Chapter 8 Would you rather?

Three weeks later, Katie and I are officially a couple. Three weeks. That long? Doesn't seem like three weeks to me. I've been totally elated for the whole time. I didn't even realise how wonderful Katie is … I mean, I knew she was everything I wanted, but she's so much more too … whoa, cliché …

We were sitting on the couches in front of the Gryffindor common room fire, along with Fred and Angelina, and George and Alicia. My arm was around Katie, and her head was on my chest. I was so comfortable. We were talking about nothing much … who'll be the new seeker next year after ours left … who'll take captaincy … who's best, Tornadoes, or Puddlemere …

"Fred, listen, I know you love them, but Puddlemere are so much better than the Tornadoes -" I protested.

"They are not. The Tornadoes won against them in the British Quidditch Cup! -" Fred countered.

"You know that's only because their Seeker was hit by a bludger before half-time. They were way ahead on points -" George said, taking Oliver's side.

"Thanks, bro," Fred muttered.

"I think we should stop talking about this -" Angelina began.

"I think the Puddlemere Seeker is hot -" Katie said. We all stopped and looked at her. She grew red, avoiding everyone's eyes. "Well, he is …"

"He is," grinned Alicia.

"Excuse me?" both George and I said to our respective girlfriends.

"Oh, Oliver, honestly … You're hot too …" Katie rolled her eyes. "And so is … wait … no … no, George isn't …" she grinned at him, George scowling back.

"Aw, George, I love you anyway …" grinned Alicia, winding him up more.

I cuddled closer to Katie, blocking out the conversation that was going to turn into a row if Alicia wasn't careful. I grinned at Katie when she looked up at me. "What?" she asked with a lopsided smile.

"You," I said simply.

"What about me?"

"Just, you."

"Thanks for the explanation," she said sarcastically with a slight smile.

"You're welcome, Kates," I said, pulling her even closer and kissing her lightly.

"AHHHHHH! My eyes!" both of the twins yelled, and I smiled at Katie, who smiled back.

"At least I'm not eating Katie's face off, like you do to Angelina and Alicia, boys …" I said without looking at them.

"We do not!" they both exclaimed.

"Do," Katie and I said in unison, and broke out into laughter.

"So," I sighed after we'd both stopped laughing at the twins. "What do you want to do today?"

"Let's go down to the lake. It's lovely outside …" Alicia suggested, and everyone nodded their approval.

"So, we've been going out of three weeks …" I grinned as I slipped my arm around Katie on the way down the marble staircase.

"Counting?" she smiled and leaned into me.

"Of course," I said softly as we made it to the bottom of the steps.

"How can you be so perfect?" she sighed and closed her eyes.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"You're so perfect in every way. Sweet … cute … thoughtful … caring …" she listed, finally opening her eyes. "And I could trust you with my life."

"You've just listed what you are to me," I smiled down at her. She smiled lightly back.

"I love you," she sighed, still smiling.

"Love you too … so much, Katie …"

We finally made it down to the lake. Katie and I sat with our backs against the old oak tree, Fred and Angelina sat closer to the water, on the bank, and Alicia and George sat on the grass between the lake and the tree.

Katie sat between my legs, her back against my chest, my arms wrapped around her.

"Ollie?"

"Mmm?" I mumbled.

"Why did you want to go out with me? I mean … I'm a lot younger than you … I'm ugly -"

"Ugly? You,ugly?" I gafawed. "Katie, you're anything but."

She looked up at me. "Liar," she said, tears in her eyes.

"Katie," I sighed and turned her around so she was facing me. "Shut up. You. Are. Not. Ugly. You're gorgeous. I love you. You're so wonderful, so pretty, it hurts …"

She laughed slightly, one tear gliding down her face. "You're so corny!" she tittered.

"I know. I should stop being so cliché …"

"No, I love you as you are," she grinned at her own cliché-ness, another tear falling.

"Don't cry, Kat …" I whispered and wiped away the two tears that were slowly coursing down her face. I sighed. "You're even pretty when you cry …"

"Thank you," she laughed and sniffed. She settled herself with her head in my lap, and her legs alongside mine. I stroked her hair off of her face, and she smiled up at me. "You make me so happy …" she sighed.

"You make me happy too, Kat," I smiled and laid my head back to lean on the tree.

After a pause, Katie said, "Who do you think is better out of the Tornadoes or the Cannons?"

I laughed. "Tornadoes, hands down."

Katie laughed too. "Yeah … the Cannons haven't won a game in decades …"

"Our brother, Ron, is obsessed with them," grinned George.

"Crazy …" muttered Katie and I grinned.

"If they just got a new Keeper … and a new Seeker … and some Beaters who can use a bat …and some Chasers who can catch …" I listed the Chudley Cannons' faults.

"So, pretty much, a whole new team?" Alicia laughed.

"No … no, the coach is alright …" I grinned.

"No he isn't …" Katie said slowly.

"No, he isn't," I laughed.

"Scared me for a minute there, Cap'n'," she laughed.

I just laughed. "So, what's everyone doing this summer?" Summer was only a few weeks away.

"We're going to Egypt," the twins said together.

"I'm going to Spain with my family," Angelina smiled.

"I think we're going to go to America …" Alicia said. "I have some cousins there."

"What about you, Katie?" I asked.

"Oh, I'm just staying at home …" Katie said with a frown at the ground. "You?"

"Oh, same here … ah … Kates … move your head a bit," I gasped slightly, her head somewhere I didn't want it to be …

"Oh," she blushed, a lot. "Sorry … sorry, Ol' …" she said, and moved her head. I heard all four others laugh. I smiled at her, and she smiled sheepishly back.

"You want her head there, really, Oliver …" Fred grinned from by the lake.

"Shut up, Fred," I sang.

"Or what?"

"Or this!" I yelled, jumped up and ran at him, and chased him into the water. Both of us were soaking, so I flipped him. It made sense in my head at the time.

We came out, drenched, the rest laughing at us. I magicked myself dry and sat next to Katie again. I grinned. "So …" I laughed at her bewildered face. "Aw, Kate."

"Let's play 'would you rather …'!" Fred randomly yelled, still soaked to the bone.

The other's just looked at him as if he were deranged. He magicked himself dry.

"It's really fun. Look, okay, Angelina, would you either … kiss George, or kiss Katie?"

The other's laughed as Angelina gagged on nothing. "What?" she choked.

"Choose which one you'd rather do," Fred answered.

"Eh … well … kiss Katie …" she sighed. "Because it'd be way too weird to kiss your twin!"

"Good choice …" Fred grinned and looked between Angelina and Katie.

"We don't need to do it, do we?" Angelina gasped.

"Well … if you want to, we're not stopping you …" Fred grinned and Angelina slapped his shoulder.

"Okay, my turn to ask, then?" Angelina asked. "Katie, would you rather sleep with Oliver or … go skinny dipping?"

"Ange!" Katie looked shocked. I smiled secretly.

"What?" Angelina asked innocently.

Katie sighed. "I'm not answering that!"

"C'mon, Kat," I grinned.

She sighed again. "You mean at this age just now?" she asked. Angelina nodded. "Then I'd sleep with Oliver …" All of us looked at her, wide-eyed, me even more so …

"Seriously?" George asked, amazed.

"Yeah …" she said slowly.

"Really?" I asked softly.

"Yes …" she said, avoiding my gaze.

"Okay, another one for Katie. Would you rather … feel Oliver up, or … climb the North tower?" Angelina asked.

"Why me again?" she pouted, then sighed. "Feel Oliver up …" she said quietly.

"Seems like she's quite set on the idea of touching you, Oliver, old man," grinned George.

"Shut up, George," I muttered and stared at Katie.

"Okay, my turn?" Katie said quickly. "George, would you rather … be eaten alive … or … drown under ice."

"Eaten alive. Not as drawn out," He answered. "Alicia, would you rather jump in the lake right now … or feel Oliver up right now?"

"Pah, I'd jump in the lake!" Alicia laughed, then added, "No offence, Oliver."

"Huh, none taken," I laughed.

"Okay, Fred, would you rather … get dressed up as a girl for a day or … live without Angie?"

"Dress up as a girl," he said really, really uber quickly. We all laughed. "Alrighty then, Oliver mate, you're the only one left. This has to be the best question. Would you rather … be Flint for a year, or give up Quidditch?"

I stared at him, wide-eyed. "For good?"

"For good," he confirmed.

"I'd … I'd kill myself …" I laughed.

"But what about poor Katie?"

I sighed. "For Katie, I'd give up Quidditch any day. I don't think she'd like me if I were Flint, and I couldn't live without you for a year," I smiled as Katie looked at me, shocked.

"You'd give up Quidditch for me?"

I nodded.

"Never do that!" she yelled, jumping up.

"I don't think you would ever ask me to do that, Katie … would you?"

"Never! You love it! I'd never make you give up something you love!"

"You did, three weeks ago," I smiled a bit. "But then you gave me you back."

She smiled, sat back down, and hugged me.

"Another for Oliver!" George yelled. "Would you rather … not be a wizard … or … grow a beard?"

"That one was crap," I laughed. "I'd grow a beard …"

Everyone laughed. "Hey, don't I get to ask one?" I asked.

"No," the twins replied and both stood up, everyone following as they made their way back to the castle, as it was getting colder, and dinner was soon.

"That's unfair," I sighed.

"So?" they both said. I shrugged.

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It's almost summer. We are, again, sitting out beside the lake on the last day of the school year, but this time, it's just Katie and I.

"So, will you just … be on your own with your mum and dad, or …?" I asked Katie. She seemed quite depressed, whereas others dotted about the grounds are gleeful that exams are over, and they were going home tomorrow.

"Yeah … my brothers are in Germany … don't know why …" she replied lazily.

"Katie, are you okay? You seem upset about something," I asked finally. I'd wanted to ask her for ages, but I thought I might upset her more if I did.

She looked at me, and gave a strained smile. "I'm fine."

"Kate, I know you're not fine. Tell me what's up, please?"

She sighed. "I don't want to go home … I want to stay here … with you …"

"Is there something wrong at home?" I asked, getting increasingly more worried.

"No … no, there's nothing wrong at home, Ol', I just don't want to be away from you for weeks and weeks …"

I smiled. "You think I'll let you be away from me for that length of time? No way, Kates, I'm going to take you out … bring you home …" I smirked.

"Oliver …" she grumbled with a smirk also. "So, when and where will you take me out?"

"Twice a week at least, and I don't know yet," I grinned, hugged her tightly, and kissed her temple.

She smiled back. "I love you, Ollie."

"I love you more, Kate."

Hello, wonderful people . This is the SECOND last chapter. The epilogue is coming sooooon. Leave a review please.  thanks muchly.

Best Writing Wishes,

Black Flaming Heart xxx