Life Is For Living

****

The following morning, Katie received a reply from Oliver.

Dear Katie,

I just checked with my coach, and we don't have any practices that weekend. I would have begged him for the time off anyway. He's been working us like house-elves, but its worth it. The main team and the reserves are playing at top form.

Merlin, I miss you more than I can express in words. Even with practice taking up most of my days, my only thoughts are of you.

I'm afraid I have to keep this short. I'm already late for practice.

I'll meet you in The Three Broomsticks. I can't wait to see you again.

I love you, Katie Bell. And just know that everything happens for a reason. Don't worry about things that you can't control.

Love,

Oliver Wood

****

The weeks that followed seemed to pass by like minutes. Besides classes and tests, the only thing that filled people's hours were the meddlesome articles in The Daily Prophet. Katie made herself a button that read :

Rita Skeeter is a Cow!

and charmed it to glow bright red. She wore it everywhere and was reprimanded by Dumbledore, although the Headmaster didn't seem as upset as he had tried to sound. The twinkle in his eye gave him away.

She got quite a few requests from some of the Gryffindors and began selling them for three Sickles, four if they wanted it charmed a different color. But Professor McGonagall quickly stopped her business, but not before buying one.

"I know the Headmaster has quite a collection of past pranks dating back decades. This will be quite the addition."

She had smiled when telling her to stop selling them. It was obvious that she didn't disagree with Katie's opinion.

Katie had noticed that Ron had been acting strangely and rather distant for a while now. She cornered him in the common room.

"Something wrong, Ron?" she asked casually, taking a seat across the table from him.

Ron looked up at her, an annoyed expression set in his face, that he usually saved for Percy. "Haven't figured this one out yet?" he asked back before going back to his school work.

"I wouldn't have asked if I did," she said resting her chin on her hands and watching him closely, "Why aren't you talking to Harry?"

"Why should I? Bloody liar," he said frowning, "I mean, why didn't he tell me he'd found a way to enter?"

"You really believe he entered himself, then?"
"Of course! Who else would have?"

"Someone who wanted to hurt him," she said placing a hand over Ron's mouth as he started to argue, "You know I'm right, Ron. It's happened every bloody year that he's attended Hogwarts," she said removing her hand when his brow furrowed in thought, "Just try and understand what he must be thinking right now. There's a very good chance that he may not know enough to complete the tasks. And then what? He might die, Ron."

Ron seemed to sober at that sentence. "I know what you're saying, Katie, but it still hurts. What if he wins? He doesn't need all that money."

"Is that what this is about, Ron? Money?!" Katie said arching an eyebrow, "You must have been dropped on your head as a child."

"You probably did it," Ron bit back.

Katie gaped at him. "Ronald Weasley, you take that back. You know you love me."

Ron smiled slightly. "Sorry, Kate," he said running a hand through his hair, "I just get tired of it. He's my best friend and he's famous and all, and he'll never have to worry about money. I'm just his side-kick. The poor Weasley kid."

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm poor now too," Katie said smiling, "My parents took almost all of my money and the rest went to supplies for this year," she said leaving out the part about Snape.

Ron looked at her. "You say that like it's no big deal."

"Because it isn't. Money is the farthest thing from my mind. All I care about is my friends, my school work, and my boyfriend," she said seriously, "I thought you felt that way too."

"So did I," Ron said sighing.

"Just think about talking to Harry again, alright? He needs his friends right now."

Ron nodded, and Katie patted the top of his head before walking off toward her dorm.

****

The day of the Hogsmeade trip had finally come and Katie was practically skipping down to the Great Hall, Angelina and Alicia by her side. As they sat at the table, Fred, Lee, and George kept laughing at her. And rightly so. None of them had ever seen Katie fidget so much. Soon enough, owls poured into the Hall and began delivering their letters. An unmarked letter fell expertly into Katie's lap, and she tore it open seeing the owl looking at her expectantly.

Are you going into Hogsmeade today? - D

Katie pulled her color changing quill from her robes and penned a quick message back.

Yes, why? - K

She gave it to the owl and watched it fly over to the Slytherin table. She watched Draco closely as he scribbled a note back, while managing to eat bits of her breakfast. The owl flew back over to the table and Katie took the note from it's beak.

Would you mind meeting up with me? - D

Katie's heart sunk. 'Shit,' she thought jotting her note on the below his.

I can't. Oliver is coming in and meeting me at The Three Broomsticks. How about later tonight? - K

She sighed and sent the note off with the owl. She took a few more bites of her breakfast and watched for Draco's reaction. She watched as he took a fresh scrap of parchment from his pocket and began writing quickly. Katie watched as the last of the owls left the Hall, including the one they had been using. He looked up after pocketing his quill and gave her a little nod.

The next moment, they were being shooed from the Hall and towards the front doors. Once out on the grounds, Katie was in conversation with Angelina when she felt a piece of parchment being shoved into her left hand. She closed her hand around it and chanced a glance to her left. Draco was standing there, staring straight ahead and Katie almost laughed. But discretion was discretion, so she shoved the parchment into her pocket, went back to talking with Angelina and felt Draco leave her side and walk ahead with Crabbe and Goyle.

****

She left Angelina and Alicia to go to the dress shop while she went into the Three Broomsticks with Fred, George, and Lee. They were quickly joined by Ron, and the four boys went off to find a table while Katie stood on tip-toe to look over the crowd. She felt someone grab her hand and turned to see Oliver smiling down at her. Katie almost cried at the sight of him. He gave her hand a tug and led her over to a booth in the corner. Katie slid to sit on the inside of the booth and Oliver slid in on the outside and flagged down Madam Rosmerta. After ordering two Butterbeers, Oliver turned to her and placed an arm around her shoulder. Katie looked up at him and without a word, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on her lips. Pulling away, he smiled.

"So, how have you been?"

Katie leaned against Oliver's side and sighed. "Not the best."

Oliver started absently rubbing her arm. "Why not?"

"The Tournament. Cedric and Harry got picked."

Oliver stopped his motions. "The article in The Daily Prophet didn't mention Diggory. How can there be two Champions from Hogwarts?"

"I don't know, but leave it to Rita Skeeter to fuck up that article," Katie sighed, "That woman is making Harry's life a living hell," she said showing Oliver her button.

Oliver laughed, but then turned serious again. "So they're letting Harry compete? Isn't he a little young?"

"Yeah. Like two years too young. They have to let him compete. If the Goblet turns out your name, you have to. It's a magical contract. But I think someone entered is name under a made-up school, so the Goblet would think four schools would be competing instead of three," Katie said sighing, "Either way, something's up. I've just a bad feeling about the whole thing."

Oliver was quiet for a moment when Madam Rosmerta brought their drinks over. After Madam Rosmerta left, Oliver looked at her seriously.

"Watch out for yourself, alright? I mean, I know Snape's around, but he can't be there all the time."

Katie furrowed her brow. "I always watch out for myself. I- I'm a safe person. I mean, without Flint at school, it's like, trouble free for me."

Oliver arched an eyebrow at her.

"What? I'm serious," Katie said honestly.

Oliver laughed. "Just be careful. Don't take after Fred and George and sneak out at night."

Katie forced a laugh and a confirmation that she wouldn't ever dare do something like that, all the while thinking about Draco. Which led to the note in her robes pocket. She wanted desperately to read it, but chided herself. Her boyfriend was here. Her boyfriend that didn't go to Hogwarts anymore. Her boyfriend who was making a special trip to see her. Her mind snapped back to the present when she heard Oliver speak.

"You know, I did a little research on your parents background," he was saying, pulling papers out of his pocket.

'Oh Merlin, oh Merlin. Fuck!' Katie thought, not even daring to look at the papers.

"How come you didn't tell me that they associated with such high society? I mean, look," he said pointing to one of the papers, "they're on invites to every Wizarding social event of the season. My parents can't even get into half of these."

"How do you think I know Roger, Ol? I mean, his parents are loaded. We went to parties at his manor a lot," Katie said skimming the list, "'The Malfoy's'? You're fucking kidding me!" she said taking a sheet of paper and reading it more closely.

Mainly memorizing the names to ask Severus about later.

'Avery, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, Macnair, Bell' Katie ticked off in her mind.

"What's this one for?" Katie asked Oliver.

"Christmas party, why?"

"I can't let Draco go home over Christmas," Katie murmured.

"Speaking of, how is the little brat?" Oliver said smirking.

"He's fine, but we're not allowed to talk anymore," Katie said returning to sifting through the papers, "Can I have these?"

"Yeah sure. What do you mean you can't talk to him?"

Katie froze. "Oh, it's just a precaution. No big thing. I mean, it would be a little suspicious seeing a Gryffindor and a Slytherin being nice to each other."

Oliver nodded. "Makes sense."

Katie folded up the papers, and placed them in her linear pocket. She let out a sigh that she hadn't realized she had been holding and Oliver looked at her oddly.

"A lot on your mind?"

"Kind of. Just a lot of things that I can't talk about," she said looking up at Oliver, "at least not yet."

Oliver nodded, but Katie could see that he didn't understand. She turned to face him better and forced him to look at her.

"It's nothing that would hurt what we have. Our relationship. It's stuff that involves me. And the more people involved, the more danger that could placed on those people. And I don't want to put you in any possible danger."

"Whatever it is, I'm going to be involved. You can't stop me, Kate," Oliver said placing a hand on her cheek.

"Oliver, I have had dreams about something happening to you. Bad things. And that may not mean much to you, but it does to me. You don't have to defend me," Katie said trying not to cry, "It's me, I mean. Miss Independent."

Oliver shook his head. "I love you, and therefore it's my job. Don't argue with me, you can't win this one," he said smiling.

Lowering her head, a tear slipped down Katie's cheek. Oliver moved his thumb to stop its path, before lifting Katie's chin. He leaned down and kissed her sweetly. Katie wrapped her arms around his neck, returning the kiss, and realizing how lucky she really was. Everyone in her life cared so much about her, that she wondered how she had been so blind to it last year.

Oliver pulled out of the kiss, breathless and leaned his forehead against hers.

"Promise me. You'll let me help if I can."

"I promise," Katie said weakly, not sure if she meant it or if she was saying it to make Oliver feel better.

Oliver slid out of the booth suddenly, holding out his hand for her to take. "Come on. Let's go take a walk."

Katie took his hand and he led her toward the front entrance. But as they exited, Moody and Hagrid entered.

"Watch where you're going lad," Moody said, before seeing Katie, "Miss Bell."

"Professor," she said glaring at him, then turning to Hagrid, "Hello Hagrid."

Hagrid grinned before following Moody inside and Oliver dragged Katie outside.

"What was that?" Oliver asked leading her down the street.

"Nothing. Just don't like him is all," Katie said looking up at the cloudy sky, "I think it might snow."

"You don't like Moody?" Oliver said stopping in the middle of the street and looking at her, "He's legendary!"

"And?" Katie retorted, noticing that people were stopping at the sight of Oliver Wood in Hogsmeade.

"Fine, fine. I won't ask," Oliver said holding his hands up in surrender, "And wear are your gloves? It's freezing out here," he said placing an arm around her shoulder.

"Didn't think I'd need them," she said putting an arm around his waist and cuddling closer to him as they walked, "You can keep me warm."

"You don't have to tell me twice," he said, before smiling as the met up with Angelina and Alicia.

****

Parting with Oliver had been hard for Katie, but she forced herself to let him go and watched as he disapparated before walking up to the school with the rest of the students. Angelina placed a hand around her shoulders and comforted her on the walk. When they were herded into the Great Hall, Katie pulled out the note that Draco had given her on the way to Hogsmeade.

K,

Have fun today. You deserve it. If you feel up to it, meet me in "our" corridor at 11.

If not, I'll send you a letter tomorrow morning.

Love,

D

Katie grinned and pocketed the letter. While se did feel drained, she would of course go meet up with Draco. Whatever he needed to talk about, it must be damned important to risk meeting her in Hogsmeade. She decided to see if Snape could see her after dinner about those papers Oliver had given her, and then she could go and meet with Draco.