Too Identical
I do not own Harry Potter.
This is a response to the One Word Challenge on HPFC. My one word of dialogue was "Still".
George Weasley came home to find his wife packing.
It had been such a stressful day. Though one might question the stress levels of one who works in a joke shop, it was still stressful indeed. George had planned on Ron being there to take care of the incoming orders, yet his younger brother had called out sick. No, not sick himself, but his youngest kid, Hugo.
So, George found himself checking in the newly shipped stock he had ordered. He was relying on his newest hire Dennis Creevey to look after the main floor, but that had also been against him in luck. The Creevey boy was still new and George had found his name being called habitually. This wasn't priced; that wasn't in stock; those don't look right: time after time. It seemed nothing went right.
But now… now George was home and he could spend time with his beautiful wife as well as seven-year-old twins. But the house was quiet. He looked in their backyard to find his twins sitting in the grass, their faces crestfallen. Puzzled, George went to find Angelina to talk to her about it.
George Weasley found his wife packing and all thoughts of conversation left his brain.
His puzzled look came forth as he noticed a wide range of luggage sitting on their bed. Two looked to have already been filled with her toiletries and books. The third and largest was being filled with her clothes… all of her clothes. Were they taking a trip she had somehow forgotten to tell him about? A voice in the back of his head told him that was probably a no. There were too many bags holding her things and none holding either his or their children's belongings.
Her head bobbed the slightest in her acknowledgement of his appearance in their bedroom. She didn't turn around; didn't look him in the eyes; didn't stop taking out clothes from the wardrobe.
He heard her murmur something, but was so faint that he barely even recognized it. He could also hear her faint sobs as she pulled robe after dress from her side of their closet. Her arms were laden with clothes, almost as if she didn't want to turn around and see the look that was most likely on his face.
George watched as she struggled with the clothes that were in her arms. He wanted to say something; wanted to ask her if she wanted help packing for the obvious trip. But it looked like a long trip she would be taking. She wasn't leaving, was she? The thought jumped right to the forefront of his mind. If she were leaving, would she take his kids from him? Divorce him? What would she ask for if she did that; custody of Fred and Roxy? Half of the joke shop? George just couldn't take it anymore. He stepped forward, determined to turn his wife around to face him. He was just a few steps away and then she did it.
That was when she finally turned around and George saw. He saw the tear streaks that had danced down her cheeks. He saw her puffy, red eyes; glaring at him as if he had been in the wrong. He saw her pathetic get-together of sweats and an old t-shirt that belonged to Fred. And then, it dawned on him.
"Still?" That question made him feel as pitiful as his wife looked.
Her eyes were downcast, refusing to even spare him a glance.
Angelina finished packing the last suitcase and finally looked at George. Then she nodded.
George Weasley watched his wife leave him because he looked too much like his identical twin.