This is very short. Sorry lads!
R&R.
x
Fred sat beside Katie's bed in the hospital wing, his head in his hands, elbows propped up on her duvet. It was late, and he should have retired to Gryffindor tower hours ago, but he had hidden himself as Madame Pomfrey locked up the hospital wing. He couldn't bear the thought of her waking up alone.
He lifted his eyes and looked at the small girl. She was sleeping soundly, her long hair a mess around her. Her hands rested near him, and he scooped them up in his own and kissed the bruises that covered her fingers.
His poor girl. His poor, poor girl.
He hadn't seen, hadn't known what had been happening during the match. It was only after, when Harry and Oliver, who between them had seen the whole thing, filled him in, that he felt the huge swell of anger in his chest. He squeezed the little fist he was clutching.
If he had only been paying attention, she wouldn't have been hurt. He could have stopped it. He would have beaten that good for nothing Roger Davies to a pulp. In fact, he planned on doing just that as soon as he knew Katie was alright.
She stirred in her slumber, and mumbled something incoherent. He looked at her quickly.
"Katie?"
Her eyelids fluttered, and she groaned.
"Freddie?" she said faintly.
Fred let out a huge sigh of relief, and lowered his head to kiss her on the forehead.
"Thank God you're alright!"
She smiled kindly at him.
"Of course I am. Takes more than some bitter teenage boy to put me out," she replied. Fred's face darkened.
"I'm going to beat that boy into next week when I see him," he said, anger evident in his voice.
"No, you're not," said Katie calmly, "he's not worth it."
"No one attacks my girlfriend and gets away with it," said Fred indignantly.
Katie started.
"Girlfriend?" she said, a small smile playing around her features.
"Well…" started Fred, realising what he had said. He pulled his hands out of hers, ruffled his hair and reclined in his chair.
"If you want to be." He looked up at her, trying to act cool, but Katie could see he was more than a little worried.
"Hmmm," she teased, "I dunno. What are the benefits to being Fred Weasley's girlfriend?"
She folded her arms and leant back, unable to keep the grin off her face.
"Well, no one will dare to knock you off your broom ever again, for one," he said, playing along.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm going to give Roger a piece of my mind. And I'll do it in front of a large crowd. No one wants to be on the receiving end of my wrath," she said thoughtfully.
Fred laughed.
"Well, alright then, Miss 'I can look after myself'. You fight your own battles. But I'll always have your back," he looked at her intently, and she felt herself blush.
"Let's see then…. What other services can I offer Princess Katie?" Fred asked himself, "Well… I can promise you will never go hungry. You know, I know all the hidden passageways in Hogwarts. We can go to the kitchens anytime you want, or even to Hogsmeade, if you ever feel like being rebellious."
"Right, so I'll start getting fat? Not really selling yourself well here Weasley, are you?"
"I can think of some activities that will help you keep the pounds off, Katie darling."
He winked at her, and she scoffed loudly.
"So… is that all? No more you can bring to the table?"
She cocked her head to the side, and waited for his rebuttle, amused.
"Well…. I'm not so sure I want you as my girlfriend anymore! What can you offer me, other than sarcasm and clumsiness?"
Katie raised her eyebrows.
"I'm a total catch mate. All I need to offer is myself. You may not have noticed, but I'm kind of a big deal around these parts. I'll totally boost you up the popularity ladder," she said, her voice laced in irony.
Fred chuckled.
"Oh please, oh popular one, please agree to be my girlfriend. I'm just a poor desperate unpopular boy in dire need of help."
The two looked at each other for a moment, before bursting out in laughter. A student in one of the nearby beds stirred, and they quietened.
"Seriously though, Kate. Go out with me?" he asked her, for the millionth time in his life.
"Yeah, alright then," she shrugged.
Fred's face cracked into the biggest smile Katie had ever seen on his features, and she laughed merrily as he threw himself on top of her on the bed, and started kissing every inch of her face that he could reach.
"Fred, cut it out you pansy!" she giggled, pushing him off.
"You're right. I'll go back to being my uber macho self now. But Katie… You've no idea how long I've waited for you to say yes!"
"Well, don't make me regret it," she grinned at him.
"I can't promise I'm not going to embarrass you from time to time. But I will make you happy. I'm going to be good for you, Katie Bell" he said, setting himself back down in his chair with a content expression.
"I know," she replied simply.
