Chapter 16

Katie sighed contentedly and snuggled closer to the warm body next to her. Her eyes flew open as she realized the situation. She looked up to find that Oliver was already awake and looking at her. She rolled her eyes as she remembered last night's events. They had all trudged back from Hogsmeade dead tired. They decided that it would take too much effort to climb up the stairs to their dormitories. Katie was able to summon two sleeping bags. But, Fred and Angelina and George and Alicia had dibbed them, so Katie and Oliver had curled up on the couch together.

"Good morning sleeping beauty. Sleep well?" Katie chuckled and laid her head against Oliver's chest.

"It's hard not to sleep well when you're curled up on a couch with a warm, buff Oliver Wood." Oliver laughed quietly and kissed Katie's head. "Tell me its still early and no one's down here."

"5 AM and just us six, love."

"Good, 'cause there's no way I want to leave this spot, not yet anyways." Katie closed her eyes and pressed herself closer to Oliver, kissing his chin. After they had contently lain there for some time, Oliver brought up the issue of the Yule Ball.

"So what are we going to do about the ball?"

"What d'you mean?"

"Well if we don't want people to know about us, then going together isn't really an option." Katie sighed and played absentmindedly, with Oliver's fingers, which were entwined with hers.

"Can we just go as friends, like last year?" Oliver groaned at this. "I know, I'm sorry. But please Ol'? Please?" Katie opened her eyes and, tilting her head up and gave Oliver a puppy-dog face. Oliver sighed and kissed her.

"You know some would argue that you have too much power, Kate." Oliver chuckled as Katie bit her lip, smiling sheepishly.

Potions

"Miss Bell since you and Mr. Wood are having such a wonderful time talking, would you care to hand in your potion? It must be done by now, I'm sure." Snape sneered; when Katie and Oliver wouldn't be able to hand in their potion, he would give them a big fat zero.

"Of course, Professor." Katie smiled sweetly and walked up to the desk, carrying two pieces of parchment (one her essay and one Oliver's) and a vial of purple potion. Snape's eye twitched slightly and he glared more intensely at Katie.

"Thank you Miss Bell." Katie smiled again, even more sweetly than the first time, and returned to her seat next to Oliver. Fred, George, Angelina, Alicia, and Oliver were all shaking with silent laughter. Katie smirked and sat down, receiving a few glares from some the Slytherins.

"That was bloody brilliant. Did you see the look on his face?!" Oliver covered his mouth to stop himself from bursting out laughing. Katie chuckled and nodded, but then she suddenly felt someone's eyes on her. She turned around and looked at the twins, Angelina, and Alicia; they were all working intently on their potion, well at least as intently as the Weasely twins could ever work. She scanned the rest of the classroom until her eyes fell on a certain Slytherin; Marcus Flint. He was smirking at her; cocking an eyebrow suggestively before going back to his work. Katie shuddered involuntarily; thankful that Marcus' eyes were no longer on her.

"Kate, what's wrong?" Katie turned back to Oliver who was looking at her with a worried expression.

"Huh? Oh, nothing. Just the cold of the dungeons I guess." Katie gave Oliver a weak smile, which apparently satisfied him because he went back to reading his Quidditch Magazine.

An Hour Later

"Finally dinner! I'm starving!"

"Fred, you're always starving!" Angelina rolled her eyes as they started out of the Potions classroom.

"Damn ... I left my Transfiguration essay in my dormitory. I was supposed to turn it in to McGonagall at dinner because Alicia spilled ink on it during class and I didn't have time to re-write it there," Katie said as she searched, one last time, through her bag. "You guys go on to dinner and I'll meet you there in a little while."

"You sure?"

"Yes, Ol' I need to get my essay from upstairs. Go feed that boy," Katie jerked her thumb at Fred, "and I'll see you in a little while." Oliver cocked and eyebrow but nodded and headed out of the dungeons toward the Great Hall with everyone else.

Katie made her way up to the Gryffindor Tower; just as she was about to say the password, someone grabbed her around the waist and pushed her into an empty classroom. She whirled around to see none other than Marcus Flint leaning smugly against the now closed door.

"What do you want, Flint?"

"Nothing special, just this." Flint stepped forward and, before Katie could stop him, pushed his lips against hers. Katie tried to push him off, but he was a lot stronger than she was. Thankfully, he didn't add tongue and eventually pulled away. Katie looked at him, half-fearful, half-disgusted; she realized that he was between her and the doorway. She suddenly felt very claustrophobic. She swallowed and forced herself to remain calm.

"What in the sodding hell did you do that for?" Marcus chuckled.

"I'm not going to lie, Katie. You don't look half bad, even if you are a Gryffindor. Besides, you'll be going to the Yule Ball with me and I thought we should get acquainted." He smirked at Katie's confused and outraged expression.

"I am not going to the Ball with you! You disgusting creep!" Katie tried to push her way past Marcus, but he caught her forearms. She was again suddenly aware of just how strong Marcus actually was. She winced in pain as he tightened his hold on her arms; she knew she'd have bruises there before long.

"I think you are going to the Ball with me, Kate." Katie opened her mouth to say something, but she heard someone else's voice instead.

"What in the sodding hell do you think you're doing Flint?" Oliver was standing in the doorway of the classroom; Fred and George were standing behind him glaring menacingly.

"What's it to you, Wood?" Marcus spat angrily.

"Let her go. Now." Oliver's voice was a venomous calm; a calm that made Katie shudder involuntarily. Marcus, seemingly un-phased, turned back to Katie.

"I'll let you know where I'm going to pick you up, Kate." Marcus leaned in and kissed Katie roughly, not allowing her to pull away. A few seconds later, Fred, Oliver, and George had stepped forward and thrown Marcus off Katie. Oliver punched him hard in the stomach when he was bent over. After checking on Katie, George and Fred strode over to Marcus, glaring. Oliver picked him up by the collar of his robes, bringing Marcus' face inches from his own.

"She said she didn't want to go to the ball with you, you sick bastard!" Marcus smirked at Oliver who threw him against the wall, outraged at Marcus' audacity. Fred walked up and kicked Marcus in the stomach several times. Marcus stumbled to his feet; only to crumple to the ground again as George kneed him in the groin. With a final glare, the three turned their attention back to Katie, silently deciding that Marcus could wait. Seizing the opportunity, Marcus pushed himself up off the ground and staggered out of the classroom.

Oliver, Fred, and George turned back to Katie with concerned looks on their faces. Katie looked up at them, the tears in her eyes threatening to spill over. Oliver strode over to her and enveloped her in a tight hug; Katie burst into tears. Fred came over and stroked her head as George rubbed her back. When Katie finally managed to stop crying, she pulled away from Oliver and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"Are you okay?" Oliver lightly ran his finger along the bruise that was forming on Katie's left forearm. She inhaled sharply as she saw that her skin had already started to turn black and blue where Marcus had been holding her.

"I thought they went – oh my god! What happened?!" Angelina ran over to Katie and hugged her tightly, not waiting for an explanation. Alicia hurried in after her and followed suit.

"Katie, what ..." Alicia looked at Katie's arms and then at her slightly red lips, confused.

"I swear if I ever get my hands on that bastard!" Fred and George clenched their fists at Oliver's words and Katie noticed Oliver's jaw twitch involuntarily.

"Will someone please tell us what in the bloody hell is going on?!" Angelina yelled. Katie, who was already shaking uncontrollably, flinched at Angelina's harshness. Katie collapsed into the chair that was standing behind her and buried her face in her hands.

"H-he ... he t-tried to ... and then h-he kiss-kissed me ... twice," Katie stuttered.

"Who?!" Alicia looked at Katie helplessly.

"Flint." Angelina and Alicia gasped simultaneously at George's answer.

"He kissed you before?!" Katie nodded in silent answer to Fred's question.

"He thinks your going to go to the Ball with him?!" Oliver asked as he raked a hand through his hair. She nodded again. She kept her eyes on the floor; she didn't want to look at Oliver. She felt so ashamed ... that she didn't protect herself. She hated the fact that she had to have Oliver, Fred, and George always running to her rescue. Furthermore, she didn't want to see that hate in Oliver's eyes. Eyes that were normally so beautiful and deep, eyes that held so much love ... for her. But she knew, like the day on the train, they would be clouded with more loathing and anger than she cared to admit. "That ruddy bastard!"

"I ... I'd l-like to just g-go upstairs," Katie said in a small voice that didn't sound like her own. Everyone turned back to look at her with concerned expressions. She continued to avoid their eyes and stood up, walking out of the classroom. They all exchanged confused, worried looks before following her out. She whispered the password to the fat lady, unable to summon enough strength to speak aloud. She walked into the common room and then slowly up the stairs to her dormitory. Oliver glanced at his friends before following Katie upstairs.

She collapsed on her bed, burying her head in her pillow. A few minutes later, she felt someone sit down on her bed and start to rub her back soothingly. After a while, she sighed and rolled over, finding herself looking up at a very pensive Oliver Wood. She moved and laid her head in his lap; he looked down at her with an unreadable expression.

"Katie, what's wrong?" To anyone else, the question would have sounded utterly idiotic, but Katie knew what Oliver meant. "Nothing happened, he's gone. He's not going to hurt you. I promise." Katie sighed; she knew this was hurting Oliver as much as was hurting her.

"But that's the thing, Ol'. What if you hadn't been there?" Katie sat up and faced Oliver, avoiding his eyes.

"Kate, listen to me." Oliver put his hand under Katie's chin and brought her eyes up to meet his. "I will always be there for you. No matter what. I will always protect you from anything and everything. You never have to worry about me not being there because that day will never come ... ever. Do you understand?" Katie bit her lip. "Kate, I love you."

"I love you too, Oliver." His eyes widened slightly, as did Katie's; she had never said it to him like that. She had always said she loved him, but back then she had loved him as her best friend. Now, she meant it in the same way as Oliver did ... she was madly in love with him. She chuckled, "I love you!" Oliver laughed, disbelievingly, as Katie threw herself into his arms and kissed him. Katie sat up a little as Oliver deepened the kiss. She pulled away slightly and settled into his arms comfortably.

"I should probably go ... if anyone found us, this would be a very compromising situation." Katie's smile faded. "What's wrong?" Oliver asked with a worried look on his face.

"I ... never mind, it's stupid." Katie turned away, but Oliver put his hand on her cheek and pulled her back to look at him.

"What is it, Kate?"

"I just ... I'm kind of scared ... you know ..." Katie's voice trailed off and Oliver looked at her reassuringly.

"I'll stay until you fall asleep, okay?" Katie smiled weakly and nodded as she settled into her covers. Oliver kissed her forehead as she closed her eyes.

Gryffindor Common Room

"Is she okay?" Angelina asked, standing up.

"She's asleep." Oliver flopped down on the couch and buried his face in his hands.

"That's not what I asked you, Oliver."

"What do you want me to say, Angelina?!" Oliver snapped, standing up. "I'm going up to bed." Oliver knew full well that that was not what he was intending to do, but he needed to tell them all something. He trudged up the stairs and, reaching his dormitory, sat down on his bed. I can't believe I let something like that happen. He sat on his bed prodding over what had happened for about 45 minutes.

"You're not really going to bed are you?" Fred poked his head through the door; Oliver rolled his eyes and shook his head 'no'.

"If you think I'm going to let that bastard off with a few kicks in the stomach, you're nuts. Let's go." By now, the girls had gone to bed and they wouldn't question Fred, Oliver, and George about where they were going. They headed down towards the Slytherin Dormitories and, unfortunately for him, came upon Marcus as he was heading to the dormitories after Quidditch Practice. He will wish he'd never been born, Oliver thought as he glared at Marcus.

A/N: I so totally owe my beta for this! I hated this chapter when I first wrote it ... frankly, it was shit. Haha, even she agreed with me. But with some help from her and some Swiss chocolate, now it's better! How did you all like it is the real question?! I really like the way this chapter turned out. I have a bit of foreshadowy goodness for you all: remember this chapter and remember how Flint was involved! Now, after I do the happy dance for a moment ... does happy dance ... on to answering your many wonderful reviews!

Dark Rose: LOL, thanks. I think it needed Fred's identity crisis to add some depth, haha (I can put that to words now, thanks to my Sandofia's review!). I am going to do that, next flashback! LOL, how was this one?

MasterHarperMenolly: Yay! I will be your first reviewer! Haha, thanks. That may happen when I get some extra time. Anywho, I know how you love my one-shots and I have a new one up! It works with Time to Burn and First Day of My Life, so you might be a tad confused. But you're welcome to read anyways! How was this one?

Cherdy the Molologist: Yeah, it was a tad boring. This one had more juice though, LOL. Did you like it? Thanks!

AllysonKat: LOL, I'm glad you liked it. I love their relationship! How was this one? She finally said it!!

Sandofia: Yay! She's my beta, she's my beta! does happy dance repeatedly in honor of my beta!! I'm glad I finally got the whole review! Christmas is coming ... and Katie and Oliver will be together! Haha, I wish it were cold here. We're still at 90 freaking degrees! Its way too damn hott in Arizona! LOL, yay! I was going for that effect and I'm glad you caught it! As to your guesses, it won't happen over Christmas. LOL, yes Katie and Oliver are involved. You were surprisingly close on the next guess, but I won't tell you in what way. No, nothing to do with Days, waaaay too confusing! LOL, the answer will be coming ... soon. Thanks! I'd as you how you liked this one but I already know! Haha!

HarryPotterFan670: Mucho thanko! How'd you like it?