Say a prayer/ The summer nights are dead/ The fall is coming/ We were careless hearts/ Who got caught up in this/ Breathe in deep/ And say goodbye/ The saddest song/ I'll ever write/ For anyone, anytime/ Breathe in deep/ Before I say/ I can feel us slip away/ You're almost gone/ You're good as gone / August is over- August is over: We The Kings

"Katie, I think it was a mistake to break up with Fred after spending the whole summer with him." Leanne said gently "And, to be honest, if you're going to spend the whole year moping, I don't want to hang around with you."

"I'm not moping." Katie said defensively "Who says I'm moping?"

Leanne gave her best friend a look. "Kate, when I said long distance relationships were hard I didn't mean they were impossible."

"Shut up Leanne. I've made my choice." snapped Katie "I'll be fine. You'll see."

*

"Fred, quit flirting with Verity." George said severely to his twin. "She's got a scary boyfriend who'll come and beat you up and your bruised mangled face will put customers off."

"Ooh, a scary boyfriend?" teased Fred "I'm terrified now."

"Ok, look, I know what you're doing." George sounded exasperated "But flirting with every female you meet isn't going to help you get over Katie any quicker."

Fred tried to look and sound disdainful. "Oh, so you think that's what I'm doing, do you."

"Oh, I know that's what you're doing." replied George "You miss her. And you got too involved this summer not to want to be with her. Now stop flirting with Verity and pass me those fake wands."

*

The first month went by incredibly slowly. Several times Katie wrote letters to Fred, but each one ended up in the fire. She decided to throw herself into her schoolwork, a decision that deeply disturbed both Leanne and Rachel.

She also became more focussed on Quidditch. Luckily she go on well with Demelza and Ginny- who tactfully made no mention of any of her family members- and the three of them often spent a lot of time discussing tactics and new moves, that invariably dissolved into general chatter, much to Harry's annoyance in the dressing room.

Fred meanwhile was doing his best to forget Katie and ignoring George's advice. He pretended not to see George's glances. There was nothing wrong with some harmless flirting. He never dated any of them- he was still too bruised for that, but he had fun charming every girl he met.

Until he turned the charm on to Angelina.

*

"Angie!" he grinned when she walked into the shop. "Hey, you look good today."

Angelina looked at him weirdly. "Er, hi Fred. I'm here for Alicia."

"Yeah, she'll be down soon, she's with George."

"Ok. So...what's up?"

"Not much. Nothing really." He gave her his best, most seductive smile.

Angelina stared.

"Ok...Fred what's wrong with you?" she asked, and then, quickly "How's Katie?"

Fred couldn't prevent his smile from slipping slightly.

Angelina pounced.

"Alicia said you and Katie broke up. Why?"

"God, Ange, get right to it why don't you?" he said grumpily "Yes, we split up. We did it because- well so what if we did?"

"Well...you don't look very happy. And I thought you two were good together, that's all."

"Well, I'm fine. And I'm sure Katie is too." said Fred, unable to mask his bitter tone.

Angelina raised her eyebrows. "Ok, chill out Fred, I was just wondering-"

"Hi, Ange, are you ready to go?"

Angelina half turned as Alicia and George came down the stairs.

"Wha-oh, yeah, lets go."

Alicia kissed George goodbye, and Angelina leaned in close to Fred "I have to go now, but this is not over Weasley. Remember I was the one who had to force you to get your arse into gear last time. Next time there'll be a lot more violence."

With a wink, she departed. Fred stared after her, a decision forming almost unconsciously in his head. What was the date? When was the next Hogsmeade date?

Did he dare do it?

*

Two weeks later Fred found himself sitting in a quiet corner of the Three Broomsticks, hidden behind a large plant. He watching, waiting for Katie, but he felt uncomfortably like a stalker.

Katie walked in with Leanne. Rachel had ditched them in favour of a secret date so it was just the two of them, although they were waving at a large group of students in the corner.

Fred watched her pull her hood off and shake out her hair. Her hair had turned red, bright red, and he smiled at her constant need to change something about herself, her hair, her nails, her style of clothing. He watched them for a few minutes, but felt more and more like a stalker with every passing second. Screwing up his courage he picked up his drink and began to make his way over. Katie was making her way to the bar. He intercepted her path and bumped right into her.

"Hey, watch it-"She broke off "Fred?"

He smiled sheepishly at her. "Hi."

"What are you doing here?" Katie was trying to hide the grin that emerged on her face as soon as she recognised him.

"Oh, I came to-er, check out the Zonko's shop. Expansion, you know." He lied.

"Where's George?" she asked with a small, shrewd smile.

"Minding the Diagon shop..." Fred trailed off "Ok, that's a lie. I came to see you."

A flame of hope was set alight in her heart.

"Really?" she feigned nonchalance. "Why were you looking for me?"

He looked at her "Are you really going to make me say it?"

She widened her eyes innocently "Make you say what?"

Fred sighed "You're evil. Katie, I wanted to see you because I miss you. And I want to be with you again."

He took her hand. Katie looked down at it.

"I don't think so." she said slowly. His face fell.

"Why?" His voice cracked on the word.

She pointed to her hair "We clash." she said simply.

Katie couldn't help grinning at the look of relief that washed over his face. "I missed you too." she admitted "I don't care if you live in London and I'm stuck up here. We can write to each other, can't we? As long as you actually write to me this time-"

"Oh, thank god for that." came a cheerful voice to their left. It was Leanne. "She's been a right sad sack since she came back."

"Shut up Leanne." Katie said, blushing slightly. "Go buy a drink or something."

Leanne sauntered off to sit with some Ravenclaws while Fred and Katie sat in the corner, talking about anything and everything.

"Damn." said Fred after a while. "I have to get going. Places to go, people to see and all that."

"Oh, ok." said Katie, glancing over to Leanne "I should probably rescue Leanne from the clutches of that idiot Finch-Fletchley. He's had a crush on her since, like, forever."

Fred laughed "I'll see you soon." He promised. "And I'll write."

"You better." She warned him "Or I'll kick you so hard you won't be able to have kids."

"I will!" He held his hands up with faux-panic. "But first..."

He ran his hand through her hair, and leaned in to kiss her gently on the lips. She pulled him closer, not caring who saw. Her lips tingled when he pulled away. She smiled stupidly as he pulled on his cloak and waved happily as he exited the pub.

Leanne wandered over "Can we go now?" she whined "Finch-Fletchley is driving me mad, and Smith has joined the crap flirting ranks too."

Katie grinned "Ok, ok, we'll go. I'm just going to nip to the loo first."

She weaved in and out of the other students. When she got to the bathroom and put her hand on the door handle she felt an odd sense of foreboding. Shaking it off, she pushed open the door.

Then, nothing.