A/N: For the record I am SO sorry that this took so long to get out. I have been insanely busy for the last couple weeks. However this is a nice little chapter to kind of keep things moving along. I think it feels a little rushed, but hopefully it will all work out.
Just to let you guys know…I was listening to the Glee soundtrack while I wrote the last half. If you don't watch/listen to Glee you definitely should, some of their covers are wayy incredible.
Anyway massive thanks to everyone who alerted/favorited. But to my reviewers, you are truly fantastic and I hope this chapter helps make up for my absence. I received the most reviews yet for this one so thanks to:
Chapter 9: Love and the Forgotten Birthday
"Although I must confess that the gap between sexes is clear even in talking about one another. Boys tend to celebrate their manly achievements regarding snogging, shagging and everything in between. The gentler sex prefers to expound upon the many intricacies of what tall, dark and Hufflepuff's casual 'hello' meant. Does he like me? Why did he only say hello, does he not know my name? Do you think he's been trying to talk to me for week? Why didn't I say something clever back? You get the point.
"Boys however seem to have a much easier time on the subject. In fact, I would go so far as to say the female population could take a leaf from the manual of manly conversation. Sometimes 'hello' is just hello and when it comes down to it, some of the details are better spared." Ian's voice trailed off as he continued to read her article draft aloud. Curfew was rapidly approaching and Kate was still down in the Dungeon with Ian.
Their younger staff was dismissed an hour prior to get to their common room before their curfew hit. The rest of the senior staff was busy finishing the final layout for the paper to be released that next morning. Kate was trying to finish the dates on the calendar but her mind was completely blank. From her spot on the step stool she leaned against the wall, twirling her wand absently in her fingers.
"Kate this is good stuff, thought provoking and a bit amusing. Did you really get the inspiration from Fred Weasley?" Ian's voice passed through her ears but seemed to not register.
How had she gone almost all fall term without realizing George fancied her? Now that she knew it seemed to painfully obvious, he hadn't exactly been subtle about it. The paper frog he had given her was still sitting on her desk, perched next to a photo of their group of friends. Eventually the hopping charm had worn off but every once in a while the green frog would ribbit feebly. Every morning he saved a seat in the Great Hall for her regardless of whether or not she ate with them. Not to mention all those notes he took for her. George never took good notes, at least not until recently.
"Kate! Earth to Kate!" Ian's voice was so loud this time that she jerked from her state and as a result her wand clattered to the floor, releasing a spray of violet sparks that danced along the hem of Ian's robes. "Merlin's pants are you trying to set the whole place on fire?" He cried.
Kate was so startled that she lost her balance and tumbled from the step stool. Stepping in just in time, Ian caught her with waiting arms. However he had not prepared for her full weight and they tumbled backwards onto the floor. Glaring at her, Ian got to his feet and gave her a rough hand up. "Sorry Ian," said Kate as she stooped to pick up her wand.
"What is going on with you? I can't get you to focus on anything all week. Your editorials were turned in a mess and the column had more misspellings than I'd ever seen from you before you corrected it." Sighing he raked a hand through his dark curls and came around his desk to gather up the last of the material for the final layout.
"I've just been a bit distracted is all," she said trying to meld her voice into casual carelessness. Which wouldn't have fooled anyone, including her sharp editor.
Looking up he seemed to take in her disheveled appearance before rolling his eyes. "A bit distracted might be the understatement of the year. Will you please tell me what is going on so we can talk it out and you can be productive again?"
It was Kate's turn to roll her eyes as she sat on the corner of her desk. Lifting her hand she directed her wand to the quill that quivered on the social calendar. Deciding it was safer to conduct business from where she sat, she began to wave out directions and the quill started scribing the beginning of the various holiday events. "There's not much to talk about Ian. Just stressed what with the first village visit, plus exams, plus all this mess." As she spoke she gestured to the social calendar. The squares were beginning to get so full that she was resorting to color coding the different events. "Otherwise everything is perfectly fine."
Except for the fact that one of her closest friends fancied her. Never mind the fact that she was casually dating Stephen Delancourt. Forget Jennelyn Ward who was bugging her at every opportune moment to find out George's feelings for her. Definitely cast aside the fact that if they dated and everything went wrong it would be a nightmare. Besides, Kate reasoned, she didn't fancy him in return. No, George was just a friend. Who happened to have the most stunning hazel eyes she'd ever seen.
"You're an awful liar but I can see you're not inclined to share." This single statement from Ian caused Kate's head to snap up. An emotion was laced through that she'd seldom heard from him. Yet she had not imagined the hurt in his tone. Had she unwittingly hurt her friend's feelings by not sharing the intimate details of her tangled life?
Ian had turned his back away from her and she watched him walk down the large aisle that cut through various desks and workstations. The layout table ahead of him was a mess of papers and senior staff members desperate to get the issue to print so they could all go to bed. Kate herself was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to crawl into her four-poster and sleep for an eon. Sleeping in late was her only motivation to get through the week to Sunday when she could sleep till noon.
Deciding it was best to not make Ian angrier she quickly returned to filling out the social calendar. Upon his return she tried for an apologetic look. "I'm sorry Ian, I'll try to be more alert," she tried.
"If something is upsetting you or bothering you then I think you should talk about it." Ian's voice dropped low enough so nobody else could hear. "I hope you know that I'm more than just your editor. Really I consider you one of my best friends."
Opening and then closing her mouth for a second, Kate tried to reason around it but the words came out of her mouth before she could stop them. "If I tell you something will you promise to keep it to yourself and to not laugh?"
Giving her his best somber expression, the boy nodded. Even when being a mocking prat he was still so good looking it was ludicrous. "I solemnly swear," said Ian. He, of course, was fighting to keep that slick little smile off his face.
Groaning she buried her face in her hands. In the time it had taken him to do all of this she'd changed her mind seven times. It wasn't like she was telling him some monumental secret. But saying it out loud would make the situation real and that was what frightened her the most. Again her mouth acted of its own accord before the more rational side of her brain could really stop it. "George Weasley fancies me. I figured it out this past Saturday."
For a moment the silence between them was jarring. Until, as she figured he would, Ian started laughing. He laughed so hard that he was doubled over, seemingly beside himself with mirth. "Ah yes, I'm so glad you're taking this seriously." Kate drawled, not even hiding the bite in her voice.
Straightening back up, Ian was still fighting chuckles. "I just can't believe it took you this bloody long to figure it out. Some romance expert you are," said Ian. A wicked grin was attempting to overshadow his amused expression.
Of course the fact that Ian already knew was a surprise to Kate. "How do you know?"
"Oh please Kate, it was so easy to see." Ian replied and reached up to further loosen his tie. "He's been quite painfully obvious, even to me."
Blood rushed her cheeks. "Does that mean other people know?"
This provoked another round of chuckles. Ian slung an arm over her shoulder and pressed his forehead affectionately against her temple. "Kate my dear, everyone knows that he fancies you except for really you. Maybe Jenn but that's cause she's too busy pining for him to notice the truth."
Now more than ever Kate wanted to sink into the floor and never come back up. All this time all of her friends were aware of the situation and she had been walking around blind? "Why didn't you say anything?" She asked.
Ian was silent a moment as he rolled up the sleeves on his shirt. "It was for you to figure out on your own. Besides meddling isn't good for my antisocial reputation. I don't want anyone else to know I'm interested in anybody's social lives." At this Kate couldn't help but smile.
Reaching up she ruffled his hair, much to his chagrin. As he struggled to shake her off he caught her with a serious expression. "Will you let me share an opinion?"
"Of course."
"You've been starry eyed and useless ever since you've joined in on the little secret. You were never that way when you figured out Delancourt had an interest in
You." Then he left her at her desk, open-mouthed.
* * * * *
Wednesday afternoon found Kate at the Ravenclaw table with Cara. The sisters were quietly working through lunch; transfiguration books propped open on the table. Another bad lesson with McGonagall had convinced Kate that she should have blown off her transfiguration O.W.L the previous year. Her current question set on the theory of animal transfiguration was giving her so much trouble she was about to chunk her book at the staff table.
Next to her Cara was sucking on the end of a sugar quill. Her iron eyes were re-reading a paragraph before she started jotting a few sentences down on her current essay. "So any spectacular plans for Friday I should be aware of?"
Shaking her head, Kate kept her eyes on her work and so did Cara. "Not that I know of, why?" She was just dipping her quill into her ink when her sister answered.
"You know this is the second year in a row you'll have forgotten your own birthday then. Only this year you don't have the excuse of Alicia's temporary memory charm accidentally backfiring on you." Kate jolted so hard that she knocked her inkbottle over and it started running all down her parchment. Cursing under her breath she fumbled for her wand but Cara beat her to it. "Tergeo," said her smirking sister.
Leaning away from her just saved homework; Kate stared at her sister in open-mouthed shock. Of all the days in her life as a witch, forgetting her seventeenth birthday seemed almost a sin. "Oh my God," she stated dumbly. "Is Friday really the 20th?"
In a moment of pure panic she dove into her bag and pulled out her course schedule and planning notebook. Flicking the pages to November she searched through and sure enough the twentieth was marked as a Friday, this coming Friday. "Sometimes I really worry about you sis," said Cara and she calmly sipped her pumpkin juice.
"I can't believe I forgot," said Kate as she looked at the blank day on her calendar.
"I'm not surprised." Her sister retorted. Fixing her gaze on Cara, Kate prompted her for an answer. "What with your N.E.W.T. classes piling up homework, your quite demanding social schedule, not to mention I think all the work Ian is making you do might be illegal."
"Still, it's my seventeenth birthday," said Kate darkly and she snapped her transfiguration book shut.
Shrugging, Cara bit off a piece of her sugar quill and chewed on it thoughtfully. "It's not too late to throw things together with your friends. Impromptu parties are fun!"
Groaning Kate shook her head and sank lower onto her bench. Fatigue filled her entire body as she thought about the mere notion of adding one more thing to her already packed life. Even if it was her birthday. "All I wanted to do on Friday was sink into bed and not crawl out till Monday morning."
Smirking, Cara reached over and smoothed her sister's hair. "Damned if you've got a date with Delancourt on Saturday. Your birthday should be made by that mere fact alone. Most girls would gladly take that as their only birthday present." Kate felt a small smile toy at the corners of her mouth. Yes, she did have her date with Stephen to look forward to.
The bell started ringing and with a groan, Kate hauled herself to her feet. "Well it's only a birthday, I'm sure it will go just as all the others do," said Kate and smiled when Cara hugged her.
"Somehow I really doubt that. You are about to be seventeen after all. I'll see you sometime before then I'm sure." After a short goodbye Cara made her way to Potions and Kate went to the hall to meet Alicia and Angelina in the hall for Runes.
Instead she found a tall figure leaning against the arched doorway leading to the Great Hall. George's bag was slung casually over his shoulder and his arms were crossed over his chest. "The girls had a lunch meeting for the Transfiguration club. So I thought I might wait for you instead." Was all George said and then he gave her a fantastic smile.
An army of butterflies literally burst forth into Kate's stomach. As they walked towards the main hallway she could feel them performing synchronized drills and her heart started pounding. Flipping her hair over her shoulder she looked up at him and returned his smile. "Thanks for waiting," said Kate and then she hitched her bag higher on her shoulder.
"Anytime," said George and she knew that he wasn't kidding. Suddenly she had no idea what to say to him. In all of their years of friendship Kate had never had a problem talking to George. Now her tongue was nailed to the roof of her mouth. "You alright Kate? You seem a bit dazed."
Shaking her head she tried to stop thinking about how casually his hair fell across his eyes or the way he raked his fingers through it. "Just stretched thin is all. Did you know I forgot my birthday for the second year in a row?"
To her surprise he tossed his head back and laughed. "I was wondering when you'd pick up on that."
Arching an eyebrow she turned to look up at him. "You knew?"
Nodding he gave her a pronounced wink. "All of us know. Did you think we would let your birthday pass with no mention? Alicia told us a couple of days ago," he said with a shrug and steered her in up the right staircase towards their classroom.
Kate sighed. "I feel like a bit of an idiot, forgetting my seventeenth birthday and all."
George made a motion as if he was going to put an arm around her shoulder. Then in an uncharacteristically awkward motion he swung his arm forward sharply, just narrowly missing the back of her head. A brilliant blush rushed his cheeks and Kate felt her jaw drop. Never once could she remember having an awkward moment with George. Their chemistry was always so effortless she didn't even think they were capable of awkward. It seemed, judging by his sudden silence that he was aware of the issue too. "Well trust that we haven't and we'll make sure your day is spectacular!" He attempted in a feeble cover up.
The silence that hung over them for the rest of the walk was so uncomfortable that Kate practically shot through the open door straight to Alicia and Angelina. Both girls gave her confused looks but said nothing as Kate took her seat and whipped out her notebooks. As she started to review her homework she missed the shift from confusion to knowing expressions as Alicia and Angelina's eyes flitted between George and Kate.
* * * * *
The sixth floor contained an entire hallway of study hostels. Each room had a small circular table and four chairs that suited study groups and various clubs. Kate's favorite study room was number seven. The chairs were well worn and incredibly comfortable. Plus the room was tucked away in the back corner with no window to see into the room. All in all the setup was entirely conducive to doing plenty of non-academic related things.
For instance she was spending her Thursday afternoon with all her homework cast aside with Stephen's. His hands were knotted in her hair and she was sitting across his lap. One of her hand was steadying herself, braced against the wall while the other sat at the curve of his neck into shoulder. Stephen's grip held her head close to his while they snogged.
Kate really enjoyed kissing Stephen. He was always relaxed and never pushy. They could flow from conversation to kissing and back with no trouble at all. Plus he had a cute habit of nipping her lower lip and then smiling against her kiss. Absently one of his hands left her hair and came to rest on her knee, his thumb stroking the skin of her lower thigh. They shifted as one into a more comfortable position and she laughed low as he fought to maintain his balance.
"By the way, I hope you don't mind but you won't be receiving your birthday present until Saturday. It's planned in as part of our date." His voice when they'd been snogging was delicious. Usually Kate enjoyed listening to him talk, but now it was a lower tone, husky and just a touch raspy. If voices were edible, she knew that his would be dark chocolate and raspberries.
"You don't have to do anything at all," she responded and slipped her hand behind his neck to bring his head into a better angle.
Their lips met again, melting easily against each other. In a swift motion his tongue parted her lips and darted past them. Kate was more than willing to accommodate him and she responded eagerly. She'd had plenty of practice with kissing, she felt it her duty to learn as much as possible, and Stephen was well placed among her list of super spectacular kisses.
"Of course I did," said Stephen. "You don't think I would let your seventeenth pass with nothing did you? Silly girl." In a teasing motion he tweaked her nose. Reaching up he brushed a few locks of stray hair from her forehead. "Have I mentioned how lovely you look with your hair all tousled like this?"
Blush blossomed in her cheeks and she shook her head. "No," she whispered softly.
"Well, you do. You're stunning actually." He was about to kiss her again when the door banged open.
"I'd like to have a word with you Kate." Jennelyn Ward was standing in the doorway. Her features immediately went from livid to directly appalled. "This is a study hostel, Delancourt I'm sure you have better things to do than snog my best friend. Like working on quidditch plays or homework?" She snapped and Kate arched a brow. She'd never heard Jennelyn speak like that to anyone, ever.
Sitting up a little straighter, Stephen's grip on Kate tightened. "Actually this is my top priority right now."
"Well then you can just stand in the hall and wait." Jennelyn growled. Kate frowned and clambered to her feet. Stephen followed suit, still holding Kate's hand.
Turning to look at him she shrugged helplessly. "I'll see you tomorrow?" She said and he nodded. With a glare at Jennelyn he looked back at Kate and then smiled softly. Just as he always did when they parted ways he leaned down and cupped her face in both hands, kissing her gently.
"Until tomorrow." Then he gathered his things and walked out of the room, leaving Kate to wheel around on Jenn.
"I really hope you have a good reason for acting like you just did."
With a huff, Jennelyn snapped the door shut and dropped her bag on the chair. "You haven't said anything to George have you? When we talked about it you promised and you've not done a damn thing!" She growled. "I mean the least you could have done is find out if he had feelings at all!"
As always when they spoke about George, Kate felt a mixture of intense anger, upset and another strong feeling she didn't quite understand. All she knew was whenever Jenn started to talk about George she had an undeniable urge to pick up the nearest book and chunk it at her head. "Sorry I haven't had time to help. I've been stretched so thin I can barely remember to put on matching knee socks in the morning and button my shirt correctly," said Kate and she sank back down into a chair. Whatever was angering Jenn would boil over.
"Well I guess I would have thought what with us being best friends and all you'd try and make it a priority." Jenn snapped and Kate lifted her head, staring incredulously at her.
"Merlin's beard Jennelyn what on earth happened?"
A moment's pause filled the space between them. "I did what you said I should do. I got my courage up and asked him to go with me to the village."
Horror seemed to replace all other emotions. "And?" Kate prompted when she received no further detail.
Tears were beginning to shine in the girl's eyes. "He said no." Relief took its turn on her current roller coaster, so did the guilty feeling that accompanied Kate's lack of surprise. She would have known he'd say no. Certainly not out of malicious intent but because of other reasons, knowing George he had plenty of them.
"Did he say why?" Kate mused, trying to feign her interest. Really at this point she was just relieved that she'd been correct.
"He said it wouldn't be fair because he fancies someone else." Tears now trickled down her cheeks. Almost immediately the horror returned, warring with guilt. Her entire body felt rigid and cold. Of all the gentle excuses George could have given her, that was maybe the worst possible one. The cold reality of the situation set in. Jennelyn and Kate were best friends, yet while Jenn liked George he only had eyes for Kate. The triangle made her feel suddenly nauseous.
"Oh honey," she managed to say. "Did he say who?" Kate motioned for Jenn to sit down. The raven-haired girl sat down and shook her head. Thank God, Kate thought.
"He just said that he really appreciated me as a friend but didn't want to ruin his chances with whoever she is." Kate's brows flew up. She was aware that he liked her but she was unaware that he was so serious about it. "And now I just feel so stupid."
Kate reached over and patted her shoulder. "Don't feel stupid. We couldn't have known."
"I hate being rejected. God I can't believe I did that." Jennelyn further moped.
The words Kate wanted to give her to comfort her friend weren't coming to her. There was nothing she could say to make her feel better. Instead they sat in complete silence while she cried. "There will be other boys," said Kate softly.
Angrily, Jennelyn wiped her cheeks off. "Well you can bet that if I find out who the girl is she'll never receive my forgiveness." At her words, Kate couldn't shake the waves of ice that cascaded in her stomach.
* * * * *
That night Kate was in the common room with Alicia and Angelina. A potions book was propped open against her legs as she sat on the couch reading. Her conversation with Jennelyn was still on her mind and she couldn't shake the feeling that the situation was going to get a lot worse before it got any better. Kate really didn't want to lose her best friend, but if Jenn found out that George's mystery girl was Kate? Well, the consequences were disastrous.
Alicia and Angelina were squabbling about a presentation they were going to give for Charms club. Ultimately Kate needed to talk to Cara but it was after hours and she didn't want to get caught sneaking up to Ravenclaw's common room. So she was stuck ruminating the situation alone. It wasn't helping her make sense of the whole mess.
Suddenly the portrait hole swung open and Kate watched the twins walk in with Lee, and Ron. The twin's little brother had taken to sitting with them at almost all of their meals and tagging along in the halls. It was quite rare these days to get one of the twins alone. Kate didn't normally have much of a problem with Ron, when he wasn't in such a foul mood he was normally quite funny. However was beginning to wear, having him hang around all the time.
Just as she said this Fred picked up her feet, and sat down where they had been before bringing them back to rest across her lap. "Evening Miss Kelley," he said with a cheeky grin.
"Hi Fred, what kind of trouble tonight?" She asked as Alicia and Angelina looked up from their mess on the floor.
"Nothing major, used a temporary sticking charm on Filch's cat. She's hanging from the ceiling in the East Wing of the second floor." All of the girls laughed. Kate looked around and noticed George was gone. "He's gone up to his room if you want to go talk to him." Fred muttered in her ear.
Nodding, she gathered her book and left the group missing their speculative glances as she went. Finally she was standing in front of his door. Raising a hand she knocked on it. "It's open," his voice came from the other side.
Upon stepping into the room she found him laid across his bed, arms stretched behind his head. "Hey there stranger," she said and he sat up immediately upon hearing her voice. "Heard you had kind of a rough day."
George shifted and moved over on his bed so they could sit on it together. "You could say that. I take it Jennelyn has talked to you?"
Nodding, Kate bit her lip and looked down at the comforter. "She was really upset."
"Yeah, looked like she was going to cry. I hate making girls cry, it's worse than a bludger to the stomach." George muttered, and he did in fact down miserable. "I've known for a while that she liked me, but I thought I'd made it fairly clear I didn't return the gesture. You know when she tried to flirt with me and drop hints. I guess it didn't quite sink though."
Reaching out she patted his forearm. "It's alright. She's a strong girl; she'll get over it in time. I was surprised though that she asked you, I didn't think she'd actually go through with it." George raked his fingers through his hair.
"Neither did I to be honest. Guess I thought if she was going to that she'd have you do it."
To his apparent surprise, Kate laughed. "Well that was her original intention. But I told her that you weren't the time to take third year measures, if she wanted to go with you bad enough she should ask you herself." George leaned his back against one of his bedposts.
"You know me too well," he said with a chuckle. Kate felt her heart break out into a spring. From where he was sitting she could see his shoulders pull slightly at the worn long sleeved shirt he wore with a pair of jeans. There was a hole in one of the knees, and he had a lazy smile on his face. It was a sudden instantaneous thing. Kate had never felt so attracted to anyone as she did in that one moment, to hell with Stephen Delancourt.
"So you like another girl then?" She hedged.
Although his expressions were smooth, a perfect poker face, George couldn't fight his natural flush. "Ah she told you that did she?"
Nodding, Kate shrugged. "We're best friends, we tell each other a lot."
"Well I don't suppose there's a point in denying it. Yes I do happen to like someone else."
Looking down at his comforter she nodded. "I won't pry, I was just curious."
Up until that moment, his eyes were closed. "I have something for you. Consider it an early birthday present." Kate was positive that he was changing the subject to get away from the current topic. That was until he got up and went around to his desk. The view was blocked by a partially shut curtain. When he came around holding the golden stem her jaw dropped.
It was the most perfect rose she'd ever seen. The petals were a perfect snow white. Sheared of its thorns, the stem and leaves were shining gold. "George," she whispered softly and got to her feet to come around to him.
"I didn't want you to think we all forgot your birthday either. You wouldn't believe how tough it was to come across one of these." Carefully she took the never wilting rose and inhaled the sweet fragrance. The magically enhanced flowers were rare, but among the most beautiful objects in the wizarding world.
"I can't take this," she breathed.
His warm hands closed over hers. "Yes you can. Happy Birthday Kate."
A balloon popped in her stomach, butterflies exploded as she stared up into his hazel eyes. In that moment there was no Stephen. Jennelyn was a distant figure and Kate had no idea why any of them would matter anyway. Her heart swelled in strong affection for George. It was as if she'd never truly understood his character or their relationship before. But suddenly there was just so much potential.
Which was what drove her to lean up on her tiptoes, place a hand on the back of his neck and pull his mouth to meet hers. There was no hesitation. It was as if George had been ready for this moment for ages. His hands found her narrow waist and held her firmly. Their lips brushed past each other's. It was a sweet kiss, short and soft. In her chest, Kate's heart was racing closer and closer to what she knew was true. George's affection was not altogether one-sided.
Surprise! So I totally planned the first kiss for next chapter, but when I decided to have George give her the rose in private the moment was too perfect to pass up.
Don't worry though, there's a mountain of drama to go. In case anyone was curious, this story is part of a planned series, so the end is not near in sight. I don't want to focus just on George and Kate getting together but maintaining their relationship over time. That being said I still haven't decided how I'm going to work with the material in Deathly Hallows as well as JKR's George/Angelina marriage. I would love to hear ideas though!
Anyway please, please review. It only takes a minute! Much love-Brose