The characters of the Harry Potter universe belong to Ms. Rowlings, and I'm borrowing them for my own imagination.

Chapter Three

March 1, 1999

Katie never felt so embarrassed in her life. She sat between George and Charlie quietly fuming. She had come with George to what she had thought was a simple family dinner, only to discover that is was a birthday party for Ron.

Mrs. Weasley had set up a tent outside to hold the celebration. Even though it had been a beautiful day, giving them the belief that they would be welcoming a beautiful spring, they still had to put up several warming charms.

She couldn't believe George didn't even think to tell her. She would have left to find him a present, but she wasn't sure how to explain her sudden absence to Mrs. Weasley. As they sat around watching Ron opened his presents, she had been hurt that George didn't even think to add her name to his gift.

When his mother left to bring the food out, along with Fleur and Penny, Katie jumped up to help her. She was willing to do anything to get away from George at the moment.

Katie was pouring the pumpkin juice into glasses then setting then on the tray to be levitated outside while they chitchatted. When Penny innocently asked Katie about her and George's relationship, the glass in Katie's hand slipped through her fingers and hit the floor.

"Sorry." Katie rushed to say as she bent down to pick up the pieces of glass, cutting herself on her finger.

"Careful." Mrs. Weasley said as she knelt beside the young woman.

"I'm sorry." Katie repeated staring absently at her bleeding finger.

"It was an accident. Merlin knows how many glasses those children of mine have broken, and Ginny is the worst of the lot." Mrs. Weasley said. "Don't cry. I didn't say it was your fault." She pulled Katie up while Fleur repaired the glass.

"It's George's fault." Katie cried.

"What did he do now?" Molly asked tenderly. She adored Katie and believed the girl was good for George, but she knew that if George didn't watch it he would screw up one more time.

"I know he's your son, but I'm just so mad at him." Katie cried. "I can't believe he would embarrass me like that, and he doesn't even realize it."

"Embarrass you how?" Molly asked calmly as Katie cried into her shoulder.

"I thought this was just a normal family dinner. I had no idea it was Ron's birthday. I don't know if he assumed I would know, but I'm so embarrassed that I didn't have a gift for him. I scrounged around in my purse, but I didn't have anything appropriate." Katie cried.

"I didn't bring him a gift either." Penny said.

"But at least Percy had included your name on his gift." Katie said as she composed herself and stepped out of Mrs. Weasley's embrace. "I know this has been a hard year, and you all know how absorbed he gets in the shop. I just get so tired of being an afterthought. Last week, I got offered Bill's old job in Egypt. I have wanted to tell him about it, but I barely see him. I feel like if I took it and left, he wouldn't even notice I was gone."

"Of course I would." George said stepping into the kitchen with Percy standing quietly behind him. Percy had come to help the women, but when he had heard Katie crying, he had waved George over with concern.

The other women and Percy began to gather the food and levitate it quietly out to the garden to leave the couple alone.

"Be sure to 'eal Katie's 'and." Fleur whispered as she passed George.

"Let me see your hand." George said taking out his wand.

"It's fine." She said and tried to step away, but he quickly grabbed her hand and examined the cut. With a flick of his wand, the cut was healed.

"Thank you." Katie said trying to pull her hand away. He wasn't letting go.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you it was Ron's birthday. Honestly, I thought you knew. You were in school with him when he was poisoned." George admitted.

"Yes, I was, but I spent a good part of the school year in St. Mungos, if you remember, and I don't think anyone told me that the poisoning occurred on his birthday." Katie said.

"Ron honestly doesn't care that you didn't bring him a gift. He's too absorbed in the fact that McGonagall allowed Hermione to come home for his birthday to even notice anything else, really." George said.

"It must be a nice feeling." Katie muttered and George frowned.

"I don't want you going anywhere. I know I'm not the best boyfriend, but you matter so much to me. I...I just think I'm still scared of losing someone else I love. I'm just asking you to be patient." George pleaded.

"I not asking for a commitment of forever. I not ready for that either. I just . . . oh . . . I just want you from now on, even if you think I know something, to tell me anyway." Katie asked.

George wrapped her in a tight hug. "I will; I promise."

TBC