I Only Wanted

    Katie woke with a unpleasant feeling in the pit of her stomach. Something wasn't right. She got out of bed and noticed that Angelina was up and ready and waking Alicia.

    "Ah, the other Sleeping Beauty decides to wake. Oy! Alicia!" Angelina said, turning and screaming at Alicia.

    "What?" Alicia said sleepily, and Katie laughed, making her way towards the showers.

    Once everyone was showered and ready, the three of them made their way down to the common room. It was a swarm of activity, and the three girls made their way over to Fred and George, at the center of it all.

    "What's going on?" Angelina asked and Katie eyed a nervous looking Neville Longbottom.

    "Neville? What's wrong?" Katie asked easily.

    "Harry and Ron were missing when I woke up," he blurted out and Katie looked to Fred curiously.

    Suddenly, two girls from Neville's year came bustling over.

    "Yeah, Hermione's gone too," one of them said.

    Fred ran a hand through his hair and looked over the crowd, trying to find Percy. He didn't have to look long.

    "What is all this? Why aren't you all at breakfast? Come on, all of you, out of the common room," Percy said from the stairwell.

    George expertly grabbed Lee and the six of them headed the way out of the common room, talking quietly.

    "I woke up with a bad feeling," Katie said shuddering slightly, "What the hell's going on?"

    "Don't know. Wonder where those kids are?" Fred said, the protective tone in his voice because Ron was one of 'those kids'.

    They walked in silence, Oliver jogging up to join them, and they entered the Great Hall.

    "Percy's having kittens. Thinks they'll take away his Head Boy badge. Completely nutters, it isn't his fault after all," Oliver was saying as they sat down.

    Percy joined them sometime later, looking as stressed as Oliver had said. Katie reached across the table and gave Percy's hand a comforting squeeze.

    "I'm sure they're just fine," she said, voicing everyone's concern.

    Katie chanced a glance up at the teacher's table. Snape, she noted, looked worse for wear. More than usual that is. Her eyes darted concernedly to Lupin. He looked the worst she had ever seen him. Deep purple circles under his eye, and hair in disarray. His robes, as always, were frayed and well worn. He had a frown imprinted on his face and he kept looking as if he were about to run from the room at any moment. The next moment, a hush fell over the Great Hall as Dumbledore stood.

    "You will all find out, sooner rather that later, that certain events occurred last night. So, I will be the first to tell you, so no rumors will be spread. Seeing as I was not there for everything, I can only tell you what I know. And it is this. Sirius Black was on the grounds last night."

    Katie reckoned you could hear a pin drop as everyone collectively took in a gasp of breath.

    "Yet, he escaped again. And three of our Gryffindors are in the Hospital Wing at this moment," he said, but Katie noticed a twinkle in the old mans eye's when he told of the escape.

    In that moment, she knew there was more to this than he was leading on. She, and undoubtedly everyone else in the room, heard Snape snort angrily. Dumbledore cast a glance in his direction.

    "Yes, Severus?" he said in a hushed tone.

    "Why don't you tell them everything, Headmaster?" he said, duplicating the tone and sneering down the table at Lupin, "About certain faculty."

    McGonagall stood then, beside Dumbledore and glared at Snape angrily. "Severus, you've been warned," she hissed, seemingly unaware of the audience that was trying desperately to hear every word.

    "I warned you about Lupin, Headmaster. I told you not to trust a werewolf," Snape said and in that instant the Great Hall erupted into conversation.

    All Katie could do was gape at Snape. She couldn't understand why he had just done that. Tears came to her eyes and she looked across the table at Percy. As she blinked them away, he mouthed, "You knew that?". All Katie could do was nod, as she stood and walked out of the Great Hall, tension in every muscle. As she approached large doors to the grounds, a hand rested on her shoulders. She turned around to see Snape standing there, looking panicked. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but no words came. Katie took a step backwards, away from him.

    "How could you? How could you do that to him!"

    "Miss. Bell, I had to. He was helping Sirius Black. I saw it with my own eyes last night."

    Katie looked at him angrily. "Don't follow me, and don't try to justify what you've done. I hate you," she said, as she ran out the doors.

*

    Severus watched her leave, anger and regret mixing in his mind to form a feeling that was unbearable. He turned on his heel and walked to Dumbledore's office, patiently waiting for him to return to it. After a half hour of pacing, Dumbledore finally entered his office, startled to see Severus there.

    "Severus, to what do I owe the pleasure?" he said taking a seat behind his desk and watching Severus pace before him.

    "I've ruined everything. She hates me now. All because of Lupin," he said bitterly, "He took what little trust she had in me. She has this allegiance to him."

    "Severus, sit," Dumbledore said impatiently, "and listen to me. What you did at breakfast was uncalled for. But Remus sees fit to let it slide. He's resigning as of this moment and preparing to depart from the school. He doesn't want to risk what happened last night to ever happen again. Don't you see, Severus, my boy? Why can't you let go of this animosity towards poor Remus. He didn't mean to be loose on the grounds. He was only trying to save Harry, Ron, and Hermione from an uncertain fate. And I know you would have done the same," he said as Severus began to argue, "If it would have been Miss. Bell, you would have done the same," he said, pausing to let all of what he said sink in, "Now, about Miss. Bell. Give her time. She was very fond of Remus, and he felt the same for her. Its going to be a difficult parting, I'm sure. For her and Mr. Potter. Wait until this all blows over and talk to her. She surely can't hate you forever."

    "She surely can. I've breached her trust. It's my fault," he said running a hand through his hair, "Damn Lupin."

    Dumbledore sighed and rested his chin on his hands. "Do you think, that just because she connected with Remus, that she didn't with you?"

    "We were getting on so well," Severus said, "but she always ran to Lupin with her problems. Even after her parents turned over responsibilities to me. She doesn't trust me, like she does him."

    Dumbledore chuckled lightly. "Ah, jealousy. Such an adolescent trait Severus."

    Severus looked at Dumbledore angrily. "Headmaster, if I may. I am not jealous of that werewolf."

    Dumbledore shot back the anger. "You detest that man for being what he cannot control. I have defended you against so many wizards since the day I hired you, Severus. The least you could do for me is be fair to Remus. He's not the only one with secrets."

     "Don't you pull the Death Eater card on me, Albus. I don't deserve that," Severus said standing.

    "And Remus didn't deserve for you to tell everyone what he is," Dumbledore said standing behind his desk.

    Severus stormed from the office, not for an instant going to admit that the Headmaster was absolutely right. He didn't need the weight of guilt added to his chest today.

*

    Katie sat on her rock, knees pulled to her chest and rocking herself as she cried. How could he have done that? It wasn't fair. It didn't make sense. Katie lifted a hand and wiped the tears from her cheeks, looking up into the cloudless Spring sky.

    "I'm fucking cursed," Katie whispered to the sky before dissolving into tears.

    Sitting for what seemed like forever, her tears stopped. Almost as if they had run out. She turned around as if by instinct and saw Oliver standing there, pain written on his face.

    "Kate, you ok?"

    Katie wiped at her cheeks and gave Oliver a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."

    "No, you're not. Percy told me you come out here when you're upset, so I came to check. And I was hoping you wouldn't be here," he said climbing up onto the rock beside Katie, "But yet, here you are. Now tell me what's wrong. Tell me everything. Please, Kate," he said looking at her seriously, "Percy hinted that he knew something, but he wouldn’t tell me."

    Katie sighed and looked up into Oliver's soft brown eyes, filled with concern. "There's a lot to tell, and some of it I don't even understand. Can you listen and not interrupt?" Katie asked cautiously.

    Oliver just nodded, folding his legs Indian style and facing her, like a child at story time. Katie smiled at him, and took a deep breath.

    "I guess I should start by telling you that my parents transferred my care over to my godfather and I'll be staying with him over the summer. Thing is, I didn't even know I had a godfather. Even stranger is," Katie said, taking an even deeper breath to get this out, "that my godfather is Snape and I'll be staying here over the summer."

    Oliver stared at her, amazement and a million questions dancing in his eyes, but he just nodded numbly, keeping his unspoken promise.

    "So, that was odd. On top of that, Marcus was not relenting in his obsession with me and he brought Draco into the fray," Katie said, suddenly remembering that missing puzzle piece, "Oh. That needs to be said too, I suppose. I get on rather well with Malfoy, so please, don't pick on the brat," she said smiling slightly, "We have a common bond with our past masochistic ways. Anyway, Marcus did beat Draco up when the kid stood up for me in the Slytherin Common Room, and I found him out here and took him to Snape. Snape pretty much mixed everything by writing to Marcus' parents. Then there was the whole thing before that with Marcus and Paris trying to break us up, but she's absolutely nutters so," she said trailing off, "But above all that, I've only really had one thing weighing on my mind. You and Perce leaving this year. I mean, Percy is really my only real friend outside Quidditch. And you, well," Katie said looking away from his inquisitive gaze and out over the lake.

    "Kate, can I interrupt?" he asked, placing a hand on her arm.

    "Go on, I'm done."

    "Is that why you've been distant? Because of me graduating?" Oliver said, realization coming over him.

    "Kind of."

    "Why, Kate?"

    Katie took a deep breath and just blurted out what she had told Cedric. "Because you're going to go play for Puddlemere United and meet a whole bunch of girls."

    Oliver's brows furrowed and he reached out and turned her chin to face him. "And what if I do? Those girls will only care about the fact that I'm playing professional Quidditch, not who I am. Who you know that I am. Trust me Kate. I told my mum and dad about us and my dad wrote me saying that if I even looked at another girl sideways it would be the worst mistake I ever made. But I didn't need him to tell me that," he said leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to her lips, "I know how lucky I am to have you. And I'll wait for you."

    Katie threw her arms around Oliver's neck, hugging him tightly. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and just reveled in the feel of his strong arms holding her. She lifted her head and rested it on his shoulder.

    "And what about the other stuff?"

    Oliver rubbed her back and placed a kiss on the top of her head thinking. "Well, I'm not sure I like the fact that you're under Snape's care. But I suppose, I can trust Dumbledore to keep him in line."

    Katie smiled up at him and Oliver kissed her lightly. "I think I love you, Ol."

    "I know I do. I love you, Katie."

    Katie felt tears welling in her eyes and she leaned against Oliver once more.

    "Don't cry, Kate," Oliver said rubbing her back once more.

    "Its alright. They're happy tears," Katie said, her voice coming out muffled against Oliver's dress shirt.

    "As long as your happy, sweetheart," Oliver said smiling down at her, "And just think. With you so close to Hogsmeade, I could Floo there, or Apparate if I get my license, and we can have lunch at the Three Broomsticks when I don't have practices," he said cheerfully, "Would you like that?"

    Katie looked up at him and smiled. "Yeah, I would. I'll ask Dumbledore if it's alright. But I'm sure he'll let me."

    Oliver absently looked at his watch and then looked at Katie, somewhat startled. "It's 12:30, sweetheart. You've been out here since breakfast?"

    "Yeah," Katie said, blushing slightly.

    "Hungry?" Oliver said smiling.

    "Famished," Katie said honestly.

    Oliver helped her up, they climbed down off the rock, and made their way back up to the castle. Oliver held the heavy door open for Katie and they started walking across the entrance hall. But Katie stopped dead in her tracks, looking at something on the stairs. Oliver noticed she wasn't following him a few moments later. He followed her eye line, and gave Professor Lupin a wave.

    "'Ello Professor."

    Lupin only gave him a small smile, and snapped his vision back to Katie. Oliver looked to Katie, who looked like she was going to cry again. He walked over to her and leaned down close to her.

    "I'll be in the Great Hall if you want to talk to him."

    Katie nodded numbly and Oliver gave her shoulder a squeeze before entering the Great Hall. All Katie could do was stare numbly at the briefcase in Lupin's left hand and the grindylow tank being juggled in his right.

    "Are you going somewhere?" she asked, her voice hitching in her throat.