost scary. Katie sighed, sinking into her cushions. She would deal with it some other time. In the meantime she would just enjoy having a boyfriend. It was bound to be fun, especially sine hers was so popular and perfect. Maybe Cedric wouldn't be so bad. If she couldn't have Oliver then he was a more than an adequate substitute. She sighed at the thought of being with Cedric rather than Oliver.

If she couldn't have Oliver, then there would be no substitute. She could become a nun, or just an old maid, but if it wasn't going to be Oliver, then it wasn't going to be anyone.

The next morning she rose, trying to think positive thoughts. This should have been easy, as Katie was definitely a "the glass is half full" type of person, but lately she had become more and more pessimistic.

Oliver was probably over his disappointment by now, and much as she wanted him to reciprocate her love for him, she also wanted him to be happy. She knew Oliver, and he wouldn't be happy until he had what he wanted, so the only way for him to be happy right now was for him to want something other than her.

"Morning Bella. Beautiful, beautiful Katie Bella." Oliver said quietly and in a tone that was enough to make her heart flutter with anticipation. Here he was, sitting in his usual seat at the Gryfindor table with his shaggy hair. She remembered what it felt like to run her fingers through that hair. She tried to draw her attention away from that and instead started at his eyes, but that was worse still.

She couldn't look at him without thinking of that scene in the locker room. How could she have been so fool hardy? She had ruined their friendship, that was for sure. Now Oliver, having decided finally after all of these years that he wanted to be more than friends, was going to make things difficult for her. He would not move on, she could see it in the stubborn set of is jaw. And he was going to make it impossible for her to move on, she could see that in the soft expression of tenderness in his eyes. There was something different about him. Desire. That was what it was that was new, he no longer looked at her as a kid sister.

Katie looked determinedly away, scanning the crowd for Cedric to draw her attention away from Oliver. It wasn't working.

She saw Cedric, surrounded by swarms of flirting girls, and it did nothing to her. She did not feel jealous, she really did not feel much of anything.

What was she doing? Why was she such a girl? She should never have started playing this jealousy game to begin with, it wasn't her. She realized just how not her it was by the end of the day. Girls she didn't know and had never so much as spoken to were shooting her evil glares. She could only assume that it was because she was now dating Cedric.

The other thing, and this was what made it the worst, was Oliver. He sat next to her in every class they had together, and he always made sure to walk next to her to class. He kept telling her how beautiful she was, and how smart she was. She felt herself blushing constantly every time he looked at her.

"Is it because he's a winner and I'm not?" He asked her suddenly during history of magic. She looked at him aghast.

"Oliver, of course not! How can you ask that? How can you think that? You know I'm not like that." She replied, a combination of shocked, ashamed, horrified, and hurt.

"Well, he is the winner, and it's clear I'm the loser. And not just in quiddich. He won the match and your favor, both out from under my nose, and both in the same day." He said, gloomily.

"Oliver, that's not fair. Don't be so hard on yourself. You're not a loser!" Katie assured him. He did not respond, he just looked away and began taking notes feverishly.

He had replaced his old name for her (Katie) with a new nickname that he had apparently just invented and found very clever. He referred to her as Bella every time he got a chance. Katie found his lack of subtly flattering, but at the same time unnecessary and annoying. She wished he would give it a rest. It reached a point when she didn't know if he was making fun of her or not.

"Katie, we have it! This is exactly what you need!" Angelina said excitedly, coming up to Katie in the library. She had had to take refuge in the library. She needed to escape the common room where Oliver was showering her with praise and flattery. At least if he followed her to the library he would have to be quiet. To be sure it was more comfortable in front of the fire, but it was impossible to handle Oliver telling her how nice she looked, and how good she was at Quiddich. It was just her luck that just as soon as she decided to try to make him jealous, he decided that he liked her.

'Well, serves me right for playing these games with his head and my heart…' thought Katie with a sigh.

"What?" Katie asked out loud, somewhat hopefully, looking up from her books. The day had been hard and long, it was tough resisting the charms of Oliver Wood. She had never suffered the full impact of him. He had never been paying her any mind until today, so she had never needed to resist him. Now, after all these years, it was all she could do to keep from slamming him against a wall and kissing his head off.

"About Cedric!" Hissed Alicia excitedly, signaling for her to come over to where she and Angelina were standing.

"What about him?" Katie asked skeptically, not moving from her seat. She found it hard to believe that he was anything less than perfect. If it weren't for Oliver, he would definitely be her first choice of boyfriends. From the little she knew of him, mostly through rumors and stories she had heard about him, he was honorable and kind and gentle and smart and hardworking. Everything that anyone would ever desire in a boyfriend. And yet Katie was, obviously, not everyone. Or anyone for that matter. Because every time she looked at him all she saw was Oliver's face in the window. She remembered it so vividly.

She had seen him walking back from the quiddich pitch looking dejected and sad. That was why she had said yes to Cedric, more than anything else. She had wanted to make him regret what he had said. 'Well Katie, who's the one regretting it now?' She asked herself angrily. She had been so foolish! Why couldn't she have just told Cedric she liked someone else? Then everything would have worked out perfectly.

"Follow us. We'll show you exactly what it is you need to dump him." Angelina told her. Jerking back from her vision Katie registered what Angelina had said. Dump Oliver? No, she was talking about Cedric, of course. Cedric was the one she was dating. Cedric was the one she should dump. Naturally.

But what did she need to dump him? Something about information? What were they going on about? Katie rose reluctantly and followed her out of the library. There would be no answers from either of them if they had decided to make it a surprise. And apparently they had.

Alicia especially loved surprises. Well that wasn't entirely true. She hated being surprised, but she loved being privy to secrets that others weren't. She loved knowing things. Anything really, as long as it was a secret. So she always wanted to draw the suspense on for as long as possible. That was what made her such a good friend, she always kept secrets. But on the other hand you never knew when she was keeping one from you either, which was sometimes annoying. But Katie, not being prone to gossip herself, did not really mind.

This was another thing. As soon as Alicia thought you didn't care, she would want to spit it right out. So Katie knew all the secrets of everyone, but never told because she wasn't interested. Half the time she didn't even know what Alicia was going on about.

"Where are we going?" She asked as they emerged onto the grounds.

"Behind the herbology building. Greenhouse three. You'll see." Angelina told her, tugging at her cloak impatiently, urging her to hurry up. They rounded the corner of the building and Katie stopped, horrified and yet oddly pleased.

She saw Cho Chang and Cedric making out against the wall. It was an odd sensation. She knew she should be mad, but she really didn't care. She knew that Cedric and Cho had had a thing going for a while, thanks to Alicia's reports.

It was so strangely coincidental that everything was starting to happen to her now. Why did she have to get caught up in the middle of everything so suddenly? It would have been enough just dealing with Oliver, but now she had this too.

She was glad for Cedric though. She had known that he didn't like her. Him liking her had never made sense to her, he was too perfect. But he and Cho were good together. She was pretty perfect herself, and they had similar interests.

She must have made some kind of noise because Cedric looked up from Cho. He saw Katie standing there staring and immediately straightened, walking towards her.

She saw him motion to Cho to wait for a few seconds and then started to run over to her, as if he thought she would turn and run. Maybe she should have done. It would have made the whole thing more dramatic. But then he would have followed and seen Alicia and Angelina hiding behind the wall only a few feet behind her, if that, and that would not have been good. It would have made everything that much more awkward.

"Katie, I'm really sorry that you saw that. This isn't the way I would have chosen for you to find out." He told her. Katie was impressed, a true gentleman! He wasn't telling her that what she had seen wasn't actually what had happened. She didn't really have much experience with guys in the real world, all she knew was what she read in her romance novels. She couldn't even live vicariously through her friends, as they had only ever dated the same boys their entire time at Hogwarts (Fred and George). So she just stood in front of him, waiting for an explanation.

"I'm sorry, but I was only using you to make Cho jealous. I'm really sorry Katie." He told her, looking embarrassed. He obviously felt guilty.

"Oliver, it's really okay." She told him.

"Oliver?" Cedric asked. Katie slapped a hand over her mouth, humiliated. She could not believe she had said that. He would think she had been cheating on him too! But then again, he wouldn't really be able to be that mad. Why had she said Oliver? Why was he constantly invading her thoughts?

"Cedric. I meant Cedric. I knew you couldn't really like me, we haven't even spoken to each other for ages. How could you like me? I assumed something was up. It's really okay, Cedric. I'm just glad it worked is all." She said, emphasizing his name. "I really don't care, you're free to go, I think Cho's waiting." She told him. She saw that he looked surprised, but pleased.

"You know Katie, if I weren't completely smitten with Cho, I would totally go for you." He told her, looking at her with a new expression in his face. A more calculating expression.

"Really?" Katie said, taken aback.

"Definitely. You're a great girl, really understanding and not too melodramatic like some girls. Thanks for understanding." She was about to leave them to it when he called her back. "Katie, I feel bad asking you this, but would you mind not spreading this around school?" He asked, looking abashed again. "I mean, as the injured party you have every right to, and I'm sure you'll want to tell everyone what happened and everything…" Katie laughed out loud for the first time that day.

"Of course I won't, what do you take me for?" She said, leaving finally. Cedric smiled at her, they understood each other perfectly. Katie wondered if he had guessed that she didn't really like him. Maybe he would guess that she liked Oliver. Should she have acted more upset? But no, she had had her fair share of games for a good while. He and Cho deserved each other. They were together at last, after having gone in circles for years. Now Katie had to wait and see if she could get the same.

She didn't know if she really deserved Oliver after this. She felt so low, so shallow. She didn't want to think about the way she had acted. She was so self degrading, stooping to that level. Maybe, since she had already started to play this game anyway, she wouldn't mention her breakup with Cedric. That was pure genius! She told herself congratulating herself for the stroke of brilliance. She wouldn't say anything. That way she would be keeping her promise and she could still see how Oliver felt about her. It would be amazing.

Remembering a moment too late her recent promise to herself not to play games, she questioned the actual brilliance of the plan. Shrugging it off she wrote it off, convincing herself that it wasn't so bad because she had already started. She always finished what she started. It would be wrong not to, she reasoned. Newly enthused, she walked back up to the castle.

She met Angelina and Alicia halfway there. They had been 'leaving' so that she could confront Cedric, although Katie knew they had probably waited, listened to the conversation. and then sprinted. They were looking a little flushed.

"So, what did he say?" Alicia asked, as if she had not just heard every word.

"Just that he thought I was a great girl and that he was sorry. He asked me not to talk about it though, so I'd appreciate it if you refrained from spreading it around, Angelina." Katie told them. Neither looked overly surprised at this compact version of the conversation.

"Why do you always say me? Alicia could spread it around just as much as I could." Whined Angelina.

"But she doesn't, you always blab. Don't go and tell George or Fred either, because they cannot keep their mouths shut. They, much like you Ange, have not mastered the art of subtlety." Angelina stuck out her tongue and crossed her arms irritably. She knew it was true though, so she didn't argue.

"Are you going to tell Oliver?" She asked slyly after a few moments.
"Why would I?" Katie replied innocently.

"So that he'll ask you out of course!" Angelina said.

"I don't know, I think I'm over relationships for now. Too much drama, you know? There's too much happening lately, I can't handle that type of pressure. People always looking at you, as if you're somehow different because you have a boyfriend. It's so weird how much emphasis people put on relationships. My life does not revolve around guys, thank you very much. I have other things on my mind." Katie declared sanctimoniously.

"Yeah sure." Alicia said sarcastically.

"Like what?" Angelina demanded sharply.

"Like," Katie almost said 'Like my writing' but she refrained. Not even Angelina and Alicia would understand that. "Like my schoolwork." She finally decided.

"Okay Katie, you keep telling yourself that, but I just want to say, there's a reason people put so much emphasis on it." Alicia said. "But I will also add that I think this decision not to tell...brilliant. I mean, you have to play a little hard to get."

"Yeah." Angelina added, comprehension dawning on her face.

"Just don't say anything, Katie. Wait and see what he does." Alicia suggested, dropping the subject.

She always liked to have the last word, so Katie did not reply. If she responded Alicia would continue in this vein until she did stop.

There was another reason for Katie's silence as well. She was thinking over what it was Alicia had said. It was true that Katie had never been in a relationship, so she did not know if it was worth the drama or not. 'But still,' she told herself, 'it can't be all that and a bag of chips. There's no way that it's all it's cracked up to be.'

Authors Note: Ok, next chapter title: A Severe Let Down...Get excited. If you want it sooner rather than later, push the little GO button and review it! You know I love you all and totally live for your reviews!