"Teammate, Bell."
"And how, pray tell, do think you are going to lure the notorious Oliver Wood out of retirement?" asked Katie sounding skeptical.
"Well that's where we were hoping you would come in," said Derek.
"I haven't spoken to Wood since he left Hogwarts. Don't expect much from me," warned Katie.
"Oh come on Bell, just remind him of all the good times you two had playing together at Hogwarts. And if that doesn't work just turn on the Velia charm," said Crystal grinning.
"Yeah Bell, then you'll end up on the cover of Witches for something other than dating Eric Ives," joked Derek.
"I don't have any Velia charm," Katie muttered.
"Liar," whispered her fellow chaser Lexi, "How else do you think she hooked Eric Ives?"
The team laughed. "Fine, fine," said Katie blushing. "I'll do my best. But don't expect anything."
"Bell, we certainly will expect something," said Beater Billy Baker, "The fate of our team is at stake!"
"Not helping, Baker," said Katie.
"Bell," said Crystal from her hospital bed, "The team needs you to do this."
"Oh how can I saw no to someone in a hospital bed with a crack in her head?" said Katie, knowing that she had been played, "Where can I find the elusive Mr. Wood?"
"London," said Derek handing her an envelope, "Here's his address and an offer letter for him to sign. The sooner you sign him the better, but we have three days till the first match and I think our chances of winning would double if we had a keeper."
"Alright, alright, here goes nothing," said Katie, preparing to apparate.
"WAIT," said Lexi grabbing her arm, "You can't call on a notorious womanizer smelling like Hippogriff dung."
"I appreciate your honesty, Lexi," Katie grumbled, as she headed to the showers. When she emerged she saw that the locker room had been transformed into a salon. There were witches waiting to do her makeup, hair and nails as well as racks of clothes for her to pick from.
"So this is where all of the team profits go?" asked Katie as she sat down in the chair to be transformed.
When everything was finished Katie looked at herself in the mirror. Her blonde hair had been set so that it fell in big beautiful curls and her face looked quite natural with mascara, light foundation, and a pale pink lipstick. She was dressed in a pair of dark flattering jeans and tight, low cut bright blue sweater. She thought that she looked quite good, but nowhere near as good as the girls she saw Oliver with in Witches.
"Go get 'em, Bell," said Crystal giving her the thumbs up as Katie finally apparated to Oliver's flat.
Katie found herself outside a beautifully modern apartment building in the heart of London, she approached the doorman.
"Hi," she said, "I'm here to see Oliver Wood."
"Yeah you and every other eligible woman in London," snorted the doorman.
"I'm an old friend," said Katie.
"He didn't say he was expecting anyone," said the doorman looking confused.
"Well he must have forgotten—you know he's got a lot of his mind," said Katie capitalizing on the doorman's confusion.
"Yeah, yeah, go on up. Top floor," said the doorman standing aside.
"Thank you," said Katie, not knowing or caring what she had said to get inside Oliver's building. She got in the elevator and pressed the button for what else, but the penthouse suite. The elevator door dinged as it opened, revealing an expensive, exquisitely decorated apartment.
"Who's there?" said a deep, Scottish brogue that Katie recognized immediately; he had screamed at her a lot during school.
"Oliver, it's me," said Katie moving toward his voice.
"Well that helps a lot, as I wasn't expecting anyone," said Oliver, his voice coming nearer.
Wow, Katie thought continuing to move closer to the source of the noise, wonder if the attitude came with the place or if that was extra?
"Oh, it's you," said Oliver starring at her in surprise.
"I told you it was me," said Katie grinning.
"Katie Bell! How the hell are you?" said Oliver giving her a hug, "I haven't seen anyone from Hogwarts in years! Wait how did you get in here?"
"That's a good question. One minute your doorman was trying to brush me off and the next he was welcoming me in with open arms. It's like I said some magic words or something."
"If you said, 'I'm an old friend' then you did break a code. It's what my—er—'special' friends say when they call," said Oliver sheepishly.
"Ohh, I see," said Katie. There was an awkward silence, "Err nice place you've got here."
"Yeah, isn't it fantastic?" Oliver asked, "It was the first thing I bought with my earnings. I'm sad to say my tastes haven't been as good since then…"
"Yeah, I've heard…" Katie mumbled.
"What was that?"
"I've seen you all over Witches," Katie confessed, "Most people have an inkling what you do with your time and money."
"Ah yes. Well I'm proud to say it's not all true. I've seen you there too, Bell. Dating a famous actor?" said Oliver.
"And playing damn good quidditch," said Katie indignantly. She didn't know where all this anger toward Oliver was coming from—what was it to her if he was sleeping around? She had a very attractive boyfriend herself, "If you even follow that anymore."
Oliver gave her a bemused look, "I'm sorry Katie. And I have read about how well you've been playing for the Sphinxes."
"Have you heard about our game today? That's kind of why I'm here," asked Katie.
"I did. It's a shame. Shacklebolt was the best keeper I ever faced. How are you going to manage playoffs without her?" said Oliver.
"Well…Shacklebolt and Coach Eagle Eye have this crazy idea that you will come out retirement and play with us for the rest of the season. I told them it was ridiculous, but they wanted me to ask anyway," said Katie, "So if you could just say no right now, we can find a more reasonable solution."
"Now what is so unreasonable about that?" said Oliver.
Katie merely gapped at him—was he really going to do it? "But you're retired…"
"I retired too damn early. There is still a lot of good quidditch left in your old captain. And who better for me to make my triumvirate return with than my favorite chaser? We make a good team," said Oliver.
Katie just looked at him.
"Merlin, Bell, you look like I've just explained the most complicated play in the world to you."
"But you're retired…"
"So you've said," said Oliver laughing, "Why is the fact that I want to play again so ridiculous?"
"If you still want to play, why did you stop?"
"Katie I got caught up in all glamour and glitz of Quidditch fame," Oliver confessed, not meeting her eyes, "I don't have my feet as firmly planted on the ground as you do, my feet have always hovered a few inches above the ground. I've been wanting to get back into it, but the timing hasn't been right; so I've been travelling, seeing the world like I always wanted to."
"Well that's a noble explanation for what the tabloids have been saying…"
"I'm afraid I don't have a noble explanation for anything else they say. But I think if I had quidditch in my life again, it might be enough for me to stop being so…social."
"Well, this was far easier than I could have hoped," said Katie beaming, "We definitely have a shot at the championship now."
"More than a shot. With me at the posts, I'd say were the favorite."
"A little sure of yourself aren't we. Not worried you'll be rusty?"
"Don't you worry about that Bell," said Oliver smirking, "Now is there paperwork for me to do?"
"Oh yes," said Katie handing over the envelope. Oliver signed in all the necessary places.
"Great! See you tomorrow—practice starts at 9 am."
"Alright," said Oliver as they walked toward the elevator door, "It was great seeing you again, Bell."
"Yeah, just like old times," said Katie. Well not exactly like old times, thought Katie, because I used to have a massive crush on Oliver, but I definitely don't have one anymore!
"You should come over for dinner some time."
"Now that I know the code to get in?"
"Well, Katie, I wouldn't use that method to get up here unless you are prepared to follow through on the responsibilities that come with that job."
"Mr. Wood I think you forget that I am not on the market right now."
"Ms. Bell I think you forget that when you are an international quidditch star, everyone is on the market," Oliver said flashing the same trademark smirk from their days at Hogwarts.
Katie returned his smirk with one of her own as the doors to the elevator closed. Katie apparated back to the locker room, hoping to share the good news with her coach.
"Bell, back so soon? I wouldn't have you pegged as a quitter," said Derek.
"I'm not a quitter," said Katie as she waved the signed papers in front of her coach's face.
"Bell, well done!" said Derek, who was practically jumping up and down with joy. He quickly sent messages to the rest of the team. "So the old velia charm worked?"
"Something like that. Let's just say that he deserves his reputation," said Katie.
"Am I going to see you on this week's cover of Witches?"
"No need to worry, coach," said Katie.
"That's what I like to hear Bell. I shall see you tomorrow," said Derek.
A/N: Oh that Oliver Wood!! Love him!! Please review!