AN: Next one. :) Oh, and if you have any suggestions for pairings, feel free to say. I'll use it if it makes sense to me.
disclaimer disclaimer disclaimer
(whatever)
Katie Bell walks slowly up the stairs to her flat.
Her left leg is still aching, the scars rippling up her calf muscle, causing it to look more twisted than it already is. She can rest her weight on her left leg for a few seconds at a time, and she manages to hold in the gasps of pain which are threatening to escape.
Not for the first time she curses Oliver for only being able to afford this flat, above the Apothecary in Diagon Alley, and she feels remorse straight away.
It is her fault that they can't afford to pay the rent on another flat, because she can't work and they are still paying off her medical bills.
"Katie?" Oliver's voice echoes down the stairs.
She takes a breath and starts walking as fast as she can, her muscles straining to carry her up.
Oliver is in front of her a moment later, looking confused and worried for her.
"Why didn't you call out?"
Katie grits her teeth.
"Because I don't need help."
Oliver scoffs and reaches out to grab the bag slung over her shoulder.
"Love, let me help."
She lets him take the bag and even though he wants to help her, he just walks with her the rest of the way. He knows she is too stubborn, and he doesn't want a fight tonight.
She collapses onto the couch as soon as she gets in the door, and Oliver lifts up her legs and rests them on his lap.
"So, how was your day then?" He asks, slowly massaging her calves, trying to relieve some of the tension and pain. It's one of the things he is allowed to do to help Katie.
"It was fine."
Oliver arches his eyebrows. She's in one of her moods.
"Right. Well, I'll be having a sleep then. I have practice tonight."
He gets off the couch and walks away and Katie scowls.
She isn't angry at him, except she kinda is. He gets to go and play Quidditch, whilst she is stuck inside looking at her ugly leg and isn't able to help with anything.
He escaped with nothing but a few nightmares from the battle at Hogwarts, and she didn't really escape at all. She can barely walk very far, and she wakes up in a cold sweat most nights, seeing the Death Eaters coming closer, firing spells at her.
The one thing Katie seems to forget is that she survived. Penelope Clearwater, one of Oliver's closest friends, died and Katie knows that George is still refusing to see anyone but Angelina and his family. She is lucky, and she is being unreasonable.
So she hobbles up and into the bedroom, resting on the door and Oliver grabs her and places her softly down on the bed.
"I'm sorry," she whispers, "I'm sick of needing someone to help me all the time."
"You won't be like this forever Katie."
He pulls her closer and kisses her forehead.
"Whatever." There is a derisive tone in her voice, because she hopes every day that she will get better, and she isn't.
"You won't. Because I will do whatever I have to, just to make you better."
She smiles into his chest.
"Have I ever told you how sweet you are?"
He chuckles and nods his head.
"Whoever knew your tough old Quidditch captain would have it in him."
"I knew you were a big softie at heart."
"Ssh. You can't tell anyone." He taps her nose.
She swats his chest and curls into him more.
"Thank you for trying to make me better." She whispers before she falls asleep.
"Whatever I have to do, I'll do." He murmurs into her hair and then he falls asleep too.