Disclaimer: It's all Jo's.

Author's Notes: The last installment of The First Day of Classes! Finally! I know this took a bit longer to update, but I put out Coffee instead, so I'm not too guilty about it. I really tried to keep Katie's personality true in this chapter, and it was a little tough, but I think I did a fair job.

For those of you who haven't read my profile (and I don't blame you if you haven't--how often do you read the profiles?), I've got stories popping out of my ears right now, and I'm very eager to write them all, but the only time I really get to write is on the weekends. Which is quite unfortunate, because I'm going to be gone this weekend. I've got several Katie/Oliver ideas (Private Practises, for one; check out my profile for details), and the beginnings of a plotline for a bit of non-HP fiction, so expect something from me every once in a while.

But anyway, for those of you who have actually made it through this boring and utterly pointless AN, please remember to review! I really appreciate it!

Alisa


The First Day of Classes

((of being all right))

Katie Bell, fifth-year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Chaser on the Gryffindor House team, was currently nursing her second cup of coffee at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Across from her Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson were giggling about Cedric Diggory's bed-head.

Katie took another sip of her drink and sighed quietly. It was only the first day of classes, yet she was already missing Oliver Wood, her ex-Quidditch Captain and boyfriend, who had graduated the previous year. In her state of melancholy, her mind drifted back to when she had woken up this morning.

Her alarm clock—which had really been Oliver's, but Katie had nicked it as he had been packing his trunk—woke her up by a rowdy chorus of Beat Back Those Bludgers, Boys, and Chuck That Quaffle Here. Katie's first conscious thought was that she really ought to be paying attention to Oliver's Quidditch game, but then she remembered he was only a reserve, and that he wasn't playing at all. Then she wondered why he wasn't up at all, and had gotten half-way up the boys' dormitory stairs to wake him up with a kiss and some jumping on the bed before she realized she wouldn't find him in the dormitory anyway. Oliver had graduated.

When this shocking, harsh reminder hit her, Katie sat down on the stairs and cried. She was found ten minutes later by Ron Weasley, who, in his alarm, called to Hermione Granger, who then informed Alicia and Angelina that their friend was blocking the boys' staircase.

All in all, not one of her better mornings. If only she had Oliver here to make it better!

But she didn't, and Katie consoled herself by pouring another cup of coffee and listening to Angelina and Alicia argue over which of the Weasley twins had better hair.

Katie was just finishing off her bacon and being told—amicably, of course—how difficult O.W.L. year was, when hundreds of dripping owls swooped into the Great Hall, bringing letters and packages to eager recipients. Katie wasn't expecting anything and was therefore quite surprised when a small tawny owl landed in front of her.

Eyes widened in curiosity, Katie relieved the owl of its burden and offered it the remainder of her bacon rinds. The owl helped itself to Alicia's pumpkin juice as Katie opened the letter.

Dear Katie,

How's my favorite Chaser doing today? Not too stressed out after the first day, I hope.

I'm doing good. Weather's grey (thought you wouldn't expect any less) and Quidditch is fantastic (though you wouldn't expect any less).

So, how was your first night back? Were there lots of midget first years to sort? And today's your first day of classes! All the professors will talk about is O.W.L.S., so you can reply to this letter then. And don't listen to a word those other Chasers tell you about O.W.L.S., they're not nearly as bad as they say.

I know we've only been apart for eight hours as of now, around twenty when you get this, but I reckoned you'd like to hear from me your first day of classes. Unless, of course, you've finally noticed someone like George Weasley or Lee Jordan, in which case you'll most likely crumple this up and toss it in someone's bowl of cereal, leaving me to wallow in the pains of your rejection. But I know you wouldn't do that, you're too sweet.

Right?

Of course. No need to worry on my end.

And Katie, make sure you keep an eye out for the first Hogsmeade date, because I'll be there no matter what. I don't care if I have to fight my way through all thirteen other Puddlemere players and the coach, I'll be there to take you to Hogsmeade! And think, then you can brag to all the other fifth years that you're going to Hogsmeade with a graduate! Won't they be jealous.

But mostly, I just wanted to write and say that you shan't need to worry about a thing and that I miss you terribly already. It feels odd not to be going back to Hogwarts, so I'll just have to live vicariously through you. So make sure you harp the Weasleys a good bit, okay?

Love, Oliver XOXOXO (Mother insisted I add those, though I'm not sure why. What's a bunch of Xs and Os supposed to mean?)

P.S. Make sure you include your Quidditch schedule so I can come see all your matches (and see who you've found to replace me).

—Oliver

By the time Katie finished reading the letter, she had tears pricking her eyes. Angelina and Alicia were watching her cautiously.

"You all right, dear?" Alicia asked gently.

Katie gave a choked laugh and hugged the letter to her chest, forcing herself to blink back the burning in her eyes.

"I'm quite all right," she said, and gave a great sniffle followed by a weak cough.

"You're sure, Katie?" Angelina urged quietly.

"I just miss him," Katie muttered, and was angry to find tears welling up in her eyes again. "But I'm going to keep missing him, so I've got to get it together."

Angelina and Alicia shared a concerned look.

"All I've been doing is sulking lately, and I'm not like that, and Oliver wouldn't want me like that," Katie said defiantly, more to herself than to the girls. "So I'm not going to be like that."

"Way to buck up, Bell," Angelina said enthusiastically. "Everything'll be back to normal in no time at all."

"Good," Katie replied, sniffling just a little again.

"But you know, Katie," said Alicia, leaning in a bit and speaking gently, "it's okay to miss Oliver. We all do."

Katie set her jaw and muttered, "I know."

Alicia smiled sympathetically and patted Katie on the arm. She continued encouragingly, "It may take a while, but someday it won't hurt as much. You'll still miss him just as much as you do now, but it won't hurt as badly."

"And you have us!" added Angelina brightly. "If you ever need anything, you have us to call on. Don't worry, Katie, everything's going to get better, I can feel it!"

Katie mustered her best smile. "You're both the best, you know that, don't you?"

The two girls nodded modestly.

"Ooh, and did I say?" Katie added, her smile becoming just a bit more genuine. "He's taking me to Hogsmeade!"

FIN.