Disclaimer: I own nothing from the Harry Potter universe, that all belongs to J.K. Rowling. Non Llewellyn however is mine.
Chapter 10
My Tuesday passed in a blur of a double shift. First a frantic day of normal auror duty, comprising of three arrests one of which was this batty old witch armed with a cane. She hadn't even broken the law either when we had called upon her, we'd only been tasked with giving her a warning for un-neighbourly conduct but after she'd thwacked Harry across the head with her cane we'd had to arrest her for assault. And that annoyingly took a lot of paperwork to process. I was becoming more and more of a mind, after my run in with Aunt Muriel, that old witches were nasty by default and wondered absently why that was. No wonder wizard's tended to pop their clogs sooner, it was probably their last means of escape.
My second shift was another stint monitoring the warehouse, again with Gilden, which passed as uneventfully as the first. I finally got back home at mid-morning on the Wednesday and passed out on my bed before I could even take off my work clothes.
"Non…hey Non, wake up."
I scrunched my eyes in an effort to keep them closed as someone started shaking my shoulder insistently. A rather more forceful shake finally had me snapping me eyes open and I blinked up blearily to see Hermione leaning over me.
"Hi Non, I've just got in from work. Aren't you supposed to be meeting George at six? It's half five now."
My sleep addled brain took long seconds to process her words before I finally bolted up to sitting, only just missing clashing heads with her.
"Oh shit."
I scrambled to get to my feet, legs getting tangled in my bedding as my eyes darting around the room. Shit, what did I need to do first?
"Over slept huh?"
"I forgot to set my alarm."
My mutter was slightly frenzied and I ignored Hermione's amused grin as I took a moment to take a breath and try and get my brain working.
A shower Non, you need to shower.
Right yes, that was a start. I'd been too tired after my last shift to have one at work which I regretted now but there wasn't a lot I could do. I rushed to the bathroom to have the quickest shower of my life. Afterwards I quickly secured my hair in a small towel before wrapping a larger one around my body and I set to brushing my teeth. I caught my reflection and groaned. My eyes were still completely puffy from sleep with clear dark circles under them. Shit at twenty one I really shouldn't be looking this tired. I looked ancient.
I shook my head, reminding myself I knew a concealing charm that would work, before I finished with my teeth and rushed back to my bedroom to get dressed. I suppose the good thing about being so short of time was that I didn't have time to waste on worrying what to wear. I quickly slipped on some dark blue jeans, smarter than the ones I normally wore to work and matched it with a light blue t-shirt. Ginny had mentioned once that the colour was good for me, something about my eyes, so I figured it couldn't hurt to wear it. A quick swish of my wand my hair was dry and I hurried to add my minimal make up before I pegged it downstairs.
"Blimey Non that was record time, you've got ten minutes spare."
"You know me Mione, low maintenance."
I chucked her a cheeky grin and she rolled her eyes in reply. I bounced nervously on the spot for a moment before deciding to ask a question I'd forgotten to ask her on Monday evening and of course hadn't seen her all of Tuesday to ask.
"Hey Mione, do you think that my idea is good? For George and I to just try and be friends?"
She'd been a bit quiet after I'd told her my plan initially but I figured she had still been preoccupied with her annoyance with Fred.
"I really do Non. I think it's the best way forward really. Being honest and building up your relationship like that. In a way you're lucky. You've got no history with George to complicate things."
I squirmed a bit uncomfortably at the building your relationship part, as I had no inclination of George and I ever being anything but friends, but I quickly noted Hermione's slight grimace with her last words.
"You'll sort it out Hermione. You and Fred I mean. I know it must be so weird to try and get your head around it now but I think when you do…you guys will be good. You'll make it work."
Hermione nodded slowly as she took in my words.
"I guess so Non, I mean we don't have a choice but to try."
It was my turn to grimace then. Because that was exactly my problem with it all - no choice.
"Time's ticking Non – you don't want to be late for your date."
I scowled at Hermione's words as they jolted me from my thoughts.
"It's not a date!"
All I got was a smirk in reply and I ignored her call of "Enjoy!" as I muttered to myself and stomped out of the house and quickly apparated to The Leaky Cauldron. I pushed the creaky door open and let out a sigh as I stepped through and into the pub. I could see Tom the barman at the far end of the bar and after glancing around the interior of the pub to make a note of who was in there (no George yet) I made my way over to Tom so I could secure our table.
Just before I reached him the back door of the pub, the entranceway from Diagon Alley, slammed open and my stomach quivered as George came striding in, a fierce look on his face before his eyes landed on me. I had to fight against stepping back in alarm as he hurried towards me and it was only as he got closer I realised that this was not in fact George, but Fred.
"Uh – aren't you the wrong twin?"
I got narrowed eyes and a half smirk at my question before he latched a strong hand on to my arm and started dragging me after him.
"Sorry Tom, bit of an emergency, we need this one's help. We'll make it up to you on the table booking, we promise!"
Tom just waved him off good naturedly as I stared at the back of his head in alarm, all the while trying to pry his fingers from my arm.
"Fred, hey Fred, ouch, Fred!"
I finally yanked my arm back as I tried to ground to a halt outside the brick wall.
Fred cast me an annoyed glance as he took out his wand to tap the brick work, Diagon Alley appearing behind him. As he made to reach for my arm again I took a step back.
"Stop doing that Fred. What's the emergency?"
It was only now I could see that his fierce look was more one of worry, although he was trying to hide it.
"We've had an accident in the work shop, George needs help. He wouldn't let me do anything until I'd come and got you."
He half glared at me before he turned and sped off up Diagon Alley and after a couple of seconds gaping after him in shock I quickly hurried after him. It was a muggy evening and I cursed silently to myself as I finally recalled why I didn't often wear this light blue t-shirt. I was bound to start sweating either from the heat or my nerves and it would totally show through. I focused on trying to keep my breathing even as we finally arrived at Fred and George's shop. Surprisingly he didn't lead me through to the shop but rather to an unobtrusive wooden door to the right hand side of the shop. I was always so visually overpowered by the shop front that I'd never noticed it before and as Fred opened it I realised with a gulp I was about to be led up to their flat.
"Err…"
"Stop dithering Non."
I flushed slightly at Fred's annoyed tone as he waited impatiently by the door and ducking my head to hide behind my hair I walked past him to wait in the inner corridor. I started to chew on my lip as I drew back and Fred brushed past me to head on up the flight of stairs. He didn't wait for me at the top, just left the door open and I hovered there for a moment, completely undecided as to how to proceed. Should I take my shoes off? Hang my jacket up? I finally settled for keeping my shoes on, I hadn't seen Fred take his off after all, and after hanging my jacket up I quickly followed the sounds of cupboard doors opening and crashing closed coping from the door at the end of the small landing.
I nudged the door open with my foot and took in the sight of the Weasley twin's kitchen. There were dated cupboards on the walls, a lurid green colour that looked like it came straight out of muggle 1970s décor. There was one tiny window with a wonky blind attached to it but the surfaces that I could take in from my quick glance were clear and there didn't appear to be a mound of dirty dishes like Hermione always complained Ron had always left sitting around for her to clean. I could only take that in with a blink of my eyes however before I was completely distracted by the kitchen table. Or rather, who was sat on it.
George Weasley was perched against the long edge of the table clad in jeans and a grey vest top. He had a grimace on his face as his left hand clutched at the edge of the table. His right arm, I noted with growing horror, was traced with deep green welts ranging from his hand right up to his shoulder. Boils were starting to form but what was even more concerning were the thorn like substances that were poking out of his skin, it looked like hundreds of them.
"What – what the hell happened?"
His head snapped up at my words and he ran his un-maimed hand through his hair as he shot me a rueful grin.
"Er, I'm a bit of an idiot."
"I could have told you that!"
George scowled lightly at Fred's shouted words before he snorted with amusement quickly followed by a grimace and I winced at the sight of his arm, taking a step closer.
"So…something attacked you?"
"That's right. We had a new plant delivered, guess it wasn't happy about being transported. As soon as I opened the container it got me. You look really nice, by the way."
I huffed out a breath at his words and had to fight against rolling me eyes. I'd literally grabbed the clothes closest to me, so nice my arse. Still, I supposed, it showed he had good manners.
"Er, thanks. What plant was it?"
"What, you not going to say I look nice too?"
I glanced up at George's face to see a faux look of outrage.
"Would it be terribly rude of me to say you've looked better?"
He nodded emphatically at me so I pretended to take my time in answering as I tapped a finger against my lips where I was fighting against a smile.
"Well, you've looked better George."
He clutched his free hand to his chest in mock pain.
"That's cruel Non. Here I am, maimed, wounded, practically at death's door, the least you could do is compliment me."
"Ah but then I would be dishonest."
"Oho, an honest witch then are you?"
His eyes caught mine then and whilst they were lit up with humour I thought perhaps this question held a bit of weight to it and I fought against shifting awkwardly on my feet.
"Well, I try."
Fred came bustling back in to the kitchen then and nudged me aside as he set about placing glass containers and vials on the table to George's left as I faced him before he turned and brandished a set of gloves and what looked like tweezers at me,
"Right Non, you need to get the thorns out before they inject any more muck into this idiot. Then when that's done you need to burst the boils and collect the fluid in the vials there. Oh and store the thorns in that container."
I blinked as I wordlessly took the items from him.
"Make sure you wear the gloves when you burst the boils, not sure how corrosive that stuff might be. Oh also, check for side-affects in George. Apparently drowsiness, nausea and breathing difficulties are the worst possible ones!"
I gaped at Fred as he rushed out of the room leaving me stood in silence in front of George.
"But..but…well where's he going?"
I finally turned back to George and directed my question at him as I stepped closer to hover to the side of him.
"He needs to contain the plant. It's loose in the workshop and given it managed to burn through my robes we don't know what damage it might do."
I gaped at him.
"Through your robes! Blimey George, what category plant is this?"
"Oh you know, a four."
He beamed, completely unconcerned.
"A four! But you could…I mean the side effects could…shit George, stop grinning, it's not funny!"
He was chortling at me though and gestured to his maimed arm.
"Well it's not great no, but we could learn a lot from this. We were hoping to test it under stricter conditions than this but we'll not pass up the opportunity now its here."
I frowned at him. This went all against my what if rational. I planned for every outcome before I approached dangerous plants.
"Well what about Fred, will he be okay?"
George shot me a truly amused smile at that.
"Non, you do realise we both test and use dangerous products and their ingredients as our actual jobs right?"
I flushed lightly at that feeling stupid. I mean of course they did but still, this didn't exactly look like they had been especially prepared.
"Right of course. Sorry George."
He snorted a laugh at me.
"Don't apologise, I can't blame you for being sceptical I mean look at me."
I managed to huff out a laugh at that as I hesitantly put the gloves down and passed the tweezers into my right hand to get started. I stood to the side of him so I could be closer to the dish to deposit the thorns in and I glanced up only to startle slightly to see he was staring at me intently.
"Um...let me know if it hurts at all yeah?"
"Will do Non Non."
He winked at me but I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"Hmm."
"I will!" He protested with a laugh. "No misplaced manly pride from me. I'm a wimp really. Honestly you'll be fed up by the time we're finished."
I quirked a smile at that but only shook my head at him as I set to work. I was pleased to see that my hand wasn't shaking, it was as though being given a task to do helped to distract me from my normal nerves, although I couldn't help the slight tremors as I used my left hand to occasionally reposition his arm. Despite his last words we worked in relative silence with only the occasional hiss of pain from George and my muttered apologies when I had to dig out a particularly stubborn thorn. It was all going well until I had finally worked so far up his arm that it was starting to get a bit awkward for me to reach for more. I was desperately trying not to lean up against his leg as I had to reach up slightly to get at the ones nearing his shoulder as I didn't want to use my free arm to hold on to him for balance either. My hand hovered for a moment while I thought how best to proceed.
"Non."
"Hmm?"
I glanced across to see George looking at me with a sleepy smile.
"It'd be easier now if you moved you know. C'mere."
I jolted at the feel of fingers tugging at one of the belt loops on my jeans and I hesitantly allowed myself to be pulled far enough across that I was now stood in front of George.
"See. Now you can reach."
"Um I suppose. Didn't want to infringe on your personal space really. You don't mind?"
"Nope."
He popped the 'p' I his answer. Well I minded but I wasn't sure how to tell him that. I chanced another look at him before I frowned. He really did look a bit sleepy.
"George you feeling alright?"
He sighed happily.
"Never better."
He flashed a grin at my snort of laughter before sighing lightly again.
"Actually am feeling a bit tired. Say talk to me to distract me. I mean you wanted to talk to me tonight anyway, right?"
Fuck. Yes I had wanted to talk to him. About important things too. I'd had a nice speech planned to at least attempt to put my views on the Marriage Law across but George's injury had put it straight out of my mind. I chewed on my lip as I started de-thorning his shoulder and wondered how to begin.
"Well yes. I mean I did want to talk. I wanted to try and explain just why-. I mean what the problem-that is the issue I have with the Marriage Law."
"What is it?"
George's voice seemed to rumble from his chest now I was this close and I kept my gaze focused on his shoulder. There was a small pattern of freckles appearing under the area I was removing thorns from and I kept my eyes trained on them.
"I-I have a real problem with not being given a choice. And this takes it all away from us. It's our entire future George and it's just been decided for us. And I don't know if I'm going to be able to reconcile myself with that."
George didn't reply to that so I decided to carry on. Better to get it all out now right so we knew where we stood?
"I mean just think how this Law is going to affect so many people. I mean what – what if you're gay and all of a sudden you're being made to marry a witch? You won't ever be able to marry the guy you love."
Which was a really important point actually. This Law just assumed that everyone was heterosexual when that clearly wasn't the case. I mean there had been loads of rumours in school about Blaise Zabini in the year above me. There'd been a Slytherin girl in my year actually that I was sure had been dating a witch two years above us too. A strangled sound came from George and I glanced up in alarm, was he having trouble breathing?
George was staring at me, eyes wide as he spluttered.
"What George? Are you alright?"
"I'm not gay!"
My jaw dropped slightly. What on earth was he on about, why would he even say that – oh. Oh.
"Wait, I didn't think you were."
He narrowed his eyes at me.
"You know I can prove it."
"Er, you know George you really don't have to."
I'd started to blush in embarrassment that he'd so misunderstood me, and a grin flickered across his face.
"Are you sure? You seem in need of assurance if you ask me."
George made a move to stand up.
"No George wait don't stand-"
Too late. George pushed off the table to stand in front of me, uncomfortably close but even as he looked down at me his grin turned into a light grimace and he swayed rather alarmingly. I grabbed him around his middle even as his uninjured arm grabbed on to my waist to steady himself.
"Look just – just sit back on the table. I don't think you're gay George honestly. It was just a hypothetical point."
"Hmm. Is this the part where you tell me you prefer witches then?"
I snorted out a laugh.
"I like wizards thank you very much. And no – I'm not going to prove it."
I shot him a pointed look and he huffed lightly feigning a crestfallen look. I made to start working on his shoulder again when I noted with some concern that the green welts the plant had left had trailed under the edge of his vest. Shit. Was he going to have to take it off? I chewed on my lip before darting a glance back up at George as I made to take a step back. I frowned slightly as George's arm, still holding on to me around my waist had me trapped in place. I cleared me throat uncomfortably.
"You er – you need to take your top off George."
"Blimey, the first time in my kitchen and you can't wait to get my clothes off. Are you the witch of my dreams?"
I rolled my eyes at George's blatant teasing and as he finally removed his hand from my waist to start pulling at his top I took the chance to take a small step back before I hesitantly started to help him. I was furiously trying not to blush although I knew I was failing.
Get a grip Non. You've seen topless blokes before.
I had even seen this bloke topless before but then I'd blushed then too.
George awkwardly pushed his vest over his head as I gingerly pulled it down over his injured arm doing my best not to catch it on the pulsating boils. Thankfully the attack from the plant had not gone too much further than over the right side of his chest and I let out a sigh of relief. I had to use all my will power not to let my eyes wonder.
Merlin Non he's going to think you're a perv. Just focus on the injury.
I started pulling out the thorns again, cursing silently at each time I had to reach around him to deposit a removed thorn in a tray and I desperately tried to gather my thoughts.
"What I mean about the Marriage Law George, doesn't it bother you? That you've no choice anymore? I mean you can't even go into the pub anymore and have a chance meeting, or chat someone up or anything. That's all gone now."
I frowned to myself. I mean it wasn't like I had enjoyed that aspect anyway now that I thought about it but the point still stood. Whatever paths had been open to us were now closed. We only had a set course. And sure George seemed nice, but nice enough to marry? I couldn't know that. And who knew who else could be out there for me? Even if I hadn't entertained the idea of falling in love with anyone any time soon, how did I not know that the wizard for me (if there was one) wasn't out there and I'd never get my chance? I knew that there were definitely better witches out there for George.
"It just so happens that the last witch I chatted up in a pub I'm actually going to marry."
I snapped my head up so quickly at his words I heard my neck crack. There were so many things I found wrong with that statement I didn't quite know where to start.
"You didn't chat me up George."
"I did!"
I scowled at his protest before he huffed out a sigh.
"Well I would have if you'd let me, you ran off before I could after Percy annoyed you."
"Yeah, yeah very funny George. I was being serious."
I mean honestly. I was making a very important point and here he was making a joke. He'd opened his mouth to speak again but I hurried on before he could make another one.
"Besides you didn't answer my question. Doesn't it bother you?"
I'd finished taking the thorns out now so I straightened up slightly so I could actually look at him properly. He had to tilt his head down a bit to meet my gaze from his seated position and he still looked a tad sleepy I noted with some concern as he replied, his free hand absentmindedly playing with one of my belt loops again which I found a bit weird but he seemed to always need to keep his hands busy so I didn't want to embarrass him by drawing attention to it.
"Yes and no. Yes because like you say they've made this decision for us. But no because we have the choice of how we move forward from here. They can't tell us how to act or how we decide to live the rest of our lives together. That's on us. That's plenty of choice right there."
I averted my gaze as I pondered his words and reached for the dragon hide gloves Fred had got for me. I could sort of see what he meant but then I recalled his words. Our 'lives together'. We had no choice over that part, and that was wrong.
"I guess."
"That is the most unconvincing 'I guess' I think I've ever heard."
I shot him a rueful look before shrugging.
"Like I said, I've got a real problem with the law."
"A fellow rebel then."
I huffed out a breath slightly annoyed at him. I mean I could appreciate he was trying to lighten the mood but I really needed him to understand that I had a genuine problem here. That even the prospect of marriage was making me want to cringe back from him, making it highly difficult for me to even talk to him on occasion.
I frowned slightly at how big the gloves were on me, that was going to make holding the glass vials and bursting the boils – an already difficult task – extra tricky.
"Merlin I really hope these don't explode when I touch them."
I'd muttered it as I hesitantly brought the tweezers in my right hand closer to the nearest boil on his shoulder, awkwardly angling the glass vial underneath it. I felt a light tug on my belt loop and glanced back up at George.
"Me too. Sorry you have to do this."
He inclined his head towards his injured arm.
"It's alright. Easier for me to talk when I'm distracted anyway."
"Hmm well, I still feel pretty sleepy, keep talking?"
I gazed back at him in concern, taking in his half open eyes and I thought he was starting to look a little grey under the freckles on his face. Better start speeding things up I thought as I nodded at him. I turned and gently prodded the tweezers into the top of the boil, just enough to make a small puncture wound and to my relief it didn't explode rather a violently green liquid started to leak out of it which I deftly caught in the vial. It thankfully didn't smell too badly either, slightly acrid but much better than bubotuber puss and I let out a relieved sigh. If they were all like this then this wouldn't be too bad and I hoped it would cause minimal pain for George.
"Okay well, the other problem I have I guess is that face that I haven't exactly been….well."
I winced as I said that, hating to think of my own weakness let alone talking about it to George as I stoppered the first vial and quickly nabbed another one before moving on to the boils on his upper arm.
"And what I've realised lately is that I'm not great with…"
"Relationships."
I froze in shock that he had known what I was going to say next before I briefly recalled I'd told him that before so I nodded.
"Yeah exactly. But I mean any relationships. Even just friendship I find hard I just…"
I scowled at myself. Why couldn't I find the words? Why not just tell him about the issue with Percy and his wedding I mean that was the perfect example of how messed up I was but I was just too embarrassed to say it. I huffed out a sigh before levelling George with a serious stare.
"I'm a mess George. And I'm really sorry you got paired with me because I really don't think I can do this. Whatever this even is. I just…"
I trailed off again as my words ran out and I just looked at him. Well I'd said it now.
"I don't think you're a mess Non."
His voice was soft, with sleep I guessed and he was looking at me with a confused frown on his face.
"Sure you've got things to work through but no one's saying we have to get married tomorrow and start living together. We've got time Non to figure this all out."
I chewed on my lip as I moved to fill another vial. How come he could be so mature about all of this? I continued to worry my lip as I pondered his words but I couldn't stop my brain from over thinking. But what if we just didn't work? What if we fell out before we even got married? What if we got married but then fell in love with other people?
"Look Non I'm not one for worrying about things that I can't change. And who knows with pairing us together, maybe the Ministry know what they're on about."
I let out a cynical snort.
"Yeah right."
"Was that directed at you being paired with me or the prospect of the Ministry knowing what it's doing?"
Oh, oops. I glanced up at him nervously.
"Um, the Ministry bit although don't tell anyone I said that. Ministry employee and all, I shouldn't be speaking ill of them."
I got a crooked grin in response and I shrugged lightly as I moved to drain the final few boils. We were both silent as I finished stoppering the last vial and I took a step back from him when I was finished, absently noting he still had a finger hooked around my belt loop at my hip.
"I suppose murtlap essence should help the rest."
George nodded his agreement at my words, but his nods were very slow and ponderous and I bit my lip with worry.
"You got any basins?"
"Yeah bottom left over there."
He finally removed his hand from me and gestured towards one of the kitchen cupboards before moving to cover his mouth to hide a huge yawn.
I rushed to the cupboard to get a basin before grabbing my bag and muttering a quick accio to bring my supply of murtlap to the top. Another swish of my wand and I'd added water to the basin and I chanced a glance in the cupboard under the sink to grab a clean cloth to use to wipe his arm down.
I wrung out the cloth a couple of times before moving to wipe his arm down and I cursed silently that now of all times my hands had decided to start shaking. George hissed with pain as soon as it touched and I shot him an apologetic look, pausing my movements but he just shook his head at me and gestured for me to continue.
I tried to hide a grimace at the remains of the outer skin of the boils falling off as the murtlap did its job but I was a bit concerned that the green welts weren't disappearing all that much. Some more fluid looked to be starting to leak out of it and I guessed that at some stage more boils would form and George would have to repeat this process.
"Non if you wanted to get frisky with George I'd recommend a bed. That table's not comfortable, trust me."
I gave a startled yelp and nearly upended the basin at Fred's loud voice that sounded from the kitchen door and George used his free hand to steady me. I could feel myself flushing scarlet and I cast a glare in the annoying twin's direction.
"Oh ha ha Fred."
"What, you saying bursting boils isn't a turn on? Wish someone had told me, I wouldn't have put myself through this pain."
I snorted a laugh at George's words before rolling my eyes. Merlin, they were impossible.
"Whatever. Look I don't think the murtlap is going to clear anymore off I reckon you're going to have to wait for more boils to form for it to leech out that way."
George pouted slightly at that and I felt my lips try and twitch up into a smile.
"And I suppose with that I best go."
I was a bit disappointed. I hadn't managed to broach the topic of being friends with George but Fred made me uncomfortable for the single reason that I never knew what was going to come out of his mouth so I figured it was best to save that conversation for another day.
"You can't go."
I blinked in surprise as they spoke in unison, Fred now having moved towards the sink.
"Er, why not?"
"You've not eaten."
They again spoke together and I quirked my brow in confusion. I mean I knew they were twins but how did they do that? The timing was eerie.
"You go move that one eared lug into the living room and I'll get something ready. Pretty sure mum sent some left overs yesterday…"
Fred was muttering to himself now as he moved to clear up the items from the table and I stood awkwardly in front of George.
"Um, you okay to walk?"
He blinked sleepily back at me.
"Won't know unless I try."
George shrugged his good shoulder before bracing himself on the table to stand. He did in all fairness manage to walk a couple of steps before he swayed so I reluctantly lent him my shoulder to lean on as we shuffled to the living room, George letting me know where it was. After Fred's little jibe I was again acutely aware of George's state of undress and I kept my eyes trained forward.
He heaved a sigh of relief as he settled on the sofa and he hooked a finger in my belt loop to drag me down to sit by him. I frowned in annoyance at him but he only looked back at me with a sleepy smile seemingly unaware or unconcerned as to why I was frowning. Perhaps he hadn't realised he'd done it I mused and shrugged the thought away.
The silence that followed was awkward. Now that I didn't have anything besides healing George to focus on I was stuck as to what to do. Where should I look? What should I say? Why hasn't he put his vest back on?
I could feel my heart rate increase with my anxiety and my palms started to sweat. I tried to take a few moments to make sure my breathing was even as I decided to focus on the room around me to distract myself. There was a large fireplace taking up most of the wall opposite the sofa. On either side were wonky shelves, jam packed full of books and I winced slightly at their haphazard storage system. I myself would prefer to organise them in subject order or would at least have them in some sort of height order system but either way I definitely would have them stored with their spines showing. I cast an irrational glare at the books whose page ends were facing me before I quirked a half smile at myself.
"Talk to me."
A thrum of nerves shot through me at George's voice and I threw him a quick apologetic look, fidgeting in my seat before I half turned to him and tucked one of my legs up on the sofa so I could rest my chin on my knee and clasp my arms around my leg. It was quite obviously to me a defensive barrier but I felt more secure and hoped George didn't recognise it for what it was.
"Right yeah, sorry. Um, so yeah I'm not going to be very good at this just was wondering really…do you have any concerns?"
Merlin I sounded frightfully formal, like this was some weird twisted business transaction. What were we going to be doing, drawing up a contract? He must think I'm an absolute idiot. I risked a glance at him, noting he at least had colour back in his face now as he smiled slowly.
"Non, Non."
It took me a few seconds to process what he had said and I bit my lip against a smile. But seriously no concerns? Was he insane?
My disbelief must have shown on my face as he chuckled lightly.
"Seriously Non, I say we just see how things go. We know the end goal, may as well enjoy the ride along the way."
"What so, you don't have a plan?"
Merlin I don't know what I was going to do without a plan. The fact he didn't seem to need one was an even clearer indication that we weren't well suited. George outright laughed at my question but tried to stifle it when he realised I was serious.
"Sorry Non, nope no plan. Why do you have one?"
He seemed genuinely intrigued and I shifted uncomfortably under the focus of his gaze and I maturely mumbled my response into my knee.
"Well yeah. I mean I figured we don't actually know each other at all really so why not just start off trying to be friends?"
God that sounded a bit naff now I'd said it out loud, especially compared to George's more easy going approach and I cringed inwardly.
"Friends?"
Shit, he didn't sound happy. I nervously glanced at him but he was staring intently at his arm where boils were emerging again. Okay, right fair enough, I wouldn't be happy to have those reappearing on my arm either.
"Uh, yeah."
He looked up suddenly and I froze, completely embarrassed when I realised I'd been caught staring and my ever annoying blush made a reappearance. I was going to have to have serious words with myself to get a grip on that reaction I decided.
"I think that's a very sensible idea."
"So…so you agree to it?"
Sensible didn't always seem to be something the Weasley twins had a lot of time for from what I could recall of them from school so I figured I'd better double check. I didn't want to leave this evening with any misunderstandings.
"I do. Shake on it?"
I felt a surge of relief.
Thank Merlin he agreed!
I didn't even feel a twinge of concern when I reached my hand forward to shake his in agreement. I knew he'd come to realise what I had that we would only work as friends, I mean there was no other logical or realistic outcome given what I knew of myself and what I knew of or had heard about him. But if we could get through this whole shit situation as friends then that was at least making the best out of something horrible.
I smiled at him when we shook hands and it felt like the first proper smile I'd ever given him. He smiled back before glancing down.
"Nice bracelet."
I followed his gaze and startled slightly, taking my hand back slowly. Well shit, I was still wearing the daisy chain as a bracelet. I'd clearly forgotten to take it off after the weekend but I couldn't tell him that.
He'll probably think I don't wash or something, geez Non what are you even wearing it for?
"Oh right that, yeah that was from Teddy."
"Teddy, right of course."
George had tilted his head to look at me, a small frown line appearing between his eyebrows when I was saved by Fred from any more questions.
"Grubs up!"
I bounced to my feet at his call from the kitchen.
"Hungry?"
"Uh yeah just a bit."
I held out a hand hesitantly to George to help haul him to his feet. He grinned as he grabbed my hand and as soon as he stood he surprised me by flinging his arm around my shoulder.
"C'mon then friend, help me to the kitchen."
I froze. I was practically smooshed up against George's chest and I cast him a nervous look. He looked entirely unconcerned, in fact he was now raising a questioning eyebrow at me and I internally shrugged at myself. Right he was clearly a touchy feely person. I on the other hand was not. Yet another piece of evidence that weren't suited I realised as I filed that bit of information away. I stood up a bit straighter trying to place at least some distance between mine and George's torso's as I helped him walk through to the kitchen.
Fred grinned when he saw us but carried on dishing up the food. George sat down heavily in his chair and I hesitated before I took what looked like the seat left for me at the end of the table to George's right. Fred slid into the seat opposite him.
Dinner with the Weasley twins was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. Despite George not being on his best form because of the plant attack they still bantered back and forth constantly allowing me to eat quietly and let my nerves settle as well as they could. Fred still alarmed me greatly, something he clearly realised and enjoyed as he would every so often bring out one of their joke products either from a secret pocket or draw just to surprise me and see how I'd react. I suddenly fully empathised with Hermione's annoyance with him as for the third time I'd nearly leapt from my seat in shock. George for his part was content for his twin to tease me, taking in my reactions with a smile, even on occasion providing Fred with encouragement to only laugh when I scowled at him.
The table quietened down over pudding with George clearly fighting sleep and Fred was idly flinging raspberries at his head to keep him awake. I fidgeted in my seat as the conversation died down. I was painfully aware that the twins had carried most of the conversation and I worried what they thought of me. Why was it always so hard for me to think of anything to say? If they minded though they didn't let on and I felt absurdly grateful.
At George's third jaw cracking yawn I finally summoned up my courage to make a move to leave, although not until I'd had my offer of doing the washing up waived away by Fred.
"It's your first time as a guest here so our rules are you don't help. Second time we'll ease you in to it and after your third visit we'll treat you like a house elf. Feel free to tell Hermione I said that."
Fred winked outrageously at me and I rolled my eyes unable to fight a smile.
"I might. I might not. You've irritated her quite enough I wouldn't want to stoke that back up again."
"Ah go on Non, do it for me?"
Fred batted his eyelashes at me.
"Well you did cook me food so…alright."
"See that George, she rewards good behaviour."
"Noted."
George attempted to wink at me but he was so tired it was more like an extended blink and I giggled lightly. He was ridiculous. I stood up to leave but he held a hand out to stop me.
"C'mon then friend, when's our next meeting?"
Fred brushed past me as he left the kitchen and I stood awkwardly by George and I thought hard about when we even could next meet. My rota was so full I was struggling to see any time in at least the next week and a half when I could.
"Saturday?"
I shook my head at his prompted question.
"I can't sorry George, I'm going to Azkaban."
"Blimey, what are they locking you up for?"
It was a joking question I'd heard many times before when it came to this aspect of my job but I couldn't help but smile.
"I can't say. Wouldn't want to shock you, it being our first day as friends 'n all."
He nodded with mock seriousness before sighing.
"So wait, does that mean you're away for the week? I'm sure Ron's usually gone that long."
I nodded along with his words.
"Yeah that's right. I leave about midday on Saturday, back the following Saturday evening."
"Alright so, how about staying over The Burrow on that Saturday night? I can show you around the village then on Sunday and it'll save you having to do any extra travel if you're tired."
I hesitated. The way George said it, it sounded really reasonable and I was touched he'd factored in that I'd be tired after working at Azkaban. Which was true. What he maybe didn't realise was just how tired I would be. All aurors got at least a day off after a week working in Azkaban to allow them to recover just because of the sheer hellishness of that place.
"We can't exactly get to know each other as friends if we don't see each other right?"
George's question prompted me from my thoughts and I wondered just how long I had been gazing into space thinking over his words. I didn't want him to think that I wasn't serious about my plan so I rushed to answer him.
"No of course you're right. Okay I can meet you at The Burrow that Saturday night. If your parents don't mind that is. And um, if you don't mind that I might be a bit of a zombie when I arrive. Azkaban kind of takes it out of a person."
"Mum and Dad won't mind at all. In fact I think they love having people over I think they miss the fact the house is emptier more often than its full these days. Plus it's always good to visit fairly regularly to keep mum happy otherwise she takes it upon herself to come and see us here."
"Oh and that's bad is it?"
"Put it this way, you don't want your mother walking in unannounced."
I laughed at right at that quickly catching on to his unspoken meaning.
"Found that out the hard way did you?"
"Now Non I don't like what you're implying there. It was Fred she caught in a rather compromising position I'll have you know. I'm as innocent as the day I was born."
George had plastered an innocent expression on to his face and I had to admit it was good attempt until I caught the gleam in his eyes. George Weasley, innocent? Ha!
"Now George I wouldn't want to call you a liar but I rather think your last sentence there was flawed."
He beamed at me before covering his mouth as another yawn overtook him.
"Right, I'm really going to go. You need to sleep."
He simply nodded his agreement and when he made to stand up I just waived him away.
"I can walk myself out. Tell Fred thanks again for food and I'll see you next week. Er, good luck with the boils."
"Ha thanks! Good luck with Azkaban. And see you around, friend."
I shot George a curious glance. He'd seemed to have said his last word a bit weirdly but when I looked at him his eyes were closed and his head was starting to nod so I figured it was just because he was so tired. I shrugged to myself before quietly leaving. When I stepped back out into Diagon Alley it was just approaching dusk and I let out a heavy pent up sigh. That had been more exhausting that I'd anticipated but at least it didn't seem like it had been a disaster. I had a plan in place as to how to get along with George and whilst I still didn't feel completely relaxed around him at least I had something that I could work towards and that made me hopeful. I hummed happily to myself as I made my way back to The Leaky Cauldron deciding I'd have a quick buterbeer to congratulate myself before I headed for home.
A/N: Welcome to my lovely readers and new followers. How did you like this instalment? Very dialogue heavy I know but it was important they had this conversation.
Hope you enjoyed it