OMG! Hello everyone! Not sure if any of you have read previous Getting Through the War story, but this is going to be a bit different. More detailed, longer chapters; better! You can certainly go and read the first GTtW, but if you don't want any spoilers, please refrain from doing so. My writing has improved so much since I wrote that story. For those who have previously read GTtW, please let me know what you think of this new version! Maybe doing this will help me get back into my prequel, Surviving Hogwarts x3
Please, please get in those reviews!
I do no own Harry Potter or it's characters. I only claim the ones creating for this story. Enjoy!
"Rea are you coming down or what?" An all too familiar voice yelled up the stairs to me. "The wedding begins in five minutes. All the seating will be gone if you don't hurry." It took me a couple seconds, but I was able to tell that the one calling to me just happened to be my boyfriend's twin brother. Even though we've been friends for years, it's still difficult at times to tell them apart just by the sound of their voices. It was easier for me than it was for others, but still there were times when I had to stop and think about it a moment. If we were in the same room together, and they were standing in front of me, I would have been able to tell right away.
Laughing softly to myself and giving my head a small shake, I call back to him. "Yeah, Fred, don't worry, I'm heading down now!" With my heels clicking on the wood floor of the Burrow, I meet Fred Weasley at the bottom of the stairs where he waited with his arm out for me to take. Smiling up at him, I noticed how handsome he looked in his attire. They were identical twins, but it wasn't Fred I was attracted to; it was his brother George who held my heart. "You look lovely Freddie. Where's George?" I asked, entwining my arm through his.
Fred gives a shrug, leading me through the Weasley home and out towards the gardens where Bill and Fleur's wedding was being held. "He said he's going to meet us outside. I think he's fixing his bandages up." Normally, Fred was very carefree and playful; always planning out a prank. This time though, I could see the inner turmoil in his eyes. Having his brother hurt in that manner, must've been heart wrenching.
Nodding my head, I look away from his face and down at my feet as we walk. I just learned what happened during their mission to recover Harry from his Aunt and Uncles home; bringing him here to The Burrow where he'd be the safest. While he was away with the rest of the Order, I had been told this morning when I arrived that I too would be staying here. I wasn't completely happy about it, but upon hearing what happened to George and how he lost his ear to a missed killing cruse, I decided arguing about it wouldn't do much good. I was just thankful that he was alive and it was just his ear he lost and not his life. My chest tightened at just the thought of losing him, so I could only imagine how Fred felt.
"How's he doing, by the way? I haven't talked to him much since arriving." I asked softly, trying to hide my emotions.
Fred just chuckles and shakes his head. "He's doing surprisingly well for a man who just narrowly missed the killing curse." He turned his head to look down at him. The smile he gave me, made my sorrow slip away. "He wants everyone to refer to him as 'His Holeyness'."
I couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled up from my chest and out of my mouth. If my arm wasn't wrapped around Fred's, I may have doubled over from laughing so hard. "Yeah, that sure sounds like him!" Looking back at him, my eyes no longer saddened, "Then again, it's something you would say as well. The two of you are a like in so many things. It's a wonder I can tell either of you apart."
He laughs as well, guiding me through the tent and to an empty seat beside an elderly woman who was likely related to the family in some manner. No one who couldn't be trusted, would have been invited. "Yeah, well, remember that you're the one who chose the less handsome one." With a wicked grin and wink, he leaves me to take my seat.
The wedding had been absolutely beautiful, more so than I was even expecting. Though, I shouldn't have expected anything less seeing as it was Fleur getting married. She certainly had beautiful taste. I could only dream of having a wedding nearly as beautiful as hers. While the wedding had been stunning, the reception was breath taking. A part of me wonder how much went into making certain that this wedding and the reception that followed.
From an empty table across the way, I watched George mingle with his family members. So many of them wanted to know what happened and why his ear was bandaged like it was. I wanted so badly to go to him, to tell him that he looked marvelous in the suit he was wore, but I wasn't quite ready to meet his extended family. I didn't mind waiting for him, content in just watching him from a distance. It reminded me of how I would admire him from afar, when we attended Hogwarts together. Sure, we'd been best pals, but it wasn't until the Yule Ball that we both finally confessed our true feelings.
I turned my attention away from him to take a few bites of the delicious food Mrs. Weasley prepared. I looked away for only a moment, so when I looked back towards him and saw he was no longer there, I began looking all over; my eyes darting from face to face trying to find him again. "Maybe he stepped out for a bit of fresh air?" I thought to myself. Shrugging it off, I returned to my plate.
It was in that moment, someone tapped me on the right shoulder. Without even thinking about it, I quickly turned my head towards the right. Except...no one was there. I could have sworn I felt someone tapping on my shoulder. As I turned my head to the left though, I was startled to find George standing there with a silly grin on his face. "You fall for that every single time." He chuckles, holding his hand out towards me. "Come dance with me."
Smiling, I shake my head, waving my hands in front of me. "No way." I say, "I'm a horrible dancer. Perhaps you forgot how many times I stepped on your feet at the Yule Ball."
George wasn't having any of it, though. Laughing to himself, he reaches out and takes a hold of my hand, pulling me to my feet and escorting my to the dance floor. "It was to be expected. After all, you were so nervous, I thought you would faint."
My eyes widened at this and I purse my lips. "I was not nervous!" I cried out exasperated.
"Of course you did," He retorts. "You said so yourself."
I roll my eyes. "I think all those explosions have effectively fried your brain. Either that, or your memories have been tampered with."
He starts to laugh, holding my hand up and placing his hand upon my waist, pulling my body close to his. I would be lying if I didn't say my face turned the same shade of red as his air. "How about we agree to disagree?"
He led us in a gentle dance, our bodies swaying side to side to the slow paced music that played. As we moved across the dance floor, it was like everything else faded away. Everything and everyone, except George and myself. I stared up into his beautiful eyes and he stared right back into mine. It was a perfect moment. So much so, that I didn't even notice Fred and Angelina dancing somewhere behind us. The two of them likely caught up in their own little world as well.
Only, our perfect moment wouldn't last much longer. I didn't realize something had interrupted the wedding reception, until George stopped moving and stood completely still. Frowning, a bit upset that he stopped, I looked up, ready to question him, when I noticed he was looking over my head and past me at something. Turning around, I saw a glowing blueish, white orb sitting in the middle of the tent. It looked like Kingsley, a member of the Order of the Phoenix. The voice that spoke from the orb, confirmed my suspicions, it was Kingsley and he came with a warning.
"The Minister of Magic is dead." I could hear several people around us gasp in shock. George placed his hand on my shoulders and pulled my back against his chest. I could feel how tense his muscles were. "They are coming." The orb disappears without saying anything further. He didn't need to though, we all knew what he meant by that.
"Rea, we're-" George was almost immediately cut off.
Chaos soon erupted throughout the entire tent. The Death Eaters were soon everywhere. Apparating in and out, throwing curses and spells. It was terrifying and confusing. You didn't know where they were coming from or even how they managed to get past the protective barriers. I knew only one thing, I needed to protect myself and my friends.
Pulling my wand from inside the purse I brought with, I defended myself from spell after spell. I couldn't find a single opening to fight back. Every time I started to throw back a counter spell, they were there again, throwing off another spell, forcing me to change defend myself or be seriously injured.
As I braced myself to finally stupefy a Death Eater with his back to me, someone bumped into me from behind. Acting instinctively, I spun around with my wand out and at the ready. I quickly stopped myself as I saw George standing there, his back bumping into my own. He glanced at me from over his shoulder, and faster than I thought he could ever move, he grabbed a hold of my wrist. "We're getting out of here! Now!"
Before I had the chance to say anything in protest, George Disapparated from the wedding tent. I hated this form of transportation and he knew I would have insisted we find another method. In an instant, everything went black and I knew when we appeared at our destination, that I would have a splitting headache. Even though I hated this, I also knew that it really was the fastest way to get out of a situation like that. If we'd taken the time to get back into the house to use the Floo Network, it was very possible we would have been hurt, or even killed.
As soon as we left, we were at our destination. Just as I expected, my head hurt so badly, that for several seconds, my eyes were unable to focus and I sunk to the floor, holding my aching head. Beside me, I felt George's hands on my shoulders, gently massaging them until the pain faded away and I was able to look around without feeling like I was going to faint. When I did, I noticed that we were in a dark hallway, but a familiar one.
"The joke shop," I said a bit confused. Didn't the shop get hit once by the Death Eaters? Why bring us here if it's just as dangerous?
George answered, "It was the only place I could think of going in that moment." He took off his suit jacket, leaving him in his vest. "It's not exactly safe here either, but Fred and I said if we were ever separated, that this would be the place we'd regroup. Fred should be here any-"
He was cut off by a loud popping sound. Snapping my head to the side, I saw Fred appear alone on the other side of the room. "Where's Angelina?" I asked getting to my feet, knowing he wouldn't leave her behind just like George wouldn't leave me.
"I took her home." The sadness I heard in his voice had me looking at him. "She's safer with her family, right now."
"Did he blame himself for her being in danger like that?" I asked myself, and out loud asking, "Are you alright, Fred?"
"Huh?" Just like that he was back to his old self. "Oh yeah, I'm fine. I'm glad the two of you made it out of there unharmed." He turned away from us and started for the stairs that led from the two bedroom apartment, down to the shop below. "George, I'm going downstairs to make sure the shop hasn't been broken into again, and to put up a few barriers."
"I'll join you." George said, "I'll be back in a bit, Rea. You still have some clothes here, go ahead and change while we secure the shop."
Nodding my head, I hurriedly grab his hand before he could catch up with his brother. Pulling his down to my height, I kiss his lips briefly. He knew what I was thinking, and didn't pull away until I did. Didn't question my actions, knowing I needed it for my own peace of mind.
"I'll be back soon, promise." And he was gone. Leaving me alone upstairs.
I was both scared and not. They were both very capable wizards, despite their playful nature. They would safeguard the shop and we'd be fine for the night. It took almost a full minute, but eventually I turned towards the bedroom I shared with George when I lived here with them. In the dusty dresser, I found a pair of loose fitting, cotton drawstring pants and a plain white t-shirt.
Now that I was in more comfortable clothing, I decided to head downstairs to meet up with the twins. When I caught up to them, they were beside the register, Fred playing with a little flying car that he bewitched. Both of them looked completely worn out, even with the ever present smile on their faces. They were both filthy and covered in bruises, but they were still incredibly handsome.
"In the morning, we should head to Aunt Muriel's." I heard George saying, leaning on the counter top.
"I agree. That's where mum and the others will be." Fred replied.
"Maybe we should try and get some sleep then?" I asked, coming up to the two of them.
They both glanced towards my direction, as if they hadn't been aware I came down. "You're right. Besides, I want to get the hell out of these stuffy, itchy clothes." Fred said, catching the car in midair, placing it back where he found it. "See you two in the morning." He waves as he walks back upstairs.
George closes the distance between us, his hands in his pockets. Through the bandage, I could see a bit of blood staining the clothe. "Come on," I say, taking his hand in mine. "Let me rebandage your ear and we can try to sleep as well."
He nods his head and the two of us make our way back up to the apartment. "You looked stunning tonight, Rea." I heard him suddenly say.
This took me off guard and I felt my face heat up with a blush. "Thank you, George, you looked amazing too. It's too bad we didn't have a chance to finish our dance, though."
"Yeah, but I'm sure we'll get another chance eventually."
Once we were back in the bedroom, I waited for him to take off his shirt before taking off the bandage and cleaning the wound. It was the first time I've seen it, and it made my stomach clench painfully. Again, I was glad that it had only been his ear and not his life. It didn't take me very long to bandage it back up and he changed into something more comfortable.
Using the Scouring Charm, we cleared the dust from the room. Now that it was cleaner, George and I climbed into bed, curled up into each other's arms. Neither one of us would be able to actually sleep that night, but found comfort in the arms of the one we loved. Happy that we made it out, but worried about everyone else.