Chapter 31: The Burrow
George POV:
He woke up on the couch with Hermione resting her head against the cough close to his chest. She was sitting on the floor with a rag in her other hand that was covered in his blood. Her other hand clutched his own. George frowned at the angle her neck was. It couldn't be comfortable sleeping like that all night.
With one swift movement, he sat up, ignoring the stinging pain on the side of his head and pulled her up on to the couch so she could sleep next to him. He threw the crocheted afghan over the two of them and put his arm under her head. In her sleep, she snuggled up to him and let out a small sigh of content. He smiled brightly and kissed her forehead, thankful that she was here in his arms and that he was alive to see her.
He reflected on the night that they rescued Harry. It was only yesterday but it seemed like ages ago. George had almost lost his life. The thought terrified him.
He drifted to sleep again, focusing on the sound of her breathing and ignoring the nagging voice in his head that told him that it wouldn't last long. When he woke up for the second time, she was still in his arms but now she was awake with tears in her eyes. "Hey, hey… what's wrong?"
"You almost died."
"We are in a war, 'Mione." He tucked a curl behind her ear and gave her a sad and long look. "We are both going to have moments like that and it's fucking terrifying… however, we have to stay strong."
Hermione sniffled a little and wiped some tears away with the back of her hand. "I know… I know…"
He opened his mouth to speak but Ginny bounced down into the living room. "Mum's on her way down, I would move if I were you. Unless you want a full lecture like I got for kissing Harry."
Hermione got up, reluctantly. She glanced between George and Ginny. "I should go shower and get ready for the day. Have your mum look at your wound. She knows more about things like that than I do. More experience for sure." She gave him a quick kiss on the lips before leaving, taking the sweet smell of her hair product with her.
George sighed and closed his eyes, waiting for his mother to come down and begin fretting about him. He had five minutes of peace before she went to work on the ear again. Ginny was in the kitchen making Harry's birthday cake while Mrs. Weasley barked orders to Bill on what products to get from their stash to help her make sure that George's wound was fully cleaned out now that all the blood was gone.
George sat down at the kitchen table with a strong cup of Black Tea. He was listening to Ginny fret over making Harry's birthday perfect when Ron joined them in the kitchen looking furiously at Ginny's back while she worked over the vanilla cake she was frosting with a bright yellow colored frosting. "What's got your wand in a twist?" George asked while he kicked the chair that Ron was sitting in.
"I had to break up with Lavendar but you and Hermione can snog and I walked in on Harry and Ginny snogging this morning. It's not bloody fair."
"Oi. Knock it off. It's your best mates birthday. Let's celebrate that we got him out safely and he doesn't have the trace anymore." George blew in the cup of tea while Hermione walked down into the kitchen, her curls still slightly damp from her shower.
She sank into a chair next to him as Mrs. Weasley handed her a cup of tea as well. She smiled gratefully and glanced at Ron. "It'll be okay, Ron."
That was not what his younger brother wanted to here since he shook his head and pushed off from the kitchen table to go for a walk outside in the garden. "Ignore him, I always do." George smiled and gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek. "Will you tell me how long this is going to last?"
"No…" She admitted while she worried her bottom lip. "It would reveal too much."
George raised his eyebrow. "Alright. No more questions like that. Instead, what are we doing for young Harry's birthday?"
Ginny beamed at him for the change in discussion. "Well, I'm making a Gryffindor themed cake. It's going to be yellow with red font and Mum is making a full roast dinner. It's going to be great. Hermione transfigured some candles so that they would sparkle brightly."
"Sounds brilliant." George smiled at his sister while she went on about her plans for the night. With the more time that went on, the kitchen filled with more people.
Everyone stilled when there was a knock on the door. "I'll go check." Bill said as he pushed up with his wand clutched tightly into his hand.
The door revealed Scrimgeour in the frame. He looked at Harry. "Hello, Mr. Potter. I need to speak with yourself, Miss. Granger, and Mr. Weasley."
"Which Mr. Wea-" Fred began in a joking manner but was cut off by their father.
The trio left to go sit in the other room while everyone else was tense in the kitchen, ready to strike if needed. There was no trusting what was going on in our world anymore. Fred noticed that his leg was bouncing a million miles an hour with the worrying thought that Hermione was in the other room without him. His twin laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It'll be alright."
George nodded once. Everyone seemed to hold their breath until the trio came back into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley had kept cooking the entire time, which she was normally doing when she was feeling anxious. Scrimgeour gave a nod of his head and said a quick goodbye before leaving the Burrow. Hermione sat next to George again and laid a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. George raised his eyebrows, but she simply shrugged in response.
The night came faster than anyone had hoped, and Harry was bombarded with birthday wishes and gifts. Mrs. and Mr. Weasley gave Harry a hand-me-down watch which was a traditional gift to give someone on their 17th birthday in the wizarding community. Ginny smiled coily at him and gave him a kiss in front of everyone claiming her gift was giving him something to remember her by. "Oi, if you're kissing my sister, remember she does have many older brothers." Charlie laughed but with a slight serious look in his eye since everyone knew that they had broken up after Dumbledore's funeral.
After the presents were opened up, Mrs. Weasley served a feast worthy of a king. They all ate until they were thoroughly stuffed and all went around the table talking highly about the Boy Who Lived. George had his arm wrapped firmly around Hermione's shoulders the entire time and noticed that Harry and Ron kept giving her some type of knowing glances that she was ignoring.
The night went by too quickly for George's liking. Mrs. Weasley checked her watch and let out a startled gasp. "Everyone, to bed! We have to be up bright and early to set up for William and Fleur's wedding. Now, off to bed. All of you!"
Hermione POV:
The next morning, she woke up at 6 am to help with the wedding preparations. She was in charge of helping cook food with Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, and Charlie. They were all in the kitchen sharing strong cups of coffee while the room filled with smells of baked goods, breads, and food.
Once they were done, it was roughly 11 o'clock. Hermione made a sandwich for herself and one for George before carrying it up to his room. He was in charge of putting up the tent earlier and she knew that he had not eaten anything yet that day.
She knocked with her foot on the twins' door and George opened it with a smile. "Good day, Granger." He smirked at her while taking one of the plates from her. "How was your morning."
"Fine. Your mum has been working us pretty hard. I'll be glad for the actual celebration to begin." She smiled and sank her teeth into the tuna salad sandwich. "Yours?"
"Oh… just brilliant. I love putting up wedding decorations. It's actually a secret hobby of mine." George said sarcasticly while he mirrored her movement of eating the sandwich. "What are you going to wear tonight?"
"Some red dress that Ginny let me borrow." Hermione said with nod. "You?"
"Well, now I'm going to wear a red bowtie. I wanted to make sure I could match the most beautiful girl at this wedding." He winked.
She playfully shoved into his shoulder. "You're too much."
"You love it." George winked as she got up when she finished her lunch. "Save me a million dances and kisses tonight, will you?"
"Always." Hermione smiled as she shut the door behind her to put her plate away before trying to claim the shower to begin getting ready for the wedding.
Bill and Fleur's wedding began at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Harry had taken some Polyjuice Potion to act as a Weasley cousin. He, along with Fred, George, Ron, and Charlie were greeting guests outside of the orchard as they arrived. George had tucked Hermione's arm in the crook of his elbow as he led her to her seat next to Remus and Tonks.
Once the guests were all sat, Bill and Charlie stood up at the front of the aisle smiling as Fleur, who was led by her bridesmaid's, Ginny and Gabrielle, walked down the aisle. The couple began to take their vows at the front of the aisle and Hermione was tearing up thinking about how powerful love was in a time of war. She glanced over at George who gave her a smile and a wink.
Upon finishing their vows, the wizard presiding over the ceremony waved his mahogany-colored wand over Fleur and Bill's heads and a shower of stars fell upon their entwined figured. The twins jumped up and began the thunderous of applause as golden balloons were released into the air.
The ceremony was beautiful, and Hermione was still crying thinking about George and if she would have a chance to live long enough to marry him. She shook the thought away as he snaked his way over to her in the crowd as the tent was being transfigured to fit the reception. Music began to fill the tent and George didn't hesitate to take her hand and begin to twirl her around. It was so wonderful that Hermione couldn't help but to laugh and feel her worries disappear for the moment.
George wrapped her into a tight embrace and kissed the top of her head. "That was just one of many, you know. Let's get you something to drink."
He grabbed her hand and led her over to a table of beverages where Fred and Ginny were standing and laughing. "Oi, have you shown Hermione the Weasley Stomp?" Fred asked with wide eyes.
"Er—no, he hasn't." Hermione said hesitantly. "Do I want to know what that is?"
Ginny smiled. "It's so fun, trust me."
The music kicked up a speed and Bill grabbed Fleur's hand, inviting the rest of the guests to the Weasley Stomp. Arthur grabbed Molly's hand and began twirling her around madly just like Bill was doing to Fleur. Fred grabbed Ginny's hands and led her to the dance floor. George mirrored the moves and looked deep into Hermione's eyes. "Do you trust me?" He asked with a mischievous smile.
She nodded. "I don't think I should but I do." Her laughter filled the space as George lifted her into the air, twirling her around before setting her back down and twirling her madly again.
Hermione would be sick with all the spinning if she wasn't locking eyes with George, keeping a spot in the madness. The music made her so joyous that she almost forgot that they were in the middle of a war… almost…
After a few songs and plenty of laughs and stolen kisses, a Patronus burst through the tent and Kingsley's voice filled the air. "The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming… they are coming…"
Hermione's stomach dropped as she looked at George. Tears filled her eyes. "I have to go!" She screamed before wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down for one last frantic kiss. "I have to go." She repeated, almost telling herself before she pushed away from him.
Ron was by her side in a second. "Harry." They said in unison.
Panic was filling the tent as people were disapparating as all the protective enchantments around the Burrow broke. Dark figures began to fill the tent and the two went off to find Harry, disguised as a Weasley cousin. "Go! Stay safe!" George called out as Fred went to his side, both with their wands ready to defend their home. Hermione latched on to Harry and mouthed I love you to George before the trio dissaparated out of the Burrow reception to safety.