Katie managed to ignore the crumpled-up balls of paper hitting the back of her head for the better part of her free period. Dumbledore had - or, at least, they were told Dumbledore had - relocated all study periods to the Great Hall, to "ensure that they are used to their maximum potential." Apparently, someone's full potential was throwing things at her. Generally, she would have gotten up and shoved the little projectiles back into the face of the offender, but she had decided to concentrate on her essay for Potions. Also, McGonagall had been tasked with watching over the whole production and seemed none too pleased with having to give up her own free time. Katie kept her head down. It was her last class, she reminded herself, and she didn't need any more detentions. She could make it through five more minutes.

The bell sounded and she was up, stuffing her things into her bag with little concern for their well-being. Before she could make it to the Entrance Hall, someone grabbed her from behind. In seconds, her face and torso were squashed into a hard chest and stomach. Rather than attempt to get away, she allowed herself to be more or less carried along. This sort of thing had happened enough over the years that she knew resistance was futile.

"Good afternoon, Katie my love. Have a nice study session?"

She mumbled something non-committal. George pulled her closer, if that was possible, and rested his chin on the top of her head. As Katie was a bit hindered by being hugged like she was a recently released kidnapping victim, he led the way through the huge front doors and onto the sunny lawn.

"So, I have a proposal for you," he said loudly. A few other people nearby pretended not to have heard him. "The first Hogsmeade weekend's coming up-"

"In a month," said Katie.

George acted as though she hadn't said anything. "Are we starting at Honeyduke's as usual? Or shall we skip right to shagging behind the Three Broomsticks?"

"No." Katie forced a hand between them and tried to manoeuvre herself to the point where she could move her neck freely.

With what seemed an awful lot like delight, George tightened his grip, trapping her hand against his chest. "We'll save the shagging for the dormitory, then?"

A long moment passed by in silence. When it seemed certain that Katie wasn't going to answer, George stopped walking. They were almost dead centre on the lawn, acting as a rock in the sea of students enjoying the good weather while it lasted. Katie could suddenly breathe again; George had gone from crushing her to holding her in a rather intimate hug. She stared steadfastly at the stripes on his tie. Somehow, even after he directed her face towards his own, she continued to look at his tie.

George's voice was a little quieter now. "What's wrong, Katie?"

The scarlet on his tie was starting to hurt her eyes. She flicked her gaze up to the sky and focused on a particularly fluffy cloud. Acting like she hadn't seen the worry in George's eyes didn't work out so well for her. The clouds above them looked like they were crying. Upon thinking that, Katie mentally slapped herself. Crying clouds would be raining, which they clearly were not doing. If the rest of the year was going to be filled with her making stupid observations, she was going to give up right then.

George removed one of his hands from around her waist and ran his fingers through her hair, covertly moving their faces close enough together that she couldn't actually look anywhere but at him. It would have been almost romantic if he hadn't started speaking entirely too loudly for his voice to be directed at someone whose ears were about half of a foot away from his mouth.

"Katie. Katie. Katie Bell. Katherine Bell." He raised a thick red eyebrow and attempted to level her with a serious look. "If you don't answer soon, I'll be forced to use your middle name."

If he really wanted an answer, he sure as hell was going to get one.

"Cormac asked me out yesterday."

"Your point being?"

There was a freckle right near George's tear duct that Katie had never noticed before. She decided directing any and all further statements towards it would work out better than looking George in the eye. Or the face in general, as it was probably going to turn maroon very soon.

"I'm going with him." The quizzical eyebrow stayed up. He looked a little like she had just started speaking Greek. "To Hogsmeade. First weekend in October." Still Greek. "On a date, George. Cormac asked me out and I said yes."

"McLaggen is going on a date with you." Apparently, she had switched back to English without realising it.

Colour started to rise in his cheeks. She had called it.

"I just said that," Katie mumbled. There was another very interesting freckle by his right nostril. Unfortunately, the fact that she was being crushed against him again was making it hard to focus on it. He didn't seem to notice her breathing issues.

After much consideration and rocking them both from side to side, he said, "It's because he spends more time on his abs than I do, isn't it?"

"George," she started, sounding much more irritable than was normal for that early in the term.

Fred picked that moment to come bounding up to them, a very brightly coloured flier sticking out from his pocket and a mad gleam in his eyes. Nothing good could possibly come from that combination. "Hullo, Katie Kate!"

She couldn't help but sigh. "Hi."

Much louder than was necessary, he said, "Gred, when you're done groping our Chaser in a public place - and I think you should take all of the time you need for that. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity - I need your assistance in the common room. Ickle firsties to corrupt and all that."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Fred headed back towards the castle, buoyed with excitement, and George pressed a kiss to Katie's forehead against her will and released her. "See you."

All characters belong to JK Rowling. Thank you for reading and check back for the next chapter too!