A/N: Thank you for the Reviews. Sorry if this chapter is a little slow. Disclaimer: It's been a really horrible day so I'm gonna go ahead and post.

Disturbingly Lacy

George brought him back to reality by telling him that Alicia needed to go for a walk and he was going to go with her. Oliver just nodded and absently turned to the woman next to him. All he could think about her was that she really looked like someone his mom would be friends with.

"I'm Amelia Bell; that's my husband Bennett wearing a hole in the concrete. He gets like that when he's worried, just can't stay still." She was wringing her hands and seemed to be looking for a distraction. The only think she seemed to find was Oliver "You're a friend of my Katie's then?"

"Yes maam, we went to school together."

"Oh, so you know everyone else then? From Hogwarts?"

"Yeah, we were all on the Gryffindor Quidditch team together. We're the team that won the Quidditch cup."

"That's the sport that's played on brooms, where you fly around and shoot at goals?"

The words "you don't know Quidditch?" were out of his mouth in shock before he remembered Katie was muggleborn.

"No dear. I've only ever heard Katie tell me about it. She loves it and apparently so does everyone else. It's rather like football I understand." She looked so kind and reassuring Oliver forgot to feel guilty.

"From what I know of football, yea it's like that. I play for a living now. I was at practice when I got the message about Katie. Apparently Angelina told the owl to come to me straight away."

"She's such a good girl, that Angelina; and Alicia too. They've been so kind to us and such good friends to Katie. They're like big sisters to her, visiting over the breaks and putting up with us pair of old fogies." When Oliver didn't respond, she kept talking to fill the silence. "And those twins are nice too. They came so fast when they heard Katie was… Anyway you know them from school too, yes you said that."

Oliver was a long way away from Amelia Bell's banter. It broke through his head as a passing thought of Katie sounds so much like that when she's nervous. He was busy thinking that he should have kept in touch better. Here he was surrounded by some of the best friends in the world and he hadn't seen them in almost a year. He sent the occasional owl, but it was so hard to find the time. Katie got notes the most often because she was still in school and NEWT year is tough. He couldn't be there to take care of her but he could send her letters with a promise of life after Hogwarts.

Kate,

Glad to get your last letter. I'm not sure what Snape would have done if your potion did that, but I'm glad Slughorn thought it was funny. And points for creative use of a conjured ladle to boot.

You should be glad you don't have my coach on the pitch. He's a nutter. Further proof that I was not the maniac all of you made me out to be. They pay's good though, you should see my new place. I'm happy with it. Not sure I want to go furniture shopping for it. Hey, you should come do it for me! Please Kate? I'll bribe you with tickets to a match.

Come see me play,

Oliver

"And you graduated already?"

The direct question brought Oliver back to the present. "Yes maam, I graduated three years ago."

"Would you be the boy then that she lingered on the platform with then? You certainly have filled out quite a bit since I last saw you." She gave Oliver a sad once over, as if indeed verifying that he was the boy her little Katie had such a crush on then. Her sweet 15-year-old looked more like she was watching a love go off to war than her best friend graduate. And Katie swore they were "just friends mama, we took care of each other." The thought of never hearing her baby's voice again just broke the dam of tears.

Thinking it was the best course of action, Oliver conjured a handkerchief, if anyone would have been paying attention they'd have noticed how disturbingly lacy and flowery it was, and put a comforting arm around Mrs. Bell. Angelina and Alicia appeared out of thin air to whisper soothing words. Oliver just kept a strong arm around her and tried not to cry himself. It wouldn't be seemly for him to cry. Of course he's cried before but he had to be strong now, for Katie. Everyone knows she saved him once when he tried to drown himself; although only she and he know the particulars of that incident. He couldn't think of that now.

Two healers swept out of the room with not as much a glance to spare for the assembled family and friends.

"Well they didn't look panicked did they?" George mused to no one in particular.

"I'm sure that means she'll be alright" Alicia piped up.

"She'd better damn well be alright" Oliver contributed, finding he was very angry no one had said anything to the family.

Another healer and an assistant came out, looking tired but calm. "Mr. and Mrs. Bell? May I speak with you?"

"Say what you have to say, everyone should hear" Amelia said nervously. By now the entire group was standing in a cluster around her like a support.

"This is highly irregular." More than one person present was vaguely reminded of Percy Weasely. "Your daughter has been cursed by a very ancient object. Much longer contact and she would not have survived. Currently she is in a coma, but is being given the usual restorative potions. We have no way of knowing how extensive the damage truly is until she wakes. You may see her now, I recommend in smaller groups."

Bennett Bell spoke for the first time since Oliver arrived. "How long will the coma last?"

"Mr. Bell we can't know." And with that the entire assembly shuffled into the room, completely ignoring the healer's recommendation of small groups.

The assistant healer watched everyone carefully. She prided herself on figuring out the connections of visitors to patients, her mental game to stay sane in the midst of hospital life. Well the parents are easy she mused taking in the older couple. The quartet is a little harder to pick out. The twins could be a distant relation and the girls their fiancé's or, more likely the girls are her best friends and the boys are here for the girls. She smirked to herself as she watched the last person file into the room. This one's too easy, they're in love. Well at least he loves her more than reason. Who comes to visit a hospital in Quidditch gear? I hope she wakes up; he's cute enough to BE a reason for living. The assistant smiled and obediently followed her supervising healer down the hall.