I do not own any Harry Potter Characters.
Chapter 11:
Katie stood on the edge of the Quidditch pitch, a chill of wind ruffling her hair. Her breath caught. They had just announced the new chaser on the team and unfortunately, Katie's training hadn't been enough. She had only made the reserve team. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
Months past and Katie did her best to continue training every day, after practices she would stay on the pitch for hours. Till finally it paid off, the new chaser had broken her wrist and Katie was asked to play.
The game was against the Montrose Magpies, and it wasn't going to be an easy one. The team had the best record in League history, winning League cup thirty-two times, and even the European cup twice.
Katie started the match off strong, scoring several points within the first ten minutes of the game. The opposing beater was now targeting her directly, even if she didn't have the Quaffle. Katie dipped underneath a chaser from the Montrose Magpies who held the Quaffle, smacking it out of his hands with the tail end of her broom. Diving down to where the Quaffle was dropping, she swiped it into her hands and soared across the field.
Scoring yet another goal for her team, Katie lifted her fist in the air in triumph. Her skull snapped forward when she felt a direct blow to the back of her head. The broom bucked at the sudden movement, and she whirled around in the sky doing her best to keep hold of the broom. Only to wind up crashing hard into the goal post, her broom gave out and she started to drop. The crowd around her was muffled, all she could hear was the wind whipping at her face as she descended. Her stomach dropped as she lost altitude, just before she reached the ground, she grasped the broom tightly. Pulling up at the last second, her boots brushing just barely against the grass.
The crowd cheered around her, and she bolted back to the game. Only briefly stopping to rub her fingers through the back of her now wet and sodden hair, glancing at her fingers that were drenched in blood. Katie didn't let that stop her as she continued to play. By the time, the game was over Katie's team was victorious.
"Bell, my office now." The coach called out to her. It was the day after the game, and Katie was getting ready for practice despite her injuries. "Close the door behind you." Katie nodded, doing as she was told she sunk into the chair that sat in front of the coach's desk. "I just want to say that you played an amazing game last night." Katie swallowed.
"The Falmouth Falcons paid for your transfer to their team." Katie's eye's widened.
"No, I can't…" Katie tried to explain.
"I'm sorry but they've been negotiating with us since you joined, and unfortunately for you it's in your contract to accept any trades." Shit.
Opening the door to the living room, Katie spotted Brenton standing frozen before the fireplace, as if he'd been in the middle of pacing.
"What's going through your head?" Katie asked slipping inside the room.
He folded his arms across his chest, his blue dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar. His lips tugged upward, but his face remained solemn. "When were you going to tell me about the transfer? I read it in the Quidditch Daily."
Katie cringed at the memory of the article, she had seen that morning, the title had read "Falmouth Falcons Desperate?" Talking about Katie's transfer, and that they must be crazy for recruiting a woman. Claiming the Falcons would lose a lot of fans for their atrocious decision.
Katie gave him a sheepish smile. "I wasn't sure how you'd take it, me being on a team with my ex and all."
He took a step toward her. "I would only care if you were still in love with him."
"I don't love him anymore" she said her words barely more than a whisper. But it was the way she said, him – that told Brenton otherwise.
He placed a hand on her knee their eyes connecting, Katie could feel a spark of electricity. "You are the most beautiful, smart, and loving woman I have ever met. You need to move on, for yourself."
Katie dreamt. She made her way down the long, secret stone passage. It twisted through the dark, and Katie found herself descending a narrow set of stairs. For a reason she couldn't think of, she walked as quietly as possible. Just when she was getting tired of walking the stairs ended, arriving at a lone wooden door.
Without a sound the door opened, no light emitted from the room. Katie looked around the room willing her eyes to adjust to the lack of light. Almost crying aloud when she saw her, Evelyn. She was on the other side of the room, her body abruptly slammed against the wall by an invisible force. Evelyn was crying, begging for her life.
Katie's heart hammered so violently that she felt sick. But her feet wouldn't move, frozen in place. She shouldn't have entered that door, shouldn't have strayed down those stairs. Evelyn let out a long wail, choking, gasping for air, she held onto something as if it held her by the throat.
A howl shook the walls and made Katie's blood run icy. "Katie, help me!" She screamed.
"Run" She heard a distinct voice whisper through the dark.
Katie needed no more encouragement, stumbling up the stairs. She ran so quick that she had little idea of where she was headed. Her stomach rose in her throat as she heard Evelyn scream again. Katie hurled herself through the doorway at the top of the stairs slamming it behind her. Then suddenly, blackness. A huge wave of it, slammed down around her.
Katie's eyes opened. She was breathing – hard. She was safe – in her room.
For a month now, she had the same dream every night. Over and over, until she could see Evelyn dying, even in the hours she was awake. She could feel Evelyn's pain every time she heard the blood curdling scream. The sound of her Grandmothers throat being sliced, the gurgling cry that came after.
Katie would wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air, as if it had been sucked out of her tiny bedroom.
Katie had spent the month training with the Falcons seven days a week, from nine to five. The team had three games over this time and Katie had been benched for each one of them. She was just thankful that Marcus was keeping his distance from her.
After practice one night she had plans to go to run some errands with Theodore. Normally she would have used the Floo to head over to Spintwitches, but Katie needed to get groceries beforehand, and wasn't allowed to go by herself. A new law had been enacted that month, that no wizard could walk around the streets alone. Too many people were going missing, and the Ministry of Magic couldn't ignore the facts anymore. Even though they continued to pretend that Voldemort wasn't back.
Taking the elevator down, they walked across the lobby of the apartment building heading towards the exit. Katie spotted Marcus speaking with Terrence, who was just entering the lobby. As they pass Katie sent a menacing glare.
Making their way outside they walked in silence for most of the trek. Until Theodore couldn't hold back anymore. "So, are you going to tell me about that guy?" He gave a low laugh.
"What?" Her voice was flat, bored. But slightly curious.
He went on. "Do we hate him…" he trailed off trying to explain. Katie let out a short laugh. "I know you don't think I pay attention to your boy troubles, but I do. Was that the guy that broke your heart in Hogwarts? Or the new guy you are seeing?" He pressed.
"That was my ex." Katie admitted.
He was quiet for so long, she wondered if he was trying to put the pieces together, or if he was regretting his previous comment. "Oh… well… he clearly is regretting his choice now."
When they finally sat down to eat, they were chatting about Katie's new Quidditch team and what her practices consisted of. "I feel like I haven't seen you much these days." Katie complained. He had changed a lot since the last time she had seen him a few weeks ago, his sandy blond hair was cut short and it looked as if he had lost weight.
"I've been busy with orders and all, just trying to keep up the best I can. Just wish they would hire someone already." His Grey eyes looked dull with the dark circles that had formed from lack of sleep and age.
"You need to take care of yourself, you don't look healthy." Katie couldn't help but feel worried. When he mentioned he had a follow-up appointment the following day with a healer, Katie volunteered to go with him.
Arriving at St. Mungo's, Katie followed Theodore as he led her to the section of the hospital where his appointment was. Reaching the wing, her dad headed to the check in desk. Walking behind him, Katie glanced around the room. Only catching a small glimpse of what she thought was Angelina walking into the back area with a healer. Why would she be in the memory lose section of the hospital? Weird.
When he was finally called back, they both made their way into a small room. They chatted quietly while they waited for the healer. An older man soon arrived, knocking on the door before stepping inside. "Hello Mr. Bell, good to see you again. I see you brought your daughter this time." He greeted cheerfully smiling towards Katie.
"So, we got some results back in, everything is looking good so far. Have you had any hallucinations or nightmares?" The doctor questioned, a sinking feeling settling in Katie's stomach.
"Not since I started drinking that potion before bed." Theodore replied.
"Good, good, so then I will see you again in two days for next appointment. The nurse will be in shortly to take some samples and run some quick tests." The healer stood from his chair and headed towards the door.
"Wait, before you go, I have a question." Katie couldn't ignore it anymore.
"Of course." The healer's attention focused on Katie.
"I had previously been looked at in the past by another healer as I had been cursed as well. They said everything is alright, but I've been having terrible nightmares. Is that a sign of something?" Katie rambled.
"Let me see if you have any residual memory altering charms on you." The healer began casting a few spells on Katie. "Hmm and you said you had the Imperius Curse cast on you as well? I'm not sensing that, whatever traces of that are old, but I am sensing something, I'm not quite sure to be honest. We would need to do further testing. Before you leave schedule an appointment with the front desk."
A few nights later Katie was heading out to celebrate with Brenton and his team, they had won a match against the Chudley Cannons. Katie and Evelyn made their way through the snow-covered cobblestone streets, up to the entrance of the bar.
Brenton approached them, pulling Katie tight in his arms. His mouth was hot against hers; Katie lost all sense of time as she kissed him back.
Frowning, Marcus watched her from across the room. He had come to the Quidditch bar to watch Katie, with the added benefit to see Brenton up close. He didn't trust the beater, sensing something off about him. He watched as Brenton pulled her along to where his team members sat. "Don't you dare cause trouble for them." He heard a voice say, raising an eyebrow he looked up to see Oliver as he sat down next to him, with a pint in hand.
Marcus gritted his teeth, "There's something about him I don't trust."
Oliver couldn't help but laugh. "Sounds like your jealous."
Marcus snorted. "It's not that. You're on the same team as him, you can't tell me you haven't noticed anything off about him." He stared at Oliver carefully, accessing his reaction.
"You need to let her go." Oliver stated.
Marcus turned his gaze back towards Katie, Evelyn had her arm wrapped around her as they laughed cheerfully. "You don't think I've tried?" He muttered. "Come on, she hasn't been acting off at all? Almost as if she's under a spell?"
Oliver let out a sigh. "No."
Marcus thought about it for a moment before continuing, "what about mind control?"
Oliver took a drink before taking in a sharp breath. "Flint, you lost her. Accept it."
Marcus couldn't help but frown, shifting in the bar stool. "I know that, doesn't mean I don't care about her. So I'm not going to let her end up with that asshole." He paused for a moment then looked back at Oliver giving him a once over. "Or you." Before returning his eyes, to Katie and Brenton sitting at a table by themselves.
"You are missing the point." Oliver tried to explain. "She is clearly moving on, and you need do the same."
Marcus sighed and took a deep drink from his glass. Then his moment came, Brenton got up from the table, heading to the bar. He quickly made his way over to Katie before Oliver could object.
"He's better than Oliver, but that's not saying much." He smiled, catching her attention.
Katie's lips pursed, before saying "that's literally none of your business." Her eyes drifting to him, then back towards the bar.
"Still think you can do better" he says with a smirk, his words playful.
"Can I help you with something?" She asked curtly.
He placed his arm on the back of her chair as he leaned in towards her. "You know, you look beautiful sitting next to another man" he flirted, his voice warm and inviting.
"Can you fucking not?" Her cheeks stained red, doing her best to advert her eyes from him.
Brenton arrived back at the table, looking from Marcus to Katie. Not wasting anytime Marcus stretched his hand out to shake Brenton's. "I'm Marcus Flint, Katie's ex boyfriend, but we're just friends. Right, Katie?" Marcus asked with an award winning smile, jabbing her lightly with his elbow.
"Marcus, this isn't funny" Katie fumed.
"Alright, alright I was just leaving" putting his palms up in mock surrender.
"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" ― Albus Dumbledore