Word Count: 638


Angelina grins, watching George in his orange and cream checkered swim trunks. "Come on!" she urges, splashing him with the chilly lake water. "You aren't made of sugar. You won't melt!"

Her boyfriend's lips quirk into a hint of a smile. He pokes his toes into the water before quickly jerking his foot back and shivering frantically. "I might."

"Some people are worth melting for," she assures him, splashing him again. "Come on!"

She doesn't understand what his hesitation is. Coming to the lake had been his idea, after. And it's sweltering out. The crisp, cold water of the lake should be inviting. Angelina can't imagine why he would want to stay on land and sweat down when there's a perfectly relaxing body of water that's his for the taking.

"Wouldn't you rather eat first?" he suggests, lifting the picnic basket up for emphasis.

"Yes. Very much. That's exactly why I jumped in the water the second we got here," she retorts dryly. "Because the first thing in my mind is a picnic."

She expects George to laugh. He's always been one of the few people who could appreciate her sarcasm and humor. Instead, he just stares at her awkwardly, as though he's unsure what to do next. Angelina raises her brows curiously, studying him in silence for several seconds.

She doesn't know what's gotten into him, only that this isn't like him. Ordinarily, George would have already initiated at least one epic splash war and thrown her into the freezing water just for a laugh. All he has done today, though, is stay on the shore, watching her.

Frowning, Angelina swims closer until she has to stand. She walks the rest of the way to her boyfriend. "What's bothering you?" she asks, caressing his chest with her slender fingers. "You're acting so strange today."

George sits in the grass, resting the basket in his lap. At first, he doesn't speak. He digs through the basket in silence without even looking up at her. Finally, he sighs heavily, his eyes still fixed upon the basket's contents. "I fixed sandwiches," he tells her. "Packed some grapes too. But you know what?"

"What?"

"Those are boring. Why not start with dessert?"

A broad grin pulls at her lips. "I knew there was a reason I loved you so much," she teases, sitting next to him. "It's that beautiful mind."

The corners of his lips quirk. "And here I thought it was my rugged good looks," he snorts.

"Eh… You'll do."

His smile returns, and it makes her heart flutter. "You're perfect for me," he says. "That's what I've always liked about you, Ang. You get me in a way that no one else really does. Only… Only…" He trails off, clearing his throat. For a moment, he looks far away, and his brown eyes are dewy. "Only Fred ever understood me the way you do."

"George—"

He shakes his head. "No. No, I'm not looking for comfort," he says. "You've already given me that. See, after the war, I thought I wouldn't be able to smile again, but you proved me wrong. Even on the days that I hated everything, you made me feel like it wasn't completely hopeless. That's why…"

Again, he trails off. In the silence of the moment, he pulls out a cupcake piled high with mouthwatering chocolate frosting. But that isn't what catches her attention. In the center of the cupcake is a silver band with a heart shaped diamond.

"George…"

"Will you marry me?" he whispers. "Will you spend the rest of our days together by my side, as my partner in crime?"

She throws her arms around him. It doesn't matter that the cupcake smashes between them or that she can feel the frosting smear against her chest. "Yes," she says, kissing him. "Yes."


Balloon: orange

Eagle, Lorcan: George Weasley, no more than two characters

Days, World Ocean Day: set your story in, on, or under the water

Summer: picnic basket

Colors: cream

Gryffindor: George Weasley

Disney: "Some people are worth melting for."

Buttons: GeorgeAngelina