I'll Be

Molly Weasley couldn't believe her eyes. One of her sons was in the hospital, again. He wasn't in there for a multiple time; he was following his brothers in the path they all had taken to the overflowing ward at St. Mungo's. She watched through the window at her son, his twin was right beside her. The rest of the family, blood and otherwise, were watching as well. They were watching the Healers monitor their family member. The opening of the ward door startled all of them. They turned and saw someone they knew should be there with them, but hadn't expected. Molly looked at her son's girlfriend and felt her heart break more than it already had. The Weasley family matriarch watched as Katie Bell silently walked past her boyfriend's family to the window to his room. She stepped up to it and placed a hand on it as she looked in. Katie couldn't help the tears coming, she didn't even notice them. Molly did, however, and came up to Katie and the window. Looking in, both could see the unconscious form of George Weasley, lying in a hospital bed as multiple Healers were trying to help him. Molly could tell Katie was itching to get in there and make George all better. However, Molly could also recognize that Katie knew she didn't have the strength to keep herself together if she went in there.

"Katie, darling," Molly said softly, but still managed to scare Katie. She turned to face her boyfriend's normally cheerful mother and was unable to stop the tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked past Molly and saw the rest of the Weasley family, Harry, Hermione, and other members of the Order. Molly pulled Katie into a motherly and comforting hug, triggering sobbing from the young woman.

Young girl, don't cry I'll be right here

When your world starts to fall

Young girl, it's all right

Your tears will dry; you'll soon be free to fly

Katie's sobs wracked her body as well as Molly's. Molly rubbed her back and quietly said reassuring words to Katie. Katie knew that the rest of the crowd was watching, but didn't care as she poured her heart out onto the mother of the man she loved. Katie finally lifted her head off of Molly's shoulder. Molly was taken by surprise at how young Katie looked at that moment. Her beautiful blue eyes were shiny and watery still. Molly beckoned for Fred to come over and take care of Katie, while she took care of something herself. Fred came over and took Katie over to a set of chairs and sat down with her. Angelina Johnson soon joined them and helped her best friend try to comprehend what was going on. Molly had disappeared for a moment but had returned with a Healer. Katie immediately stood when the Healer appeared, wiping away her tears.

"Miss Bell," the Healer said. "It's nice to meet you. I hear you have been working in France with the Healers there." Katie nodded. "I feel that we will need your assistance here. Do you mind at all working tonight?" Katie shook her head. "Follow me."

The Healer led Katie to a door that opened into George's room. Katie and the Healer stood back as they discussed the situation George was in. Molly watched as Katie walked to the side of George's bed and picked up his hand. Her other hand came to rest on his forehead and pushed his hair away from his skin as she listened to the Healer.

When you're safe inside your room you tend to dream

Of a place where nothing's harder than it seems

No one ever wants or bothers to explain

Of the heartache life can bring and what it means

Hours had passed since Katie had entered the room. George's condition had not improved, but it had not worsened either. Katie exited the room and was met by Molly. Molly engulfed Katie into another hug and Katie accepted it gratefully. Fred was at Katie's side with Angelina and a cup of cider. Katie took the cup with a hug from Fred and then one from Angelina. She gestured for the crowd there to sit down. The large group of family and friends sat in a circle, their attention all on Katie.

"He hasn't changed since he was brought. This carries good and bad news. The bad news being that he hasn't gotten any better. The good news, and the most promising, is that he hasn't gone for the worse. The curses and the extent of the bodily injury have shown that this will take a lot of time to heal. The curses alone could take days to come off. We have performed the necessary counter-curses, one of which was very difficult. The combination of the curses made it very hard to figure out what he was hit with and how to fix the situation," Katie explained to the silent, but rapt with attention group.

"He'll be okay?" Ginny asked. Katie turned to her and smiled.

"Yes, he will be," Katie said. Ginny smiled a small smile at Katie and turned back to Harry, who had a comforting arm around her. Katie smiled a little at the sight of that. Katie turned to face the window now that she had informed the group of the conditions surrounding George. She saw his chest rise and fall with each breath he took. She was happy for every movement he made, glad for the reassuring signs that he was still alive. Molly watched as Katie stared through the window.

When there's no one else

Look inside yourself

Like your oldest friend

Just trust the voice within

Then you'll find the strength

That will guide your way

If you will learn to begin

To trust the voice within

Katie had drifted asleep in the wee hours of the night. She was having a dream involving the love of her life. The dream was more of a series of memories than anything else.

"What's your name?" a second-year George asked a first-year Katie.

"Katie Bell," Katie answered. George smiled.

"I like that name. It's pretty," George said. "Do you want to be friends, Katie Bell?" Katie nodded.

"I don't know if I'll make it. I mean the others were so good," a frantic and nervous second-year Katie said.

"Don't worry. You were one of the best out there. I told you our summer practices were worth it," a third-year George assured Katie, after a grueling Quidditch try-out. The captain came out and posted the list. Katie and the other hopefuls rushed the list. George could hear her squeal above the others. She ran back to George and engulfed him in a hug.

"I made Chaser!" she exclaimed. He laughed as he hugged her.

The fourth-year Katie searched the dark Great Hall for any sign of her best friend, George. He found her first and pulled her into a hug. Sirius Black had broken into the boys' side of the tower that night. Katie was relieved when George had found her. He pulled her over to where he, Fred, Lee, Alicia and Angelina had set up camp in the hall.

"Katie, I was wondering... with the ball coming up and everything... I mean... if no one has asked you yet... do you want to go to the ball with me?" an unusually nervous sixth-year George asked a blushing fifth-year Katie as they stood in the crowded Charms corridor.

"I'd like that," Katie said, not meeting his eyes. George smiled and said he'd see her at dinner before bounding off toward Fred and Lee, who were waiting at the end of the hall.

Young girl, don't hide

You'll never change if you just run away

Young girl, just hold tight

And soon you're gonna see your brighter day

"Katie, you look wonderful," Angelina tried to reassure her younger friend and fellow Chaser. "If George doesn't fall in love with you tonight, then he's the biggest git known to mankind."

"She's right," Alicia agreed. The girls were in Alicia and Angelina's dormitory getting ready for the Yule Ball.

Soon they were walking down the stairs to meet the boys. Katie thought she imagined seeing George's mouth drop when they came down the stairs. She shook her head and went across the common room to meet the boys with Alicia and Angelina.

Visions of dancing with George flashed across Katie's dreams. She saw her fifth-year self dance with George. They would dance to a quick tune, then slow down to a more somber melody.

A sixth-year Katie was sitting on the couch in the Gryffindor common room, staring into the fire, unaware of a pair of eyes on her. George had comforted her as she released her frustrations out about Umbridge. He called her back to give her back her gloves. 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.

She was watching him leave the school forever with Fred in the Entrance Hall. Tears were streaming down her face, but she was happy with whatever decision he made and wouldn't stop him for the world.

An older and wiser Katie stepped off of the Hogwarts Express for the last time and was on Platform 9 ¾ in Kings Cross. She saw him before he saw her. She hurried over and jumped him with a hug. He hugged her back, tightly, before letting her down. He kissed her and told her he loved her and missed her. She smiled.

Now in a world where innocence is quickly claimed

It's so hard to stand your ground when you're so afraid

No one reaches out a hand for you to hold

When you're lost outside look inside to your soul

Katie burst into Fred and George's shop in Diagon Alley. She ran up to the counter and found the twins selling more of their merchandise. They stopped upon seeing her and her face. Tears were streaming down her face and wouldn't stop. They pulled her into the back room and waited.

"They got Alicia and her family," Katie said with a shaky voice. "They killed them." Fred dashed out of the room to immediately close up shop and head off to Lee's place. George, knowing his brother had everything under control, took Katie into his arms and let her sob. He allowed a few tears himself. He guided her out of the shop and up to his apartment.

"I need to do this! I need to go help out! How could I let them get away with something like this?!?" Katie screamed at her boyfriend. For some reason he was not getting the message that she needed to help in France.

"I don't want you going all the way to France to help out! There's plenty to do here! Stay here, where you're safe! Stay where I can keep an eye on you!" George yelled. They had had screaming matches before. Every couple fought, they reasoned.

"I don't need you to protect me!" Katie yelled back.

"I don't want you to leave me!" George bellowed, before becoming very quiet. "I can't stand the thought of being without you for longer than a day. I need you with me. I just got you back from Hogwarts. Don't leave me again." Katie softened at his words.

"I need to do this, for myself," she said. George resigned and nodded. Katie walked the ten large steps across his living room to him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. He wasted no time in wrapping his arms around her.

"I love you," George said. "And I back you up on whatever decision you make."

"I love you, too," Katie said.

When there's no one else

Look inside yourself

Like your oldest friend

Just trust the voice within

Then you'll find the strength

That will guide your way

If you will learn to begin

To trust the voice within

George and Katie stood on the platform to the underground trains. They waited for the train to take Katie to France. Katie followed George's wish that when she left him, she wouldn't look back. He had told her his reasoning that morning. It would feel too much like a goodbye, he had reasoned. She felt the same way. She knew she would see him again.

The sleeping Katie in St. Mungo's woke with a start. She could see that the large crowd of family and friends that had once gathered there had minimized itself to about seven people besides herself. Molly was still there, unwilling to leave her son's bedside (or more accurately, roomside) if she could help it. Arthur was right by her side, comforting her throughout everything. Fred stayed as did the younger students. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were huddled in a corner, whispering to one another. Katie stood, stretched and walked up to the window of the room. The four in the corner stopped their talking as Katie moved to the room. Katie stood at the window with her arms wrapped around her, just watching. The magical machines would spit out numbers and sounds that Katie could understand. Sometimes she wished she couldn't understand them. Ignorance is bliss, she reminded herself.

Yeah...

Life is a journey

It can take you anywhere you choose to go

As long as you're learning

You'll find all you'll ever need to know

A hand touched her shoulder and Katie jumped. She turned to see Fred, with Angelina back at his side. Fred held out a steaming cup of cider and Katie took it gratefully and with a small smile. They turned to the window and continued to watch their friend.

"I'm here," they heard. They turned and saw Lee Jordan. He was coming up to them and brought them into a hug. Lee still wore the promise ring he had bought with Alicia. Molly, Arthur and the four younger ones watched as the friends huddled around one another in front of the room that held one of their dear friends. They turned out of the hug and to the window. Lee took a look at the situation and then looked to Katie, who still looked worried and distraught. Lee put his arm around her and squeezed her shoulders.

"He'll make it through, Kat," Lee said, using his nickname for her. Katie smiled a little. "You'll both make it through."

"Thanks, Lee."

You'll make it

You'll make it

Just don't go forsaking yourself

No one can stop you

You know that I'm talking to you

Lee, Angelina, Fred and Katie sat in the chairs opposite the window, wanting to be able to look into the window when they pleased to check on their friend. Katie was the one to look into the room the most often. She kept her gaze fixated on the room, the monitors, and George. She stood as the numbers on the machines changed and new sounds came through. Healers rushed into the room as Katie made her way to the window, the others following her. She pressed her hand to the window and watched as the Healers checked George and his vitals. Then Katie did something she hadn't done in a long time. She pressed her forehead to the window, closed her eyes and began to pray.

She prayed silently to God, to Merlin, to Morgana, to anyone who would listen. Her lips moved as she prayed, but no sound came out. When she finished she opened her eyes and was thankful to see the same numbers and sounds coming out of the monitors. The Healers were blocking her view of George but she knew something good was happening. She lifted her forehead off the glass but kept her hand flattened against it. Katie caught sight of George's right arm and smiled as she saw his fingers twitch. When he lifted his arm she began to weep out of joy and relief. She pressed both hands to the glass, willing the Healers to move so she could see her oldest friend, her companion, her love. One Healer turned to the window and motioned for Katie to join them. Katie moved quickly over to the door and was let in. When she entered she could see George was awake and speaking. He turned his head to her and smiled.

When there's no one else

Look inside yourself

Like your oldest friend

Just trust the voice within

Then you'll find the strength

That will guide your way

If you will learn to begin

To trust the voice within

"Sweetheart," he choked out. Katie let out a sob and rushed to his side. She sat in the chair by his side and took his hand into hers. She took her other hand and ran it through his hair, not noticing the Healers leaving and closing the blinds to give them privacy. George closed his eyes and reveled in her presence.

"I wasn't supposed to see you for a few weeks," George told her. She laughed a little.

"And I wasn't supposed to see you like this," she told him. "I told you to be careful," she chided playfully. George brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it.

"I know, love," he told her. "I just had to think of something to bring you back." Katie laughed a little with him, crying the while. She leaned forward and kissed him lightly. He put his hand on her neck to keep her forehead pressed to his. He kissed her again and let her go. She pulled back a little so she could focus on him. He frowned a little and wiped away her tears.

"Don't cry, sweetheart," he told her. "I'm right here."

Young girl don't cry

I'll be right here when your world starts to fall