Conquering the Captains Hussy Chapter Five: An Enigma

For Lilu05 because she told me to hurry up. Can't ignore orders like that. Hope this satisfies you dear.

And Also For Giddy because my dear girl is feeling a little stressed. you'll be fine love, just keep smiling!

Authors note: yes i'm bad, really bad. you didn't deserve to have to wait so long for an update...i really do appreciate and love you all though so don't be mad at me for too long please. anyway i hope this is up to standard. i'm in the middle of exams so i'm a little out of it. Please read and enjoy!

Mrs Jennings annual gathering was the type of merrymaking that was particular to the rich. Katie had had no idea, before she and Tai arrived at the gathering, exactly how well off the Jennings were. There was a strong theme of otherworldly splendour for the evening and everything from the guests dress robes and gowns to the wall-hangings were completed with such detail, that Katie, an artist of sorts was sorely tempted to set up camp, ignore Tai completely, and paint it before the scene before it was lost forever. Sir Jennings, order of Merlin second class, and Tai's ancient grandfather greeted them in the hall. Apparently he had studied as a bard Katie found out later.

He was in royal blue dress robes, a wreath of clover on his head, and he greeted them first in old welsh, then in English. Tai looked at Katie embarrassedly.

She smiled and greeted Sir Ian Jennings politely, tai looked somewhat relieved as he nodded respects to his Grandfather and they moved into the main hall. There they found themselves almost instantly surrounded by Tai's other family members. His mother pulled a upper-class derisive expression.

Tai scowled "Mother," he said appearing sweet but with a bladed undertone. "This is Katie Bell. A friend"

Mrs. Jennings nodded. "Miss Bell"

Civilities aside. Tai whisked Katie away; which she was somewhat thankful for, a less courageous girl may have been frightened that the daunting Mrs Jennings was considering the effects of tearing her into pieces. Katie could see why Tai didn't want to bring a girl whom he actually wished to date. She was sure that in the same situation she would wish to keep any potential boyfriends or Oliver Wood's out of harms way.

Suddenly though she saw him.

Oliver.

Furious, she turned on Jennings.

"You didn't tell me HE was coming," she hissed pulling them out of sight of her quidditch captain. Tai chuckled.

"Honestly Katie, use your head." He swung them back out, making a big show of dancing very gentlemanly with her. "There's hardly any point getting him riled up by taking you dancing if he doesn't see us"

Katie bugged her eyes out somewhat involuntarily. "Tai, this is all gonna fall apart, I just know it"

Tai shook his head, looking gloatingly at Oliver. "Stop being such a pessimist, Giggles. Just follow my lead, and we will have Oliver so jealous he won't be able to tell whether he wants to kiss you or hit me first"

"I think Tai Jennings that you are a deluded fool"

"Yeah, but I'm also a spoiled rich brat and I can twist almost anyone to get what I want"

"And you want me with Oliver? Why?"

"Further my own plans really. Getting you with Oliver means that I'm closer to getting with… well never you mind that. Try looking a little more in love with me"

Out of the corner of her eye Katie watched Oliver stand up and move to the drinks table. Checking to see that no one important was watching he downed a pint of fire whisky with a determination that Katie had only ever seen on a quidditch field. She felt her heart flip and pouted at Tai.

"What is it?" he asked lightly.

"Lets go talk to him, he looks upset."
"Katie, for a quidditch player…"Tai began, Katie couldn't tell if he was amused or annoyed.

"What?"

"You are the biggest wus… we're trying to make him upset, remember?" Tai grinned annoyingly at Oliver.

Oliver glanced over at them, biting his lip. Tai chuckled, "ten minutes in and we're already getting to him"

The "getting-to-him" as Tai Jennings had expressed it had only gotten worse. By the actual dinner, Oliver was all but pacing the floor. He was seated on the other side of Katie and awaited the serving of soup impatiently, hoping to get out quickly afterwards. As if unconsciously, Oliver drummed his fingers on the table in an eerily familiar tune. It took Katie a moment to realise that the tune was her mirrors favourite song "Scotland the Brave" Katie had to make a exhausting effort to prevent herself from pulling Oliver's fidgety hands into her own grasp and hold them still. She tried to say something but only managed to get halfway through the first syllable of a word before Tai spoke loudly on a completely random subject. The fact that the subject he had chosen was Leek soup made the situation all the more irritating.

This pattern continued all the way through dinner, anytime Katie would try to talk to her captain. Jennings would loudly change the subject. Katie was no longer sure whether he was trying to annoy Oliver or her own self. Katie tried to list every subject change that Tai hd come up with later that night, and found much to her disapproval. Whether or not the weather in Bulimia was hotter than in Greece, she had no particular need to know. Or indeed whom the lady on the left of the furthest right table two seats up from the end was. The rest were just as ridiculous.

She did finally get a chance to talk with Oliver just before he left. Tai had wandered off somewhere, an absence that Katie was almost willing to pay for. Taking full advantage of it she had run towards Oliver, calling his name. He was almost around the corner where he was to leave from when Katie broke into a run. She was only a yard away from him when the heel of her shoe broke and she went flying. Oliver reached out to steady her, and Katie was reluctant to leave his strong arms even after she had steadied herself.

"Having fun?" he asked drolly.

Katie made a noise that could have been construed as either hysterical chuckling or sobbing

Oliver scratched his head and sat Katie down on the footpath. She looked at him curiously as he took off her shoe and inspected the damage. They were thin strappy heels, and the heel had snapped off entirely. Oliver chuckled.

"I'm that important that you'd run in heels for me?"

Katie could tell he was jesting but it made her feel relieved to know that Oliver wasn't too badly disturbed by her and Tai's mock-date; Or indeed Jennings' terrible behaviour at dinner.

"So where's your date, wood?" Katie asked boldly.

Oliver sighed, "I think I've given up on dating after- you chasers called her the marsh-thing didn't you?"

Katie laughed, "yeah, the marsh-thing… the bog-monster. Whichever."

"People get up me for being so protective of my team. Did you know that? But whenever I do relax a little and just run with the flow of things, something like this happens"
"it's not your fault Oliver" Katie whispered and squeezed his hand.

"It is, the team is my responsibility and I screwed up. And now you've all lost it a little"

Katie saw Tai walking through the door and she turned to Oliver. "We all make stupid decisions sometimes Ollywood"

Oliver grinned at the nickname as Tai came closer. "Like Dating Tai you mean?"

Katie laughed. "Yeah, that would be the first on the list right now"

Katie didn't quite have the courage to tell him the real purpose of her mock-date with Tai. Not yet at least.

Oliver charmed her shoe back together and strapped it on. Helping her to his feet, he sighed dejectedly as Tai called out to them.

"Looks like your date wants you back" Oliver saluted and walked away, his hands shoved in his pockets.

Tai Jennings reached Katie's side and poked her. Katie was still watching Oliver, somehow glued to the spot and unable to make herself call out or follow him. Tai looked at her and shook his head. "Shoot Bell . Just call after him"

Katie looked up at Tai and frowned, Oliver wasn't kidding about the mistakes part. She sucked cold air into her lungs and flung her heels at Tai. "I'll see you later Jennings " she called back as she bolted after Oliver.

He was about to apparate when she caught up with him again. "Merlin Oliver, would you just stop already!"

Oliver spun around suddenly and sighed. "Where'd Tai go?"

"Doesn't mater, Ollie…"

Oliver looked at her. His mouth hanging open in a manner that made him look somewhat like a goldfish.

A very lovable goldfish, Katie concluded, but a goldfish nonetheless.

"why?" he whispered his Scottish brogue husky from the cold. (And, unbeknownst to Katie bell, a little nervous heartbreak)

"Because he's a silly git and I have the biggest crush on you Oliver"

Oliver looked down at her, grinning inanely, more like a crocodile than a goldfish now. "Kates," he whispered quietly

"Ol…?" Katie breathed as Oliver leaned down and pressed his lips gently against hers. Katie opened her mouth slightly in surprise as Oliver pulled back.

His bellows chest heaved. And he chuckled softly.

"Merlin and Godric Katie Bell, you give meaning to enigma"

Tai approached behind them and laughed, "follows no rules and makes her own patterns Capt' you know that." He tipped a pretend hat at Oliver.

"Jennings." Oliver started.

Tai bowed elaborately and handed Katie her heels, " Your shoes, my fair lady." Katie nodded her thanks.

"Well I'm off, if I'm lucky there might be some pudding left. And out" Tai grinned at Oliver before blowing a kiss at Katie and apparating away.

" You know sometimes I'm not sure if I want to hit that boy or not Kates." Oliver said contemplatively, staring at the spot Tai had just vacated. he shrugged and wrapped an arm around Katie. "home?"

Katie nodded and clung tightly to Oliver as he apparated

(to hogsmeade where hagrid would pick them up. if i don't add this i'll probably be attacked for forgetting Hermione's favourite fact... however it made the end really heavy so i dropped it Alright?)

Authors Note: I thinking there may be one more chapter to go on this. I know I promised a "million-and-one-chapters" deal but it's becoming a little impractical and already I'm resorting to Jane Austen for names as someone so lovingly pointed out. Willis Darcy in the previous Chapter is a pretty direct reference to Pride and predjudice. So until next time…

Much love, and happy dreams. Lady Arre