Katie tugged nervously at the bottom of her cream pullover sweater and tried to suppress her ridiculous twitching. She felt like she just chugged a pot of coffee and washed it down with a couple of pixie sticks. The jittering started when they broke for dinner. Katie had hardly been able to dress herself. In the end, Alicia had picked out her outfit and Angelina had cast the spell to smooth and defrizz her hair. It had only gotten worse as they filed into the Great Hall. Oliver, of course, had talked the whole way, and Katie had be unable to do anything but ignore him. He would say,
"You're going to love Marissa, Kates." But Katie only heard,
"She's going to think you're a freak." Then he said,
"She's a little quiet at first, but once you get to know her she's really nice." And Katie would hear,
"She makes you look like you have bludgers for brains." As they looked for their seats he said,
"Did I mention she's really hot?" All Katie heard was,
"When you picked that sweater did you mean to look like a troll?" She barked a strange nervous laugh as Oliver walked away and quickly clapped her hands over her mouth. George gave her a funny look.
"What's wrong you, Bell?" Katie groaned and pressed the palms of her hands to her eyes.
"Nothing, I think I'm just tired." That was true enough. She barely slept a wink last night she had been so excited for the first day back at school. Angelina fixed her with a judging look.
"Katie, why don't you sit down and try to sober up?" Normally, Katie would have been offended, tonight she understood. She was not bringing the A game material, and they were trying to make a good impression on the new girlfriend. Fred settled next to her and elbowed her unforgivingly in the ribs.
"Drink some juice, why don't you? It will give you a chance to spit it all over the table when Marissa walks up." Katie rolled her eyes.
"Very funny, I'm just tired okay?" Fred barked a single loud laugh.
"Please, the last time I saw you this jealous was when Harry got his Firebolt." Katie's mouth popped open and she fixed him with as withering stare.
"Please tell me you're joking." Fred shook his head.
"No, I'm not. You were ridiculous about that broom, to be fair, you weren't as bad as Wood...I thought he was going to wet himself -" Katie cut him off.
"Not about the broom, you oaf." Katie didn't have time to finish her thought. At that very moment Oliver waltzed up, dragging with him a pretty girl. From up close, Katie did recognize her. She was a 7th year Ravenclaw, and while Katie had seen her around, she had never had a class with her, and never had a reason to learn who she was. Apparently, now she did. Looking rather proud of himself, Oliver announced.
"Guys, this is Marissa." She smiled a little and waved, Katie and company chorused back with a hello of their own. Oliver settled her in a place at the other end of the table next to George and Angelina. Katie watched them, torn between curiosity and apprehension. True to form, Alicia had taken it upon herself to make the new girl feel welcome. She was already complimenting her hair, and inquiring after styling products. From her end of the table, Katie couldn't hear particularly well, so it was easy to stay silent and halfheartedly pick at her food.
Eventually, they did learn all the juicy details about Marissa. She and Oliver had met on Diagon Alley. He helped her pick up her purchases after an errant owl spiraled out of control and crashed into her. She didn't play Quidditch, nor was she an avid fan, but she was interested in learning more about the game. Her favorite class was charms, her least favorite was transfiguration. While she did like pumpkin juice, she did not like chocolate frogs, and that's when Katie stopped listening. Leaning over to Fred she hissed.
"Who the hell doesn't like chocolate?" Fred snorted.
"Really? That's what you're fixated on?" He paused for dramatic effect.
"Katie, she doesn't play quidditch." Katie paused. He did have a point. That was probably the thing to comment on. She nodded.
"You're right." Another pause.
"Who the hell doesn't play quidditch?" Fred chortled, successfully catching Wood's attention. He bent over the table to get a better look at them.
"Why are you two being so quiet? Last time you were this quiet I found all the quaffles tied to the Whomping Willow like Christmas ornaments." Katie couldn't help but giggle. They had done that, and it had been one of their better pranks. Fred saved her from having to answer.
"Don't worry Oliver, your balls are in good hands." Oliver flushed red for a moment and Katie wondered if he was going to throw something at them. To her credit, Marissa giggled along with the rest of them, but she had the sense of mind to hide it behind a hand. Deftly changing the subject, she leaned over the table to address the whole group.
"So you're all on the quidditch team then?" Everyone nodded, and George answered.
"Yeah, Oliver doesn't let us have other friends. He thinks it distracts us from the game." Oliver groaned and rubbed his temples with his hands.
"That...is not true. I think it's an added bonus that we have extra time to discuss strategy, but of course I let you have other friends." Fred chose that moment to cut in.
"Then why don't we have other friends, Captain?" Oliver was starting to look really steamed.
"Because you're unlovable!" Oliver threw up his hands in exasperation. Unable to stop herself, Katie giggled and cut in.
"Not so, I love them." Angelina rolled her eyes but agreed.
"I actually think that's the only reason we're friends with them. Lord knows they've got nothing else going for them. They're a pain, but how can you not love those faces?" Both brother harumphed.
Dinner rolled by at a predictable pace. Luckily, from her seat at the end of the table, Katie didn't have to say much. She picked at her food, occasionally glanced at Oliver and Marissa, and wondered what she would do about her sudden and unexpected shortage of sweaters. She turned to Fred, who was also uncharacteristically silent.
"Do you want to go into Hogsmead this weekend?" Fred considered for a moment.
"Love to, but can't. George and I got plans." Katie shot him a suspicious look, "other plans" usually meant something treacherous. Just for a change of pace, Katie decided not to entangle herself in their nefarious deeds, and resolved to ask Alicia and Angelina to go with her instead. Their input on sweaters would probably be more valuable anyways. She cast a glance in their direction, and was unfairly relieved to see Marissa saying her goodbyes. Apparently, she was going to eat dessert with her own friends. After she left, Oliver took the opportunity to wedge himself between Katie and Fred. Fred grunted as their captain nearly crushed him in the descent. Grumbling, the flattened friend squished closer to Alicia and began to talk her ear off about an exploding candy he had developed. Oliver turned to Katie and obnoxiously pressed his hand to her forehead.
"Birdy, I think you're sick." Katie gave him a look.
"I am not." Oliver shook his head and looked grave.
"You must be. Only in death will you be this quiet." Oliver let his hand drop and Katie shrugged.
"I'm not sick, or dead. I just have a lot I need to do. You know, to get ready for tomorrow." Oliver titled his head a little.
"Like unpack?" Katie nodded.
"And buy your books?" Katie snorted.
"I've already bought them, I just forgot to bring them." Oliver chuckled.
"Yeah, that's much better." Oliver paused for a second, then brightened a little.
"I know what will take your mind off all that." Katie studied his expression then smiled knowingly.
"A game of Quidditch?"Oliver's mouth open in surprise.
"Hey, how did you know?" Katie snorted and shook her head in wonder before she grinned and continued.
"You round up the boys, I'll get the girls, and we'll meet back in 10." Oliver jumped to his feet and grabbed the brother's by their shirt collars.
"Get your bats boys, we're going to play us some Quidditch!" A round of cheers went up and Katie ended up chasing the girls out of the Great Hall rather than herding them.