I Only Wanted

****

    "Katie Bell," he said, a disturbing amount of amusement in his voice.

    Katie turned and glared at him. "What, Flint."

    "I heard your parents moved to France. I was kind of hoping you'd joined them."

    "Can't get everything you hope for, eh Flint?" Katie said viciously.

    "Well, I also heard, that they had no plans on taking you with them. That true, Mudblood?"

    Katie stepped up, rage controlling her every function and slapped Marcus hard.

    "I am a Pureblood, shit for brains! And I wouldn't have gone with my parents even if I had been invited. I get too much pleasure out of kicking you ass up and down the Quidditch field," she said, controlling her breathing, so that Marcus heard every word.

    Marcus' hand left his cheek and everyone could see the handprint Katie had left on it.

    "You should know by now, Flint," Oliver said, placing a hand on Katie's shoulder, "You don't mess with Katie Bell."

    Marcus glared at her, in what she knew to be Marcus' own perverse manner.

    "I like a take charge girl."

    "You won't when my foot is up your ass, Flint."

    She felt Oliver squeeze her shoulder. "You touch her, Flint, and I know Fred, George, Lee and I will make sure you never play Quidditch again."

    "Shouldn't students be going to their respective common rooms?" a sinister voice sounded from the doors of the Great Hall, "Or am I mistaken?"

    Katie tried very hard not to roll her eyes. She would know that voice anywhere, as did the rest of the group surrounding her. Severus Snape, the Potions Master, and enemy to all who weren't Slytherins.

    "If I may, Professor-" Percy began.

    "What, Mr. Weasley," Snape said, looking over at Percy skeptically.

    "We were heading to our common room, but Marcus Flint provoked Katie Bell into an argument," Percy said diplomatically, leaving out the fact that Katie had slapped Marcus.

    Snape surveyed the group of Gryffindors and smirked, as only he could. "Well, seeing as Mr. Flint is severely outnumbered, I don't believe what you are saying to be true. Now, go to your common room. If I see this," he said, motioning to the group and Marcus, "again, I will take points. And Miss. Bell?"

    Katie stared at the Potions Master with what she hoped was a neutral expression. She didn't want him to see her loathing for him hidden beneath.

    "I suggest you save your aggressions for the Quidditch field," he said, motioning to the handprint that was fading on Marcus' face.

    Katie smiled sweetly at the snide man. "Of course, Professor Snape."

    The Gryffindors turned and exited the entrance hall by way of the large marble staircase. Once around a corner and out of earshot, the group erupted in conversation.

    "Why didn't he take points?" Oliver asked suspiciously, "I don't trust him."

    "That was a good slap though, Katie. Did you see how shocked he was?" Angelina said smiling and walking alongside Katie.

    "Served him right. I mean, after last year. Dammit Katie, you should have let us get him expelled for all that stuff he did to you," Fred said angrily, looking to George mischievously, "We still could."

    At the mention of the year prior, Katie's smile faded and it was replaced by a grimace.

    "I wouldn't want you two to endanger yourselves anymore than normal," she said, masking her pain.

    The group continued chatting quietly as they approached the Fat Lady. Percy stepped forward and gave the password, allowing them entrance into the Gryffindor Common Room. They entered and found it, unsurprisingly, empty. Of course, Percy found it in his duty as Head Boy, to inform them that they should go to bed and what a busy first day they would have tomorrow. Any other time, they would have teased Percy and stayed up half the night. But given the circumstances of earlier that day on the train, among other things, they all agreed with him. Oliver, Paris, and Percy left the rest of them on the fifth floor. Angelina, Alicia, and Katie bid Fred, George, and Lee goodnight as they parted ways to access their separate dormitories.

    Katie fell into a fitful sleep, dreaming of all the awful scenes played out between Flint and herself. Marcus Flint had pursued her last year, as a challenge. He had teased her, tormented her, and played unfairly against her in the Quidditch matches they competed in. Both of them being Chasers didn't help matters. Flint had pushed her, grabbed at her, and ultimately allowed to have many penalty shots because of him.

    Insulting him only fueled him. Ignoring him only got her in trouble. One incident the prior year after a Quidditch practice still haunted her. She had been practicing by herself after the rest of the team had left, when Marcus had shown up. If Fred hadn't shown up to check on her, she still wasn't sure what could have happened. All she really remembered now, was Marcus pushing her up against a wall in the Gryffindor Team Locker Room and causing her to hit her head. She was strong, but unfortunately, Marcus was stronger. So no matter how hard she pushed him away, he pressed her harder against that wall. Thankfully, Fred came to check on her because unbeknownst to her it had begun to rain. Fred pulled Marcus off of Katie, and Katie had slid down the wall and huddled herself against it. After a very loud argument between Fred and Marcus, Fred had sat beside her, cautiously asking her what had happened. Katie had explained as best she could, and that was when Fred had vowed to get Marcus expelled.

    Him and George had been unsuccessful, but they had gotten their point across. From then on, Katie was never alone around the school or on the pitch. And against Katie's wishes, Fred and George had shared what had happened with Oliver. Oliver, who already had a Quidditch vendetta against Marcus. It was Katie's worst nightmare realized. Oliver had become protective of her. He didn't want anyone hurting his teammate, especially Marcus Flint.

    Of course, Katie had spent a lot of time crying over that. She adored Oliver and any time spent with him was heaven to her. But to hear those words from him had hurt her heart. And probably her ego, if she were willing to admit that to herself. She had tried very hard to seal off her heart at that point, but she hadn't succeeded. Oliver was still able to break her heart with the smallest smile. The lightest touch. And it killed her, absolutely killed her.

****

    Lessons started the next day. They received their schedules that morning in the Great Hall. Katie groaned at hers.

    "I have regular Potions and then Advanced Potions back to back," Katie said, dropping her head and repeatedly banging it on the table.

    Lee nearly spit out his orange juice as he took her schedule from her.

    "Uh, love? I hate to tell you this, but that goes for double Potions too. 'Tuesdays and Thursdays, Afternoon classes, Double Potions followed by Advanced Potions'," he said, reading from her schedule.

    Katie groaned again, but reached out to smack Lee. "Thanks a lot."

    Lee just laughed and sat her schedule down in front of her. Katie lifted her head and rubbed at her forehead.

    "Remind me never to do that again," she said, furrowing her brow.

    Katie, Fred, George, Angelina, Lee, and Alicia left the Great Hall and made their way up to the third floor for Defense Against The Dark Arts. There was a line formed outside the classroom, so they joined it, waiting for Professor Lupin. The bell rang, and there was still no sign of Lupin. Katie looked around anxiously.

    "Where is he?" Fred asked, voicing her silent concern.

    "I don't know, but he's late," Lee said, looking around also.

    But their worries were squashed when Lupin came dashing down the corridor.

    "So sorry I'm late," he said, while opening the door.

    No one said anything, but proceeded to enter the classroom and take seats. Katie and Lee took seats together in the front, allowing Fred and George to sit by each other and Angelina and Alicia to do the same. Katie still wasn't talking to Alicia. Professor Lupin entered, closing the door behind him. He fumbled for a moment with some papers on his desk and came away with an attendance sheet. He called out the names and Katie could tell that he was trying to match faces with names. When he was through with that, he took a seat on his desk and surveyed them.

    "Now, Professor Dumbledore has informed me that your teacher last year was Gilderoy Lockhart. And with that being said, I think I am apt to assume that you are very far behind," he said, gaining quite a few grins from the class and a stifled laugh out of Katie.

    "So," he continued, "I have prepared a short quiz to see where we stand."

    Many of the students groaned in protest.

    "I'll have none of that. How can I teach you anything if I don't know what you know and what you don't?" he said, while handing stacks of papers to the people in the front seats to pass back, "Alright, everyone have a quiz? Good. You'll have ten minutes, starting now. Good Luck," he said, sliding off of his desk and retreating behind it.

    Katie started on her quiz. All the question were on their knowledge of dark creatures. Katie smiled, intrigued by what they were going to be learning this year. She finished her quiz in all of five minutes. She had always been fascinated by dark creatures and had read many a book on the topic. She only hoped her knowledge didn't hold Professor Lupin back. She didn't want him to think she'd be bored in class. She turned her quiz and sat it in the corner of her desk.

    Taking advantage of her haste, she laid her head down on her desk and tried to relax. Her nerves had already started to buzz at the thought of two hours or more in the dungeons everyday. She hated having to spend and hour and a half down there for double potions. It was dark, and damp, and held her least favorite people in it. Slytherins.

    But Katie was shook from her reverie when Professor Lupin called time. As everyone passed up their quizzes and handed them in, Katie placed hers on the bottom of the pile. She handed them to Professor Lupin as he passed. When he had collected all of them, he sat on his desk once again and scanned them all. Knowing the right answers, this process didn't take long. But Katie watched him nonetheless, and could tell when he had reached her paper. He had smiled and glanced at her before moving on. When he had reached the last paper, he glanced up at all of them.

    "Well, you all know the basics at least, with the exception of Miss. Bell, who answered every question correctly. Well done," he said, smiling warmly at her before continuing, "Now, for fifth years like yourself, Professor Dumbledore has asked me to cover the more dangerous of the dark creatures with you. And since all of you answered my questions about kappas and grindylows correctly, I'm assuming I can begin with the advanced curriculum."

    The class went smoothly from there, and Katie found that Lupin often called on her. She was silently cursing herself for sitting in the front. She always preferred to sit back and let other people answer questions in class. It always caused her to blush when put on the spot like that.

    After Defense Against The Dark Arts was Transfiguration. Katie assumed the word had spread from Snape about the incident in the entrance hall because Professor McGonagall seemed to be eyeing her with disdain. She also held her after to discuss a scheduling of her O.W.L.s. They both agreed that a month to prepare was plenty for Katie, seeing as Quidditch practices would start soon afterward. And since McGonagall was Head of Gryffindor House, she wanted Katie to be at those practices. Her exam was set for the first Saturday in October. Katie left the class feeling a little lighter, and seeing the Fred and George had waited for her, made her happier. They had Care of Magical Creatures next with Hagrid.

    Katie had never seen anything like a hippogriff before and hoped to never have to again. They were the oddest things Katie had ever seen.

    "Big birds with horse bodies," Fred had whispered to her as Hagrid went on about how beautiful they were.

    Katie reckoned he was right, as that’s exactly what hippogriffs looked like. After Care of Magical Creatures was lunch.

    "Nice safe lunch," George said, still shaken because his hippogriff hadn't bowed back.

    They ate lunch quietly discussing classes every so often. Katie, Fred, George, Angelina, Lee, and Alicia finished early and headed down to the dungeons to make sure they weren't late. The door was open, so they entered and spread out along the long tables in the middle of the class. Snape didn't look up as he entered, but continued to pour over the book in front of him. The rest of the class started to file in a few moments later. When the bell rang, Snape finally put down his book and addressed them all.

    The class went well. Well, as well as Potions can go. When it was over, most of the class filtered out. A few Slytherins stayed seated, along with Katie and Angelina, who had also gotten roped into taking Advanced Potions. A few older Gryffindors entered the classroom, including Percy Weasley. Percy sat down next to Katie as they surveyed the group of students around them.

    "Who'd have guessed this class would be mostly Slytherins?" Katie said, in a low whisper.

    Angelina smacked Katie hard and nodded toward where the Slytherins were seated. "Katie, it's Marcus."

    Katie turned her head so fast it made her slightly dizzy. Marcus Flint? In Advanced Potions? He was supposed to have graduated the year prior, and had failed to do so. Maybe Snape was doing this as a favor or something. Katie soon turned and directed her attention elsewhere so Marcus wouldn't see her. Wedged between Percy and Angelina, she hoped that was possible. She heard the bell ring and immediately began to dread the next hour.