Chapter 54 - Marry Me
The call to Hogwarts came only a few days later. Fear gripped in Adie's stomach as she, and the rest of the Order, huddled outside Kingsley's. They were going to apparate to Hogsmeade and then approach the castle. She saw Tonks kiss Teddy's head, before the baby was handed over to his grandmother. The auror then took her husband's hands, and Remus stroked his son's face lovingly. Adie bit her lip and turned away, giving them some privacy.
"Hey Adie!"
Fred came up to her and hugged her tightly, ruffling her hair.
"Hey, Freddie. Ready for this?"
"As I'll ever be...I guess. George is just coming...you gonna be ok?"
She shook her head and the stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. A small blush crept up the twin's neck and he looked down at her.
"For luck, cause Angelina isn't here."
His blush intensified and he nodded, hugging Adie tighter. George came out of the house and spotted them, the two people who meant the most to him. Adie saw her boyfriend and pulled away from Fred to hug George. However George went to his twin first and gave Fred a tight hug. Something was shared between the pair and then Fred walked off to speak to his parents.
"What was that about?"
"Nothing important...come here."
His long arms wrapped safely around her and his nose went into the crook of her neck. Adie's blonde hair hid her face as she lent it on his chest and inhaled deeply.
"I'm...I'm scared."
Her voice was barely a whisper as she rested her cheek against the fabric of his jumper. George's lips touched the top of her head and Adie heard him mumble.
"Me too."
A finger slid under her chin and her hear was tipped up so that her grey eyes met his hazel ones. George pressed his lips gently onto hers with such tenderness, that she wanted nothing more than time to be frozen in that moment.
A throat cleared and they pulled apart to see Mr Weasley, looking rather awkward at having interrupted. George's dad twisted his wand in his fingers and looked up.
"We are leaving now..."
Both nodded and they linked fingers as the Order circled for disapparation. Kingsley looked at them all.
"It is an honour to fight among such brave witches and wizards. If we die, we die doing what is right...and if we live..."
His eyes met Adie's.
"...then we shall remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for salvation of our world. Good luck and God speed."
"A speech from the new minister of magic, right there?"
Fred's comment caused a smile to creep onto Adie's face. She muttered back to him.
"Well he would be better than anyone else."
Before either Fred or George could retort, silence fell and they prepared to leave. In an instant they were all standing in the abandoned streets of Hogsmeade. There was silence as they all stared towards the castle where they'd lived and the school where they'd had been educated. All of them had walked around the ancient halls and had learned from the wisest of teachers. Now dread was in every heart at the thought of the fact that they may die in the place they loved so much. Adie bit her lip…Hogwarts meant so much to her.
It was the first place she had really belonged.
The first place she had made proper friends.
The first time she had ever been kissed.
And the first time she had fallen in love.
As the long walk to Hogwarts began, her throat wet dry and she could only hear the thumping of her own heart in her ears. Had the school always been this far away? On her walks to Hogsmeade with her friends, it had always seemed so close, almost touchable. Now it seemed to loom at a daunting distance, the towering structure alight.
George saw her eyes staring at the building and squeezed her hand. He had made up his mind and he tugged her to the back of the group and waited a moment.
"George, what are you-?"
Confusion was only half of what Adie was feeling. The person she loved the most was looking towards the group walking away from them. He let out a breath and looked down at her.
"…Adie…this may be the last time we ever see each other and I need to tell you how much I love you…I love everything about you, I always have and always will…you're smile, you're eyes, the way you laugh and speak and even when you yell at me for something pointless…I love you even when you're stressed and even though you're a werewolf…I love you and will always love even if you or I or both of us die here tonight…"
Her eyes were filled with tears at his words, but she still had no idea what had brought on this little speech.
"George, you're scaring me…"
George laughed a little and looked down at their joined hands.
"I'm scared too…I don't want anything bad to happen…to either of us, but I want…I-I want you to stay with me forever…you know…if we survive…"
He stooped onto one knee. There was no time for this, he knew that, but with Adie everything else seemed to be irrelevant. She took a small step back in shock.
"W-what ar-are you…George…Oh my god."
The small black box was pulled from his pocket and he opened it so she could see the ring inside. Her hands went over her face as she choked on a sob of happiness. Tears poured down her cheeks and she could barely speak as George spoke again.
"Adie. Adrian Marie Haw….if we live….will you marry me?"
She sobbed again and managed to get out an answer…of which there was no questioning.
"Yes….yes of course I will."
George beamed and let out a breath. He slipped the silver band onto her ring finger and then swooped her into a tight embrace. He kissed her with so much passion that even he began to cry a little. Her cheeks were wet as he cupped them in his hands and the cool metal pressed against his face as her own hands rested on his cheeks.
"I love you."
She said this between kisses.
"I love you too."
They broke apart into a silent embrace and then turned when they heard clapping. The Order was standing watching them and Mrs Weasley was sobbing into a handkerchief. The group waited a moment, before they knew it was time to move off again.
