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Walking back to the common room with Ron who was still reciting the pros and cons of their just received sixth year schedule, Harry was replaying what Professor McGonagall told him about Gryffindor Quidditch Team tryouts in his head.
‘Twenty Gryffindors have already signed up.’ Harry thought to himself. As much as Harry loved flying and playing, essentially being unable to play the past two school years—due to the Tri-Wizard tournament Harry’s fourth year and Umbridge’s ban in fifth year—made him wonder if he would have the same passion he had his first three years at Hogwarts—before Voldemort’s return, Sirius’s death, and the prophecy.
There were positives to being Captain, as Hermione pointed out the day his badge first arrived, Harry just hoped the stress of the responsibility of captaincy, whatever lessons with Dumbledore entailed, and NEWT level classes left him the ability to actually enjoy his return to the pitch.
When Harry and Ron finally climbed through the portrait hole into the common room—Hermione was in her first Ancient Runes class of term, Harry saw his longtime teammate and friend Katie Bell sitting with a small group of seventh year students. Katie looked at Harry as he entered and she immediately jumped out of her seat with a brilliant smile, her dark hair flying behind her, to race towards Harry and give him a hug. Katie's vanilla scented shampoo overloaded his senses and when she backed away, Harry was blown away by how pretty she was.
“I knew you’d be captain!” Katie said, pointing proudly at the badge on Harry’s chest. “All these years later and it’s just the two of us left that had to suffer through practice with Wood. You’re going to have a fresh roster to fill. Have you decided on a tryout date yet?”
“Not yet.” Harry replied, thoughts of uncertainty over the position vanished as he grinned at his friend. “It doesn’t really matter for you though, does it? You’ve been the best chaser at Hogwarts for years.”
Katie’s smile turned a little sheepish and her face tinged pink but she remained steadfast.
“Everyone should still earn their spot in tryouts." Katie replied. "You shouldn’t give me the spot just because we’re good friends.” Ron took this moment to walk away. It was something to consider but Harry was sure Katie (and Ron) could earn the roster spot back easily. Harry did not believe there was a single person at Hogwarts better at chaser than Katie, there was no chance there were three better chasers in Gryffindor alone.
Still Katie continued, “Just because Angelina, Alicia, and I worked so well as a unit doesn’t mean I’ll have it with others. Chasers are a team, not an individual like seekers.” Katie teasingly poked Harry in the shoulder to emphasize her point.
“Have it your way, Katie. But when you win your job back, you can help me with the rest of the trials.” Harry realized that he had not stopped smiling at Katie and then also realized he didn’t want to stop smiling at her. It should have been awkward but unlike his time with Cho Chang, there was nothing more natural to Harry than talking to Katie. It helped that there were no tears involved.
‘Why did I just compare her to Cho?’ He asked himself. ‘You know why.’ Another voice replied.
The two quidditch players stood next to each other for a few quiet moments, the only real noise in the common room being Ron playing with the confiscated Fanged Frisbee. Harry had never thought about Katie as anything but a friend but now he wondered how he ever ignored how pretty she was. Harry had another two hours before his first class and hoped to spend them talking with his friend. Katie was not so lucky, however.
“It’s been nice seeing you, Harry. But I need to get to class.” Katie said looking conflicted. “How about we fully catch up after dinner? I can help you figure out a day to hold tryouts, if you want. Or we can just sit and talk? Reminisce on the old team? But we should definitely do something.”
Katie's sheepishness was gone but she still was not her standard confident, snarky self. Harry’s heart started beating rapidly as he noticed Katie had turned even redder as she was talking. He knew in this moment, all he really wanted to do was spend more time with Katie Bell.
“Yes! Definitely! We should do that. After dinner we can meet back here. Quidditch, classes, or anything else. It’ll be fun.”
Harry chided himself because he knew he sounded stupid and overeager. Thankfully Katie’s laugh as she said “Bye, Harry!” on her way out of the common room at least made him feel that he handled talking to a girl he liked better than he ever did with Cho.
Harry and Ron left the common room a little over an hour later for their first Defense Against the Dark Arts class with Snape, Harry remained in a remarkably good mood. It was sure to dampen once he actually had to listen to Snape ruin his favorite class but for now, Harry felt lighter than he had in years. The two boys met up with two of their roommates, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, on the walk to the third floor. Together the four Gryffindors joked and talked about Quidditch tryouts the whole way to the classroom, Dean expressing his desire to join the team. Harry could not even remember why he was so annoyed Dean the night before.
After an angering lesson with Snape and a rewarding one with Professor Slughorn, Harry returned to the common room with Hermione and Ron talking (complaining) about the potions book Harry happened to be assigned. Ginny overheard the conversation and was justifiably alarmed about Harry taking instructions from a book, but when the inked in handwriting was proven to be nothing more than an old student’s notes, everyone let the matter lie for the time being.
On his way up to his dorm room to store the Felix Felicis in a safe place, he smiled and waved at Katie again who was walking down the girls’ staircase on her way to dinner. The liquid luck was burning a hole in his pocket like it was yearning to be sampled but he resisted the temptation. By definition, Felix Felicis was not a love potion, it would feel uncomfortably close to it if he used it just to talk to Katie. That was a line Harry was unwilling to cross, especially when he (hopefully) would not need it for this.
Dinner that night was reminiscent of a meal before a quidditch game. Harry just could not eat with his nerves. Hermione was sitting across from him talking about all the homework she was assigned the first day. To Harry’s left, Ron could not contain his amusement at Hermione’s misfortune but Harry could only nod along—only speaking when the chance to talk about his hatred for all things Snape arose. All he could think about was his impending conversation with his long time friend. It was not a date technically but after his disastrous outing with Cho, Harry was really nervous of saying all the wrong things again.
Harry glanced past Ron over to the end of the table where Katie and other seventh years were eating and he could tell she was as nervous as he felt. Harry thought it was dumb that either of them were nervous but still chuckled that they both were. Katie was one of Harry’s first ten friends in his life and he had talked to her at school more than anyone else besides his roommates or Hermione. Harry chose to look at Katie one more time, it was hard not to be drawn to her.
“Oww!” Harry exclaimed suddenly after he received an elbow to the side of his gut from Seamus Finnigan. “What was that for?”
“You were staring, mate.” Seamus replied with his heavy Irish accent. “You can’t be staring at a bird for more than three seconds. Trust me on that, Harry. ‘Twas for your own good.”
“Harry was staring at someone?” Hermione interjected. “Who?”
“Thanks for that.” Harry muttered to Seamus who merely shrugged with a devious grin that would put Fred and George to shame.
Ron stopped eating momentarily and perked up while Dean and Ginny leaned in curiously. Harry was glad Neville mercifully turned the other way to at least pretend he wasn’t eavesdropping. Harry sighed knowing it was pointless to deny anything. They would all be in the common room anyway when Harry had his talk with Katie.
“I’m having a talk with Katie Bell after dinner.” Harry said quietly. Just because they would all find out soon enough didn’t mean he needed it broadcasted to all of Gryffindor.
“A talk? About what, exactly? Quidditch?” Ginny asked with narrowed eyes causing Harry to groan. He hated being interrogated in general but being forced to talk about a girl he liked was more than a little angering. Ultimately Harry chose to be honest in his reply. His friends were curious and like Dumbledore once told him ‘Curiosity is not a sin.’
“We’ll probably talk a little about quidditch, yes. She’s going to help me set up team tryouts. But more just a catch up. She suggested it. We’ll talk about life and whatever. We used to be really close; you know with us being the two youngest on the house team for three years. I think we both want to get back to that since quidditch was canceled for the Tri-Wizard Tournament two years ago and I wasn’t on the team for very long last year. Also between OWLs, the DA, and Cho last year I didn’t get to spend much alone time with her so I think I should change that this year. She does too, I ho--er--think. Maybe I should just head up to the common room now. Get a good spot by the fire before someone else claims it.”
Harry recognized he was unable to keep his excitement out of voice. He started speaking faster and faster the longer he kept talking. He thankfully was able to finish his monologue before he really started looking like a prat.
Harry wished that he had stopped himself from mentioning Cho in front of everyone though. His friends probably already assumed he liked Katie. The fact he implied he wanted the time he spent with Cho last year to be spent with the pretty Gryffindor chaser this year all but confirmed it.
To Harry’s relief, Ron grinned at him flashing a thumbs up. Dean was clearly amused and smirked at Harry. Seamus however looked extremely pleased with himself and patted Harry on the back, the jerk. Hermione and Ginny meanwhile were both wide eyed and stunned speechless.
“So you’re having a date with Katie Bell?” Ron finally asked after a long moment of silence. “Good for you, mate!”
“It’s not really a date though, is it?” Harry pondered aloud. “We’re meeting in the common room. Not Hogsmeade.”
“Last year, Ginny and I started dating after Hogsmeade trips had ended for the year.” Dean spoke up. “Sitting with her next to the fire is as close to a real first date as you can get in the castle.” Ginny quietly nodded along with her boyfriend’s words.
Harry supposed it was a fair point and at that moment got out of his seat to head up Gryffindor Tower.
“Right. It’s not a date but close to it. Unless it is. Thanks, I should get to it. See you lot back in the common room…actually see you blokes in the dorm, don’t wait up. Have a good night, Hermione. Ginny.” Harry said quickly to his friends and took one last peak towards the seventh years and Katie.
Katie happened to have been looking in Harry’s direction at that moment and gave a brilliant smile when they made eye contact. Harry knew his face had morphed into a goofy expression but he did not care at the moment. He was excited for his ‘date’ and didn’t care who knew it.
Harry made it back through the portrait hole in near record time. He had not run back to the common room but he had definitely climbed the Grand Staircase two steps at a time to get there quicker. Harry decided to work on homework to keep his mind occupied while waiting for Katie. If his alone time with Katie went the way he hoped (as alone as you can be in the common room anyway) he was sure to be unable to focus on it the rest of the night.
Working on homework for Snape always frustrated him though. No matter how detailed, well written, or explained his answer was, Snape never gave him full credit. Perhaps that was just the way it was meant to be. Snape hated Potters and Potters hated Snape. Still his 15 inch response on the benefit of nonverbal casting came as natural to him as DADA homework always did; taking less than half an hour. (Harry snapped his head all three times he heard movement by the common room entrance.) He had not managed to complete a spell silently in class during their first NEWT level class and with Snape’s awful and hateful teaching he had doubts he ever would. Perhaps Katie could have some pointers? Although with Umbridge as her ‘teacher’ last year, maybe not.
That exact moment, Harry saw someone crawling through the portrait hole into the common room and finally, it was Katie Bell herself. Katie noticed Harry immediately and sat in the armchair next to him greeting him with a joyful “Hey Harry!”
“Hi Katie.” Harry responded. “I just finished my homework for the night so I’m game to talk as long as you are.”
“Great, me too! Based on the first day, a lot of seventh year is going to be focused on NEWT examination prep so I thankfully didn’t get any night one homework this year.”
Harry filed that interesting fact away and decided to start with something simple. “Lucky. So how was your summer?” Harry asked. “You get to play any quidditch?”
“Not as much as I would’ve liked. I got to go to a training center early in early July but living in a muggle home makes flying casually impossible. How about you? Were your relatives any better?”
“Not really.” Harry replied. “Dumbledore picked me up earlier than usual so I spent a lot of the summer with the Weasleys.”
“Dumbledore picked you up? You leave home a different way every year, Harry. Well at least you got to fly more than usual. Putting the Firebolt to good use.” Katie looked wistful, probably remembering the post practice sessions third year when they would trade brooms and fly around the pitch together.
“Yeah he took me to meet Slughorn to convince him to teach. Not entirely sure why. I’m probably not supposed to tell you but I’m having lessons with Dumbledore this year starting Saturday and I think Slughorn is involved with that somehow.” Harry was not going to tell Katie about the prophecy without permission—Dumbledore made it clear that was to remain secret—but he trusted her enough to talk about pretty much everything else.
“Lessons with Dumbledore huh? You going to have time for a normal witch like me?” Katie’s tone had shifted to something more flirty with her second question.
Harry did not recognize it though as he earnestly responded quickly, “You’re no ordinary witch. I’ll always make time for you.”
Katie stared at Harry silently for a beat before she said, “That’s very kind of you, Harry. ”
Katie definitely started blushing at Harry’s words. At that moment, the mix of the glow of fire and the setting sun shining through the far window made Katie look like the most beautiful girl Harry had ever seen. There was little doubt after feeling sparks fly during their conversation that morning but Harry was certain now, he fancied Katie Bell and he was not going to waste any time telling her. He danced around issues with Cho and was not going to do that again.
“I don’t want to talk about Dumbledore anymore.” Harry said with a small amount of humor mixed in his tone.
“Good. Me neither. Talk about a mood killer.” Katie's traditional snark mixing back into her tone.
Harry took a deep breath and started, “I really like you, Katie.” Harry heard her breath hitch but continued.
“We’ve been friends for years but coming back this year, things feel different. Just in our brief talk earlier I couldn’t get over how pretty you were. How many times have we stayed late after quidditch practice when Wood, the twins, Angelina, and Alicia all went back to the castle? You and I stayed out late flying or talking all the time. Yet the idea of spending time tonight; just the two of us, plus anyone who is using extendable ears,” Harry muttered as an afterthought, knowing someone was likely eavesdropping somewhere. “It made me as excited as anything has in the five years I’ve been coming to Hogwarts.”
Harry continued, “I asked myself, ‘How did I never notice how much I enjoy spending time with you?’ And I realized how badly I’ve missed it. The idea of spending any extra time with you seems like a really, really good one.” Harry inwardly cringed at his own comment. Thankfully Katie seemed flattered. “So I guess what I’m asking is do you want to have a real date? And if things go well maybe make it something regular or long term?”
It took a bit to get there but Harry asked the questions he had wanted to ask Katie all day. Now he just had to wait to see what Katie answered.
Katie’s brown eyes were looking intently at Harry but he refused to look away. He wanted her to see his honesty. It only took a couple of seconds for Katie to respond. She smiled at Harry and gave her answer.
“A real date sounds lovely, Harry. But I think we both thought of this as a first date.” Katie laughed to herself. “I couldn’t believe how nervous I was at dinner. Leanne had to keep telling me to stop glancing at you.”
“It was Seamus for me.” Harry added with a grin before pausing. “So what does that make us then? Are we dating? Or are we…”
Harry was unable to finish his sentence because at the moment, Katie Bell showed why she was bold and courageous enough to belong in Gryffindor. Katie stood up from her armchair and kissed Harry firmly on the lips. Harry’s brain shut down momentarily while Katie pulled back before turning around and squeezing to sit in Harry’s chair with him on his right side, Katie wrapping her arm around Harry's left shoulder. For the third time in the day, Harry smelled the brilliant vanilla scent.
“Yes. We’re dating, you dork.” Katie declared, clearly amused by Harry’s reaction.
After recovering from the shock, Harry smiled at Katie with as much happiness that he had felt since well before Sirius’s death.
“Cool. Great. I was hoping, obviously. But you might have wanted to take things slow. Or maybe you wanted another date or whatever. Actually, never mind.” Harry was rambling again but stopped himself before he went too far. Katie Bell had just kissed him and started cuddling. He was not going to make a fool of himself by talking nonsense.
Harry leaned into his new girlfriend and kissed her back. All doubts removed, Harry kissed Katie with much more fervor than Katie did with her surprise kiss. The kiss quickly evolved into a snogging contest with the two Gryffindors. Both of them were clearly relieving tension that had been building since their morning conversation. Harry was enjoying the moment with Katie so much, he almost missed hearing the loud crowd of people returning from dinner and coming into the common room.
Harry's sense of propriety took over and he reluctantly separated from his girlfriend. Harry and Katie stared at each other with matching smiles, illuminated by the fire’s glow that created a shining silhouette around them.
Harry did not care about anyone knowing the two of them were dating but knew other students probably did not want to walk into the common room and see the two of them snogging passionately. After taking a deep breath, Harry leaned back into their chair pulling Katie closer to him, both equally content.
“By the way,” Harry said with some humor in voice, ignoring wolf whistles and cheers from passersby—one of them was definitely Seamus. “I know you said not to promise my friends roster spots on the quidditch team, but I probably have to give my girlfriend the lead chaser role, don’t I?”
“Cheeky.” Katie replied with an eyeroll, trying to fight the smile that was now plastered to her face. “But I suppose if my boyfriend was team captain and didn’t give me a spot on the team, I would not be very happy with him.”
“In that case, welcome back to the team, Katie Bell.” Harry said feeling relieved the hard part of the conversation was over. Talking to Katie was fun and easy; it was always this way with her. Now there were just romantic undertones.
“Oh I’m the girlfriend you’re talking about? That’s good to know.” Katie teased. Harry did not want to think about Cho at the moment but imagining ever having lighthearted banter like this with Cho was impossible. In fact, imagining any girl replacing Katie was impossible.
“Who’s being cheeky now?” Harry asked, the couple still staring at each other.
“Shut up, Harry.” Katie said as she leaned on Harry’s shoulder. “We are still going to figure out tryouts tonight, just so you know.”
“I think we can do that.” Harry responded with a chuckle. “I don’t really want to move from this spot until bed so we’ll need things to talk about. And I think we both know we have no trouble discussing quidditch for hours”
“Good.” Katie snuck him another kiss leading to more applause from the masses who had returned from dinner. Harry and Katie both grinned and rolled their eyes again. “They all better get used to it, this is going to be our spot for a long time.”
Harry felt no inclination to disagree.