---Back at Hogwarts

I sat in my room. There was definitely nothing to do. Argh. I looked outside, the Quidditch pitch was empty. It started snowing again. I hadn't left the Hogwarts Castle enough to notice that it was snowing. The, normally, green pitch was covered in white snow. I sighed. I needed to do something to get my mind off of everything else.

I felt like doing something. Not Quidditch practice, no, that would be too strange in the snow. I looked back outside, there was an area cleared of snow about five feet wide stretching around the pitch in a gigantic loop. It reminded me of the track I saw around Muggle High school fields in America when I went for vacation two years ago. I had never figured out why Americans needed such large fields to do something with the stands so small and so close to the ground. I never figured out the goal posts, either, there was only one and it was HUGE. Had it been a Quidditch game on the field, it would have been a sinch to score.

Anyways, there was a track around the pitch. Why not running? I was going to run when it was snowing outside?? Yeah, sure, why not? I shrugged to myself and I stood up. I had on decent clothes to run and stay warm at the same time. I changed my shirt into a lighter one because I knew that I would get warm as I ran.

I made my way down to the pitch and I just stood there for a while. I looked different in the daytime, more different than when Oliver had taken me here at night the last time. I smiled to myself. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail behind my head.

I took a breath and took a step forwards.

"What are you doing??"

I spun around. Oliver stood there behind me, an eyebrow raised. His hands were stuffed in his pockets. I sighed and let out a breath.

"Running."

Oliver looked around and caught a snowflake on his fingertip. "In this weather?"

I nodded. "Yes, in this weather, why not?"

Oliver shook his head and sighed. "Katie, you'll freeze."

I shook my head smiling. "No, I wont."

He gave me a look that reminded me of something my father would do. "Katie…" he said warningly.

"What, Oliver? What are you going to do about it?"

With that I took off running. I was slow at first, then faster. As I made it halfway around the track, my feet were hitting the ground faster and slower at the same time. I as making a large stride and I was getting to the end a lot faster.

The cold wasn't really getting to me and I started getting warm. Oliver was still standing there when I was about to pass him again. I stopped near him to catch my breath.

He stared at me with a raised eyebrow. I shrugged and he just shook his head. I looked away from him across the pitch. I heard something, like the sound of heavy cloth hitting the ground. I turned and Oliver's jacket lay on the ground. He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it near his jacket.

"Race you," he said and took off running. I stood there, frozen with a smile on my face. I laughed. "Wow."

I shook my head and headed after him. Oliver really wasn't running fast, he wasn't trying, so I caught up with him very quickly. As I ran next to Oliver, I realized how cold it was. When I was getting sudden goose bumps, he looked like he was going to start sweating. He never did. I stole glances at his naked torso. Yum.

As I got closer to him, I noticed how well defined his abs were. Oliver was actually very strong. It didn't seem that we were running very long. Soon, we came close to the end and I remembered that we were "racing". I grinned and muttered, "Beat you".

I quickly sprinted ahead of him. I got to the finish place faster than he did. I smiled and turned around. I captured a quick glace at him and he charged at me. I didn't have time to jump aside and he threw all his weight at my waist, pulling me over his shoulder. He then tossed me off the track and into the snow.

I landed and was greeted by instant cold. I sputtered and growled at him.

"Oliver…!"

He winked at me. He didn't have a shirt on, so I knew that I wouldn't be mean and pull him down with me. I got up and brushed snow of my body. Oliver picked up his jacket and shirt and grinned. He pulled his shirt back on but kept his jacket off.

Silently, we headed off towards the castle and he knew that I was planning my revenge. As we got closer, I stepped closer to him and he didn't notice. I reached out with my foot in an attempt to try and trip him in the snow. His foot hit mine but he didn't fall. Somehow, in a mad flash of arms, I ended up over his shoulder.

"Katie, you can't beat me, admit it," he said tauntingly. I pouted. "Never!"

He put me back down and we walked back in. Every step I took towards him then, he knew about and acknowledged. I knew that if I was going to take down Oliver, I had to go with him.

We walked up the steps and under the stone covered walkway. The sides of the walkway were just four feet from the ground. Suddenly, I threw my body weight at him and we toppled over the edge. It was a short fall into the soft snow.

I landed on him and rolled off quickly. "HA! Who is the master now?!" I yelled at him.

He sighed. "You are…..but not for long!"

He grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at me. I dodged it and grinned. As I pelted a snowball back at him I realized how Hallmark-Greeting-card-like this was. I could see us on the cover of a greeting card now…

-----Later, after a shower, in my room.

Alicia had come back from vacation early to spy on me and Angelina was off somewhere in Paris, or Norway, or someplace else like that. Alicia had solved the problem of my empty room. I told her about Dad and Oliver.

"So, he really loves you?" she asked me one night.

I shrugged but smiled. "I guess…"

"Then what are all these reservations about?"

"What reservations??"

"About Oliver…When I mention him, you look sort of…. uneasy, like you're hiding something"

"No, I do not have any reservations about Oliver, I am just sort of unsure about a few things. I love him and I admit that."

"Yes, I know that…but…Katie, can you honestly tell me that you haven't slept with him yet?"

I stared at her. "No, Alicia! I've slept in the same bed as him…but I haven't slept with him…you know…"

She sighed. "Then you know this relationship won't last long."

"What do you mean?" I asked. Alicia was beginning to sound like a bitch but she may have a point coming up.

"We both know that guys only date girls to get one thing, right? Right. Well, you've been dating Wood for, what, months now? You probably just haven't noticed it when he's been pushing to go farther…"

"Oliver doesn't push me and he's not that type of guy."

Alicia sat up straighter. "Katie, sweetie, I love you, I really do and I don't want to see you get hurt," she said, she sighed, "Guys are all the same."

I shook my head. "Oliver isn't like other guys and if he was, why hasn't he pushed me to do that yet?"

Alicia shrugged. She didn't have an answer for this one. But then I began to wonder…. really wonder. She actually was right, that guys only wanted one thing, but Oliver loved me. Even if he loved me, he probably still wanted me to sleep with him, right? Any guy would. Why hadn't he begun to push me? Was this something that I should be expecting?

I shook my head. No, I wasn't going to start thinking like this. I love Oliver and he loves me, that's all I need to focus on.

Alicia sighed. "Katie, I know you're sort of mad at me right now, about what I said…"

I nodded. Yes, I was pissed.

"I feel like I owe it to you to say this right now, as an apology I guess, I might as well say it, rather now than later, right?"

"Alicia, just spit it out."

Alicia looked at me guiltily.

"I guess I say the things I say about Oliver and you because…well…I'm jealous. I mean, everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, has had a crush on Oliver Wood at one point in time that they've known him, even me. But you were the one to hook him, Katie. You were the one who stole his heart. And I know that a lot of girls wish that they were you right now. Oliver is such a wonderful person and he's yours. I don't think you realize how lucky you are. And, really, Oliver isn't like other guys. He has different morals and ethics that most guys never had and never WILL have. I know Oliver wont push you to anything and you'll always love him. And the chances of you guys breaking up is very slim. To be in a relationship like that with Oliver Wood is probably one of the most blessed things that will ever happen to you, a relationship that is almost hard to get out of."

Wow, talk about a speech. I grinned. She was right. I hopped off my bed and ran over to her, hugging her. Alicia grinned and hugged me back. Sometimes, it was like Alicia was my sister, other times, she was the devil straight from hell. At the begging to the night, she was a devil then she turned out to be an angel. God, that just sounded so corny, but hey, the rest of my life is.

After my thinking and her speech, Alicia walked me down to dinner. She sat on my right with Fred on my left. George looked particularly happy that Alicia was back. I didn't deny it, although Alicia did, George had, what did Americans say? Well, George had "the hots" for her.

I noticed Oliver on the end of the table near Harry and Ron. Oliver winked at me and I blushed. After all that snogging with Oliver, just his wink made me blush. Damn.

Anyways, dinner was pretty boring and Christmas was only a week away now. I heard Dumbledore's chair slide backwards and I looked to the Teachers' Table.

"First," Dumbledore's loud voice echoed through the Hall, "I would like to thank all of you who stayed here for the Holidays, you were particularly welcome here. Secondly, I would like to acknowledge that Christmas is near and I am to address the topic of dinner. Dinner and the following events of Christmas are to be a formal dress occasion-"

That was when I toned the man out. Formal dress?? What the hell was I going to wear?! The only dress I owned was the one I wore to my cousin's wedding seven years ago. I noticed a few people get up from the table and leave. Dinner was over. I hadn't even noticed.

Alicia abandoned me to go flirt with George. I was a stoop ( means NOTE at bottom) sometimes, but even I couldn't find George that attractive. Being the blonde I am, I even once said that I found Fred more striking than George. And they were twins. Alicia wouldn't let me live that down for a month.

But I had my reasons. There was something in Fred's eyes that just wasn't there in George's. There was a difference when one of them looked at you, smiled at you. George always looked like he was trying to get you to confess that you had fallen MADLY in love with him. Sometimes, it even looked like he was trying to chant a spell in his head that would give him X-Ray vision to stare through your clothes. Ick.

When Fred looked at you, it was something different. There was a twinkle in his eyes, a light, that just wasn't there with George; it was different. It was like he was trying to summarize his entire life friendship with you when he stole one glance across the Potions' table. When Fred looked at you it was never like he was trying to demean you, trying to embarrass you. He always looked like he'd do anything for you, anything in reason, that is. When I told this to Angie once, she said that he doesn't look at anyone the same way as me, that he looked like that only when he looked at me, no one else. I said that that was because he was my best friend; he still is.

I'll admit that I did like Fred in the beginning, before all of this Oliver stuff, way before this. But I gave up on him a long time ago, too. I figured out that Fred just wouldn't go for me, that being his best friend was enough. And it was, it really was. When girls swooned over him and flirted, I was the one whom he invited over to the Weasley house for the weekend. I still did that, but I no longer love him like that.

Fred is the brother that I never had. Since Charlie was older than Fred, he was the one Fred always went to for advice and help. Fred thought that I needed a Charlie in my life, too. He was my Charlie. I can't even remember the countless times that I called Fred on my mother's muggle telephone, begging to be asked over. Instantly, and without saying a word, he did. When my father sent me to Mums for the holiday, I spent more than half of it at Fred's. Actually, now that I think about it, I've spent more than half my life at Fred's. Wow.

Now, don't start to think that I'm re-thinking my relationship with Oliver, that I'm ready to trade him in for Fred in a second, like I would for a new broom or Muggle car. I did love Fred, in a brotherly sort of way, but I loved Oliver more. Even Alicia's "talk" couldn't get me down about him.

So, Alicia abandoned me for George. I sat there, looking around. I glanced down the table at Fred and I grinned. He smiled and looked over at George. Fred looked back at me and blushed, embarrassed from his brother's actions.

Two familiarly strong arms slid around my waist and lips hesitated over my ear.

"Let's go."

I stood up. I turned to face Oliver and he took my hand. I didn't look over at Alicia, I didn't want to know what she was thinking as she saw this. Oliver led me out of the Hall and into the corridor without a word. Somehow, this seemed familiar to me. I remembered, it was the night Oliver took me out to the Quidditch pitch late at night. I smiled. I liked how it was back then, when things weren't so screwed up.

Oliver began to lead me up the stairs. "Oliver?" I asked. I wasn't sure where he was taking me. He looked over his shoulder at me and grinned. I smiled hesitantly.

We made it to the Boys' Dormitory Stairs and I realized where we were going. I pulled on his hand.

"What about Fred and George?" I asked, hesitantly, smiling. Oliver looked over his shoulder at me.

"I got them new fireworks from Zonkos, let's just say that they'll be entertained for a few hours," he said, grinning wickedly. I laughed. Oliver knew the Weasley twins.

When we got to Oliver's room, it was dark. Oliver opened the door and closed it behind us, not interested in turning on the light. I turned around to ask him to turn the light on; I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. Suddenly, a flash of light came from behind me. Oliver was standing by his desk and had just turned on the lamp there. I smiled; it was like Oliver knew what I was thinking.

I walked over to him and he stepped towards me. His hands slid around my waist and pulled me against him. My hands went to his shoulders to put a little distance between us, not too much, but just a little. Oliver leaned forward and kissed me with a passion that I was not used to of him. I kissed him back and his hands ran along my arms, to my wrists.

His fingers laced with mine and our hands hung in the air about chest high. Oliver pulled back from me and tilted his head towards me. His eyes were as heated as ever.

"Do you know what Fred said to me today?" Oliver asked me softly.

I shook my head and whispered, "No, what?"

Oliver's face fell and he looked down, trying to find the right words. I became concerned. Had Fred told Oliver to break it off with me? No…

Oliver looked back up at me.

"He said, 'Oliver Wood, I trust you with Katie, but, please don't break her heart. You're in for it if you do'," he paused, "I guess Fred really loves you."

I smiled at what Fred had said. I nodded, "Yes, but not the way you think."

"And you love him, too?"

"Yes, very much. But it's a different kind of love…you know…"

Oliver smiled. "Yes, I know, but I'm glad Fred cares about you that much."

I nodded. "So, why do you think Fred said that?"

He shrugged.

"Do you intend to break my heart?" I had asked the question semi-seriously.

Oliver stopped; he stared me straight in the eyes and didn't frown. His hands slid around my waist and my arms glide around his neck, pulling me close against him again. His voice was just above a mere whisper. "No, never. I would never ever do that, ever."

I swallowed. I decided to pursue the matter. "And why not?" I whispered against his lips, showing him the heat in my eyes that were always in his.

He grinned and looked away, and then back at me. "C'mon, Katie, do I have to say it?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yes."

He looked back at me and leaned in as if to kiss me. "I love you."

I smiled internally and kissed him softly. Oliver pulled me up against him and his arms around my back kept me in place. As I kissed him I realized that my breathing was deepening.

Alicia was right about Oliver, he was perfect and I loved him so much. And I was so lucky. Oliver pulled away from me and sat down on his bed. I walked over to him and kissed the top of his head, tucking loose hair behind my ears.

Oliver wrapped his arms around my lower back and pressed his face into my stomach. I smiled and looked down at him. He looked up at me and his dark eyes shown with a light that I rarely saw and I got the hint of what Alicia had said about him. I swallowed and realized that I was blushing.

Oliver took my hand and pulled me down next to him, my back was to his pillows. He kissed me and he began to do something. I wasn't sure what though. For only a second, he pulled back from me. I stared at him as he slipped his shirt over his head. It fell somewhere on the floor. I was surprised but he didn't take the time to notice. He kissed me and his hand was against the back of my neck. As his lips were on mine, he slowly pushed me down against his pillows.

His skin touched mine and my body shuddered. My hands traveled down his bare chest to his exposed stomach. The muscles there were strong and hard. As he kissed me, he smiled. I drew my hands back upwards and I ran my fingertips through his hair.

Oliver ran a hand down my body and I pressed him closer to me. His mouth was warm on mine and so was his body. His hand rested on my waist. Slowly, ever so slowly, his hand slid under my shirt, just touching the skin. His hands were cold and I shivered. His hand didn't move but massaged my skin.

His lips brushed my neck, slowly kissing me. I cocked my head and opened my eyes.

"What am I going to wear on Christmas?!"

Oliver lifted his head, frowning. I looked at him like I expected an answer.

He smiled and laughed. He went back to kissing my neck.

"No, really, Oliver, what am I going to wear??"

Oliver lifted his head again, this time grinning.

"Hmm," he thought, "How about something…sexy."

My face dropped. "Oliver, I don't do sexy. I am not 'sexy', I don't have 'sexy' things, I don't even have a dress! And if I did have a dress, it wouldn't be 'sexy'!"

He looked at me. "So, how does this solve your clothes issue?"

I blinked. "I have NO idea."

He smiled.

"And if I did have something 'sexy', why would I wear it?"

Oliver laughed. "You'd wear it for me."

I gasped in faux shock. "Are you saying that I am not 'sexy' enough for your liking? That I have to wear a 'sexy' dress in order to look 'sexy'?!"

Oliver actually thought I was serious. "No! No! You are very sexy and you don't need a dress to make it more so. It's just that a sexy dress would make you even more beautiful."

I laughed at him, he was trying not to screw up. "Yes, yes, very good, Oliver. Good adjective: beautiful."

You could tell that I wasn't very self confident by the way I said that. I wish I took it back.

"Yes, and it's true. You are beautiful."

I felt uncomfortable. Time to change the subject!

"So, what am I going to wear??" I asked quickly. As much as I tried to ignore it, my voice was high and nervous.

"I said something sexy."

I didn't say anything. I just lay there.

"Do you have a problem with looking beautiful? If you do, it must be a problem for you 24-7. I mean, you are beautiful all the time. At least to me and everyone else who knows you."

Still I said nothing.

"Katie?"

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Okay."

Oliver looked at me. "Do you not believe me?"

"What?"

"That you are beautiful, you don't believe me?"

"No, that's not it…"

"Well, what then?"

I didn't want to say it. I didn't want to tell Oliver that I thought of myself as so much less than beautiful. I was never confident about my looks and I didn't care. I really didn't care about how I looked for myself or guys…that was before Oliver. Even when I was with him, I didn't pay to much attention to it.

I had to say something. "Pretty, I'll give you. But not beautiful."

Oliver blinked. "Who told you you were not beautiful?"

Again, I didn't say anything. He looked at me.

"You're beautiful, Katie, and everyone knows it. Don't fight it. It's not worth it."

I wasn't sure what I was going to say and I didn't get a chance to anyways. Oliver leaned down and kissed me softly. His hand was still on my waist and I swallowed.

I sat up, pushing against his chest. He rolled off me so that I could sit up.

"I should be going, Fred and George can only be entertained for a certain amount of time."

Oliver nodded. He knew that I was right. Ha.

I stood up and adjusted my shirt. Oliver stood up next to me.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked me. I nodded like a zombie. A zombie without a brain….wait….did zombies have brains? They are the "undead", right? So, do they have brains? I suppose it would have rotted out by the time they become the "undead"…. wait…did Oliver just say something???

Oliver kissed my cheek and I left. I spent so much time thinking about freaking ZOMBIES to say goodnight to Oliver. Ger.

I went back to my room and Alicia was already asleep. I feel asleep thinking about zombies, their brains, Oliver (of course), if Fred and George had killed themselves with those fireworks yet, and the magical donuts.

All this and I still didn't know what I was going to wear.

Stoop- a stupid (stoopid, if you will) person.

I, myself, am a zombie. And I'm not sure if I still have my brain at times....IB does that to people......

(IB International Baccaleuareate, the program the kids in France take & if they pass it, the government pays for all their college funds. Here, it's just a diploma that almost GUARANTEES acceptance into the best colleges. Anyways, IB is the hardest program in the United States, I'm not sure about Norway...or Japan for that matter...but definitly the U.S... hmm maybe if I was in Canada I wouldnt have had to go to IB (although it WAS a choice...I still hate it)...(NOTE: The Canada refference is not ajoke, I am Canadian...deal with it......Kelsey loves my Canadianness and I love her Russian Spy-ness)