I sprinted down the stairs into Gryffindor common room, running my fingers through my long brown hair, trying to smooth it out. Leaping over a group of second years sprawled out on the floor, I praised myself mentally for not tripping over them, like I normally would have.

One of the younger girl's papers flew about as I ran past them, and she yelled at me. "Sorry!" I shouted back as I hopped out of the portrait hole. I was running late today already, starting with Oliver Wood running our practice late again. After that, I had taken too long in the showers, and too long to get my outfit just right. I had a date with Ravenclaw's Quidditch captain, Roger Davies, and I didn't want to be late. It was Roger Davies. He had asked me out for a date to Hogsmeade with him.

Naturally this made me feel excited, and today, I actually felt pretty. Me, Katie Bell, Gryffindor chaser, best friend to the Weasley twins, prankster, the girl who never held her tongue, and natural tom boy. Today, I wasn't those things. Today, I was determined to be the perfect date for Hogwarts hunk Roger. Today I would smile, and laugh at his jokes, and hold his hand, and have fun at Hogsmeade.

I flew down the stairs, taking two at a time, thankful to miss the trick steps that caused the stairs to move. In a matter of two minutes I was down in the Great Hall, huffing and puffing, trying to refill my lungs with the air they yearned for.

I put my hands on my knees, trying to steady my breathing, when I heard a laugh. I turned to yell at the person, but smiled when I saw who it was.

"Oi, Kates, you alright there?" Fred smirked.

George laughed and joined in. "Yeah, wasn't practice two hours ago? Not two minutes?" Another smirk.

I rolled my eyes at the boys. "Yes, but I was running late, you two." Their eyebrows rose at this, but they didn't say anything. Oops, I had forgotten to tell them. "To my date."

Fred's eyebrows seemed to shoot higher up onto his forehead, and he didn't speak.

George apparently found this very funny, and busted out laughing. "Aw, ickle Katie-Kins has a date?" He sang. "And who's the unlucky bloke, eh? How much did you have to pay him?"

I scowled at George. "Nothing, thank you very much, Mr. Weasley. I am quite capable of getting dates on my own." Just because the twins could get a date whenever either of them wanted didn't mean I couldn't do the same, right?

George rolled his eyes at me and Fred still kept quiet. How strange, the boys never kept their mouths shut, not even while they slept.

I flashed a smile to Fred. "Jealous, Freddie boy?"

He quickly recovered himself, and grinned back at me. "Jealous? Of you, Kates?" He made a face at this, but the grin never left his face. "Always." He shot me a wink, and I giggled.

Suddenly remembering that I was indeed running late to my date with Roger, I scanned the Great Hall quickly. I spotted him chatting amongst some other Ravenclaws, and I smiled. Fred and George followed my gaze, made a face, and laughed.

I stuck my tongue out at them and began to walk towards my date.

"Oi, Kates, remember, no shagging on the first date!" I blushed furiously at this, and shot Fred an evil look. George and him burst into laughter, but left the Great Hall.

I took a deep breath and walked up to Roger. I tapped him on the shoulder and gave him a small smile. "Hello, Roger."

Roger snapped back to look at who was talking to him, and his face lit up. "Katie! I was beginning to think you stood me up today." He winked, and I blushed, shaking my head silly.

"'Course not, Roger." I gave him a smile. "Ready to go?"

He smiled warmly, and extended his arm for me. I took it in my own, and together we walked out of the Great Hall, making our way to Hogsmeade.

The air was brisk, and the leaves crunched under our feet that October evening. I would get cold from time to time, and Roger would sling an arm around me, trying to warm me up. We had walked comfortably alongside one another, chatting about Quidditch, and Charms class, and how Snape always seemed to come up with harder potions to brew every week.

Finally we had made our ways into Hogsmeade, and Roger led me into Madam Puddifoot's. I inwardly cringed, knowing what the place held inside. Once in the little restaurant, I withheld the urge to gag. There were lovey-dovey couples strewn about everywhere, and the decor was horrendous. Personally, I like pink, but in here, I couldn't stand it. There were cheesy decorations plastered everywhere, frills beyond compare lined the tables and windows, and the overall atmosphere just screamed corny.

However, I smiled up at Roger, who tugged me along to a little booth in the back. I slid in next to him, and picked up the menu lined with glitter. Honestly? What are we here, five years old? Who has glitter-menus?

Our waitress came over to take our orders, and we gave them, Roger insisting that he pay. I argued, but he insisted that he was a gentlemen, and that's how a gentleman was supposed to act. I eventually gave in, and decided to ask him about our upcoming Quidditch match in two weeks.

"So, are you all ready for our match?"

Roger set his butterbeer down and grinned. "Only if you're ready to lose."

I laughed and almost choked on my butterbeer. "Oh, please Roger. You guys don't stand a chance." He laughed at this, and I smiled. "What, with Harry Potter as our new seeker—that boys is bloody brilliant—and well, me of course." I winked and he laughed again.

"Oh, right, sorry Katie, I forgot you were on the team." He winked this time, and I settled for sticking my tongue out at him.

We spent the rest of our dinner joking and laughing with each other until we had been sitting there for nearly half an hour without any dinner or dessert left on our plates.

Roger threw some money on the table, along with a tip. He slid out from the booth and stuck his hand out towards me. I smiled and took it, sliding out of the booth to join him.

Together we stepped out of Madam Puddifoot's hand in hand into the cold autumn night. I took a deep breath, inhaling the cool, crisp air.

We walked alongside one another in silence for a while until we passed an all-too familiar shop.

I could feel my face light up. "Honeydukes!" I cried out happily.

Roger laughed alongside me. "Wanna go in?"

I nodded eagerly like a child and nearly dragged Roger alongside me. I could hear him chuckling as I dragged him all throughout the sweets shop, 'ooh-ing' and 'ahh-ing' at the array of candies and chocolates.

I grabbed a little bit of everything, and brought it to the counter to pay. I pulled out some money, but Roger was already pulling some out. I shoved him aside playfully and laughed.

"Nope, I'm paying this time." I smiled cheekily up at him and he just laughed and rolled his eyes down to me.

"Whatever you say, Katie." I smiled triumphantly, taking my bag of treats with us as we stepped outside the shop. "But next time, I'm paying."

I raised an eyebrow at this. "Next time, Mr. Davies? Who said I'd ever go out with you again?" I smiled, and he laughed nervously.

"Well, I uh—I thought that—well, you looked like you were having a good time, so—"

I stood on my tiptoes and pecked him on the cheek to shut him up. "Roger, don't be silly." I giggled, and he blushed. "I'd love to go out with you again."

A grin broke out across his face and I couldn't help myself from giggling. He smiled devilishly at me, and I laughed harder. Slinging me over his shoulder, I shrieked in surprise.

"Roger, put me down!" Damn him, he must have talked with the twins or something. They always did this to me. I was just thankful he hadn't started running around with me on his shoulder, or worse—spinning around like a madman.

He laughed and walked down the street, me trying to break free from his hold. "Not a chance, Miss Bell."

I sighed, and decided to stop trying to break out of his hold. I glanced around embarrassingly, receiving odd looks from the people on the streets. I blushed and sighed again.

Finally—after what seemed like hours—we had made it back to the castle. Roger still had refused to let me down, much to my dismay. I'm sure his shoulder would be killing him, I was no lightweight. Of course, that's not what people told me, but I knew better.

Roger was walking me towards the Great Hall when we heard an all too familiar voice from behind us. "Mr. Davies! Put Miss Bell down, immediately!" Ah, crap. It was McGonnigal. I couldn't help but giggle, and I heard Roger laugh. Suddenly, I was plopped back down onto the ground, and I brushed myself off, smoothing out my hair.

"Five points from Ravenclaw, Mr. Davies." She glared at him, and he just laughed nervously. I gulped, waiting for my punishment. Surely I was overdue for a detention with McGonnigal, right? I hadn't had one in, oh, over two weeks now. Must be a new record.

McGonnigal just looked me up and down once before turning on her heel to leave. Wow, not even a warning. She must hate Roger or something. I looked over to Roger who looked embarrassed, but he flashed me a smile anyways.

Without warning, he leaned down and kissed me. I blinked back my surprise, but kissed back after a brief moment of shock. Roger Davies had kissed me! Me! After a few seconds longer, Roger broke the kiss and flashed me a smile.

"Goodnight, Katie." He winked, and I blushed pink. "See you later." I waved, and nodded my understanding. He laughed, and I squeaked out a giggle, still blushing furiously.

With that, Roger made his way to a group of friends, and I ascended the stairs up towards Gryffindor Tower.

I don't recall my trip to the common room, but I remember entering it in a daze. I was thrust back into reality with loud shrieks and squeals that were directed at me. I cringed at the noise, but a smile plastered itself on my face when I was bombarded with Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet—my two best friends, other than Fred and George, of course.

"Tell us all about it!" Alicia squealed.

"And don't you dare leave anything out, or I swear I'll—"

"—guys, settle down, it was just a bloody date!" Lee shouted from his spot at a table. Angelina and Alicia glared daggers at him, and Lee shut his mouth. I shot him an apologetic smile, and he laughed, returning his attention back to his game of Wizarding chess with a fellow fifth year of his.

Alicia and Angelina dragged me over to a couch and sat in front of me. I slung my legs over the arm of the couch and leaned back against the cushions. The two girls looked excitedly at me, waiting patiently for my retelling of the date.

I sighed, and recounted tonight's happenings, receiving many squeals and giggles from the girls. "And you didn't let him pay?" Angelina gawked.

I shrugged and started grabbing some sweets from the bag I had almost forgotten about until now.

"No, but he did pay for dinner, remember? I was trying to be nice." Angelina rolled her eyes, and I tossed her some chocolate covered nuts. She grinned, and started undoing the packaging on them.

"So what happened next?" I handed Alicia some chewy candies that changed flavor after the outside dissolved in your mouth. She too, grinned and started popping some in her mouth.

"Well—" I began, but was interrupted by two identical faces coming into view.

"Katie milady!" Fred sang, coming down from the boy's dorms. I giggled and lifted my head so he could sit down next to me. He plopped down and I placed my head in his lap, grinning up at him. Some people might think that this sort of behavior is a little too close for best friends, but that's how Fred, George and I have always been. I looked over to George who had settled between Angelina and Alicia on the floor.

"Hello, ladies." George spoke smoothly, trying to imitate an American accent, but failing horribly. Angelina giggled and Alicia rolled her eyes at him. I dug some pumpkin pastries out of the bag and tossed them to George, who caught them quickly, careful not to smash them

"Thanks, Kates!" He exclaimed, half of one of the pastries in his mouth already. Angelina elbowed him in the ribs, signaling him to not talk with food in his mouth and Alicia laughed, but rolled her eyes again.

I laid my head back down in Fred's lap, and he looked down at me with puppy-dog eyes. "What, none for your best friend?" I looked at him confusedly, trying not to laugh.

"Of course, Ange, 'Lic, Lee, and George already got some..." A smile spread across my face and Fred made a face, crossing his arms across his chest, pretending to be hurt by my words. I giggled and dug through my bag for some candies. Aha!

"Here," I said giving him a handful of things. "happy?"

A grin broke out across his face, and for a moment, he looked so genuinely happy—like a small child does when they first see presents underneath the tree on Christmas morning.

"Chocolate frogs!" Fred was already unwrapping them, and popping them into his mouth before they could hop away. However, one did hop out too fast for Fred, and landed on my face. I giggled furiously, trying not to swat it away.

Fred laughed and tried to make a grab for it, but it hopped across my face and landed on my chest. I blushed furiously when I saw Fred go to reach for it, but he stopped. I looked up at him, still blushing, and Fred turned away—ears a bright pink. I reached down to grab the frog, and popped it in my mouth.

"Well, um..." Fred began. I sat there, unsure of what to say. This was awkward.

Alicia thankfully piped in, the three of them on the floor oblivious to what had just happened. "So, you were telling us about your date, Katie...?" I grinned, and began where I had left off.

"So, after we left Honeydukes, he threw me over his shoulder," Angelina and Alicia wore the same shocked, but thrilled expression on their faces. George glanced between the two of them for a second, copied their faces and how they sat, trying to make fun of them. I rolled my eyes at him, and laughed. "and he carried me back to the castle."

Angelina spoke. "Aw, Kate, that's great! Why'd he carry you though, did you twist your ankle again?" I shot her a look, but laughed.

"No, I didn't fall again, he just, well, he wanted to carry me I guess." I shrugged my shoulders, head still in Fred's lap.

"So what happened next?" Alicia wanted to know everything. How typical.

"Well," I paused for effect, but I looked over to see my two girl best friends awaiting anxiously, so I gave in. "then he dropped me off at the Great Hall, and he..."

"He what?" They cried together.

I bit my lip, and gave a small smile. "He kissed me!"

Angelina and Alicia squealed, made their way over George and hugged, jumping up and down excitedly. I laughed at them, and popped some chocolate frogs in my mouth. I glanced over to George who had given Fred a strange look.

I looked up at Fred, who was giving a look back to his brother. He didn't look too happy. "What's wrong, Freddie?" I tried to smile, but it fell when he looked down at me.

Fred glanced over at George, who looked like he wanted to speak, but held his tongue. "Nothing's wrong, Kates." I would have believed him, but the whole time he spoke, he looked at George, not me.

"Fred," I began. He still didn't look at me. "look at me." Fred slowly brought his eyes down to meet mine, and he gave a weak smile. Seriously, was the boy ill or something? He never acted this way!

"Nothing's wrong, Kates." I sat up to look at him, wanting to talk this through, but Fred got up from the couch. "Just tired. G'night, m'dear." And with his usual peck on the cheek to me before bed, Fred made his way up the stairs to the boys' rooms.

I shot George a look, and ignored Angelina and Alicia, who were chatting to one another about my date, breaking down everything Roger said or did.

George looked nervously up at me, and I patted the open spot on the couch. He got up and plopped down, swinging an arm around me lazily. "George, what's wrong with Fred?"

He simply shrugged. So, it was going to be this way, was it? "Georgie, come on, you can tell me." I smiled at him and held out a bag of every-flavored jelly beans.

George smiled and took some, popping them into his mouth. "Dunno what you're talking 'bout, Kates." He spoke with his mouth full of jelly beans, and I laughed.

"George, you know I don't believe that." I looked back to the stairs nervously. "Please, George, what's wrong with your brother?" I lowered my voice, careful to make sure no one else was listening in. I knew Fred and George too well to know when something was wrong. Something definitely wasn't right with Fred, and I needed to know.

George swallowed and flashed me a goofy smile. However, despite this, he spoke pretty seriously. "Kates, honestly, if you don't know by now, don't worry 'bout it." He gave me another smile and got up from the couch. He ruffled my hair a bit and smiled. "Nightie night!" I smiled back to George, and he too bounded up the stairs to bed.

Now, what was he supposed to mean by all of that?