Author's Note: Once again, a big thanks to all my reviewers. You've been really great and I appreciate it.

Also, I received comments for the previous chapter, saying that the match part was copied from J.K. Rowling's book. This is not true. Though I did refer to the book, none of the commentator's words were copied. Most of the chapter, and I am not afraid to admit, was purely thought up by me. Those that were extracted were modified to a large extent. I apologize if any of you felt angry reading the last chapter. Enjoy.

Chapter 10: Denial

"So Katie, what happened down there? Did both of you do something else besides talking?" Alicia asked eagerly, as soon as Katie entered the dormitory, Quidditch robes dripping with rainwater. However, when she noticed that Katie's eyes were red and swollen, an obvious sign of crying, she shut her mouth and awkwardly turned away.

"So…things didn't work out?" Angelina questioned tactfully after a moment's silence.

Katie sighed. Her friends would not let her get away without telling them what had happened between her and Oliver.

"Listen, people. I'm really tired and I need a bath. If you want to know, wait for me."

Fifteen minutes later, Katie emerged from the bathroom, feeling more refreshed, but still as miserable as ever. Angelina and Alicia sat on her bed, waiting impatiently for her.

"Well? We waited for a whole fifteen minutes!"

Katie ignored Alicia and sat down on her bed, massaging her leg as she spoke.

"I comforted him and he seemed happier. I apologized to him about yesterday during practice, and he forgave me. And then…"

"Then?"

Katie put her face in her hands, a tear of guilt escaping her eye.

"He kissed me. I pushed him away, and told him I didn't like him."

Alicia gave a snort and whacked Katie hard on the head with a pillow, ignoring her yelps of pain.

"Earth to Katie! You have this hot Quidditch Captain trying to get your undivided attention for the past seven years. He's been trying so hard, Katie. You never knew, didn't you? He saw that you didn't like him at all, so he thought that he would never be good enough for you. And the reason he had so many girlfriends was because he wanted to comfort himself! So that you would sit up and take notice!"

Katie put up her hands in front of her to defend herself from any more of Alicia's blows. She looked up and stared sullenly.

"Kates, you really are an idiot! We wanted to you go to the locker rooms to comfort Oliver, not for this to happen!" Angelina said exasperatedly.

"I'm sorry I let you down guys. But this is just not the right time for us to get together."

"Don't make excuses, Katie. We've all been waiting for six years. It's time you got moving." Alicia said sternly, and turned off the lights.

"Goodnight, Katie. Think about it. Seriously."


The next morning, the girls dressed for school in an extremely silent state. Nobody had the heart to talk, due to what had happened the day before. Angelina and Alicia prepared to go down to the Great Hall for breakfast. However, Katie continued sitting on her bed, combing her hair slowly, making no move to follow them.

"Katie?" Alicia probed softly.

"Lish, I'm not going down for breakfast today." Katie muttered almost inaudibly, determinedly avoiding her friend's gaze.

"Listen, Katie. You have to face him eventually during Quidditch practice anyway. Come on!"

"No, it's not that. I'm…not hungry." Katie countered weakly, but Angelina would not have any of that. She started pulling Katie towards the door.

"Stop denying, Kates. Don't torture yourself with gastric just to avoid the present bane of your life."

Katie followed along reluctantly, knowing that when her friend made up her mind, there was no changing it. As they reached the door leading to the Great Hall, Katie said quietly, " Please sit at someplace where he will not notice us."

Angelina nodded tiredly and dragged Katie into the breakfast hall, with Alicia following behind. Katie's gaze shifted around the hall, until something caught her eye. Oliver was facing Percy, and beside him was a girl. Katie recognized her as Ashley Stevens, a pretty yet egoistical girl from Gryffindor. Ashley was the typical girl a guy would normally go for. Her long black hair fell to her waist, her face was covered entirely in makeup, and her glittering red nails showed that she had undergone an hour-long manicure. When she laughed, she portrayed even white teeth, but there was no other beauty or sincerity to it. Katie knew, with a sinking heart, that Ashley was only with Oliver because of his popularity and good looks. Yet, a pang of intense jealousy stabbed her as she saw Oliver putting his hand around her waist and leaning forward to nuzzle into her neck.

You let him go, Katie. It's nobody's fault but yours.

Suddenly, Ashley rose up her head and caught Katie's eye. She stared at Katie and smirked triumphantly, shooting her a gloating look, which evidently said, "You are such an ugly girl. I can't imagine why he ever liked you."

Katie glared back balefully at her. Nevertheless, her heart sank when she realized that she had lost someone who was everything a girl could ever want. A boy who comforted her when she cried, a boy who had promised to give everything up for her, a boy who had waited for her for six years to take notice of him. All that, she had lost by just saying a few words. Katie sighed inwardly, cursing herself for being so stupid. She raised her chin, and walked straight, blatantly ignoring Oliver and his girlfriend.

She sat at the other end of the Gryffindor, far from where Oliver was. Angelina and Alicia saw that she was evidently not in the mood for talking. The three ate in an uncomfortable silence, which was only disrupted when Angelina and Alicia talked to each other.

While everyone was busily tucking into his or her food, Dumbledore stood up, and knocked his spoon against his goblet for attention. Instantly, the entire hall went silent, and all eyes swiveled to look at their old, yet wizened headmaster.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sure that all of you will be pleased to know that the teachers, together with the prefects, have organized a ball for everyone to take a break from their studies and relax. It will be held next Saturday at about 8pm to 12 midnight. Please get ready your significant other beforehand. Thank you." Dumbledore finished, and sat down, eyes twinkling merrily. Almost instantly, the entire population started buzzing away excitedly, the girls about what kind of dresses they wanted to wear, and the boys about whom they wanted to escort.

"I guess I'll be going solo then." Katie remarked dryly.

"Don't say that, Katie. You're pretty. I'm sure you'll find a date in no time." Angelina said.

"Let's bet 5 galleons that I won't have a date by today." Katie replied challengingly.

Angelina gazed at Katie, her eyes filled with an unreadable expression.

"Fine, you're on."

Alicia grinned wickedly.

"Count me in."


"I'd love to wear an orange coloured dress to the ball."

"Nah, Ange. You have absolutely no taste. I think you would look gorgeous in a cream-coloured dress. It suits your skin better."

"Cream? But I'm already using that colour for my high-heels!"

Alicia rolled her eyes.

"Then change the colour of your shoes, silly!"

Katie sat there, listening to her two friends squabbling incessantly. Any other person would have screamed in exasperation by now, but Katie was too used to her friends' quarrels to respond. She cupped her chin in her hands and stared into space, enjoying what was left of the free time she had before lessons started for the day.

"Katie…" A deep, husky voice behind her disrupted her thoughts. Katie turned around. It was Roger Davies, Quidditch Captain of Ravenclaw. He was also one of the most sought-after boys among the female population. As Katie stared at him, her thoughts focused on a handsome brunette, with warm chocolate eyes and a sparkling smile. Someone she didn't want to think about.

He's so uncannily like Oliver. So attractive, so muscular, such a ladies' man. Yet…

When her head finally came down from space, she found Roger staring at her in a rather perplexed manner.

"Erm…Katie, have you been listening to me?"

Katie blushed in embarrassment and smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Roger. What were you saying?" She asked, ignoring Angelina and Alicia's knowing smirks.

"I've liked you for a while, Katie. And I was wondering if you'd like me to be your escort for the ball next week? If you don't want, or if there's someone else, I understand. But if…"

Katie smiled. He was so cute when he was at a loss of words to say. Since Oliver had given up on her, she didn't see why she could not let go and mope over him.

"I'd love to."

"Great! I'll escort you from your common room to the Hall at say, around seven?"

"Seven's fine."

Roger gave Katie his winning smile as he waved and walked back to his table. His smile was one that could melt any girl's heart and sweep her off her feet. Katie's heart fluttered as she stared after him. She actually realized that she was happy and contented. Turning around, she was faced with a grinning Angelina and Alicia.

"So where's our money?"

Katie laughed and dug out ten galleons reluctantly from her pocket. That meant she would have no more sweets for the rest of the term.

Little did she know that an extremely jealous pair of eyes had been watching her and Roger Davies' short-lived conversation.


Oliver unwillingly dragged his attention away from two particular persons. His blood was boiling, with both fury and something more. Something painfully undeniable and obvious.

How could she be so immature? Just accepting the invitation from him without thinking? What if he plans to pry our team's tactics and harms her? I can't have any of that!

I'm sure that's not the only reason.

Shut up.

"Ollie, are you like even listening to me? I'm talking to you!"

A sharp, shrill voice jerked Oliver back into reality. He felt both irritated and annoyed, but tried to soothe his nerves.

"Yes, Ashley dear? I'm all ears now." He said, smiling falsely at her. He winced inwardly, detesting his nickname.

"Oh, Ol. I was saying that I'm like, SO glad you've finally come to your senses after like, so many years. I don't know, and I don't want to know what you see in that Katie Bell. She's so ordinary, so plain and ugly. She has no talents at all…"

Unconsciously, Oliver clenched his fists. He could not help but feel defensive towards Katie, for unknown reasons.

"Shut up, bitch." He gritted his teeth furiously.

"What?" Ashley ceased rambling for a moment, fluttering her eyelids at Oliver.

"Nothing." Oliver said quietly, and looked away. Fortunately, Ashley did not pursue the matter, as she was obsessed with hearing her own high falsetto voice.

"…Unlike me, I'm not only talented, but I'm appealing, sexy, beautiful, and I can make any guy happy. Especially you, Ollie dear." At this, Ashley turned her head to face Oliver and leaned forward. As she did so, Oliver caught a whiff of her sickly sweet perfume, and suppressed a choke. He turned away from Ashley, but her sharp nails raked his face, and drew him back to face her.

"What's wrong, Ollie? Still thinking of her?" she said with anger, and then crooned softly.

"Forget about her, Ollie. She's not even worth pining for. Look at me. Feel me. I can make you the happiest guy on earth."

Suddenly, Oliver felt a desire to release his emotions overpowering him. With a quick turn of his head, he caught Ashley's lips in a passionate and brutal kiss, making her moan with pleasure. He did not care who she was, and he did not care if everyone was staring; he just needed to hold someone, to feel and kiss someone…

His hands sneakily raked through and under Ashley's robes, to touch and caress her smooth skin. Similarly, Ashley moved her hands under his robes and dragged her nails on his muscular well-toned chest, making him jump several times with a pained thrill. They remained in this state for a minute or so before breaking apart for air. Oliver smiled at Ashley, his arm still wrapped tightly around her waist, and she leaned into him comfortably while he resumed eating. Strangely, he felt a fascinating combination of nausea (from inhaling Ashley's makeup), happiness and remorse.


"Look at the way they are both sucking each other's faces off." George said.

"I seriously need a basin." Fred added, his face slightly green.

"I don't believe it. Oliver wouldn't behave like that. Would he?" Alicia questioned carefully, and the four of them glanced at Katie instinctively.

Katie saw their looks, and said in a controlled, light tone, "It doesn't concern me at all whatever he wants to do, is it?"

"Well…not really." Angelina replied.

"Then stop looking at me, all of you!" Katie snapped suddenly, causing her friends to jump slightly and quickly look away, for they had no desire to suffer from Katie's terrible wrath, especially when she was in a temper. Yet, one could sense the doubt, the intense hurt in her, longing for things to be what they used to be.


He couldn't tolerate Ashley. Though she was indeed stunningly attractive, her behaviour was absolutely atrocious. Evidently, nobody had dared spoken a word of criticism to her since the day she was born, as she really thought the world of herself. Moreover, her face was so heavily laden with makeup that Oliver couldn't really see her features well enough to tell if she was good-looking under all those mascara and foundation. But then again, most girls who sucked up to him were like that. Ashley was no different.

But not Katie Bell.

Though he had never actually seen her with a lot of makeup, and her blond hair was almost always tied up neatly into a ponytail, Oliver, and many other guys as well, deemed her pretty. Furthermore, her beauty went far beneath her skin. Even though Katie had been nasty to Oliver and her enemies (like Flint), she was actually a generous and warm-hearted friend, who was ever willing to help others.

Stop thinking about her!

I can't.

Why not?

I'm in love with her.

Ah! Admittance is the first step to recovery.

Shut up.

Why couldn't he stop thinking about her? Oliver, in all his years, had never had problems with the female population. They always flocked to him in huge bunches. That was, until he met Katie. She was so cold, distant towards him. That irked his ego and he could not help but try to catch her attention more, even by means of flirting. Over time, he had fallen into the inescapable web of love. But he had never heard the words he yearned most to spill out of her mouth, for her to say that she loved him back. Instead, each word she said to him cut him deeper and deeper.

God, I hate her. I hate her for deflating my confidence, for hurting me countless times. Yet…I love her so much, she's driving me crazy. Oh God…

His thoughts were interrupted by two familiar voices.

"Yo Captain."

"Thought we would like to pay our dear Wood a visit-"

"-And find out how's life."

"Life is just peachy keen." Oliver answered sardonically.

"We knew that." Fred said jokingly, then the expression on his face turned serious. He and George pushed an annoyed Ashley away, then sat on either side of Oliver.

"We've heard about the incident in the lock-"

"What about that?" Oliver asked quickly, appearing cool and collected. George leaned closer, and observed a hurt, hollow look in his eyes. Oliver hurriedly turned away.

"Stop it."

"Listen, Oliver. Stop treading the waters of self-denial. We know it isn't your fault, but stop wallowing in self-pity! We'll help you. We're your friends, remember?"

"What's there to help?"

Fred gave a sigh of exasperation. Oliver was clearly not about to make things easy for them.

"Katie's the only one for you. We all know that. It's just a matter of time."

"A matter of time? Like, six years? Nothing is going to happen anymore! She was never interested in me, and will never be!"

"That's where you're completely wrong. Katie doesn't hate you anymore. She's just denying herself. Katie's in love with-"

"LIAR!"

Oliver's sudden outburst scared the entire Gryffindor population. Thankfully, the teachers appeared oblivious to his words. Not wanting to attract any more unnecessary attention, he dragged Fred and George outside the Great Hall. He spoke through his teeth in a seething voice, such that even the twins dared not make a single crude remark.

"Listen to me, you two. Leave me alone. Stop probing into other people's business. You may think yourselves helpful, but I find it extremely irritating."

Just then, the bell for lessons rang. Oliver sighed with relief inwardly. He hated rows of any sort, but his friends were going too far. He could not bear to hear them talk about her anymore. Collecting himself and portraying his best façade, he said smugly.

"Now, if you would kindly excuse me, I have lessons. Plus, a girl who is waiting for me." With that, he walked into the Great Hall, and came out with Ashley clinging tightly onto him, a triumphant snobbish look on her face. He walked past Fred and George, without so much as a backward glance. Fred shook his head grimly, and spoke to his brother in a determined, firm voice, which was very unlike him.

"We'll find a way eventually. Trust me."


A rather dry chapter. Well, the next one will definitely be more interesting. For those of you who haven't watched Constantine, you only live once! Keanu Reeves is a gift from heaven, don't you agree?