Every Step of the Way
Chapter 9- You Were the Girl that Let me Follow You
Mary laughed along with the twins all the way to the Burrow. They had come on brooms and had put her on the back of George's broom as they chased each other and did dive bombs to try and scare her. "Good to see that these last weeks haven't ruined your sense of humor," she told them with a grin as they descended in the woods just outside of Ottery St. Catchpole.
"Couldn't let my heartbreak keep me down, love. I wanted to present a good face for you!" Fred told her. "George feels the same way of course."
George playfully pushed his brother's shoulder. "Oi, that's my woman. You'll let me do the flirting if you know what's good for you! Can't have you falling for my clone."
Mary rolled her eyes. "Right, now let's just get there before the whole village realizes that the infamous Weasley twins are off trying to lure a poor impressionable girl into their home." The twins simultaneously snorted with laughter as they each looped an arm through hers and started making their way up the hill, through the trees toward the Burrow.
Upon first meeting Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as George's girlfriend, Mary was fairly nervous. This was her first official meeting of a boyfriend's parents and though she was confident in what she was bringing to the table, she also wanted to make a good impression. Things quickly went from formal to friendly; however, as the Weasleys were hardly people to stand on ceremonies. In no time Mary was laughing with Ginny and the twins in the living area. The boys and Ginny decided to round up Ron, Bill and Charlie, who were in for the week and play a game of Quidditch out in the yard and Mary opted to help Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen.
"Don't you play Quidditch, dear?"
"Not really. I'm an occasional player, but they've got even teams and I'd rather be in the kitchen today," Mary replied. "I'm in the mood to cook."
"Ah, dear, we could use more ladies like you around here. Ginny isn't interested in culinary skills and poor Hermione couldn't keep from burning water," the older woman laughed. "The twins are better than the other boys at cooking, Charlie nearly at their level…the rest haven't the skills…they get that from Arthur."
"No one can cook like you, I'm sure. You're famous all over for your skills," Mary said.
"Don't flatter me, dear," Mrs. Weasley said, blushing. Mary could tell she appreciated the appreciation, though. They set to work preparing the customary Weasley feast while the others tired themselves out on the hill and Arthur piddled around in his garage. By the time the dinner was ready, the boys and Ginny were all filing into the house, more than ready to tuck in.
"This looks great, Mum," Charlie said enthusiastically.
"Well I did have some help this evening," Mrs. Weasley said with a grin in Mary's direction.
"You cook?" Fred asked Mary. "Well done, mate!" he elbowed his twin in the ribs as he chuckled. "We'll get fed well even away from home."
"You lot live at Hogwarts," Bill pointed out. "I would have thought you would get enough to eat at school."
"Yes, but what if something happens and we're trapped in the common room for a few days? We'll at least know that we'll be fed properly!" Fred announced.
"What would she cook for you, mattress?" Ginny asked.
"She could come up with something…magic!" George said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. As they were preparing to start the meal an owl flew through the open window and dropped a letter off with Ron.
"Harry's asked if he could come early," Ron announced. "Those bloody gits are treating him like more shite than he should be treating them!"
"Of course he can come, dear," Molly said, "but if you don't watch your language, Ronald, I'll have you cleaning out the swamp barehanded." The twins sniggered and Ron turned beet red as his mother motioned for everyone to dig in.
Before the end of the first day, Mary had been initiated into the Weasley clan and things were feeling like home for her with the happy bunch of ginger-haired purebloods. She beat Charlie and Fred at exploding snap before losing spectacularly to George, and then teamed up with Bill to beat the twins in one. She went to bed quite content with the way things were going so far in her vacation and wishing she could just stay forever.
George lay awake until nearly two o'clock in the morning thinking about Mary. Fred was long gone in sleep, his quiet snoring floating over to George, who was nearly oblivious. George was much happier than he ever thought he could be with a girl. Things were certainly always fun when he snogged a pretty bird, but he knew Mary was different. She fit right in with his family and seeing her again had started a new fire inside him. He didn't quite know how to tell her about his feelings, but Fred had told him it was quite normal to feel such strong things about a great woman. He was only seventeen, though and didn't want to come off as too strong or too serious.
George sighed quietly as he thought of the way Mary had looked in her sundress today. The tightening of his loins urged him to go to her, but of course that was impossible as she was bunking in with Ginny. He cast a few charms to keep things from getting exceptionally awkward if Fred happened to awaken, and then plunged his right hand into his pajama bottoms. As he stroked his hard shaft, he envisioned his girlfriend sneaking into his room. After wanking and relieving the pressure, George cast a cleaning charm and vowed to get Mary alone the next day.