A/N: This was a very difficult chapter to write. I am sad to say that there is no column here but there will be one next chapter. Anyway I took my Psychology Subject Test of the GRE this weekend so now that my life isn't devoted to studying every free minute updates will be easier.

Lots of scene shifting this chapter. You all are being so patient with Kate and George I thought I would go ahead and offer something else to fill the void. It's still a few chapters before we see any Kate/George action…despite how difficult it is to drag out the tension it's also a ton of fun to write! People are starting to clue into George's feelings but silly Kate is just too obtuse for her own good! I hope you enjoy.

Very huge thanks to: vampire-luver101, slowtherain, and LaLa-036 for the wonderful reviews. Really you guys motivated me to get this out early! Also thanks to everyone who added this to alerts, it always cheers my day to get those e-mails on my phone!

Chapter 6: Love and the Stolen Kiss

Ian did not say a word to Kate as he led her towards the News Dungeon. Several sarcastic comments were begging to be said but she held her tongue, her friend seemed genuinely distressed. Vaguely she wondered what was so serious that it required taking her away from the party. Especially when she and George Weasley were bordering on what had promised to be a fascinating conversation.

They started down towards the narrow hall that forked between the potions dungeon and the branching halls that led to the News Dungeon. Somewhere buried in that network was the Slytherin common room and dorms, and Kate figured Snape's office was amidst the mess as well. Thankfully she'd never had a reason to visit either. "I came down here to mess a bit with the layout for this week's issue." Ian's voice startled her mental mapping.

There was a very long pause and Kate fought the urge to laugh. What had him so melodramatic? "And?" She prompted him.

"And Viola Parkinson came in," his voice turned suddenly sour. Kate felt her own stomach churn a little at the name. The Slytherin seventh year was just as much a simpering idiot as she was attractive. Her blonde hair was much richer in tone than Kate's and tumbled over her narrow shoulders in heavy curls that framed a narrow face and stunning cobalt eyes. Boys were usually quite taken with her narrow waist and perfect white smile set against a flawless porcelain complexion.

Viola Parkinson also happened to maintain the events section for the paper as well as sorting through the editorials. "What about her?" Kate muttered, disdain coloring her voice. The beauty was the only member of Ian's senior staff that she could do without.

"She quit." Ian groaned as they approached a gilt framed picture. Set inside it was a massive scroll written in runes. "Ian Haynes, editor," he mumbled to the picture. Suddenly the scroll rolled up and the glass vanished, leaving an arched doorway into the dungeon. Both of them passed through and he went straight to his desk, sinking into his rolling chair.

Kate followed and eyed the discouraging stack of letters on his desktop. Carefully she shifted them aside and came around, sitting on the free space. "That's bad," she supplied for him. "Really bad." Now she felt guilty for even thinking about how nice things would be without Viola. Sure her attitude towards girls in other houses left something to be desired. And she hated Kate quite vehemently, particularly after Kate had been asked to write the romance column instead of her. But her sections of the paper were much larger and very time consuming. Piling that work onto another staff member would be nothing short of cruel and unusual punishment.

"There's no way I can properly interview potential staff members and get one trained in time for the Hogsmeade issue." Kate tried to perform the mental calculations in her head. "Much less in times for the issues after the Champions are chosen. This is such a nightmare."

Kate's stomach dropped out. The other schools would be arriving this coming Friday and the selection would be the following Saturday. All term long they had been meticulously planning the issues following champion selection heading into the tournament. Times for interviews, subjects for columns and layout sections had been already put into action. Kate even had her columns decided based on the tentative schedule of social events that had been lined up. The first Hogsmeade visit was for after the first task. The issue before the first visit of the year was always one of her most important columns.

"These are just the editorial letters we've received in the last two weeks alone. Viola had an entire system set up to sort and file everything so we had a running file for the year. Plus her notes on event planning are written in such a manner that only she could possibly understand them." Ian continued to moan and groan. Absently Kate lifted one of the parchment notes that had been sent to them and opened it. Some student was commenting on their support for one of the controversial issues they addressed every paper.

"Well I guess I'll just have to step in and double up some time to help with events and you'll start interviewing this week," she said with a drawn sigh. Although this was indeed a very serious crisis to the well being of their publication, Kate found herself wishing he hadn't drug her away from her friends. Part of her was really curious as to what George was going to say to her. "Did she say why she was quitting?"

"Something about not enough time to devote to her studies and job interviews. It's all a crock of shite amounting up to the fact that between school and the paper she doesn't have enough time to shag her new boyfriend." Ian's voice was contemptuous and Kate didn't bother hiding her laughter. One of Viola's worst qualities was her boy-crazy tunnel vision. There wasn't a time that she didn't know the Slytherin beauty to be single. "These editorials alone," he let his head fall against the desk right next to Kate's thigh.

With a gentle hand she smoothed his hair and continued to let him complain. "I can promise that this isn't the end of the world. What's a couple more overnights in the dungeon?" She asked and then patted the top of his head once more.

Ian finally sat up and groaned as he looked at the editorials. "Well unless you've got to get back to Weasley we could start tonight," he muttered and picked a few of them. Kate arched a brow and crossed her arms over her chest.

"What are you talking about? Why would I need to get back to George?"

A smirk crossed his face. "You two were very close when I walked in. From my angle it looked like he wanted to reach down and snog the daylights out of you."

Rolling her eyes she divided the stack in half and took it to her desk, which was right across from his. "You're losing your touch Ian, too much time down here I suspect," she teased but felt her stomach roll over, and it wasn't an altogether uncomfortable sensation.

"You clearly were not reading his body language or his facial expressions the same way. What were you talking about anyway?" Ian pressed and she shrugged.

"Whether or not I should be dating Stephen Delancourt. George seems to think that he's the wrong type for me."

Ian snorted and gave her an uncharacteristically unattractive look. "Well of course he's all wrong for you. Concerned with social affairs you might be, but a social climber you are not." Casually Ian crumpled up a letter and tossed it towards the large wastebasket sitting on the other side of the room. It missed, but with a flick of his wand the parchment righted itself in the bin.

"What on earth are you talking about?"

Sighing he ran his fingers through his hair and then straightened up again. "Stephen has three primary interests in life: getting into a healer's training program, having the best looking girl on his arm and climbing to the top of the Hogwarts social chain. Right now he's well on his way to a St. Mungo's acceptance, and given the fact that you're a stunning specimen of the opposite sex he's about to have a good looking girl. Plus have you thought about what will happen if he starts to date you?" Shaking her head, Kate found herself becoming increasingly annoyed.

"No, but I'm sure you're going to elaborate for me."

"A ticket to the top of the ladder." Ian said with a smirk. His words provoked unkind laughter from her.

"Go on out of that," she replied. "How on earth would dating me lead to instant social status?"

Getting up from his chair, Ian came around and leaned over her desk. "Let's think about this for a long moment. You are the romance columnist; half the school only reads the paper for your column. On top of that your friends are all on the best quidditch team in the school and the Weasley twins are maybe the most recognizable figures among all four houses. A little infamous in some circles maybe, but ultimately they are some of the most well liked blokes around."

Giggling, Kate thought about George's girlish imitation from earlier. Flipping her hair over her shoulder in an unconcerned manner she set aside a particularly poorly written criticism of last week's discussion on professor bias. "Well then I will gladly step aside so he can date one of them. But I don't think flaming red hair is going to go too well with his pretty boy looks."

Chuckling, Ian shook his head and retreated to his desk. "Laugh if you want Kate but just be careful. I really don't want you to be a tool for Stephen to use to get higher up on the ladder."

Pretending to absently brush away his warning, Kate chewed on her lip. Surprisingly though the first thing she said after came out of nowhere. "George Weasley looked like he was about to kiss me when you came in?"

Now Ian laughed. "Big time," he teased and then went back to the editorials with a pronounced groan of displeasure.

Kate wasn't sure why but that was the only thing that occupied her thoughts as she spent the rest of the very long night sorting through parchment letters.

* * * * *

Fred was in a classic bad mood as he paced along the empty Charms classroom. His books were strewn all over a couple of desks, parchment and ink scattered everywhere. Raking his fingers through his red hair he tried to cool his temper off before his study partner arrived. It wouldn't do to make her angry as soon as she got here; they had enough problems managing their tempers without his irrational bad mood.

Something had put George in an irritable mood last night and in turn it affected him quite greatly. Of the two George was generally much more even in temper, it took quite a bit to offset his almost constant pleasant demeanor. Of course he knew the source almost as soon as Ian Haynes drug her from the kitchens to repair a paper emergency.

It was true that Fred adored Kate Kelley with all of his heart, but he really wished she'd stop being so thick about his brother's feelings for her. George wasn't exactly like him when it came to the expression of negative emotions. Fred would storm and rage and yell until it was all out of his system in a matter of an hour. His beloved twin on the other hand had a very nasty habit of stewing over little details and wondering what he could have done differently. Of course that was obvious to him, George should have plucked up a backbone and told her how he felt ages ago, last year even.

The door opened and Angelina came in, shouldering her bag. "Sorry I'm late, I got caught reviewing some of Wood's defensive tactics, it seems he'd done quite a bit of developing for the team even after the cup was over," she said and started laying out her own Charms work. Her breezy tone alerted Fred that she was in a good mood, which would help their situation. So long as she wasn't ready to bite his head off they stood a good chance of going the whole time without a single argument.

At least until she looked up and saw his face. "What's got your wand in a knot?" She asked him, plunking down easily in a chair. Fred took her cue and sank into the chair next to her, running his hands through his hair.

"Oh it's nothing," he tried to brush off, and was very unsuccessful. Crossing her arms over her chest she shook her head.

"Let's try again Fred, what's bothering you?"

Grinning he wagged a finger in her direction. "Too nosy for your own good aren't you?" Her narrowed eyes did not indicate her appreciation for his cheek. "George is in a bad mood, and you know how his moods are."

Absently she raised her eyes to the ceiling as if she could just see George lying back on his bed ignoring everything else. "Sulking with the curtains shut?" He nodded to confirm the suspicion. "Do you think Kate will ever realize how much he cares for her?" Angelina said and began to pull all of her braids away from her face with a hair tie.

Snorting Fred shook his head. "More to the point do you ever think he'll tell her?"

"You know for being one half of the most outgoing, troublesome duo the school has ever seen your brother has serious confrontation issues." Angelina mused, rubbing her chin.

"Only with Kate it seems."

Then she opened her books and pulled out the homework they were supposed to be finishing. "Well he'll come around eventually. In the meantime have you given thought to how you're going to hoodwink the Goblet yet?" She pulled the conversation around to start of the tournament which was scheduled for the coming Saturday.

Shaking his head he winked. "Far be it from me to share our genius. It will be as much a surprise to you as it is to everyone else." The familiar confident smirk had taken its place on his features. Although the plan was fairly obvious in nature and origin, he still wanted to leave all of their friends guessing as to what he and his brother would cook up in conjunction with Lee.

"I think you could probably tell me, after all I'm sure if anyone has a right to know," her voice trailed off and he swiveled to face her. His smirk now stretched into a grin. Reaching out he swept a stray braid from her face and tucked it neatly behind her ear.

"And what gives you a right to know?" His fingers slipped easily from the top shell of her ear and down the line of her jaw. They swept over her neck and his hand traveled easily down her arm before he took her hand up in his. Already his body was egging him forward and he squeezed her fingers.

Rolling her eyes she tried to pull away but he tightened his grip. At his motion she also began to lean in, they were getting closer by the centimeter. "Because of this," she said and held up their joined hands. Chuckling he shook his head.

"Ah but you're the one determined to keep this as quiet as possible." He could feel her warm, sweet breath on his face. The scent of her perfume was filling his brain with very pleasant images of strawberries and flowers bursting forth into spectacular bloom. "So you can't really have it both ways, either we go public and you get to call the shots or we continue just being friends."

She tensed under his touch and he knew the anger was beginning to bubble up in her system. Fred couldn't help his grin now, he loved making Angelina angry. Her outbursts were just as attractive to him as her good moods. "You know we aren't going to tell the whole world about this," she growled. "And you know why."

"Because you don't want to be the captain dating a player is it? Or are you just embarrassed about being seen snogging a Weasley?" His bait was now set, all he had to do was wait for her to fall into the trap.

"What! Of course that's not it!" She cried and her free hand came around to take his other one. "Where on earth would you get that idea from?"

Shrugging he feigned a rather depressed expression, which he knew was perfect. Years of practice on his mum and other girls had given him the edge of executing the puppy face. "Well we are a bit loud and obnoxious. Not to mention all the stuff about our family," he trailed and watched the blood rush her face, taking on a gorgeous blush. This was exactly the side of Angelina he wanted to see.

"Shut your sodding mouth Fred Weasley," she said her voice a low growl. "You know I don't care about any of that, you're perfect exactly as you are. Especially the loud and obnoxious part," she was about to go on and they were mere centimeters away when recognition suddenly took her features. Immediately she darkened and was about to pull away when he caught her by the shoulders, holding her captive. "You set me up into that," she snapped.

"Course I did, now hush up so I can snog you properly." And before she could even say another word he closed the gap. His mouth covered hers and he was thrilled to her a gasp of surprise pop out of her lips. With very little regard for anything else he managed to get his arms around her and plucked her from her chair. Angelina did not fight as he settled her on his lap. In fact her long fingers slipped into his hair.

"You're awful," she muttered as they parted for air. This time it was her who took his face in her hands and kissed him. Her lips were wonderfully warm and soft against his, moving with confidence as he opened his mouth and they deepened the kiss. Although he desperately wanted to be a public couple with her, Fred was content with the opportunity to simply have a 'study session' in an abandoned classroom and slowly work on her resolve.

"I know," he said and as he continued to snog her he knew sooner or later she'd cave. One day she would accept to being his girlfriend.

* * * * *

Sunday morning found Kate sitting in the Great Hall with Stephen. They were eating breakfast together before she went to study with Alicia. Normally they were deep in conversation about one topic to another, but this morning he was uncharacteristically silent. For a long while she thought maybe something was wrong. Maybe she'd said or done something wrong over the weekend but nothing came to mind, she hadn't seen him since Friday evening.

"Did you like your rose?" His voice startled her from her thoughts. Lifting her eyes she found his regarding her carefully.

Flustered, she set her goblet down and nodded. "Of course I did! But how did you know they were my favorite?" She asked.

A sly grin toyed at the corners of his mouth. "I asked Haynes, he told me that's what he gave you last year as a thank you for all your work on the paper." Kate made a mental note to talk to Ian later and ask why he didn't tell her.

Her eyes flicked to her now half eaten plate of eggs and bacon. Hunger now seemed low on her priority list and she pushed the plate away, shifting her body so she facing Stephen a little better. "Nice detective work," she said and grinned at him.

Nodding he seemed to deliberate for a moment and then shrugged. "It's a bit early for asking but would you go to Hogsmeade with me on the first visit this year?"

Kate had been expecting him to ask her for sometime. However the sudden question caught her off guard. "As in on a date?" She blurted out before she could even stop herself.

Chuckling, he raked his fingers through his hair and casually shifted his plate out of his way. Resting an elbow on the table, he propped his chin in his hand. The way he looked at her sent goose bumps up and down her arms while simultaneously producing a very warm sensation in the pit of her stomach. "That is the general idea yes. After all I wasn't eating breakfast with you every morning to ask you to be my study partner for Potions," he teased and she felt the heat blossom in her cheeks.

Of course he wouldn't, she reasoned with herself. Kate was no idiot; she knew that Stephen liked her. "So this date, is it as your girlfriend or just as a date in general?" She asked him, now toying nervously with her fingers.

Stephen's hand reached out and took hers to still the nervous motion. "Let's say not just a date but not quite a girlfriend yet either. That comes after the date." Then he began to gather his things. "I have to meet my Arithmancy group to work on our project. It would be an honor if you'd eat dinner with me tonight at the end of the table."

Now Kate really was blushing. The very ends of house tables were generally left alone and that was where couples would customarily eat. It was the closest thing to a date as one could find on the Hogwarts campus. "Sure thing."

"Seven then," he said and swiftly leaned across and kissed her cheek before striding out of the Great Hall. Then horror came over her as she realized she hadn't actually said yes.

"Stephen!" She called before he got out of earshot. Stopping he wheeled around and gave her a questioning smile. "I'd love to go to Hogsmeade with you." The words came out a little shaky and a bit relieved. The questioning left his expression leaving nothing but immense pleasure. The warmth radiated out to her fingers and toes.

"I'll see you tonight," he said and then left. As Kate turned back to contemplate this new development she missed the casual grin slip right off George Weasley's face.

* * * * *

"Merlin's beard this stuff is so hard!" Kate groaned and let her head drop on the table. Her Potions book was open next to her. Images of Snape's snide grin at her work floated through the back of her mind. Her professor was predisposed to dislike her on the principle that she was a Gryffindor; she didn't want to give him any other reason to dock off points. "Deconstructing poisons for antidotes has got to be the most miserable task ever."

Alicia set her quill aside and stared at the essay that was reaching the one scroll length. "I can't believe he's asking for two scrolls on this subject. How on earth are we supposed to fit all of that information on only two?" She said, returning to her book. Kate examined her friend's miniscule writing and then sighed, staring back at her own. She too was at one scroll in length already.

"Your guess is as good as mine," sighing she shared a look with Alicia and then they both made a face. "A break would be nice," she suggested.

"A welcome relief." Alicia snapped her book shut, shoving it aside.

For a moment Kate chewed the inside of her lip, before the words just tumbled out. "Stephen asked me to Hogsmeade."

Silence hung heavy in the air for a moment as Alicia tapped the end of her quill against her lower lip. "Well isn't that what you wanted?" She said at last, and set her quill down, flattening her palms on the table.

With a light shrug Kate nodded. "Yes, yes of course."

Alicia bit her lip, fighting a smile. "Ah I can tell, seeing as to how you're so excited." The sarcastic tone of her voice was not to be missed. Leaning back in her chair Kate crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'm very excited, so happy," she said again, but Alicia chuckled.

"You're just like George, an awful liar," she teased.

Kate bit her lip, weighing her options. Alicia was one of her closest friends, but they'd never really talked much about boys before. Usually she talked to Cara and Jennelyn. However Cara had already shared her opinions on Stephen and Jennelyn wasn't suited for this conversation. Kate was pretty sure that Jenn wouldn't appreciate her confused emotions related to George. "Really I am pleased that Stephen asked me, I'd be stupid to not be happy."

"Just because he's among the most sought after boys in school doesn't make it mandatory that you date him." Alicia reasoned and then tilted her head to the side. The expression on her face made Kate uncomfortable, as if she was being scrutinized for reasons outside of their current subject. "If I ask will you tell me how you really feel about him?"

It was of course the question she'd been avoiding from all of her friends including Cara, Angelina and Jennelyn. Answering the question would mean admitting all of her insecurities. "I do like him," she started.

"But," Alicia said.

"But something feels off about it. I mean, I barely know Stephen and suddenly we're dating? All the other boys I've dated have been the same way, we barely know each other and then we're hot and heavy and then suddenly it's over and I have no idea why." All of the words came out in a sudden rush. "And Stephen just fits that profile too perfectly. He's so confident and so wanted that it's just too easy to lose him to someone else. I don't like that I don't know him, I can't just be natural with him the way I can be with Ian or Lee or the twins, especially the twins," she explained, waving her hands in gestures to accentuate her speech.

Another pause ensued as Alicia soaked up her words, twisting a lock of light brown hair about one finger. At last she snapped her eyes shut and then opened them, staring at her with a renewed curiosity. "So why date him then? I mean if you don't know then you just don't know Kate. There's nothing wrong with that," she reasoned. Now it was Kate's turn to soak in her words.

"Can I ask you another question and swear you won't read anything into it, because let me assure it's coming from a completely neutral standpoint." Leaning forward, Alicia nodded and drew her jean-clad knees up to her chest.

"Go on."

"What's your honest opinion of George?" The girl's mouth went slightly slack as she stared openly at Kate. Judging by her expression, Alicia had not been expecting that one. For several seconds she floundered over her words until her voice began working properly again.

"He's one of the best boys in the world," she said, and clasped her hands around her legs. "Apart from the fact that he's hilarious and really intelligent, he's just a good person. In the way that he takes time to learn details and despite all that cocky attitude he cares really deeply for his friends. I mean he's George, he's tall and gorgeous and honest to a fault. Plus he's one seriously fantastic snog."

Kate's jaw dropped, that was news she hadn't seen coming. "You snogged George?"

Blushing, Alicia ducked her head and let her curtain of hair hide the bright red in her cheeks. "Third year, it was right after his fourteenth birthday. We'd been flirting a bit and one night we were putting the ball crate away from Quidditch practice. Anyway we were standing in the shed when he just leaned down and planted one right on me."

Now Kate's mind was really doing circles and mental calculations. If, at fourteen, George was as good as Alicia was making him out to be then how good must he be now? Kate had it on excellent authority that his snogging record among other things was well fleshed out. Not that she was even remotely surprised that he would be good. "Guess I'm not too surprised," she said with a grin. But her stomach had also dropped. Had any of her other friends snogged him too?

"Well he might as well be my brother now, we decided after that one episode that romance was not for us." Alicia said happily and started to reach for her book. Then she paused and arched a delicate brow. "Why do you ask about him?"

Flushing again, Kate smiled and waved a hand at her. "It's nothing, just something stupid Ian said to me on Friday night."

Shrugging, Alicia hefted her potions book open and returned to the spot she'd marked on her page. "Well, I'll just say for the record that boys don't get better than George Weasley, I can only imagine that he'd be an incredible boyfriend to the right girl." Then with an almost imperceptible smile, she returned to her work.

But Kate caught the grin and couldn't help but wonder if Alicia and Ian knew something she didn't.

I almost wrote the last scene from Alicia's point of view but caved in the end to continue focusing on Kate's growing confusion. She will begin to get the picture, and the next chapters are going to move things along very fast. The actual main focus of this story isn't on how Kate and George get together but the eventual development of their relationship. Apologies for the lack of action between them but they can't be together every second of every day can they?

Anyway, the next couple of chapters will include some Fred and George interaction, more on Fred/Ang, Jennelyn, and my favorite scene from the draft of the fic that I've written so far! Much love-Brose