"Thank you again, Angelina," Alicia said, practically glued to her fiancé's side. "George told me you had things to do after work but after Molly found out how soon the wedding was going to be, she insisted we all start planning tonight – Well, you know how she is." Alicia beamed at Angelina outside the Burrow.
"It was just quidditch practice, I'm not really on the team so it's not mandatory or anything – you only get married once right!" Angelina responded with excitement that sounded fake. George scoffed.
"What are you trying do, jinx us?" He snapped at her, furrowing his eyebrows and fidgeting. George had been doing everything in his power to avoid her the past couple weeks since he'd received some rather disorienting news from a certain fairy. So spending an evening with her, planning his wedding to Alicia was the absolute last thing he wanted to do.
"Yeesh George I was just talking. You're as touchy as a damn hippogriff lately, I swear." Angelina remarked.
"Yeah honey, why are you so tense. You aren't nervous are you?" Alicia said teasingly, rubbing his shoulders. Angelina turned, unconformable.
"Where's your mum anyway? We've been waiting out here for ages. "Angelina complained.
The door swung open and sure enough, there was Mrs. Weasley in what looked like a stretched out version of her wedding dress. Alicia eyes went wide with wonderment, she had swallow to hold down her laughter.
"Wicked Mrs. Weasley! Do a turn." Angelina said smiling for the first time since she'd arrived at their doorstep.
"OH MUM. Why?" George grumbled, not accepting the amusement he saw in the situation.
"I thought it would inspire. Come in, come in we've work to do." Mrs. Weasley pressed, practically shoving them in the house, not that they could fit with the huge white glob in their way.
The kitchen table was piled with witch weekly wedding issues, lace patterns and decoration samples. George rolled his eye, defeated by the realization that he was not getting out of there anytime soon.
"I guess the dinner went well!" Angelina whispered to George, spitefully while everyone was distracted. "We've been working together the past two weeks and you never thought to mention that your wedding was back on."
"It was never off, Angelina," he harshly corrected. She was taken aback, her expression blank.
"You know what I mean."
"It never came up." He said nonchalantly attempting to take his seat but Angelina grabbed his arm before he could go too far.
"Yeah, it never came up because you never brought it up, you great ninny." Her grip relaxed. "Why didn't you just tell me so I didn't look like an idiot when Alicia asked me to come today?"
"It must have slipped my mind." That wasn't true, George had been tactfully avoiding all conversations about that night with Angelina for the past two weeks. Mostly because he was trying to forget it had all happened: the fight and definitely what the fairy said about Angelina. The news of their re-engagement must have gotten lost somewhere in his list of unmentionables.
"GINNY THEY'RE HERE, COME ON DOWN!" Mrs. Weasley yelled up the stairs.
"Ginny's already home for winter? Wow, time flies seems like yesterday we were all back at Hogwarts for the memorial." Alicia said brightly. George had never seen Alicia as happy as she'd been the past two weeks. He had been working around the clock on being what Alicia liked to call a 'real adult'. It was difficult for him, but if it made her happy, it was worth it. She had made sacrifices for him and now was his chance to return the favor.
"Merlin mum, what are you wearing?" Ginny said in shock at the piles of white taffeta that surrounded her mother's plump form. Angelina snickered discreetly, George elbowed her in the side.
"My wedding dress dear, I must admit I mainly brought it out to show you. All this talk of weddings made me think, wouldn't you look lovely in my dress?" Mrs. Weasley practically sang.
"uhhh" Ginny stammered, trying to hide the blatant distaste on her face.
"Who said anything about Ginny getting married, she's much too young." George inserted.
"Oh yes, your quite right George, 17 is MUCH too young by 19 I'll be wiser and better prepared to handle the stress of marriage." Ginny said sarcastically.
"Don't sass me. You've only got one decent big brother!"
"All right, you two." Mrs. Weasley chimed.
Almost as soon as they started working, it became clear that with a new subject came a new disagreement. Hours passed and the group had made no progress, George and Alicia couldn't agree on anything.
"Would you two just pick a color already?" Ginny complained.
"That's the problem," George aggressively retorted. "She doesn't want a color, she wants black and white, like we're boring bloody muggles." Mrs. Weasley gasped.
"George Weasley, you're lucky your father wasn't here to hear you say that."
"Black and White is classic. Red and Gold is not a wedding color scheme, it's a Halloween party." Alicia argued.
"GRYFFINDOR PRIDE!" George and Angelina said together fist pumping, the hours on end of looking at the same three flower arrangements obviously making them loopy. Alicia silently shook her head.
"Let's just move on to location." Mrs. Weasley suggested, determined to make progress.
"I think we should do it at my grandparent's beach house in Whales, it's on the water - beautiful!" Alicia suggested with a dazed, dreamy expression in her eyes.
"That sounds great!" Ginny said hopefully. George didn't have any immediate objections to it, he was about to concede when Angelina made a disapproving grunt next to him. George turned to her, opening up the floor for her to speak.
"I just think that if I were getting married," Angelina began, "I'd want the location to be a place that represented who we were as a couple. Like… George remember last week when we were at the nymph pavilion, it was so beautiful – super romantic. And didn't you tell me you and Alicia had your first date out of Hogwarts there?"
Now, that was what George would call a great idea. He and Alicia had had such a great time there. It was the first winter holiday they spent together as a couple; they had a picnic by one of the many streams and listened to the Nymphs sing. Of course, when he went with Angelina the agenda was much less tame. They spent most of their time sliding down the water falls and gossiping with Nymphs who told tales of their exciting affairs with the Gods. George smiled at the memory.
"Well, YOU'RE not getting married." Alicia spat, frustrated. Angelina grimaced.
"Not anymore." She said darkly. George gave Alicia a sharp look, placing a consoling hand on Angelina's back. Alicia was way out of line, Angelina was only trying to help after all. What had gotten into her?
"I'm sorry Ang, I didn't mean it like that. I'm just tired." Alicia gave an obligatory apology. Angelina straightened up.
"I just thought that since George has that weird thing about the ocean, the beach might not be a good idea." Angelina continued, matter a fact.
"What weird thing about – "Alicia started to ask.
"Angelina you promised!" George whispered to Angelina under his breath, a soft chuckle sounded from within her.
"I'm sorry George but it's too good of story." Angelina clasped her hands together and stuck out her bottom lip. "Come on, it's just your family." George looked at her with pleading eyes, because she knew he couldn't refuse her when she made that face.
"Yes George, I'd love to hear the story." Alicia said tersely.
"oi, fine!" George said shoving Angelina playfully. Angelina cheered at her victory.
"Ok so George and I came up with this new product a while ago and we had just recently done the finishing touches. So we needed someone to test it out on. Naturally we went to the beach of Amsterdam." The others at the table look at Angelina confused. "Because the magical law there is so lax," She explained.
"Things a mother should never hear!" Mrs. Weasley chimed, Ginny snickered.
"Anyway, so George and I are seeing how it works and this huge wave comes by and splashes us. I mean we aren't even soaked, our toes were wet at most and George freaks out. He screamed and ran all the way up to a muggle surf rental hut."
"It was more than our toes!" George interrupted, defensively. Angelina gave him a knowing sideways grin.
"Once I get him to calm down, he starts going on and on about how scary the ocean is because it's this vast expanse of unknown. It was priceless." Angelina giggled and rested and hand on George's arm. Though he tried his hardest to maintain that he was not amused, eventually George had to laugh with her.
"That's right Ang, laugh it up. I'll get you back for this." He threatened.
"No, don't be embarrassed," Angelina smiled, "honestly George I thought it was kind of cute!" Alicia flinched, defensively taking George's hand.
"I think it's poetic and beautiful Georgie!" She said, kissing him on the cheek.
"Yeah who knew you were such a pansy Georgie!" Ginny teased, laughing as she got up from the table.
"Apparently Angelina did." Alicia said under her breath.
"I need a drink. Anyone else want any, I make a mean fire whisky brew?" Ginny continued.
"Ginevera Molly – "
"I'm 17 now, remember mum? I think you were there on the initial conception in question." Ginny interrupted her mother.
"Well alright then, you cheeky thing, bring your old mum some brew."
"Anyone else?" Ginny surveyed the table.
"I better not after last time, right George? What a mess we both were that night." Angelina quipped.
"But it was loads of fun though." He corrected. She shrugged her shoulders and looked up with a deep inhale. George jabbed her, playfully in the rib then began tickling her, causing to her erupt in laughter.
"Yeah, Ok, fine it was a little fun." Angelina said amused. George made eye contact with his sister from across the room, she had been giving his side of the table weird looks all night. But this one was fierce and unmistakably meant for him.
"George, why don't you help me with the drinks?" She harshly suggested.
"I'm not sure I –"
"Now" Ginny said through gritted teeth.
"yeesh, you get more and more like mum every day."
"That better be a good thing George Weasley!" His mother remarked as the two were leaving for the kitchen.
Ginny walked with her head poked out like a turtles and her arms were clued to the side. George knew she only walked this way when she was upset, angry or hungry. For his own sake, he hoped it was the latter. But when she turned around clenching the kitchen counter, he was sure that was not the case.
"So are you going to tell me what's going on in there or am I to assume the worst?" Ginny accused firmly. George stood there dumbfounded.
"What, planning the wedding? I know it's taking a bit longer than – "
"Oh come on George, you can't possibly be that thick." He stared at his sister blankly, she rolled her eyes. "Let me clear things up for you; both the girls in our kitchen right now are in love you and only one's your fiancé."
"God, not again, first the bleeding fairy now you." George muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" Ginny persisted, hands on her hips, the spitting image of their mother.
"Nothing. Angelina and I are just friends. Did we get close very fast – Yes, but that's just because we got each other out of a funk. We just see each other as mates, that's all! Like, like Harry and Hermione – you're not jealous of Hermione are you?" Ginny gave him a sideways glance in disbelief.
"You're not getting it! They're both in love with you – that's obvious. What I want to know is, which one are you in love with?" He was becoming increasingly more frustrated, but did his frustration stem from the ridiculousness of Ginny's question or the lack of. She narrowed her eyes at George, revving up to hit with another round of berating. " And 'like Harry and Hermione' come on George, last time I checked, they weren't getting drunk together until all ours of the night or going out of the country or on romantic dates with each other. Merlin knows what else you've done. George don't be that guy." Ginny said accusingly yet in a bit of whisper as to not be overheard
"'Which one am I in love with?' What a question Ginny? You've been reading too many of those stupid teen witch romance novels again." He responded mock lightheartedly. He loved Alicia, that was a fact but ever since that fairy had put the thought about Angelina in his head, he couldn't help but wonder, think about her, stare at her when she wasn't watching. 'No' he thought. He refused to let these thoughts derail his whole life. What was he doing?
"If it's such a crazy question George, why aren't you answering it?" Ginny questioned, looking more worried than angry.
"She reminds me of Fred." He said, coming to the conclusion as he said it. "Nothing more is going on I promise you. I'm sure she feels the same way about me. We're each other's crutches right now, that's all." She was quiet for a bit.
"I believe that you believe that and I want it to be true." She said sadly. George turned around, furious.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Never mind George, just forget it. Look at me." He turned to her. When had she gotten so grown up? "I'm your sister and I love you no matter what, but if you truly love Alicia I would just be careful OK?" George put an arm around his sister and roughly nuzzled her hair with his other fist.
"You got nothing to worry about itty bitty Ginny!"
"Oi, everything's a joke with you..gerroff." She said shoving him.
"Well we could have a serious talk about you and a certain Harry Potter if you want. What's all this rubbish about you staying at Grimmauld place? Hmmm?" Ginny straightened up, breaking eye contact with her big brother.
"They'll be wondering where we went off to." She quickly made the drinks with her wand and headed out the door.
When they got back in the room, there was a distinct icy chill present that George didn't notice when he left.
"So, we made any more progress?" He asked when he got back to his seat.
"Actually a problem has come up that I was wondering if you could shed some light on dear?" Alicia said on edge. 'Oh boy' George thought.
"Only I'm a little confused, is Angelina my maid of honor or YOUR BEST MAN?" She shouted in Angelina's direction. Angelina shot up, shocked. Ginny choked on her drink and started having a coughing fit. Mrs. Weasley patted her daughter on the back and looked down at her suspiciously. Ginny took another drink avoiding eye contact.
"Alicia!" Angelina breathed, embarrassed. George noticed that there was a guilty look in her eyes, the kind a child gets when their caught doing something wrong.
"Don't Alicia me! You've been horrid to me for weeks. It used to be we couldn't go a day without talking, now I can't go a day without hearing George talk about you!" George tried to slide down in his seat, feeling more and more uncomfortable in his chair directly between the two women. Why was this happening?
"Who wants tea?" Mrs. Weasley said attempting to make things less awkward.
"No, thank you." Alicia and Angelina said together.
"You're right, Alicia I'm sorry." Angelina began sincerely "I guess it's just difficult to watch you and George move on with your life together when mine seems so empty. Less than a year ago I was planning my own wedding. I'm being selfish – I'm happy for you, I really am." Angelina finished wearily.
"You admitting you're wrong? Well there's a first time for everything I guess." George muttered. Angelina pinched him on the arm closest to her. Alicia and Mrs. Weasley looked almost in tears but Ginny seemed to doubt the sincerity of Angelina's words.
"Of course this is difficult for you, I didn't even think… do you know I thought for a second – never mind, it's me that's sorry." Alicia stammered, getting up from her chair and embracing Angelina. But Angelina's face seemed, if possible, even guiltier than before. "Let's go out later this week, talk about it." Alicia pulled out of the hug, looking Angelina in the eyes.
"OK?" Angelina smiled and nodded wryly.
George looked at the two of them and then at Ginny, who caught his eye; she mouthed the words 'be careful' then went up to her room without another word.
Author notes: Oh boy things are getting pretty complicated for George, what's next for poor confused Weasley? And what's going on in Angelina's head right about now, hmmm? Thanks for sticking with me! REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!
