Michelle laughed at her cousin as she was dumped onto her rear end by a bucking burster. "If you would just listen to my instructions, I'm sure your rear wouldn't be so sore."
Katie stood up, rubbing her backside and muttering under her breath. After a moment, she crossed her arms and heaved a daramatic sigh, "But I'm doing everything that you're telling me to do, so why is this burster still bucking at me? I'm not even pulling on its legs hard or anything!"
Again, Michelle laughed, "Those aren't the legs Katie." She pointed to the long, thin items emitting from the awkward looking creatures body. "You're pulling it's secondary heads, so no wonder they're bucking at you."
"How can you even tell the difference?" Katie examined the body part she had been pulling on, searching for eyes, ear, a nose, a mouth or something that could be identified as a part that belongs on a head, but she found none of it. "This is so confusing! How do you do this everday?"
Michelle only laughed harder, "I'll show you one more time, but if you can't get it then we'll just have to--" but she stopped whenshe noticed her father standing in the barn door. His large frame leaning against the wood that made up the old barn. Michelle stood up, wiping her hands off onto her pants, "Yes, daddy?"
"We have some important guests coming today," Uncle Drew rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Since this farm is the largest manufacturer for the stuff that makes the bludgers and quaffles and all that." He crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged, "I don't exactly know who's coming, but you girls might want to head on in and clean yourselves up. I'll finish up with the bursters."
Shrugging, the two girls retreated into the house where they cleaned up in changed into everyday wear. When they were done, they settled into the living room, where they were joined by the two young boys, Sean and Winston.
Sean, Katie learned, didn't speak very much. He only said what he needed to say in order to get what he wanted. Any other time, he would have simply remained perfectly content in his silent state.
Winston, on the other hand, would not shut up. "Katie, Katie! What's it like at Hogwarts? Is it really cool there and do you have dragons and trolls all everwhere that. Chellie told me all about Wands Academy and all that, and I was wondering about how what it looked like, and daddy says he might let me go there if--"
"Win," Michelle said, holding her head in her hands and sighing slighyly. When Winston fell silent and looked at his older sister with those wide blue eyes of his, Katie was reminded of herself when she was little. She smiled, barely noting that Michelle was giving her younger sibbling instructions to clean up.
Dragging Sean with him, Winston hurried off. "I'll be right back, ok, Katie? I promise!"
Katie grinned and leaned back on the couch, "They're so adorable."
"Being adorable will only get them so far," Michelle muttered, combing her long fingers through her hair. "But, I was going to ask you a question about Mr. Wood."
Before she knew what was happening, Katie felt a blush creeping up on her face. Figures Michelle would want to talk about Oliver, rather than just non-Oliver related things that wouldn't make me feel so wierd all the time, Katie thought desperately as that blush grew deeper.
"Come on, dear cousin," Michelle said, making herself comfortable, "Spill all. I want to hear everything, because you don't blush like that over some guy friend."
Crystal, Oliver discovered, wasn't as bad as everyone made her out to be. She was just more passionate about the game of Quidditch than the publicity that went behind it. She was actually quite charming when reporters weren't buzzing around, snapping away on their cameras and asking scores of ridiculous questions.
Which was what happened about every ten seconds until Knowels, Oliver and Crystal were able to find refuge in a private cottage, meant to be a get away for distressed Quidditch celeberities, which Crystal and Oliver were.
Obviously.
Oliver, Crystal discovered, ate, slept and breathed Quidditch.
It was very annoying.
But kind of cute too.
Oliver and Crystal, Knowels discovered, would probably be the most marketable couple in the history of marketed couples. So now, with that idea firmly planted within the greediest parts of his mind, Knowels had a plan. To set these two up before the season started, that way, their sales and publicity would triple.
Being as how they fought more than they had rational conversation would be a bit of a problem.
"That's mine, you little twirp! Give it back now!" Crystal growled, reaching across Knowels to try and snatch of her hair clip, which Oliver had been playing with as a little monster upon picking it up. She growled her frustration and allowed her voice to drip with sarcasm, "You're really acting your age!"
Oliver grinned and opened the hair clip repeatedly, as if it were a talking mouth, "And you're acting even more your age by screaming at me like an idiot?"
Knowels sighed. Perhaps setting them up would be pointless and a great waste of time.
"You are insufferable, you know that?"
Oliver made a shocked face, "Wow! Isn't that a bit of a large word for an American?"
At this comment, Crystal lunged at him, knocking Knowels completely to the ground.
It was an all out battle.
How old were they?
Katie and Michelle peered out of the window of the farm house as several very important and stately looking wizards stood with Uncle Drew, talking in lowered voices. Every now and then, they would laugh at some joke or other thrown out, but they would soon return to their business like manner.
"I think," Michelle began, running her hands through her dirty blonde hair, her gaze still focused on the men and her father, "I think they're here about the tratlen roots."
Katie nodded, having heard of this type of wood before, "They use those for the bludgers and quaffle, right?"
"Yeah," was her cousin's reply. "That's how we make a fortune. We're one of the only farms left that carries the stuff."
As the men continued to talk, the girls grew bored of watching them through the window, and coached the young boys who had engaged in a game of Wizard's Chess. In the end, with Katie's aid, of course, the victor was Sean, much to Winston's dimay. The older boy crossed his arms and pouted.
An hour later, Uncle Drew came inside the house, beaming proudly, and taking his cloak off. "Well kids," he said heartily, clapping his hands together, causing the small room to shudder slightly. "Looks like this is the only farm left in the Eastern hemisphere that produces mass amount of tratlen roots."
Michelle grinned at her father, "So what now?"
"This place gets turned into a professional farm. Hire workers, more materials, the works." He shrugged and grinned, "I oversee everything."
That night, the six of them (Uncle Drew, Katie, Michelle, Winston, Sean and Mrs. Bell) celebrated by going out to France's finest resteraunt and celebrating Uncle Drew's most recent success. The dinner was fabulous, and they were permitted to stay as long as they wished, being that Uncle Drew was probably their most wealthy client.
Time had passed in a blur for Kaite, and before she knew it, Katie found herself standing infront of the barrier to Platform 9 and 3/4. Running her hands through her hair, she held her breath and ran through the barrier. For some reason, going through the barrier was very different this year, because it was her seventh year.
Her seventh and final year at Hogwarts.
"Katie!" Came Alicia's energetic voice. "This summer was absolutely amazing, and did you see the Daily Prophet? Wood's in it! Did you know that he's the reserve keeper for--" Alicia was loaded with information on absolutely everything going on in the wizarding world of London, and was rattling off every bitty thing she had read, heard or seen over the summer.
Angelina came up behind her, rolling her eyes and immitating her. When Alicia final paused for a break, Angelina prevented her from speaking anymore, "She's been like this all summer. It seems that there is absolutely nothing that can stop her from--"
"Like you didn't yak my ear off either you--"
"That's a load of bullocks you--"
"Lee!" Katie shrieked, happy to leave the arguing step sibblings to join more tolerable company. She practically jumped the tall young man and hugged him tightly. She planted a kiss on his cheek and beamed happily at him, "So you're summer was a great one, I bet?"
He nodded, supporting her weight, then gently putting her back down to the ground. "My summer was amazing, though I was a little worried when my girlfriend never wrote me."
Katie grinned guiltily, "I was in France with my family. We were on a farm and I just forgot about a lot of things." She frowned, making sure to make her lips as pouty as possible. She rocked from side to side and fixed him with those infamous puppy dog eyes. "I'm really sorry, Lee. Are you mad at me?"
At first, Lee tried to scowl at her, but in the end he simply grinned and shook his head, "I'm not mad at you. Come on, let's grab a compartment." Their fingers laced together and they made off toward the Hogwarts Express, the still arguing Angelina and Alicia following beihind them.
Uhm.. I really feel like this chapter wasn't really up to par.. but no matter how many ways and times I tweaked it still didn't seem quite right.. I dunno.. Maybe cuz now a little bit of stress is starting to get to me.. Meh.. I dunno.. Growing up sucks though.. That's for sure. Oh well.. Onto the acknowledgements!
Daisy - Don't worry! I know you aren't all psycho depressed and all that. Being glued to the computer is loads of fun! I do it all the time! Heh.. Well, glad you enjoyed the fic, and I hope you.. uh.. yeah.. this chapter. Well thanks a bunch!
tagS16 - I didn't feel like having Katie be all like 'OMG IT'S LEE! QUICK! HIDE MY HEAD IN THE DIRT!' But that would have been really funny.. I might have to add that later on in the fic.. Well.. Uhm.. Glad you're enjoying, and keep on ejoying so that you keep on reviewing and making me feel special. Hehe.. Thank you!
TooSweet4Words - Hope you enjoyed! Thanks a lot.
QHLuver - Oh! I hope the horse show went well.. Being the sheltered city girl I am, I've only ever seen one. I don't like horses too much, one almost threw me off a long time ago so I have Horse-o-phobia.. I dunno the real term for it though.. Heh.. Oh well. Thanks for the review and thank you kindly for enjoying.
Maria Casey Wood - Yeah.. I must have been on something when I made that little cmparison.. Well, it sounded good at the time, but now it's just really dumb. Well.. Glad you're all curious like and stuff, because that makes me think about what I should do with the whole Oliver/Crystal thing that isn't happening.. Heh.. I might just have to torture you guys a little bit with this one. That would defaintely be fun to play with. Thanks for the idea!
rembrandt - I've been caught death glaring at my computer.. My mom wouldn't let that one go for weeks.. Then again I often well or laugh at the computer and go 'BOOM BABY!' Heh.. heh.. It's a lot of fun though. Thanks for the review, glad you're enjoying. Take care!
Lala - I actually think Crystal is pretty cool.. Villian or not, which I'm not saying she is or anything. I'm just saying that I think she's cool, and besides, Crystal can't take Oliver from Katie, because Lee belongs to Katie, not Oliver. Hehe.. Look at me.. Defending fictional characters. Ah well.. It's fun! Glad you're lovin' it!
TheBrassPotato - You're review made me laugh.. Still makes me laugh actually.. You love not what he does but what I write, eventhough I write what he does, but you still love it. It's great! Anywho.. As you might have seen, I did borrow that whole set Oliver up thing, but only as an idea at first. Hehe.. Things may develope though.. Who knows, right? I sure don't! Hope you're looking forward to more, I know I sure am.
Depth.of.a.Shadow. - Can't say that I've ever expeirenced the whole milk or soda through nose thing.. But water is a defainte yes! Rather embaressing.. but still really funny. Heh heh.. And I'm very glad you didn't jump off the face of the earth because then I'd have to break your heart and tell you that it's a relatively difficult feat to attempt, though jumping off a cliff or mountain or something like that usually works.. Not that I think anyone should ever do that or anything.. Uhm.. I'm gonna shut up now before I put my foot even further up my mouth. Thanks for the review! You rock my socks!
Wingsofthefae - Michelle is based of a friend of mine.. Well.. kind of... half of my friend is Michelle the other half of my friend is Crystal. Two extreme opposites, yeah? Hehe.. That's why my friends are cool! Cuz they're psycho crazy! BOO YA! Anyway, glad you are enjoying, and thank you very much for your review. Lata!
dreamy-crazygirl - Before this fic is over, I'll at least have them run into each other ONE more time.. I guess.. But it won't be something you'd expect. Might even be a repeat of Katie's third year. How so? You'll just have to find out! But by telling this, I'm giving away like... a MAJOR spoiler as to complications and just never mind.. You'll like it, and you'll see that our dear blonde hasn't changed that much, and that good ole Ollie is noticing a few more things than he used to.
snuffles101 - Because you asked so nicely, consider this post a personal favor to you, but don't tell anyone else because they might jump me if they think I'm posting for only one person.. Hehe.. Just messin' Glad you're enjoying, and I hope you keep on enjoying. Thanks a bunch. You're awesome.
Alright kiddies, I rad the entire thing myself... Wow.. I didn't know that my grammar was THAT terrible.. I'm trying to get better honestly.. But it's just, I do the whole thing without thinking and I don't feel like going back and blah blah blah blah blah
But other than that, I actually found myself laughing at certain things that I seriously don't remember throwing int here.. Hehe.. It's really fun to back and read all of it. It's like.. I dunno.. Wierd..
Anywho Kddies, I think I'll be off, I've an essay to type, and though I wish it a thousand and one times, it will not type itself.
Later Days
Richi Sama