I Only Wanted

****

    The match against Hufflepuff was the worst Quidditch game that Katie had ever played in. It was raining, with thunder and lightning accompanying it. They ended up having to take a time out. And Hermione, being the utter genius that she was, charmed Harry's glasses to repel water. After having played for hours so far, she was a godsend. Now, Harry could see well enough and could look for the Snitch and they could end this game.

    But it wasn't meant to be. Lightning illuminated the sky, and the next thing Katie felt was a coldness wash over her. She passed the Quaffle to Alicia and looked down to see a sea of black making its way onto the pitch. Dementors. Everyone tried to keep playing, but a collective gasp from the crowd made Katie scan the sky in front of her. Harry was falling to the ground, and Cedric had grasped the Snitch. Dumbledore was on the field in an instant and slowed Harry down before he hit the ground. Cedric began asking for a rematch and Oliver was motioning for them to land. Cedric, Oliver, and Madam Hooch were arguing over the outcome of the game, which ended in Oliver screaming something about Hufflepuff winning fair and square and stomping off towards the locker rooms.

    Katie pushed her sopping hair back and followed the rest of the team blindly up to the castle after Harry's floating body. Hermione and Ron joined them. She was still freezing, although she wasn't sure if it was from the rain or from the Dementors.

    Once in the Hospital Wing, they stepped back to allow Madam Pomfrey to tend to Harry. But once she was gone, they formed a protective shield around their teammate. Just praying and waiting for him to wake.

    "Lucky the ground was so soft," Alicia whispered.

    "I thought he was dead for sure," George said, looking worriedly at Harry's limp body.

    "He didn't even break his glasses," Angelina said with a small smile, which quickly turned to tears.

    "That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life," Katie whispered.

    The next instant Harry's eyes snapped open, and Katie jumped back in shock. He tried in vain to sit up a few times, and eventually Fred and Ron had to assist him. They explained, as best they could, what had happened. George recounted what happened with Cedric which raised a question from Harry.

    "Where is Wood?" he asked.

    "Still in the showers. We think he's trying to drown himself," Fred offered, gaining a slap from Katie.

    Fred and George then attempted to cheer Harry up. Explaining to him that they weren't out of the running yet. That was until Madam Pomfrey shooed them away.

    "Don't worry about a thing, Harry," Katie said, before following the team, "It couldn't be helped. You still played really well today. And I'd give you a hug, but," she said motioning to her muddy Quidditch robes, soaked through with water, "you know."

    Harry smiled slightly and nodded. Katie turned and walked fast to catch up with the team.

    "Hey guys, I left my robes down in the locker room," Katie said casually.

    "If you go get them now, be sure to use an Anti-Water spell to protect your clean robes," Angelina said, winking knowingly.

    "Alright, I'll be back soon," Katie said, making her way back towards the entrance hall. As soon as she went out the door, she let out a yelp. The rain was literally coming down in buckets. And it was ice cold. She hiked up her robes a bit and took off toward the Quidditch pitch. It seemed like forever. The grounds were muddy and there were several occasions where Katie almost fell, but she trudged on. Deep down, she knew Oliver would drown himself in the showers like Fred had said, but she had to make sure. And she had left her clean robes down there.

    She entered the locker rooms tentatively. She didn't hear anything, so she entered and walked over to the girls side. She hastily changed into her robes, wanting to look for Oliver. She threw her Quidditch robes in the bin for the house-elves and made her way over to where the team had their meetings. There, sitting with his head in his hands, was Oliver. Katie didn't want to startle him, but she had to let him know she was there. So, she cleared her throat. Oliver looked up sharply and turned to look in her direction.

    "What are you doing here?" he asked softly.

    "I forgot my robes," she said, holding out a bit of her robes for emphasis, "And I wanted to check and see if you were still here."

    Oliver patted the spot beside him on the bench and Katie happily obliged him by sitting down. Neither knew what to say.

    "Its no ones fault, you know," Katie said softly after a long moment.

    "I know. But, we lost. To Hufflepuff," Oliver said scandalized.

    Katie rolled her eyes. "Forget about that for a moment. And Harry's fine by the way," she said, a sudden wave of anger washing over her.

    Oliver ran a hand through his hair and looked at her. "Am I a bad Captain?"

    "No, why would you even think that?"

    "I didn't go visit Harry. I sat in here, being selfish, thinking about how I had lost the game. He probably thinks I blame him doesn't he?"

    "No, we explained it to him. How you didn't want the rematch and all that," Katie said, making a mental note to remember this conversation.

    "But I demand so much of you guys," he said.

    "If you didn't have expectations for us, we'd never get any better," Katie said, honestly meaning it.

    Sometime Oliver did get a bit overzealous, but he always made it up to them. He was a good Captain. Oliver smiled and nodded.

    "I guess you're right."

    Katie nudged him. "Totally off topic, but I've been feeling cooped up lately. How about when the weather clears up, we have that scrimmage game you promised me?"

    Oliver nudged her back. "You're on."

****

    The next day, the team made their way to the Hospital Wing, this time with Oliver, to see Harry. Oliver told him that he didn't blame him for the loss, and Katie could see the internal battle playing out behind his eyes. He was going to beat him self up about this until they won a game.

    A few weeks went by, when Professor Flitwick held her back after class.

    "Miss. Bell, I have a student that is doing less than average in this class, and since you have the best grade in your year and his, I wondered if you would be so kind as to tutor him?" the tiny wizard asked hopefully.

    "Sure, I mean, as long as we can work around my Quidditch practices. Sure, I'd love to help," Katie said, thrilled to actually be a tutor to someone.

    "Thank you, Miss. Bell," he said, walking out into the hallway, "Mr. Diggory, could you some here please?"

    Katie blanched. 'No, anyone but Cedric, please,' she thought.

    "Cedric, Katie has agreed to tutor you," Professor Flitwick said happily.

    Katie plastered a grin to her face and sighed. She walked out of the room, so angry that she felt like breaking something.

    "Dirty rotten trick," she mumbled, as she walked down the corridors.

    "Hey, Katie?" she heard a voice behind her say.

    "What!" Katie said, turning and going pale again, seeing Cedric standing there, "Oh, sorry. This hasn't been the best day."

    "Tell me about it," he said, grinning apologetically, "Look, Katie, if you don't want to tutor me, that's fine. I know Professor Flitwick kind of forced you into it. And I know you guys don't necessarily like me very much…." he said trailing off.

    "'You guys'? What do you mean by that?"

    "Well, you and your teammates."

    Katie sighed, dropping her defensive guard. Cedric was a simple person. Not the brightest candle on the birthday cake, but a brilliant flyer, and a sweet person. She really didn't want to hurt his feelings.

    "Well, I don't dislike you. Because unlike the boys, I don't think of Quidditch as a life or death thing. It's just, if the guys did find out I was tutoring you, it would be hell for me," she said kindly, but honestly.

    "I understand, I'll just ask someone from my own house," he said, starting to walk away.

    "Cedric," Katie said jogging after him, "I didn't say I wouldn't. Just, don't tell anyone, ok? Fred and George are like overprotective brothers and Oliver hates anyone who beats him," she said, smiling sheepishly.

    Cedric's face broke out into a grin. "Thanks Katie."

    "No problem. So, I think we need to compare schedules to see when we can meet," she said, going into 'leader mode'.

    To Katie's delight, she found she was making a very good friend in Cedric. He wasn't as hopeless as she had once thought. He just needed things explained a little differently. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with him, and he was learning a lot. But Katie had to keep coming up with excuses to go to the Library. She knew that sooner or later, someone would find out. She only hoped that it was later rather than sooner.

****

    To Katie's great dislike, the rain didn't stop until two weeks before the end of term. But that didn't stop Oliver from plopping down next to her in the common room the first Saturday after the rain had stopped.

    "The rain stopped," he said cheerfully.

    "I noticed," Katie said, not looking up from her Charms book.

    She was looking up spells to work on with Cedric.

    "So?"

    "So….what?" Katie said, shutting the book and looking at him.

    "Do you wanna play Quidditch with me or not?" he said, looking hurt.

    "Oh! Yeah, sorry Ol, I completely forgot."

    "Well, go on, get your broom," he said energetically.

    Katie sighed as she climbed the stairs. This was going to be a long day.

    Once down on the pitch, Katie found herself feeding off of Oliver's enthusiasm. Katie flew well, not minding the cold, but somehow knowing she'd pay for it later. She didn't score many goals against Oliver, but she didn't expect to. He was playing to his full potential, just as she was. The shots she did get by, she was very proud of. After a few hours, they were disrupted though. Katie didn't see the intruder at first, but Oliver did and landed his broom immediately.

    "What are you doing down here, Diggory?"

    "I was just trying to find Katie. I figured she was down here when she wasn't in the library," Cedric said, trying not to tell Oliver about the tutoring.

    "And why are you looking for Katie?" Oliver said, but by this time, Katie was landing her own broom and running over.

    "Well, no use hiding it," Katie said, smiling at Cedric sympathetically, "I've been tutoring Cedric in Charms. I'm so sorry Ced, I completely forgot about today," she said.

    Oliver looked at her as if she were mad. "Katie, he's the competition."

    "You know Oliver, you don't have to think of everyone in terms of Quidditch," Katie said, as her mind screamed at her for what she had just revealed.

    "Ok, fine. Point taken," Oliver said, walking off the pitch.

    Katie just watched as he walked off and turned back to Cedric.

    "Can we reschedule for some other time?"

    Cedric smiled at her. "Of course. My next test isn't for another two weeks."

    "Alright. Since Oliver knows, everyone will know now. So, just find me whenever and let me know when you're free."

    Cedric nodded and reached out to rub her shoulder. "You were really brave just then."

    Katie looked at him oddly. "What are you talking about?"

    "Its obvious, isn't it? You like Oliver. Why can't you just tell him?" Cedric said, looking at her with sincerity.

    "Its bullshit," Katie said, shrugging away from him.

    "Katie-"

    "Its bullshit!" Katie said, grabbing her broom and running back up towards the school.