Chapter 2
When Ashley woke up the next day, George was already awake and sitting up, staring at the wall with his back to her.
'Morning.' she muttered, causing him to jump and twist towards her, 'Oh. Sorry.'
'It's fine,' he replied, shifting so his body was facing her, 'Sorry about everything last night…'
'It's okay. You needed it.'
'I guess, but thanks anyway.'
'What for? That's what I'm here for.'
'I'm sure that a lot of people's friendships don't revolve around one comforting the other after a Death Eater killed his twin.' he said quickly, before he froze,
'George..'
'It's fine. I'm fine.' he muttered, and the silence continued. 'I don't know what to do.'
'What do you mean?'
'I mean, what do I do now? I can't work in the joke shop now, there's too many memories for me to even go into the shop at all...so what do I do? I've got no OWLs, no NEWTs, no experience.'
'You'll have to figure it out yourself, Georgie...but, but...just because of what's happened, that doesn't mean you should close the shop, especially not considering the amount of effort you put in.'
'But, it was mine and Fred's dream...I – I can't.'
'You can't let this control your life. I know everything is falling apart right now, but you can't let that dictate everything you've worked hard for. I know if you closed the shop you'd regret it, and I don't want to see you sadder than you already are.'
'Thanks, Ashley.'
'Again? What for this time?'
'Amazing advice?'
'My speciality, of course.' she smiled, and he smirked for a second. 'You'll be fine.'
'I guess. Can I ask you something?' he added,
'I guess?'
'What happened exactly? I mean, I know you, Harry and the other two were there, when – when it happened.'
'Oh you're going to hate me.' she said, 'You're going to hate me more than I already hate me.'
'I won't hate you.' he said, looking up at her, 'But if you don't want to tell me yet, it's fine.'
'You deserve to know what a terrible person I am.'
'Then tell me. Please?'
'Please just don't hate me afterwards.' she said, her voice shaking, 'M-me and Fred were fighting, and I wasn't paying attention...I – I killed a Death Eater and my wand f-flew out of m-my hand,' she paused and bit her lip, as her eyes filled with tears, 'I- looked to see w-who it was, and it was R-Rookwood, h-he cast a sp-spell or something o-on the wall, a-and I didn't hear bec-because I wasn't listening, I l-looked around and th-the wall was f-f-falling, and I knew I was g-going to die, and then I – I hit the f-floor, then I – I got up and I was f-further away and Percy and Ron were crow-crowded around where the wall had fal-fallen, and then – he – he,' she stuttered, clasping her hand over her mouth, and now tears were streaming down her face,
'Ash...' George murmured,
'He pushed me out of the way.' she got out, 'I – I'm so, so sorry, it's m-my fault, if – if I'd payed more attention, or if I'd looked around sooner – he – he'd be here, but – I fucking didn't. It's my fault he's dead. It's my fault everyone's like this, it's all my fucking fault.' her voice shook.
'It's not your fault,' George said, soflty,
'It is, George!' she said, 'Why did he have to push me!? He could have just let the wall crush me and it'd all be fine! He'd still be here and your family wouldn't be upset! Everyone would be okay!'
'You want to know why?'
'Yes, because I can't exactly think of any reason why!'
'He loved you. Not like Harry and Ginny love or anything, but you know. You meant a lot to him, so obviously he wanted to save you, it would make more sense than you dying.'
'But if he'd just let the wall crush me, you wouldn't be like this! None of you would! Everyone is acting like everythings fine, and it's so obvious that they're not and it's all my fault.'
'If Fred had let that wall fall on you I wouldn't be "fine",' George began, 'I'd be terrible. We'e known each other since way before first year, do you honestly think if you died I wouldn't care?' Ashley shrugged in response. 'I would. I know you probably were closer to Fred, and my feelings probably don't matter as much, but if you died I'd care just as much.'
'Wait, what?' Ashley frowned, 'I didn't "prefer" either of you, I loved you both equally.' he raised his eyebrows, 'What? I did. You were both different, and I could talk to you both about different things, but usually you were easier to talk to - Fred was easily distracted by girls and you weren't.' she smirked, and George smiled slightly. 'So...do you feel like getting out of bed any time soon?'
'Ugh.' he groaned,
'Only to go downstairs. All you have to do is see the others, then you can come back to your darkened room and brood.' she smirked, and he rolled his eyes,
'I don't know.'
'Well you have all day to think it over, however I'm starving, so I'm going to ask your mum to make me food.' she stood up, turning back to face him as she walked backwards towards the door, 'Do you want me to bring you anything? Or have you decided to come?'
'I'll...I think I'll come. I have to get it over with, right? Otherwise it'll just get worse.'
'Probably.' she nodded,
'Right.' he sighed. He stood up and pulled a tshirt on, then pulled a jumper over the top,
'I didn't even notice you didn't have a shirt on.'
'Friendzone level 100.' he said, and she smirked,
'Idiot.' she held out her hand to him and he took it, holding it tightly as they got closer to the kitchen, where Bill, Charlie, Percy, Ron, Ginny, a one month pregnant Fleur, Hermione and Harry were sitting, whilst Molly was placing food in front of all of them,
'George, dear!' Molly exclaimed, then ran (or quickly walked, really) over to George, 'Did Ashley bring you food? Have you slept? You haven't done anything silly have you?' she asked quickly, looking as if she was capable of continuing until George interrupted,
'Mum, calm down, bloody hell,' he smiled slightly, much to the delight of his mother, 'Yes, she gave me chocolate, yes I've slept, and no, I haven't done anything that you'd class as "silly".'
'And you're feeling better?'
'Yes, Mum, I'm feeling better.'
'Good, good! Sit down, you need to eat!' she said, grabbing George by the shoulders (almost, she couldn't exactly reach his shoulders) and pushing him towards the table, turning back to Ashley when he was sat,
'Thank you, dear,'
'What for?' Ashley asked, puzzled,
'Making him smile, making him leave his room...Merlin knows nobody else could. Anyway, dear, sit down! You must eat, too.' Ashley smiled,
'It's fine, I'm just glad I could help with something instead of being completely useless.' she started, 'and thank you, Mrs. Weasley.'
'Whatever for, dear?'
'For being more like a mother than mine ever was, really.' Mrs. Weasley smiled at her. Ashley made her way to the table, being pulled down next to George – who was already stuffing his face.
'George, do you actually chew the food?' Ginny smiled, and after glancing around it seemed, at least to Ashley, that him returning to the real world with his family had had an effect on them all, made them feel better, it seemed. 'You could give Ron a run for his money.' Ginny added, looking at Ron, who perked up at the mention of his name,
'Wha-?' he started, with a mouthful of food, everyone looked, before shaking their heads. Ron frowned, before carrying on with stuffing food in his mouth.
'Honestly, Ronald, have you no table manners?' Hermione asked,
'After you've known him this long I think you know the answer to that, Granger.' George said, and the conversation flowed like this throughout breakfast, and no one noticed when Ashley excused herself.
-oOo-
As much as she loved the Weasley's, whenever they were all together sometimes it was far too much, especially with Harry and Hermione as well. It was always loud, and there was a lot of story telling involved and laughing – this doubled with every other person telling a different story got very confusing very quickly, even if she'd heard all the stories at least 100 times before.
She walked around outside for a while, before making her way down the the Orchard, which was a small empty space encompassed by bunches of trees. Once she reached it, she walked slowly, before sitting down at the stump of a tree. Memories flooded back to her, the forefront being her, Ron, Fred and George playing Quidditch when they were much younger.
* * *
The four were walking from the broomshed to the Orchard, each holding their own broom...except one.
'Oi! Fred! Would you stop being a git and give me my broom back!' Ron yelled, following after the eldest twin,
'Well why don't you come and get it, little Ronniekins?' Fred yelled back, continuing to hold out the broom to Ron, but every time he tried to grab it Fred pulled it back, 'Didn't honestly think it would be that easy, did you?' he laughed,
'Honestly, you boys are complete idiots!' Ashley yelled to the three boys walking in front of her,
'And why, exactly, is that? I haven't done anything!' George shouted, smirking,
'Well, okay, maybe not you, Georgie. But, Freddie, you are most definitely an idiot.' Ashley grinned, and Fred had a look of fake-horror etched onto his face, before he clutched at his heart and fell down to his knees, causing Ashley to burst out laughing,
'Oh, that's nice!' Fred shouted, 'Laughing at your secret crush's death!'
'Secret crush?' she laughed, 'And when, dare I ask, did you decide I fancied you?'
'Ah, I never did, but you did, ah yes...I still remember it now, the first time you saw me, you couldn't help it, you knew you wanted me,' he winked, causing Ashley to laugh even harder,
'Mate, I think you might have confused lust with hate, there!' George yelled,
'You're just jealous because you wish she wanted you, dearest twin!' Fred grinned, and George became quiet – Fred was the only one who noticed his sudden silence and frowned slightly, he looked back at George to see his cheeks were pink, as were the tips of his ears. Fred raised an eyebrow at him, questioning him, but George simply shook his head in response, mouthing "Tell you later".
'Would you just give me my bloody broom!' Ron shouted again, interrupting the twins' private conversation.
'Come and get it, likkle Ronniekins.' Fred grinned, then ran off towards the Orchard.
'Why did you have to leave, you stupid prat.' she said, bashing her head against the tree behind her,
'I didn't leave.' a voice said to her right, and her head snapped to the side to see where it had come from, and, sure enough, there it was. A pale, translucent image of Fred Weasley staring back at her.
'What the fuck.' she said quietly, her eyes widening.
'You look like you've seen a ghost.'
Rewrite 2.
No idea if this is actually improving it or not but there we go.