Katie stood on her tip-toes as she tried to see over the crowd. Luckily, most of the fans were parting to the right, toward the stadium exits. Katie and George pushed their way to the left until they encountered an area roped off for the players' families and significant others next to the locker rooms.
"After you, m'lady," George said, waving Katie through. Katie flashed her special magical badge to the security wizard, who merely nodded.
Katie recognized the other people in the restricted area and smiled at one of the Chasers' wives, though her attention was quickly intercepted by several flashes.
"Bloody cameras," George grumbled as a photographer snapped another photo of Katie.
"Bloody hell," Katie sighed. She didn't understand why so many people were taking her photo. Oliver wasn't even there, and he was the one who was famous.
"There you are!" Angelina's voice said as she tossed her arms around Katie and George. "Talk about a madhouse. Katie, you've really done it."
"I haven't done anything!" Katie cried.
More flashbulbs popped around them and Katie suddenly felt very grateful for Alicia, who had done her hair and makeup that day.
"Wood should be on his way out any minute," Angelina said. "He had to finish the postgame press conference."
Katie had known this was what life was like for her two friends. They'd become used to stardom and she'd heard their stories about it often. But now she'd been immersed in their world of screaming fans, press interviews and prying eyes. This wasn't normal, not to her.
"Aye," Oliver's voice grabbed Katie's attention and she turned in relief to see him shouldering his way through the group of players and their families.
Her relief was cut short as the sea of flashbulbs became blinding. Katie spun away from them and shielded her eyes with her arm.
"Blimey," Oliver cursed as he threw an arm around Katie's shoulders. Katie could barely hear him as reporters were shouting questions at them.
"Oliver, what's her name?"
"Oliver, how long have you been dating?"
"Oliver, is it true she's an heiress?"
"Is it true the two of you are expecting?"
"Huh?!" Katie cried at the last question.
"Ignore them," Oliver ordered as he steered Katie toward George and Angelina. They motioned Katie toward the team exit, where they could leave the stadium via underground tunnel free of fans and reporters.
"Bloody hell," George muttered as the group left the crowds behind. "Angie's right, Katie, you really did it."
"I didn't do anything!" Katie repeated.
"That certainly didn't go as planned," Oliver sighed. "I was hoping we could ease into the public eye as a couple. I wasn't expecting the media to go mental like that."
"You really don't know who you are, do you?" Angelina chided.
Oliver looked confused and Angelina heaved a sigh. "You're Oliver Wood," she continued. "Everyone loves you. Men want to be you and women want to be with you. Your private life is public, whether you like it or not."
"I know, I know," Oliver answered. "I just don't like it. They behave like bloody animals. I'm just a regular lad."
"You're not a regular lad, you're a quidditch star who is easy on the eyes," Angelina corrected Oliver, who shrugged.
"Regardless, I suppose our dates have worked," he said, turning to look at Katie. Oliver furrowed his brow as he watched her walk in silence. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Katie answered. She wasn't lying – she was fine, just stunned by the burst in attention. She'd known it was inevitable, but experiencing it firsthand for the first time left her feeling unsteady.
Oliver stopped walking and gently reached for Katie's arm. "Seriously," he said, frowning in concern. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine." Katie let out a small laugh and continued her pace alongside her friends. "It's just a wee bit shocking at first, you know? You're used to the attention, I'm obviously not. But I'll get used to it."
The end of the tunnel between Puddlemere Stadium and Wizarding London changed locations nightly to ensure the players' security, thanks to magic. This time, the charmed tunnel appeared to end in South Tottenham, near the reservoir and George and Angelina's flat.
"We got lucky this time," George murmured as he recognized where they were. "Remember that time we had to walk two hours to get home?"
All players in the British and Irish Quidditch League were required to cast anti-apparition charms on their homes for security. That meant Angelina and Oliver couldn't apparate to and from their homes. Their fireplaces were also disconnected from the Floo Network, making travel by fireplace impossible. They either had to walk, use muggle transportation or apparate to safe zones and walk home from there.
"I'll get Katie home," Oliver said, relieved his and Katie's flats were also nearby. The streets were vacant enough that they could have apparated to Katie's, but it was a nice night and their walk was short. The group said goodnight and parted ways, leaving Oliver to peer at Katie with a serious gaze again.
"Seriously," Oliver said as they began walking toward Katie's street. "Are you sure about all of this? I promise I won't be mad if you want to back out."
"I'm fine," Katie insisted. She didn't want Oliver to think some reporters and crazed fans were enough to scare her off. She was tough and she wanted to ensure that everyone knew it. If she could survive the cursed necklace that drained her body within inches from death, she could handle being Oliver Wood's pretend girlfriend. When she mentioned this to Oliver, he sighed and shrugged a shoulder.
"Okay, if you're sure," he said, though he still didn't sound convinced. "I just want to make it clear that you can back out at any time."
Katie stopped in her tracks and spun to peer up at Oliver. "Are you breaking up with me?" she teased with a smile.
"Of course not. You're apparently carrying my child, remember?"
Katie giggled. "Oliver Jr. will be adorable."
"How am I going to explain Oliver Jr. to my mum?" Oliver joked, but Katie turned to look at him with a thoughtful expression.
"Have you told your family about us?" she suddenly inquired.
"No," Oliver shook his head. "I can't. My sister, she's great, but she can't keep a secret to save her life. Best let them believe we're actually dating."
"Have you told them we're dating?"
"No," Oliver admitted. "I haven't had a free moment to visit or write them. They try to come to all of my matches, but my dad's been sick lately. I suppose they've seen us in the Prophet now, so they'll figure it out." They walked quietly for a couple blocks before it was Oliver's turn to ask questions. "What about you? Have you told your family?"
Katie was glad it was dark enough that Oliver couldn't see her chewing her lip. "I, ah, I don't really talk to them," she finally revealed. She could tell Oliver was mulling over a tactful response and decided to make things easy on him. He was a friend and deserved to know. "My parents are muggles. They've never really understood me or the Wizarding World. The year I first left for Hogwarts was sort of the unraveling of our relationship. It felt like they didn't know me, or want to know me."
"I'm sorry," Oliver managed. He hadn't known Katie's teenage years had mostly been spent on her own, and he had been naïve enough to assume she'd had a normal upbringing.
"It's okay," Katie said, and she meant it. "I've been fine on my own and I know they simply just don't understand me."
"When's the last time you heard from them?"
"The summer before… before my… before I ended up in St. Mungo's." Katie was relieved they were approaching her apartment, as she didn't like discussing the topic, though she was surprised by how easy the words were leaving her lips. "They couldn't be bothered to visit me there, so I took the hint and stopped contacting them. They don't have my address here in the city, so they don't know where to reach me and I think I prefer it that way."
Oliver's chest tightened with guilt. How could he call himself a friend when he'd been oblivious to the darker details of Katie's life? She'd certainly done a good job of hiding them, but Oliver suddenly felt like he understood her better now.
"Well, you're absolutely right, you have been doing great on your own," Oliver finally said.
Katie offered him a small, perhaps shy, smile. "Thanks," she said. "I don't know that I'm doing great, but I'm holding my own."
"Katie, you're rising through the ranks in your department at the Ministry quicker than anyone. You're easily the youngest person in your department. You're doing great."
"Thanks," Katie said again. "And thanks for walking me home. We could've apparated from the tunnel, you know."
"I know, but it's a fair night and I wanted to make sure you're okay."
"I'm fine, I promise," Katie said, holding up her right hand for emphasis. "It was just a bit jarring, you know? I'd never been surrounded by the media before."
"You'll get used to it," Oliver promised as they approached the entrance to Katie's building. "Once you do, maybe we'll even learn to have a little fun with it. Some of those photographers are downright daft. It's fun to fuck with them."
"Deal," Katie laughed. She dug in her purse for her keys and smiled up at Oliver. "You're right," she suddenly continued thoughtfully. "We should have some fun with this."