"Katherine Ann," my mother called, "Can you and everyone else get down here? Sarah will be here any minute and I don't want her to think we are bad hosts."
"Coming mum!" I called.
I glanced in the mirror in Alicia's room on my way out. I was dressed in a short, pleated denim skirt and a red tank top under a white button-up shirt and white tennis shoes. My hair was in curls, thanks to Alicia's new bottle of magical hair curler which she insisted on trying out. Angelina had insisted on picking out my outfit and so I had obliged, more because I knew I would look a lot better than I would otherwise. I had to be calm and cool in front of Sarah, which was hard enough even if I was wearing nice clothes.
Alicia was wearing a lavender spaghetti strap tank top and a black skirt and Angelina was wearing black capris and a fairly dressy white top. We hurried out of Alicia's room and down stairs where Fred, George, and Oliver were standing in expectation of Sarah's arrival.
"Mum," I asked, getting a sudden urge to know who's idea inviting Sarah was, "Can I talk to you in the kitchen for a second?"
"Sure Katherine Ann, but only if you promise it will only be a second. I want to be here when Sarah arrives," Mum replied as she followed me into the kitchen.
"Mum," I started, "Was it your idea for Sarah to come?"
"Yes," Mum answered, "Why do you ask?"
"I was just curious," I replied, "Why did you do it?"
"I knew that you were fighting with Oliver and it wasn't going to be much fun for him if none of you were talking to him so I took the liberty of inviting Sarah myself."
"You invited Sarah before you talked to Oliver?" I asked, no wonder he was looking so apprehensive.
"Yes, is that a problem?" Mum asked, "Is that all, Katherine Ann?"
"No," I said, getting a sudden spark of inspiration, "Do you think we can have a dinner party on Friday night? A semi-formal one?"
"A party? Katherine Ann, I never thought I'd see the day!" My mother exclaimed as she sat down, "Yes, that sounds like a lovely idea!"
"Perfect," I said, smirking, "I'm going to invite a friend of mine who's in the area over since otherwise I won't have a date."
"Yes," my mother said, lost in thought, "lavender and silver on a dress would look lovely on her."
"Thanks mum," I gave her a quick hug, "and remember it's semi-formal. No floor length ball gowns or anything."
"Of course," Mum said, "Don't be ridiculous. We will get you, and the other girls, dresses tomorrow. It can be a girls' day out!"
"Mum, we'd better go and see if Sarah's here!" I exclaimed.
As I walked into my father's study I mouthed to Oliver, 'Usual plan, I need to talk to you.' He nodded slightly and resumed his nervous toe-tapping. I went to stand between Fred and Alicia.
"Mum didn't ask Oliver before inviting Sarah," I said, just loudly enough so they could both hear, "And we're having a semi-formal party on Friday night, courtesy of moi."
Fred gave me a strange look and Alicia looked delighted.
"You hate parties," Fred pointed out slowly.
"Oh, contraire," I replied, "This one will be quite fun. In fact, it's going to be the best party this house has ever seen."
Fred caught the mischievous glint in my eyes and grinned, "Are we partying Katie Bell style?"
"Yes."
"And is a certain Jeremy Mattson going to be invited?"
"Oh, Fred, you know me too well." I replied with a smirk on my face.
Fred was going to say something else when the fire turned green and Sarah Everett stepped out of the fireplace. She practically threw herself on Oliver.
"Oh Ollie, I missed you so much!" She whined.
I raised my eyebrows and my lips went into a thin line as Sarah tore herself off of Oliver and hugged me.
"Thank you for having me, Katrina," She said.
"It's Katie," I replied.
"Whatever, I'm only here for Ollie," She said coldly before she attached herself to Oliver's arm.
"Bitch," I hissed softly as Fred grabbed my arm to restrain me, "Did you hear that?"
"Smile politely Katie. Just ignore her," Fred soothed.
I played my role as hostess and showed Sarah to her room. Then I retreated to Angelina's room which had been dubbed the hand-out place of the night.
"Did you hear what that BITCH said to me?" I shouted after I had shut the door.
"Katie!" Alicia exclaimed, "Be quiet or they might hear you!"
"If only these walls weren't soundproofed," I said sadly, "If only Oliver didn't like her, then I'd kick her Bitchy ass to the curb."
"What did she say?" Angelina asked.
"First she called me 'Katrina' and when I corrected her she said, 'Whatever, I'm only here for Ollie'. I swear, if Oliver had heard her--!"
"Oh, she'd be out in the cold," George said, "He wouldn't have even let her use floo powder to get home. I have to say, I'm surprised that Fred didn't hit her. I would have. And you, Katie, I would have thought you'd smack her!"
"I wanted to, but Fred was holding me back," I replied as I plopped on Angelina's bed on one side of Fred.
"Why didn't you let Katie hit her?" Alicia asked Fred.
"If Katie had hit her and Oliver hadn't heard what she had said to Katie, it wouldn't have been very pretty. Katie's mum alone would have been enough of a reason to restrain her, but Oliver's getting mad again made it the logical choice," Fred explained.
"Thanks Fred," I gave him a quick hug, "Okay, so getting down to business. This week is going to be HELL for Sarah Everett."
"What do you have in mind, General Bell?" George asked, saluting me.
"The first matter of business," I said standing up and pacing in front of the window, "is to sabotage her shampoo."
"That's no good!" George shouted as Alicia gasped.
"No, it's perfect! For someone like Sarah Everett who only has looks going for her and who is as vain as she is bitchy, it's the critical first step. I suggest that we dye her perfect blonde hair jet black!" Alicia called out.
"My thoughts exactly," I said in my authoritative voice, "Alicia will be in charge of Operation: Jet Black."
"Aye aye, ma'am," Alicia chorused, mimicking George's fake salute.
"Second," I continued, "we pull the bathing suit trick. Angelina, I think that you know what to do!"
"Ma'am, yes, ma'am," Angelina called also saluting.
"Fred, you are on semi-formal dress sabotage," I said, "And George…"
"Yes General Bell?"
"We all envy you. You have a job that will not be easy. It could cost you your life. Your job is the most important of all. You must always walk in at awkward moments, and you must swear to make Friday's semi-formal a complete disaster for the target, Sarah Everett. Can you do it?"
"General Bell, ma'am, I am proud to be at your service," George replied as he saluted and then wiped away a tear.
"Good, then let Operation: Week from Hell commence. All systems are a go," I said, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to. Please owl me with updates about your missions. I'll be in touch, troops."
They all saluted once more as I walked out the door and closed it behind me. It was time for my late night swim and to meet Oliver but first I had to change and then sneak out.
"Night, Jobber," I called to the kind, old House Elf.
Now he would watch my door like a hawk until morning. He had ever since I was 8 and had sleepwalked and drank some poisonous cleaning potion. I had been in St. Mungo's for weeks after that and Jobber swore he'd never let it happen again. I was his favorite person in the world. I'd talk to him every morning during breakfast and he'd tell me his strange dreams and I'd tell him about mine. He had wanted to follow me to Hogwarts but I had told him he should stay with Mum and Dad because they needed him more. He complied happily and was always excited when I came home for break.
"Good night, Mistress Katie," he called back.
I walked into my room and locked the door behind me. I changed into my favorite red bathing suit. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail and put a black beach skirt and black tank top on over on top of my bathing suit. Then I yanked my black Converses on and opened my window.
I climbed out onto the roof and walked carefully to the edge of it and jumped silently down to the lower roof of the breakfast nook area in the kitchen. Crossing this section of the roof as quietly as possible and avoiding the skylights, I made it over to the corner of the low roof and got down on my stomach to peer over the side.
My parents were sitting out on the porch. I was going to have to go the long way in order to sneak out. I stood up silently and crouched low to walk over to the place where the higher roof dropped off to the lower roof on the other wing of the house and hoisted myself up.
I went to the roof over the twins' room and glanced to see if their light was on or their blinds open. The light was off and the blinds were shut, which was great because although there were other ways of getting out, I really preferred this to any of those options.
I eased myself off of the roof and onto the narrow window ledge, making sure I had a firm grip on the drain pipe. I was halfway along the ledge when the light came on in the twins' room. I picked my pace up but it was too late. They had seen my shadow. Pulling out their wands they came to investigate.
"Katie, what are you doing out here?" Fred demanded as he opened the window and looked out.
"I'm just hanging around," I replied, "What does it look like I'm doing?"
"It looks to me like she's sneaking out," George said turning to his twin.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," I said sarcastically.
"Any time, Katie," George replied, completely missing the sarcasm once again.
"The question is why is she sneaking out," Fred informed George.
"Oh, I do believe you are right, dear brother," George agreed, "What's your theory?"
"I feel that she is meeting someone and if she sneaks out then she can be out as late as she likes. Perhaps she is meeting a certain Scot."
"I didn't know that Jeremy Mattson was Scottish. Katie sure has a thing for those Scottish boys!" George exclaimed shaking his head, "First Oliver and now Jeremy."
"I wish I knew for sure why she was sneaking out," Fred said thoughtfully.
"I wish you would stop talking like I'm not here!" I exclaimed, "I'm just have to get going then. Oh, and sneaking out is part of my mission."
"I wish I had a pie," George said, "Do you think Katie has any pie?"
"Yes, I think there's some in the kitchen," Fred replied, "Bye Katie, have a nice mission and please don't fall from our window ledge."
"Bye," I replied, grinning at Fred and George's conversations, "Enjoy your pie! I think it's apple."
"Oh, we will!" George grinned happily at the thought of the waiting pie, "And please be quiet when you sneak back in, Fred needs his beauty sleep."
"Will do," I replied as I swung onto the trellis and quickly clambered down it, landing silently in the grass below.
I ran to the woods that surrounded the house and jogged to the lake that everyone knew about. I was a little early so I decided to start my swim while waiting for Oliver to arrive.
I pulled my clothes and tennis shoes off and set them on a tree stump before diving into the warm lake water. I swam out to the float in the middle of the lake which we used as a diving platform and Oliver, Kent, and I had once used as a star gazing spot. I hoisted myself up and stretched out on my back, gazing up at the stars. A minute later, I felt the float sway as someone hoisted themself up and lay down beside me.
"Hey Oliver," I said softly, not bothering to look to see if it was him or not.
"Hey yourself," Oliver replied.
We just lay there in silence looking up at the stars for a while. Or at least I was looking at the stars; I had a peculiar feeling that Oliver was Katie-gazing, as if trying to read my mind and my mood.
"You're sad," Oliver announced confidently.
"Hm," I replied, "I suppose I am, a little."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Kat!" he said sternly.
"What?" I laughed, "I can't answer a question with a question?"
"No, you can't! Now, why are you sad?" Oliver looked at me seriously, "Does it have something to do with Sarah?"
"Maybe," I replied mysteriously, "Maybe not."
"What kind of an answer is that?" Oliver asked, "Are you mad at me?"
"Why would I be? It's not like you invited her."
"Sure, I didn't invite her, but I didn't un-invite her either."
"I'm not mad at you, Oliver," I assured him, sitting up and kissing him softly on the cheek.
"Good," he looked relieved.
We sat there in a peaceful silence for a few more minutes.
"Oliver?"
"Yes Katie?"
"How much do you like her?" I asked turning over to look at him. "Sarah, I mean. Do you like her a ton or just a little?"
"Honestly?" He asked looking me in the eyes.
"Honestly." I said turning back to the stars.
"I don't really like her at all," Oliver replied, gazing off over the lake, "She was nice at first and I liked her but then I heard some things she said to other people on the train. She's a little bitch if you ask me."
I grinned, "It's good to know that you don't like her."
"Why?" Oliver asked suspiciously.
"Oh, no reason in particular," I replied. "I suppose Mum told you about the semi-formal dinner party on Friday night?"
"Yes, I thought it wasn't a very Katie-Bell-like thing to do."
"Oh, contraire. It was a very, very Katie-Bell-like thing to do," I replied mischievously. "I'm going to invite Jeremy so I will have a date too."
Oliver didn't reply to this, something about that made me do a little victory dance in my head. I smiled and lie back down. Oliver still lie beside me. I shivered a little as the breeze blew over us.
"You cold?" Oliver asked.
"Not really," I replied, smiling slightly.
"Yes you are, I know when you're lying," Oliver teased.
"Oh?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, "Then I'd better watch what I say around you."
Oliver laughed and rolled onto his side and looked at me.
"What?" I demanded as he smirked at me.
"You look very nice in a bathing suit," Oliver replied.
"OLIVER!" I squealed and pushed him playfully, "I have to admit, you look decently nice in one yourself."
"Why thank you, Miss Bell," Oliver replied, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I had really better be getting back to the castle. I don't want Sarah to come looking for me."
"Oh, yes, you'd better be getting back to your darling Sarah," I replied, slightly icier than I had meant.
"Katie," Oliver said as he prepared to jump into the water, "I love you."
"I love you, too," I whispered as he slid into the lake, "more than you'll ever know."
I watched Oliver swim back to the shore and until he disappeared from sight in the woods. I wondered how it was I had been able to live while we were fighting. It seemed an impossible feat looking back at it now.
I sighed and dove into the lake myself, not to go back home, but to go to my secret lake and do my infamous midnight swim. I couldn't risk going for my midnight swim in this lake because it was too close the all the houses in the area and in a fairly clear part of the woods. I hurried to my secret lake and slipped my wet bathing suit off and stepped into the crystal clear water.
After swimming for a while and jumping off the rocks near the small waterfall at one end of the lake I got out of the water and pulled my bathing suit and all my clothing back on and headed back to the house. This time my parents were nowhere in sight, so I went the easy way back to my room. The easy way required me to climb up on top of the wrought iron fence around the patio, which was one of the ones with the leaf and flower patterns on it, and then onto the roof. I climbed quickly up and crossed the roof quietly. I clambered up onto the higher roof and over to my room where I easily slipped through the open window.
I changed into my pajamas and fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow, only to wake up about five hours later to go outside for the Early Morning Quidditch Training.
AN/ Okay, next chapter look forward to semi-formal dress shopping, pranks, and generally bothering the crap out of Sarah Everett! YES!
Oh, don't worry, I didn't completely forget about Ginny, okay I kind of did in that chapter, but she'll be back! I promise! And her absense will be explained, basically Katie completely forgot that Ginny was there, but Ginny's going to help them a lot with the Sarah bugging.
Okay, that's about it. Please review!
Love From,
MotherCrumpet