HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

For the record, Kelsey calls me in the way Alicia did in the last chapter.. GAHHH!!!!!!!!!!

IHopeForAnarchy who is too lazy to sign in: yeah, sorry, it may not be THAT long. I'm probably going to cut off a lot of the drama and all. Ger. No, the insecurities conversation isn't hinting at anything. Sorry L I hope you continue to read

Lia06: Thank you so much! OMIGOSH! At least the zipper didn't break until you were off stage. L im sorry you and Ben broke up (I'm not sure who he is or if that's a good or bad thing, but im sorry) Bleh I hate being sick. I'm denying the fact that I might be sick. The golden rule: if you think it, you are. If you keep telling yourself you're sick, you will get sick. I AM NOT SICK AND NEITHER ARE YOU!

Kelsey: Call me like that and DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, as you see, the dead person has come L

Swimgirl: Lol, there is always more to come!!

banana-princess93: Lol, Anna, not sex, sorry. Lol, yes, passion, nice way of putting it. Poetic mind? Me? My parents like to call it psychotic. JGlad you liked!! I love Fred, too. He is so darn sweet!!

mello80 Melody, I'm typing as quickly as I can J I LOVE my truck!

Doodleflip: Lol, yes it worries me, too. I'll try not to hurt the characters.

TooSweet4Words: Thanks a ton!

Well, now, onto your chapter.........

Oliver led us out onto the Quidditch pitch, ready for a hard practice. Alicia was complaining and Harry was more than exited to practice Quidditch again.

As soon as we stepped onto the field, I felt tension dissipate. I know that a lot of people were happy to get out of the castle and into the fresh air.

To start off, Oliver had Alicia and I flying laps around the pitch on our brooms, tossing the Quaffle between us. After a few laps we were tired. The other players had similar practice.

"What are you doing here?" I heard Oliver shout. I looked down and Alicia was quickly rushing to the ground, landing beside George. She stood beside him. I slowly descended to the ground.

I looked across the pitch and saw the Slytherin team standing there, ready to practice.

"I scheduled the field for this time, Flint," Oliver said. I looked around; I was the only one in the air.

Flint grinned wickedly, "Perhaps, Wood."

I looked down at Flint. I heard the girls in Slytherin and Ravenclaw talking about him all the time. They said that Marcus Flint was quite handsome for a Slytherin. That something they found attractive about him I simply did not find. Perhaps if I was a Slytherin and didn't have half my brain, then maybe. I found him creepy and when I looked at him, it made my skin crawl. I always had bad feelings about him.

"We don't want any trouble, Flint," Oliver said warningly.

"No, Wood," Flint said, looking up in the sky at me, winking, and then looked back at Oliver teasingly, "I'm sure we don't."

Oliver saw him do that and quickly looked up at me, standing up straighter. I didn't think he liked the way Flint looked at me. I didn't like it either. I was about six feet from the ground when Flint kicked off the ground on his own broom.

"How about a quick pre-match, eh, Wood?" Flint asked, grinning, "We'll see how your favorite Chaser does against me…"

"But you're not a Chaser!" Fred yelled, "That makes it unfair!"

Flint growled at him. "Yes, it does give our dear Katie an advantage, but wouldn't you want that, Weasley?"

"Not if you're going to cheat." That was Alicia.

"Do you want to compete against me, Spinnet?" Flint asked. George took a step in front of her, effectively saying no.

"Captain against Chaser isn't fair and won't prove anything, Flint," Oliver said, "Let it be Captain against Captain."

"No!" Flint shouted. Oliver looked up at me. He was trying not to show it, but I could see how he was dealing with this. He was afraid. For me.

"It's all right, Wood." I called down to him.

"What're the rules, Flint?" I asked him bitterly.

He shot me a look that was a cross between seduction and malice. I preferred malice from him.

"Let's see…" Flint said, stroking his chin thinking.

While he thought, I wondered why Flint wanted to battle it out with me rather than Oliver. It seemed to me that he had more spite for Oliver than me. I looked down at the Slytherin team and realized the answer.

There were no girls on the Slytherin team. Why, you ask? 1) They were probably too big to fit on broom and be effective in Quidditch, and 2) The boys of Slytherin thought, and had been taught, most likely, that boys could do anything better than girls could. That might have been what Flint was trying to prove.

Flint cleared his throat, staring at me. "Montague!" he shouted down to him.

Montague took his order from his Captain and reached down to a smaller box next to the traditional Quidditch box that contained the balls. He opened the small case and I saw about ten Golden Snitches. But, in effect, they were all different colors. Some were scarlet, emerald, cobalt, fuchsia, and even one obsidian.

"The first one to catch the emerald Snitch wins," Flint said.

I wondered if someone was going to point out that we weren't Seekers. No one did. Flint nodded at Montague and he freed the many Snitches.

All at once, the ten snitches seemed to duplicate into thousands, making it impossible to see anything. I was probably a better Seeker than him. I was smaller, lighter. But he was still stronger.

Instead of sitting there and waiting for the emerald Snitch to pass by me, I was off. I headed up first, for a higher view. I looked down. Oliver and my teammates were specks on the ground.

Flint was chasing something and I got a closer look as it whizzed past my face. Following after it, Flint flew by me. As he passed me, I was hit in the stomach by something. I heard someone on the ground shout. He kicked me! That #&! He kicked me!

In less than a second, I was after him. Not after the snitch, no, but him. He was going to pay.

I got closer and closer, the wind whipping my hair around my face. I didn't care. Soon, I was right beside him and I slammed my broom and my left side into him.

He was caught off guard, never expecting a Gryffindor, let alone me, to act like him. He leaned to the left, his body threatening to topple off his broom. I knew that I'd face major lectures from McGonagall and Dumbledore if he fell, but that was in the back of my mind now.

When Flint balanced himself again, he glanced sideways at me and grinned. The look on his face made me think that he was impressed.

"You would think you were one of us, Bell," he said. I grinned sweetly, speeding past him to the Snitch.

I was so close to it. I reached out my hand, only inches away.

Flint was closely catching up to me and the snitch darted down. I suddenly sped down, chasing it. It soon sped to the left and I followed. Flint caught up with me again. He moved dangerously close to me. He extended his hand and gently touched my face. I swatted his hand away.

He then laid his hand on my waist, pulling my broom and I close to him. He leaned his head near my ear. "I could torture Wood by doing more than just beating him at Quidditch, you know."

I frowned and quickly released myself from his grasp. Flint growled at me and I dodged him, following the Snitch. I soon lost Flint and was by myself. I couldn't see him.

I quickly reached out with my hand and my fingertips brushed its light feathery wings. Suddenly, a huge weight pounded into my right side, throwing me feet from my broom, taking me to the ground.

I was swiftly terrified. I was falling and the weight that had hit me was pressed against my stomach, my back towards the earth. If I fell like that, I would have been dead.

I looked up and saw the face of Marcus Flint inches from mine. He grinned at me. Our brooms were nowhere to be seen. Flint had launched himself from his broom at me and now we were both falling. He had sacrificed himself in the process of seeing that I wouldn't win. Neither would he. We were both as good as dead. I could hear Alicia screaming on the ground. Fred was yelling something at me.

We fell for what felt like an eternity.

"Hey, Bell!"

I didn't respond, I was focused on the fact that I was going to be dead in a few seconds.

"Hey! Katie!"

"WHAT???" I shot back and looked at him. Flint grinned at me. "For a girl and a Quidditch player and Seeker, you're not bad."

I gritted my teeth. "Likewise."

Suddenly, we stopped falling and the momentum of Flint's body crashed into me. He lie on top of me and I felt like I was laying on something.

"Flint! Bell! Stop that bickering at once!" A familiar voice shouted. The woman sounded tired and like she didn't want to be there.

My body was stretched up right beside Flint's. It felt like we were standing on the ground when we were actually standing in the air.

Professor McGonagall had her wand pointed at us, slowly levitating us towards the ground. Our brooms lay at her feet.

"Honestly Wood and Flint, you two should be ashamed of yourselves! Risking Ms. Bell's life with Flint's! You two should be ashamed! I demand to know who started this!"

Oliver didn't say anything. I looked quickly at Flint. He cleared his throat.

"I did, Professor," Flint said. I was astounded. Flint did have one speck of dignity in him.

McGonagall lowered us to the ground and she turned to Oliver. Alicia and Fred ran over to me.

"Are you okay, Katie?" Fred asked, worried. Alicia followed, more angry than concerned.

"Flint! You are such a hooker!" she screamed in distaste. (the hooker thing is an inside joke- courtesy of Kelsey and Yolanni )

Alicia reached out to hit him, but he grabbed her wrist, faster than her. He dropped her wrist carefully. George stormed over, furious that someone like Flint dared to even touch his Alicia.

"Ms. Spinnet, please," McGonagall said, clearly exasperated.

"Flint, how could you do something like that?" George demanded. I was tired and I didn't feel like being angry. Anger never solved anything except wasting your emotions being angry with someone. When you really think about it, all the time that you spend thinking about the person you hate, you are actually dedicating part of your life to them. If you hate them, why the heck are you thinking about them so much? Besides, a wise man once said, "Don't get mad. Get Even." (Actual quote from my own father and my uncle)

"Guys," I said, "Leave him alone."

They looked at me in shock. Even Flint. I kicked at the ground impatiently.

"Katie! He tried to kill you! He knocked you right off your broom! Right out of the sky!" Fred yelled. He whistled from a high note to a low note, ending with a clap of his hands, an obvious "SPLAT!". Showing me how I would have ended up.

"Yes, and he came with me, didn't he?" I asked them. True, I was angry at Flint for trying to kill me, but the boy still had dignity in taking the blame when McGonagall asked.

"Now, Wood, I must borrow Ms. Bell," McGonagall said.

"But, Professor, I'm the one who started it!" Flint said louder, trying to convince her.

"Professor, we haven't gotten to practice yet!" That was Oliver. Always concerned about practice. I was almost happy that he didn't make a fuss over the stunt Flint just pulled.

Professor McGonagall sighed loudly. "Boys," she said, "I must borrow Ms. Bell!"

Oliver didn't say any more but Flint did. "Professor, at least let me come with her to explain to Professor Dumbledore…"

"Flint, this doesn't have anything to do with you. Ms. Bell, if you'll please."

I followed McGonagall up to the castle, leaving my teammates on the pitch. I truly hoped that there were no more competitions.

---------->

McGonagall led me to Dumbledore's office. She hadn't said a word to me the entire way there. She whispered the password and we slipped inside. She held the door open for me and I stepped inside.

The room was empty sans Dumbledore and his phoenix.

"Ms. Bell, please take a seat," Dumbledore said. McGonagall took her place by the door, just standing there.

"I can explain, Professor, you see, Gryffindor scheduled the use of the pitch today and Slytherin showed up and Oliver and Flint started arguing and-"

Dumbledore held up a hand, stopping me. "That is not the reason why I asked Minerva to bring you here."

Dumbledore sat behind his desk and motioned to the chair beside me. I sat.

"Ms. Bell, how much do you know about what is going on in London and the rest of the world this moment?"

"What do you mean, Professor?"

"How much do you know about Voldemort?"

McGonagall and I both shuddered. "Nothing, sir."

He stared at me. "I know that Mrs. Weasley did say something to you…"

My breath caught in my throat. Uh oh. "Just that he's supposed to be coming into power again…"

"Yes, it seems that way, nowadays."

I nodded, not sure what he was telling me.

"Ms. Bell, you know why your father has left the country?"

I shook my head.

"It seems that he was sent to Ireland to stop a few things from happening."

"Yes, he said that Fudge was going to send Mr. Weasley, but then he decided against it."

"Yes, Mr. Weasley has a large family to take care of. Your father volunteered to go instead. If he hadn't gone, Mr. Weasley might never have came home to his family."

"What were they going to do in Ireland, Professor?"

I had no idea what was going on at all. Dumbledore answered my question. "In short terms, your father was sent to protect the place where Voldemort 'died' "

I frowned. "But didn't he 'die' at the Potters? That was when the whole Harry thing came about and-"

"Shh," Dumbledore silenced me, "You did not give me a chance to explain. Most consider the place where he died to be the place where he killed for the first time. That was in Ireland."

"Why does that place need to be protected?"

"You see, if you-know-who is to come into power again, he must go to the place where his power started."

"Ireland."

"Yes, I think you are grasping the concept quite nicely." He smiled.

"So, shouldn't you be telling all this to Harry or some one?"

Dumbledore grew silent. He swallowed deeply. He looked very uncomfortable.

"Ms. Bell…you see, you-know-who was very desperate to come into power again…it was easy for him to do things that he has done for a very long time…if someone gets in the way of his motives…I'm not sure how to say it…"

I took a deep breath. I was going to throw respect out the window just this once. "Just say it, Professor."

"Like the Potters…when Voldemort has his mind set on a certain family or person, it is not expected that they will live…when one gets in the way of Voldemort…sometimes they die."

I shook my head. I had an awful feeling in my stomach. I had an idea of what he was saying but I wasn't willing to believe it. "You never died, Professor."

"Ms. Bell, I don't think you are grasping what I am trying to tell you."

"Maybe it's because I don't want to believe it."

"You have to."

It was silent for a second. Dumbledore sighed. I was making this hard for him.

"Katherine Bell, you must understand that your father, Nicholas Bell, died this morning in Wexford, Ireland."

I couldn't breath. My vision was getting blurry and I felt lightheaded. I looked at Dumbledore for a sign that he was only joking. He looked at me, serious.

I blinked furiously. Dumbledore didn't use idioms. He didn't say "he passed on," or "he's gone to a better place." Nothing. Just simply dead.

"I am sorry dear."

I took in a deep breath and steadied myself against the arm of the chair. I felt like I was dreaming. That this wasn't real. No, my father couldn't be dead. No. I had only just seen him. Slowly, a tear slid from my right eye. I hadn't even felt the tears coming.

I felt like I wanted to die. Right there, in Dumbledore's office. My father, the one who bought me presents to piss my mom off, the one who helped me grow up, the one who first made me try Brussels sprouts- dead.

"Katherine, I know how hard this much be for you, but there's more."

I looked up at him, tears steaming down my face now. I couldn't take more.

"Your mother wanted you to come home, but I persuaded her to let you stay here. You see, I'm afraid that, being in touch with your father, that now that you know what's going on, that you might be targeted."

I stood up, suddenly angry. "So, you're telling me that just because I know that my father is dead, that I'm on the 'Killing List' now??"

"You know information that not many other people know. Those people are slowly being killed off."

I glared at him. "Mrs. Weasley knew! She told me! Is she on the list now?? Mr. Weasley was going to be sent instead! Will he be killed??"

Dumbledore took in a deep breath. "They are being protected."

"And what about the Weasleys' sons? What of them? If my father knew about everything and I'm on the list, why aren't they?"

"There's no need to shout. The Weasley boys don't know a thing, they are safe."

"And I'm not? Is that it?"

"Unfortunately, that's entirely it."

I sat down again. So not only was my father ripped from my life forever, I was most likely going to be killed. I didn't care if I was going to die. My father was dead. I stood up slowly, ready to leave.

I walked towards the door and McGonagall, her eyes looked teary. I turned.

"Thank you, Professor. I would recommend informing Mr. Lupin. He will want to know."

Dumbledore nodded. I took a step out the door and Professor McGonagall caught my arm.

"Ms. Bell, if you are ever in need of anything, my door is always open to you."

"As is mine," Dumbledore chimed.

I nodded and left.

I went straight for Gryffindor Tower.

I started to feel myself cry and I wanted so badly to wake up. I wanted so badly to have my daddy back. I never had much time with him, with my parents divorced and all, and now this. It didn't seem real to me that he would never be coming back, that I'd never be able to see his face again.

No more visits to our house. No more holidays with him. No more Christmas'. No more hugs. Nothing at all. My father was gone forever. Dead. I cried so hard that my chest hurt. It was the sort of crying that stole your breath and made your body shake uncontrollably.

I felt empty, like the place in my heart where my father used to be was suddenly gone. Empty. My father, my only one in my entire life, was gone. When, and if, I got married, I would never have him to walk me down the aisle. I would never get to have him walk me anywhere. I would never have him again. The thought hurt me so much I couldn't even feel that I was crying.

I just cried and cried, feeling like I would suddenly collapse. My head felt heavy and I beginning to have a headache from all this crying, but I could not stop it. No matter how I tried, I couldn't stop crying. I hated being this emotional, but my father was dead. I told myself over and over and I didn't believe it. I felt like I was playing a joke on myself. He couldn't be dead. No. I cried harder.

No matter what happened to me in the rest of my life, I would be thinking of him. How he would want me to keep pushing on. Even just learning that he was dead, I missed him so much.

I don't think that anyone ever knew this feeling. How it felt to be this alone.

I blinked back my tears and became somewhat calmer as I neared the tower. I was walking quickly and a few tears still streamed down my face.

I was storming down the corridor and my vision was blurry with tears. I turned a corner and walked straight into someone.

"Hey, where are you going so fast? You're lucky you missed Wood's practice," a familiar voice said. I looked up. Fred. He saw the tears in my eyes. "Oh, Katie, what's happened?"

I couldn't say anything. I tried not to cry in front of him, I bit my lip, but the thought of my father just made my cry more. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close. I felt safe again.

Fred held me as I cried. Fred took me up to his room and, thankfully, no one crossed our path.

He closed the door behind us and I sat on his bed. I had been used to going straight to Oliver's, but this time, I went to Fred's.

Fred sat beside me and put an arm around me. "Katie, what happened?"

I told him. "Fred, my father died."

He looked into my eyes and without saying anything, he pulled me to him. He leaned back against him pillows, taking me with him. He sat up, propped up against the headboard, and my cheek lay on his shoulder.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Voldemort," I said. Fred cringed.

"How?"

"If I tell you, you'll be on the List with me."

That was the truth.

"What List?"

"The list of people that Voldemort has to kill."

"Katie, what's going on?"

I sighed and tears fell down my face. Fred reached up and brushed them away with him fingertip.

"Your dad was supposed to go instead of him. But he had you guys and his family. He couldn't go, my dad wouldn't let him. So he went. And he got killed. I guess that's better than your father."

Fred shook his head. "Your father shouldn't have died."

"And because I know about everything, I'm on the List, now, too."

"Why did you-know-who want to kill your father."

"Like I said, if I tell you, you're on the List, too. I can't let that happen."

"Well, I can't let you be on that List."

I was silent for a second and suddenly I was sobbing. "Fred, my dad is dead."

Fred pulled me to his chest and wrapped his arms completely around me. I cried into his shirt. He smoothed his hand over my hair.

"Shhh. I know, I know."

I shook my head and cried harder. He didn't know. He didn't know how I was feeling. I truly didn't know how I was living at that moment. I just wanted to die. Sobs raked my chest but Fred held me closer to him than ever, almost smothering me.

I felt so empty in that moment. I wanted badly to be held, to be comforted. To be told that this was all a big joke. But it wasn't. I was suddenly shaking with tears as I remembered those few minutes I saw him last at the Hogs Head Pub. I remembered the way that he hugged me, knowing that I would never feel that again, ever. I cried.

"I won't let anything happen to you, Katie. I promise. I promised your father and now I promise you."

I wept harder at the mentioning of my father. Fred's hand wandered to my right hand. He touched the ring he had given me slowly. "I promise," he repeated. I nodded and buried my face in his chest.

The door opened and I didn't lift my head to see who it was.

"Am I interrupting anything?" a bitter Oliver asked. I lifted my head now.

"Wood…" Fred said, warningly.

Oliver saw my tear stricken face. "Katie, what happened?"

Oliver took a step towards the bed. "Wood…" Fred said in a more threatening tone. I clung to Fred and whimpered into his chest. Fred soothed me and slowly sat up. He pressed me down to his pillows and got up. He shook some of the hair out of his eyes. I curled into his bed in almost a fetal position.

Fred took a step towards the doorway and took Oliver with him. They went outside with Oliver protesting. Fred closed the door behind him and they talked. They didn't know that I could hear them. I lay in a broken heap on Fred's bed and listened.

Oliver: "Fred, what's going on?"

Fred: "She'll tell you when she's ready."

"I should go in there…"

"No, no, I can't let you."

"Yes, I am her boyfriend and she's crying. I should know why. I care about her."

"No, I can't let you. I don't trust you with her when she's like this."

"Like what?"

"Vulnerable. I know it's easy for guys to take advantage of girls when they're vulnerable; they want to be taken advantage of. I know Katie's not like that, but I can't trust you. I can't let you do that to her."

"And you won't?"

"No."

"What makes you so special?"

"I love her in the way that you don't and I've always been there to protect here and Im not stepping down now."

"And you don't trust me? I'm your Captain! Fred, really, I-"

"Wood, no. I know she'll take great comfort in your company, but in her state, she may be willing to do something I know she'll regret."

"Which is?"

"You know what Im talking about, Oliver Wood and can you honestly look me in the eye and say that you'll refuse?"

"I love her."

"That's not an answer to that. Wood, until you can answer that question, I just don't know. I have to protect Katie at all costs, even if it means breaking you two up. SO don't push me that far Wood. You're lucky to have this girl, but don't take it like a right. Some things just aren't meant to last forever and Im actually dreading the day that I have to comfort her after the two of you break up."

"I hope that day doesn't come."

"We both know that it will Oliver, just…don't break her heart terribly. Don't hurt her to the point where it'll take so long to heal or to the point that it never will. Right now I have to be there for Katie. I take things like these into my responsibility. "

"Fred, I really should be in there when my girlfriend's crying."

"Wood, no. I can't let you. She was mine before she was yours and this doesn't have anything to do with you. I'm her best friend and I have to be there for her. I promised."

"But-"

"Let it go. I love Katie more than you'll ever know. There are things you don't know about her that I do. I'm closer to her than you'll ever be. I'll take good care of her. I've been taking good care of her."

I heard Oliver sigh. "All right."

I heard Fred's hand on the doorknob. "She needs to be comforted, to be told that everything will be okay. That someone will always love her and that will never change. I can't say the same thing for you because you two don't have the same relationship that I have with her. She needs me to tell her that everything will be okay, and that I'm there for her. Right now she doesn't need to be snogged, Wood."

"I understand, Weasley. Take good care of her? For me?"

"For all of us."

I wasn't quite sure why Fred said that. I probably missed most of their conversation whilst burying my head in Fred's pillows.

I heard the door open and I huddled deeper into Fred's quilt. I heard the door close and footsteps outside the door. Oliver was leaving.

"Fred?"

"Yeah?"

"Let him in."

Fred hesitated and did what I asked. He called Oliver back into the room and he rushed to the edge of the bed. He was on his knees in front of me.

"Katie, what happened?"

I took a deep breath. I didn't want to explain it to him and get him on the List, too. Also, I didn't want him here to see me so weak like this.

"Ask Dumbledore."

He nodded. Oliver leaned forwards and kissed me softly. Fred shifted uncomfortably behind Oliver, near the doorway.

Oliver got up and went to the doorway, turning around. "Stay here with Fred. I hope everything turns out all right. I love you, Katie. Goodbye."

And he was gone. I started tearing up. His last few words sounded like what my father said the last time I saw him. Again, as much as I hated it, I began to sob.

As soon as the first tear fell, Fred was instantly beside me, pulling me to his warm body. I felt so tired and so worn.

As Fred lie down beside me, I thought of another thing.

"Fred?"

"Yes, Katie?"

"Why did it sound like Oliver was breaking up with me?"

Fred sighed. "It might be because he wants to be me right now."

I shook my head, looking up at him. "That's stupid."

Fred nodded. "I know. He wonders why you come to me for comfort instead of him."

"I've always come to you. Why should this be any different?"

He shrugged. "It's different because he's in the picture now."

It sounded to me that Fred wanted me to be with Oliver right now, but still wanted to be with me. Stupid boys.

"But didn't it sound like he was breaking up with me? That whole 'goodbye' thing?"

Fred shook his head. "He's not that stupid to break up with you. He wouldn't dump you just because of this. He might get a little frustrated, but not end it completely. He doesn't want to be forced out of the picture completely. He wants to know you still want him and need him. And he wants to be the one you rely on. Like you rely on me."

"He knows the reason for that."

"Does he?"

I didn't know. "Fred, you're my best friend. Oliver is my boyfriend."

That wasn't much of an answer and Fred let it go. "Besides," he said, "He loves you and cares about you a lot."

I nodded. Then I thought of something quite odd.

"Have you ever really thought of yourself as dead?"

"No?"

"Nor do I, really. I mean, your life would be over, no last words said."

"I guess…"

"Think of it, you'd be lying there, dead, in a box, without any air. Well, I suppose you couldn't live without air. You'd be dead anyways if you were in that box. Imagine it, what would you say if I said to you, 'Now, I'm going to stuff you in this box, would you rather be alive or dead?' Naturally you'd prefer to be alive, a life in a box is better than no like at all, I expect."

I was rambling.

"All right…"

I sighed. I was saying anything and everything to keep from thinking of my father, dead…in a box…without any air. Dead. Fred's arm tightened over my arm.

I scooted closer to Fred and he held me against him. I closed my eyes and pulled back. I sat up.

"I don't like doing this, Fred."

"Doing what?"

"Only coming to you when I'm sad and in need of 'comfort' "

He shook his head. "I don't mind. It makes me feel important."

Fred grinned and so did I. I felt bad about this and even more about what he said. 'I don't mind.' That should have come from Oliver. "I just feel a little slutty. I mean, I have a boyfriend, but I'm like this," I motioned to us, "with you. Isn't that wrong or something?"

"Only if you think it is. Katie, you're more of a sister to me. You're my best friend. If Oliver's jealous, he has nothing to be jealous about. If he wanted to be me and be your brother figure, then he couldn't love you. And that's worse than jealousy. Would he rather you be like this with George? Or Diggory?"

I smiled. "I guess you're right."

"I know I'm right!" he said, grinning. I opened my mouth to say something more when he stopped me.

"Katie, if you're so worried about what he thinks, go to him. Just promise me that you won't do anything stupid."

I sat up. "You think I'm going to sleep with him?"

He sighed and sat up. "Katie, you're vulnerable right now. You feel like you need to escape and you may be willing to do things to do that."

I remembered his conversation with Oliver. "Is that why you're staying with me? So that won't happen between Oliver and I?"

He put a hand on my shoulder. "That and the fact that I care about you, Katie. I feel lucky that I'm right here with you instead of Wood. But I won't be offended if you go to him now. Just promise me."

I thought for a second. "I'll stay."

He smiled. "Good."

I lay back down beside him and I thought about things.

"I wonder if my mum knows…" I wondered aloud.

Fred was silent. "Dumbledore might've sent her an owl."

I shook my head. "She won't even care. She never loved him."

Fred didn't know what to say and I didn't blame him. I was going crazy. Before I knew it, I was crying again. I hated being like this, but if I was going to be like this in front of anyone, I was glad that it was Fred. I had so many connections with Fred that I felt comfortable with him. I trusted him.

Fred's hand closed over mine and I smiled weakly, sniffling. I instantly huddled to his chest and his arms were around me, holding me safe. Fred kissed the top of my head and I closed my eyes.

As I lay there, I thought about how Oliver was feeling. Before Oliver, Fred and I still had that sibling-like connection, but sometimes it was more than that, to me. Often times, before Oliver, I thought about dating Fred. But I thought that was just too weird. I hadn't changed my mind now. I was in love with Oliver. I loved Fred, too, but that was a different kind of love. Like the way you might love a puppy or your best friend. Fred was the latter.

Fred held me to him as I cried. He didn't know what I was going through but I knew that he was trying to understand. Being with Fred like that, others would think that I was cheating on Oliver. Fred was more than a brother to me and Oliver understood that. Fred had always been my shoulder to cry on, and now it was literal. Oliver wasn't in the picture long enough to replace Fred.

"I'll take care of you, Katie," Fred whispered in my ear.

I didn't want to be taken care of and I didn't want it to seem that way. But lying there, sad and feeling awful, I did want Fred to take care of me, I wanted someone to.

One of the reasons why I didn't go to Oliver was because Fred was right in a sense. I would have much rather snog and make out with Oliver than cry. Also, I didn't want to explain the whole thing to him, I already explained to Fred. Another thing, Fred knew how close I was to my father and Oliver didn't. He had only met him once. I also knew Fred a lot more and better than I knew Oliver.

"Fred?"

"Yeah?"

"The next time you see Oliver, can you tell him, please?"

"Are you sure?"

I hesitated. "Oliver needs to know that I trust him. I can tell him this. Do you think he's angry with me?"

He was the one who hesitated now. "Honestly, he might be. He might say that if you're going to be like this, then you might as well dump him and go out with me. But that's not right and hopefully he won't be like that. It's a possibility, but I think Wood is smarter than that. All in all, he might be mad, but he doesn't have a reason to. Not one."

I nodded. I fell asleep then, lying on Fred's bed with him, thinking about Oliver Wood, and crying and dreaming about my dad. I felt like I didn't know who I was anymore. My father was gone, my mother didn't care, Oliver was probably angry with me for being with Fred right then, and Fred was promising me. But where did I fit in all of this?

I really didn't know the real answer to that question. I loved Oliver more than anything, but Fred held me up and when I was lost or forgot who I was, I looked to him. It was an awkward triangle than was soon going to break. But I wasn't going to let that happen, I was going to mold it and change it for the better. If Oliver really did love me, he would have to hold on just a little longer while I sorted things out.

So there I was, fatherless, sad, and confused. Not sure if keeping my best friend meant breaking up with my amazing boyfriend. That was who I was. Gryffindor Chaser, Oliver Wood's girlfriend, Fred's best friend, the late Nicholas Bell's daughter, and student at Hogwarts. That was me, Katie Bell. And, damnit, I was proud of what I was, no matter how confusing or awful my life was, that is who I am.

But I couldn't help remember that my father was dead.

There, your chapter and your dead guy. :-( it was sad. Hey, for all of you who didnt notice or realize, this whole thing was based on the song "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5. If there are later chapters, that will be emphisized. :-D

Well, now, important notice. The last few paragraphs in this chapter were designed to be the ending. If you prefer this as the ending, say so in a review. If not, I still have ideas for other chapters..........

Please review and tell me what you think. It all depends on you......after all.................................I don't mind. I'd like to keep writing, but only if that means you all will keep reading and reviewing!

If I DO lengthen this story, there will be further Oliver/Katie romance...chill out. :-) Fred will be with someone.

REVIEW PLEASE! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! My gift to you!