Ten Years Serious
Challenge Eighteen: March Madness Redux
Title: Ten Years Serious
Author: seaislewitch
Wizard/Witch: Miles Bletchley/Katie Bell
Rating/Warnings: G/PG
Genre: Romance
Word count: Exactly 500
Prompt: 22. musicians in the gazebo
Summary: This is the story of Miles and Katie presented in five equal bits.
First Year
"Bell, Katie!" McGonagall called.
A boy sat down and put the hat on.
A boy named Katie? Miles thought, disgusted, until he saw the stocky child with short brown hair was wearing a skirt.
The Sorting Hat took a while with her. "Gryffindor!"
Must be a Mudblood or blood traitor.
"Bletchley, Miles!"
"Slytherin!" As expected.
Katie yelped. Her blood spurted a gruesome pattern across Dungeon Two.
Clearly irritated, Snape glanced around. "Who has finished?"
Miles crouched lower; his potion was perfection.
"Bletchley, escort Bell to the hospital wing."
Cringing, Miles left the classroom. Katie followed. They didn't talk.
Third Year
The Slytherins strutted to the pitch for practice, each excited to ride a new Nimbus 2001. Marcus had waited to reveal them--for impact.
"Those Gryffinbores will go mad!" Montague said. "Can't wait to see their ugly faces!"
"One isn't so ugly," Pucey replied. "I'd take Bell to the broomshed."
Everyone laughed--except Miles. Why? Is she pretty?
The first match was Slytherin versus Gryffindor.
"Gryffindor in possession!" boomed the announcer. "Spinnet reverses to Bell. Bletchley in a double eight. Bell takes the shot! Bletchley blocks it."
"Not this time, Bell!" Miles yelled.
Looping around Slytherin's rings, Katie ignored him.
Fifth Year
"What are you doing?" Miles asked.
"We're making badges," Draco replied, handing some to the group of fifth-years. "Press it."
Miles did, and the badge flashed Potter Stinks.
The common room erupted in laughter.
On the way to the First Task, Miles and his mates fell into step behind a group of witches.
"Wait up," Pucey called. "You can sit with us."
"Never!" Leanne exclaimed, sneering at them.
The wizards laughed.
"You can sit on my lap, Katie!" Miles yelled.
Katie stopped cold.
Miles passed her, his badge flashing. "You didn't think I was serious, did you?"
Seventh Year
At The Three Broomsticks, Miles and his mates sat around a tower of empty butterbeer bottles. Miles stood, placing a bottle at the very top. The wizards cheered.
Miles glanced over at Katie's table. She was watching. Suddenly, he lost his balance. The tower came crashing down amid applause from the witches. Miles stood and bowed, which earned him an ovation from all.
Later, he heard Katie had been cursed and was at St Mungo's.
At the Slytherin-Gryffindor match, Gryffindor's replacement Chaser wasn't nearly as good as Katie. I wonder how she's doing.
She didn't return until spring.
Post-War Hogsmeade
The proprietor supervised The Quidditch Shoppe's Springtide Sale. He noticed a fit witch admiring his stick.
"That's my TQS-Custom."
Her eyes narrowed. "Bletchley."
Miles grabbed two broomsticks. "Come try it, Bell."
Katie agreed; they were aloft in seconds.
"Miles, the steering is fantastic!"
"It took two years to perfect. There's a special feature too. Devincio." The broomsticks docked side-by-side.
She looked surprised but closed her eyes when he kissed her.
"I've always wanted to do that."
"You're not serious."
"I'm ten years serious, Katie."
They sat near the gazebo, listening to the music--and they finally talked.
Author's Notes: Devincio roughly means 'to connect'. Thanks to somigliana for her Proof Witchery.
Proof-reader: somigliana