Harry Potter and Destiny's Arrow

Ron and Harry stood in the middle of the common room. Ron was wearing the dark blue robes that Fred and George had purchased for him. Harry was wearing emerald robes that matched his eyes. Harry, in an effort to tame his hair, had used some Sleekeasy's; he now bore a unfortunate resemblance to Draco. Ron had stood in front of the mirror, running his hand through his hair until it was just so.

"Where are they?" Harry said.

"Calm down, mate. They'll be here," Ron replied, strangely calm. This was nothing like 4^th year's ball; Hermione was his girl and she'd be arriving on his arm. A footstep on the stairs caught both boys' attention. However, it was from the boys' dormitory.

"Hey, guys," Jake said as he and Neville walked down the stairs. Neville was wearing deep red robes and Jake was wearing...his regular Hogwarts robes.

"It's dress robes," Harry said.

"I don't have any dress robes," Jake replied.

"Well, couldn't you have gotten some?" Ron asked.

"You sound like Hermione," he retorted. Ron flushed. "Doesn't matter. As soon as the dancing starts, the robes are coming off anyway."

"D-dancing?" Neville gulped.

Jake nodded. "Dancing, Nev. Whadja think? They'd throw a ball with no dancing?" Seeing the sheer terror on Neville's face, he softened his tone. "Luna likes you. She agreed to go with you. She won't care if you can't dance."

"T-this was a h-huge m-mistake," Neville stammered out.

Jake put a hand on his shoulder and steered him out of the common room. "C'mon. Let's go pick her up." As they climbed through the portrait hole, he tossed back over his shoulder, "See you guys there."

Another step on the staircase caught the boys' attention. This time it came from the girls' dormitory. Ginny came down first, dressed in pale gold robes. Her red hair was upswept except for a few tendrils framing her face.

"G-gin, you look...great," Ron said. It was hard for him to believe that this was his baby sister. She looked so...grown-up.

She smiled at Ron. "You don't look so bad yourself," she joked.

"Y-yeah, Ginny, you look really..." Harry said.

"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Right here," she called from the top of the stairs. She was dressed in lilac robes and Ron thought she looked even more beautiful than at the last ball. Maybe because she's going with me this time... She slowly descended the staircase and Ron stared at her, trying to memorize every single thing about her. Her hair was falling in soft ringlets and she had the slightest hint of make-up. Finally, she stood in front of him. "You look very handsome," she said shyly. His red hair was out of his face and she noticed that he had a tiny cut on his chin. Since when does Ron shave? The blue dress robes fit his lanky frame perfectly.

"You...you...you look amazing, Hermione," he replied.

She blushed and thanked him. Ron offered his arm to her and she took it. Harry did the same for Ginny and the four of them exited the common room.

*********************************************************

Jake dropped Neville in front of Ravenclaw's common room. He clapped Neville on the shoulder, gave him a brief pep talk, and scrammed when Luna came out into the corridor. He wandered down to the Great Hall. He hadn't seen Katie all day; she was busy supervising last minute preparations for the ball. Entering the Great Hall, he couldn't help but look up. The ceiling was enchanted to look like the night sky and, even though it was clear enough to see the constellations, a light snow was falling. It never ceased to amaze him that he was actually here at Hogwarts, the greatest school of witchcraft and wizardry the world had even known.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Katie's voice came from behind and to his left. When he turned around and got a glimpse of her, his chest tightened. She was wearing pale blue robes that matched her eyes and showed quite a bit more cleavage than he was used to seeing. Black eye or not, she was the most gorgeous girl he'd ever seen.

"Gods, yes, you are," he breathed. He turned crimson when he realized what she'd actually asked.

"Thank you," she said, flushing slightly. Feeling slightly uncomfortable with the weight of his stare, she changed the subject. "I got your gift." Taking in his hesitant look, she continued. "I'm not even going to ask how you got into my room." He smiled bashfully. "I just want to say thank you. It's gorgeous."

"It doesn't hold a candle to you," he said. Where the hell am I getting this stuff from?

"Jake," she protested.

He held her hands in both of his own. "Katie, yesterday, about the black eye, I didn't mean anything. I don't care about it. In fact, even with the black eye, you're the most beautiful girl in the room."

"No, I'm not," she insisted.

Rather than argue with her (he had a feeling that she'd never agree), he pulled her to him and gently kissed her. The kiss deepened and grew more intense when someone poked him. He pulled away.

"Sorry to bother you, but they need Katie. To lead the first dance," Ginny said somewhat apologetically.

Katie kissed Jake one last time. Whispering "all the rest of the dances are yours," she made her way to the front of the Great Hall. The music started; she curtsied and Theodore bowed and they began to waltz. A few moments later, Dumbledore invited everyone to dance. Hermione tugged Ron onto the floor and Harry shyly asked Ginny to dance. Jake crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall, watching everyone. Katie is definitely the best looking girl here. And I'm not the least bit biased...

*******************************************

Ginny ran a hand through Harry's hair, mussing it up as she went. "Sorry. You just look too much like Malfoy," she said, shuddering.

"I was just trying to get it to behave," he commented as they danced around the floor.

"I like it unruly," she replied. At the end of the song, they clapped and she suggested they get some air. Harry gulped and followed her outside onto the balcony that had been added. They stood, staring down at the gardens. They were a few couples strolling hand-in-hand. Ginny nudged Harry and pointed. If he wasn't mistaken, a tall redhead and a shorter brunette were sitting on one of the benches, talking intently.

"It's nice to see that they've..." Harry's sentence was cut off by Ginny's lips pressed against his own. He kissed her tentatively, waiting for her to break out into great, heaving sobs. A moment later, she pulled away; her eyes were dry but she was frowning.

"If you don't want to kiss me, Harry, you don't have to," she said crossly.

"N-no, I do. I'm just...er...you're not going to cry, are you?" he asked cautiously.

"Why would I..." Her voice trailed off. "All girls aren't like Cho."

"I know. I was just..." For a second time, Ginny's lips cut off his sentence. This kiss, there was no hesitation on either of their parts. However, when Ginny's tongue ran across Harry's bottom lip, he pulled away. "I like you, Ginny." She looked like she didn't believe him. "I do," he protested. "It's just that...if something is going to...happen...I need to tell you something."

"What is it then?" she asked, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice. He probably wishes he'd brought someone else...

"Do you...er...remember last year...in the Department of Mysteries?"

She rolled her eyes. She'd broken her ankle; of course, she remembered.

"Well, the prophecy that got destroyed? Er...I heard it."

"H-how?"

"Dumbledore knew what it said. He was there when it was made. And Ginny..." He paused and took a deep breath. This could change everything... "One of us has to die."

"One of who?"

"Either me or Voldemort. So either I die...or I become a murderer."

She stared at him intently for several minutes and he began to flush under her gaze. "Let's just hope it's the latter and not the former," she said offhandedly.

"Ginny, this isn't a joke."

"I know, Harry. But you can't stop living...or feeling...because of what might happen."

"You're right, I guess."

She smiled. "Of course I'm right. I'm a woman."

*********************************************

"I wanted to ask you, you know."

"Ask me what?" Hermione said, lifting her head off of Ron's shoulder and gazing into his blue eyes.

"Ask you to the first Yule Ball," he replied, searching her face for a reaction.

"And I wanted you to ask me."

"You did?" he asked, astonished.

She laughed lightly. "What did you think I meant by 'next time ask me first and not as a last resort'?"

He shrugged. "I thought you were just angry."

"Ron."

He looked down at their entwined hands. "I guess I did know. I just couldn't believe that you'd want me." He added in an undertone. "Still can't believe it actually."

"Ron Weasley!" This time she said his name sharply. He glanced up, panicked. In a softer tone, she added, "I love you. Is that so hard to believe?"

"Y-yeah," he stuttered out, against his will.

She opened her mouth to yell at him, but thought better of it. "Why do you say that?"

He laughed bitterly. "Look at you, Hermione. You're brilliant, and kind, and funny, and bloody beautiful. You should be with someone like Harry."

"But I don't love Harry. Not the way I love you."

"Why?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.

"Why do I love you?" she replied. He nodded. "Because you're you, Ron. You don't let me take myself too seriously. It's like I can truly be myself around you. I'm more than Hermione Granger, bookworm and answer-girl." She kissed him to drive home her point. When they finally pulled away, she grinned. "You really think I'm funny?"

***************************************************

Katie and Jake were standing near the punchbowl, talking to Sarah, Jennifer and their dates. The music which had been relatively sedate up to now changed tempo. Jake snapped his fingers in time to the music. Although he kept up with the conversation, his gaze kept drifting to the dance floor which was quickly filling up with young wizards and witches. Jeez, even Neville is out there... Unable to control himself, he undid the clasp to his robes, pulled them off, and tossed them over the nearest chair. Grabbing Katie by the hand, he apologized to the other four and dragged her out onto the dance floor. They moved in time to the music, Jake controlling the urge to grab her by the waist, pull her hips against his, and snog her senseless. A minute or so into the song, he did place one hand on her hip and moved her slightly closer. She put her hands above her head and spun away from him. They continued their dance, Jake advancing and Katie retreating for the remainder of the song.

"We're going to slow this down a bit. With a muggle song," called out the lead singer.

As he sang the first words, Katie clapped her hands together. "They actually played it," she said, clearly delighted with herself as she put her arms around his shoulders.

"You requested this?" he asked, placing his hands on her waist.

She smiled mysteriously and pulled him closer, singing softly in his ear. "I´ve seen that road before, it always leads me here, leads me to your door..."

"You're amazing, you know that, right?" he asked, turning his head to kiss her.

After a few moments of kissing, she pulled away, breathing heavily. Leaning her forehead against Jake's, she said, "I think I'm falling in love with you."

***************************************************

"This is the best night of my life," Jake said as he and Katie walked back to the Gryffindor common room.

"Better than when I asked you out and you kissed me?" she teased.

"That was the best day of my life. This has been the best night of my life. You see the difference?" he explained, kissing her.

She drew back, laughing. "Yes, I reckon I do."

"Shouldn't you two be back in your common room?" They looked up to find Professor Snape standing, arms crossed over his chest, glaring at them.

Jake grinned. Not even Snape could put him in a bad mood. "You are absolutely right, Professor. Good night to you," he said, grabbing Katie's hand and pulling her toward the Fat Lady's portrait. "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes," he said. The two of them clambered through the portrait hole. Finding the common room deserted, he leaned in and kissed Katie again.

"Where is everyone?" she asked.

Jake shrugged. "Doesn't really matter, does it?" he murmured against her lips, drawing her close again.

"I don't want this night to end," she said softly.

"Me neither." He pulled away suddenly. "Stay with me tonight." Her eyes widened and he realized that... "Not like that. I just meant...Stay here...in the common room...with me...tonight." He hadn't meant anything else by his statement, but now that she'd jumped to conclusions, he found his mind racing. "We could...talk," he finished lamely. Unconsciously, his gaze dropped from her eyes to her chest. This is all her fault...taking a perfectly innocent request and assuming that I... She was moving away from him. "Katie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

She was standing at the foot of the staircase to the girls' dormitories. Turning around, she flashed him a grin. "I'm just going to change. I'll be right back." Then she was gone. Jake stared after her, dumbfounded. She was going to change. That meant...she's going to stay down here with me...He glanced down at his black robes, which were currently unfastened, and his shirt and tie. He scrambled up the staircase to his own dorm. Flinging the door open, he heard Harry ask him to 'shut it, mate.' He wasn't sure if he was referring to the door or the noise; either way, Jake didn't care. He opened his trunk, frantically searching for something to wear. Normally, he slept in boxers; he was pretty sure Katie wouldn't appreciate him coming downstairs half-naked. Then again, he thought of the look in her eye when she'd walked in on him without his shirt. He shook his head. At the bottom of his trunk, he found a pair of sweatpants. Stripping off his clothes, he quickly slipped the sweats on and pulled on a clean T shirt. He practically ran down the stairs to the common room. Katie was already sitting on the couch in front of the fire. Her legs were tucked underneath her and it took him a moment to realize that she was wearing shorts. He groaned and she turned her head.

"Took you long enough," she said with a smile.

"Couldn't find anything to wear," he replied, sitting next to her.

Her eyes swept down his body, taking in his outfit. Her sky colored eyes had darkened considerably. It was at this moment that he realized that sweatpants were a huge mistake. Jumping up, he moved away from the couch. Someone had left their spell book out--probably a first year, judging from the title--and Jake pretended to be engrossed in it. Once he felt calm again, he moved back to the couch and sat.

"I can't believe it's Christmas already," she said, looking into the fire.

"Don't remind me," he replied moodily. "Everyone will be off...wherever...and I'll be stuck here...with the professors and the other losers who don't have anywhere to go."

"You're not a loser," she said simply, leaning against him. He put one arm around her and she snuggled closer to him. "Tell me about New York. What's Christmas like there?"

"The Muggles decorate all the storefronts on 5^th Avenue with Christmas displays. It's really fun. Oh, and when the snow falls, it's the most beautiful place in the world. We always have huge Christmas tree. Mom always said that Dad loved Christmas. Someday I'll take you there," he said softly as he realized that Katie hadn't said anything for several moments. He looked down to find her fast asleep, head resting on his chest. He took this opportunity to study her; he knew that she would've objected to him staring if she'd been awake. The black eye was starting to fade, the bruise mottling purple and yellow now. Her honey-colored hair was still piled atop her head, pieces of it falling out of its bun. One had fallen in her face and he brushed it away. Kissing her forehead gently, he murmured, "I love you." Settling back on the couch, he closed his eyes.

*************************************

"Jake."

"Mmm," he responded.

"Jake," the voice said more insistently.

He struggled to open his eyes; he had been having the most amazing dream. He and Katie were in the Quidditch changing rooms, under the shower. "Wanna go back to sleep," he muttered.

"Jake, you need to wake up."

"I was having the best dream ever," he said sleepily.

"I know, I heard." His eyes snapped open. Katie was sitting up, staring at him.

"Y-you heard?" he asked, his face flushing.

"It sounded as if you and she were having quite a time, I reckon," she replied. He forced himself to look her in the eyes. She wasn't angry or embarrassed, he noticed, she was hurt.

"Me and who?" he asked dumbly. Doesn't she have any idea I was dreaming about her?

"You and the girl in your dream," she replied, moving farther away from him on the couch.

He sat up and blinked slowly. She doesn't, does she? "I...I didn't say her name?" he asked, just to verify.

Katie shook her head.

"Um, what did I say then?" He knew that he shouldn't, but he was going to have a little fun with this. Katie was jealous of some girl he'd dreamed about...who also happened to be her.

She blushed. "Something about her being beautiful...and soft...and then there was lots of moaning."

He slid closer to her, trapping her between the arm of the couch and his body. "Why, Miss Bell, I do believe you're jealous."

"I am not!" she protested a little too loudly.

He decided that he'd had enough fun at Katie's expense. "It was you."

"What?" she said, taken aback.

"You were the girl in the dream."

"M-me? What were we doing?" she asked dumbly.

He arched an eyebrow at her.

"Do you have that dream a lot?"

He shook his head and took in her look of disappointment. "This particular...scenario...was new."

"But you've had dreams about me...about us before then?" He'd expected her to be embarrassed. Instead, she sounded rather...interested in the whole thing. He again thought that sweatpants were not the proper pants to be wearing right now.

It was his turn to blush now. "I'm a 16 year old guy, Katie. I'd have to be dead...or gay...not to have dreams about us."

She stared at him for several long moments. "I have dreams too," she confided.

Oooo-kay, the sweatpants were definitely not a good idea, think of something completely unsexy...McGonagall...in a garter...snogging Snape...yes, that seemed to take care of that problem... "Oh?" he said, trying to sound completely uninterested.

"Mmm hmm," she replied noncommittally.

There was something about that simple 'mmm hmm' that was sexier than hearing her admit she'd had dreams about them. Snape in a garter...snogging...Hagrid... "Perhaps you'll share them sometime."

"Perhaps," she said with a smirk.

Footsteps on the landing made them both turn. She kissed him hard on the mouth, got up off the couch, and hurried up the steps to the girls' dormitories. "Good morning, Hermione," she called out loudly. Several seconds later, Hermione stepped into the common room. She took one look at Jake, looked back up the stairs to where Katie had just been, and said sweetly, "Oh, did I interrupt?"

Jake grunted and chucked a pillow at her.

************************************************

Jake puttered around the castle for the next two days. He was one of a handful of students who'd stayed for the Christmas holidays. On Christmas morning, he awoke to an empty dormitory room. "Merry Christmas to me," he said bitterly. He looked at the pile of presents at the foot of his bed and shrugged. He opened the first one, which was from Ron and Harry. It was a T shirt that read: This IS my uniform. Hilarious, guys... Hermione had bought him a homework planner. Except she'd enchanted it to occasionally call out, "And don't say anything stupid to Katie today." Jeez, she was just as funny as the other two... He picked up the package from Katie. He'd wanted to open it before she left, but she made him promise not to until Christmas morning. It was square and simply wrapped in red paper. Jake shook it; he'd know that sound anywhere. Ripping open the paper and lifting the box top, he confirmed his suspicions when he pulled out...a shirt. It was sort of greenish and made of some kind of stretchy material. Holding it up, he glanced in the mirror which declared that it would look good on him. As he folded it to put it away, he noticed a piece of parchment laying in the bottom of the box. The shirt forgotten, he picked up the note and read it.

Jake--

I saw this in Hogsmeade--that was a month ago, he though to himself--and, as soon as I did, I knew it would look wonderful on you. I just want you to know that I've never been happier than I've been the last few months. Yes, even happier than I ever was with Oliver--he frowned at the sight of Wood's name, but then grasped the rest of the sentence--and hopefully I've gotten up the nerve to tell you how I really feel about you. Otherwise, I'm going to have a bit of explaining to do when I return from Christmas holiday.

I love you,

Katie

He refolded the note and tucked it in his trunk. He picked up the shirt and studied it with new eyes. This is certainly better than any clothes my mom ever bought me...

Around noon, Jake wandered down to the Great Hall. Harry and Ron had gone on and on about how great the Christmas feast was. Dumbledore had moved all the house tables to the sides, leaving only one table for everyone to sit at. Jake found himself seated between Ernie and Hannah. The two of them kept glancing at each other all during the meal until Jake finally asked if they wanted to sit together. They both shook their heads, but Jake felt like they were just being polite. He excused himself, saying he needed to take care of something back in the dorm. As he strolled out of the Hall, he noticed that they'd slid next to each other and that Hannah had reached down to take Ernie's hand. Jake smiled to himself, feeling that he'd done his good deed for the day. He approached the corner and heard someone whistling "Jingle Bells." It's probably Dumbledore...that old hippie really likes Christmas... He rounded the corner and came face-to-face with Professor Snape. Who stopped mid-whistle and glared at Jake.

"Contrary to popular belief, Mr. Willig, I do have a heart. And I do enjoy Christmas."

"I...I didn't say..."

Snape seemingly switched tracks and asked after Jake's mother.

"She's as well as can be expected," he replied.

"Such a shame, really," Snape said with...was that sympathy in his voice?

"Like you care, grouchy git," Jake muttered under his breath.

"Pardon me, Mr. Willig?"

Jake was saved from answering by Tonks' calling from the other end of the corridor. "Jake, there you are!" She was a blond today. She rushed up to Jake. "I've pulled some strings. Well, Dumbledore pulled some strings. Go pack a bag." Jake looked at her as if she were speaking Greek. "Go on then," she repeated, giving him a gentle shove.

"Where am I going?"

"Just somewhere overnight," she replied, shoving him a bit harder.

He and Tonks took a portkey to a pleasant suburban neighborhood. "Now you'll be safe here. We've got Aurors watching the premises for anything fishy. And I'll be back tomorrow at 6 pm sharp. Don't go beyond the neighborhood," she said as they stood in front of a large white house with green shutters. There was a small yard. "Well, go on then," she finished. He opened the gate and walked up the path. Just as he climbed the steps to the porch, Tonks called out, "Don't forget to wish her a 'Happy Christmas' and kiss her." The door opened and Jake glanced back at Tonks who was grinning at him.

"Happy Christmas, Katie," he said, giving his girlfriend a kiss.

*************************************

Katie flung the door open and found Jake standing on her porch looking dumbfounded. He glanced back at a blond woman who was grinning madly at him. Finally he turned back to her and said, "Happy Christmas, Katie," before he kissed her.

When he finally released her, she returned his greeting and tugged him into the house. "It's a madhouse here. I hope it's not too overwhelming." Her four brothers were tearing up the house along with an assortment of cousins. Her mum was roasting a turkey in the kitchen while her aunts were helping fix Christmas dinner. Her father was talking to her uncles in the living room and listening to the WWN play various Christmas carols.

"We'll put your stuff in my room and then you can meet everyone," she said, pulling him up the stairs. She was trying hard not to beam and dither like an idiot, but was fighting a losing battle. They entered her room and Jake placed his bag on the floor, taking in his surroundings. Katie noticed a picture of the Quidditch team when they'd won the house cup; Oliver's arm kept snaking around her shoulders. She quickly turned it face down.

"This is a nice room," he said. He was standing right next to a pair of her knickers--a black pair. Please don't look down...please don't look down... However, all her staring only made him look. He cleared his throat, blushing slightly. He probably thinks I'm a tart...right, the black knickers will make him think I'm a tart...not the fact that I've practically ripped his shirt off on more than one occasion...or that I told him I've had dreams about us... or the fact...

"Um, Katie?" Her head snapped up. He wasn't staring at her knickers anymore, he was staring at her. "Do you think we should get downstairs?"

"Downstairs? Right, downstairs. I reckon we should." As she led him back down the stairs, her mind kept tormenting her with visions of Jake looking at her while she wore those black knickers. Stop...

"Dad?" she said hesitantly. He stopped his conversation with her Uncle Joe and turned his attention to her.

"Yes, Katibell?" he replied.

"I wanted you to meet Jake," she said.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Bell," Jake said forthrightly, sticking out his hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Jake," her father returned, shaking Jake's hand.

"Let's go meet mum," Katie said suddenly. She was afraid of the questions that were sure to come tumbling out of her dad's mouth.

"We'll chat later, Jake," her dad said as she guided Jake to the kitchen.

He twisted around. "Looking forward to it, sir."

"Sir?" she teased as they entered the kitchen.

"I'm nervous," he whispered. It was then that she noticed his left hand was shaking. Capturing it in her right one, she led him to her mother. Who was struggling with the turkey in its roasting pan.

"Let me get that," Jake offered.

"Nonsense," her mother said, as she raised her wand and levitated the pan to the counter. Wiping her hands on her apron, she turned to appraise Jake. "And you must be Jacob."

"Yes, ma'am." He thrust out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Bell."

Her mother shook Jake's hand in both of her own, as if weighing it. She stared for a moment and suddenly broke into a grin. "It's very nice to meet you as well, Jacob."

"Mum, it's Ja--" A subtle squeeze of his hand stopped her. Jake shook his head imperceptibly.

"Why don't you try and round up your brothers? We'll be eating soon," her mother said, turning back to the turkey.

"Come on then," Katie said. She knew that the three youngest ones would be playing in the backyard. Paul, however, was probably up in his room. She exited the back door. "Oi! Supper's soon. Get washed up!" The six little boys in the backyard stopped what they were doing and stared. "I'm timing this. You've got three minutes. Let's go. Let's go," she urged and they all barreled toward the house.

Jake goggled at the sight. "Are they all your little brothers?"

Katie laughed and shook her head. "No, just three of them. That's Peter leading the pack; he's nine. Simon's the tall one in the middle. He's six. And..." She grabbed the last boy in the group, swinging him high into the air. "And this is Timothy. Can you say 'hi' to my friend Jake, Timmy?"

"Hi," he said shyly.

"Hey," Jake replied.

Timmy squirmed in Katie's arms. "Katie, lemme down," he protested. She set him down and he tore into the house after the other boys.

"Timmy's three. I think he may have been an accident," she confided.

"Oh," Jake responded.

She inwardly cursed. Is that all you can talk about...sex? If he didn't think I was a tart before, he's sure to now... "Come on. I reckon Paul will be up in his room, being gloomy." They went back into the house and climbed the stairs. At the last door on the left, Katie stopped and knocked. A few minutes later, the door opened a crack and a thin, blond, bespectacled face appeared. "Yes?" Paul said.

"Supper's almost ready," Katie said.

"Fine," he replied.

Just as he began to close the door, Jake blurted out, "Hey, I know you. You go to Hogwarts, don't you?" He turned to Katie. "I didn't know you had a brother at school." Paul shut the door in both of their faces. "What'd I say?" Jake asked.

"Paul's just moody. He's twelve, I think it comes with the territory," she answered as they headed back downstairs.

"Katie, I think that your mother needs some help in the kitchen," her dad said. Her eyes swung from her dad to Jake and back again. "It's fine. Jake and I will...talk." Talk? Talk? Deadlier words were never spoken... "Isn't that right, Jake?"

Jake nodded. "Yeah, I mean, yes, it'll be fine." He followed her dad out onto the porch. Katie tore her eyes away from the front door, praying her dad wouldn't do anything embarrassing, and went into the kitchen.

*************************************************

"Have a seat, son," Mr. Bell said to Jake.

Jake did as he was told and watched as Mr. Bell carefully filled his pipe with tobacco, tamped it down, and lit it. He inhaled deeply. "Terrible habit, I know. Maggie won't let me smoke in the house."

Jake was guessing that Maggie was Mrs. Bell's first name. He didn't know what to say to this so he merely nodded.

"You're the first boy that Katie's brought home," Mr. Bell said.

"But she and Ol--Oliver..." She never brought Oliver home? Willig 2, Wood 0...

Mr. Bell shook his head. "Oliver could never find the time to come visit us," he said with a touch of disappointment in his voice.

"Stupid bastard," Jake replied before he could stop himself. As he realized what he'd said to Katie's dad, he blushed and attempted to apologize.

Mr. Bell held up a hand. "I was thinking the same thing," he admitted with a laugh. "So Katie tells us that your mother is the American Minister?"

"Actually she's the President...but yeah, I mean, yes, it's the same thing."

"And she's still at St. Mungo's?" Mr. Bell asked.

"Yes, sir," Jake answered. He'd gone to see his mom yesterday. The healers said that physically she was fine, but, for some reason, she just wasn't coming out of her coma.

"And are you in danger?" the older man asked soberly.

Jake shrugged. "Maybe. I seem to be well-protected."

"And is Katie..."

"I would never let anything happen to her, sir. Never," he interrupted. Mr. Bell studied him for a several moments. Jake wanted to look away, but held eye contact with Katie's dad. Satisfied with whatever he saw there, Mr. Bell nodded and broke into a smile.

"Come on then. I reckon supper's ready."

****************************************************

Jake and Mr. Bell came through the front door together. Happily, both of them were smiling. As they seated themselves, Jake gave Katie a discreet 'thumbs up' sign. She breathed a sigh of relief. Now if Mum would just interrogate him already... Mr. Bell said a simple 'Thanks' over the food and then everyone dug in. Plates were being levitating around the table as people helped themselves to a little of everything.

"So, Katie, how's Gryffindor's chances looking this term?" Uncle Joe asked.

"Well, we've got Potter back. And Weasley is making great strides at Keeper. I reckon we've got a decent chance."

"Who's your closest competitor, dear?" Aunt Rose asked.

"Slytherin has been doing really well."

"I received an 'O' on my last potions exam. Professor Snape said it was the best a second year has ever done," Paul attempted to interject.

"That's nice," Aunt Rose said. She turned back to Katie, "Head Girl must be keeping you busy as well."

Katie shrugged. "I manage."

"Manages to find time to snog her boyfriend," Paul muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear.

Katie blushed, but ignored her brother's comment. She glanced at Jake who was slightly pink, but he too was continuing his conversation with Uncle Phil.

"Slytherin, eh? I hate those bastards," her dad said.

"Patrick!" Mrs. Bell said, clearly unhappy with his choice of words.

"Maggie, they hear worse on the television."

"Yeah, mum," Peter interjected. He turned to Jake. "You're from New York, right?"

"Yes," Jake replied.

"Say something New York then. You know, like on the Sopranos?"

"Patrick!" This was Mrs. Bell again. "I told you that they were too young to watch that."

Mr. Bell held up his hands in front of him. "I didn't let them watch it."

"Still. I knew we shouldn't have gotten that infernal thing," she continued. Jake was trying to hide his smile behind his napkin. "What's so funny, Jacob?"

"N-nothing, Mrs. Bell. I was just thinking that this was...nice. You know...like a real family."

Mrs. Bell's look softened. "I guess it's not like this in your home," she said gently.

Jake shook his head. "It's just my mom and me. My dad...died...before I was born."

"Hey Katie. Remember the time when you and Oliver got caught in the Quidditch changing rooms? Was it you who was missing your shirt or was that Oliver?" Paul blurted out.

"Paul William Bell!" Mrs. Bell shouted.

"Why, you little wanker!" Katie shouted.

"Katherine Julia Bell!" This was Katie's mom again.

"I ought to..." Katie began. As she rose from her seat, Jake grabbed her hand and mouthed, "Not worth it." She took a deep breath and let the tension in her melt through her arm and into Jake's warm hand. After a few moments of glaring at Paul, she resumed her seat. She noticed that her family was goggling at her. Her temper was legendary in the Bell household. Letting go of Jake's hand, she picked up her fork and commenced eating.

Sure that her only daughter was not about to murder her oldest son, Mrs. Bell turned her attentions to Paul. "Upstairs, young man."

Paul's fork clattered onto his plate. Angrily, he shoved his chair back and threw his napkin on the floor. They heard him as he stomped up every single stair and down the hallway to his room.

"And I'll talk to you later," Mrs. Bell said to Katie.

********************************************

After dinner, Katie stormed out into the back yard. How dare he! Paul had no right to bring Oliver up during Christmas supper. Especially not with Jake sitting right next to her. He'd said nothing about it, but finished his conversation with Uncle Phil. Something about free trade between America and Britain.

"Katie?" Jake asked as he pushed open the back door. He stood for a moment, watching her pace around the yard. Every so often, she'd pick up a stone and fling it as hard as she could.

"What?" she yelled, spinning about.

"I...I just wanted to see if you were OK," he said, coming toward her. Her blue eyes were burning brightly and she had a flush to her cheeks. I kinda see why Ron loves to provoke Hermione...angry girls can be very sexy...

"I'm fine. It's just that he had no right to say..."

He took both her hands into his own. "It's not like I didn't know about you and Oliver." He paused for a moment and said, "So who was it...you or Oliver?" She stared blankly at him. "You know, without the shirt," he finished, attempting to lighten the mood.

"D'you really want to know?" she asked quite seriously.

Jake nodded and then shook his head. "Yes...no...yes...I mean...no, I don't think that'd be a good idea." He grimaced. "Either one makes me slightly ill."

"I just don't understand why Paul would say that. Most of the time, we get on fine."

Jake smiled. "He's jealous, Katie. It must be hard to be the younger brother of Katherine Julia Bell, Head Girl and chaser extraordinaire."

The back door slammed and they turned to find Paul standing there, scuffing his shoe on the ground. "Mum said to tell you that I'm sorry."

Katie sighed. "Fine, Paul."

"Not you. Jake," Paul continued.

Jake glanced at Katie and then at her brother. "Um, Katie, could you give us a minute?"

************************************************

Katie went back inside. She wanted to stand by the backdoor and listen to Jake's conversation with her brother, but Mrs. Bell called her into the kitchen.

"Is it true then?" her mother asked, handing the sponge and dish to Katie. "You'll do them by hand," she replied in response to Katie's raised eyebrow. Katie got to work, scrubbing the dishes, and her mother repeated the original question.

"Yes, it's true," she finally admitted. "And it was Oliver with no shirt on, not me."

"I suppose you think that makes it all right then?"

Katie shook her head. "I know that it doesn't."

"What else did you and Oliver do?"

"Mum!" Katie exclaimed, nearly dropping the dish she was holding. She turned around to find her mother with one hand on her hip and that crease between her brows that only formed when she was angry. She sighed, knowing that her mother wouldn't give up on this. "I thought I loved him," she admitted.

"Thought?"

"If you'd asked me a few months ago, I would have said that I was madly in love with Oliver Wood."

"And now?"

"It was just a crush."

"And you know this because...you're in love now?" her mother asked slowly.

Katie nodded.

"With Jacob?"

Another nod.

"And he loves you?"

Katie nodded a third time.

"Well, then..." Her mother cleared her throat. "Why don't you go call Jacob and Paul back in then?"

"But the dishes..."

Her mother waved her wand and the sponge began cleaning the rest of the dishes by itself.

****************************************************

"I know what it's like to have people make assumptions about you, you know?" Jake said by way of conversation.

Paul snorted in response to this.

"What? You think it's easy being the only child of the President?" Jake replied. "Everyone thinks I should be exactly like her."

"How's that?" Paul was looking at Jake as if he might be slightly interested in what he had to say.

"Brilliant. Outgoing. My mom could talk a dragon into giving up wrecking havoc," Jake said with a tiny smile.

"It's just that everyone thinks I should be some star Quidditch player. Because of Katie."

Jake shrugged. "Let 'em think it."

"Quidditch is stupid," Paul said, glancing at Jake out of the corner of his eye.

"Now I wouldn't go that far. I enjoy going to games. And Katie is really good."

"You just think that because you're snogging her," Paul mumbled.

"No, I think it because it's true." He paused. "But I will let you in on a little secret. But you have to swear not to tell anyone."

"I...I swear," Paul said seriously.

Jake motioned to the younger boy and leaned in conspiratorially. Neither of them noticed that Katie had opened the door and was about to call them in. Something about the way they were huddled together made her pause. "I hate flying," Jake said.

"What?" Paul said, echoing the same question forming in his sister's mind.

"I hate it. Makes me feel all out of control." Like some other things I can think of... "Remember, you swore. So no telling."

Paul nodded. "I won't tell anyone."

Katie stood there bemused for a second. The boy she was in love with hated flying. Well, we'll just have to do something about that when we get back to Hogwarts... She opened the door and let it shut with a bang. Both young men turned toward her. "Mum said for you to come in."

*************************************************

They were all sitting in the living room when Mr. Bell suggested a sing-a-long. Paul and Katie groaned. A sing-a-long could only mean one thing: Dad was going to pull his guitar out. He sent Simon into the den to get it and he returned several minutes later, clutching a guitar about the size of Timmy. Mr. Bell strummed a few chords and tightened the strings.

"What do you say we start with Jingle Bells?" he asked once he was certain that the guitar was tuned properly. He began strumming and singing. Mrs. Bell joined in, followed by various aunts and uncles. Timmy clapped his hands together delightedly; he always loved it when his dad played for them. Peter and Simon were singing along enthusiastically. Katie glanced at Jake who was singing with gusto, clearly oblivious to the fact that he was awful. Paul and Katie looked at each other, shrugged, and sang as well.

Three songs later, Jake realized that couldn't carry a tune in a bucket and stopped singing. Fascinated, he watched Mr. Bell's fingers dance along the fretboard, alternating between pressing and releasing strings. His other hand strummed and plucked at the strings. Unconsciously, his left hand began to mimic Mr. Bell's moves, playing chords in mid-air. Jake's right hand was keeping time tapping against his thigh. He looked over at Katie and grinned widely at her. She smiled back weakly. Any bit of interest paid to Dad's guitar playing will only encourage him...

Timmy, who'd been running in circles singing loudly, suddenly stopped in front of Jake. He opened his mouth to sing the next word and promptly vomited all over Jake's shirtfront.

"Oh my gods," Katie exclaimed as she leapt to her feet. Timmy was crying, her father had stopped playing, and everyone was staring at Jake.

"Tim, it's OK. These things happen," he said reassuringly. Timmy had flung himself into his father's arms.

"Let's get you cleaned up, Timmy," Mr. Bell said as he led his youngest son into the bathroom. "Katie, why don't you show Jake where he can clean up?"

************************************************

Katie shoved her black knickers under the bed. She grabbed Jake's bag off the floor and hurried down the hall with it. She'd left Jake in the bathroom with a towel and some soap. As she pushed the door open, she stopped. He was hunched over the sink, trying to rinse his shirt out. His hair was in complete disarray from tugging his shirt over his head. Oh, and in case, I didn't mention it...he's shirtless... Her eyes took in the expanse of his back. He really was broad-shouldered for someone of his height. He scrubbed at his shirt, muttering to himself, and all sorts of muscles flexed and relaxed. Before Katie knew what she was doing, she had closed the door most of the way and was standing behind him. She was dying to touch his bare skin, but settled for inhaling his scent. He smelled clean, like the outdoors after a good hard rain. She pressed her lips to his shoulder. He stopped what he was doing and straightened. Rather than look up and face his reflection in the mirror, she continued kissing him, trailing her lips from his shoulder to his neck. Seemingly of their own accord, her arms had wrapped around his waist and her hands were pressed against his chest. Her nails raked across him and he shuddered. Her lips kissed a particularly sensitive spot below his ear. Merlin, that moan sounds like the ones he made during that dream he had a few nights ago...Her hands, which obviously had a mind of their own, skimmed down his front. Lower...lower...

"Katie," he gasped, jumping away from her. She finally met his gaze. He looked shocked, of course, but she caught a glimpse of something else. "We're in your parents' house."

She blushed, trying desperately to keep her eyes focused on his face. "I know. I'm sorry."

"Mum says it's time for dessert," Peter said as he threw the door open. As soon as he saw his sister and Jake, he turned and fled down the stairs. They could hear him shouting, "Mum! Mum! They're in the loo together and Jake isn't wearing a shirt. Just like her and Oliver." Jake flew to his bag, pulled out the first shirt he saw, and pulled it over his head. They both bolted out of the bathroom and downstairs.

"Mum, it's not like that," Katie shouted, running into the kitchen.

"I was washing out my shirt...and...Katie brought me my bag...I was changing when Peter came in...nothing was going on...I would never disrespect Katie...or you and Mr. Bell...or your kindness by..." He stopped when he saw Mrs. Bell smiling at the both of them.

"I didn't think anything different. Did you, Patrick?" she called out to her husband.

Picking up his guitar and strumming the first few notes of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, he replied, "Wouldn't dream of it."

*****************************************************

After dessert, Jake had gotten up the nerve to ask Mr. Bell if he'd teach him some notes on the guitar. Mr. Bell had smiled patiently and said, "They're called chords, son." A few hours later, the two of them were still huddled together in the living room, Mr. Bell showing Jake the chord and then handing the guitar to him for him to replicate what he'd just seen. Mostly they were silent except for the occasional, "That's right," from Mr. Bell.

All of her relatives had left. And she'd helped clean up the kitchen. And she'd put her two youngest brothers to bed. Now Katie stared at her dad and her boyfriend in the living room and sighed. She was hoping that they'd have some time to themselves. Maybe go outside and look at the stars...cuddle a little... And they still needed to talk about earlier.

"Mum!" Katie cried out. "Do something."

Her mother arched an eyebrow at her. "What do you suggest, Katie?"

You have five kids...surely you can think of something to distract Dad... Out loud, she said, "I don't know."

Mrs. Bell shrugged. "I'm going to bed. Good night, dear," she said to her eldest child who was sitting in the kitchen with a pout on her face. She went into the living room and kissed her husband. "Don't stay up too late," she murmured.

"I won't," he replied absent-mindedly.

Twenty minutes later, Katie'd had enough. "I'm going to bed," she announced.

Jake and her father barely glanced up. "G'night, Katibell," her dad said. "Yeah, good night, Katie," Jake echoed.

She stomped up the stairs, but neither of them took notice.