Chapter
25: A Peaceful Interlude
"AHH! Oliver save me!" Katie shrieked as Fred lifted her up and threw her over his shoulder. George was laughing hysterically as he watched his twin brother tickle Katie mercilessly. "Oliver!"
"Oy, Fred! I want my girlfriend back!" Oliver called from his seat on the other side of the compartment. Fred grinned cheekily before carrying Katie over to Oliver and dropping her into his lap. Katie kissed Oliver on the cheek and leaned against him, still giggling. He leaned closer and whispered, "You look beautiful when you laugh." She smiled, biting her lip, as he fingered the silver locket around her neck.
"Hey, you two! Come back to the earth for a few minutes!" Angelina said loudly, waving her hand at them.
The six of them were on their way back to Hogwarts after Christmas break. They'd had a wonderful time at Katie's two days prior; the twins instigated a snowball fight and they all ended spending the night at Katie's house. They exchanged gifts and everyone was relatively pleased with their gifts. Katie had given the twins each a new pair of Quidditch gloves, since she knew they needed them, she had given Angelina a t-shirt with David Bowie on it, and she had given Alicia a CD of her favorite band, The Rasmus. Oliver had given the twins their prank beater's bats, Angelina got a new scarf (much to her dismay and Fred's delight), and he gave Alicia set of books that she had been wanting. Fred and George had gotten everyone the same thing: a black hoodie that said "The Spectacular Six" on the front in gold, cursive letters. On the back of each of them were a number (1 thru 6) and their last name. Oliver's, for instance, said "Wood" and "3". Angelina gave Oliver a shirt that said "Quidditch Maniac", she gave Katie and Alicia both a pair of jeans that were similar to the pair they had been stealing from her for months. Alicia had given Angelina a black dress that she had been wanting for months since she saw it at a store in Muggle London, she gave Katie a new Lava Lamp, as hers had broken, and she gave Oliver a Puddlemere United warm-up jacket.
"So we've got a few days before classes start up again, right?" Alicia asked, settling comfortably into George's arms.
"Yeah," Oliver answered absentmindedly; he was entranced with the strand of Katie's hair that he was winding around his finger.
"How about Hogsmeade tomorrow then?"
"You know, Fred, eventually we're going to get in trouble for always going there," Katie said, giving him a look that could be deemed McGonagall-like.
"Nah! I heard Dumbledore talking about our excursions to one of the teachers a while back. Seems he doesn't really mind it." George waved his hand dismissively.
"Well in that case, Hogsmeade it is!" Oliver said, having broken out of his reverie.
1 Week Later
"You know … getting hurt isn't so bad … if your beautiful girlfriend … gives you a massage after." Katie laughed and shook her head; Oliver had pulled out his shoulder during Quidditch practice. Now, she was sitting behind him on the floor, massaging his shoulder, the Boys' Dormitory fire roaring before them.
"Oliver?"
"Hmm?" he responded, dazedly. She knew he wasn't really paying attention to what she was saying, so she stopped massaging his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning her head on his good shoulder. "Yes, love?"
"What's going to happen to us when we graduate?" Oliver turned slightly and gave her a confused look.
"Kates, we're only in sixth year … I don't think we need to be worrying about that yet."
"So … what are you saying? That this is just some pointless fling to you?" Katie asked, starting to get angry, even though her voice was thick. At this, Oliver stood up and pulled her up with him. He gave her a serious look, his rich, brown eyes boring into hers.
"Don't you ever, ever let me hear you say that again. I love you with every fiber of my being. I am totally and completely in love with you, Katherine Anne Bell. This is not a fling or whatever else you want to call it. This is love … you and I … we have something special. Something I've never felt before in my entire life. After we graduate, I fully intend on making you my wife … eventually." Without waiting for her response, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently. She responded by wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing him back.
… … …
"Damn it!" Marcus grabbed a lamp and threw it against the wall in anger.
"Marcus, sweetheart, don't be mad." He turned and glared at her, but his glare soon softened as he raked his eyes over her clothing … or lack thereof. But then, the memory of what had just happened between the two Gryffindors crept back into his memory.
"Fuck … I can't believe him … she's mine!"
"Shh, sweetheart … don't get yourself so worked up over it." Morgana sat down next to him and started to massage his shoulders slowly. "Let's have a bit of fun," she purred in his ear.
"Under one condition … you put the plan into action … tomorrow." Morgana nodded as she pulled Marcus onto the bed with her.
A/N: I know, I know. It was horribly short. But the next part is a HUGE plot point, and I just couldn't justify putting it in this chapter. It needs a chapter all its own, trust me. I will warn you that the next chapter, while it probably won't be up for at least a few days, will make you all want to hurt me … a lot. All I have to say is please trust me! Everything will work out like it's supposed to! Please review!
AvalancheFan: Thanks a bunch!
BrownEyedAthena: Nice penname! Thank you so much! I'm so flattered! I was sort of afraid people would be annoyed at the fact that I talk about the twins, Alicia, and Angelina, but I'm really glad that you liked it! LOL, all I can say about the ending is TRUST ME! Yes, there will be sequels. There will be one major post-Hogwarts, post-war sequel with Katie and Oliver, and several others focusing more on the twins, Alicia, and Angelina. I don't plan to write a story on their involvement in the war, but I do have a few one-shots planned to explain it. Again, I'm so flattered! I hope you liked this chapter!
Anonymous: LOL, I think we all wish we had an Oliver in our lives! Or maybe a Mr. Darcy … oh yeah, anywho! Thanks a bunch!
Depthofshadow: LOL! Well, I'm sorry that this took longer than I expected. I've been super busy. The next chapter won't be up for a while, but I'm going to ask my beta to make it her top priority! I'm flattered!
Elvishgurl: Nope, that's not the ending. It will be a while before this actually ends. I'm looking at about 35-40 chapters. Thanks!
TooSweet4Words: Thanks!
Disclaimer: Just like we all wish that we had an Oliver in our lives (or perhaps a Mr. Darcy, depending on which way you go), we all wish we owned Harry Potter. I lay claim to neither of these!
