PRESENT: HARRY'S PERSPECTIVE

"Harry! Ron!" Hermione comes running down the stairs. It's approximately 7 in the morning and we're both still tired. "Katie's missing!" Okay. I'm wide-awake now.

1 HOUR AGO: KATIE'S PERSPECTIVE

I woke up early hoping I could leave unnoticed. It was all my fault everything went wrong. Harry became seeker but threw the position away because I wouldn't tell him his fate. He couldn't possibly know… could he?

"It's for the best." I say to myself as I walk across the common room.

"What's for the best?" I hear Neville say behind me.

"Ahh!" I shout. Then I regain my senses. "Oh, Neville. I didn't see you there."

"What are you doing Katie?" He asks.

"Oh, uh…" Before I finish, Neville is continuing.

"Why do you have all your stuff with you? Are you leaving?" Jeez. Is this kid a mind reader?

"Uh, no?" I lie. Neville gives me this skeptical look.

"Katie, you can't leave. You just can't! Ron will hate you for life and Harry will think you're hiding something." He pleads. "Please just stay. If you won't do it for them, then do it for Fred. If not him, me."

I look at him. How does he know I'd do anything for Fred? And what's with the, 'do it for me' mojo?

"Look Neville, I care for everyone here dearly and it kills to leave, but if there's one thing I cannot do, it's stay."

"Why?"

"Because…" I say, searching for an answer, "if I stay, everyone here will die." Okay a bit dramatic but it'll work.

"We don't care if we die. We want you to stay here.

I turn around and leave before he can stop me. His little speech is going to make me cry and I don't want Neville to be there when that happens.

"Wait! Katie!" That was the last thing I heard before the painting closed behind me.

30 MINUTES AGO: KATIE'S PERSPECTIVE

I sat crying under the tree by the pond outside of Hogwarts. I couldn't bring myself to leave. Dumbledore said I would be able to leave later, as in noon. Until then I needed to think someplace quiet. How would I break this to everybody? I couldn't just leave suddenly could I? I guess I was.

30 MINUTES AGO: NEVILLE'S PERSPECTIVE

How could she leave? I can't believe her! She'll break Ron's heart and she'll turn everyone against her. It's bad enough that that insufferable Malfoy hates her, but all of Gryffindor?

I sit there wondering, why didn't I ever talk to her? She's a great girl who deserves better. Why didn't I ever go up to her and just talk to her? Was it my stupid nerves? Or did I think she was weird and different? Why do people treat those who are different, well, different? It's stupid.

As she left, I couldn't help but feel that she didn't want anybody to know that she left. I won't tell a soul. For some reason I think she doesn't want anybody to know which is totally like her.

PRESENT: HARRY'S PERSPECTIVE

"Why? Why would she leave?" Ron says while trying to hold back tears. "Is it because of what I said to her yesterday?"

"It might be. She was really suffering. Fred couldn't even help her." Hermione answers.

"If Fred couldn't help…" Ron says, letting the though sit in the air.

Hermione and I look at each other. Ron's obviously in need of some serious rehab involving the girl that ran away. We were both worried for him but even more worried for Katie.

"We have to hurry!" Ron says heading in some random direction, which happened to be in the direction of the lake.

"Is that her?" Hermione asks when we see a figure sitting under the tree.

"Yes!" Ron cheers. "Yes it is!" He runs to the lake.

"Now isn't that romantic." I say sarcastically.

"You're the one that lost your chance. Ron was the one to pull her to her feet and to help her walk again." Hermione replies.

"So? It doesn't mean he has to act like this."

"Remember he's the one that hurt her yesterday and he feels guilty by doing so."

"Ug!" Hermione and I continue walking to where Ron and Katie sit.

PRESENT: KATIE'S PERSPECTIVE

One moment I'm sitting in the sun under the tree when Ron comes racing towards me. I stand up to tell him that I have no intention of ever coming back when he pulls me into the deepest hug I've ever felt.

"Don't ever leave me again, Katie!" He pulls away but he still has his arms around me like if he lets go I'll never return. There are tears in his eyes, which burn my heart.

"Ron," I start, "I have to leave. If I stay things will only get worse."

He shakes his head. "No, Katie. You must stay. I'll have Fred and George put curses on you again." Tears are running freely now.

"Ron. I have to leave. What part of that do you not understand?"

He pulls me into a hug again. "I just don't want you to leave because of what I said earlier. I-I really do like you Katie and if you were ever to leave me because you thought I didn't then I'd never be able to forgive myself!" There's a sob and a sniffle.

"Ron, I know you were played yesterday, yet it still hurts. I like you too but we can never be together. We just can't. But that's not the reason I must leave."

My watch beeps noon and I know I must head to Hagrid's so I can leave. I turn to go.

"No! Katie!" Ron sobs behind me.

I don't turn around.

READERS… uh… sorry about not updating sooner. I had writer's block and no ideas. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope it was utterly heart wrenching! –wolfhound22