Thanks to mischief manage for the quote about wood flooring. And thanks to all of my reviewers. 100 reviews as I am typing this!
I Told You So:::
The months flew by and before I knew it February was here and Quidditch was fully occupying all of our minds. When we walked down to the pitch for our last practice before the match against Ravenclaw, the first thing we saw was Madam Hooch adoring Harry's Firebolt. As we gathered around, she went on and on about its balance and aerodynamics, until I seriously thought Oliver was going to hit her—this is his precious practice time!
"Er—Madam Hooch? Is it okay if Harry has the Firebolt back? We need to practice…." He finally choked out.
"Oh—right—here you are, then, Potter," she answers, slightly downtrodden.
When we finally get into the air, I watch the Firebolt with admiration. Damn, that broomstick's hot. I'd date it.
Practice was awesome. Maybe we were showing off for the Firebolt--I don't know--but it was the best practice I've ever been a part of. When we finally hit the ground, Oliver was speechless.
"Wow, that's a first," George mutters and Alicia hits him.
"I can't see what's going to stop us tomorrow," Oliver says. "Not unless—Harry, you've sorted out your dementor problem, haven't you?"
"Yeah."
"The Dementors won't turn up again, Oliver. Dumbledore'd go ballistic," Fred says confidently.
"Well, let's hope not," Oliver says. "Anyway—good work, everyone. Let's get back to the tower…turn in early—"
We all head back except for Harry who is staying to let the twins' little brother, Ron, have a go on the Firebolt.
When we arrive in the common room, we occupy ourselves by talking about Quidditch for a while, but Oliver isn't saying a word. I put my hand on his knee to calm him down, but it doesn't seem to help. Fred, George, Angelina, and Alicia head up to bed a few minutes later, but I stay with Oliver. Someone has to stop him from having a panic attack.
"You okay?" I ask when he doesn't acknowledge my presence.
"Just nervous."
"You're going to be bloody brilliant, like always. Don't worry."
"A scout's coming," he finally admits.
"Just stay calm. You're the best keeper Gryffindor's ever had."
"Thanks."
"You'll do fine, Oliver," I assure him.
"You should get in bed," he says, not looking at me.
"Yeah. Sure. See you tomorrow." He just nods in response. I climb the stairs to the girls' dorms, but don't stop at my own. Witha fierce determination in my eyes, I keep going until I reach the fifth years' dorm room and enter to find Angelina and Alicia, the sole occupants, changing into their pajamas.
"Hey Katie," Angelina greets. Alicia, ever the observant one, caught onto my mood at once.
"What's wrong?"
"Do you have an hour or so?" I ask sarcastically.
"Yes, they both answer and settle down on Angelina's bed where I join them. They wait expectantly, but I can't bring myself to speak.
"It's about Oliver, isn't it?" Angelina finally asks.
"Yeah," I admit. "It's just that I'm started to feel like he's ignoring me. Tonight he looked at Harry's broomstick with more passion than he's ever looked at me."
"That sounds dirty," Angelina comments.
"I'm being serious!" I cry. "Sure, he's nice to me and everything. And when he remembers that we're going out, he acts so sweet—like a real boyfriend. But he's been leaving me behind lately—like he's forgotten we're together."
"He's just stressed, Katie," Alicia explains logically. "Once Quidditch is over, you two will be making sweet love every night."
"Oh well that's uplifting," I say sarcastically. "I only have to wait until May for him to care."
"Katie, I hate to say it, but we told you so," Angelina says with a sympathetic smile. "He loves you, Katie. That much is obvious. He's just worried that you're going to come between him and his career."
"But I would never—"
"Not on purpose," Alicia says. "But Oliver's a guy. As much as it may not seem like it, he's constantly thinking about you."
"In ways that would make you blush," Angelina says with a smirk.
"He's just worried that he'll grow too attached to you," Alicia continues. "And forget about his goals, his dreams."
"Katie, face it," Angelina says. "During Quidditch, Oliver thinks about Quidditch. No exceptions. You either deal with it, or you don't." Well, that's encouraging.
"Just train him right," Alicia says with a smirk.
"Yeah. Men are like wood flooring. If you lay them right the first time, then you can walk all over them forever," Angelina says with a smirk. Alicia hits her in the arm and we all laugh because we know it's true. I feel much better.
I head for bed with so many thoughts chasing themselves around in my mind that it's a wonder I ever fall asleep in the first place. But before I do, I realize something. Being with Oliver is keeping me sane. I don't know where I would be without him and I can only hope that these past two months have helped him to feel the same way about me.
OoO
The next morning as my stomach dances with butterflies, I sit down for breakfast with the rest of the team and we all bask in the glory that is Harry's Firebolt.
We head for the locker rooms soon after, and it's a relief to find that the weather is perfect for Quidditch.
"You know what we have got to do," Oliver says as we get ready to step onto the pitch. "If we lose this match, we're out of the running. Just—fly like you did in practice yesterday, and we'll be okay!"
We step out onto the field to tumultuous applause and stand facing the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.
"Wood, Davies, shake hands," Madam Hooch addresses the Captains. "Mount your broomsticks…on my whistle…three—two—one—"
The whistle echoes through the stadium and I kick off the ground into the air as the quaffle is released. I rush up and grab it before zooming towards the goal. I barely dodge a bludger but recover just in time to get decent aim.
"Ten-Zero. To Gryffindor," Lee's voice echoes around the stadium.
We played our heart out—we really did. If not for ourselves, then for Oliver. He wants this more than anything. Speaking of Oliver, he's doing superb. We're up 80-30.
And then the action stops as Harry and Ravenclaw's seeker Cho Chang both dive. I was soon distracted from them as I noticed three Dementors entering the field. God Harry, hold it together.
I needn't have worried. Harry pulled out his wand and shot a jet of silver at the three creatures before turning around and grasping the snitch tightly in his hand. I scream happily and join the rest of the team as we rush to hug our Seeker.
Oliver was yelling "That's my boy!" and Alicia, Angelina, and I each give Harry a peck on the cheek.
We eventually make our way down to the ground, where all of Gryffindor is rushing towards us.
I was still in a daze as I heard George yell to all assembled, "Party! Gryffindor common room, now!"
Before I was pulled away by Angelina, I spotted Oliver shaking hands with a very important looking man wearing a Puddlemere United Jacket.
OoO
I clean myself up and then head down to enjoy the party, which is already well underway. Fred and George have apparently already snuck into Hogsmeade considering Honeyduke's chocolate and various drinks are circulating through the room. Oliver, however, is nowhere in sight. Over on the couch, I catch sight of Cullen snogging Leanne senseless. She must not be too upset about her team's loss…
I dance with Angelina and Alicia for a while, but I wasn't really enjoying it. Where the hell is Oliver?
At about midnight he appears out of nowhere and pulls me out of the common room into an abandoned classroom. His only explanation, "We need to talk."
Those are the four worst words in the English language, let me tell you. When has anything good come out of "We need to talk"?
The sad part is that I know what's coming and I blame myself…"I love you, Katie," he says once we get settled, and I have to admit that I wasn't expecting that.
"I love you, too," I say, confused. We've never actually said those words to each other; it's just been understood. So is this a good thing or a bad thing?
"But—" he continues. My heart drops. "I'm so confused right now, Katie. I talked to the recruiter from Puddlemere today and they're interested. If we play well for the Slytherin game, he's going to sign me."
"Well, that's great." I don't see what this has to do with me.
"Katie, don't take this the wrong way, but I just don't have time for us right now. I've got to work out some new plays—the team comes first at this point. I know you've realized I've been pulling back and I'm sorry. I've tried to make time for us—I have. There just isn't any. And that makes me even more stressed because I know that you must hate me. I'm just trying to plan for my future here."
"So you're saying I'm not a part of your future?" I ask coolly.
"No. No, Katie. I just mean that right now my future depends on the Slytherin game and I don't want anything or anyone to ruin my concentration. After Quidditch's over—"
"So you expect me to just wait for you?" I yell. "I'm not that kind of girl, Oliver! If you let me go, then there's no guarantee you'll get me back."
"Katie, come on," Oliver pleads. "I'm not breaking up with you. I just want a break. Three months. After that, everything will work itself out."
"Three months! Oliver, do you know what happens in three months? You graduate! We'll get the summer together and then you're gone. We'll fall in love all over again, just to have it all ripped away!" I can already feel my heart ripping just a little bit.
This is not happening…
"That was going to happen anyway; we can work around it!" He shouts.
"Well, I guess it's better to separate sooner rather than later then," I shout harshly. "Have fun with your broomstick!" I storm out of the room and instead of returning to the portrait hole, I head up to the Astronomy Tower. It's way past curfew, but Filch can kiss my ass.
I just sit up there, doing nothing, for about an hour—thinking about nothing in particular. I knew it had been coming, I just didn't know that it was going to be this soon.
"You okay?" A voice says form behind me. Fred. I knew he'd be here eventually. He always seems to know when I'm hurting.
"Not really," I say, trying to keep the pain from my voice and the tears from my eyes.
"Yeah, I figured," he says, sitting down next to me and producing a glorious bottle of Firewhiskey. "You drunk yet?"
"Not drunk enough," I say, taking a massive swig.
"He's an ass, Katie," he says and I don't even bother to ask how he already knows.
"Are you going to say I told you so?"
"No, I'd never do that."
We sit in silence, just drinking. It's nice to feel someone next to me. About an hour later, we're both drunk as hell, but somehow we manage to make it up to Fred's dormitory without killing ourselves. I don't know if we were spotted. I don't really care. George and Lee are already snoring when we arrive.
Our inhibitions thrown aside, Fred pulls me close and gently kisses my lips while putting a silencing charm around his bed. He pulls me down onto his sheets and closes the curtains before nipping at my neck. Our kisses are everywhere at once, so fast that I can't follow them. We're acting on pure desire and I'm not sure whether it's frightening or exciting.
My mind's telling me that this is wrong. Fred and I are friends, everyone knows that and we both understand it. We just like to play with each other's emotions. My heart is telling me that this could turn out very, very bad, but you know what? I really don't care. If Oliver's not going to give me the attention I need, then maybe Fred can.
I reach up and cautiously unbuckle Fred's belt. Realizing what I'm doing, he immediately stops kissing me.
"Katie?" he manages to get out. It seems to be the only thing that he can say.
"I'm sick of being ignored," I say fiercely. Fred has never turned anyone down before and pity on him if I'm the first.
"Katie…" he trails off. I don't wait for what he's going to say, I just slam my lips against his and after a moment's hesitation, he deepens the kiss.
Friends with benefits. That's what they call it, isn't it. I never thought that I would be in that position.
I reach once again for his belt and this time he lets me remove it. His jeans aren't far behind. He's obviously trying to make me realize I don't want to do this, because he has yet to make any move to remove my clothing. I guess I'll just have to help him out a bit…
And then it hits me. I'm about to have sex with Fred. I don't like him like that! Sure, we're used to using each other, but this is crossing the line.
"Oh my God," I say, pushing him off of me.
"Yeah, see. I knew this would happen," Fred says, moving off of me so that I can sit up, and laying down on his own pillow with his hands over his head.
"I'm sorry," I apologize. "I just lost my head."
"Yeah, whatever," he mutters, rubbing his temples.
"Listen, I'm just going to go," I say, heading for the door.
"Katie...Katie, no," he says, grabbing my wrist. "Stay. Do you really feel like being alone?" I don't and Fred knows it. "Seriously, Katie—stay. I'm going to go to the bathroom, I'll be right back."
To stay or not to stay? The choice slips away as I slip into dreams.
OoO
"AAAARRRRGHHH! NOOOO!" The shout filled Gryffindor Tower, waking me up with a start. Fred sanps up next.
"Stay here," he whispers. "That's my brother."
I wait for about fifteen minutes until Fred comes back with the news.
"Sirius Black just broke into Gryffindor Tower. He tried to kill my brother."
OoO
And let the hate mail begin…
Don't worry—everything will work out in the end…or will it?
Next time on Love and Quidditch
"Angelina," I warn, now fully aware that she's lying.
"Okay, okay. I finally yanked up the courage to ask Lee out and he said that he was planning on asking me anyway, but there's a problem. His brothers wrote and said that their going to visit him in Hogsmeade, so we can't go unless I find them dates too."
"You're triple dating?" I ask dubiously.
"Please, Katie. I'll love you forever!"