The date was one of the longest nights of George's life. Just when he thought Karen couldn't say anything more stupid or ridiculous, she seemed to top it, making George almost choked on his firewhiskey a couple of times.
"Well, this has been fun." George said as they walked out of the Three Broomsticks, "But boy am I tired!"
"I'm going to go to Harry's for a bit. Will you be alright on your own, Georgie?" Ginny teased.
"I'll be fine, Mum." He retorted.
"Maybe you should walk Karen home, George?" Ginny suggested.
"Oh, I think she's perfectly fine-"
"My flat is only a couple blocks down." She piped up.
"Perfect!" Ginny and George said in unison, although Ginny lacked George's sarcasm.
The two couples parted ways. "Harry," Ginny said once they were out of earshot. "Can we please go back to the Burrow instead? I want to see how long George stays out."
"So you'll pretend you're at my house to see how long he lasts without knowing that you're waiting up for him?" He smirked. "You really are your mother's daughter."
George walked Karen home while she rambled, only stopping long enough for him to add a 'Mhhm-hmm' and 'I see' here and there.
"Well," She sighed, "This is it."
"Well, goodnight, Karen. I had a lovely-"
"Do you want to come inside?" She said, her fingers creeping up his arm.
"I, uh, I kinda got to get home-"
"Just for a minute-"
"No, really, my mother is probably worried sick-"
"Please." She said, and pouted, pursing her big lips out at him.
"Well, what's fifteen minutes here or there?"
"Excellent." Karen smiled, surprising him with a firm kiss on the mouth, and then pulling him by his tie inside.
"Pawn to E-4." Ginny yawned.
"Gin, can I go home yet?" Harry whined. "Knight to D-6."
"No! Not until George gets home! What is he's been attacked?"
"What if he's just having a bloody good time?"
"Ew, stop, Harry."
"I'm just saying, it's been almost-"
Just then, the door opened, and George walked in, with a dazed expression on his face.
"Where HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Ginny screamed, sounding just like her mother. It was no wonder George recoiled slightly.
"Gin, what the hell are you doing here, I thought you were at Harry's!"
"I came to ensure you walked Karen home and didn't ditch her. Seeing as it is an hour and a half since I last saw you, I can infer quite the opposite!" She spat.
"Actually, you can infer just from his appearance." Harry chuckled, and George glared at him.
George's hair was going in every direction, his shirt had several buttons unbuttoned, and his tie was loosened. His ears were red from embarrassment and he began to rub his neck sheepishly.
"Why are you rubbing your neck?" Ginny asked.
"Embarrassed habit."
"Don't you try to fool me! That was Fred's thing! You bite your tongue."
"Maybe I do both."
"Take your hand away from your neck."
"No."
"George Weasley, do you have a hickey?!" Ginny gasped.
"Psh, no!" George laughed weakly.
"You show me that hickey or I'll give you a bat bogey hex!" She said threateningly.
"Alright, alright!" George said, putting his hands up in surrender.
"George!" She gasped.
"Nice, mate." Harry laughed.
"It's not my fault, I swear!" George yelled. "She said 'do you want to come in?' I said no, she begged me, I agreed, and then from that point on she literally pounced on me!"
"So will there be a second date in the future?" Ginny asked.
"It's not likely." George said firmly.
"George, you can't go around snogging random women you have no intentions with!" Ginny shrieked.
"She came on to me, Ginny!" George pointed out. "And what am I supposed to do? Say, 'Hey, I know I haven't snogged anyone since my brother's wedding TWO YEARS AGO but I do not see a future with you, therefore I cannot do any bit of fooling around.' Would that be better?"
Just as Ginny yelled, "YES!" Harry simultaneously scoffed, "Of course not!"
Ginny glared at Harry. "I'll deal with you later." She said, half teasing, half intimidating. "So, George, tell me, why do you not want to see her again?"
"In all honestly, she's an airhead. I can't deal with stupid girls, Gin, you know that." George sighed.
"Oh, yes, because the Veela cousins at Fleur's wedding were all top scholars." She said sarcastically.
"Alright, fine, they probably didn't know my last name!" George admitted angrily. "So what?!"
"Know your last name?! Ha! They couldn't even spell your last name!" Ginny spat.
"Oh, you're so funny! Really, witty, Gin. I can hardly breathe from laughing." He said sardonically.
"Okay, that's enough." Harry said, getting up from the couch to break the two siblings apart. "What just happened? I've NEVER seen you two fight!"
"I don't like my brother throwing himself around with women on the first date like some floozy!" Ginny said grumpily, taking a seat on the couch.
"Floozy, Gin?" George scoffed. "You're really expanding your vocabulary. Nice use of words from the eighteenth century."
"Funny that you criticize Karen for being stupid but you can't keep up with my vocabulary." Ginny noted. "Would you like me to tone it down for you? Womanizer? Tool? Dou-"
"Enough!" Harry said. "Look, the only conclusion I can come to is that Ginny will never set George up on a date again."
"No! The siblings said in unison.
"Wait..." Ginny began
"You said-"
"You said-" And the two began to laugh.
"You criticize my date choice, but yet you want to go on another one?" Ginny asked lightly.
"Not another one with Karen, but another one, if you'll let me. You're right, Gin, I need to get back out on the playing field. Fooling around with Karen proved that. And I can see why you picked her for me; she's the kind of girl I would have gone for at Hogwarts. An attractive, slightly dumb blonde, who seems innocent but gets a little crazy when you're alone. But I'm older now. And I've matured a great deal ever since Fred...well, the fact of the matter is, I'm not looking to fool around, I'm looking for a serious, committed relationship." George said. "And if you'd know anyone else like that, I'd love to meet them, if you'll still let me. I'm sorry, Ginny."
"I'm sorry too." Ginny sighed. "I overreacted. I played the protective sibling card, which I had no right to do, especially since I'm your little sister. But I don't know, ever since the war, I think we've all needed to look out for each other. But your life is your life. If you want to fool around with Karen, it's your decision. And I have to admit," Ginny blushed, and added in a quiet voice, "She was my first choice because I knew she'd easily give you a snog."
"There's a reason you're my favorite sister." George smiled.
"Hey! I'm your only sister!"
"Well, if I had more than one, you'd still be my favorite." He said. "And seriously, though, if you know any girls who are at least a bit smarter than Karen, I'd be happy to meet them."
"I know just the girl." Ginny smiled brightly. "How about next Saturday?"