A/N: It's finally here! I am SO sorry that this chapter took forever. Not only did I have a hard time writing but my life has also been crazy. Almost all of December was devoted to applying to graduate school and then the Midwest weather decided to ruin the last half of the month. Anyway time to write has been thin on the ground since the last update.
This chapter features personal conflict and George finally growing a backbone! From here on out he's going to be more George and less…angsty.
Disclaimer: you know if it's mine and if it's not.
Love and the Intrusion
Kate sat in front of her vanity combing through her pin straight hair. A bright colored scarf was wound into the thick sheet and her eyes were out of focus as she stared straight ahead. Behind her the curtains on her bed were pulled back to reveal her unmade bed and on her desk sat a small stack of opened birthday cards. She had meant to take care of so much last night after getting in from dinner. Instead Kate had fallen into bed too shocked to speak and then gotten up Sunday morning and dumped herself straight into the shower.
Not that her shower had gone so well. Kate was so lost in her own thoughts that she'd brushed her teeth twice and forgot to use shampoo before her conditioner. Currently her socks didn't match and she couldn't even catch the clasp on her necklace. None of this really compared in light of the weekend she'd had. How could Kate even remotely care about socks and shampoo-conditioner order when her world was literally turned upside down in less than forty-eight hours?
George refused Jennelyn who swore no forgiveness for his 'mystery' girl who turned out to be Kate who kissed him Thursday night. Not to mention she was dating Stephen who had spent an entire Saturday winning her over with the biggest surprise she'd ever received. The mass collision of thought trains was enough to give Kate a headache. Until she turned around on the vanity stool and looked at the never wilting rose, sitting upright in a crystal vase. Each petal was so perfect the rose seemed to glow. Staring at that rose only sent her out of her spiral of interlocked confusion and into a haze of indecision.
What on earth had possessed her to kiss George Thursday night? Granted it could barely be called a kiss. Their lips literally met and less than a second later they pulled away. As Kate thanked him for the rose she was blushing so furiously that her face hurt. Then she tried to hide away in her dorm only to be accosted by Alicia and Angelina not ten minutes later. Lying to her friends wasn't exactly something she was proud of, but she couldn't just come out and say it. What if Stephen found out? What was even worse, what if Jennelyn found out?
Stephen had pulled out all the stops to help celebrate her birthday, but he'd also sat at the end of the Gryffindor table with her for dinner rather than bringing her to Ravenclaw as he usually did. This foray into unknown territory was almost as impressive to Kate as the elaborate private parlor he'd reserved at the bistro opposite Madam Puddifoot's. In fact her date had been perfect up until she saw George watching her from the window at Zonko's, his face pale in light of the way Stephen had his arm around her.
"Kate are you okay?" Alicia walked out of the bathroom wearing jeans and toweling her hair dry. The worried tone in her voice alerted Kate to the fact that she was currently staring straight at her mirror, a hairbrush dangling limply from her hand.
Twisting her body around Kate bit her lip. Over Alicia's shoulder she could see the pink roses sitting next to the white everlasting bloom. "I'm not sure," she admitted and returned to brushing her hair. Try as she might she was having trouble reconciling three images: Stephen's handsome laughing face as she opened her birthday present, Jennelyn's sullen expression from across the Great Hall during dinner last night and George's warm expression from Thursday night right after she kissed him.
Alicia kneeled next to her and took the brush. Setting it on the vanity she stilled Kate's hands and sighed. "Let's get breakfast in the kitchens, we'll talk it all out okay?"
This instantly made Kate feel better. There was so much that she needed to say and get out of her system and Alicia suddenly felt like the right person to hear it all. Together they gathered their things and went right past the Great Hall and down the staircase to the kitchens. "Tell me everything." Alicia prompted and Kate sighed and nodded.
The lanes were packed with students as Stephen held Kate's hand. Laughter was tumbling from her lips as he tugged her along with bright eyes. It was a little pathetic she reasoned, that his handsome presence could do this to her, but she couldn't help it. All morning long they'd bent their heads over the latest Rita Skeeter article in the prophet. Stephen admired her prose while Kate gave the woman a sound bashing on her lack of factual evidence, at least she was lying according to a red faced Ron and the twins.
"Come on just a few more shops to go!" Stephen was almost buzzing in excitement as he finally stopped in front of Madam Puddifoots. Kate's jaw dropped and not from excitement either.
"You're kidding right?" She observed the lace tablecloths and display of fluffy pastries set on pink doilies in the window.
Stephen plastered a mock serious expression on his face. "Of course I am!" He broke into a grin and spun her around by the shoulders. Across the street was a small bistro, the Bronze Lamp. Turning to face him she felt her brows arch higher. Stephen was already offering her an arm with gusto that would have done Fred proud. Silently Kate willed herself not to think about the twins, she was on a date with Stephen.
A short witch in dark burgundy robes stood at the front. Upon their entrance she nervously patted her hair and then came forward to assist them. "Name sir?" She directed her gaze and question to Stephen.
Scratching the back of his neck, he chuckled. "Delancourt," he replied and as soon as the hostess turned away rolled his eyes to Kate who stifled a giggle.
"Right this way then," said the hostess after she gathered two menus. She led them past the front tables and the bar in the small space. "I hope the room meets your requests." The hostess then opened French doors that led a small private parlor. Kate's jaw dropped.
"Happy Birthday Kate." Stephen stood behind her with warm hands on her shoulders. The small table was set with a hunter cloth and in her place was a dozen pink roses. "Just a light lunch for two!" He said cheerfully and pulled out her chair. Kate let him take her coat before seating her. A waiter immediately whisked the roses into a vase before she had the chance to smell them. She hadn't even seen the flat package beneath them.
"You did not have to do any of this," she said out of breath from surprise.
Sitting across from her, he adjusted the neck on his charcoal sweater. "You right I didn't, but I wanted to. That makes all the difference," he said with a wink. "Go on, open it!"
Kate felt guilty for marring the shining bronze paper tied up with a pale pink bow. At last she pushed away the fluffy tissue paper and her jaw dropped. "Where did you? How did you?" She barely spluttered her incoherent thoughts as she lifted the frame from the shallow box. Set against a cream colored mat was the very first issue of the Black Charmer, Kate' favorite magazine and dream job. What was more was the current editor of the magazine had written a small note sealed in an envelope.
"My dad knows a friend who knows a friend who owed him a favor and I managed to get this. I know how much you love the magazine." Stephen said.
"This is really rare," she whispered and touched the elegant black frame, afraid to smudge the glass. "It's incredible Stephen!"
"Wow," said Alicia as she pushed away her empty oatmeal bowl. Kate's eyes were fixed on the mangled remains of her orange peel. "He really used those connections."
Nodding her head, Kate dropped her head and sighed. "I know, I can't even imagine what something like that might have cost."
Alicia arched a brow and then leaned forward, propping her head up with her elbows. "Well Stephen's family is pretty well off, but they can't be that wealthy. Did you accept it?" She asked curiously. Kate gave her another nod and went back to toying with her orange peel. Absently she turned a section over and over in her fingers.
"He wouldn't take no for an answer."
"You don't seem very excited over it," said Alicia softly. Lifting her iron gaze back up to her friend, Kate found Alicia's brown eyes searching her. Squirming around in her seat Kate shrugged. "Or about the fact that he braved all of our friends to sit at the Gryffindor table." To this Kate did have to give a weak smile. "I can only imagine how that panned out."
With a slight shrug, Kate tugged on the sleeves of her black shirt. A small unit of house elves was clearing their plates and dishes away while another set were leaving out a fresh jug of pumpkin juice and two iced goblets. Quietly Alicia thanked them. "It wasn't too awful. When we walked in I was about to go to Ravenclaw and he just, steered me towards the empty end of Gryffindor."
Kate knew that wasn't the real reason she was upset. "What happened after dinner? You and Stephen disappeared." Alicia prompted her.
"I can't believe I managed to eat all of that after we had that huge lunch," said Stephen, jokingly patting his stomach. Rolling her eyes, Kate set her napkin aside and then shifted, uncomfortable in her seat. She didn't know what came next, not after such an excellent first date. "Well, shall we?" Suddenly his handsome gaze was locked in on her again.
Nodding, Kate got to her feet and then giggled when Stephen came around, holding his arm out with a ridiculous flourish. It reminded her so strongly of the twins that she felt a pang of guilt. Somewhere behind her she knew it was possible that George was watching her walk out. Still, she slipped her arm through Stephen's and let him lead her out of the Great Hall. Dinner still wasn't over and they were suddenly given a few moments of complete, blissful silence.
"This has been a great day," she remarked. That was the truth; it had been a really wonderful afternoon. Then again, Kate always had a good time with Stephen. He was easy to talk to, a perfect gentleman in every sense of the word. "Really great," she added as he tilted his head down to look at her. His blonde hair fell across his forehead and just as they turned down another empty corridor she reached up to brush the hair away.
Stephen caught her hand and brought her palm to his lips. "I'm glad you've enjoyed yourself." Then in the middle of the corridor he took hold of one hand and spun her in tight. Gently he cradled her head and then leaned down just as Kate reached up. Their lips met in a sweet kiss, just like all of their kisses.
The delicious quiet blanketed them as he wrapped his arms tighter around her and Kate's fingers dove into his hair. "I remember a conversation we had when I asked you to Hogsmeade. You asked if our date was as boyfriend and girlfriend." Stephen breathed between soft kisses.
"You said it wasn't a boyfriend kind of date," she said and let her fingers slip down his neck to rest on his shoulders.
Stephen's lips were dangerously close to her ear. "What if I lied?" Her brows arched. "What if it was a girlfriend kind of date?" He muttered and kissed the skin just below her earlobe. A shiver coursed her spine and his free hand pressed the small of her back, bringing her closer.
"Then you have mislead me greatly Mr. Delancourt," she said.
He took her face in his hands. "Allow me to correct you. So long as you're open to the idea, I would venture to say that you are my girlfriend and I am your boyfriend," he said and bent to kiss her. Although a natural smile took her face, Kate closed her eyes only to see George's handsome face in her mind.
Alicia was staring slack-jawed over her pumpkin juice.
* * * * *
Angelina barely suppressed a giggle as Fred's lips whispered over the inside of her wrist. The tip of her quill brushed over the collar of his shirt. Leaning over further he moved up her forearm and stopped in the crease of her elbow. "We're supposed to be studying?" She prompted.
She saw his eyes roll in a neat circle before he lifted his head. A wolfish grin was plastered across his too handsome face. "I think we've studied enough don't you?"
Shaking her head, Angelina held up a hand just in time to stop his lips from capturing hers. "We both have that charms exam tomorrow and I don't want either of us to fail." Groaning, Fred leaned back in his chair and drug his fingers through his hair. The late sun slanted through the windows, picking up his shining red hair. Sometimes Angelina believed she could sit with Fred for an age and just play with his hair and let him distract her from studying forever. She had to admit when they weren't fighting they really did form the perfect couple.
"Ang we both know all of this front to back. Honestly I can't imagine studying this any longer." Casting a glance back at their mess of notes and charmed objects she realized that she had no drive to study any longer. "If you don't want to snog we can always talk." Fred murmured, toying with her hand between his.
A smile found her lips as she looked at the contrast between their skin. It was milk chocolate between sweet cream. She liked the way Fred's large palms pressed over the front and back of her hand, his fingers dipping down to stroke her own. "What do you want to talk about?"
The second he lifted his hazel eyes to look at her Angelina knew what was coming. "Have you thought at all about my request?"
A band of tension wrapped tightly around her chest. Guilt welled up in her throat as she tried to find the words. If she were being honest with herself and Fred, Angelina would have to say she didn't need to give it thought. The answer was on the tip of her tongue even when he had asked her four days ago. Sighing she shook her head. "Fred," she started. "You know why I'm saying no."
His frown made her feel even worse. There were no traces of anger or even frustration. By this point she had surpassed all of that and had moved onto disappointment. Part of her hated the way they carried on in secret, but her more rational side knew better than to agree to be with him publically. "It's just sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table Angelina, I'm not exactly proposing marriage or anything," said Fred gently and a weak smile took his face. "Kate and Delancourt do it all the time and we both know there's nothing serious about that."
Shifting she used her free hand to smooth her skirt. "If we sit at the end of the table people will speculate more than they already do. You already told me that Kate, George and Lee all know. What if everyone else finds out too?" Her voice was strained.
"Then they will be just as excited and supportive. You should have seen how happy Kate was when she found out! I don't think being public is going to be as big of a deal as you seem to think." Fred argued and tightened his grip on her hand.
Angelina tried to pull away. She hated when he did this, trying to talk her out of the decision she already made. Maybe it seemed stupid or wrong but to her it was the only way. Fred didn't understand. "It is a big deal Fred. I'm a quidditch captain and you're one the most popular boys in school. People talk."
Frowning further, Fred shook his head. "I don't think that's it. You do want to be with me don't you?"
Angelina froze. Her insides felt terribly cold. "Of course I do. If I didn't like you so much then I wouldn't be here and I'd be dating other people. Fred maybe one day we can be a public couple but for right now I prefer to keep things quiet and between us."
"We haven't even had a chance to go on a real date. That's what I wanted to do when we were at the village." Fred complained and the guilt started to slosh around again. Looking away she sighed and decided it was time to change the subject.
"What do you reckon the first task is going to be?" She asked, turning her head away from him. Staring off toward the high windows, Angelina felt a faint frown touch her lips as his fingers slipped through her braids and then were gone.
Fred's chuckle was a combination of bitter disappointment and amusement at her pathetic attempt. "Dunno, Lee reckons it's going to be really dangerous. Harry and Hermione have been pouring over all sorts of books and mess and practicing a few charms but I don't know what for."
Arching a brow, Angelina sighed. "Poor Harry, even though I put my name in I don't fancy a go with whatever is coming now."
Shrugging, Fred pulled his book toward him and began to skim a few more paragraphs. Leaning back in her chair Angelina fought back her sigh. Clearly Fred had no interest in talking about the tournament, much less anything that didn't revolve around their relationship. This situation was going to be more difficult that she'd ever imagined.
* * * * *
Thick shafts of moonlight spilled through the gaps in the curtains of Kate's dorm. From where she lay she could see the waxing moon struggle through the cloud cover. No matter how she laid it seemed impossible to get comfortable and sleep wouldn't come to her. It wasn't necessarily unusual for her to not sleep; Kate went through phases where sleep came easy and then not at all. Evidently she was going to have one of those nights.
Rolling over to face her desk, Kate saw the never wilting rose standing tall in its vase. Her heart clenched tightly. This evening she'd seen the crushed expression on George's face when she sat with Stephen at dinner. Tonight her new boyfriend had taken things a step further and they sat on the same side of the table. Although he hadn't gone so far as to feed her in public, Stephen's arm over her shoulder clearly stated the truth. The school's romance columnist would no longer be writing from personal single experience.
Scowling at the thought of the situation, Kate realized that she wasn't going to get any sleep any time soon. Rather than potentially wake her roommates with her quill scratching she threw the covers off her bed and gathered her notebook and quill. If she was going to be awake all night she might as well finish some editing work on her column. Clad in running shorts and a sweatshirt she trudged down to the common room.
It should not have come as a huge surprise to see a figure hunched over on the sofa nearest the fire. Despite the late hour the hearth was brightly glowing and the warmth coming from it was quite pleasant. As Kate drew closer she felt her stomach sink. The tall red headed figure could only be one of two people and Kate didn't want to take the fifty-fifty chance of finding out whom. Biting her lip she closed her eyes and made to turn back for her dorm. Suffering insomnia would be far better than getting baited into an argument or sad conversation with George. Just as she turned her quill slipped from her grasp and thudded lightly against the flagstone floor.
The Weasley twin whipped around and she froze, her eyes wide. Judging from the rapid chance from slack jawed to hurt; Kate had interrupted the wrong Weasley. "Lo Kate," said George.
Now she was trapped. She couldn't very well just traipse back up the stairs and pretend nothing was wrong. "I'm sorry George I didn't know anyone was down here."
Shrugging he managed a shadow of a grin and gestured to the sofa. "It's alright. Lee was snoring loud enough to wake the dead so I thought I'd come down for a little peace." Feeling rather stupid and quite mute Kate nodded and advanced for the well-worn red sofa. She sat down on one end and set her things on the side table. The heat from the fire felt wonderful against her bare legs. "Couldn't sleep?" He asked softly.
Kate felt miserable. At one time he would have his arm loosely over her shoulder and they would already be laughing about some joke. She hated this awful tension between them. "No," she murmured softly. "Too much on my mind I guess," she added.
Next to her George sank further into the sofa and he shrugged. "Seems to be going around. Fred's been grouchy all night and Angelina's not said a word to either of us. Got a fair amount on my own mind too." The edge in his voice was not to be missed and Kate felt her stomach twist even more uncomfortably. "So is it really true?" He asked softly after a pause.
"Is what true?" She asked.
"Is Delancourt really your boyfriend?" Kate frowned at his sullen tone.
Sighing she nodded and ran her fingers through her hair. "Yeah he is."
George chuckled humorlessly, causing Kate to wince. "Guess that makes me feel pretty stupid," he muttered. Tearing her gaze from the fire Kate turned her grey eyes to him.
"Why would you say that?" She questioned incredulously.
Raking his hands over her face he then struggled to his feet and walked a few paced away. Swinging his arms about for a moment he rocked back on the balls of his feet in a nervous fashion. "I dunno, I thought I was winning a good fight with the rose and you kissing me in the dorm. From what I hear I never had a chance," he said and Kate's jaw dropped.
Getting to her feet she moved further away from him, toward the fireplace. "It would have helped if you were more open about your feelings George. I only just figured it out. Stephen's been open about that for ages," she muttered and he threw his hands up in defeat.
"Well forgive me for not trumpeting it to the entire school. I figured you'd appreciate a quieter approach what with your best friend fancying me and Mr. Wonderful dragging you to the end of the table every meal he can. But if you want the truth here it is," he paused and then sighed. "I'm head over sodding heels in love with you Kate. You're all I think about and I want to beat the tar out of Delancourt simply for the fact that he gets you."
Kate's jaw dropped. She hadn't quite expected that much of an admission from him. "George," she said softly.
"And you can't lie to me as well as you might lie to yourself. I know you have feelings for me even if that blockhead is standing in the way."
Crossing her arms over her chest, Kate shook her head. Moving slightly away she was now facing him, his body turned straight to hers. The expression on his face rapidly changed from complete confidence to disbelief. "Stephen is not a blockhead," she whispered.
One second Kate was sure she had seen George on the other side of the fireplace. In the blink of an eye he strode across the distance and closed the gap. There was no warning, no time to even gather her bearings. Everything Kate thought she knew about George and their relationship was rapidly dissolving as he pressed his mouth over hers.
As he pressed her back against the stonewall next to the fire she felt inhibition slip away from her as he pressed a warm hand against her cheek, steadying her face. Against all reason and certainly in spite of the numerous roadblocks, Kate let her hands travel over his sides and wrap around his frame. His smile against her mouth as she pulled him against her was enough to get her kissing back, and not chastely either.
Kate had been kissed before, several times by enough boys to know a good snog from a bad one. None of them held a candle to the fireworks George's kiss set off in her brain. His lips pressed against hers with just enough pressure and she felt a shudder run down her spine as his teeth lightly nipped her lower lip. Carefully he angled her head again so he had better access and then he ran his tongue across her lips and she opened her mouth to meet him. It was single-handedly the best kiss she'd ever had.
A sudden squeak startled the pair and they broke apart. Startled, George whirled around and Kate looked around him to see Hermione Granger stared openly at them. Her mouth was slightly open and in her hands she had a small stack of kitted hats. "Oh I'm so sorry!" She managed to stutter out and Kate was sure, even in the dim firelight that the poor girl was blushing.
George seemed absolutely terrified. "Hermione," he said warningly and carefully. "Please don't tell anyone what you saw."
Terror filled the pit of Kate's stomach; if Jennelyn or Stephen found out she'd be up to her eyeballs in problems. "Of, of course," said Hermione and scurried forward, depositing the hats on the nearest table and then started towards the staircase.
A hand closed around Kate's wrist as she made to follow the girl. George whirled her around and trapped her against his chest. "You shouldn't have done that," said Kate and she lowered her eyes to the worn material of his waffled shirt.
His lips buried her in her hair. "You shouldn't have kissed back then," he said and shook his head before tilting her chin up. "I should probably tell you that I'm refusing to give up just because Delancourt stands in my way."
Shaking her head she looked away. "It's not just Stephen I'm worried about."
"Jennelyn is a big girl, she can handle a let down just fine." Kate wanted to laugh; his statement was so far off base it was ludicrous. There was nothing about the situation that Jennelyn would take well.
"It's not fair to any of them. Please don't do it again," she said and pulled away. Silently she brushed her hair from her eyes and left him standing in the middle of the common room. As she silently got back into bed she hoped that Hermione wouldn't say anything. Yet when she lay down all she could feel was the tingling in her lips from his kiss.
Yay for George finally stepping up to the plate! There will be lots more snogging in the near future. So next chapter has my little devotion to Hermione/twins fics. There are so many wonderful ones out there that I thought I would give them a little interaction! More drama to come! Remember…reviews are love, especially to those who plan to alert…an extra minute to write a review never hurt. Much love-Brose.