AN: Sorry, another short chapter. But, they will get longer....or better, which ever comes first!lol!:)

Chapter Ten: Thought Process

After Harry, Hermione, and Ron had gone to a table at the other end of the common room; Oliver tried to talk to Katie.

"Kates...I," He started, but he didn't know what he was going to say. Katie put her hand out, and stood up.

"Listen, Wood," Katie started. Oliver noticeably flinched at the use of his last name and Katie looking so upset. "I'm tired, so I'm gonna go to bed." She finished. Oliver opened his mouth to speak again, but he still didn't know what to say. Katie waited a few seconds, and then just sighed and went up to her room.

We kiss, this I can handle... Katie was thinking to herself. But then he doesn't say a god-damn word. And I gave him time. Katie thought as she opened her dorm room door. And, he hasn't even side anything about out near-kiss. Neither have eye, Katie thought. But still. I wish he would have said something. Katie thought some more. Would a "Hey, Katie, I like you. I wanted to kiss you a couple of hours ago" Be so hard? She thought. Katie suddenly stopped moving toward her bed. Did I just think that? She asked herself. Katie shook her head. No, I mean, I don't like Oliver. Not like that. She thought as she started moving again, laying down on her bed. I think. Was the last thing she though before drifting off.

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Oliver sat in the common room. He was on the verge of beating his head against the table in front of him. Idiot, Idiot, Idiot! He was thinking. Why didn't you say anything? She was waiting for you to, you know. I little voice in the back of his head was saying. Oliver sighed, got up, and headed to his dorm. Percy Weasly (his roommate) was already there when Oliver came in. Oliver went and laid down on his own bed, not bothering to change into his nightclothes. Percy cocked an eyebrow.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked. Oliver turned his head toward Percy. A few seconds went by.

"I kissed Katie." Oliver finally said. Percy rolled his eyes.

"Finally." He muttered, very un-Percy like. Oliver sat up.

"What?" He asked. Percy sighed and turned to Oliver.

"Wood, you've been flirting with Katie half the year. And it's almost Christmas, so you've basically been going after her since you got to Hogwarts this year." He said. "You two are being so obvious. So, I'm just saying, finally you stopped beating around the bush." He finished, turned back to his bed.

"What do you mean, 'You two'?" Oliver asked. Percy rolled his eyes in that un-Percy like manner again, and turned back to Oliver.

"I mean, she has been flirting back, whether she knows it or not." He said, climbing into his bed. Oliver laid back down on his own bed, and let what Percy had just said sink in. She's been flirting back? He asked himself. Oliver turned on his side. My bet is, she doesn't know it. He thought, before falling asleep.

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I few hour later, Katie sat up in her bed. Why can't I stay asleep?! She thought to herself. She then shook her head and quietly stepped out of her bed, so as not to wake her roommates. She grabbed a book, quietly opened her door, and headed down to the common room. When she got there, she went straight to her favorite chair by the fire. She did this without noticing the boy sitting at one of the tables. He noticed her, and once she had sat down, he went over to the chair opposite hers and sat in it. Katie heard the chair across from her creek with wait, and quickly looked up. When she saw who it was, she rolled her eyes and looked back down at her book.

"Hello, Oliver." She said, not looking up. Oliver sighed.

"Hi, Kates." He muttered. Katie visibly flinched at her nickname, but didn't say anything. Oliver saw Katie flinch, but also didn't say anything as he looked away from her. After a few minutes of sitting, Oliver looked at Katie. "So, why are you up this late?" He asked.

"Couldn't sleep." Katie said simply, not looking up from her book. Oliver racked his brain for a question he could asked Katie. I just want her to talk to me. He thought.

"What are you reading?" He asked. Katie gave an annoyed sigh.

"Jane Eyrie." She said, again not looking up from her book. Oliver looked away from Katie and then back to her.

"Katie, please tell me you haven't started ignoring me?" He said in a pleading voice. Katie stopped reading, snapped her book shut, and looked at Oliver.

"No, Wood. I'm not ignoring you. Why would I be ignoring you? You kiss me and then don't say anything. Then I come down here, and you keep asking me stupid questions when you should be explaining why the hell you kissed me!" She yelled, standing up. Oliver stood up with her.

"Katie.." He started.

"We have been friend for years, the least you ow me is an explanation!" She continued, cutting Oliver off. "But, Nooooo. You can't even give me that! And I bet if I asked you right now if you liked me, you wouldn't say a thing!" She finished, standing for another few seconds to give Oliver a chance to explain. Oliver opened and closed his mouth a few times. Katie slapped her hands at her side. "My God!" She said before turning and going up the girls dorm room stairs.