"You eat too many of those," Fred said, watching Katie with a mingled expression of disgust and adoration.
Katie sucked harder on the slice of orange in her hand and let juice dribble down her chin. She made a thick, slurping sound. Fred raised his eyebrows.
"Nice."
"Oh, shut up," Katie sang happily, licking her fingers and eyeing up another piece of fruit, "just cause you're some sort of inbred who doesn't like delicious food."
"I resent that! The food I eat is absolutely delicious!"
"Mmmm… also fattening. You have gotten a bit wider as of late."
Katie prodded him in the stomach. Fred slapped away her hand grumpily.
"I've never heard you complain," he grumbled.
Katie giggled.
"Don't you worry, I like my men with a bit of meat on them."
Fred glowered at her, but couldn't hide the small smile playing on lips.
The two were sat beside a large oak tree in the school grounds underneath warm sunshine. Fred had finished his exams, quidditch season was over, and the summer holidays were about to commence. They had been together for a little over two months, and had been the most sickeningly happy pair of people in the whole of Hogwarts.
Much to the jealousy of boys and girls alike, the couple strode along the corridors hand in hand, laughing at each others jokes, playing pranks on Slytherin students and basking in the warmth of each others company.
On the rare occasion that they passed Roger Davies, Katie still felt a tight knot of anxiety clench in her stomach, and Fred had to fight the urge to trip him up, but despite this, they had been on fire from the minute they had made it official. Not a single argument had occurred, only passionate kissing late at night, and secret hand holding underneath the table at meal times.
Katie took another loud bite out of her orange, and looked at him happily.
"I love you," she said.
He smiled at her.
"You know, that's the first time you've ever said that."
Katie shrugged.
"Well, I do. I really really love you Fred Weasley."
He leaned over and cupped her face in his hands. He could feel the food in her cheeks.
"I have waited since I first met you to hear you say that. And you choose now to do it! I never thought I'd say this love, but I really wish the holidays weren't coming up."
Katie spluttered, and started coughing, nearly choking on her food.
"Jesus, are you sick?"
"No, I mean it. I'm going to have to wait ages before I can get you back in another broom cupboard."
Katie laughed, and kissed him. He wrinkled his nose at the taste of orange, but didn't recoil.
The kiss lingered for a few more moments, before the pair broke apart and gazed at each other.
"You could always come and visit me?" she suggested.
Fred eyed her.
"You're muggle born, how on earth do you think I'll survive without magic?"
"The same way I do!" she said, indignantly, "it's quite nice going back to basics sometimes. Imagine it, just me and you, no magic and no one else to worry about. Doesn't that sound romantic?"
Fred leaned back on his elbows and splayed his legs out in front of him.
"I dunno. You might end up murdering me," he said seriously.
Katie laughed again.
"Well I can't use magic, so I can't use an avada kedavra curse. I'm not allowed near the knife drawer anymore, mum keeps it locked. And I am a lot smaller than you, so I doubt I would be able to strangle you… You're probably quite safe," she reasoned.
"Not allowed near the knife… Never mind. How about you come and stay with me?"
Katie rolled her eyes at him.
"Oh come on, we'd never get a minute to ourselves! Your house is full to the brim already, is it not? It must be, there are like a thousand of you. I'm an only child, and my parents are hippies… they probably wouldn't care if we stayed in my room all day and all night."
"What's a hippie?" Fred asked, looking confused.
"Never mind. The point is, my place is better."
"No, it isn't! You can't use magic there!" Fred said, exasperated.
"You can't use magic at yours either! You're underage, remember!" Katie practically yelled, before throwing her arms around her waist and glowering at him. She was verging on the edge of a tantrum, but Fred was smart enough to recognise it. He took a deep breathe.
"Alright. How about a deal. I'll come to yours, if you come to mine?"
Katie's face softened.
"Alright. Deal."
She held her hand out, and he shook it vigorously.
"Mum and Dad will be delighted," Katie prattled, "They've never met another witch or wizard before, let alone a boyfriend."
"You never took Roger home?" asked Fred, trying and failing to sound cool.
Katie scoffed.
"Did I buggery. They would have hated him!"
"And they'll like me?"
She nodded, and began peeling another orange.
"You know, you really do eat too much of those."
"It's because I like orange things. Like you."
"I thought you loved me?"
"I do. I love you Fred."
"I love you too Katie."
Sorry it's short guys. There are troubled waters up ahead for our lovely couple. But they deserve some fluff before we get to that stage. Love to you all, especially my wonderful reviewers. SunshineGal16 and Bacey Doone, I adore you guys.