The next few weeks went well Christmas slowly crept up on them, the DA meetings picked up, moving on from spells like expelliarmus to more advanced magic keeping it interesting for the older students. George especially loved the potions in which they would hold duels. Watching Hermione send his little brother sailing across the room shouldn't have been amusing but It really was. He couldn't help but feel a little slither of pride for his Granger. Everyone had always told her she was a know it all, always mocked her for being so interested in learning and now she got to show them, whipping the floor with them all in duels all the while using perfect form.
Of course, because it was going well it had to all crash back down, which happened just before the Christmas holidays. They should have been sleeping, the clock chiming close to 3am, He, Fred and Lee spread across his bed, talking about, shockingly enough, Granger.
"I'm just saying, the worst that can happen if you ask her out is she says no." Lee said.
"You say that like it's not an awful very very bad thing." George said.
"So you feel awkward for a bit but-"
"I'd loose her as a friend." George said stiffly. "I'm not risking it."
"But what if she is interested now but gets uninterested because you keep making her think she has no chance." Fred said thoughtfully.
"Will you both just get out of my love life."
"We would, if you manned up and got yourself a love life. You've been pining for years, it's getting pathetic." Lee sighed.
"Bit harsh mate."
"But true." Fred said. "You won't lose her if you strike out. Remember me and her."
"Vividly." George grumbled bitterly.
"It never got awkward between us. If she says no she'll be a mature little witch about it and maybe keep her distance for a bit, but that would just be her trying to be considerate but you ,wouldn't In a million years lose her. We're stuck with that girl for life. If you don't marry her Ron will." George couldn't help but feel a bit sick at the thought of that, watching his little brother marry Hermione, he knew that was probably what was meant to happen, that he should be happy with the idea of his brother get the girl but it just turned him stomach.
"Make a move, see where it gets you."
"But i-" the door cracked open, Mcgonagall striding in, thin lips turned down in a frown, eyes think with concern.
"We're totally not making enough noise for you to be here." Lee said quickly. "Miss professor."
"Boys, please come with me." She said calmly, George couldn't help but feel like he was back in fourth year, sitting n the common room Mcgonagall calling them out to tell them that Ginny was the girl who'd been taken into the chamber.
"What's wrong?" Fred asked, obviously feeling the same as George.
They didn't wait for an answer, just quickly got up, not bothering to say goodbye to Lee as they followed Mcgonagall. Ginny was waiting in the common room, something that made George breath slightly easier, his hand quickly finding hers, tugging her into his side as Fred moved to the other side of her.
"What's wrong?" Fred asked again.
"It's your father."
"What happened? Where Ron?" Ginny asked quickly.
"He is with Mr Potter in the headmasters office, which is where I'm taking you, Mr potter...saw your father get hurt."
"Is dad okay?" George inquired.
"I'm afraid I can't say, Come, I'm sure by now Dumbledore will have more answers." With that Mcgonagall swept from the common room, The three Weasley's quickly followed her, their bare feet padding along the stone floors of the castle in a pitter patter that made George think of mornings spent at the burrow, feet patting against the cold wood of the kitchen.
The trip to Dumbledore's office passed in silence, the four of them hurrying through the halls. Once there it all seemed to happen so fast, Dumbledore explaining that their dad had been rushed to St Mungo's, that they would be sent to Grimmauld place, a moment later they were crashing into the gloomy basement kitchen of the house.
Harry explained about his 'vision' George knew he shouldn't feel any anger to Harry for having seen what he saw, that he should be thankful, but still, in some sick way it felt good to let a small slither of blame fall on Harry, like he had someone to blame, he crushed the feelings quickly, focusing back on his dad, on when they'd get to see him.
Waiting for news was painful, sitting next to Ginny who was never usually this quiet, looking at Ron, ashen face, shaking slightly, he felt like he should do something, reassure them somehow but he had no way to do so. The letter from their mother made it no better.
Dad's still alive.
He knew the words were meant to be reassuring but they just set his stomach writhing in anxiety. Still alive didn't make it sound like it wasn't that serious, it made it sound just how serious he feared it would be, the kind of injury that could go either way. The next time new news came it could be different, no longer 'still alive'.
George had sat through many long nights in his life. In first year when he'd realised what Ron, Harry and Hermione had gone to do he'd felt like the minutes were never ending, the next year when Ginny had been taken the night seemed to last forever, fourth year, when he realised Ron, Hermione and Harry were all at risk of their lives plunged down in the depths of the black lake the hour felt like a week.
But this, this felt worse, this wasn't just he and Fred. He had both Ron and Ginny with him, two people he was meant to protect, his snot nosed siblings and he could do nothing, say nothing, just sit and wait, brush his fingers through Ginny's hair as she curled up like a cat between he and Fred. He felt utterly useless.
When Mrs Wealsey finally burst through the kitchen door with news that he was going to be alright George felt like he could cry, his eyes on his mum, standing in the door looking more tired than he'd ever seen her. He quickly got up, along with Ginny moving to wrap her in a hug.
"It's going to be okay Mum." George breathed, he felt more than heard her sob as she clutched back at her children, she pulled away quickly, schooling her features and smiling at them as Sirius called for breakfast.
George ate little at breakfast, his stomach still churning uncomfortably despite the relief he felt at the good news. He and Fred went back to the room they had used over the summer. George crawling into his dusty bed with a sigh. Fred quickly crawled in next to him, shoving him to the side to make more room. George didn't mention in, just shifted so the two had enough room to sleep somewhat comfortably and let his head hit the pillow, limbs sinking into the mattress.
"He's going to be okay." Fred said quietly, but it sounded more like a question.
"He's going to be okay." George repeated, both trying to make Fred feel better and himself, he threw an arm around his twin, curling into his side like when they were kids and letting his eyes slip closed.
When he awoke it was to a new sense of relief, the fear having being whipped away knowing the Arthur had survived and knowing that they would be visiting him in a few hours. He ate lunch with gusto, talking animatedly. Their trunks arrived from Hogwarts, signalling the end of the term and everyone quickly hauled them upstairs, ready to get changed and go visit Arthur.
"George!" Fred called as George walked from the bathroom, freshly changed. "You've got an owl from 'Mione!" George rushed back into their room, a brown Hogwarts barn owl sat at the desk, Fred laying on his bed ripping into his own letter.
George fed the owl a treat and took his letter, opening it, he skimmed the page quickly.
George,
I heard about what happened to your dad,I'm so sorry, I hope everything's okay. I'm just an owl away if you need me, give my love to Molly.
I love you
Hermione
George couldn't help the grin that stretched across his face, heart doing happy twirls at the 'I love you' even though it was meant oh so innocently.
"BOYS!" Molly called, George quickly put the letter onto the desk.
"Let's go see dad." He said.
The trip to St mungo's went well until they decided to use the extendable ears to hear what their parents and tonks and mad-eye were talking about. Then Mad-eye had said Harry could be being possessed by you-know-who, which, ruined the happy mood a bit.
George couldn't help but think the poor kid needed a break, everything Harry had been through, in the past two years alone he'd been through more than anyone should have to go through. So when he swiftly locked himself away from everyone once they returned from St mungo's George couldn't really blame him.
When a knock came on the front door the following morning everyone froze. George looked over to Fred who was draped in tinsel, wondering what to do. Sirius stood up slowly from where he was hanging the Christmas lights. Another knock came.
"Stay here." Sirius urged, nodding to Molly and the kids as he left the room. They all waited nervously, eyes shifting between one another, hands inching closer to their wands. When Sirius came back a minute later it was with a red face and snow flecked Hermione.
"Hi." She said with a wide grin.
"Granger?" George asked.
"Aren't you meant to be skiing with your parents?" Ron blurted. Hermione made a vague gesture with her hand.
"Mum and Dad are fine with it, I wanted to be here. If that's okay?"
"Of course sweetheart." Molly said quickly.
"Where's Harry?"
"He's locked himself up with buckbeak." Ron said bluntly. "Hasn't talked to anyone since we got back from Mungo's."
"Maybe he'll talk to you, come on." Ginny said, rushing out, dragging Hermione along with her, Ron followed swiftly.
"Nice to see you too!" George called out after them, he heard a giggle as they raced up the stairs. "I'm invisible."
"Here, might help you out." Sirius said, throwing something over, George caught and quickly looked down at it, seeing a piece of mistletoe.
"Thanks for your help." George sneered sarcastically.
"What's wrong George dear?" Molly asked curiously George quickly threw the mistletoe behind him and shrugged.
"Nothing mum." George grumbled, making Sirius and Fred laugh.
I realise there probably won't be many people still interested in reading this but i had loads of this written out but i've lost it all so i'm wondering if anyone would be up for pming me as i need someone to discuss idea's and plot points and stuff with. SO yeah, if anyone is interested in helping me plan the rest of this out so i can finally bring this story to a close i would be extremely grateful :)