The characters do not belong to me, but to JK Rowling.

Owls

Prompt: Owls

Pairing: Katie and Oliver

Katie Bell watched the owl fly up to the chateau, wishing that it carried a letter for her. It didn't matter from whom. Angelina, Alicia, one of the twins, Professor Vector, even! It really didn't matter, just someone to bring her news of home, of the war. Someone to alleviate this loneliness. But she knew that it was dangerous for anyone to write to her. The Ministry, run by You-Know-Who's minions, were tracking everything and everybody these days.

As a Muggleborn witch, Katie was particularly at risk, but so were the friends who had smuggled her and others like her out of Britain. And so were the Delacours who had opened their home to her and Catriona Wood, along with the other witch's young son. They were lovely people and wonderfully kind, but Katie longed for home.

But it was more than home that she yearned for. She longed for Oliver Wood, her old friend and Quidditch captain turned so recently and briefly into lover. She wished for the opportunity to explore her feelings for him, to learn what it meant to be more than friends.

Merlin, what a time to start a love affair? In the middle of a war. The night before she became a refugee running from persecution. No sweet nothings for Katie, although that was probably more than she could ever hope for from Oliver, war or no war. No, it was hurried and desperate confessions of love, followed by lovemaking that only served to make her ache for him more.

She walked up to her room, using the back staircase, and collapsed into her bed. It was a bright and beautiful French day, but she was feeling melancholy. Best just to sleep through it.

Sometime later, she was roused by a knock on her door. Feeling groggy, her hair mussed from sleeping on it, she stumbled to the door. Catriona was on the other side, the baby on her hip.

"You have a visitor," the young widow said with a sly smile.

"A what?" Katie asked disbelievingly. Surely, this was her sleep addled brain playing tricks on her.

Catriona stepped aside and there he was. Oliver, in flesh and blood, looking adorably unsure of his welcome.

Katie launched herself at Oliver, who caught her easily.

"But how?" she breathed.

He didn't respond with any clever lines, just plain honesty.

"Puddlemere is playing the Province team. I asked for liberty and, well, here I am."

Merlin, she loved this man.