Catch Me As I Fall

It was a particulary nice saturday outside. So nice even, it could have still been summer. But it wasn't since Oliver Wood was already harping on the Gryffindor quidditch team about practices, even though it was only the first week into his seventh year.

"Come on Wood! We just got here," said Fred Weasley. "Besides, The quidditch season isn't for two months! And you know we've got the best bloody team there is!"

"He's right!" Angelina chimed in, jumping off of her stool and placing an arm around his shoulders as emphasis.

Oliver huffed. "And you also know that this is my last chance to win the cup! I don't need anybody blowing that chance for me!"

"Don't get your feathers ruffled Wood," Alicia said. "We're going to win that cup any way it goes."

"And how can you be so sure?" he said, turning towards her, pointing.

Alicia made a move towards Harry, who was currently trying not to get involved with their little row.

"Cause we've got the best seeker this school has seen in a VERY long time!" she said, patting Harry a little roughly on the back.

Oliver sighed and sat down on one of the large, overstuffed red chairs in the common room. "Winning the cup will need more than just a great seeker," he said, turning to Harry. "No offense Potter."

"None taken," Harry replied, going back to his Chudley Cannons book.

"Look here you," Angelina spat. "It isn't just your last year. It's mine, and Katie's too," She said, perching herself on the tabe in front of him.

"Yeah, you're right," Wood said. He glanced around the room and his brow furrowed when he turned back towards Angelina. "Speaking of...where is Katie?" Wood asked, biting his bottom lip unnoticeably.

Angelina took a look around the room and noticed that her best friend of seven years was indeed not present. "That prat. She's probably still asleep!" She hopped off the table and went towards the girl's dormitories. "I'll go wake her lazy butt up."

Oliver snickered.

"KATIE! Come on you lazy bum, get UP!"

"No mum, no more broomsticks...too many beans..." Katie muttered, obviously sleep induced.

Angelina shook her continuously. "KATIE!" she shouted.

Katie rose wearily from underneath the rose colored comforter. "Uh?" she replied groggily.

"Come on. The whole quidditch team is down in the common room. Wood is giving us his annual "practice" speech," she said, tossing her roomate a pair of jean shorts and a yellow tanktop.

Katie sat up and glared at Angelina. "Do I REALLY have to go? Isn't he...like...done yet?"

Angelina was already out of hearing distance. Katie groaned inwardly and pulled on the shorts and shirt, sliding on a pair of yellow sandals as she went out the door muttering, "Stupid Angelina...."

"Okay," Oliver agreed. "We'll start practices in two weeks. Till then you all have your nights off." He said, falling back onto the couch.

Fred and George high-fived each other and took off in the direction of the kitchens. Alicia sat on the stool in front of Angelina and chatted up conversation as Katie came down the stairs. She looked questioningly at Alicia who pointed at the couch. Katie smiled and leaned over the back of it, tossing stray hairs behind her head. Oliver was dressed in a pair of beige shorts and a light green t-shirt that said, "Quidditch....what else?".

"Hi Oliver! What's on the Quidditch agenda?"

Oliver gazed up at her and brightened. "We start practices in two weeks. That should give everyone enough time to get over the 'we just got to school' phase."

"But we did just get to school." She hopped over the arm of the couch and sat by his feet. "They're right Oliver, you need to ease up."

Oliver sat up and moved next to her. "But I really REALLY want to win the cup this year Kate," he said, a faint whimper in his voice.

"And we will," she said confidently, rising from the couch. "Come on. Let's go somewhere. You need to get your mind off of quidditch. It really makes you a drag," she chuckled.

Oliver stood up and gave her a you-better-watch-it look. "I am not a drag. "

Katie smiled and tugged him towards the portrait entrance. "Not after I'm done. Come on. We're going to do some sightseeing."

"Sightseeing?" Oliver questioned. "What kind of sightseeing?"

Katie turned to face him. "The kind you can do only on a broomstick," she finished as they exited the Gryffindor common room.

Oliver didn't seem to agree with this idea, but he was forced silent by her. Not by words but by her mere image, and presence. She was a girl. He now knew that, Before, he had just thought of her as 'one of the guys', considering she basically hung around with him, Fred, George, and Lee. But now that his senses have come to the conclusion that she ISN'T just one of the guys, he realized that she is a girl. A VERY pretty girl. And she was currently hanging onto his arm, practically pulling it out of it's socket, taking him to...wherever it is she was taking him.

They exited the school and she stopped. Briefly taking in the warm summer sun and vibrant fragrances, she turned to him again, her bright blue eyes flashing in the light. "We have to get brooms first. Let's head to the quidditch pitch," she said, trotting off in front of him.

He exaled the breath he had unconciously been holding. This was Katie Bell! His friend since second year! His teammate! One of the guys!!

He followed behind her, in a slow deliberate pace. She turned around and grabbed his arm once more, tugging him along while saying, "Today if you don't mind!"

Then it hit him. If she was just 'one of the guys'...

Why was he getting these strange sensations every time he was around her?

They finally made their way to the quidditch pitch and into the broom shed. They each took a broom and stood in the middle of the pitch, staring at the vastness of it all. Oliver looked around, then quizzically at Katie.

"Is there a point to standing here? Weren't you going to show me something?"

She still stared out at the sky. "Yeah I am, but," she turned to look at him, "Are you up for dodging the rules?"she finished poking him in the stomach.

"I'm up for it," he smiled at her, mounting his broom and hovering in the air.

She did the same. "Good. Let's go."

Before Oliver could reply she sped off in the direction of the forest behind the pitch. It was an off section of the Forbidden Forest, though it wasn't exactly forbidden. He followed behind her, as she took her broom through the trees, expertly avoiding the stray branches and high bushes and rocks that came at her. Oliver was amazed. She had excellent flying skills. She just didn't get enough of a chance in the matches to show it. Angelina had become quite the star throughout her years.

After about three more minutes of flying they came to a small clearing covered in willow trees. Katie slowed down her broom and stepped off, letting it fall to the ground. Oliver stopped behind her and actually fell off of his. It was one of the most beautiful sites he had ever seen. The sun peeked slightly through the openings in the trees, and the small pond in the corner was surrounded by water lillies and cat tails. There was an array of violet and red flowers that outlined the edges and gave off a sweet fragrance that was pleasing to the senses.

"Wow," Oliver breathed. "This is great," he said as he traipsed around the area, still dazed.

Katie sat on a small rock next to the pond. "Yeah. I found it during our fifth year. I guess it just has peaceful atmosphere. I come here a lot to think."

"I can see why," Oliver said, still ogling. He sat down beside her and folded his hands in his lap.

They sat in silence for a few minutes before either had the nerve to say something.

"Why are we acting like this?" Katie said.

Oliver sighed and turned to look at her. "What do you mean?"

"I mean...we're sitting here and not talking. We're not two lovestruck teenagers. We've been best friends since second year! Why do you avoid me?"

"I don't know," he nearly whispered.

"Well try! I've tried to get answers out of you. Now, you are not leaving this hollow until I get one," she said, shielding the exit with her body.

Oliver stood up and paced around the rock. "I guess I thought we've grown apart. We both have grown up Kate. We're not the little kids we were at twelve. We are seventeen," He resumed his position on the rock and started on a different subject. "During our sixth year, you started hanging out with Alicia and Angelina. Then I saw less and less of you. It was like you had forgotten we were ever friends. So I tried to leave you alone, and I guess I never gave it a chance," he finished, looking straight at her.

Katie was by far, stunned. She never knew that Oliver had felt that way. "I'm sorry if I made you feel that way," she said, walking and kneeling down in front of him, placing her hands on his knees. "I didn't know you felt like that. It's just that Angelina and Alicia are girls too, so they would know a lot more about being a girl than you would," she said the last part with a note of sarcasm.

Oliver laughed.

"And," she continued. "I don't want to stop being your friend."

"Thanks," he said, before laughing. "You know, this is weird. Us, sitting under a canopy of trees, expressing our innermost feelings. I'm starting to feel like this is a slumber party."

Katie snickered. "I never was a fan of those."

"Really?"

"Yeah." She stood up. "Let's head back to the common room. I have a box of chocolate frogs with our names on them."

Oliver stood up and held out his arms. "Can I have a hug first?"

Katie smiled and replied with a soft, "Yes."

Oliver wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, hands coming into direct contact with her skin as her tanktop lifted with her arms. Her skin was soft and warm. Like touching silk. Her arms slid effortlessly around his neck and her chin rested on his shoulder. He took in her scent, which smelled of hyacinths and roses. It was a nice smell. She pulled away from him almost reluctantly and met his eyes.

"Come on," she prodded. "I'm starving," she finished, picking up her broom and dashing out of the hideaway.

Oliver picked up his broom and stood there. She was going to make this year extremely hard for him.

TBC....