Why Can't You See?

Chapter Four

"Now we aren't allowed to sleep in?" Alicia whispered to George. "Just because he doesn't have a date."

"Don't forget about the blond in the library," I cut in.

"What blond?" Fred asked curiously.

I shrugged. "Some bimbo Ravenclaw Oliver was snogging in the library the other day," I explained as we made our way to the first floor.

"Teresa Morgan," Fred and George said together.

Angie frowned. "Who's Teresa Morgan?"

"She's a sixth year. She's been after Oliver for years. He runs if he sees her anywhere nearby," George told us. "I guess she finally cornered him. Poor guy."

Fred laughed. "No wonder he's been such an ass lately."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

George and Fred exchanged a look, a silent conversation for the two. "Well, er, he's just can't stand her," Fred said quickly.

I glared at them. "What aren't you telling me?" I snapped out.

They both swallowed. "Hey, look. There's Paul! Hello, Paul!"

Paul stood at the bottom of the stairs and waved.

"Don't even think this is over," I hissed out to the twins.

Their girlfriends exchanged a quick look of something I couldn't figure out.

What was going on here? Just what weren't they telling me?

Paul handed me a single white rose when I reached him. He really was a sweetheart.

"You look beautiful, Katie," he told me softly.

I flashed a grin at him as my cheeks flushed a little. "Thanks. You look good yourself." It was all I could manage to get out.

Fred and George led us to a discrete tunnel entrance out of the school. Apparently the four of them have done this many times before.

The tunnel we traveled through ended in an alley next to the Three Broomsticks. The new club, The Arena, was just down the road from there.

The twins, Alicia, and Angelina led the way, while Paul and I hung back, making that awkward first date conversation with each other.

It was very uncomfortable, and it didn't help that I kept thinking about Oliver kissing me earlier.

Paul cleared his throat, getting my attention. "You know, I've been wanting to ask you out forever."

I smiled encouragingly at him. "Really?"

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and ducked his head shyly. "Yeah. But whenever I got the courage, I always saw Oliver Wood hovering around. I thought you two were together for awhile."

I frowned slightly. "Wood and I have never been together. We've been nothing but friends and Quidditch teammates."

We reached the entrance of the club and I made a decision right then and there: I wouldn't think about Oliver outside of Quidditch."

~*~

A few hours, six butterbeers, and four shots of fire whiskey later, I was on the dance floor with Alicia and Angelina.

The boys were at a table watching us very closely. They weren't dancing because they didn't know how and they weren't about the make fools of themselves unless they were properly smashed.

I felt a pair of eyes on me as I moved with the music, and I knew they didn't belong to Paul. I turned my head and looked, freezing. I suddenly had the great urge to throw up as I saw Marcus Flint ogling me with his beady little eyes.

I pulled Angie and Alicia off the dance floor towards our table.

"What's wrong?" Alicia asked as we reached the table.

"Flint's here!" I hissed. I watched as they both looked around. Angie made a face as she faced me again.

"Ewww. What's he doing here?"

"Who?" Fred and George inquired. Paul hung back, but still seemed interested.

"Flint," Alicia answered, scrunching up her nose. "He's on the other side of the dance floor. You'd think he'd have something better to do than watch under age girl's dance!"

Fred winked at her. "Well, it is Flint we're talking about here."

There were six fresh drinks on the table. My mind was already getting foggier by the minute, but I still swallowed the drink like water, even though it burned going down. Every once in a great while I liked feeling out of control.

I practically flew out onto the dance floor, not noticing my friends weren't following. I just swayed to the music, some muggle song I'd heard in a club last year.

I felt a pair of strong arms come around my waist. I leaned happily in to Paul and sighed. He really is a great guy.

And then his hands moved . . . up, almost touching the tips of my breasts. This wasn't right. Not at all. I tried to pull away but the arms tightened. I couldn't breath and I panicked as one hand brushed my cheek. What was Paul doing?

"Did you miss me, Bell?" a deep voice drawled out.

"Oh, God" I muttered. I felt myself being pulled away from Flint and suddenly Alicia and Angie were hugging me. I let out of breath of relief and turned around.

Fred and George had both of their wands on Flint. They had identical glares on their faces.

"We've told you before, Flint. Don't bother Katie anymore. She's not interested in the likes of you."

I shuddered at what they were referring to. Back in our fourth year, we had a Valentine's Day ball. It's never been a secret that Flint's wanted me and it was no surprise he me to dance. Just to be polite, I did. A big mistake on my part. After our one dance, he dragged me off the an empty closet outside the Great Hall. He managed to get his icky hands under my shirt, but not much else because Fred, George, and Oliver followed us out. They all threatened to hex him into next year if he didn't leave me alone.

Flint avoided me for the rest of his stay at Hogwarts. But during games he managed to say some very rude things I'd rather not repeat.

"And who's going to stop me? You and your boyfriend wood?" Flint was sneering at them.

"Wood couldn't make it, but I'm sure he sends his regards," George replied with a smile.

"I'm surprised he isn't here." Flint nodded his head towards me. "The way he fawns all over her, you'd think he was in love with her. Shouldn't he be lurking around here somewhere?"

What was he talking about? He thinks Oliver's in love with me? Was he mad?

George grinned smugly. "It isn't any of your business if he is, Flint."

Fred pushed us girls to the door. "Let's go, George. Time to go home."

Angie put an arm around me, her expression worried. "You all right, Katie?"

I nodded my head, even though I was still shaking inside. I was thoroughly confused.

"Well, Angie, I hope you're happy," Alicia whispered fiercely. "You're friend Paul was absolutely useless."

Oh. I'd forgotten about him. Where was he in the club? Some date he was.

I pulled away from my friends and motioned for them to go on. Me and dear Paul needed to have a little talk.

"You are dating, Wood, aren't you?" Paul asked. I detected a bit of disgust in his voice.

"You just went on a date with me to make him jealous, didn't you?" he continued. "I knew it. And here I though you actually liked me."

We reached the tunnel we crawled into and I didn't even get one word in while he pushed himself past me.

I blinked as he figure disappeared through the tunnel. I was about to follow when I was knocked to the ground. I was flipped onto my back and almost instantly was covered by a heavy body.

"Let's finish what we started, Bell," Marcus Flint whispered harshly in my ear. And then his mouth attacked my neck.

Tears sprang to my eyes as I realized just what was going to happen. And no one was going to be able to help me.

His mouth covered mine and all the alcohol I'd digested was threatening to come back up the way it went down.

A rough hand tugged my shirt up, then pulled on the zipper of my pants. I let out a shrill scream as I felt my pants being tugged over my hips.

I prayed someone, anyone, would come help me.

And without warning, he wasn't on me anymore. I sat up and pulled down my shirt. Flint was knocked out a few feet away.

My eyes flew up to my savior who stood towering over me. . .