-1Disclaimer - The Potterverse belongs to J.K. Chloe belongs to yours truly. That's how it is.
Confessions
After the first drink in the Leaky Cauldron, George and Rachel's relationship progressed rapidly, much to Fred's confusion. Only a few weeks before George had shut himself in his room for a whole day because Chloe had left, and now he was barricading himself and Rachel in his room for a completely different reason.
George and Rachel were lounging on his bed one Sunday morning, chatting about nothing in particular.
"Y'know, in Hogwarts, I had a major crush on you George." Rachel giggled. George grinned.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I know you never noticed me in school, you were too busy with Chloe and everything." George stiffened slightly.
"What do you mean, too busy with Chloe? There was nothing between us."
"Oh I know, but you know, you two and Fred were always up to something." George smiled wistfully.
"We did have fun in school." Rachel laughed. "Anyway, c'mon Rach, we need to get to the Burrow for lunch."
George and Rachel entered the kitchen of the Burrow to find Ginny and Hermione helping Mrs. Weasley make dinner. Ginny turned around and flung her arms around George's neck.
"George! We haven't seen you for ages! Where've you been?" George shrugged.
"I've been busy little sister!" He thought he saw Ginny shoot Rachel a dirty look before replying
"I know. Fred did say. Spoken to Chloe lately?" George shook his head. "That's funny, she's written to me."
"And me." Hermione spoke up. George could feel his face turning into a scowl.
"I get it alright." At that, Mrs. Weasley suggested that George take Rachel into the living room. As they entered George noticed Ron hastily stuffing a piece of parchment into his pocket.
"What was that Ron?" George asked. Ron flushed.
"Nothing mate." Fred rolled his eyes.
"It's a letter from Chloe."
"But she only wrote to me cause I wrote to her asking about the training." Ron added hastily. George shrugged.
"I don't care Ron. She's probably been too busy too write to me. Not that it matters, I mean, I'd probably be too busy to write back." he said, glancing at Rachel as he said it.
"She did say she'd been really busy." Harry piped up. Fred tactfully changed the subject, and they spent the next half an hour talking about the Chudley Cannons chances in the British Quidditch League, forgetting Rachel was not in the slightest bit interested in quidditch.
"Seems weird talking about quidditch without Chloe," Fred remarked, "She always had something to say." Rachel felt distinctly left out of their conversation, and excused herself to join the women in the kitchen.
"Hello Rachel dear." Mrs. Weasley greeted her. Ginny smiled.
"We were just saying, how interesting Chloe's life must be now." Rachel's smile became a little strained.
"Auror training must be so exciting," Hermione gushed, "She must be learning so many new things!" The conversation was halted by a knock on the door.
"I've got it!" Ginny called, and promptly squealed.
"It's you! You look so good! Mum look, look, Mum, its Chloe!" At that, Rachel, Hermione and Mrs. Weasley's head snapped towards the back door. Mrs. Weasley rushed across the kitchen and swept Chloe into a huge hug.
"Arthur! Boys! Oh look, it's Chloe!" Chloe laughed.
"Mrs. Weasley, sorry I never let you know I was coming. I just popped in to say hello, it's my weekend off you see. I'll stick my head around the door and I'll be off."
"You'll do no such thing Chloe Andromeda Thomas! You'll stay and have lunch with us! I insist, we've more than enough food for everyone." Chloe nodded, still smiling.
"Rach? Rachel! What are you doing here?" George came through the door just in time to see Chloe's reaction to her reply.
"I'm here with George. I thought someone would've mentioned it…" Chloe's face fell. She swallowed.
"Oh. Well, congratulations?"
"They're not getting married." Ginny said sarcastically.
George stood stock still in the kitchen doorway, shocked by the sight of Chloe in his kitchen. He had to admit, auror training did her some favours. She had always had a slim build thanks to her quidditch training, but her frame had become slimmer and more athletic. She was wearing baggy jeans and a white vest top with trainers, and her copper coloured hair in a loose ponytail.
"Hey George." she said quietly, flashing him a shy smile. He felt the heat rise in his face as he realised the last time he had seen her, she had been wearing considerably less clothing.
"Hey Clo." He replied. Fred pushed past him into the kitchen and picked Chloe up, hugging her tightly.
"Chloe Thomas! We've missed you!" Chloe laughed, struggling to free herself from Fred's embrace.
"I've missed you too! All of you! Training's so interesting, and I'm learning so much, but it doesn't leave much time for fun. Actually, Mrs. Weasley, I need to speak to you and Mr. Weasley later. About, you know." Rachel was the only one in the room unfamiliar with the Order of the Phoenix, and the others knew it was something to do with that. Fred cleared his throat to try to break the tension in the room.
"C'mon you," he gestured to Chloe, "We were talking about the Cannons chances in the League." Chloe's face lit up, and they walked out chatting about the Quidditch league. Mrs. Weasley hustled George, Rachel, Ginny and Hermione into the living room behind them, urging them to go and catch up with Chloe. As they walked in, they heard Chloe talking.
"…United have Williams now, have you seen him in play? They're definitely in with a chance." Ron snorted.
"But the Cannons have Taylor and Troy, and they make a good team. They're bloody brilliant as chasers."
"True." Chloe said slowly. "I'm not saying they're not good, and I think the Cannons will definitely make it to at least the semis."
"Alright," Hermione groaned, "Can we stop the quidditch talk now, please?" Chloe grinned.
"Alright 'Mione, though you'd think you'd have learnt enough to join in after spending so much time with the Weasleys over the years!"
"Come on you lot, dinner's ready!" Mrs. Weasley called. Everyone jumped up and made their way to the kitchen. Chloe slipped into the seat she had always sat in, without even thinking about it being next to George's seat. Rachel, however, did notice, and frowned slightly, but didn't say anything. From the other end of the table she watched as Chloe chatted happily, piling her plate with Mrs. Weasley's delicious food. She and George remained awkward with each other. Chloe flushed as George's fingers brushed hers as he passed her the peas.
"Potatoes, Rachel?" Hermione asked, awakening her to the presence of everyone else.
"Oh, um, thanks Hermione." she replied, taking the bowl from her.
Rachel continued to watch Chloe closely throughout the meal, but could detect nothing untoward in the way she was acting with George, except for the unexplained awkwardness. In all the years Rachel had known them, they had never acted like that. Eventually, everyone finished their meals, and Rachel was grateful to leave the table.
Fred cornered George before he could make his way into the living room with everyone else, dragging him into the front yard.
"Rachel didn't take her eyes off you and Chloe through the whole meal George. Does she know what happened the night before she left?"
George shook his head.
"So she thinks that she was your first? George that's awful! I cannot believe you would lie to her like that. It's completely unfair."
"Hold on a second Fred. It's not like that! I never specifically told her I was a virgin when we got together; she just chose to believe I was. And as for Chloe, there was nothing between us. It was just sex. Plain and simple. I don't know why Chloe's here, but it seems all she's doing is stirring up trouble."
Fred stopped walking, and stared at George with his mouth open.
"I can't believe you would say that about Chloe, your best friend George! Or have you forgotten everything that happened before Rachel came on the scene?"
"No I have not! But I have noticed that, despite allegedly being my best friend, I am the only one Chloe hasn't written to since she's been training. She's even written to sodding Hermione for Merlin's sake!"
"Hermione and Chloe grew close before she left and you know it. Stop acting like such a child and be a friend." Fred turned on his heel and stormed back into the house, leaving George to make a rude hand gesture to his retreating back, before following him inside.
As he entered the living room Rachel jumped up, and George kissed her. As he pulled away, he saw Chloe leap up and start making her excuses.
"Well! Mrs. Weasley, that was lovely, thanks very much. I'd better go though. Lovely to see you all again." And she practically ran out of the room. After a particularly pointed look from Fred, George followed her.
"Clo. Chloe! Wait a sec."
Chloe turned to look at him, and he noticed her eyes were brimming with tears.
"What's the matter Clo?" he asked softly.
"Nothing, nothing. I just got a bit homesick, that's all. Nothing to worry about. Anyway, I really do have to go. I'll see you soon, yeah?"
She ran the rest of the way to the apparition point, hoping to get there before George saw her break down in tears.
When she got back to the training camp, she immediately went to find Freya. As Chloe lifted her hand to knock on her friends bedroom door, it was flung open.
"Chloe! I've been waiting for you to get back! What did he say… Oh Merlin Clo, why are you crying?" Chloe swallowed in an attempt to make herself appear more composed, as Freya ushered her into the room.
"He's with my friend Rachel," she hiccoughed, "just goes to show, it really did mean nothing to him! I've spent all this time feeling guilty for leaving him like that, and he's just been shagging his way 'round my mates! And she acted weird with me." she added, irresistibly reminding Freya of a petulant child, who nevertheless scooped her into a hug.
"Clo, it must have been awful."
"It was! I cant believe not one of them bothered to tell me, not Fred, or Ron, or Hermione or Ginny! I thought we were friends, and they never even told me!"
"Ok Chloe, you're getting slightly hysterical now chick," Freya said in an attempt to calm her down. Chloe took several deep breaths, and with some effort, managed to st herself crying.
"I don't think I can be his friend anymore Frey. At least not until I've had time to get used to the idea of him and Rachel." she spat, as if the girls name was a particularly nasty tasting poison.
"I understand," Freya replied soothingly, "you've had one hell of a shock today. But don't make any rash decisions, you might regret them when you've calmed down a bit."
"This isn't rash," Chloe said coldly. "I don't want to speak to him again."