Professional Preparation.

[Katie Bell]

Katherine "Katie" Bell had a quizzical expression on her face as her greenish blue eyes perused the selection of brooms in front of her. Tomorrow she'd begin practice with the reserve team for Puddlemere United, and having gone Pro, Katie's old Cleamsweep, though loyal, wouldn't hold up against professionals. But, thanks to her new paycheck, a new broom wasn't out of order.

Had anyone asked Katie six months ago if she thought she'd be playing Quidditch professionally, she would have disappointedly said no. Six months ago, Katie was just being released by St. Mungo's after having been cursed by a necklace given to her in Hogsmeade to bring to Professor Dumbledore. She'd missed nearly have the matches that her House team had played and hadn't a prayer of being scouted, despiting returning in time to win the Cup.

But then, Philbert Deverell, manager of Puddlemere had OWLed her for a meeting. Said he had heard great things about her abilities and she had performed brilliantly in the Cup game. He'd hinted that their star Keeper, her former Captain had been behind a lot of those compliments she'd recieved. And so she'd been signed.

Katie blushed at the thought of her childhood crush, her former Captain, Oliver Wood, right now one of the most sought after bachelors in Britian. She hadn't heard from him in three years since he left Hogwarts to play for the Reserve team, then get bumped up to starter. To know that he'd been the main reason her dreams were coming true after all, well, she couldn't help but be grateful.

She was so caught up in her thoughts, she was startled when some called her name.

(Anyone is welcome)

[Sirina Black]

"Katie Kat?" Sirina Hera Black asked in pure suprize. She had no idea that she would see her best friend and former team in the Quidditch shop in Diagon Alley.

[Katie Bell]

"Huh?" Katie jerked out of her thoughts and looked up to see who had spoken. "Oh, hi Sirina. Having a good holiday?"

[Sirina Black]

"Always am. You know little old me: mischief to plan and pranks to plot and exicute." Sirira said with a grin. "What about you? Any exciting sneaky rondaiview's with your many fan boys?" Sirina teased.

[Katie Bell]

Katie looked at her confused. "I don't have fanboys. I've just been training."

[Sirina Black]

"I'm just teasing you Katie Kat. I'm so proud that you got a chance to play for a professinal Quidditch team. You deserve it." Sirina said with an encouraging smile. Then her look went for happy and proud to serious. "Does Oliver know your on the team?" Sirina asked gently. She the her best friend always had a crush on Oliver but sh was to afraid to ask him out.

[Katie Bell]

Katie blushed. "Actually, he's the reason I am. I wouldn't have been picked up if he hadn't gone to the manager of Puddlemere United. I thought he'd forgotten about me by now, with all those screaming fan girls chasing after him. It's not like he ever noticed me outside of Quidditch anyway."

[Sirina Black]

"Girl, you need to cave woman on his arse and best him over the head with your old broom stick." Sirina teased as she gave Katie a one armed hug.

[Katie Bell]

"What do you mean?" Katie asked confused. "Why do I have to beat him up? He got me a job!"

[Sirina Black]

"Katie, I was just teasing you. You don't have to do that at all." Sirina said as she gave her friend a concerned look. "Are you ok Katie Kat?

'

[Katie Bell]

"Yeah, just standard jitters I guess." Katie shrugged. "First practice is tomorrow and I'm the only girl in Puddlemere period. The Reserve Coach said most girls don't last a week playing for Puddlemere."

[Sirina Black]

"Oh tosspot! He's just trying to scare Katie Kat. Don't listen to him about that part. You were and are the best chaser that Hogwarts ever had, besides Angelina, Alica and myself of course." Sirina said with an impish grin.

[Katie Bell]

"Yeah but Alicia and Ang never went Pro." Katie reminded her. "Though Ang did get an offer to play for the Harpies. Still, I missed so much last year, being in St. Mungo's, I just hope I survive practice."

[Sirina Black]

"I know Ginny and I sure missed you. We had Elizabeth Grentry as your backup. That girl is worse than Neville on a broom. She over shot passes to Ginny and she smacked me in the face with the quaffle during games." Sirina huffed and then turned to her friend to see her laughing. "It's not funny Katie Kat."

[Katie Bell]

Katie winced. "Ouch."

[Sirina Black]

"Imagin how me and Ginny felt. We were so releved when you came back." Sirina said.

[Katie Bell]

"Trust me, no one wanted to get on the pitch more than I did." Katie laughed. "It was hell being trapped in St. Mungo's for so long."

[Sirina Black]

"I can't tell you how I felt when I saw you start to rise in the air from that damed cursed necklace. And then fell and were placed in a coma, we didn't think you would pull through." Sirina said meakly.

[Katie Bell]

Katie shuddered. "I was trapped inside my own head for months, I didn't even know who I was. I heard flashes of memories that sounded familiar, but nothing clicked. Finally, one of my memories was a Quidditch practice, Oliver was yelling at me about some move and he called me Bell. Suddenly, all I could think was I'm Katie Bell, and I'm alive. I woke up pretty soon after." She shrugged. "I still don't remember anything about that bloody necklace though. Since I almost died from it, I'd like to."

[Sirina Black]

"It was cursed sweety, you couldn't have known." Sirina said sympathically.

[Katie Bell]

"No, I meant about how I got it, and why they picked me." Katie shrugged.

[Sirina Black]

"They used you for a means to an end as Dumbly Dore would say." Sirina said, trying to get her friend to laugh.

[Katie Bell]

Katie chuckled slightly. "Well I'm just glad I took the curse instead of him."

[Sirina Black]

"Very true. I would've done the same if I was in your shoes. But if I had done that, my father and godfather would never let me hear the end of it." Sirina mock groaned.

[Katie Bell]

"Well, my parents and Alex weren't so thrilled either." Katie said.

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