Challenge: "break up" a canon pairing without ignoring the results of the pairing

Pairing: George/Katie breaking up George/Angelina

House: Ravenclaw


George shuffled along Diagon Alley, an armload of babies and baby things. He was following close behind his wife, Angelina, who was only holding her purse.

They were passing Quality Quidditch when Angelina stopped suddenly, causing George to crash into her. Little Fred's hand slipped out of George's and Roxanne started crying.

"A new broom," Angelina said breathlessly, almost reverently. George jiggled Roxanne and shushed her gently. "It's beautiful." She sighed and then glanced back at George, an angry scowl marring her face. "Make her stop." She sighed again and turned back to the broom behind the glass.

George groaned and closed his eyes tightly. He took a few deep breaths and then opened his eyes again and smiled down at his baby. "Hey Roxie," he said gently. "Hey baby." He rocked her, the best he could while reaching for Freddie's hand and balancing the diaper bag at the same time.

"Don't call her that," Angelina snapped, still staring at the broom. George glanced up at his wife and realized she wasn't staring at the broom anymore; she was looking at her reflection in the window pane. She eyed herself critically, staring at the extra pounds that had settled on her waist and hips.

"Angie?" The bag of Freddie's toys was falling off his shoulder. "Angie, the bag, can you grab it?"

Angelina whipped around and glared at George. "No, I can't," she said, her eyes flashing. "That's the reason why I can't have that." She pointed fiercely at the broom in the window. Then she jabbed her fingers towards the children. "They're the reason the Falmouth Falcons wouldn't re-sign me."

"Angie, these are our children, my children."

"You don't have a – "

"Katie!" Angelina suddenly squealed, looking over George's shoulder. She dropped the acid tone to her voice and the anger left her eyes.

George turned in the direction Angelina was squealing. Katie Bell was coming towards them and she looked…George searched for the right word…radiant. Katie looked radiant. She was smiling thinly at Angelina but when she saw George the smile brightened and fully reached her eyes.

"How are you?" Katie asked as she hugged Angelina lightly. But before Angelina could answer Katie turned to George and the kids. "Well, aren't you handsome," she said as she bent down to Freddie's level. "You look just like your father," she added, smiling up at George.


"Katie, what are you doing here?" George asked quietly. He had been startled by a knock on the shop's window while he was closing up. He had ushered her in quickly and locked the door behind her.

Katie giggled. "Just saying hello." She hiccupped and swayed a little on the spot.

"Are you drunk?"George asked, showing her to a seat. She sat down heavily and he laughed.

"Oh George, are you happy?"

"Where did that come from?" George conjured up a chair and sat down next to her. A lamp outside the shop shone through the bottles lined up against the front window, casting multi-colored light on Katie's face. She was beautiful.

"Because," she shook her head forcefully. "I'm not happy." She fiddled with the hem of her dark skirt. "My boss calls me Miss Bell and my co-workers call me Katherine. I'm scared that I'm the only unhappy person in the whole world."

"That's not true – wait, your co-workers call you Katherine? But you're name's Katie, just Katie."

Katie laughed. "I know that." She swayed again in the chair and George caught her gently. Katie stopped laughing and looked up at George, her pale blue eyes full of regret and sadness. "Please tell me I'm not the only one who's unhappy."

"You're not the only one who's unhappy," George repeated quietly. "I have a wife who hates the sight of me and a dead twin brother."

"I'm sorry George."

George was still holding Katie by the shoulders and he gently pulled her closer. "I want to be happy again," he whispered.

"Me too," she replied.

Suddenly his mouth was on hers. He kissed her fiercely, something he had watched to do for years and years. She responded to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

After a few breathless moments Katie pulled away. "I've been drinking," she said. "But not enough to be alright with this." She pulled back and sat very straight in the chair. "We can't do this." She looked away. "No matter how much I want to, we can't do this."

"Why not," came a cold voice from the shadows by the fireworks display. Angelina stepped into the light, her arms folded across her chest.

"Angie," said both George and Katie simultaneously. Katie had stayed jumped too her feet, but George had remained very still in his chair.

"Angie," George repeated. "This – "

"You aren't going to try to tell me this isn't what I think it is, are you?" Angelina spat, her voice full of venom.

"No, I'm not," George said as he stood. "First, I'm going to ask you; who is with our children?"

"Ginny."

"Then, I'm going to say; this is exactly what it looks like." Both women's mouths dropped open. "I've been in love with Katie for as long as I can remember and this," he reached out to Katie and gently grasped her wrist. "This is me finally being happy."

"Me too," Katie whispered.


Note: I understand that this seems very sudden but please remember that these are just tiny little moments in their lives. This doesn't deal with consequences of actions, just the exact moment when these actions took place. Thanks.