A Love Like Woe

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Katie Bell realizes she's in love with her best friend Fred Weasley the night he asks Angelina Johnson to the Yule Ball, and Katie will do anything to win him back.

Disclaimer: The brilliance of the Harry Potter still and always will belong to the lovely J.K. Rowling (and unfortunately that is not me).

Chapter Nine: An Eventful Morning

That Saturday, I woke up extra early in the morning. And by early, I mean even early for my standards. I had decided the night before that I would talk to George in the morning. I didn't want anyone in Gryffindor to hear or walk in on our talk though, so I had to do it early in the morning.

Getting dressed quickly, I put on a cute outfit for the day and then headed over to the boys half of Gryffindor tower. I silently thanked the founders of Hogwarts who had decided that girls were more trustworthy than guys. It's much more easier just walking up stairs rather than trying to fly up the twisty and curvy stairs leading up to the boys' dormitory on brooms like Fred and George had to do to get to our rooms.

When I reached the sixth year boys' dorm, I pulled out my wand and whispered alohomora in order to unlock the door. As quietly as I could I slipped over to George's bed. I shuddered as I walked over a number of boxers, sweet wrappers and unidentifiable objects (that I was especially careful not to touch – with Fred and George you could never be too careful) on the ground. The boys' room was a mess! I don't know how they could bare living like this, especially when it is so easy to clean up with magic.

I glanced at Fred's sleeping form. He had kicked all his covers off and was sleeping in only his boxers. Biting my lip, I was glad to see that even though Quidditch season had been cancelled this year, he still hadn't quite lost those abs he had gained in Oliver Wood's killer training sessions last year.

Shaking my head, I returned to the task at hand. I whispered the muffliato spell (a handy spell Fred and I had found in the back of an old potions book in one of Snape's classes) on the sixth year boys. Making sure they couldn't hear anything I then went to George's bed and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him awake.

"Wh-what?" He grumbled.

"George, its me Katie! We need to talk."

He rubbed his face, and then propped himself up on his arms.

"What time do you call this?"

I glance at my watch.

"It's only six in the morning you big baby. Come on, get up."

"Six in the morning? Katie! It's a Saturday! I don't even get up that early on a school day, let alone the weekend! Let me sleep!" He rolled back over onto his side and pulled his blankets above his head.

"Okay fine, I won't tell you what Angie said to me a couple of days ago."

I walked out of the room, and was at the stairs when I heard the door behind me open. Turning around I saw George there.

"What did she say?" He asked.

"If you come with me, maybe I'll tell you." I said teasingly.

"Give me a minute" he replied, returning to his room. I sat on the stairs expecting him to take a while, but he was out a second later fully dressed.

"Okay, talk."

I suggested that we find somewhere else to talk and led him down the stairs. We settled down at our favourite spots by the fire, which was mercifully well lit thanks to the house elves.

"So did you guys sort things out?" George asked. I nodded.

"Yep, she explained certain things to me. She also mentioned how you talked her into talking with me, which got me thinking."

He raised one eyebrow and placed his head on his hands.

"Do tell Katie my dear."

"Well it got me thinking, that maybe you might have had ulterior motives for trying to set me and Fred up."

He laughed. "You mean besides making my brother and one of my best friends (who are obviously meant to be together by the way) happy?"

"Yes." I said, sticking my tongue out at him. "Because I think that you want to date Angelina. I think that you loooovveee her."

George winked at me.

"Took you long enough." I glared at him.

"Well ask her out then George! What are you waiting for?" I asked, exasperated.

"Well Katie, its not as simple as that. I mean, she probably doesn't even like me that way. She was just in a relationship with my brother; I don't want to be just the rebound guy. And what if she only dated me as a substitute for dating Fred? I couldn't stand it if that happened." He groaned a put his face in his hands.

"Except for the fact that she was only dating Fred because she couldn't have you." I said, grinning crazily.

George looked up in a flash.

"She what?" he said, a smile creeping onto his face.

"She was only dating Fred because she thought that you didn't feel the same way. It's the only reason she was mad at me too. She though that I was not only stealing you from her, but then I had to go and steal Fred too."

A look of comprehension dawned on George's face.

"Damn! That's fantastic! I mean, not that she was mad at you, but that she likes me too! I Blimey, I never imagined that she would, I always thought she had a thing for Fred."

"Well now, ask her out you big idiot!" I said lightly punching in in the arm. "Though not for today, cause we're having a girls day out."

"But Katie, the next Hogsmeade trip is forever from now! I don't want to wait that long" whined George, pouting a bit.

"No, you can't! I haven't talked to her in ages! And don't you pull that puppy dog face on me George!" I exclaimed. If there is one thing that always works on me, it is when either of the twins pulls their puppy dog face. Even as I said it though, he made the face.

"Ugh George!" I scowled at him. Must not give in. Don't give in Katie. Resist. You are the master of your own decisions. He will not make you change your mind. Just because he is making such an adorable face that reminds you of Fred… Wait, snap out of it! Of course he reminds you of Fred, they're identical! Ahh no, its too adorable! No not adorable, pathetic, yes pathetic! Resist Katie! RESIST GODDAMNIT!

"Okay, fine." I groaned. Ok, great, so much for being the master of my own decisions.

"Yes!" George shouted jumping off the couch and punching the air. I leapt off my seat and clamped my hand over his mouth.

"George! Shut up! Everyone is still sleeping! Ok, look you can spend some time with Angie today, but I want to spend some time with her too. So why don't you meet up with us at the Three Broomsticks sometime in the afternoon, and the I'll drag Licia away ok?"

He nodded, unable to say anything since my hand was covering his mouth. I glared at him for ruining my plans, though I was finding it hard to stay mad at him. I was incredibly happy for Angie and George, they really would be perfect together. Next to Fred and me, I would think that they were the next two closest in our group. Although, considering Fred never actually talks to me anymore, maybe they were the closest. Now that I think of it, I don't think I've spoken him since that prank we pulled on Snape. What was that boy's problem anyways? He tell me he loves me and then…

"AGH!" I squealed (yes squealed… very mature, I know), pulling my hand away from his face.

"George! You licked me! What the hell?"

"Well it seemed to be the only way to get your attention!" He said, raising his hands in defense.

"Ugh that's it!" I yelled. I ran up to him and jumped on his back, flinging him to the coach. I was just about to rage a tickling war with George when I got a feeling at the back of my head like we were being watched. Turning my head I realized who it was.

"Hey Fred!" I said, with a huge smile on my face. "Want to help me inflict some serious damage on your brother?"

Instead of coming up to help me like I though he would though, Fred just stood there. My face fell as I realized that something was wrong. I quickly got off of George and stood up beside the coach.

"Fred, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing." He responded. I noticed that his gaze kept flickering between George and I. He wasn't thinking what I thought he was thinking was he? I glanced at George and then back at myself. Who am I kidding? This is Fred; of course he was thinking that.

"Fred, nothing was happening between us, in fact I was just telling George some very good news." I said. I smiled hoping that would relieve the tension.

"Yeah Gred, Katie here was just telling me how Angie might have feelings for me and I think I'm going to ask her out today." George said, hopping off the couch. "In fact I'm just going to run up stairs and make myself gorgeous, or rather more gorgeous than I am already, for the big day. Toodle-loo!" With a wave, he jumped over the coach and ran over to the staircase and out of site.

Coward. Why does he always abandon me when Fred is in a mood? I glanced at Fred again. He looked deep in thought again. Honestly, I think Fred has done more thinking in the past few weeks since the Yule Ball then he has done in his entire life.

"Look Fred, you know there's nothing between George and I." I started. "I've already made my feelings clear to you. Though apparently you don't seem to feel the same. At least from the past few weeks that's what it's seemed like. I guess maybe you felt sorry for me at the Yule Ball or something and that's why you said you felt the same way." Katie, stop babbling! I told myself. But like that was going to happen. Damn, here comes the word vomit again.

"But if that's why you said that, then look, I handle rejection better. Don't try to get my hopes up and then make them come crashing down. I think I've had enough of that in my life thank you very much. And you know what? You have no right to be jealous of George all the time! I've seen the way you look at me when I talk to him, or any guy for that matter. I'm not your girlfriend, since you seem quite happy with us the way we are, so why don't you just…"

Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to finish my sentence, because faster than I thought it humanly possible, Fred had crossed the Gryffindor common room and grabbed my face pulling it into a fierce kiss. I was so shocked I didn't have a chance to kiss him back before he pulled away. He kept his hands on my neck though and stared into my eyes.

"Katie look, I'm sorry. I didn't want you to think that way. I just, I need some time to think. I've been thinking a lot these past couple of weeks and I think I've come to a decision. But, I just, I need a bit more time. Can we talk tonight?" I was still in shock from this total switch in personality, but I managed to nod.

"Okay good. And Katie, I really am sorry, I've made you felt this way." He was looking straight into my eyes, and I swear I could feel myself falling into them. How was it he made me feel this way, when all I ever saw in George was a brother? He kissed me on my forehead and then letting go of me, he turned and left the common room.

As I stood there, a million thoughts ran through my head. One of which, why the heck does he keep doing this to me? Well there goes today ruined, now I'm just going to worry about our talk tonight. Sighing, I turned away and walked back up the stairs to my dorm room. Well at least two good things came out of today. George and Angie will most likely be getting together and I got to kiss Fred again. I smiled as the memory of the kiss played across my lips. Well, if he's going to react like that to when I'm angry, I might just have to be angry with him more often.

Grinning even more I walked up the stairs to my room. What an eventful morning.