Chapter 11 ya'll!! I hope you like it, because so far this is one of my favorite chapters.. I think..

It's kind of scattered, but it's easy to follow!

Enjoy!

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Chapter Eleven

"This year sucked," Angelina complained loudly as she sat down at the Gryffindor table for the traditional end of the year feast. She slumped onto the bench with a small sigh and cradled her head in her hands.

Indeed, year two of the group hadn't exactly been the best for Gryffindor. The last Quidditch match against Slytherin had been a humiliating failure. The entire Gryffindor team had appeared to be completely out of it for that match. Oliver's blocking status had hit an all time low, Katie still had a fear of actually trying to score, Angelina had gotten extremely pissed at her team and quickly began to give up. Alicia hadn't eaten or slept well, and was practically sleeping in the match, and Fred and George-- Well, they were Fred and George.

Katie collapsed next to her, "Don't remind me of how terrible it was."

The headmaster of the school rose before them, hands raised high as he caught the attention of the students. "Now, I'm sure this year has been a wonderful year--"

"Yeah, bloody right," Lee muttered. He had recieved one of the lowest markings on his History of Magic exam.

"--and what better way to end the year with a feast, prepared by the dutiful staff of house elves--"

Fred and George glanced at each other, curiosity growing, "House elves?" Seeming to forget that their mother would murder them the moment they stepped off the train, due to the toilet seats and numberous owls from Percy, the twins grinned.

"--here at Hogwarts! Tomorrow morning, you will board the Hogwarts Express, and this year will be only a dream. Enjoy the fest prepared for such hard working, and ambitious students, and I bid thee, farewell. May we meet again."

Angelina, Katie and Alicia let out small sighs as the food infront of them appeared. "I'm too depressed to eat," Katie mumbled when Lee urged her to eat.

Sir Nicholas floated slightly above them, shaking his head and tsking at her, "You know nothing of depression, Miss Bell. Depression is when the headless hunt denies you the right to--"

"There he goes again," Angelina and Fred muttered in unison. "Every year it's the same thing," Fred continued on, indicating Sir Nicholas whom didn't seem to notice that his audience's focus was now on a Weasley twin. "You see, every year he attempte to join the Headless Horsemen, or some wierd ghost country club, and every year they taunt him with the fact that his head is still attached to his neck."

"It's rather disgusting, if you ask me," Alicia said, taking a sip of her pumpking juice, and chancing a glance at the nearly headless ghost.

Lee put a bit of chicken on the plate infront of Kaite, "Eat, or you'll get sick."

"Not hungry," was the mumbled reply.

"Oh come on! Don't be such a baby!" He continued to prod.

"I don't wanna."

"Please?"

"No."

"Give me a good, non-depressed reason as to why you won't eat."

Katie gave it some thought before answering, "I'm watching my figure."

"I'm watching it too," George joked, but recieved a sharp elbow from Alicia. "Ow! What was that--" And once again, Alicia jabbed him in the side with her elbow. "Alicia! Stop it! I-- OW!!"

Lee rolled his eyes and replied to Katie without a single thought, "Well, your figure looks fine to me." He froze. "Not that I look or anything! I was just saying how your body looked-- I mean! Fred pass the rice?"

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The ride to King's Cross was a fairly uneventful one. The six friends sat together, and got occasional, though temporary, visitors. Conversation passed amongst them, but then an awkward silence would fall as they drew nearer and nearer home.

As it had been the year before for them, returning home had been odd after being at Hogwarts for so long. Katie looked out of the window anxiously. She couldn't wait to see her parents once again. She had decided to stay for all the holidays, with her friends, so she hadn't seen them in such a long while. She couldn't wait to tell them about everything, except for that minor detail that she was on the Quidditch team.

They wouldn't really like that at all.

Once the train pulled to a hault, and the students unloaded, the Weasley family was a comical sight. Mrs. Wealsey hurried over to her three sons, as they made their way to them. After giving them a bone crushing hug, Mrs. Wealsey pulled back, still smiling brightly. Then, with her hand bag, she whacked both Fred and George with all her might, her face going from pleseant to horrific in a split second. "YOU TWO WILL NEVER LEARN, WILL YOU?! AND NEXT YEAR RON WILL BE ATTENDING HOGWARTS NEXT YEAR!!! YOU WILL BE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE ROLE MODELS FOR HIM!!" She turned to Percy and smiled peacefully, "Hello Percy darling, how are you?"

Katie walked with Angelina and Alicia, her parents nowhere in sight.

"Dad!" Angelina cried out, causing her two friends at her sides to jump in shock. She waved her hand high up into the air and hurried forward. Katie and Alicia stumbling behind her. Finally they came to a hault infront of a tall intimidatingly large bald man.

Angelina threw her arms around him and burried her face into his robes. "Missed you," she said quietly, still hugging her father. She pulled back beaming, "These are my friends, Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet. They're the other two chasers I wrote you about. Guys, this is my dad, Joel Johnson!"

The girls had to practically stare straight up at the man in order to see him clearly. His skin was much darker than his daughters, but his features were very disticnt, and very similar to Angelina's. Katie stammered as she continued to look up at him, "H-hello, sir." Alicia grinned nervously.

Joel Johnson was beaming down at them, then narrowed his eyes in a squint as he studied both girls. He pointed at Katie, "You're the one that didn't know how to fly, right?"

Two pink spots appeared on Katie's face, "You told him, Angelina?" She smiled nervously and nodded to answer his question, then later found her voice, "Yessir."

"Katherine! My how you've grown!" Katie was quickly swept back from behind, and pulled into a tight squeeze. At first, she was taken aback by this, but then realized that it was her mother that hugged her so fiercely. Finely she was released, only to be pulled into an even tighter hug by her father.

Mr. and Mrs. Bell beamed at their daughter, then glanced up at Mr. Johnson, and exchanged hand shakes and names. Angelina and Katie rolled their eyes. Typical parents.

Not too long after, Alicia's mother came into the picture. She apologized to Alicia ten times over for being a little late, but a man had been attacked by a miniature squid and its special vanishing ink. By the time they had gotten to the man, half of his entire body had vanished, and he was in hysterics.

Long minutes passed, and adults and children conversed. (With their own kind of course.) It wasn't until Joel's career came up that all went downhill for Katie.

"So," Ms. Spinnet began. "Still playing Quidditch, are you, Mr. Johnson?" She looked asthough she were hiding a smile.

Joel waved an impatient hand at the woman and smiled, "Please, call me Joel, and yes I am. I think I may be retiring soon enough though. I might go into training young chasers like Angelina, here." He gently chucked his daughter on the chin and grinned at her.

"Training our youth is the only way of the future, I say," Mrs. Bell said politely. "Though I, nor my husband, have never really liked the sport, we do appriciate the athletic ability behind it." Mr. Bell nodded mutely.

"Which would explain why you've allowed Katie, here, to play Quidditch at Hogwarts. I think that's a very wie descion. Let your child discover what he or she is good at, it's the only way they'll ever learn anything." Mr. Johnson said. While he said this, he failed to notice Katie's panicked expression, as well as the intense looks the adult Bells had adopted.

Think fast, think fast! Katie was in trouble now, and she new it. Quidditch was a forbidden sport. Anyone who played it was not a Bell, those were the rules, and she had knowingly broken them. But Oliver had chosen me, so all I have to do is explain it to them, and they'll understand, right? She glanced at her parents, and bit her lower lip. Judging by the dark looks they casted at her, the answer to her question was a definate no.

"We should go!" Katie piped, grabbing both her parents' hands and pulling them toward the exit. "I will write you guys over the summer, and see you at Diagon Alley for school shopping! Bye!" She hurridly pulled them away from the station, and didn't cease until they were far enough away from prying ears. She didn't want anyone near when they yelled out her.

Mr. Bell crossed his arms and shook his head, "We'll discuss this-- Quidditch, later."

Katie groaned inwardly. Oh yeah, what a way to kick off the summer.

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Dear Katie,

You will not believe this! My dad told me as soon as he arrived home, that he had been seeing some other woman! I don't really mind that and all, I think he should be dating while I'm away at Hogwarts and all. He says that I would really like her, and that she even has a daughter my age! Isn't that wierd? She's a wizard too, which means her daughter goes to Hogwarts as well. He didn't tell me who it was, but he says that they're going to come to 'The Pit' later on during the month so that we can meet. I hope this woman doesn't expect me to be all girly like and whatever, that would be really wierd. But my dad is considering having me wear some wierd frilly robes that night. I might need you to convince him other wise. Well, just wanted to let you know what's happening with me, and that I haven't forgotten you. Have a great summer holiday, and I hope you didn't get into too much trouble about the whole Quidditch thing. Why won't your parents let you play? I think that's kind of harsh.

Much Love,

Angelina

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It had been two weeks. Two whole agonizing weeks, and her father still hadn't spoke to her about this whole 'Quidditch thing.' The atmosphere was absolutely killing her. Her father would simply not speak to her, probably in fear that he would disown his baby girl. Anytime she walked into the same room he was in, he would simply ignore her and continue to read the Daily Prophet, as if she weren't there, or flat out leave.

Her mother had told her a number of times that he was simply searching for the right words to explain to her the dangers and risks of playing Quidditch, even at school level. When Katie argued that it was fun, her mother said nothing more and left. She knew she had upset her mother, but it was the truth.

She now only took comfort in her room, with constant letters from her friends.

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Dear Katie,

I've been reading a bit of poetry lately, and I know you've always said that I needed to broaden my horizens, so I thought I would let you know, that this time next year, I will be more developed in my-- uh-- words that I use everyday! Heh.. Anyway, I was just writing to ask you how your summer was going so far. Mine is alright, I'm currently in America with a bit of family. We went to Florida. If you must know, there are not only witches and wizards here, but extremely wierd muggles who think they're witches in wizards. My older cousin, Reggie, put a levitation charm on one of them, and they flipped out, and told everyone they were going to take over the world with their newly discovered powers! It was real riot, especially when the muggle law enforcement arrested that whack-o. Just thought I would drop a line. Please write back, I really miss you-- and everyone else of course.

Your's Truly,

Lee

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At dinner, the table was silent, except for the occasional clatter of silverware against glass plates. Katie would glance nervously from her mother to her father, waiting for one of them to speak or cough. Niether happened for long stretched out minutes. The silence drove Katie crazy, but still she said nothing.

She sighed, and speared a carrot on her plate. It had been two weeks since her father had spoken to her. And she would simply have to wait for him to bring up the subject whenever he was prepared to discuss the matter with her. The carrot was sweet and tender as she chewed on it.

Her mother's gazed was casted downward to her plate. Her dark blue gaze would drift from her husband to her child. This little silent episode in the Bell household was getting rather dull, and irritating. Finally, Cynthia Bell allowed her fork to fall to her plate with a loud clatter, and she rose abruptly from the table, "This is quite enough! I will not have my daughter and husband act so childish!"

Robert and Katie looked at her with wide eyes, as if the woman were mad.

"Mother?"

"Cynthia?"

They had spoken in unison, then quickly averted their gazes to one another. Mrs. Bell remained standing, "Now will you two please, just sort this out? I won't stand for it any longer?"

Katie rose an eyebrow expectantly, waiting for her father to make the first move. When Mr. Bell said nothing, only glowered at his daughter, she turned her head away from him and crossed her arms stubbornly, "I'm not saying anything until he does."

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Katie!

Me and Fred are on the verge of something great, and the family doesn't suspect a thing. They think we're just exploding things because of the whole toilet ordeal. Anyway, you know those fake wands at Zonkos? They're nothing compared to what Fred thought up. So far, we've been able to make about fifteen of them. We scared the pants off of poor Ginny. She hasn't spoken or even looked at either one of us for an entire week! Anyway, I've got to go help Fred hide our little fake wand stash before mum burns them all. Hope to see you at Diagon Alley whenever. Hope you're well and all that stuff I really don't care about. Write back if you can.

Bye!

George

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Another three days after the little dinner episode passed, and still, Katie and her father had not spoken. The three of them sat silently in the living room, the stars twinkling through the large windows. All three Bells were deeply submerged into their readings.

Or at least, Katie thought so. She found out differently when she got up to leave the room.

"Stop right there, Katherine Elizabeth Bell. You will not leave this room," her mother's stern voice whipped out like a lash, causing Katie to freeze on the spot, and sit back in her chair.

"Mum--"she began, but was silenced when her mother put up a warning finger.

Mrs. Bell lowered the book she read to her lap, and looked sternly at her daughter, "You will not be leaving this room, not this house, until you and your father talk about this ridiculous Quidditch nonsense!"

"Quidditch isn't ridiculous, mum, it's fun. Perhaps you and dad forgot what that was, but--" she stopped herself before she got even more carried away with yelling at her mother. "Sorry mum, I didn't mean to yell."

Once he had heard Katie's voice rise, Mr. Bell quickly turned around and opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself when he heard her quiet apology. He slowly lowered his paper, hard eyes still focused on Katie. "Well," he began, "I believe we've given each other the silent treatment long enough."

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Katie,

Can you belive it? My mom's dating again! And last night we went to this guy's house, and guess who it was?! ANGELINA'S DAD!! Actually, their still here right now. I'll have to write you back later, when I'm not so busy. Write me when you get the chance, this is defaintely big news!

Alicia

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"So allow me to get this correctly," Mr. Bell looked over his daughter carefully as he recapped what he had been told, "Your friends, Angelina and Alicia taught you how to fly, the Quidditch captain, Oliver Wood, sees you fly, but that was before her was the captain? So you get on the team, how?"

Katie combed her fingers as she explained it once again, "Our captain got kicked off, so Oliver Wood is our new captain, and he said I had potential and--"

"And so you're going to believe what every older boy tells you." That wasn't a question. It was more like an overly protective father's comment.

With a grunt of frustration and crossing her arms, Katie glared at her father, "Daddy, he's really good judge of talnet! And he's an amazing Quidditch player!"

"Sounds like my little girl has her first crush," Mrs. Bell said, attempting to hide her smile with the large tea cup she was drinking from.

"No! No! No!" Katie's cheeks quickly turned red. Of course she had a crush on him, but she wasn't going to admit that to her mother, and defaintely not when her father was around. That would just be mad!

Mr. Bell's eyes widend, "You like this boy? No wonder you're going about to play this rough-housing sport! To impress a boy!"

"Daddy!"

"His name is Oliver Wood, you say? Perhaps we could meet him one day. Have you met his parents? Are they nice? Is he a good looking young man?"

"No boy is going to get near my little angel, and no one is going to make her play Quidditch against her will; therefore, it's settled!" Mr. Bell thrust his pointer fniger into the air as he stood up, chest poking out in sweeling pride. "You don't want to play Quidditch, so you won't be playing to impress this wooden boy of your's. And that is the end of that!"

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Katie,

I've sent a letter out to the rest of the team, and assuming you'll still be with us next year, I sent one to you as well. I have enclosed with this letter, several parchment fulls of plays that I have devised over the summer. Study them, and we're going to get an early start on training. I haven't yet figured out what will be done about a seeker, being that Miles somehow managed to pass his seventh year of Hogwarts. I did see some potential, but no real natural skill. Try-outs might be a nightmare, but you don't have to worry about that just yert. I want everyone to keep training in the summer and keep good health. I would hate to see one of you come with a missing limb. Quidditch is a sport that requires most of your body parts. Take care of yourself this break, and I can't wait for another season. This will be the year that Gryffindor gets the cup, I just know it!

Work hard, stay strong and stay alive,

Oliver

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Kathy - A love.. quadrilateral? o.O You're great Kathy, but I've tainted my mind with sooo many fanfics that I could never really see that.. ever.. But I still think you're great!

crystalviolinist - Funny.. No one's ever used 'cute' for one of my fics before.. If friends of mine read my stuff, they just kind of look at me like I've been smoking something. xD But thanks for the review!

Seriously, kiddies, I wouldn't have even made 11 chapters had it not been for the constant support I'm getting from you guys, and I love you all!

FREE COOKIES FOR ALL!!! -throws out cookies-

But anyway.. I have to go watch Spirit now, so I will look forward to seeing more reviews.. And you can also IM me.. -may regret this BUT- trishygirl34 It's my AIM screen name so I'm usually constantly on that one there..

Later!

-Richi Sama-