Chapter 4
'So...according to mum, you have a concussion.' George said, sitting next to her on the bed as she groaned,
'Brilliant. What does that encompass exactly?'
'Well, you'll probably be dizzy and nauseous for a bit longer-' another groan, 'you'll probably have no energy – not that that's any change to normal,'
'Prat.'
'And you're probably going to be more emotional than normal.'
'Is that it?'
'You're probably going to sleep more as well,'
'That's just great.' she sighed. 'I'm not going to die or anything am I?' she asked suddenly, and George scoffed,
'Why would you die?'
'Some people can die from concussions!'
'Rarely.'
'Whatever.' she murmured,
'Mum says you're going to be fine, and she's probably right about it.'
'Good.'
'Now, do you want anything? A drink, or food or something?'
'I'll have some water, I guess,'
'Is that it?'
'...Yeah?'
'Are you sure?'
'I feel too sick to eat, and why's it so cold in here?' she complained, pulling the bed cover up to her neck,
'It's not that cold, but here,' he said, reaching over to a set of drawers and pulling a jumper out, 'Put this on.' she unfolded it, pulling it over her head, continuing to cover her hands with the sleeves, 'Better?'
'Marginally.'
'I think you'll be okay,' he smiled,
'Come here,' she said, holding her arms out to him. He raised an eyebrow, and she gave him what she believed was a convincing smile. He moved over and she hugged him, pulling him down to lie next to her,
'I thought you wanted water?'
'Warmth is more important to me right now.' she murmured, pulling the cover from under him, only to place it over him immediately. He slowly slipped his arm around her, and when she didn't object he let his hand slide down to sit on the small of her back, whilst the other brushed the hair out of her face, 'I love you, Georgie.' she gained no reply, and he hoped she couldn't hear the hammering in his chest, and was glad the room was dark enough to cover his blushing. 'Oi, you ignorant twat, usually you're meant to say that back.'
'I love you, too, Ash.'
'Good.'
'I'm gonna go get you the drink -'
'No -'
'I'll be right back, I promise.' he replied, slipping out of the bed and padding out of the room. On entering the kitchen, he found his mother sitting at the table alone, wiping under her eyes with that looked like a tissue, '...Mum?' Mrs. Weasley's head jerked up, and George noticed her eyes were ringed with red,
'Oh, George, dear, are you okay?'
'Mum … it's okay, it's not like you aren't allowed to be upset,' he crossed over to her and set next to her, and she smiled, rubbing his cheek with her thumb,
'I know, George, but I can't go around crying all the time, can I? I still have more than most people do,'
'It's okay, mum. Just because you have a lot doesn't mean you can't be upset when you lose something – or someone,' he corrected,
'Well, then I can't go around crying all the time for the sake of you all. If we all start moping around we'll never get out of it,'
'Mum -'
'I'm okay, dear, honestly.' she said, giving her second youngest son a weak smile, 'If I wasn't you'd know.'
'That's true,' he smirked,
'What about you, dear?'
'I'm fine – I mean, I'm better than before, I think. Maybe.'
'You're out of your room, at least,'
'Yeah, that's a good thing.'
'Is Ashley still in your room?'
'Yeah, I think she's asleep,' he said, taking a glance back towards the stairs,
'You still like her, don't you?'
'Wh – what?' he stuttered,
'I might be old but I'm not completely oblivious, you've been head over heels for that girl since you met her.'
'Mum, I was five when I met her.'
'Well, maybe not as soon as you met her, but definitely a long while,' his mother smiled, and he felt the tips of his ears burning,
'I mean – I – err – I guess – I -'
'George, don't be silly.'
'I guess I – I might like her, a bit,' his cheeks and ears were burning,
'And why haven't you done anything about it?'
'Well, why would I? It's not as if it's a mutual thing,'
'Mhm,' his mother said, and he frowned,
'What?'
'I think you might want to try and tell her and see what becomes of it.' his mother said, before making a move to stand, 'Right, I suppose I had better get started with dinner – what was it you wanted, dear?'
'Just water,' George said, getting to his feet and moving towards the cabinet, grabbing a glass as his mother waved her wand and the food flew out in front of her.
'Right, you go back and I'll do all this,' his mother said, distracting herself,
'Right. I love you, Mum.' he leaned in and kissed her cheek,
'I love you too, dear. Now, shoo, I need all the space I can get.' she said, causing George to smirk before taking the glass of water back to his bedroom. He
opened the door a crack and crept in, placing the water on the bedside cabinet.
'You're back,' Ashley smiled, as he climbed into the bed,
'Obviously? Where was I gonna go?'
'I don't know, I just – never mind,' she smiled, 'What took so long?'
'I was talking to mum in the kitchen.'
'Is she okay?'
'She's … relatively good, she was crying when I walked in, but she kept saying she couldn't be moping around all the time, because then we all would and it'd result in disaster.'
'I feel bad.'
'Why?' he frowned, as she took his hand in hers,
'Well, I'm probably not making her situation any easier – I'm not even family, and she has so much to deal with and having the addition of me can't be any better for her -'
'Don't be thick. She loves you, you're practically family, and it's not like you're causing any more drama – or any drama, really.
Other than bashing your head on a tree,' he winked, and she groaned,
'You're an arse.'
'I feel like I've been called that before.'
'Maybe I'm trying to hint at something.'
'Bitch.'
'Charming.'
'There should be a "Prince" in there, somewhere.'
'You idiot.' she smirked, before shivering, 'Seriously, why is your room so damn cold?'
'Because you're insane, it's not even cold.'
'Maybe I'm more than concussed.' she moaned,
'If I'm ill after this I will be forced to blame you.'
'You can't catch concussion.'
'Yeah, but you just said you think you have more than a concussion.'
'Oh whatever.'
'Go to sleep, love,' George said,
'I will if you stay.' she murmured,
'Of course I'm staying. I'm not gonna leave you.' he kissed her forehead lightly.
'Thanks.'
'Besides, it's my room.'
'Twat.'
Erm yeah, another one. Updating like a pro right now. Er you can review and whatever if you like and yeah. okay.