I'll Be

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All of the Harry Potter characters belong to JK Rowling. "I'll Be" belongs to Edwin McCain.

Katie Bell was sitting on the couch in the Gryffindor common room, staring blankly at the fire. The room still had a decent amount of people in it and was very loud. The majority of the conversations were about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Umbridge. All talk was bad. Katie had just gotten back from a detention with the aforementioned person. She had taken to wear gloves more often. She wore them so often that Alicia and Angelina had bought her many different pairs. Some were fashionable, some were plain and others were elegant. However they didn't know the reason Katie was wearing these gloves. No one knew. And no one is going to find out, Katie thought as she stared into the fire. No one seemed to notice Katie sitting on the couch. No one except one of her friends and teammates: George Weasley.

He watched her from a table by one of the tower's many windows. Sitting with him was his twin brother Fred, Fred's girlfriend Angelina, Lee Jordan and Lee's girlfriend Alicia. What's wrong with Katie? George thought. She looks bothered by something. Umbridge? It wouldn't surprise me. Maybe I should go talk to her. Maybe I should get some actual courage so I can actually have a halfway decent conversation with her first. That'll work.

"George?" someone asked. George turned to look at his brother. The other people at the table were looking at him too. "Are you okay? You seem distant."

"I'm fine. I was just thinking about some things that happened over the summer." George knew that Fred took this to mean things that happened with the Order, but then again Fred could know that he was lying. Either way George didn't waste his time thinking about it. He turned back to look at Katie. She was still in the same position as before, staring helplessly into the fire. God, she looks so alone. Maybe I should go over and talk to her, George thought. George stood up and walked over to the couch, the occupants of the table he just left looking at him. She doesn't even know I'm right in front of her. How stupid do I feel? This was a bad idea. George moved to go back to the table.

"Don't go," a voice said softly. George turned back and saw Katie looking at him. He walked over to her and sat next to her on the couch. She turned her gaze back to the fire, just content with having some sort of company. The remaining four occupants of the table looked at each other and came to the same conclusion without speaking. They went around to the other people in the room and ushered them out of the room or to bed. After everyone had left (some willingly, others not), the four friends looked back at George and Katie before going to bed themselves.

Just don't do anything stupid, George. Just be normal. Make her laugh; make her smile. She hasn't smiled in days. George repeated these thoughts in his head as he watched Katie. Her gaze never wavered from the fire since she asked him not to leave her. He could see her eyes. They were gray when one looked at them from the side but when looking straight into them they were a beautiful shade of blue. George took the silence to study her. Her brown hair was pulled back into a messy bun, revealing natural blonde highlights. Her bangs fell gracefully onto her forehead, so different from on the pitch when they were blown back by the wind. There wasn't the normal sparkle in her eyes. She had lost it a couple of weeks ago and never seemed to get it back. She never wore make-up or did anything to change her natural appearance. She was plain and she knew it. She didn't want to be beautiful, but to George she was. She was herself and that radiated so much beauty to him.

He remembered the Yule Ball last year. They had gone together as friends. That's when I fell completely in love with her. God, she was so beautiful. Indeed Katie had looked her best that night. Her normally straight hair was curled and hung at her shoulders. Alicia and Angelina had convinced her to wear at least some make-up, she did and it only enhanced her beautiful eyes. She'll never even look at me twice. I bet she doesn't even remember the Yule Ball last year.

The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful

Stop me and steal my breath

Emeralds from mountains thrust towards the sky

Never revealing their depth

However Katie's current thoughts were similar to George's. I still can't believe he and I went to the Yule Ball together. He probably doesn't even remember what I looked like. I can't believe Alicia and Angelina made me put on make-up. I hate the stuff. Why did George stay when I asked him to? Why did I ask him to stay? How did I ask him to stay? God, I better not do anything stupid. He'll never look at me twice. Katie sighed and leaned her head on the back of the couch, still never taking her eyes off of the fire. She didn't want to look at him, fearing she would do something stupid or say something stupid. Unconsciously she touched the back of her right hand and flinched doing so. God, how stupid am I? I'm such an idiot! Don't touch it if it hurts Katie! God, I'm an idiot.

"Katie? Are you alright?" she heard George ask. She finally looked at him. His eyes were full of concern. They were pleading with her to tell him what was wrong. Please tell me Katie. I can't see you hurting like this. Please tell me.

Tell me that we belong together

Dress it up with the trappings of love

I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips

Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above

Katie didn't know whether to cry or to run away. She didn't know whether to tell him or to keep it all inside. If I tell him, he'll think that I'm weak and will never look at me again. Be strong Katie. Be like you are on the pitch. Don't let them see through you. George could see her inner struggle and desperately wanted to know what was going on.

"Katie, please tell me. I know something's wrong. Just tell me, I want to help you," George begged. I want to be there for you. I want to be the one that helps you. I want to be the one to hold you when and if you cry. I want to be with you.

I'll be your cryin' shoulder

I'll be love suicide

I'll be better when I'm older

I'll be the greatest fan of your life

Katie looked at him once more. If I tell you then maybe all the pain will go away and I'll be able to cry. If I do I want you to hold me when I cry. I want you to help me. I want you to be the one who's there for me. I want to be with you. Katie took a deep breath and took off her gloves. She showed George her right hand. On the back of it were scratches and scars in the shape of words. I must not talk back were the words carved into the back of her hand. They were red and had dried blood around them from that night's detention. George took her hand and she flinched.

"Sorry," he said quickly. Katie shook her head at him. She didn't want to talk; she would start to cry. "Has she been doing this to you?" Katie nodded. George had the look of hate in his eyes, Katie could tell. She'd seen the look before. It was the look he had whenever he was on the pitch and up against the Slytherins. Katie hated to see him like that; it scared even her. She threw her arms around him, pulling him into a hug, thankful to not see the hate his eyes were holding within their depths.

I hate that Umbridge woman. How could she do this to Katie? Who in their right mind would do something like this? She's sick. Wait a minute. I've got to help Katie now. I can't help her if I'm thinking about how to kill that stupid professor. Just calm down and comfort her. That's what she needs right now. George relaxed into the hug and Katie could tell that he wasn't that angry anymore. She held onto him tighter than she had ever before.

Rain falls angry on the tin roof

As we lie awake in my bed

You're my survival, you're my living proof

My love is alive and not dead

George could feel tears on his neck. He let go of Katie and held her out in front of him. He saw the tears threatening to escape her eyes and the ones that already had. He knew that she hated to cry. She would do anything to stop. But then why isn't she stopping now? Why is she still crying in front of me? Why isn't she stopping? Does she trust me more? What's going on? Please tell me.

God, why am I crying in front of him? He must think that I'm weak. It's no use stopping, he's already seen me weak. He might as well see it all. He'll never want me now. He'll never want someone who's weak, who's only human. He doesn't want that. He wants someone who's beyond human, who's strong and never lets anything get to her. He doesn't want me. He never has and he never will. Why is he still here then? Why is he watching me cry? Why are you watching me George? Why are you still here? Please tell me. Tell me so I can understand. Tell me what I don't know.

Tell me that we belong together

Dress it up with the trappings of love

I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips

Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above

George didn't know what to do. Should he watch her cry and not do anything? Should he comfort her and let her cry on his shoulder? Should he run away? What was he supposed to do? He decided to hold her as she cried. He held her tightly, willing everything that hurt her to come to him and leave her be. She never wrapped her arms around him. She just curled up into a little ball and was content with just being held. Don't leave me, she thought. Don't ever leave. Stay with me. Please. I need you right now. Don't let me go.

I'll be your cryin' shoulder

I'll be love suicide

I'll be better when I'm older

I'll be the greatest fan of your life

After all of Katie's tears had left her, George still held onto her, never wanting to let her go. She had her eyes closed, but he knew that she wasn't asleep. George looked down at her. He pushed some hair off of her face that was held there by dried tears. She opened her eyes at the light touch of his thumb against her face. She looked up at him and he smiled at her. She smiled weakly back and closed her eyes once more. George gently kissed her on her forehead. She responded by moving closer to him, if that was possible. George just held her tighter. This is how life should be. Not with her crying, but with her in my arms. This is the closest to Heaven I'll ever be. God, I love her so much. Maybe it's time she knows. No. We're not even dating. I can't tell her that yet. She'll find out one of these days.

I've dropped out, burned up, fought my way back from the dead

Tuned in, turned on, remembered the things you said

"Do you want to lie down?" Katie asked, knocking George out of his thoughts. He looked down at her.

"Only if you want to," he said. They shifted and were lying on the couch, George was still holding her. Thank Merlin the couches are huge was a thought going through both of their heads. Did I just think that? was the next thought. Both laughed quietly, then turned to each other.

"What were you thinking?" they asked at the same time. Both smiled. They smiled real smiles.

"I don't care what you were thinking. You just smiled," George said lovingly. Katie smiled again and avoided making eye contact with him. George pulled her closer to him. Katie took one of his hands in one of her own. She interlaced her fingers with his and closed her eyes as she put her head on his chest. George looked to the fireplace and saw that the fire had gone out, a sign that it was very late. They had Quidditch practice early the next morning and both would need plenty of rest or Angelina would kill both of them.

"Katie," George said. She looked up at him in response. "We should really get to bed." Katie looked at the fire and saw that there was no fire. She nodded and both got off of the couch. Both stood awkwardly, thoughts flying through each other's minds.

What do I do now? Do I thank him? Do I hug him? Kiss him on the cheek? What do I do? I don't want to leave. Do I have to? Yes I do. I know that. Quidditch practice tomorrow morning and I need rest. Damn. I really don't want to leave. I really love him. I have to tell him. No. I can't. He'll find out someday.

God, what do I do? Am I supposed to just wish her good night and sweet dreams then leave? What do I do? Do I even have to leave? Yes. Angelina will kill me if I'm falling asleep on the pitch. Will she mind if I kiss her? I hope not. But she will; she will mind. I love you Katie. Why can't I say it? I'll just go; it'll be easier.

George turned toward the boys' staircase and walked slowly toward it. Katie watched him go, her voice stuck in her throat.

"George! Wait!" she called after him. Her heart was racing, as was his as he slowly walked back toward her.

"Yeah?" he asked. He was so close to her that she could feel his warm breath on her face.

"Thank you. Thanks for helping me," she said. She looked down at her feet and turned to go back to the girls' dormitories. God, I'm such an idiot! George looked at the couch. Then he saw it, the reason for her to come back. He picked up the reason and called out her name. She came back over to him and he gave her the reason. She took her gloves from him and thanked him once more.

"Katie, that's not all. I need to tell you something and it might take a little longer than expected. I like you a lot. I think I'm in love with you and have been since the Yule Ball last year. Alright, that wasn't that long." George chanced a look at Katie's face. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the shy smile on it.

"Really? Because I think that's when I fell in love with you." At this George's heart stopped. He knew it was true, Katie couldn't look him in the eye. The pink on her cheeks helped George confirm that she was telling the truth. When Katie looked up from the ground George's face was very close to hers. Her heart was racing and she could feel his doing the same. Her mind joined the race when George's lips gently captured hers.

I'll be your cryin' shoulder

I'll be love suicide

I'll be better when I'm older

I'll be the greatest fan of your life