Written for The Give Ron Weasley a Girl/Guy Challenge and Fanfiction Marathon Competiton/Challenge.
Katie smiled at Ron. The boy's red hair was ruffling in the wind, his blue eyes lit up with laughter. She had never quite noticed the boy before. She was always aware of him, but she never thought of him as someone other than Harry Potter's best friend and Fred and George's younger brother. But ever since Dumbledore's Army and his joining the Quidditch team, she got a chance to know him for him.
She liked him.
He was funny and smart and sweet when he wanted to be. He wasn't a bad Quidditch player, and he could become a great one with practice.
Part of Katie wanted to offer him some one-on-one practice. She liked that part of her, though she never listened to it.
Though maybe she should start. Quickly, before she could lose her nerve, she walked over towards him.
"Weasley!" she yelled. Three heads looked toward her, but Katie ignored the identical one's and kept on walking towards Ron.
"Yeah?" he asked, confused. Katie was forced to remember that though she spent a lot of time imagining talking to Ron, she never really had.
Katie was sure she could be cool and flirty and fun. At least some part of her could be. Most of her, and unfortunately the part that was currently in charge, wasn't.
What was supposed to be, "Hey, do you want to meet up this weekend and practice Quidditch, and then maybe to Hogsmead this weekend?" became "Let's go to Hogsmeade!"
Ron's eyes widened, Harry stifled a snort, and she could feel the excited looks Fred and George were giving each other.
All that didn't matter when he smiled and said, "Yeah. I'd like that."
Maybe Katie didn't need that part of herself after all.
Though she really wanted her to come to Hogsmeade.