Chapter 6
After Mrs. Weasley was through with Serena, her knuckles were free of bandages and her bloody lip and black eye had disappeared. Serena hurried away before Mrs. Weasley could question her too much about how she had fallen and walked up to Ginny's room where she and Hermione were examining their new school things. Hermione was looking through her new books, while Ginny examined some potions ingredients that her mother had purchased for her. They both looked up when she came in and Hermione said, "You look a lot better."
"I feel a lot better," Serena confessed.
"Mum picked up all of our school things for us. And you've gotten a letter," Ginny pointed to a square of paper that sat on her pile of school supplies. Serena picked it up and immediately recognized her father's hand. She opened it up and began reading eagerly,
Serena,
I have just read news of the World Cup. I would have come immediately to the Weasley's residence, but Dumbledore has confided that it is still too soon for me to be seen in public. Please send a post as soon as you can so I can hear that you didn't come to any harm.
With Love,
Your father
Serena had completely forgotten that her father would have heard of the World Cup. She grabbed a quill and pot of ink and wrote a reply. She explained that she was fine, as was Harry and everyone else. After a moment of inner struggle, she decided to include the fight with Draco Malfoy. Although she elected to leave out what Malfoy had specifically said and the damage her own body had received. As she finished the note, she sealed it up and Frasier was already waiting for her. He meowed at her and she tucked the note into his collar. She scratched him behind the ear and he walked out of the room.
Just as the orange and white cat left the room, Ron and Harry entered. Ron was carrying a bundle of maroon velvet and lace. "Ginny," he said, "Is this some kind of joke?" He unfurled the fabric and revealed a dress robe complete with lace cuffs and collar. Ginny giggled and Ron glared at her.
Harry piped up, holding up a dark green robe that looked considerably better than Ron's, "Really, what are these?"
"They're your dress robes," Mrs. Weasley appeared behind them.
"Dress robes?" Ron uttered, "This looks like it's for a girl."
Mrs. Weasley got a little flustered, "It was the best I could find for our budget. You'll look just fine in that." She looked over to Serena and Hermione, "Girls, I didn't get you any because I was sure that you'll want to pick out your own. There's a charming shop in Hogsmeade called Gladrags, I've sure you'll find something lovely there."
"Why do we need dress robes this year?" Hermione asked.
Mrs. Weasley smiled secretively, "It was on your lists." Then she walked away and Ron was left holding the maroon monstrosity. He held it away at arms length like it held a contagious disease. He grimaced and walked up the stairs to his room in the attic. Harry shrugged his shoulders at them and followed Ron up the stairs.
Hermione was examining her school list and asked Ginny, "Are dress robes on your list?"
Ginny took up her list and looked it over, "No."
"Why do we need them and you don't?" Hermione pondered.
Ginny shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. Can I come shopping with you two anyway?"
"Of course," Hermione and Serena said together. Ginny smiled and began putting away her school supplies into her trunk. Serena followed suit and opened up her trunk. On top of her things was a flower made of paper. She picked it up and looked closely at it.
She showed it to Hermione and Ginny, "Does this belong to either of you?" They both shook their heads 'no' and Serena sat down on her bed to examine it. She twirled it around and even smelled it, to her surprise it smelled exactly like a flower. She looked at one of its paper leaves and tugged at it. She gasped, dropping it on the ground as it began unraveling and formed a single sheet of parchment. She picked it up and saw it was a note from George.
Serena,
Meet me out in the garden at ten tonight.
George
"What is it?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Nothing…" Serena tucked the note into her pocket and went off downstairs, claiming she was in need of something to drink.
* * * * *
The garden was completely dark and the sounds of small insects and garden gnomes drifted through the plants. George waited outside for Serena to appear. Everyone had eaten dinner long ago and had scattered to different parts of the house. George strolled through the garden and took a seat on the bench underneath a tree so he could see when Serena would come out.
Serena walked out of the house and closed the door gently behind her. She saw George on the bench and smiled widely. "Hey!" she called. She walked over to him and he stood up.
"Follow me," George smiled. They walked out farther into the garden and hid behind a tall row of rose bushes. There was a bench and they sat together, George wasted no time and kissed her.
"I missed you too," Serena joked. George smiled and put his arm around her. "This is a convenient little spot," Serena said.
"When we were young," George explained, "my parents would come out here to get some alone time. I'm sure you can imagine how hard that was with seven of us running around."
"Ah," Serena said.
"How are you feeling?" George asked, taking her hands in his and rubbing her knuckles with his thumbs.
"Fine, your mother did a bang up job," she let go of one of his hands so she could tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
"That's not exactly what I meant." George's brow wrinkled and Serena looked quizzically at him. "What really happened, you know, with Malfoy? What did he do?"
Serena sighed, "I was afraid you would ask that." She looked down at the ground and dug at the dirt with her shoe. She took a deep breath and then looked at George, "It's only going to make you mad."
"I already hate Malfoy," George reminded her. Serena was still silent. "Are you afraid I'm going to do something stupid?" She nodded a little. George teased her, "Like get into a fight with him?" Serena grimaced, but laughed a little bit. "Serena, I promise you, I will not fight Malfoy."
Serena squeezed his hand, "I just hate even thinking about what he said. It just makes me want to punch him all over again." George looked at her expectantly. Serena finally began to explain to him what he had said about Ron, Hermione, and finally about her father and mother. By the end of the tale, Serena was pressing her hands to her eyes, trying not to cry.
George had his arms wrapped around her and he was grinding his teeth angrily. "The nerve of that son of a bitch. The next time I see him…"
Serena jerked her head up and stopped wiping at her eyes, "George, you promised!"
George looked at her and his face softened, "I'm sorry."
Serena wiped the last of the tears from her face, "Enough of this. Can we talk about something else?"
George thought for a moment, "So I hear Ron's dress robes are pretty entertaining."
Serena smiled, "I don't suppose you've gotten them as well?"
"Yeah, not at all as classy as Ron's though. Fred and I are so jealous…" George smiled as Serena laughed.
"Do you have any idea what we'll need them for?" Serena asked.
"Not a clue," George replied. They sat in silence for a moment and George began smiling mischievously.
Serena saw his look, "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing…" he wiggled his eyebrows at her and continued smiling.
"What?" Serena demanded. "George Weasley if you don't-" George leaned forward and interrupted her by kissing her once more. He put his hand on the back of her neck and it sent shivers down her spine. His hand moved down to the small of her back and pulled her closer to him.
Serena put her hands on his chest as he continued to kiss her. There was a low snickering coming from somewhere in the rose bushes. Serena pulled away when she heard it, "What was that?" George looked around, but suddenly the bench started tipping and they both spilled onto the ground.
George landed on top of Serena with a thud. The snickering grew louder and they watched as a few garden gnomes ran out from behind the bench, spitting out their tongues as they ran past. George raised himself up onto this elbows and looked at Serena, "Are you alright?"
"Well, my back hurts a little," Serena looked in the direction the gnomes ran off to. "Stupid gnomes," she said bitterly. George laughed a little as she made an imitation of them spitting out their tongues. She looked back at him and smiled, "Are you going to let me up?"
George returned the smile, "No, I don't think I am."
"Okay, then could you at least shift over somewhat? Because what ever is in your pocket is stabbing me in the leg," Serena countered. George's cheeks grew red and Serena asked, "What's wrong?"
George's cheeks got even darker and he said quietly, "Er…I…I don't have anything in my pockets."
Serena's smile faded to an expression of confusion. Then her cheeks got dark red as well and she said just as quietly, "You mean…is that your…" George nodded, embarrassment showing clearly on his face. Serena stared at him for a moment and then laughed.
Completely taken aback, George looked at Serena like she was crazy, "What's so funny?" His voice sounded almost offended.
"It's just funny. I should have figured it out by now, but I guess all of last year I just forgot you had one," Serena laughed once more. "Come on, George, 'I don't have anything in my pockets'."
George looked at her, a look of pure shock on his face, "I can't believe you're laughing about this. Aren't you, grossed out, or something?"
"Why would I be grossed out?" Serena asked.
"You're only 14!" George exclaimed.
"Which must not be that big of a deal, since you still asked me out. Besides, what did you laugh about when you were 14?"
George stammered to think of a reply, "That's different, I'm a boy."
"So I can't laugh at this situation because I'm girl, is that it?" Serena narrowed her eyes at him.
"No! Well, yes, but…I mean…you've gone and twisted it," George said frustrated.
She shook her head, "Regardless, you're still on top of me, and your penis is still stabbing my leg, so you must not care all that much about age at least."
George turned red again and immediately scrambled off of her. He offered her a hand and pulled her up off the ground. "What I mean is," George continued trying to explain himself. "I just thought you would be bothered by stuff like that, because you are younger. So…you just surprised me."
"George, it doesn't bother me," Serena hugged him.
George wrapped his arms around her, "I never want to make you do anything you don't want to, or…" he blushed once more, "anything you're not ready for."
Serena smiled, "I know, that's one of the reasons it doesn't bother me." She kissed George on the cheek, "Because I know I can always trust you."
They pulled away and George looked at the watch on his left wrist, "Well, it's getting pretty late. We should probably get to bed." Serena nodded and they walked back into the house. The living room was now deserted and dark. They crept up the staircase and parted ways for the night.
