The Firetah
(part twelve)
Anchoret and George walked down the corridors towards the Great Hall, talking in whispers. George's head was bent down close to Anchoret's, and she was listening intently and occasionally smiling, although the look in her eyes was wistful. They walked on, George now gesturing with his freckled hands, oblivious to the other students.
********
Seamus Finnigan wrestled with his bag of parchment and quills. He always had to carry extra, as he was prone to losing both. He was just wrenching his way through the Transfiguration classroom on his way to deposit his bag and get to dinner when he saw them.
The two didn't even notice his struggle as they walked by...he was going to call out, but then saw who it was. Not Fred and Katie, as it had looked from afar, but that new girl, Anchoret... with George. He stood there in the door holding his bag in a limp hand. What were they doing together? That girl certainly gets around, he thought. He had seen her with Harry, Ron and Hermione day after day, and the look in Harry's eyes couldn't be mistaken. He had also seen her looking at Malfoy with that same look. What is she playing at? He thought with a grimace. Then his bag burst and all thoughts of the new girl were driven away in the scramble for his quills.
********
George walked with Anchoret to the Great Hall, and she was just in the midst of telling him about the time she had set her hair on fire when they found that the corridor was blocked by a group of Gryffindor fourth years. George looked for Ginny amidst the crowd, but couldn't see her. Probably off with that Ravenclaw that had replaced Harry in her affections of late. Ever since Dean Thomas had pointed out, within earshot of George, that Ginny was "turning out quite nicely", George had been making it his business to know where Ginny was at all times. Dean still winced every time George or Fred looked at him. Ron hadn't heard that particular comment, for which George was grateful. Ron could be a little bit like a mother hen sometimes, he thought with a smile. But then again, she was their only sister.
George had never known exactly when Ginny had stopped liking Harry. He only knew that one day last summer she had bounced down the stairs of the Burrow with a look in her eyes that no one could figure out but their mum. That night at dinner Ginny had said, " I think that with...everything happening and all that it's time to put away childish things. Things are changing, and we must all change with the times." This again had confused all the male Weasleys, but his mum had just beamed at Ginny and they had continued eating. He still couldn't figure out precisely what she had meant, but after that day, she had stopped looking at Harry with adoration in her eyes. George wasn't sorry - he rather liked Harry, and he didn't want to have to hurt him.
He turned around to face Anchoret as they struggled through the crowd. She was smiling at the group, and some were smiling back. But most weren't. He heard whispers of, "Wonder what they're doing together" and "Do you think he fancies her?" As if he and Anchoret were deaf or something. Anchoret just turned to him and grabbed his arm. "Come on then, George. We don't want to be late." Anchoret winked and he said loudly, " Oh no dear, we wouldn't want that, now would we?" And they walked on, snickering at the shocked faces of their younger housemates.
A few paces down the corridor she stopped and turned to him in sudden panic, her grey eyes troubled. "George....what am I going to do? It can't be the same between Harry and I, now that I know....I mean...he thinks he's in love with me, and I don't.... I don't know how I feel about him, but I know that I don't love him. I can't make my heart feel something it won't, George. And if I keep getting pressured, I don't think I ever will love him. Love is supposed to happen naturally, not because someone says you must love someone. What do I do?"
George turned to her and said softly, "Anchoret, remember what the Headmaster said? You don't have to love anyone. You will treat Harry the same as you always did. Don't let things get awkward between you two. You are stronger than even you know, Anchoret. Let it develop naturally. If it ever will, that will be the way."
Her eyes flamed as she melted into his arms and sobbed quietly there in the hall. They were still in sight of the open-mouthed Gryffindor fourth years, but George didn't care who saw. He gathered her to him and stroked her hair, murmuring softly.
After her sobs had turned to soft weeping, then sniffling, he had turned to the group standing behind them and shot them a look that couldn't be mistaken. "Go on!" They scattered like leaves in a gale. He turned back to Anchoret and said softly," Come on, or all the good seats will be taken and we'll have to sit by Neville, and I know he's getting a Howler tonight for losing his cloak yesterday." Anchoret chuckled and they walked on. George was glad she seemed to be feeling better. He looked sidelong at her and saw she looked vibrant once more. This girl could change like the weather. He grinned inwardly. This should be fun.
*******
Harry sat down anxiously at the Gryffindor table. He didn't feel like eating. His stomach was queasy and his hands were damp with sweat. He kept glancing worriedly at the doors. Where is she? He wondered. She had to talk to Dumbledore...been there. But what's taking her so long? What if she's left?
He started suddenly. Ron had been talking to him for the past few minutes and he hadn't heard a word of it. "What is with you, Harry?" Ron burst out suddenly. "Why are you so worried? She hasn't gone anywhere. I just wish you'd listen to me for once when I talk to you! Hermione said she was going to visit Dumbledore, so she'll be here soon. I'm starting to think you've gone a bit mad. She's...she's not even worth your time!" Harry looked at him, a mixture of hurt, confusion and anger in his eyes.
"Look, Ron - you don't even know Anchoret well enough to say that she isn't worth my time! Stop acting like a prat and eat some dinner."
Bet I do...thought Ron. He kept this to himself, though. He would have to try to talk some sense into Harry tonight, away from prying eyes (Neville) and sharp tongues (Hermione).
*******
Harry and Draco both looked up from their meals at precisely the same time. Two sets of eyes, one silver, one green. Both trained on the door. She's here. How they knew this they couldn't explain, but Anchoret owned them both... heart and soul. Professor Dumbledore glanced at the two rival students. Then he looked long and hard at the identical stares of anticipation on their faces, and knew he had a problem.
*******
Despite George's cheerful thoughts of a moment ago he was now feeling slightly clammy. They were late for dinner, and everyone would look at them as they came in. He remembered the whispers in the hall. Just because he was walking with Anchoret didn't mean they were seeing each other, for goodness sake. Was that what everyone in the Great Hall would think when they walked in together? He sighed...he couldn't do anything about it either way. Anchoret was a part of his life now, her existence inexplicably interwoven with his. He had taken responsibility for her as soon as he stepped inside Dumbledore's office, and all three of them knew it. What a job this will be, he thought, as he and the girl stepped inside the Great Hall.
(part twelve)
Anchoret and George walked down the corridors towards the Great Hall, talking in whispers. George's head was bent down close to Anchoret's, and she was listening intently and occasionally smiling, although the look in her eyes was wistful. They walked on, George now gesturing with his freckled hands, oblivious to the other students.
********
Seamus Finnigan wrestled with his bag of parchment and quills. He always had to carry extra, as he was prone to losing both. He was just wrenching his way through the Transfiguration classroom on his way to deposit his bag and get to dinner when he saw them.
The two didn't even notice his struggle as they walked by...he was going to call out, but then saw who it was. Not Fred and Katie, as it had looked from afar, but that new girl, Anchoret... with George. He stood there in the door holding his bag in a limp hand. What were they doing together? That girl certainly gets around, he thought. He had seen her with Harry, Ron and Hermione day after day, and the look in Harry's eyes couldn't be mistaken. He had also seen her looking at Malfoy with that same look. What is she playing at? He thought with a grimace. Then his bag burst and all thoughts of the new girl were driven away in the scramble for his quills.
********
George walked with Anchoret to the Great Hall, and she was just in the midst of telling him about the time she had set her hair on fire when they found that the corridor was blocked by a group of Gryffindor fourth years. George looked for Ginny amidst the crowd, but couldn't see her. Probably off with that Ravenclaw that had replaced Harry in her affections of late. Ever since Dean Thomas had pointed out, within earshot of George, that Ginny was "turning out quite nicely", George had been making it his business to know where Ginny was at all times. Dean still winced every time George or Fred looked at him. Ron hadn't heard that particular comment, for which George was grateful. Ron could be a little bit like a mother hen sometimes, he thought with a smile. But then again, she was their only sister.
George had never known exactly when Ginny had stopped liking Harry. He only knew that one day last summer she had bounced down the stairs of the Burrow with a look in her eyes that no one could figure out but their mum. That night at dinner Ginny had said, " I think that with...everything happening and all that it's time to put away childish things. Things are changing, and we must all change with the times." This again had confused all the male Weasleys, but his mum had just beamed at Ginny and they had continued eating. He still couldn't figure out precisely what she had meant, but after that day, she had stopped looking at Harry with adoration in her eyes. George wasn't sorry - he rather liked Harry, and he didn't want to have to hurt him.
He turned around to face Anchoret as they struggled through the crowd. She was smiling at the group, and some were smiling back. But most weren't. He heard whispers of, "Wonder what they're doing together" and "Do you think he fancies her?" As if he and Anchoret were deaf or something. Anchoret just turned to him and grabbed his arm. "Come on then, George. We don't want to be late." Anchoret winked and he said loudly, " Oh no dear, we wouldn't want that, now would we?" And they walked on, snickering at the shocked faces of their younger housemates.
A few paces down the corridor she stopped and turned to him in sudden panic, her grey eyes troubled. "George....what am I going to do? It can't be the same between Harry and I, now that I know....I mean...he thinks he's in love with me, and I don't.... I don't know how I feel about him, but I know that I don't love him. I can't make my heart feel something it won't, George. And if I keep getting pressured, I don't think I ever will love him. Love is supposed to happen naturally, not because someone says you must love someone. What do I do?"
George turned to her and said softly, "Anchoret, remember what the Headmaster said? You don't have to love anyone. You will treat Harry the same as you always did. Don't let things get awkward between you two. You are stronger than even you know, Anchoret. Let it develop naturally. If it ever will, that will be the way."
Her eyes flamed as she melted into his arms and sobbed quietly there in the hall. They were still in sight of the open-mouthed Gryffindor fourth years, but George didn't care who saw. He gathered her to him and stroked her hair, murmuring softly.
After her sobs had turned to soft weeping, then sniffling, he had turned to the group standing behind them and shot them a look that couldn't be mistaken. "Go on!" They scattered like leaves in a gale. He turned back to Anchoret and said softly," Come on, or all the good seats will be taken and we'll have to sit by Neville, and I know he's getting a Howler tonight for losing his cloak yesterday." Anchoret chuckled and they walked on. George was glad she seemed to be feeling better. He looked sidelong at her and saw she looked vibrant once more. This girl could change like the weather. He grinned inwardly. This should be fun.
*******
Harry sat down anxiously at the Gryffindor table. He didn't feel like eating. His stomach was queasy and his hands were damp with sweat. He kept glancing worriedly at the doors. Where is she? He wondered. She had to talk to Dumbledore...been there. But what's taking her so long? What if she's left?
He started suddenly. Ron had been talking to him for the past few minutes and he hadn't heard a word of it. "What is with you, Harry?" Ron burst out suddenly. "Why are you so worried? She hasn't gone anywhere. I just wish you'd listen to me for once when I talk to you! Hermione said she was going to visit Dumbledore, so she'll be here soon. I'm starting to think you've gone a bit mad. She's...she's not even worth your time!" Harry looked at him, a mixture of hurt, confusion and anger in his eyes.
"Look, Ron - you don't even know Anchoret well enough to say that she isn't worth my time! Stop acting like a prat and eat some dinner."
Bet I do...thought Ron. He kept this to himself, though. He would have to try to talk some sense into Harry tonight, away from prying eyes (Neville) and sharp tongues (Hermione).
*******
Harry and Draco both looked up from their meals at precisely the same time. Two sets of eyes, one silver, one green. Both trained on the door. She's here. How they knew this they couldn't explain, but Anchoret owned them both... heart and soul. Professor Dumbledore glanced at the two rival students. Then he looked long and hard at the identical stares of anticipation on their faces, and knew he had a problem.
*******
Despite George's cheerful thoughts of a moment ago he was now feeling slightly clammy. They were late for dinner, and everyone would look at them as they came in. He remembered the whispers in the hall. Just because he was walking with Anchoret didn't mean they were seeing each other, for goodness sake. Was that what everyone in the Great Hall would think when they walked in together? He sighed...he couldn't do anything about it either way. Anchoret was a part of his life now, her existence inexplicably interwoven with his. He had taken responsibility for her as soon as he stepped inside Dumbledore's office, and all three of them knew it. What a job this will be, he thought, as he and the girl stepped inside the Great Hall.
