Chapter 5

Oliver and George lived together in almost complete silence for several days after that first morning. Oliver was giving George his space and waiting until George was ready to speak to him. He had George exactly where he wanted him and he wasn't about to scare him away to lose him forever on the streets. George didn't want to leave and was glad for the silence. He really had no desire to leave the apartment and he had no desire to live out there among the squalor. He was definitely not ready to face the ghosts of his past either. George knew that he still had most of his and Fred's money in their vault and an apartment ready for him above their joke shop if he ever wanted to go back. He even knows that anyone in his family would be willing to take him in, if only they knew where he was. At least they knew he wasn't dead, that damn clock would have told them so, but it wouldn't exactly tell his family where he was, he wasn't ready for that. He didn't know if he would ever be ready for that. George was grateful for Oliver; Oliver so far had kept all his promises. He really didn't understand why though.

Nearly a week of silence, Oliver and George were sitting together in the living room, both reading. Well neither really reading, but both sneaking glances at the other when they felt that the other wasn't looking. Oliver finally broke the silence.

"Does it hurt?" he asked looking into George's eyes?

George nearly panicked what could he possibly mean by that, he thought. "Does what hurt?" he asked in return.

"Your missing ear. Would you mind me asking how you lost it?" asked Oliver.

"No it doesn't hurt and no I don't mind telling you. It really isn't a secret. About a year before the final battle, a bunch of us set out to spring Harry from his muggle aunt and uncles house. We all made it there, but not all of us made it out unscathed or alive. Half of us took polyjuice potion to become Harry Potter look-a-likes and I was one of them," he took a deep breath and continued. "I didn't know at the time that Snape was on our side and he was just trying to protect us and still look the part of a death eater. But he was the one the cursed my ear. At the time I was so angry and I guess I still am a bit. But, I guess I should feel lucky that I'm alive."

"I'm glad you are, George," replied Oliver.

George continued speaking as if he didn't hear Oliver say anything, "There is nothing that can be done for it, it was a dark curse. It's just an awful reminder of what war can do to people."

Without saying anything Oliver leaned closer and tenderly placed his hand on George's face over his missing ear. George closed his eyes and leaned into the touch. It had been a long time since someone touched him this lovingly. But, it only lasted a moment before George realized where he was and what he was doing and pulled away. It was a sign of weakness and George did not want to appear weak in front of Oliver again.

Oliver watched George as he first leaned into the touch and had a small smile on his face and than he saw the look of pain and confusion cross his face as he opened his eyes and pulled away. George looked away from Oliver. What just happened there, thought Oliver, what was that one moment all about. Oliver's heart skipped a beat in that one intimate moment he had with George, something that had never happened to him before. But that moment was gone. Oliver tried to engage George in conversation again, but eventually George just got up and shut himself in the bedroom.

George sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his knees to his chest, silent tears streamed down his cheeks. Letting Oliver into his heart was not part of the plan. The plan was to take advantage of Oliver's hospitality for as long as possible, hopefully to never leave again. He knows that part of the plan was wishful thinking, but he really did not want to leave and live on the streets again. He did not want to be subject to getting money anyway he could. Oliver was different; he was kind and warm and seemed to really care about George. He wasn't about to hurt his chance of a place to stay by opening his heart to Oliver. He just couldn't, it wasn't part of the plan and there was only so long that he could avoid him. It was a small apartment and Oliver hadn't left much since he moved into the flat. What exactly was he going to do? He would just have to wait and see what Oliver was going to do next. It didn't take long for George to cry himself into a fitful sleep.

Oliver camped out on the sofa again, just like he had every night since George's arrival in his home. He had set up alarms in his room to alert him of any changes to George throughout the night. He still wasn't convinced that George wouldn't leave in the middle of the night and he wasn't sure of what nightmares throughout the night George might suffer either. He just wanted to be there for his friend. He did not want to see George hurt again.

Not long after he had settled himself in for the night, Oliver heard the alert going off.