Your Secrets Are Showing
Minka could hear snoring from several different levels above her as she stepped out of her room. She headed down the stairs to the kitchen and found only Angelina was up. She was reading the newspaper with a cup of tea beside her.
"Oh, morning. Kettle is still hot if you'd like some." Angelina spoke softly but not in a whisper, knowing everyone was still several floors up.
"Oh, thank you." Minka made herself a cup and sat across from Angelina. "Anything interesting?" She asked, nodding towards the paper.
"No, just more articles about the holiday season." They stayed in silence for a moment as Angelina continued to flip through the paper.
"So, what brings you to the Weasley's for the holidays? Family out of town?" Minka asked.
"They're around." Angelina set aside the paper and looked up at Minka. "Truth is, I was just worried about George. We were really close friends in school, along with his brother, Fred. I actually went on a date with Fred first but, it didn't work out. Who knew it would be so different with his identical twin? They seemed so similar, but they really were their own personalities. Anyway, neither of us have really been the same since Fred died. I just really wanted to be here for him knowing he still hasn't gotten over it. I need to know he's going to be okay. He's already lost the closest person to him, and I want him to know that he's not going to lose anyone else."
Minka felt her heart swell with appreciation for Angelina.
"You're a really good person, Angelina." Angelina waved her off with a smile.
"No, just someone who needs to know the people close to her are being taken care of."
"I'd say that makes you a good person."
"Well, thank you. I know I was a little…over the top with George sometimes. But I just missed having that feeling of closeness with someone. I haven't felt that since…" She trailed off, hesitant on what to say next.
"Since you were last together?"
"Not…exactly." Minka blinked and awaited an answer. Angelina leaned forward, her hands folded together on the table. "I met someone a while back and…we were actually engaged. But…" Her face grew weary and sad. She looked down at her hands for a moment, her mind wandering.
"Hey, you don't have to talk about it." She spoke gently, placing a hand over Angelina's crossed hands.
"No, no it's fine." Angelina inhaled deeply and then looked back up. "I need to get this out. You have to know what's happened." She sat up a little straighter, confidence beginning to show in her voice. "His name was Peter. He was exactly what I needed after the war when I just felt so lost with everything that had happened. So many of my friends had passed or were completely altered by what happened that sometimes it was hard to believe we really had won. But Peter helped me see that the world still was a great place. A couple months after we got engaged, I wound up getting pregnant. We were both so happy and excited to start this whole new family…but I wound up losing the baby within just a few months. After that I just found myself…not happy or appreciative of anything else I had again. I wound up leaving Peter. I could hardly look at him without feeling the heartbreak start all over again. For the longest time, I just shut out everything around me. I hadn't actually spoken to George or any of my friends for a while. It was only a few months back when I ran into him again that we rekindled our friendship. I needed to get over this grief and who better to know that kind of grief then George? Not to mention, I just felt so horrible for the disconnect in the first place. I shouldn't have shut out everyone like that."
"Well, I'm sure everyone understood."
"They did. But, I should have been there-"
"Hey, everyone has their own problems. Your friends and family are there for you just as much as you're there for them. It's okay if you had to deal with your own for a while." Minka squeezed one of Angelina's hands in comfort. "And I'm sorry for what happened. No one should know the feeling of losing their own child. And I'm also sorry if I'm terrible at pep talks."
Angelina smiled and let out a small laugh. "No, you're doing just fine. Thank you, Minka. That means a lot. Especially given our common history."
"What do you mean?"
"George told me everything last night."
"Oh, I-" Minka let go of Angelina's hand, but Angelina quickly grabbed hers.
"It's okay, I'm not mad. I had my own confessions to make, as you just heard. By the sounds of it, our relationship was based off of ignoring how we really feel."
Minka looked over by the counter and saw a trunk with a bag sitting on top.
"You're leaving? On Christmas Eve?"
"I need to find Peter. And George needs to do what will make him happy."
"This is all really sudden." Angelina laughed in response getting up to grab her bag.
"This whole mess was already here. It was just about time we corrected it. I was hoping to see you before I left. I needed to explain that this wasn't your fault and thank you for making George happy again."
"Yeah…I've really been doing a bad job with that."
"You just being in his life has made him better. I also wanted to see you to give this back." She walked over to her bag and pulled out the Dream Catcher she had bought for George. "Looks like I won't be needing that trip with him after all." She set it on the table in front of Minka. The light reflecting through the windows bounced off the chest, causing the wave-like glass to glow in the morning sun.
Minka smiled as she picked up the Dream Catcher.
"Stop by any time to redeem your store credit." Minka stood up to walk Angelina to the door.
"Thank you for telling me all that, by the way. I know it must have been hard to say to a total stranger." Minka added as Angelina shrugged on her coat.
"Well, hopefully you won't be a total stranger forever. I like you, Minka. I think we could be friends."
"I'd like that." They genuinely smiled at each other and then it was time for her to go. They said a few goodbyes and then she was gone.
Minka sat at the kitchen table for a while, thinking of everything Angelina had told her. It had all happened so suddenly, she wasn't sure how to process it all. Eventually Charlie came down and gave a floppy sideways smile.
"Why hello oh dearest one of mine." He spoke louder and more dramatic than necessary.
"Charlie, it's okay. Angelina's gone."
"What'd you do? Tell her George was your man and she had no business being here?"
"No! She just had her own things to work out."
"If that's your story." He placed the kettle back onto the stove to reheat. He turned to see Minka glaring at him. "Okay, okay I believe you. It was nice seeing her again though."
Minka nodded as she got up to put her mug in the sink.
"So, shall we make breakfast for everyone?" Charlie asked, tossing an apple in the air.
"Sure, I call making the crumpets."
"Good, because I have no idea how to do that. I'll make bacon and eggs."
They began to cook away as everyone else snoozed away upstairs.
"Oh no! You are our guest! You shouldn't be cooking!" They turned to see Molly storming down the stairs.
"It's okay mum, we don't mind."
"No, you can go ahead and cook to your heart's content given the amount of meals I've cooked for you over the years Charlie. I was talking to Minka." She walked over to Minka and patted her arm. "You really don't have to do this, my dear."
"It's fine Mrs. Weasley. Really. It's the least I could do for you for letting me stay here over the holidays."
"Oh, how could I not? After everything you went through?" Molly stroked the back of Minka's hair like a concerned mother would. "How are you by the way? I never got a chance to ask."
"Much better since I've been here." She answered honestly.
"Why, what happened?" Charlie asked.
"Oh, um. I was-"
"Charlie, stop pestering her with questions and get to that bacon, you're going to burn it!" Molly scolded. She winked at Minka with a smile as Charlie turned back to the stove, shaking his head.
By the time they had finished, the smell of bacon had risen throughout the house, causing everyone to come down and eat. George was last, looking a little confused. He walked over to Minka and stole a piece of bacon off of the serving plate.
"Where's Angelina?" He asked, shoving the whole piece into his mouth.
"She left. She said she was going off to find Peter." He stopped mid chew and simply looked into Minka's eyes. He resumed chewing and nodded, a smile creeping up on his lips.
"Good for her." He said quietly.
"Finally broke down and told her what happened between us?"
"Yeah, about that. I didn't tell her everything. I didn't mention Killian or the specific reasoning of why we stayed away from each other…Oh Minka, I'm sorry." Minka had flinched when she heard Killian's name, and she was straining to keep a straight face.
"No, it's okay." She tried to wave it off like it was nothing. She picked up a few of the serving plates and headed over to the table to set them down.
After breakfast, everyone headed upstairs to get dressed except for Arthur who sat in the recliner in the sitting room and began to read the newspaper.
When Minka came back down the stairs, George, Harry and Ron were all huddled around something.
"What's going on?" Minka walked over to Ginny and Hermione who were standing watching them as well.
"No clue, but it can't be anything good." Ginny replied. They broke up their little huddle and George was slinging a bag over his shoulder.
"How does everyone feel about a walk?" Ron asked, walking up to them.
"Honestly, what do you have planned now? We're a little old to be doing something stupid."
"We're twenty, Hermione. Not eighty." He grabbed her hand and headed for the door, her rolling her eyes. Ginny and Minka exchanged a shrug and headed for the door as well. Everyone began to step into their winter boots and coats.
"Mum! We're all going to go for a walk together!" George called to Molly.
"This better not be an excuse for you to go out and try some new products of yours George Weasley! We're still getting out the burn marks from the last time!" She came out of the kitchen to wave her finger at George.
"Relax mum, that's why we're going outside." He kissed her cheek and quickly walked over to everyone to head out the door. He grabbed Minka's hand on the way. "Let's go everyone." He muttered under his breath. Everyone stepped outside quickly before Molly could protest further.
"Zis better not be dang'erous." Fleur said softly to Bill.
They all stepped through the snow out into the cornfields where the stocks were still incredibly high.
"How is this possible considering its winter?" Minka asked, brushing a few stocks out of her face.
"Well, you see Minka. As I've explained before, there's this crazy thing called magic." George replied, smirking at her. She gave him a glare.
They continued through the crops until they came to an open field.
"Alright George. What do you have now that could potentially blow us all up?" Charlie asked. They all spread out on the field as George set his bag down in the snow and began to sift through it.
"I'm glad you asked. I'll take that as you volunteering for the first one. Catch." He stood up and threw something at Charlie. He caught whatever it was and eyed it curiously.
"I don't understand. What does it do-" A loud bang emanated through the air as Charlie was thrown across the field. He landed with a thud, immediately yelling and cursing as he picked himself up off the ground. Small pieces of confetti flew all around him.
"Was it…supposed to do that?" Hermione asked, confusion written across her face.
"Oops, I gave him the wrong one." He dug back into his bag and pulled out another item. "Sorry, Charlie. Here, catch this one."
"Oh no! I am not taking another of those!" He had walked back over, pointing an accusing finger at George.
"No! It's different I swear!"
"Don't you dare throw it at me!" He took a few steps back and continued to glare at him.
"Fine, Minka." He threw it at her and she caught it wearily. It was a small silver ball, nothing particularly interesting about it. She then noticed a very small button on it. She looked up at George who nodded in encouragement. Everyone else just looked at her in worry. She noticed Hermione take a few steps back from her.
Minka clicked the little button. A small hole opened on the ball and smoke began to poor out. It flew out towards the centre of the field and rose up, beginning to take on a sort of form. The smoke began to change colours and almost become more solid. It stopped emanating from the ball. Everyone watched as it slowly took form in the field and then it suddenly wasn't smoke anymore, but a person. It was Minka. An exact duplicate of her stood in the centre of the field.
"Bloody hell." Ron muttered beside her.
The false Minka looked around the group and then began to smile and wave at everyone.
"You made a device that turns into Minka?" Ginny asked, her voice skeptical. "That's a little perverted of you, brother."
"What? No! I made a device that turns into whoever presses the button on it."
"Sure, sure."
Minka walked up to the false her so they were face to face. The false Minka just smiled at her.
"Can she talk?"
"No. But I thought it would be a good device for sneaking out of school or the house."
Minka held her hand out to touch her, which only went right through her, sending a smoke vibration through the mirage.
"They can only be touched with inanimate objects without it disrupting their construction." George added. "Just click that button again to put her back."
Minka clicked the button and the mirage disintegrated into smoke once again and flew back into the ball.
"Pretty amazing." Minka tossed it back to him.
"Thank you. At least someone here appreciates my talent."
"I would if you didn't use it for getting students out of class." Hermione chimed in.
George showed them a few more of his new inventions, and then they began to disperse around the field.
Ginny and Hermione began to cast different spells to put together a large snowman family as some of the boys got into a snowball fight. A few of the other boys had created a very large castle-like snow fort. Minka sat on top of one of the turrets on the snow fort as she watched some of the boys continue their snowball fight.
George went to sit next to her, his hair coated with melting snow.
"And I thought you were the only childish one in your family." Minka said, nodding towards the snowball fight that was currently turning on the girls making the snowmen.
"They've all learned to take life a little less serious. Ever since…"
"The war?" George simply nodded, his smile fading. After a long pause, Minka felt her curiosity finally get the better of her. "George?" He turned to look at her. She reached one of her hands out and touched his mangled ear lightly. "What happened?"
"It was less than a year before the war at Hogwarts. We were moving Harry here to keep him safe. A hex wound up just missing me. Or rather, just hitting me."
"Can you hear out of it at all?" He shook his head no.
"I learned to be okay with it pretty fast. The only thing that I didn't like was that Fred and I couldn't pretend to switch places anymore. But I guess that doesn't matter now." His voice grew more quiet and solemn with every sentence.
"George…"
"Not now, okay? It's Christmas Eve."
"You need to talk about it with me one day."
"Not today." His tone indicated he was done discussing it. He removed her hand from his face and stood up to leave.
Minka sighed heavily and looked back over to the group which were all lying on the ground, exhausted. Fleur was coming out of hiding from behind a snowman. She watched as George picked up his bag and headed back towards the house.
She hopped down from the fort and ran after him.
"George!" She shouted after him, but he didn't turn to look or slow for her to catch up. "Come on, would you wait up?" He disappeared into the corn field, but she was determined to catch up. "George! This is ridiculous! Come back!"
He stopped and turned abruptly, causing Minka to knock right into him.
"What, Minka?" She felt herself waver under his stare.
"I…um…never mind. Sorry if I upset you." She turned to head back when he grabbed her arm, sending habitual alarms to ring in her mind. He pulled her to him, inclining his head closer and closer to hers. She quickly brought a hand up and slapped him across the face. He staggered back as Minka felt her adrenaline pump surge through her. Her breathe became heavy and quick, tears stinging her eyes. Her mind came back down from its panic and she realized what she had done.
"Oh, god. George, I'm sorry. I just-" She covered her mouth, feeling the panic bubble back up. Her mind flashed to Killian's attack, only making it worse.
"Minka-"
But she didn't stay to hear what he had to say. She ran past him towards the house, running up to her room and leaning against the door. She slowly slid down the door and hugged her knees to her chest. She felt an awful guilt rage in herself for reacting the way she did to George. She began to slowly process what he intended to do and realized that it was something she wouldn't mind happening. But another part of her mind-as well as her past-had created conflicting emotions towards his attempt.
"Stupid." She muttered to herself, bringing her forehead down onto her knees. Her panic and adrenaline had left her and she felt several things at once. Mostly stupidity for her reaction, as well as for running off like she had. She felt tired from it all as her body began to crash from the adrenaline. She stood up and kicked her boots off. She pulled her jacket and scarf off and collapsed onto her bed. She closed her eyes slowly, taking in a deep breath.
She fell asleep almost instantly.