Disclaimer: I'm really too tired to think of an interesting disclaimer… I DON'T OWN IT, OKAY!!!
Okay, be warned before you read… this chapter contains a sex scene, of a kind… don't read it unless you really want to…
Also, the dates switch back and forth almost as often as the PoV's do… watch out for that… Thanks to razmataz13drums, WheatGerm14, InLoveWithHarry, RemusSiriusJames, Sonia, Bec and mimosa, for reviewing… Oh, and by the way, there are spoilers, but I assumed if anyone is reading Harry Potter fanfictions they have read DH.
There's Always Tomorrow
By BellaDevil
Chapter 2 – the powerful word: LOVE
You know our love was meant to be You're the meaning in my life
The kind of love that lasts forever
And I want you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know everywhere I go
You're always on my mind
In my heart
In my soul baby
You're the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You're the inspiration
"We should split up," Fred told his brother as they headed to the Entrance Hall. He had volunteered himself, and his brother, to guard the entrance ways into the castle. Fred knew that the two of them could identify every single entrance into Hogwarts, it was going to be easy.
George nodded in agreement at his brother's suggestion. He turned to head for the staircase.
"George," came Fred's always-cheerful voice. George swung around. "I love you," grinned the twin.
"Oh, come on. Don't get all soppy on me," George smirked, but he walked up to his brother and pulled the young wizard into a one armed hug. "I love you too."
"I know," Fred said, pulling away from George, "I just wanted to make sure that you knew too." Fred patted his twin's shoulder.
"I'll see you later," George said.
"Yeah, and make sure you don't get that other ear blown off."
George laughed.
22nd June, 1998
"What do you think?" Ginny asked happily, swirling around in front of Harry. She was wearing a pale blue, swishy dress. The dress came just above her knees and had a quite low neckline, showing off a small amount of cleavage. She was very happy with the dress that she had convinced Harry into buying the previous day.
Harry, however, was extremely nervous and not even the site of his beautiful girlfriend took his mind off the day's up-coming events.
It had been a month since the Battle and Harry's eighteenth birthday was creeping closer every day. With this birthday came even more responsibility. A week ago Harry had received a letter from the Ministry announcing that he was to receive an Order of Merlin, First Class, along with Ron (who was ecstatic and enjoyed boasting at every possible opportunity) and Hermione. Today was the day he was receiving the medal.
Ginny frowned as she noticed the anxious look on Harry's face. "What are you so nervous about?" She asked, moving over to button Harry's brand new shirt.
"Well," Harry started, and he thought for a moment longer before answering. "I guess I'm nervous about going back to the Ministry. The last time I was there it was horrible; I don't know how much it has changed." Ginny nodded and finished buttoning the shirt. "And, well, there is everyone," Harry continued. "The last time I was out in the public was at the Funeral, and no one was going to talk to me then."
Ginny nodded again, "So you're scared of the publicity, or are you scared of the fame? Harry, you shouldn't be so damn modest, you basically saved the whole Wizarding world, people have the right to thank you." Ginny paused, "And as for the Ministry, I'm sure lots of things have changed. I mean, Kingsley is Minister now, he's changing things around there, Umbridge has been sent to Azkaban, the muggle born wizards and witches have been released, and that horrible statue has been melted down and sold, and the money sent to St Mungo's."
Harry nodded in agreement and followed Ginny into the kitchen, he watched as she retrieved a box of muggle cereal and two glass bowls.
"I know it's not much," Ginny said as she poured the beige flakes into the bowls and then passed one to Harry. "But you have to eat."
"Thanks," Harry told her, taking the food and wrinkling his nose slightly at the unappealing site, before piling as much fruit as he could onto it in an attempt to disguise the cereal.
Ginny left Harry to eat his breakfast in silence, a silence which was interrupted when an exhausted Ron ran into the room. Ron's hair was tangled and messy, he wore his plain pyjama pants, and the scars from the Department of Mysteries still shone brightly on his bare torso. Ron's pale white face indicated that he had only just woken up.
"15 minutes," Harry told Ron, glancing at the clock nervously.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Ron rebutted angrily, grabbing an apple from the kitchen bench and running off to the bathroom.
Ron and Hermione had been living in the spare room of Harry's apartment since the evening of the Funeral, and even though Harry hoped they would buy their own place or just move back to the Burrow he didn't tell them, after all, they had done so much for him over the years. Harry didn't know where he'd be without them.
"I told him to get up," Harry looked up to see Ginny entering the room with Hermione. "I told him about a hundred times," Hermione was saying, "and now he's blaming me for being late, me!"
"That's Ron for you," Ginny said, sitting in the chair beside Harry. "So what's going on with you two anyway?"
Hermione sighed and began pacing the room, Harry's eyes followed the brunette, he kept silent. "I don't know," she eventually muttered, "I really don't know."
"Excuse me?" came the deep voice of Kinsley Shacklebolt, making Ron jump and the case, in which his medal lay, snap shut jamming his fingers inside. Ron resisted the urge to swear by shoving his throbbing fingers into his mouth. He spun around.
"Ron!" Hermione muttered, jabbing her elbow into his ribs. Ron felt his cheeks reddening as he pulled his slobbery fingers out of his mouth and hastily wiped them on his robes. Shacklebolt didn't seem to care.
He smiled to the four young adults. "Would you mind if I had a word with you three?"
"Not at all," Harry replied, out of the corner of his eye Ron could see Ginny turn to leave, but Shacklebolt stopped her.
"Oh, Miss Weasley, I don't mind if you stay." Ginny smiled and moved back towards Harry, sliding her hand into his. "We should, however, talk in a more private place." Shacklebolt lead them into a small room. The room was simple, the pale green wallpaper was peeling off the walls, the varnish that once covered the floorboards had worn off and cobwebs decorated the ceiling. One old oak desk stood in the centre of the room, one of the legs on the table was rotting which made the desk slope slightly; there were two moth-eaten velvet chairs on either side of the desk.
Kinsley sat down in the chair behind the desk and with one swish of his wand three more chairs appeared out of thin air. Ron took the furthest chair from the left, he laced his long fingers together and began twiddling his thumbs, a thing he usually did when he was nervous.
Shacklebolt cleared his throat and began. "As the three of you," he motioned to Harry, Hermione and Ron and continued. "Were unable to complete your final year at Hogwarts and never sat your NEWT level exams, we are forced to discuss your career options." Ron shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Last year, all three of you demonstrated bravery –" (Ron resisted snorting as he thought of the night he walked out on Harry and Hermione) "– and loyalty to the Wizarding world. I would be extremely pleased to have the three of you working in our Auror department." Ron could just see the corner of Harry's mouth twitching slightly. "If you would like, we could immediately sign you up for the Auror training course starting this year –"
"Wouldn't we be disadvantaged?" Harry interrupted. "I mean, we missed a whole year of Defence Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration and Charms and everything," he elaborated.
"Mr Potter, I don't think you understand how poorly the students at Hogwarts were educated last year, I hardly think you'll be less experienced than the students who were taught by Death Eaters." Harry opened his mouth to respond but closed it again and nodded in agreement, Kingsley smiled.
"So will you take me up on my offer?" he asked, lounging back in the moth-eaten chair in a sophisticated manner.
"Yes," Harry said eagerly, Kingsley chuckled and turned to Ron.
"Mr Weasley, you could be very valuable to the Auror department too," said Shacklebolt. "That is, if you want to become an Auror."
"Can I get back to you on that one?" Ron replied, smiling nervously, and he could just hear Hermione's exasperated gasp.
"Of course. But you'll have to let me know before the seventh of October." After he had said this Shacklebolt turned to Hermione, who, Ron noticed, went rather pink.
"I've heard about your other job offer," Kingsley said kindly. Ron's eyes widened and he glanced at Hermione, who was now examining her shoes closely. "Just let me know whatever your decision is." Kingsley stood, and noticing the looks on Harry, Ginny and Ron's faces he said, "I leave you four to talk." He smiled again and turned to Ron. "October seventh."
21st June, 1998
"…Mr Weasley, I'm so sorry about your brother."
"Oh, um, thanks."
"Here, I made a pie…"
"…I made a cake for you…"
"…Here's a hamper for your family…"
George sighed as he received the fifth hamper of fruit since his store had been reopened. Lately, it seemed he was receiving more than he was selling, and he was already tired of the sympathy.
"See, him over there, the poor thing, he lost his twin you know." George would hear from the corner of his store and it made him want to scream "I'm okay! I'm fine, now will you please buy something or get out!" The truth was, George wasn't fine, he had never been alone in his life. George survived off companionship, when he was young he used to think that he would grow up and get married, but he would still live with Fred. But when George grew older and began to understand things more clearly the fantasy of being with his brother faded. George had briefly had girlfriends at Hogwarts, someone he could fool around with, take frequent trips to the broom closet with, or cut class with. However, after a while any hope of having a serious romantic relationship with a girl also faded, and right now he was too busy and wrapped up in his business to do any–
"Another hamper sir?" came the always-exhausted voice of Verity.
"Yeah," said George, tucking the basket under the shop counter. "I'll give it to Mum tomorrow night, we're celebrating Ron's brand new Order of Merlin." George rolled his eyes, if there was anything that could make Molly Weasley happier than the fact that Ron was receiving and Order of Merlin, it would be if one of her children became a prefect, and as the only Weasley that was still at school was Ginny, it was unlikely.
"Is there anything you want?" Verity asked softly.
"Nah, just – um – do what you normally do." George got up from the chair and headed for the door, he needed some fresh air, he rarely got much now-a-days. George wasn't concentrating on where he was going and before he knew it he walked into a young woman. George continuously muttered his apologies and he watched the girl's blond hair fly backwards as she bent down to pick up her shopping bags. He leant over to help just us she looked up, revealing her familiar face.
"Well, if it isn't Katie Bell," George exclaimed in forced cheerfulness.
"George, I've been meaning to come around to your shop," the young witch said, standing up and clutching her shopping bags to her chest. "How are you going?"
George glanced down at the ground and answered simply, "okay, and you?"
"I'm fine. I'm sorry I haven't come around earlier, I saw you at his –" Katie paused and glanced away from George before continuing, "– funeral, but I – um – I was comforting my mum, my cousin died."
"I'm sorry," said George, repeating the words that he had heard so often.
"No, I should be the one apologising, I mean, we weren't best friends or anything, but I knew – er–"
"–You can say Fred, you know."
"Oh, yeah, of course. I just, I just wanted to know that you're okay, I care about you, you know." Katie flushed pink after she said this and George could feel his cheeks reddening.
After a lot of embarrassed silence, George spoke. "Hey Katie, it was great to see you, but I have to be getting back to the shop or my employee, Verity will … kill me" (Katie, to George's delight, smiled at this) "but I really need cheering up, and you probably do too" (she nodded) "So, the shop closes at about five thirty and there is this lovely muggle restaurant around the corner from the Leaky Cauldron, so, if you're not doing anything tonight, do you wanna meet me at the Cauldron at about six thirty, and we can walk to the restaurant from there."
"Yeah, sure," Katie grinned. "I'd really like that."
George pulled on a clean pair of pants and a plain shirt. He was glad he was getting out, it was good for him. George needed someone to talk to and even if he wasn't extremely close to Katie, it was good to spend time with someone other than the stray cat that had adopted his apartment as a home.
George had never been extremely good friends with Katie, they joked around in Quidditch practice and had small conversations every now and again, but Katie was in the year under George and so they didn't have any classes together. Still, George thought to himself, it will be nice to catch up with her, and as Lee was on holidays in America and George had generally been avoiding his family members (other than Ron who had been helping around the shop), there wasn't really anyone else to spend time with.
With one last stroke of the scrawny cat, George hopped down the stairs of his apartment. It was a warm summer's night and so the breeze was cool and it whipped calmly over George's red hair. George smiled and trotted down the cobble-stoned path of Diagon Alley, passed Flourish and Blotts and passed Ollivander's, all the way to the large brick wall that marked the entrance to the Wizarding shopping district. George tapped the brick and watched as the hole grew and grew to form an archway, he took a deep breath and stepped inside.
"Hullo Katie," he greeted enthusiastically.
"George!" The witch was already in the pub, sitting at one of the tables and sipping a butterbeer. With a flick of her wand, the bottle disappeared and she stood.
"Am I late?"
"Just a bit," Katie smiled; she was wearing a navy blue cardigan over a plain white singlet top and a pair of black skinny-leg jeans. Her soft blond locks were twisted into a loose bun. "I didn't really know what the dress code was."
"Nah, that's fine," said George, "You look very nice."
"Thanks," she grinned. "Should we get going?"
"Yeah, of course."
Katie tossed a few bronze Knuts onto the counter before leading the way to the door.
"Hope I didn't keep you waiting to long," said George. "I have this cat who's kinda adopted me, and so I had to find it something to eat before I left."
"No, I only arrived about five minutes before you, so I wasn't waiting that long."
"Oh good," George responded cheerfully, "Fred always said 'don't keep the girls waiting'."
Katie smiled. "Do you miss him a lot?"
"Yeah, but I'll be okay," George told her truthfully. "I'm getting sick of people feeling sorry for me; I'm not the one who needs the sympathy."
Katie looked away, quite taken aback. "But, I'm not saying I don't want you to be here," George eventually continued. "Unless, you're only here because you're feeling sorry for me."
"Oh no, that's not why."
"Good. I just – I just need someone… someone to talk to."
"I know," said Katie, and she slipped her small hand into his strong large one.
George looked down at their hands before looking back up at her, he smiled. "Thanks."
"So," Katie started. "How's business?"
"Great," George answered sarcastically. "I'm trying to invent a type of prank chocolates. Chocolates that disguise themselves as different objects, so when people come across them they won't eat them. I had lots of problems with stolen chocolate back at Hogwarts." Katie laughed and George smiled. "So, tell me about last year at Hogwarts."
"What's there to say?" The blond smiled. "There were those same lessons, those quidditch practises and I almost died, you know, all the normal things."
George smirked. "How are you now?"
"Oh, I'm better now. How's Ron?"
"Spectacular," George scoffed, he rolled his eyes. "And boasting about his bravery, and his Order of Merlin."
"His Order of Merlin?" Katie repeated, wide-eyed.
"Yeah, him, Hermione and Harry are getting Order of Merlins tomorrow. Damn brave people. He does deserve it though, he's the bravest Weasley," George admitted. "I don't think he realises it, though. I don't think he realises how proud we are of him, how much we love him."
"Here we are," George said suddenly. He opened the door for Katie, she smiled and headed in.
It was a cute little restaurant, small round tables crowded the place with cushioned chairs tucked neatly underneath them. A short rounded man headed over to them, he had a plain white shirt on, with black pants and an apron tied around his waist that said "Yello's" in pale blue friendly letters.
"Hello," the man said cheerfully. "How may I help you?"
"A table for two, please," said George.
"Do you have a reservation?"
"Um – no, sorry."
"No problem," the man said. He twirled around and headed for a small table near the window, he motioned for them to sit before placing two glossy menus on their plates.
"Enjoy your evening," he said.
The rest of the night went reasonably fast, George listened as Katie talked about her family, her friends. He'd talk about the Fred and reminisce about pranks they had pulled on Oliver, and later, Angelina. They talked about Umbridge and the DA and the bang the twins had caused when they had left Hogwarts. They'd steal food off each other's plates and flirt and laugh. And George watched Katie's rosy red lips and how they curved perfectly back at him, and he watch the way the dim light would bounce beautifully off her golden locks, and when she realised he was watching her in awe, her snowy white cheeks would redden slightly, but she'd smile.
"Thanks for tonight," Katie smiled as the two young adults arrived back at the Leaky Cauldron.
"No, thank you," George replied.
"Well, I'll see you round." George moved closer to Katie, he meant to give her a friendly kiss on the cheek, but Fred's voice seemed to ring in his ears, Don't keep the girls waiting, and before either Katie or George knew it they were kissing passionately.
One of George's hands was rested on the small of Katie's back and the other threaded into Katie's fair hair, which now hung in loose waves at her shoulders. The two stayed in their embrace for a few moments before breaking apart in gazing into each other's eyes.
"Come back to my apartment," George blurted out. Katie nodded and they headed quickly to the Wall.
An exhilarated George kicked the brick with such force that his foot started throbbing painfully, but he quickly pulled Katie through the entranceway. They ran up the street of Diagon Alley in silence, smiling at each other every now and then. Their shoes tapped loudly on the cobblestone path. They passed Ollivander's and they passed Flourish and Blotts, and warm drops of rain started to patter down onto the road, they continued to run. The air whipped through their hair, the same air that would whip through their hair every quidditch game.
The door opened automatically when the young red-head and the young blond galloped up the stairs. The door swung closed behind them and George immediately pulled Katie back towards him, his tongue re-entering her mouth. All George's thoughts seemed to flutter away like young butterflies, and for once in the past month he let himself go, he was free. Her arms wrapped around his neck. Her hands were cool and soothing, George thought as he weaved his fingers back through her hair.
They broke apart once again and George grabbed her hand and pulled her into his small bedroom. He leaned over and began kissing down Katie's neck, chills crept over the witch's neck and she gasped. Their lips met once more and it seemed as though the whole world consisted of just the two of them, the soft mewing of the cat faded away, the gentle pitter-patter of the rain faded away.
George pushed her against the wall, his hand creeping slowly up Katie's back as she reached for his shirt and pulled it over his red hair. Katie ran a finger over his perfectly toned torso, he seemed so different from his Hogwarts days, he was stronger and much more muscled, and he looked much less windswept than his Quidditch days, he hadn't been on his broomstick for months.
The young witch ran her fingers down the boy's jaw line as she trailed kisses along the same path. George's hands found their way to the buttons of Katie's cardigan, one by one he tugged at them and they came undone. George slid the clothing off her shoulders. The wizard ran his gentle hand over her snowy white, flawless skin; she shivered and buried her face in his neck, inhaling his scent.
Katie stepped backwards slightly, without her shoes she was at least four inches shorter than George, and so she glanced up into his aqua blue eyes. George placed his hand on the side of her face, tracing the faint outline of her freckles with his thumb. George's hands moved back down Katie's neck and followed the outline of her slim figure until they reached her bottom of her singlet; he carefully lifted the shirt over her head.
By now it was dark, and the only light in the room came from Katie's hazel eyes which still reflected the small child she had grown out of. George pulled Katie closer; his strong hand sliding up her back in search of the clasp of her lingerie, the bra slipped off her shoulders. Katie stood, for a moment with her eyes shut, breathing deeply. She could feel George's fingers graze lightly over her skin, across her breasts, down to her hips.
Katie's eyes opened and her cheeks reddened when she realised that George was so close. George smiled that mischievous smile that reminded Katie of all the Quidditch games, Hogsmeade trips, DA meetings and ordinary school days, and it relieved her to be able to see the same George smiling again.
Katie leaped; she lunged herself, with all her might, into the boy's arms, causing George to fall backwards onto the soft mattress behind him. He looked down at the blond, whose face was propped up on her hands, her elbows digging softly into his ribs. He smiled again, curling her hair around his fingers.
Katie traced her fingers down is jaw line, her fingers grazed over his soft, pale lips. She drew an invisible line down the side of his torso, George's muscles tensed up as she reached a sensitive spot just above his waist. Her fingers continued on their path, they ended at the waistband of his jeans and almost as soon as she touched the firm denim the clothing disappeared.
George gasped, his ears reddening, he sat up and reached for his wand that rested on the bedside table, but when he looked back Katie was already undressed. For an awkward moment George remained staring at the blossoming witch that sat in front of him, before breaking into a grin. He leant forward and grabbed Katie's soft, pale hand, so cold but so delicate. The wizard placed his other hand on the side of her face, resting his forehead on hers.
"You're beautiful."
"Fred! Look at these!"
"What?" The young red-head said, turning to see his twin running over to him, a mysterious bag in his left hand. Fred grinned and stood up from his spot under his favourite willow tree by the lake.
George handed the bag to his brother, a matching grin plastered on his face. "These."
"ACID POPS! – Designed for Torturing!" Fred read, he reached into the bag and produced a pitch black lolly pop. "Where'd you get these?"
"Charlie sent them, a birthday present for tomorrow, he got them in Hogsmeade," George stated, "Anyway, I was thinking, do you suppose Ron would eat one if we told him it was liquorish flavoured?"
"Probably," Fred answered, an image of their younger brother with a large hole in his tongue filled Fred's mind. "Let's do it!"
21st June, 1998
"Hey, Georgie-boy, check this out!" George winced as Ron slammed his Order of Merlin case down on the register with such force that the glass display next on the desk shattered, glass splintering the room.
George groaned but Ron dropped to the ground, quickly muttering reparo. George reached for the case and opened it examining the medal inside it.
"Nice," he said eventually.
"Mmmhmm," Ron agreed, "And guess what else."
"What?"
"Shacklebolt offered us jobs as Aurors, well he offered us a place in the training program."
"Awesome," George yawned, zapping a box of canary creams with his wand before handing it back to the customer who was buying it.
"Mmmhmm," Ron repeated, slightly less enthusiastically.
"What's the matter?" George asked when he noticed the droop in Ron's smile.
"Oh, it's nothing really, but I didn't really plan on becoming an Auror."
"What do you wanna be?"
"A lawyer."
"What?!" George gasped, almost falling of his chair.
"You know, I always thought it would be cool being part of the Wizengamot, or study the law, or keep thing in the world in order."
"Wow, I don't mean to be sceptical or anything, I just never imagined you being a lawyer or anything, I mean, you're pretty good at proving your point and everything," George ran a hand through his messy hair. "I guess, if you asked Kingsley he'd probably accept you into that course as well."
"Yeah, I was going to talk to him about it, but I didn't want to say it in front of Ginny, or Hermione, or Harry, they'd probably laugh."
"So why didn't you go talk to him alone, later?"
"Something else came up," Ron lowered his eyes, he seemed to be fidgeting pretty intensely, he was rubbing at his hands as if to distract George.
"What happened?"
Ron looked up. It was now visible that his eyes were filling with tears.
"Hold on one sec," said George, holding up his hand. "Verity, do you mind looking after the shop for a few minutes?" the girl nodded in reply and George grabbed Ron's arm, pulling him into the back room. With a flick of his wand, George had conjured up two chairs. Ron took one and George, the other.
"So, what happened?" George asked again.
"Well, Shacklebolt asked us each personally if we wanted the job. Harry obviously said yes, he's wanted to be an Auror since fifth year, maybe even earlier. Then I said I had to think about and then he came to Hermione," He casually wiped away a single tear that had escaped the aqua puddles of his eyes. "He said to her that he had heard about her other job offer –"
"Other job offer? Where?"
"Hogwarts!" Ron burst. "McGonagall offered her the job of potions professor." Ron leant forward, burying his face in his hands, George kept silent.
"I would have been happy for her if she took any job," Ron continued. "She's amazing, you know, she could do anything, but Hogwarts? Hogwarts teachers are like the students. They go to school every term and live there! Seriously, which of the Hogwarts teachers actually have lives?"
George resisted the urge to laugh, Ron was right. "But Hermione," Ron said softly. "She's got Harry and Ginny, she's got her parents. She's got me." Ron's face met his hands once again.
George sat in silence, taking in the sounds of his baby brother's sobs. "You really love her, don't you?" George said quietly.
"Love," Ron replied. "Why don't people say love enough? Why can't I tell people I love them? Why didn't I tell Fred that I loved him –"
Tears filled George's eyes. "I keep remembering that night," he admitted. "The last thing he said to me was that he loved me. That was the last thing I said to him too." Ron looked up, his eyes meeting with his brother's. George's heart skipped a beat, he had never fully realised that Ron had the exact same eyes as Fred, their father's eyes, his eyes.
"I love you George. Why don't I say that more? Why don't I tell Bill I love him, why don't I tell Charlie, or Percy, or Ginny? Why can't I tell Harry that I love him, 'cause I do, he's my brother too. Why haven't I told mum I love her yet? Shouldn't I be saying it every time I see her?" Ron stood. "Why haven't I told dad that I love him, lately?"
"Why haven't you told Hermione you love her?" George said, standing from his chair. George stretched to try and match Ron's height. "Why do we take each other for granted? I love you too Ron."
"I have to go," said Ron suddenly. He turned and left, but not without an "I love you" to his brother.
George smiled slightly before the affect of his brother's words really hit him. Those three little words were enough to brighten anyone's day.
"Hermione!" Ron shouted, after apparating into Harry's apartment. He charged into the kitchen only to find Harry sitting at the table reading a bunch of booklets about Aurors.
"Harry!" he said, sitting in the chair opposite the raven-haired wizard, the boy lowered the booklet and raised his eyebrows. "I love you," Ron blurted out.
"Okay then," Harry said, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed his friend. Harry's emerald eyes lingered over Ron's, he could tell that the boy had been crying, it wasn't surprising though, Harry's two friends had put on quite a show at the Ministry.
"I had an epiphany," Ron admitted.
"Okay," was all Harry could say.
"I realised that I should be able to tell you I love you, you're my brother, and I should be able to tell my brothers that I love them. I've already lost one of them and I wish I had of told him that I love him."
Harry nodded.
"I need to find Hermione. I need to tell her that I'd be happy with whatever occupation she picks. I need her to know that I care about her, that I love her."
Harry nodded again, he knew it would have been hard for Ron to say those things, after all, the boy had spent the majority of his years refusing to believe that he loved Hermione. "She went to The Burrow; she's helping your mum and Ginny cook for tonight."
"Thanks," Ron smiled.
"Hermione, Hermione!" again, Ron repeated the same words the moment he apparated outside the Burrow. He banged at the door three times before it opened, revealing the happy face of his younger sister. He raced passed Ginny and into the kitchen where Hermione stood facing the sink. She turned around slowly, eyes facing the floor and arms crossed. Her expression was unreadable; however, Ron could still see the dried tear-tracks that decorated her face.
"Hermione," Ron said softly, approaching her cautiously. She turned around slowly, her head was bowed and her arms were crossed loosely.
"I don't mind where you work," Ron insisted, placing a hand on her cheek. "I just want you to be happy." He moved his hand from Hermione's cheek and raked it through his pumpkin coloured tresses. Ron looked up at the ceiling before turning back to Hermione who was still staring at the floor.
"I – I love you," Ron meant to whisper, but the statement came out much louder than expected. He didn't care though, Hermione was now looking directly at him, her warm chocolate coloured eyes lighting up her face and Ron's heart.
Without a care in the world, Ron wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a passionate kiss, not caring that his mother was standing mere metres away beaming while tears drifted down her face, or that his sister stood smirking at the doorway. The whole world just melted away because there was only one person in the world that meant something at that moment.
George never needed love. He never relied on it, never lived by it, never experienced it. He didn't understand how it worked.
There are two kinds of love, George would tell himself. The kind that you felt with siblings, a different kind of love that you could just say to your parents every night. The same kind of love that you would say to your pets. The innocent, naïve love that came naturally, and then there was another type of love.
The type of love George witnessed whenever he was in the Burrow, when his mother would lean over and plant a sweet, small kiss on his father's cheek, they had found that love. The way Ron would blush tomato red whenever Hermione grinned at him, they had found that love. The way Ginny and Harry's fingers seemed permanently intertwined as they rested on the dining-room table, they too had found love.
And somehow, George felt lost. He had never felt the love but he somehow needed it. He sat in silence that whole night watching the relationships around him and longing for someone to call his own.
Maybe Katie Bell would be the beginning of the rest of his life.
So, I'm lazy, sue me… I have no excuse for taking so long to put this chapter up, and now I'm doing it at 2.21 a.m… strange… I've been pretty peeved off lately, I have one day left of school until summer holidays (yes, I live in the southern hemisphere), my house got broken into a couple o' weeks ago, the car was stolen and my precious playstation, along with the game card that probably contains about 70 (or more) hours of my life, plus even more of my sister's…
Anyhoo, right now I can't be bothered to write because I'm either watching Scrubs or season 4 of Grey's Anatomy, on the internet… The song at the beginning was You're the Inspiration by Chicago, if anyone cares… good song anyway…
Oh well… I'll try to get another chapter out by 2009…
BellaDevil