I am going to try to finish this chapter tonight because I am going to be really busy for awhile.

Life's Gifts

Chapter 17: Beginning the Third Challenge

Katie got up and wandered down to the kitchen where she sat down and when a house elf came over she whispered, "Lemonade pie, if you guys have any?" When the white pie was brought she picked up and fork and then set it down, "How I am to choose between them. Picking one will kill the other, well not in Kent's case. But if I don't pick Kent what will happen with my investments in his company, he is a very spiteful man. But I love Oliver and not picking him would kill both our souls. Is there any safe resolution to my problem?"

"Miss, if I may be permitted to speak?" A brass house-elf spoke from the corner.

At Katie's nod he continued ears flickering at little noise. "There is one way to find out the truth and that is to look deep within' yourself and all those around you."

"I don't get it…" Clear eyes looked around seeking the elf who spoke.

"You will in time, you will in time, now go and find out your answer."

Pushing her chair back she stood, hair got pulled up high on top of her head. Pajama pants pooled at her feet and the waistband was rolled once to keep the size seven pants from sliding down. She only wore a size six but she liked her sweat pants, and pajama bottoms large. Spaghetti straps were readjusted pulling the top up to a decent place, not so low that a professor would stop her on the spot. Then she picked up the plate the pie was on and took her fork with her. As she strode the corridors students nodded their heads in her direction, a couple whispered behind her back but the voices were indistinguishable as were the words.

Roger stepped in front of her as she moved by the library on her way up the stairs to her house's common room. "And don't you look nice today baby?"

"Roger why do you try so hard when you know like hell that it is dead and over and never coming back, never ever." "

You know it will come back in time I know you went out with Diggory just to get me mad?"

"Like I would go out with anyone to make you jealous you aren't worth it, not for a spot in heaven right next to god and a rank of archangel. Nothing will change my mind; no amount of money will change that."

"I'm sure we can find something to change you mind, there has to be something." He moved up next to her as she got off the stairs and pushed her up against the wall.

The next moment all he saw was white as the pie Katie had been holding was shoved into his face.

"You shoved a pie in Roger Davis's face?" Alicia asked chuckling with mirth.

At Katie's nod Angelina started laughing so hard she cried. With tears running down her face she turned to Alicia an added, "I bet he was pissed because it ruined his complexion."

George decided to come into the conversation at that moment but after hearing the story he immediately ran off to tell others. He and Fred ran out of the tower looking for Davis so that they could tease him unmercifully.

Once the majority had left Katie ran up stairs and quickly got dressed before grabbing the blue vial and nodded to her fellow chaser. As they tromped down the stairs and grabbed Oliver on their way down to the pitch. At the pitch Cedric and Kent stood waiting only this time Angelina and Alicia disappeared for some reason or another. Only Cedric was left standing by Katie's side looking at the pair.

"In Hamlet the most famous soliloquy is in there, probably one of his best knows pieces. In fact listen to it and think about it as the task progresses:

To be, or not to be--that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles

And by opposing end them. To die, to sleep--

No more--and by a sleep to say we end

The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep--

To sleep--perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub,

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,

Must give us pause. There's the respect

That makes calamity of so long life.

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,

Th' oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely

The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,

The insolence of office, and the spurns

That patient merit of th' unworthy takes,

When he himself might his quietus make

With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear,

To grunt and sweat under a weary life,

But that the dread of something after death,

The undiscovered country, from whose bourn

No traveller returns, puzzles the will,

And makes us rather bear those ills we have

Than fly to others that we know not of?

Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,

And thus the native hue of resolution

Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,

And enterprise of great pitch and moment

With this regard their currents turn awry

And lose the name of action. -- Soft you now,

The fair Ophelia! -- Nymph, in thy orisons

Be all my sins remembered."

Kent's jaw dropped open in shock as she recited it. Cedric nodded and mockingly punched Katie in the arm. Oliver, just smiled for he was the one who had made her memorizes that.

"So the challenge is what?" Kent asked looking at everyone.

"Find a poem that you think suits me and then recite it to me when we reconvene this evening."

As Katie walked off the pitch she heard Kent complain before darting off, most likely on his way to find someone to do it for him.