Oliver left the Puddlemere United training facility and glanced at his watch. It was nearly past the dinner hour, but he wasn't hungry. Instead, he was concerned as he hadn't heard from Katie in several days.

The approaching holidays had kept them both busy, so they hadn't made any plans during the previous week, but Oliver found it odd that he hadn't heard a peep from her. Instead of heading home, he decided to stop by Katie and Alicia's to make sure everything was all right.

"Wood," Alicia said in a hushed voice when she greeted him at the door. She waved him inside and closed the front door quietly.

"Where's Katie?" Oliver asked, confused by Alicia's quiet tone.

"She's sick," Alicia answered. "Doxy flu. She seems to be doing all right, she's just sleeping a lot. I can't go in there because I've never had it. I've been meaning to owl you but I only just got off work myself."

Doxy flu was highly contagious to those who have never been infected with the virus. Those who have had it build immunity to it, meaning they'll likely never catch it more than once.

"I've had it, back as a kid," Oliver said. "I'll go check on her."

Alicia smiled in gratitude. "See if she feels like eating. She told me she hasn't had an appetite but she needs to eat something."

Oliver nodded and disappeared down the corridor toward Katie's bedroom. "Katie?" he called out quietly as he creaked the door open. "Are you awake?"

"Oliver?" Oliver stuck his head inside the door and noticed that Katie was in bed, resting on her back beneath the covers. "I have Doxy flu," Katie added quickly, her eyes widening with concern.

"It's okay, I've already had it, years ago. How are you feeling?" Oliver asked, slipping inside the dark room and snapping the door shut behind himself.

"I've been better," Katie admitted wearily. "I'm better than the past few days, but I'm still tired and weak."

Oliver nodded sympathetically as he noticed that Katie looked pale and clammy. Her usually bright eyes looked dull and tired.

"Can I get you anything? Alicia said to ask if you're hungry."

Katie shook her head. "No, I'm all right." She offered him a tiny smile. "Guess it'll be nice to drop a few pounds before the holidays."

Oliver frowned at her in concern. "You really ought to eat something."

"I'm fine, I swear," Katie insisted. "I'm sure I'll make up for it as soon as I feel better. You've known me long enough to know I'm not one to turn down some Christmas pastries."

"How long have you been like this?" Oliver asked.

"This is day three," Katie answered. "I think I'm on the upturn, though. I'm sorry I didn't let you know."

"It's okay, I was just worried that I hadn't heard from you." Oliver sat at the foot of the bed, still concerned by Katie's appearance. "Are you sure you don't need anything?"

"I'm sure. I've just been dozing in and out of sleep today," Katie said.

"Well, do you want me to keep you company, until you fall asleep again?"

"Sure," Katie nodded. "You really don't have to, though. There's nothing interesting going on here."

"It's fine, I don't have anywhere to be."

Katie smiled in gratitude. It was nice to have company and human connection after three days of Alicia merely shouting at her through the bedroom door to ask if she was doing okay. Oliver had always been a good friend and Katie had always been impressed that he'd managed to remain down-to-Earth despite the fame and fortune. He had visited her at St. Mungo's when she was cursed by the necklace, and had even sent her flowers upon her release. Despite his unorthodox obsession with quidditch, Oliver remained a good person who cared deeply about his friends, and Katie felt lucky to know him.

"How's training been?" Katie asked, deciding she no longer wanted to talk about how sick she felt.

"Brutal. Coach has been working us hard knowing that we'll be off for a week come Christmas."

"But you play the Harpies the first week of January."

"Aye, we do."

Katie couldn't help but grin. "I can't wait for that match," she said. "Their offense versus, well, you? That's going to be an epic match-up."

"Easy for you to say. You get to sit back and watch."

"Watch Ginny Potter fly circles around you," Katie teased.

"We'll see," Oliver laughed.

They talked about Puddlemere United's remaining match schedule for a while before Katie's eyes started to grow heavy. She felt it'd be rude to fall asleep mid-conversation, but she also didn't want to tell Oliver to leave. She hoped he'd understand if she dozed off.

"By the way," she said sleepily. "Thank you for inviting me to Christmas with your family. I'm excited to meet them."

"Don't mention it. My Mum's been dying to meet you. Just don't hold it against me when she dotes all over you. It's been a few years since I've taken a girlfriend to meet them. I think she was starting to worry."

"Haven't you explained to her that you're trying to focus on quidditch?" Katie asked.

"I have, but she doesn't understand," Oliver answered. "My older sister, Gretchen, she's divorced, so my mum's eager for me to get married and start a family. I think she just wants grandkids."

Katie laughed. "She sounds like a typical mum. I'm sure she just wants you to be happy."

"I'll be happy when I lift that league cup."

Katie grinned, though Oliver noticed how heavy her eyes looked. "You will," she said confidently. "Remember when we won the Hogwarts cup your seventh year? It'll be like that, only a hundred times bigger and better."

"I hope you're right. I want that cup more than anything."

"And I want the party that'll come after," Katie said before she let out a soft giggle. "Remember how the twins got you drunk after we won? I thought you were going to black out in the middle of the common room."

"I could've killed them," Oliver laughed. "I was so hungover, I thought I was dying."

"Imagine if McGonagall had seen you like that," Katie giggled. "Her perfect little quidditch captain, completely blitzed on rum."

Soon, Katie's eyelids grew too heavy to fight and she shut them. Oliver noticed this and kept quiet, waiting patiently until her breathing changed and she'd fallen asleep.

Katie awoke hours later to a quiet flat. Moonlight was pouring through the window and the clock said 3:12 a.m. She rolled over with intentions of going back to sleep when she realized someone else was in the room.

Oliver was sitting on the floor with his back leaning against the side of the bed, asleep. Katie immediately felt terrible, as she hadn't expected him to stay with her. She assumed he was going to go home once she fell asleep.

"Oliver?" she whispered. No answer. "Oliver!" she whispered again, sitting up so that she could reach him. She gently shook his shoulder and he stirred. It took a moment for him to get his bearings and he turned around quickly to peer up at Katie. "Hey," she said softly.

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. What are you still doing here?"

"I felt bad leaving you," Oliver answered. "Just in case you needed something."

"You didn't have to stay, I'm fine," Katie said, still feeling guilty at the sight of Oliver sitting on the floor.

"I know, I just figured it was easier to stay here."

"Well, come here," Katie said, scooting to the other side of the bed. "You might as well be comfy in you're going to sleep here."

Oliver stared up at her, not that he could see much in the dark. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," Katie replied. "Just crash here until morning. Maybe I'll even let you make me breakfast."

"Deal," Oliver said, sliding into bed next to Katie.

They lay in silence for a while, both wondering if the other had fallen asleep. Katie continued to feel guilty about Oliver staying with her. She didn't like it when people worried about her, especially in this case. Oliver wasn't really her boyfriend and she hoped he didn't think he had to go the extra mile just because of their charade. They'd discussed it briefly when they first decided to pretend to date, but Katie wanted it to be clear that she had no actual expectations from Oliver.

"Oliver?"

"Yeah?"

"You really didn't have to stay here, you know."

"Is this your way of telling me to leave?"

"No! No, not at all. It's just that I've had actual, real boyfriends who wouldn't have stayed with me when I was sick."

"Well then, I guess it's a good thing they're no longer your boyfriend."

"True."

"I'm better-looking than any of them anyway."

Katie hit him with a pillow. "Goodnight, Ol."

"G'night, Katie."