Written with a prompt from Weasleys, Witches, & Writers Hump Day Drabbles.
Prompts I used were Time-Turner and Diagon Alley.
Many Thanks to iwasbotwp for fixing my chaos before I share it!
"Are you sure about this?" Hermione had done every calculation so many times she could practically do them from memory in her head, but she couldn't help being gripped by fear now that the moment had come.
George cast a spell on the door and windows that faced out onto Diagon Alley to ensure no one could enter or see into his shop before slowly turning to face her. He took several steps in her direction and jumped the counter before meeting her where she stood in the doorway to the back rooms. The intense look in his eyes did very little to calm her.
"Getting cold feet all of a sudden?" he asked, his voice pitched dangerously low. "I'm doing this with or without you. You won't stop me."
She shivered. The promise of his statement hung between them and she knew he wouldn't hesitate to remove her if she suddenly posed a threat to their plan, no matter how much he cared for her. There was one person he couldn't help but love more than her.
"I would never try to stop you, George," she said, trying to soothe and reassure him. If they wanted him to succeed, he really needed to be as level-headed as possible. She cursed herself again for agreeing that he could be the one to make the trip. To her horror, she couldn't stop the tears that sprang to her eyes.
His face softened when he looked at her and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. "Hey! It'll be alright. The brilliant woman who did all the Arithmancy to make this work happens to be the brightest witch of her age. I trust her more than anyone!"
"But what if something goes wrong and I lose you, too?" Hermione sniffled and held him tight. "How do I live with myself if it was my fault!"
Logically, she knew that George knew exactly what to do. She knew their plan was nearly foolproof, but it had been so hard to come to terms with the idea that they might actually be able to save him. It was easier to cling to her fears.
"We both know if any part of this goes wrong, it won't be your contribution, darling."
Hermione nodded. The last troublesome thought that had been plaguing her for weeks made its way to the surface. "You won't be identical twins anymore…"
George seemed to ponder her words for a moment, then shrugged. "We already didn't technically look identical anymore after I lost my ear. Besides, I'd rather have him eighteen months younger than me, than not at all. Two minutes left."
He was almost bouncing with enthusiasm and Hermione found herself swept up in his excitement.
"Remember, whatever you do, don't come back until ten minutes have passed or you'll return before you left and terrible things could happen. Stay calm! Do you have the letter for past me? You have to give it to her before you get Fred away from the battle! Promise!"
George nodded and took a step back from her. "We'll be back before you know it! Bet you a Galleon the first thing he does is kiss you!" He said with a wink and a grin.
"Good luck," she said, her voice dropping to a near-whisper.
He was enveloped by a flash of blue light and then he was gone, leaving her to worry and wait, knowing every minute that passed was one more opportunity for everything to go wrong.