5:
The thing about doors is that they're not always the most reliable. They don't always shut all the way or latch properly. Sometimes they creak open after you think they're closed properly. And sometimes, they do it at the most inappropriate times with the most inappropriate people within view of what's behind said door.
And that's exactly what happened to poor Asteria.
She had taken far longer to get read than she had originally anticipated. It wasn't until the witch had gotten a good look at her sickly green tinted skin and her red, sleep deprived eyes that Astera realized that George had seen her at her absolute worse state of living. While she didn't usually care that people saw her cry or be emotional -one got used to it after so many funerals and so many people telling you that they're "sorry for your loss" and "so sorry that someone so young will have to raised a child" -she did care about the fact that George didn't need a reminder of any sort of pain, whether it be hers or his. But she had taken an hour to do her hair and makeup before she was finally ready to pick out clothing.
She was in a frightfully good mood, though, as she danced across her bedroom towards her closet in her underwear. It couldn't be helped, her excitable dancing. It'd been such a long time she had been genuinely happy over something that wasn't related to Teddy. With George reopening his shop, that meant her business would pick back up. More importantly, though, it meant that Mr. George Weasley wouldn't be a recluse anymore. While she had only spent so much time with him -not including their time spent at school -it still brought a bright smile to the young witch's face.
So dancing around her room in her mismatched bra and panties was completely acceptable.
However, what was unacceptable, was the new friend of hers accidentally catching her doing so. Asteria had only noticed his presence by the small laugh that had escaped his lips as he peered through the doorway. She yelled out in surprise and fell over next to her bed, cheeks turning a brilliant red that could compete with his hair. George let out another hearty laugh -one she hadn't heard since school -and kneeled beside her to help her up. Yanking her blankets from her bed, Asteria blushed even brighter and covered herself up. That only made the redhead laugh even harder.
"C'mon, Asteria. We're both adults. If I see something I haven't before, I'll toss a galleon at it," he snickered, trying to ease the embarrassment.
Instead, she just gave him a genuinely offended look, though she didn't really know why, and continued turning bright red. "Why were you peeking at me?" She demanded, clutching her blankets close to her chest.
George put his hands up in a defensive stance, "I wasn't trying to! I got worried."
Asteria looked at him in confusion, unsure what would make him worry about her getting ready. Her features softened, though, as he continued speaking. He looked actually concerned, "I thought...I just...You were so upset earlier...and then you took far longer than I thought you would…" but she realized what he was saying and took his hand softly, without thinking much of it.
"Oh George...thank you for your concern. But if there's anything you'll never have to worry about, it's me…" she stopped, not wanting to even utter the phrase 'offing myself.' "It's me leaving Teddy all alone."
They watched each other for a long while; Asteria never quite noticed how handsome George really was. Even with his hair dishevelled and the clear lack of sleep in his brown eyes, the young witch had to admit that he was quite the looker. It was really no wonder that all of her friends in school were always crushing on him and his twin; no wonder at all.
George broke the gaze and released her hand, however, by looking down and clearing his throat. "You should, uh, get dressed."
Asteria quickly nodded but made no effort to move, as she was waiting for the ginger to give her privacy once more. Just because he had seen her in her underwear already didn't mean he could do it again. When he didn't move, Asteria pushed him a bit, smiling softly and expectantly. Finally catching on, George flushed and quickly stood as he apologized. She watched him hurry out of the room with a small smile on her face.
When the door shut again, and George politely made sure it did this time, the dark haired witch sat on the floor quietly. She was staring at the door, her chest tight suddenly. Someone's got a crush, Dora's voice rang in her sister's head. Someone's got a crush on a Weasley!
"Oh shut it," Asteria snapped quietly as she stood and dropped her blankets. "We're friends...friends and nothing more, Dora."
For now…, Asteria rolled her eyes at her sister's voice and strutted over to her closet, shaking her sister's phantom voice out of her head.
George had wandered into the kitchen after the whole ordeal, needing something to wet his dry mouth. Had he really never seen how pretty Tonks's sister was in school? Merlin's beard. He honestly didn't mean to catch her in her knickers, but he was sort of glad he had...She certainly couldn't have been that pretty in school...He would have remembered her more so. Bloody hell, he would have chased after her if he had noticed her before...maybe it was all hiding under those prefect robes…
Shaking his head, and shaking the sudden not-so-appropriate thoughts of Asteria out, the young man started combing through the cabinets in search of a cup. Growing up as...one of the middle children and being the mischievous ones, going through people's things was like a second nature to him. Nothing phased him, honestly. After sneaking through Ginny, Percy and Ron's things for years, plus his roommates at Hogwarts, nothing could. Not after the things he typically found. Granted, he never went through his two oldest brothers things; Bill and Charlie would of have his head if he had.
Unable to find cups in the first two cabinets, George moved onto the next set until he finally found something that caught his eye. It was a small, corked vial filled with a dark blue liquid. Snatching it up, he examined the contents carefully, frowning deeply. While potions may not have been his favorite subject, it was still something he was pretty good at. Uncorking the vial, he took a whiff and doubled over the sink, dry heaving into it. Even though nothing was coming out and he hadn't taken the potion, it was still potent enough to make him feel like he was going to die. Baneberry Potion, he realized after he recovered. His stomach was still churning unpleasantly though.
Baneberry Potion was a very poisonous concoction, one that caused almost instant death if the entire thing is consumed and one that caused unimaginable pain and illness if even just a drop was taken. George stared at the vial in his hands, slowly coming to the realization that Asteria had the potion in the cupboard for herself. That she had the poison to end her own life at any given moment. It made him angry -genuinely enraged, actually. How could she promise him that she'd never kill herself, that she'd never leave Teddy alone but have bloody Baneberry Potion just sitting in her cabinets? He could feel his cheeks heating up from anger as he heard her emerging from her bedroom.
"George, I'm ready," she said, pulling her hair up as she walked into the kitchen.
The wizard turned, holding the vial in his hands as he looked directly at her. Asteria's eyes fell on the vial in his hands and she paled instantly, her mouth opening slightly.
"Why?" He asked through gritted teeth.
Her mouth opened and closed, unable to respond. George set the container on the counter and stepped towards her in one long stride. "Asteria, why? You said that you'd never leave Teddy alone. You told me I had nothing to worry about. Why have Baneberry? Why?"
Taking a deep breath, the witch looked down and swallowed hard. "The first few months...they were so hard," she murmured. "I let Harry take Teddy for the weekend...I just...I didn't think I could do it…" Slowly she looked up at him, eyes watering and tears threatening. "But I didn't. I couldn't. Because of Dora. Because...Because of that little boy in the nursery."
"Then why keep it?"
"I...I don't know."
George picked up the vial carefully and held it out to her. Asteria stared up at him, tears in her eyes and confusion clear in her expression, not making a move to take it from him.
"Take it," he commanded, pushing it into her hands. "Pour it out."
The pretty witch before him stared for a long moment before slowly reaching out to pour the potion into the sink. They watched each other as she did so, never taking their eyes off of each other.
"No more sulking all alone in our houses," George said, breaking the silence like he had before. "No more hiding away from the world and pretending to be okay when we're not. Me and you, we're going to get better. We'll...we'll get through it together."
He watched her green eyes dropped to the floor and tears began hitting the ground. Without a second thought, George pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly against his chest. He needed this. She needed this. They needed physical contact, from anyone or anything, and this embrace meant more to him than anything else could at that moment. Asteria hugged him back immediately, as if her life depended on it, thanking him over and over again. The redhead rested his chin on top of her head, holding her there just a little bit longer before finally letting her go. Asteria wiped her eyes and sniffled, looking down once more. She was pretty, even when she cried, he thought to himself but scolded himself for thinking so at the time. Neither of them were ready for anything like that and he wasn't ready to ruin this new friendship by growing feelings for the once-prefect.
"It takes time," he reminded her, though he was also reminding himself. "But together, we'll be okay. We won't have to pretend anymore. No more shutting out friends. And that starts with us. We're going to help each other."
She nodded in agreement, wiping her eyes once more. "Yes, we are."
The two share a smile before George stepped away from her. "Alright, lemme go get presentable, okay? I'll start Lee and Verity on the shop and be back to watch Teddy as you get baking."
"Got it," she said with a small smile. George moved to walk by her and out of the kitchen when she caught his hand gently. He turned, half expecting a kiss -since that's what usually happened after moments like that, right? -and met the eyes of a smiling girl. "Thank you, George."
He smiled in response. While it wasn't the kiss, which he couldn't deny he was sort of hoping for, it was definitely something that hit him hard. He gave her a small smile in response, "Anytime, 'Teria. I'll be back soon."
As George made his way out of her flat, he felt a strange pang in the pit of his stomach. You're a bloody fool, Fred scolded. He ignored his brother's voice though, and made his way back over to the shop where Verity and Lee were already working. They both greeted him excitedly. Lee clapped him on the back, going off about how happy he was to see George and how excited he was to have his old job back. Verity gave the redhead a tight hug, dropping the broom from her hands to do so. George gave them both small smiles, greeting them both with the plan of attack.
"Asteria? She's actually cool now?" Lee joked, smiling brightly.
"She's...she's pretty cool, yeah. And she was pretty cool in school; if I recall correctly, she never busted us for screwing around!" George said light heartedly.
Verity cut in with a grin, "Alright, Mr. Weasley, enough goofin' around. Go get dressed and get over there for babysittin' duty!"
He mock saluted her and laughed, running upstairs to fix himself up.