Katie apparted home to her apartment and opened the door. "Hello? Eric?" she called, but was only greeted by silence. She made her way into the kitchen and began to cook dinner—at least if she was in charge of the cooking she wouldn't get some crazy all soy and tofu meal that Eric usually made. She had just put the lasagna (her favorite meal) in the oven when Eric returned.
"Hey honey," said Eric when he found her in the kitchen.
"Hi! How was your day?"
Eric shrugged, "Not bad—as good as doing publicity events can be. How was your match?"
Katie launched into an explanation of her day, telling him everything about the match and her visit to Oliver's.
"Woah, you got Oliver Wood to give up his womanizing ways and return to quidditch? How in the name of Merlin did you manage that?"
"It wasn't that hard actually. He said he wanted to get back into the game; I provided him with the perfect opportunity."
"Promise me you won't fall under his charm!"
"Eric, I've know Wood since I was eleven years old, I'm resistant to his wily ways. And your timing is perfect; the lasagna is ready," said Katie pulling it out of the oven.
Eric eyed the dish suspiciously, "Are those whole wheat noodles?"
"Err…no…" said Katie.
"Well Katie, it looks great, but you know I can't eat food like that. I'm going to go out and get something to eat," said Eric grabbing his coat on the way out the door.
Katie's mother had always taught her that it was the ultimate insult to refuse to eat food someone else had made for you. And Katie was greatly offended by Eric's refusal. She sat down at the kitchen table by herself quite angry. After she finished eating, she had the dishes start washing themselves and sat down to watch some television. She flicked through the channels; one station was showing reruns of Pompfrey's Anatomy, which she had no desire to watch. She automatically skipped over E!, but turned back to the station because something had caught her eye. Apparently news had broken that Oliver Wood was returning to quidditch. She watched that for a few moments before finally settling on one of her favorite muggle movies, The Wizard of Oz; Katie found muggle's depiction of magic quite amusing. Several hours later Eric returned home.
"What took you so long? Did you have a 15 course meal?" Katie asked, not taking her eyes off the television.
"I went for a walk afterword," said Eric sitting down next to her on the couch, "Katie, I'm really sorry about dinner. Eating a fantastic meal like that once and a while would probably do me some good."
"It probably would," said Katie tersely.
"I'm sorry Katie. Please forgive me," said Eric giving her puppy dog eyes.
"Yes fine I forgive you," said Katie getting up off the couch, "I have to go to bed. I have practice early tomorrow."
"Goodnight, dear," said Eric leaning over to give her a kiss. Katie allowed him to kiss her, but she did not kiss back. She went upstairs to the bedroom and got into bed.
The next morning Katie slipped out of bed quietly, as Eric was still sleeping. She showered and went to the kitchen to make herself breakfast. Then she apparated to the stadium for practice. She and Lexi had arrived outside the pitch at the same time.
"Morning, Lexi!" Katie called.
"Good morning, Katie. I can't believe you convinced Wood to come out of retirement!"
"Isn't it great? He's the only one whose skills match Crystal's. With him we actually have a chance to win this!" said Katie
"I just hope he can keep that famous ego in check," said Lexi.
"You and me both," said Katie as she opened the door to the locker room.
They opened the door to reveal the rest of the quidditch team seated around a magical chalkboard—everything seemed to be in place for the start of practice except Oliver.
"It's five minutes of 9, Bell. Where's your boy?" asked Coach Derek.
"He's not my boy," said Katie, "And I told him practice starts at 9. He was probably preemptively celebrating his return to Quidditch with some cheap hooker."
"I can assure you she was not cheap," said a voice behind Katie. She whirled around to see Oliver entering the door. Katie blushed causing the entire team to laugh.
"Welcome, Mr. Wood!" said Derek, "Words can not express how grateful we are you have signed on last minute. You're really helping us out of a terrible bind."
"It is my pleasure, Coach," said Oliver nodding to his new teammates and winking at Katie, before taking his seat.
"Brace yourself for a crash course in Sphinx plays—you've got a lot to learn in very little time," said Derek.
The next two hours went smoothly as Derek explained the team's specialty plays with Oliver asking questions and giving his input on the plays. Katie was surprised at how well Oliver was behaving; his rumored ego was nowhere in sight. And when they took to the air after Oliver had absorbed all of their plays, Katie couldn't help but feel like she and Oliver were teenagers again, practicing for the Gryffindor match against Slytherin. Oliver still had the same natural leadership ability that made him such a great keeper and although he was new to the team, he seemed to immediately have their respect. The only thing that changed was that Oliver seemed to be less maniacal—no longer screaming at the other players, but rather giving constructive criticism and frequent praise. By the time practice was over, it felt like Oliver had playing with the team the how season; Oliver was already joking around with beaters Billy and Will.
"I'm pleased to say that retirement has not tarnished your skills at all, Wood," said Derek when they were back in the locker room, "You really seemed to fit in well with the team. I'm glad that you let Bell convince you to play again."
"It would take a stronger man than I to resist Miss Katie Bell," said Oliver poking Katie in the ribs.
"Are you ever going to grow up?" asked Katie pretending to be annoyed because she was secretly pleased Oliver had essentially called her irresistible.
"Now, now I can't have any fighting between my players," laughed Derek.
"Not to worry coach. Bell and I will work out our differences on our own time," said Oliver smirking at Katie. Katie rolled her eyes and brushed past Oliver as she headed to the showers; although she couldn't help but notice how solid Oliver was when she bumped into him. Fifteen minutes later, Katie emerged from the shower and stowed her belongings in her locker.
"Ready for some team bonding?" said Oliver causally leaning against the lockers.
"No thank you. I have important things to do," said Katie vaguely.
"Of course you do—like going to get lunch with me," said Oliver, grabbing her arm and pulling her out of the locker room (he was a lot stronger than her!). Before Katie could protest she felt herself being pulled along in side-along apperation. When her lunged where again filled with air, she saw that they stood outside a quaint pancake house.
"This is where I used to come every day after practice. They used to know my order by heart—let's see if they still can get it right," said Oliver, again pulling her up the stairs of the restaurant.
"You really are sure of yourself, aren't you?" asked Katie.
"I am," said Oliver smirking, "What makes you say that?"
"You just assume that every woman wants to be with you—you didn't even wait for me to agree to a lunch date!"
"So this is a date, eh?"
"ARGH!" said Katie in frustration. "Let's order so that we can get some food and I won't have to listen to you talk!"
"Then you'll get to hear me chew—my mother says I have terrible table manners."
"I think I would rather hear that!"
"I'm hurt, Bell," said Oliver opening his menu. The waitress came over and took their orders. The waitress who was new and young and very flirty did not know Oliver's usual order but promised she would remember next time. Minutes later two large stacks of pancakes arrived at their table.
"Food never tastes than after a long quidditch practice," said Oliver after finishing an entire pancake in one minute flat.
"Tell me about it," said Katie, "Eric totally does not understand that. He never enjoys his food."
"This is good, but nothing can top Saturday brunch at Hogwarts after practice. Mmm…a heaping plate of sausage and eggs," said Oliver closing his eyes.
"Or all the butterbeer and cauldron cakes that Fred and George used to sneak in for our post game celebrations?"
"When we win the next game, we have to celebrate just like we did in school," said Oliver.
"Definitely. The team usually goes to a club afterward, but we can pregame with some butterbeer and candy," said Katie.
"It's a date," said Oliver smirking.
"You're right it will be a date because Eric will be there and I'm sure you'll pick up someone…" said Katie.
Katie and Oliver finished their pancakes and bickered (or flirted—whichever you'd like to call it!). They took the check and Oliver insisted on paying.
"You can pay tomorrow," he told her. "I need to make sure that waitress remembers my order."
Katie snorted, "Should I write your number on the check for her?"
"Please, Bell, I'm not that easy," said Oliver as they walked out of the restaurant and into an alleyway so that they could apperate to their homes.
"See you tomorrow," said Katie, "And try not to be late because for some reason your behavior reflects on me."
"Well I wouldn't want us to look bad," said Oliver. Katie caught the beginning of his smirk as she apparated back to her home.