Chapter 6
I'm Right Here
"Her name was Rachel. We dated back in my fourth year," George sat in bed as Hermione handed him a cup of coffee. She snuggled in next to him and listened intently. "It was a Hogesmade weekend and naturally I was in Zonko's. We just bumped into each other and started talking. She was mischievous like me. We became good friends and I ended up asking her out. We dated for a month. After that it started getting weird. She was really possessive of me. Usually you hear about guys doing that sort of thing. Anyways, she didn't like when I talked to Katie or Angelina or even you. She would always threaten to break up with me if I did. I also realized that I never knew what house she was in. I figured she was in Ravenclaw or something. One day I asked her and she wouldn't tell me. Told me it didn't matter, so I followed her and turns out she was Slytherin. That was the nail in the coffin. I wasn't going to see her anymore. I was tired of how she thought she ruled me and I knew her being in Slytherin was bad news. You can guess the break up didn't go very well. She told me she loved me and that I was making the biggest mistake. I knew I wasn't and it was over. I never saw her after that. I figured she kept herself locked up in the Slytherin common room or something or maybe even transferred schools."
Hermione nodded, to assure George she was listening. "Go on love."
"She may have been into pranks and such but I never really thought of her as the Death Eater type you know? That night at the Burrow," George could feel Hermione tense up, but he couldn't stop. If he stopped now he might not be able to say it again. "That night at the Burrow while I was outside fighting I heard Mum scream. I turned around to see what was wrong and then I guess a spell hit me in my back. It was the most painful thing I've ever felt, besides being away from you and Arianna. I blacked out. I remember waking up after that. I was in the room. It was dark and small. I couldn't find a door or window and I had no light. I just wandered around aimlessly trying to get out, trying to get back to you. I don't know how long it had been, I figured a couple of days had passed when someone finally opened a door. It was Rachel."
Hermione lifted her head from his shoulder and looked into his eyes. "What happened next George?"
George scrounged up his eyes in concentration. He tried with all he could to remember what had happened after Rachel had first come. Nothing came to him. He shook his head sadly. "I can't remember."
Hermione reached out and placed a warm hand on his cheek. "It's alright. You'll remember eventually. You did amazing," she kissed him lightly.
George's shoulders heaved. "Amazing? How was I amazing?"
"You remembered so much. It doesn't matter you haven't remembered everything. It wasn't like it would all come back to you in an instant. It'll take time."
"I know. It's just so hard," George felt himself choke up. He wasn't one to get so emotional but he couldn't stand not knowing. Not remembering. Damn those stupid dreams or memories or whatever they were.
Hermione held him tightly. "It's ok baby. I'm here. I'm not leaving you. I'm listening. I'm here." George began to cry. He buried his head into her neck and Hermione stroked his head lightly. "I'm right here. I'm right here," she repeated.
All of a sudden a loud POP came from the living room. George quickly wiped his eyes and jumped off the bed, grabbing his wand, which lay on the night table. Hermione did the same and followed his as he led her out the room. Wand raised George rounded the corner. "Harry?" George asked confused, lowering his wand.
Harry stood in the middle of the living room. His shirt was torn glasses bent and blood trickled down his head and arm. "Something's happened," he managed to say before he collapsed onto the floor.
