Author's Note: Hi. I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to update. I've been really busy with all sorts of fun things. Anyway, here is an extra long chapter as my way of apologizing for being so late. Thank you for sticking with me. Lots of love towards those of you who put up with my stories and updating speeds. Thank you again.

_My parents decided that I had become a thorn in the Weasley's side at some point during the school year. My guess would be that they decided this around Christmas when I aided Fred and George at accidentally setting the bushes in the garden on fire. Mrs. Weasley gave us a good yelling at and then she was over it. My parents, however, were not quite as forgiving. They sent the Weasley's a letter telling them that I would be staying with my brother, Dan, this summer as to avoid causing any more problems for the Weasley's.

Mrs. Weasley protested this greatly. She told them that it was always a pleasure to have me stay with them. She assured them that she was used to that kind of thing. She told them that she took in several children that weren't her own every summer. My parents told her that that was exactly why I couldn't stay. I was too much trouble and they already had enough on their plate.

Then you-know-who came back. That settled it for my parents; I needed to be somewhere where they could have direct contact with them and the rest of the family. Unfortunately, Mrs. Weasley then lost her ability to argue for me to join them. The Weasley's had to move to a different location for some reason unknown to me, though I suspected it had something to do with Harry.

So I stayed with Dan, which meant that I was alone for most of the day, every day, as he had to work. Then, last week, Fred sent me a letter. They had settled into the location. Harry was coming on the following Thursday. Most importantly though, Mrs. Weasley convinced my parents that I could come back to their house after Harry was settled in, which probably meant Friday. Fred sent me another letter three days later telling me that he was going to come get me on Friday.

I had all of my things packed and ready in the hall. That was where I was waiting for Fred as well. I wanted to get to see him and all of the other Weasley's as soon as possible. My plan was disturbed though when Dan apperated back into the flat. I asked him what he was doing here and then we got into a minor argument. He was mad I asked why he was there. "It's my house," was all he would say.

A little bit after noon the doorbell rang. Dan dashed to the door. Dan opened the door. By the time I got there, Fred had already introduced himself and Dan was glaring at him.

"Fred!" I screamed, running up to hug my best friend.

"Kates!" Fred yelled back, his excitement clear in his tone of voice. He wrapped his arms around me, hugging me hard. After a minute he released me and I ran back to get my bags.

When I came back I heard Dan saying, "…all I'm saying is if you hurt her, it is my job to hunt you down and ruin your life."

"I'd never hurt her. She's my best friend," Fred said.

"That's not what I meant and you know that. If that was all I meant you'd already be dead because you would already be hurting her. Just don't do anything that wil-"

"-What are you guys talking about?" I interrupted.

"Nothing," Dan said quickly. He kissed my forehead. "Have a good rest of break, okay? I'll see you soon."

Fred grabbed my bags once we were outside. He then grabbed my hand and we apperated to a small, rather dingy street. Fred handed me a piece of paper with Dumbledore's hand writing on it. I read it and a building that was not there before appeared.

Fred led me inside. He told me he was going to take my bags to the room I was staying in while I said hello to people. I soon found myself surrounded by the rest of the Weasley's, Hermione, ex-Professor Lupin, Harry, Sirus Black, and a woman who introduced herself as Tonks. After I said hello to everyone, Mrs. Weasley put me to work with everyone else.

We then spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning up the old house. We were all joking around happily. Everyone told me about their summers so far. Fred and George recruited me to help smuggle things that we were supposed to be throwing out, such as doxie eggs. We then ate dinner with a large group of mismatched people who were all members of what I learned was called the Order of the Phoenix.

After dinner Fred and George were giving each other weird looks. Finally Fred looked at me. "Hey Kates, can I talk with you for a minute?" He asked.

I nodded. He led me up the staircase to the room that I knew he was staying in. He led me inside and motioned for me to sit down.

"Kates, George and I..." He scratched behind his ear, his most recognizable sign of discomfort, "Well, to put it simply, we are thinking about leaving Hogwarts. You know, just finishing school now and moving on…"

"What?" I screeched. "I hate to break it to you but no one is going to hire you if you haven't finished school. If you don't get a job, you don't get money, AND GUESS WHAT FRED! YOU NEED MONEY TO BUY MATERIALS TO MAKE TRINCKETS TO SELL IN YOUR JOKE SHOP! OH AND THERE IS THE DETAIL THAT YOU NEED MONEY TO BUY AND OPEN A SHOP!"

"Kates, take a deep breath. I know all of that. I know it's hard to hear. That's why I wanted to tell you know. George and I, er, came across some money last year. We have enough to buy a shop and start anytime we want. We could open tomorrow. We have enough basic items. We could start selling now. Once we start selling we'll make more products," he told me.

"How'd you get the money? What kind of illegal thing did you do now?" I demanded.

"Kates, I'm wounded. We didn't do anything illegal. If you must know, and you can't tell anyone, Harry gave us his winnings last year," Fred laughed. He was trying to pull this whole thing off as a joke.

"Are you serious?" I asked. Fred nodded. "Well it doesn't matter. We need you and George at Hogwarts. How am I supposed to survive without prank wars, joke shop products I have to work on, or you guys being there to make me laugh? How will our quiditch team survive without you? Our friend group will be tiny. What will your parents say? Where are you going to live? How will you feed yourselves? You can't cook! You can't leave us…"

"Kates, we'll still come visit you all on Hogsmead weekends. We'll still see you. Those aren't really great reasons to stay at Hogwarts though; we have a business to start. We don't have that much time, I mean, Kates, there is a war about to start," Fred tried to reassure me.

I could feel tears building up. I blinked hard, "Isn't that more of a reason to stay though, you get a little more time to be safe from it. You can stay with your friends. We can perfect your products and make some new ones…"

"Kates, you know we love all of our friends, but we'll still see you. We can perfect our products outside of school, you'll still be involved, don't worry," Fred told me.

"Would anything make you stay?" I was pretty much begging him now.

"I don't think so. George and I agreed this was the best plan of action," he told me. He is looking in a rather concerned way at me now. "Why do you care so much anyway?"

I looked at him. I could feel the tears streaming down my face at this point. "Because I love you, you idiot! I can't imagine putting up with school without you. I love you and I have since, well forever. There! I said it. I hope you're happy!" I screamed. I stood and walked towards the door.

Fred grabbed my arm. I turned to glare at him. His eyes had some emotion in them I couldn't read.

"Kates, I'll stay," he whispered. I stopped resisting his grip. He pulled me against him. "I love you too Katie. Merlin's beard, I've loved you forever," he murmured into my hair.

I looked up and caught his eyes. He leaned down and I stood on my tiptoes. Our lips met in a kiss unlike any I had ever had before. I felt my eyelids flutter close against his checks and then the door slammed open. Fred and I jumped apart.

Ron was standing in the doorway. He stood there gaping. Fred took off, chasing him down the hall. I went downstairs to my room and climbed in bed, unbelievably content. Ron unfortunately was not given the same blessing. Thirty minutes later I could tell he was still being chased by Fred because of his apologies echoing through the house.

"I'm sorry… I didn't know… Don't blame me… Merlin not spiders… FRED! George sent me… No don't kill George…. FRED! Don't do anything stupid. He's your brother!"