Chapter One: Waiting is the Worst

The Burrow was a mess of people by the time we arrived. Time felt like it was staggered, like nothing was consequential. We gathered together. We ate a meal. We stalled getting ready. And before I knew it, George had pulled me over to an empty hallway.

"I'll be alright, you know," he said, his voice smiling, "Don't worry about me."

I scoffed, but then leaned into his kiss. My body was shaking. "I won't stop worrying until you get home."

"You're doing an awful job at reassuring me."

I rolled my eyes. "Just… Be careful."

George held me, and I pressed my ear against his chest, trying to memorize his heartbeat. "I will. I promise you I will come back in one piece."

I was about to warn him, "Don't make promises you can't keep," but Fred interrupted.

"Ah, sneaking some snogging before the big event? Yes, mind if I have a go, sis?" Fred puckered his lips.

Normally I would have laughed, but it took all of my energy to ignore the now gaping hole in my stomach. Then, we heard Arthur yell for the boys.

"It's time, mate," Fred said, and with one last sympathetic glance, George disappeared from the hallway.

I stood alone until I was certain that everyone had left. My tear ducts burned with worry, and my stomach felt like it had been trampled by hippogriffs. I forgot to say I love you.

Once I heard the distinctive pop, I emerged into the sitting room, where Molly and Ginny were waiting, arms crossed, faces crumpled.

I'm not sure why I said it, but it felt right, "Do you need help cleaning up, Molly?"

Even though I was allowed to use magic whenever I wanted, I felt compelled to wash everything by hand. It helped keep my mind focused and busy. Molly was stunned to see me working so hard on the pots and pans, that she too abandoned her wand and began manually scrubbing the table. Ginny disappeared from the couch and went up to her room. I didn't blame her.

I didn't know how long it would take for everyone to get back. It felt like hours, and I was beginning to run out of things to clean. I glanced at the Weasley clock for an answer, but my heart beat faster when I noticed all of the hands were in "mortal peril." I decided to wash the counter, and then the floor.

Another hour later, I had absolutely nothing else to clean. I took to the couch with Molly, and together we sat with our hands folded, waiting. Ginny emerged some time later and joined us. We couldn't think of anything to say, but I knew we were loudly thinking the same thing: everyone had missed their portkeys.

Finally, we heard a crack. We rushed out into the yard to find Harry and Hagrid, who were supposed to be one of the last to return, hobbling towards us. Though a little beat up, they seemed otherwise fine. Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry and hurried him into the house. Hagrid, twice as tall and wide as the normal person, could hardly fit under the Burrow's small ceilings.

"Where is everyone?" Harry asked anxiously, peeking around the house.

"No one else is back yet," Molly said somberly.

Harry didn't say anything, although he looked like he had a million questions.

"What happened?" Ginny urged, and Harry divulged about the Death Eaters. The Death Eaters had been waiting for the team, and an intense battle ensued. Harry had wanted to go back and fight, but Hagrid wouldn't let him. He saw Hedwig sacrifice herself.

I could feel a collective pressure growing on the inside of my skull, around my ears. I couldn't hear anymore. I walked outside to get some fresh air.

The cool summer air nipped at my skin, and my bare arms grew goose bumps. Crickets and toads chirped inside the tall grass, and the stars smiled from the sky. It was a beautiful night. I wondered what Kim and Kelly were doing tonight—if they were seeing the same clear sky as I was, and marveling about how lucky they were to be alive. George wouldn't have time to appreciate the night, especially if he was fighting for his life. The thought made me nauseous; I wondered if George and Cedric would get along in the afterlife. I closed my eyes, and tried to replay George's heartbeat in my head. My temple pounded. I couldn't remember.

Another millennia seemed to pass before I heard the familiar crack. My heart surged when I saw a familiar head of flaming red hair emerge from the tall grass, but then plummeted when I saw Lupin supporting him.

"We were betrayed," Lupin spat, and I rushed over to his side. "Grab his arm and help me. He's hurt…"

I didn't have time to think about what had happened. I only knew that I needed to help—now. Together, Lupin and I rushed into the sitting room, ignoring the gasps from Molly and Ginny, and placed George's limp body on the couch.

The first thing I noticed was the blood—George's face was drenched in it. Gently, I turned his head from side to side, and then I noticed it: his left ear was missing. I looked up and noticed Molly's horrified face. She was kneeling at George's head at the front of the couch, while I was kneeling in front of his body. Shaking, I removed my bloodied hands from George's head and reached for my wand.

My heartbeat was so loud, I wondered if it shook the room. I asked, "What happened?"

Lupin responded, "He got hit by a curse. Knocked out by the force of it."

Bile climbed into my throat, but I swallowed it back down. Gently, I took my wand and began removing the blood caked on my boyfriend's face. George didn't stir beneath my touch, but the steady rise and fall of his chest assured me he was alive.

I worked quickly on George, trying to ignore the shuttered breath escaping my lungs.

"I have no idea what this spell was," I muttered, mostly to myself. I summoned my bag of potions and tore apart the contents, looking for the tiny bottle of skin growth potion I brought. Molly nervously watched my hands move over her son's face. "Dark magic, definitely. I wonder if I could re-grow his ear. Doubtful, but it's worth a shot."

Tears threatened my eyes, but I willed them away. Suddenly, I felt Ginny's hand on my shoulder.

"He'll be alright," she reassured me with a smile. "Try to relax."

I hadn't even noticed how violently my wand hand was shaking. I smirked, "Right."

The background was filled with hurried whispers of the returning survivors. Hermione and Kingsley had arrived sometime during my assessment of George. Just as I had magicked a bandage into my hands, Fred and Arthur burst into the Burrow.

I had never seen Fred upset; he was perpetually in a good mood. Fred looked shell-shocked and terrified, like he knew something was very wrong with his twin. I was alarmed at seeing Fred so alarmed, and moved out of the way. Fred rushed over to his twin and kneeled in the same spot where I was seconds before.

"What happened?" he gaped, breathless.

"A curse got him. He'll be alright," I answered plainly. My hands were sticky with blood, and the sensation made me uncomfortable.

"George? How are you feeling?" Fred asked his twin.

George stirred, and muttered, "Saint-like."

Fred's eyes grew wide. "What's wrong with him? Is his mind affected?"

George grinned, and the familiar smile made my throat burn. "Saint-like. You see… I'm holy. Holey, Fred, get it?"

Fred smirked, and then shook his head. "Pathetic. Pathetic! With the whole wide world of ear-related humor before you, you go for holey?"

"Alright, that's enough you two," Molly shooed away Fred, and motioned for me to come back over.

I took Fred's spot, and my stomach lurched when I saw George's face light up.

"Hey beautiful, I told you I'd be alright."

I couldn't contain the smile that spread on my lips. "No, you told me you were come home in one piece. Liar."

George laughed. "Close enough."

I handed George a bottle of foul-smelling green liquid. "Drink this."

George stared wide-eyed at the bottle. "Yes, ma'am."

He took a swig, and we waited a few moments. Nothing happened.

"Just as I thought." I sighed, "Sorry, oh holey one."

The twins laughed, but Molly grimaced.

"Lighten up, Mum," Fred encouraged. "George's a saint now."

I tied the bandage around my boyfriend's head, and listened to George banter with Fred about his newfound religious status. Ron and Tonks had arrived sometime during this process, and more hushed chatter filled the air.

"Do you remember what happened?" I was curious, but part of me didn't want to know.

George shook his head. "I remember flying. And then the Death Eaters came. Something hit me and I was out. What did you do?"

"I washed dishes," I told him, and he cocked an eyebrow. "Well, the kitchen is very clean now, at any rate."

Bill and Fleur were the last to arrive. Both looked very tired, and very sad.

"Mad-Eye is dead," Bill said. The room fell silent in respect. It felt like someone had punched my chest, my heart ached so badly. I clutched George's hand for comfort. He squeezed back.

"I'm glad you're alright," I told George once the hum of chatter resumed in the room.

George stared at me curiously, as if he was really seeing me for the first time. Then he smiled toothily.

"Accio!" His bag zipped across the room and into his lap. George sat up, despite my many verbal warnings not to, and rifled through the bag's contents. His fist emerged, wrapped so tightly his knuckles turned white. George and Fred silently exchanged words before George turned his attention to me.

"Where's your hand?" George asked, his voice shaking.

I was usually a guinea pig for Fred and George's newest Skiving Snackbox creations. I couldn't believe that George was thinking about that now.

I scolded, very motherly, "I am not taking any of those joke pills tonight, George Weasley, so you can forget about—"

George uncoiled his fist. In the center of his palm lay a silver glittery ring.

My heart stopped and my face went red. My jaw unhinged. I tried to form words, but my mind was completely blank.

"Marry me?" George asked.

It took a few seconds before I realized I wasn't breathing. I inhaled too oxygen, and fanned myself. I was suddenly very aware of everyone staring at me, at us, at the ring in his palm.

"Well?" Ginny prompted. She leaned over my shoulder, her weight against my shoulders. "Oh, George!"

"His mind's definitely affected," I joked, but only Fred chuckled. "Merlin, George, yes. Yes!"

George's hand was shaking, but he slid the ring on my left finger with a smile.

"Perfect moment, huh?" Fred teased.

I wrapped my arms around George, even though I knew he really needed to lay down and rest. I kissed his cheek in front of everyone and whispered in his ear, "You're perfect."


A/N: D'awww, love! Let me know what you think!