Definitely a Keeper

He’d go anywhere with her and she knew it too. Oliver didn’t know how he hadn’t realised his feelings for her sooner. She was the most beautiful woman in the room, he didn’t even look twice at anyone else passing. He only had eyes for Katie.

Percy and Oliver Moodboard

“I’m just trying to make sure that I do not step over any lines. Do not need an article by Rita Skeeter talking about some betrothal scandal making the front pages,” Viktor explained. He also didn’t want anyone else using their relationship as a way to blackmail them or make Astoria feel bad. It was better to be safe than sorry and while that included people teasing him for keeping things so PG for so long, he thought he was doing the right thing. “I vill ask tthe second the engagement is over.”

“Yeah purebloods here are intense, I’m surprised you’re not used to it. I heard there’s more prejudice and pureblood bias in Bulgaria? Or is that a lie the prophet told to make England look better?” He didn’t tend to ask much about Viktor’s home country, their topic of conversation usually was about Quidditch. They had become closer friends these last few months though. “That’s the spirt. And owl me after to tell me how it went. Are you nervous? Any chance she’ll say no?” 

“You’re welcome,” Harriet replied with a polite smile. She was trying to be civil in every aspect of her life. It wasn’t difficult, but there were some who made it that way. She’d all but renounced her old life and there were still some who chose to hold it against her when they knew absolutely nothing. Oliver was a good guy, despite what had happened between them. She supposed it wasn’t exactly fair for her to think otherwise when she’d all but used him. “She might not appreciate it in the moment, but she will after the hormones go away,” Harriet teased softly. She knew there were a handful of times when she’d yelled at Charlie and then had to apologize after. “She’ll be fine, trust me. The body is made for this. At least, that’s what the healers say.” She felt as if there was no more room for the babies to grow and she still had weeks left in her pregnancy. “I’m happy to help. You’re welcome.” 

Harriet wasn’t going anywhere, she was Charlie’s girlfriend and soon to be mother of his children, so Oliver wanted to put the awkwardness of the past behind them and move on. What happened happened, but there was no reason to dwell on it. If Charlie forgave her he didn’t really have a right to be mad at her former Redeemer affiliated activities, did he? He thought that they should be able to be friendly, or at least civil. If he was nice to her, she’d be nice to him. And she could give him valuable pregnancy advice so he could help Katie out better and that was something he valued a great deal. “She can yell at me all she wants if that’s what she needs to do to feel better. She’s already doing so much with carrying the baby.” He loved Katie with all his heart, he’d do anything for her. “Are you sure? The healer already said the baby is big for his age...” Pregnancy was weird and scary and he was still wrapping his head around it. “I really do appreciate it.”

Viktor raised his eyebrows and shook his head a bit, lettting go of the topic. Oliver wasn’t known for having the best sense and most rational head when it came to quidditch outside of actually playing the game. “Vat if you have two kids that are good at Seeker or Keeper? Is it like a first come first serve basis?” He shook his head again. “Things are looking good with Astoria, only a matter of time before this Malfoy business is over. Not moving as fast as you and Katie vut I am enjoying the pace.”

“Then the one whose skills are transferable to another position will play another position. I’ll figure something out if it comes to that. And they should be able to play multiple positions so they can adapt to whatever position will be open at Hogwarts.” He waved it off. He already figured this out in his head. The oldest one would be a chaser or a keeper, and and the youngest would be the seeker because if they played three against three the seeker could sit out the game. It was perfect. “You’re moving at a snails pace, Viktor. You have to risk things in order to get a reward. I’m not saying you have to get married like Katie and I did, but man up. Have you asked her out on a proper date yet?”

Katie laughed out loud at Oliver’s realization and the fear in his eyes. She hadn’t changed a diaper either, but she knew that they’d get the hang of it. “Maybe we can ask to babysit your nephew for some practice,” Katie suggested with a smile. It seemed that they would need a bit of practice. She was feeling better since her pregnancy had progressed and Katie nodded when Oliver asked if she wanted to go shopping. “I’d love to.” 

“I can ask my brother to let us borrow his kid. It’ll be good practice because my nephew also a boy. Do you think boy babies are very different to girl babies?” He wondered out loud as he hadn’t thought about that before. Did they develop differently? Or did one cry more than the other? “Do you want to get ready now or do you want to rest and we’ll go tomorrow after I come home from practice?” 

Katie, quite honestly, didn’t know anything about children. She never had any siblings to take care of and she hadn’t been around kids a lot. She didn’t really know how she was going to do this, but she did know that she’d have Oliver there every step of the way. He was so supportive. Thinking for a brief moment, she replied, “I know they’ll probably need plenty of diapers. Especially with two babies. Maybe a cute outfit for both of them?” 

“Oh Godric. I forgot about diapers.” His eyes widened in fear, realising they would have to be changing diapers in the future as well. That was certainly something he wasn’t looking forward to. When it was his nephew he had always been able to hand him off to his brother or his sister in law. He wouldn’t be able to do that with his own baby. “Do you want to come shopping with me? You have better taste than me.”

“Have you talked about it? I hope she has more sense than you,” he laughed. He knew she did but considering that she was also a quidditch player Viktor figured she’d let her child on a broom quicker than most. Not quicker than Oliver but still quicker than most. “Gonna make them be a keeper as well?”

“We’ll talk about it when the time comes. She’ll be able to see that the baby is ready to fly.” He replied confidently. At first they would only fly a few centimeters above ground, they would work themselves up to flying properly. “Not necessarily. We will figure out the best position for them. I need a kid for every position.” He joked. Or was he joking? “So, enough about me, what’s new with you?”

“It will be less daunting in the long run. There’s no sense in panicking over things that you can’t control. I learned that the hard way,” Harriet murmured, trying to off Oliver the advice that she would have wanted. Their relationship had been a bit rocky, but Harriet was trying her best in every aspect when it came to Charlie’s family and friends. “Chocolate and ice cream help. When she has a weird craving at midnight, try to get her what she wants. Never tell her that it’s weird.” She remembered an argument that she’d had with Charlie that had only ended in tears. Merlin, she was glad the pregnancy was almost over. “Her body will adjust,” Harriet reassured Oliver, trying not to laugh. “It’s very overwhelming, but as long as you support her, you’ll both do great.” 

“I’ll try to remember that. Thank you.” Oliver gave her a genuine smile. He hadn’t really had too many conversations with her, but maybe she wasn’t what he originally assumed. There had to be more to her, she wouldn’t be with Charlie if there wasn’t. “I’ll stock up on those then. Make sure she always has enough.” He knew all of Katie’s favorite snack and sweets flavors due to their years long friendship, this would definitely come in handy now. “I’ll do anything for her. I’ll get her whatever she wants.” He’d do anything for Katie. “Are you sure? You’ve seen Katie. She’s tiny.” Pregnancy wasn’t something he knew too much about yet, admittedly. “I appreciate your help. Thanks.”

Katie was so thankful that she’d taken the chance to ruin their friendship and turn it into something more. If she hadn’t, she wondered where they’d be now. She loved Oliver more than she knew what to do with and she hoped that he knew that. She was so thankful for the fact that they were now starting a family together. “That sounds like a good idea,” Katie laughed softly. She pressed a kiss to Oliver’s lips when he spoke again. “You’re going to be an even better dad.” 

When she said he was going to be a better dad he was quick to shake his head. “Impossible.” Katie would be the best mom in the world. He didn’t know how he knew that, but there was not a single doubt in his mind. She was the perfect friend, the perfect wife, why shouldn’t she be the perfect mother as well? “What do you think we should get Charlie and Harriet? They’re gonna have the twins soon.”

Katie didn’t have that much experience around children, if she were being honest. She had no idea what to do with a baby, that was for sure. This was all so new to her. The fact that they’d eventually have a baby that was that small blew her mind. It made her a little bit more scared, but she was beginning to become more scared than excited. She was ready to have a life with Oliver. “I think they grow fast, though. At least that’s what I’ve heard,” Katie murmured. She knew that they’d be a couple years old the moment that they blinked. She wrapped her arms around Oliver and replied, “I love you.” 

Looking at her, he wondered how he had gotten so lucky. It was something that often came into his mind. He couldn’t imagine spending the rest of his life without Katie by his side. She was his rock and he wanted to be hers as well. They didn’t know anything about babies, but they’d learn. Together. “We’ll just buy a lot of different sized clothes then.” In his mind it was a good plan. “You’re gonna be the best mom.”

*

Their relationship was a bit of a whirlwind, but honestly, Katie wouldn’t have it any other way. She loved Oliver more than anything. The prospect of kids had seemed so far in the future, but she was slowly getting attuned to the fact that it was happening now. She was beginning to get excited about the thought of being parents with Oliver. She knew that he’d be a great father. “I love them. They’re so tiny!” Katie laughed softly, blinking away the tears that had formed in her eyes. She nodded, handing him the envelope with the letter inside. She didn’t particularly have a preference, she’d be happy with either. She nodded again when he asked if she was ready and watched as he opened the letter. “A boy!” She repeated happily, tears again in her own eyes. “It feels so real now.” 

Viktor rolled his eyes, knowing Oliver was just pulling his leg. Even if his friend had been planning to name his child after Viktor, the Bulgarian wasn’t sure how he’d feel about Oliver raising a person named Viktor Wood. Probably teach him ways to torture Viktor himself. “Better sounding then a mini version of yourself. Katie is much more levelheaded than you.” Viktor laughed. He still feared Oliver’s persuasion into creating a mini quidditch team for himself. “Sounds about right. You’ll wait longer than that right?”

“A mini version of myself could be fun. He can follow into my footsteps and be a Quidditch legend.” Oliver didn’t consider himself legendary just yet, he meant that his son certainly had the potential to reach greatness. He didn’t mind if the baby was a boy or a girl, as long as the baby and Katie were healthy and both could play quidditch sooner rather than later. “I think Kates has to okay it first.”

Things between them had been awkward since they’d slept together and then he’d ran off to console a jealous Katie. Harriet didn’t hold it against him. Oliver hadn’t been the one she was interested in either. She’d harbored feelings for Charlie at that time, but she doubted anything would ever happen between them. Now, she was almost ready to have his children and it still felt surprising. Like they’d just met yesterday. 

“It can be overwhelming, too, but you just have to take it one day at a time,” Harriet murmured softly. She bit back a laugh when Oliver told her that he wasn’t good with tears. “The hormones are the worst. Just comfort her. Give her chocolate. Never comment on her weight or how big she’s getting. That will only cause an argument.” 

“Take it one day at a time... I can try to do that.” Oliver nodded. That was less daunting than thinking about what was gonna happen when the baby was already born. There were so many things he didn’t know yet, which was worrying him. “I’d buy out the whole of Honeydukes if that makes her stop crying.” He made a mental note to stock up on chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. “Katie is very small though, will the baby be too heavy for her to carry? I suppose I could just carry her around if she gets tired...” He knew better than make any comments on a woman’s weight, his mother had scolded him for that when he’d been a child and had asked a pregnant woman why she was so huge and if she was hiding a quaffle under her dress. 

George grinned, shaking his head slightly. “Exactly! It goes directly to my funds to watch Ange.” The boy smirked. He continued to half work and half focus on Oliver, knowing that his old captain was just going to do what he wanted anyway. “What are you looking for?” He asked genuinely, wondering if he was actually there to get something or too just hang out. Not that it mattered either way. 

“So you only come to the games to see Ange, huh? That hurts.” He smirked, unable to help himself from teasing his friend. Angelina had always been a great chaser. Oliver being himself, did not see that George’s interest could be anything but Quidditch related. “Oh I don’t actually need anything.”

Katie loved seeing how excited Oliver was to be a father. She was still anxious about the idea, but she was warming up to it as more time passed. He was right, so she didn’t argue. They would more than likely have more kids, if they could. Oliver presented the jerseys that he’d bought and Katie hugged one of them to her chest. “Oliver, I love them!” She exclaimed, trying her best not to tear up. She cried at almost everything now. It was a lot. Flicking her wand, Katie accio’d the envelope that she’d gotten from the healer and handed it to Oliver. “The appointment today was to find out the gender. I didn’t want to know, so I asked them to place it in an envelope so we could read it together.” 

“I doubt you considered naming them after me to begin with,” Viktor laughed. Oliver probably considered naming the child after Katie, something about her name being perfect or some romance like that. That seemed more Oliver’s speed. “That should be exciting, any parent telepathy on which they might be? I vet they will be a girl. You should have a girl first.”  Viktor thought it would suit Oliver well to have a little girl to be protective over. The team would love that. “I hope for both your sakes that you wait a few years to train the baby or at least until they can walk.”

“Maybe I was. Not anymore though. Sorry.” He faked a frown for a moment before laughing as well. He did always want to name his kids after famous Quidditch players from the history books, but he wasn’t sure how Katie would like it. If the names sounded nice maybe she would come around to his ideas. “No idea, but we are going to find out soon. I would love having a girl. A mini version of Katie would sound adorable.” He grinned. “What age can they walk at? Like one?”