"Oliver, I can't believe that you're going to actually try to kill your entire Quidditch team!" I exclaimed after a particularly long and grueling practice soon before Christmas break.
"I'm not going to kill you," Oliver replied, "I love my team very much."
"You sure have a funny way of showing it," George muttered darkly.
"Yeah, he could have fooled me," Fred agreed just as darkly.
"Shut it you two," Alicia snapped sitting on George's back, which was supposed to hurt but Alicia's like a toothpick.
"Hey, Alicia, could you sit a little lower? I think I'm getting lower back problems and you're the perfect weight to help," George teased relentlessly.
"How about I get Ange to sit on you? Or better yet she'll give you a 'massage'!" Alicia retorted, effectively shutting George up.
"Kat, where is your family going for Christmas?" Oliver asked.
"Were staying at our house in Scotland actually," I replied rolling off of the bench I had been laying on and pulling off my disgustingly dirty Quidditch robes, "I'll probably see you a couple of times."
"My sister's coming, for Christmas," Oliver informed me excitedly, "She's bringing Allison."
"Well then I'll be at your house almost everyday, Uncle Oliver," I replied, smiling at the thought of Oliver niece, Ali, and her mother, Oliver's sister, Leslie.
"What about Kent? Has he found a new girlfriend?"
"Oh, yes, that's another reason I'll be at your place. Her name is Jess. Mum hasn't met her so I don't know how bad she's going to be," I shuddered at the thought of another of Kent's girlfriends, "What are you doing for the holidays Harry?"
"I'm staying at Hogwarts," Harry replied, cringing at the very thought of voluntarily spending Christmas with the Dursleys, "There's no way I'm going to spend extra time with my family."
"They do sound pretty bad," I agreed, thinking back on the little Harry had told me about them, "I don't blame you for staying here."
"They prefer it that way too," Harry responded, walking out of the Locker Room and calling back over his shoulder, "Merry Christmas!"
"Poor kid," Alicia commented sadly, "He'd never had a home or been loved before he came here."
"Harry's a tough cookie, he'll be fine," I replied heading into the girls' showers. "He always is."
I tugged my trunk down the stairs to the girls' dormitories the next morning and waved goodbye to Harry. He waved back cheerily and I added my trunk to the pile of luggage that the House Elves would transport to the train during breakfast and turned to wait for Alicia and Angelina.
"Watch out!" A familiar Scottish voice called down the stairs, "Percy's let go of my trunk!"
I saw the trunk seconds before the impact. I can tell you that there was no way I could have gotten out of the way of that trunk; it was fairly flying by the time it reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Oof," I grunted, "Get your damn trunk off of me! I think it's flattening my lungs!"
"Sorry about that," Oliver apologized before realizing who he had hit, "Kat! I'm sorry! Push it to your right and I'll have it off of you in a second!"
I gave the trunk a rather large shove and Oliver slid it off from on top of me quite easily. He took my hand and pulled me up off of the floor and turned me around to look for broken bones.
"That's going to hurt in the morning," I commented, nonchalantly.
"Yes, but it'll be better in no time," Oliver insisted, pulling me into an apology hug.
"Please, say all of your gushy goodbyes in the Entrance Hall like everyone else, then I don't have to see it," Percy Weasley said rather snobbishly as he came down the stairs; he never apologized for letting go of that trunk and flattening me.
"We wanted to say a gushy goodbye right here, just for you Percy," I replied sarcastically.
"Oh, well I would rather that you not. It's very upsetting to those who don't have someone to share a gushy goodbye with," Percy didn't fully understand sarcasm.
"Sorry Percy," Oliver retorted, "but Katie's my gushy goodbye partner; you can't have her."
"I didn't mean…" Percy started, "You and your childish antics!"
"Come on Ollie. Let's go and continue our 'gushy goodbye' in the Great Hall!" I exclaimed as I dragged Oliver out of the portrait hole.
"Okay Katie, darling, whatever you say!" Oliver waved merrily to Percy as we exited and I swear that I saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione laughing at Percy in the background.
"Katie, it's good to see you again!" Oliver's sister exclaimed as she hugged me enthusiastically, "Your parents asked us to take you home to our house; they're not getting in until tomorrow morning."
"It's good to see you too, Leslie," I replied politely as Ali started wobbling over to see me. I scooped her up into a bear hug, "Hey sweetie, how have you been?"
"Kat, I go to big girl school!" the excited four-year-old exclaimed.
"You sure are getting smarter, prettier, and bigger too!" I agreed as I tweaked her nose, "Soon you'll be all grown up and going to Hogwarts, just like your Uncle Ollie."
"I want to be just like Uncle 'liver," Ali nodded. She spotted Oliver coming up with his trunk and waved her arms excitedly, "Uncle 'liver! Uncle 'liver!"
I handed the ecstatic girl to her 'Uncle 'liver' and grabbed my own trunk. We followed Leslie, who had taken a very happy Ali back, to the large fireplace that many wizard families were using to get home.
"Wood House, Scotland," Leslie yelled as she threw the floo powder into the fireplace and stepped into the swirling flames. Oliver and I followed.
"Mum!" Oliver called as soon as he stepped out of the fireplace, "Dad! I'm home!"
"Oliver!" A delighted Mrs. Wood came bustling into the kitchen and pulled her son into a hug, "and Katie too!"
"Hello Mrs. Wood," I replied politely as she pulled me into the hug, "Thank you for letting me stay the night."
"You're always welcome, dear," Mrs. Wood insisted.
"There's always room for you here," Mr. Wood agreed, shaking hands with his son and then winking at me, "I'm sure Oliver doesn't object."
"Dad," Oliver protested.
I scooped up the squirming Ali and she pointed to the cookie jar as everyone but Oliver and I walked into the parlor. I walked over and looked at the jar and then at Ali.
"I'm hungry. Do you think I should get a cookie?" I asked her seriously.
"Yes, and share it with me!" Ali agreed solemnly.
I pulled out two cookies and tossed one to Oliver, "Here you go, 'Uncle 'liver'! Enjoy your cookie!"
I placed the chocolate covered Ali on the floor and led her to the bathroom to wash off her hands. Then I sent her into the parlor to help with the decorating while I carried my trunk up into my guest bedroom that I always stayed in.
"Want to watch a movie?" Oliver asked, leaning in my doorway.
"Only if it's a Christmas movie," I replied following him to where his family kept their Muggle TV, "I'd like to see White Christmas again."
"You'd watch that movie every single time you'd tag along with Kent up here last Christmas," Oliver remembered as he put the movie in and sat down next to me on the couch.
"Yep, and this time Kent can tag along with me," I replied, pulling my feet up under me to keep them warm.
"Cold?" Oliver asked putting his arm around me and pulling me closer.
"A little," I admitted as I snuggled down into my best friend's couch and I put my head on his chest.
He pulled me even closer and we watched the whole movie without saying another word.
"Hey Kat," Oliver greeted me on Christmas Eve.
"Hey Ollie," I replied giving him a quick hug and then pulling off my coat, "It's a little nippy outside, don't you think?"
"No, not at all," Oliver said with a perfectly straight face.
"Oliver, there's like ten feet of snow on the ground!"
"That's not so much," Oliver said shrugging.
"But… hey, sarcasm is my thing! It doesn't suit you very well," I finally caught on to Oliver's sarcasm.
"Yes, it is quite nippy outside." Oliver said smiling, "So how's Kent's girlfriend? You haven't told me about her yet. Is she as bad as you thought she would be?"
"No, actually she's pretty awesome. She's a sports reporter for one of the wizarding channels on the TV. She met Kent at one of the Quidditch banquets and they hit it off. She's been flying with Kent and me every morning this week."
"Wow, that's an accomplishment," Oliver whistled softly, Kent and I kept a grueling training schedule during the breaks, especially in the mornings.
"She's the first of his girlfriends that I've actually liked. He'd better not screw something up anytime soon," I commented.
"Oliver!" Mrs. Wood called, "Where are your manners? Invite Katie in, and bring me some Egg Nog while you're up!"
"Yes Mum!" Oliver called back.
"KAT!" Ali came barreling into the kitchen and practically jumped into my arms.
"What's going on?" I asked her.
"Daddy and I are playing hide-and-seek and it's my turn to hide!" Ali wiggled to get down and ran out of the room to find a place to hide.
"She really likes you, that one," Oliver commented as he poured his mum a glass of Egg Nog, "Never seen her take to anyone outside of the family quite like that."
"It's probably because I took her flying," I replied smiling at the subtle compliment Oliver had given me, "I'm sure it has nothing to do with my charming personality."
"I can tell you right now that it doesn't because you haven't got a charming personality," Oliver teased, "Let me take this Egg Nog to Mum and then we'll go."
"Go where?" I called after him but he simply shook his head.
"You'll see when we get there!"
"Where are we going?" I asked Oliver again twenty minutes later as we trudged through the woods to God and Oliver only knew where.
"You'll see in a minute," Oliver replied exasperatedly, "It's only around the corner here."
"You said that twenty minutes ago," I muttered to myself.
"Well this time I mean it, and we've only been walking for twenty minutes."
"So maybe I exaggerated a little. So sue me."
"What?" Oliver asked confused.
"Never mind, it's a Muggle phrase." I replied.
My father was a prominent Muggle and my Mum was a prominent witch so I was always getting shipped off to Oliver's because my parents were hosting some party or another. Today was Mum's annual Christmas Eve party. The Woods were planning to go. Oliver and I were going to baby-sit Ali and then I was going to stay the night.
"Here we are," Oliver finally said gesturing out to the valley below.
"Wow," I replied, "That's going to cost a lot of electricity to run all those Christmas lights!"
Oliver grinned, "The whole town will probably go into debt for almost a year and then go into debt again next year when the lights come out again."
"Thank God we run everything on magic," I commented shivering slightly.
"Cold?" Oliver asked concerned.
"Nope," I lied venturing towards the edge of the hill's crest, "Wait, this is the hill right behind your house! You dragged me through the woods for ages when we could have just climbed the stairs right there!"
"I like spending time with you, even if you are complaining the whole time," Oliver said shrugging, "So sue me."
"You are possibly the most infuriating person I know. Hey, Ollie let's roll down the hill to get back," I said grinning mischievously.
"I think you've been spending too much time with Fred and George," Oliver replied raising his eyebrow.
"You're probably right, but if you don't roll down the hill with me I'll have to push you and then you'll end up rolling down anyways."
"I have a better idea. Let's take the sled instead of rolling."
"What sled?" It was my turn to raise an eyebrow.
"The one under this tree," Oliver replied grabbing the sled and placing it on the ground, "Get on!"
"Fine, but I'm steering," I climbed onto the sled in front of Oliver and he put his arms around my waist to hold on, "Give it a push!"
Oliver gave the sled a little push and we zoomed down the hill at a neck-breaking pace. Unfortunately the hill didn't even out to a flat place gradually but instead leveled out suddenly. We hit the level place and the sled flipped over sending Oliver and I in one direction and the sled in another.
"Thank God for thick snow!" I said happily, somehow I had ended up half on top of Oliver and half buried in the snow.
"Thank God you're not a toothpick like Alicia or you probably would have snapped," Oliver agreed laughing.
"Ollie?"
"Yes Katie?"
"I'm stuck," I replied frantically wiggling my foot and trying to sit up, neither plan worked very well.
"Katie?"
"Yes Ollie?"
"I'm stuck too," I felt Oliver try to shift positions.
"Ollie, I'm freezing," I said in what I hoped was a steady voice.
"Well, at least it can't get worse," Oliver replied dismally.
"Oliver, don't ever say that again! It always gets worse when you say that!" I exclaimed and sure enough it started to snow.
"At least I'm stuck with the best company I can think of," Oliver admitted grimly.
I didn't reply but concentrated on wiggling my foot so that the snow would fall off of it. Pretty soon I had freed my foot.
"Ollie, I got my foot loose," I exclaimed happily beginning to work on getting my other leg loose.
"That's just lovely," Oliver replied grumpily, "We're still going to get sick."
"Jeez Mr. Sunshine," I replied sarcastically, "You're giving us way too much hope. You make it sound like the sun will come out and melt all of the snow right away."
"You're right, sarcasm does suit you."
"Shut up and give me your hand," I snapped as I stood up and pulled Oliver quickly out of the snow, "Let's get inside where it's warm."
"Take your medicine Kat," Ali insisted as she handed me a cup of hot cider I had just poured, "You'll feel better tomorrow."
"'hank you Nurse Allison," I replied as I drank the entire cup of 'medicine', "you're a life saver."
"Here you go Uncle 'liver," Ali handed Oliver his cup of 'medicine' and then wandered off to find some blankets.
"Ka' I'm sorry, i's 'oo cold ou'side for me 'o drag you around for 'oo long," Oliver apologized, "Now we're bo'h sick."
"Nope, I'm no' sick, jus' don' feel good," I replied stubbornly, "you're jus' s'upid."
"Gee, 'hanks Ka'ie, you really know how 'o make me feel be''er," Oliver replied.
"I 'hough' we agreed 'ha' sarcasm was my 'hing," I protested giving an involuntary shiver.
"Ka', you're freezing," Oliver commented as he pulled me close beside him, "Come here."
I didn't put up a fight as Oliver put his arms around me and I settled down into his familiar arms. Pretty soon Ali showed up with blankets and pajamas. She thrust the pajamas at us, or I assume she did, the pile of blankets covered most of her body, and informed us that we must go and change into them and leave our wet clothes in the laundry room and then come straight back.
Oliver and I got up and took the pajamas and then went to change in the downstairs bathrooms. I was back on the couch before Oliver and Ali handed me another cup of 'medicine' to drink.
"'hank you," I said politely as Oliver came and sat next to me.
Ali handed Oliver his cup of 'medicine' solemnly and then piled blankets on us. Then we sent her off to put on her own pajamas and get ready for bed.
"You're s'ill cold," Oliver stated rather than asked, "Come here."
I scooted closer to Oliver and he placed his arms around me and arranged the blankets so that they engulfed both of us. Then he did something unexpected, he kissed me.
"Oh, Uncle 'liver's got a girlfriend!" Ali squealed as she caught him kissing me on the couch, "Grandma is going to beat you with a wet noodle for not telling her!"
"Go 'o bed Ali," Oliver said smiling, "Good nigh', I love you."
"Love you too Uncle 'liver," Ali said giving us both a hug, "If you marry Kat, will she be my aunt?"
"Nigh' Ali," Oliver said firmly, "and yes, she would be."
AN/ Hey guys, bet you didn't expect that! No,they're not hooking up yet, you'll see why in the next chapter but the inevitable will happen eventually, duh, it's inevitable. This chapter just shows that Katie and Oliver are really close and that everyone else thinks that theywould be cute together. It also shows that both think of the other as a little more than 'just friends'.Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it!
Love From,
MotherCrumpet