Chapter 5
George woke with a start in the middle of the night, attempting to catch his breath before sitting up, running his fingers through his hair lightly.
'George?' a voice whispered, and he glanced over to see Ashley, 'How come you're not in bed?'
'How come you're not? You only stopped feeling sick yesterday.'
'George, it's been a week, I think I'm fully healed. You didn't answer my question.'
'I just – there's too many memories in that room – to do with, you know,' he spoke, looking away from her and sniffing, 'Just go back to bed, okay?' he waited, and she didn't move up the stairs like he'd wanted, but crossed over to him, slowly kneeling down next to the sofa.
'I'm sorry.'
'For what? It's not your fault.'
'I'm – I'm just sorry.' she placed her hand on his arm, and his eyes flickered up to meet hers, water-filled and bright blue, 'It's going to be okay – it'll get better.'
'Oh, yeah,' he scoffed, 'when is that, exactly?'
'I – I don't know.'
'What happens if it doesn't? What happens if I stay an emotional wreck and start fucking crying in the middle of the night for the rest of my life?'
'You're not a wreck. You're just so massively overwhelmed, and scared, and everything is a mess right now, Georgie.'
'I can't even look at myself in a mirror – I can't do anything without thinking about him. How am I going to stop that.'
'You're not your brother.'
'I look like him, though. You couldn't even tell the difference until...until he was gone.'
'Of course I could!' Ashley exclaimed, 'I've been able to tell the difference since I met you!'
'Doubt it.' he muttered,
'I could.'
'How?' George asked, frowning.
'You have slightly longer hair. Your eyes are a bit lighter than Fred's, and you have more freckles. You're a bit taller, you're considerably more cute-' she stopped,
'I'm cuter?' he smirked,
'Oh shut up.' she blushed, 'Anyway, your personalities helped me tell the difference as well.'
'Explain?'
'Well, Fred always came across as more confident than you were; he'd be at the front of everything, but you'd hang back and assess the situation more than he did. He was a lot more vindictive to the people he didn't like...to put it mildly. You, on the other hand, are a lot quieter, you definitely don't hold grudges as long and you tend to make fun of yourself a lot more often than he did – for example, "I'm holey",' she smirked, and he gave her a weak smile. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into her, 'It's okay, Georgie.' the front of her tshirt began to feel damp, and she heard him sniffing quietly, she reached up and stroked his hair again, considering that action had worked both times beforehand. After a lengthy amount of time her knees started hurting,
'George? I know you're going to kill me for saying this, but can I move so my knees don't break?' he lifted his head up slightly, then lifted up the blanket he was lying under, and Ashley slid in next to him,
'I'm not going to kill you.' he murmured,
'I'm sorry, George.'
'Again? What for?'
'For everything. For the stupid Death Eater, for me not paying any attention, for Fred shoving me out of the way instead of just letting me get killed, I'm – I'm just sorry for everything.' she muttered, tilting her head up to look at him, then wiping his eyes with her thumb.
'Listen, you,' he began, 'It's not your fault, none of it. I'm glad Fred pushed you out of the way, I'm just not happy that he – that he – he – di-' he stopped,
'Yeah.' she nodded, and before she could do anything he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in to hug him, crushing her against his chest. She knew he was crying again.
It felt like they lay in silence for hours, it only being broken occasionally by George sniffing. She noticed eventually it ceased, and was replaced with light breathing noises. She slowly lifted her head up to see he had fallen asleep. She placed her head back on his chest and his arms tightened around her, before she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
-oOo-
Ashley woke up to see George's chest. She blinked and frowned, trying to remember the night before. Leaning back slightly she saw that George was still asleep.
'Have a good night, did we?' a sarcastic voice came, and she looked to the end of the sofa to see Ron standing there, wearing one of his many jumpers with the letter 'R' knitted into it. He raised an eyebrow and smirked,
'Oh, haha.' Ashley sighed, sitting up to face him,
'So, what happened?'
'I woke up, came down to get some water, George was here, so we talked and then fell asleep.'
'Sure, Ash.' Ron smiled, then nodded at him, 'Looks like your boyfriend's waking up.'
'Boyfriend? What?' the older boy groaned, slowly moving to sit up,
'Don't worry, lover boy, I was kidding,' Ron said, getting a glare from Ashley as he went into the kitchen.
'What's he on about?'
'Nothing – he's just being stupid, as usual.'
'Sorry about last night,'
'It's fine.'
'How long did I keep you awake?'
'No idea, I can only remember you fell asleep before me,'
'Well, I'm sorry.'
'Don't be stupid.' she said, as Ron entered into the room once again, holding what looked like a massive bar of chocolate, 'Ronniekins, dearest?'
'Yes?' he groaned,
'What time is it?'
'Around half ten or something,'
'...Are you the first awake?' she frowned,
'Nah, the others all went out this morning – to Diagon Alley, I think. Ginny and Hermione need new books for next year – still don't know why Hermione's going back.'
'Because she values her education?' Ashley smirked,
'You're one to talk – you finished seventh year and ended up working with the ones who dropped out,'
'That's irrelevant.'
'Is it though?' Ron smirked,
'Shut up.'
'Anyway -' George interrupted, 'How come you didn't go with that lot?'
'Well, firstly it wasn't worth waking up early, and secondly, they all had to walk through this room to leave. Which means they saw the two of you all together on the sofa.'
'...shit.' Ashley said,
'And obviously, I wanted to see her reaction to knowing that everyone – and I mean everyone, even Teddy's with them.'
'Does he even understand what he's seeing?'
'Not really.'
'Then I'm not counting it.' Ashley spoke,
'When did he get here?' George asked,
'Sometime this morning. Harry and Ginny were meant to be looking after him for a few days before he got passed around – I think you're meant to have him next, Ash.'
'Perfect.' she muttered, 'He's one now, isn't he?'
'Almost, his birthday's in a few months. I think.'
'Even better.'
'Anyway, I'm gonna go back to bed, barely slept-'
'Lazy prat.' George commented,
'Will one of you wake me up when they get back?' the younger Weasley asked, and George raised his eyebrows, 'Ok, in other words – Ashley, will you wake me up when the others get back?' Ron amended, and Ashley paused,
'What's in it for me?'
'Well, if Harry and Ginny are trying to pawn Teddy off onto people, I'll take over for you when they give you to him.'
'Deal.' Ashley said, and the two shook hands with a smirk,
'Deal only applies to Ashley,' Ron looked at George, 'So you're still going to have to look after the squealing little monster if they ask.'
'Shit.' he muttered,
'So, I'm going to bed.' Ron said, giving a small wave as he took the stairs two at a time.
'I want to go back to sleep.' Ashley whined,
'You should, I told you I kept you up late.'
'I don't want to move.' she groaned, 'you have a comfy shoulder.'
'Well, I never thought I'd say this, but you're lazier than Ron. At least he actually moved to go back to bed,' he joked, then looked down at her, 'Come on, then, I'll carry you upstairs.' he stood up and turned his back to her, and she grinned as she jumped on his back.
'Thanks, Georgie.' she said quietly, and he just smirked at her, then walked to his room, Ashley wrapping her arms tighter around his neck as she almost fell asleep,
'You're going to strangle me,' he said, as he pushed his door open,
'Sorry.' she murmured, as he let her fall lightly onto the bed, pulling the cover over her.
'Where are you going?' she asked, sitting up suddenly,
'Er – back downstairs?' he frowned,
'Oh.' she muttered, picking at the quilt cover, 'Okay.'
'What's wrong?'
'I just – could you maybe not go? I don't really like being on my own anymore.' she said quietly,
'Why?' he asked, frowning again,
'I – I'm not entirely sure, but being alone … is shitty. It feels like something bad is going to happen – all the time.'
'I'm not going anywhere,' he said, walking over and kneeling by the bed, 'I'll be here as long as you need me.'
'Shouldn't this be the other way around?' she joked,
'Probably.' he smiled, 'And I get why you wanted to move yesterday, sitting on your knees is proper uncomfortable.' before she could even offer, George had shoved her over and gotten in.
'That's fine, just barge in.' she murmured, a smile on her face.
'It is my bed.'
'Shh.'
'Just go to sleep, Ash.' he said, and she nodded slightly,
'I will.' she said, moving closer to him and wrapping her arms around him.
-oOo-
'Ashley, for the last time, you're not going.' George spoke, clearly,
'You can't stop me!'
'I'm older than you!'
'By two weeks! It doesn't count!'
'You're not going.'
'You can't stop me!'
'I can and I will.'
'I'm going.'
'And where do you think you're going to go? Fifteen's an odd number, Ashley.'
'I don't care! I'm not waiting here while everyone else goes off and risks their lives!'
'Ginny isn't going.'
'Ginny's fifteen!'
'So?!'
'So I'm nineteen! I'm an adult!'
'Hardly!'
'George, I'm going.'
'Ashley, you're not.'
'I'm going.'
'No.'
'Yes!'
'Well, fine.' he began, making a move towards the bedroom door, 'I'll go …' he backed up to the door, 'and you'll … -'
'George...' she warned, narrowing her eyes,
'-stay here,' he finished, darting out of the room and locking it behind him. She quickly shot forwards, grabbing the handle and pulling at it, before feeling around in her pockets for her wand – which she'd left in the other room.
'George!' she yelled, banging on the door with her fists, 'Let me out, you arse!' nothing. She carried on for what must have been five minutes, before sliding down the wall to a seated position - the door swung open and Ginny poked her head around,
'Are you done?'
'Are they gone?!'
'Yeah.'
'Bastard.'
'George?'
'Yeah.'
'He's stubborn. And overprotective, he'd never have let you go.'
'Well he's a dick.'
'There's not much you can do about it now. You can come and wait with me and mum, though.'
'Okay.' Ashley muttered, grabbing Ginny's hand as she stood up, '
'We're all worried, as well.'
'What?'
'You wanted to go because you're worried something's going to happen to them if you're not there.'
'There's more than that, but partly, I guess.'
'They'll be okay. The only way they couldn't be is if they did something completely ridiculous.' Ginny said, sitting on the sofa in the living room,
'I still think I should have gone.' Ashley said, and with that they waited in silence for the arrival of any of the fourteen who had gone. It got darker outside, and as the time reached seven Ginny spoke,
'Harry should be back any time now.' Ashley took Ginny's hand and squeezed it, giving her a reassuring smile,
'It'll be okay, remember?' and Ginny nodded. There was a loud crashing noise from outside and both girls stood up, Mrs. Weasley hovering around, all three staring at the front door as Harry rushed in, shortly followed by Hagrid,
'Harry! You're okay!' Ginny threw her arms around him,
'Yeah – yeah, fine … are none of the others back yet?' he asked, looking between Mrs. Weasley and Ashley, the latter shaking her head,
'No, Fred and Arthur were meant to be back by now – they missed the portkey.'
'And everyone else?' Harry asked, quickly hugging Ashley,
'They're meant to be here after yo-' she began, as another loud noise came from outside. The two glanced at each other, then quickly went outside to see Remus supporting a bleeding Harry; who was quickly transforming back to George.
'Oh my god.'
'What happened?!' Harry asked, quickly supporting George's other side,
'Curse – I think,' Remus replied, as they brought George inside and lay him across the sofa, his mother cleaning his injuries as best she could.
'What kind of curse?'
'Dark magic.'
'...That doesn't sound good, how bad is that?' Ashley asked quickly, and Remus gave a small smile,
'Not bad enough to result in anything as awful as you're thinking.'
The six stayed in the room before another pair was announced by the same sound heard twice previously,
'Is – is he all right?' Ashley asked, nervously, as she knelt down in front of the sofa,
'I can't do much about his ear – I mean, it's impossible to fix anything caused by dark magic …'
'But he's alive?'
'Oh he's definitely alive, I'm not sure how much he's going to like missing an ear, though.' Mrs. Weasley said, before sniffing and dabbing at her eyes,
'...Mrs. Weasley -'
'I'm fine, dear, fine – I mean it could be so much worse-'
'Kingsley you will let me see my son if you know what's good for you!' Mr. Weasley's voice yelled, and Ashley's head snapped up to see Arthur and Fred enter the room, both stopping dead at the sight of George,
'Oh shit,' Fred commented, quickly moving to sit next to Ashley, as Mr. Weasley comforted his wife, 'Wh-what happened?'
'Curse, and a nasty one. Severus Snape.' Remus said, 'I saw his face – it was definitely him.'
'Snape?!' Ashley spat,
'He was meant to be on our side!' Fred shouted, 'You all said it!'
'Dumbledore trusted him, that's all we could go from,' Lupin spoke quietly, 'He made us believe we could trust him.' Ron and Hermione suddenly rushed in, both paling at seeing George,
'Is he okay?' Ron asked, and Mrs. Weasley nodded, as the final portkey arrived, bringing with it Bill and Fleur, who both looked grave,
'What's happened?' Harry asked,
'Mad-eye's dead.'
'...dead?' Remus repeated, and Fleur nodded,
'Mundungus took one look at Voldemort and disapparated, the Death Eaters must have guessed we'd pull a trick, and they just – they …'
'Killed him.' Fleur finished, and the room was silent.
'We should go and look for his body,' Mr. Weasley said,
'What?! You're leaving?!' Mrs. Weasley frowned,
'Would you rather it be found by Death Eaters?'
'...right.'
'I'll come, too.' Bill nodded, and the two men left. It was silent for a few more minutes, before George stirred, attracting the rooms attention,
'Georgie? How're you feeling?' Fred asked,
'Holey.'
'Is – is his mind affected?' Fred asked, worry flashing across his face,
'I'm holey, get it?' he said, gesturing to his ear, and both Ashley and Fred gave sighs of relief whilst Mrs. Weasley sobbed,
'A whole world of ear related humour and you go for "I'm holey"? That's pathetic.'
'Reckon I'm still better looking than you, though.'
'You keep telling yourself that,'
'So...Ash, still going to kill me for locking you in a room?'
'Yes. But tomorrow. I feel like you've already had too much stuff to deal with today.'
'I think you're probably right there,' he groaned, shifting around slightly,
'Careful. You might crack a rib,' Fred smirked,
'Idiot.'
Later, the household had all resided to their respective rooms, whilst Ashley was still with the twins,
'I'm still relatively offended we didn't get told the plan beforehand,' Fred said,
'They all have such little faith in us.'
'Can you blame them? One of you would undoubtedly have blurted it out.'
'We can keep secrets!' Fred objected,
'Of course.'
'We can!'
'Oh yeah, remember when Lee told you that massive secret that he fancied Alicia Spinnet – the entire school never did find out, did they?'
'Well … that wasn't entirely our fault.'
'Yeah, we just happened to relay the information within earshot of the entire Gryffindor common room.'
'Their faults for being nosy gits.' Fred smiled,
'Exactly.' George confirmed,
'Pair of idiots.'
'Ah, I may be an idiot, but at least I'm the better looking idiot.'
'You sure?' Ashley smirked, and Fred's mouth dropped open,
'Don't tell me you think my brother's the attractive one?!'
'Sorry to break it to you like this, Freddie.'
'He only has one ear!'
'And yet I'm still better looking than you,' George winked,
'You should be more concerned about your eyesight, it must be getting pretty bad if you think you're more good looking – and it's not like glasses are an option anymore.'
'Oh haha.' George smirked,
'Aw, is Freddie jealous I fancy his twin more than him?' Ashley grinned, and Fred gave her the finger,
'I'm gonna get a drink, do you two want anything?'
'Nah,' they both said, and Fred nodded, exiting the room.
'So, how do you feel about the ear situation?'
'I think the more important thing is do you really think I'm the hotter twin?' he joked,
'Oh shut up,'
'Nope, do you?'
'I mean you're both gross. But you're less gross.'
'You're so lovely.'
'I know.'
'I think I'm gonna go to bed,' George started, 'Are you coming?'
'Yeah, may as well.' she muttered,
'Come on, then.' George said, standing up from the sofa and holding his hand out to her, which she took, and he pulled her up to a standing position. She walked forwards and before she knew it had got her feet stuck in the blanket and was falling, causing both her and George to fall to the floor, her landing on top of him.
'Hey.' he murmured, pushing himself up onto his elbows.
'Hey.' she replied, smirking. He glanced towards her lips, then back to her eyes, before he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, shortly and sweetly. When he pulled back Ashley noticed the nervous look on his face, and she quickly leaned in and kissed him again, her hands running up his chest to the back of his neck. He slowly sat up and looped his arms around her waist, tugging her closer towards him, her legs now circling his hips. Her hand went from his neck to pulling at his hair lightly, whilst his hands moved lower. She slowly pulled back and rested her forehead against his, the two looking at each other before laughing,
'We just made out.' she said, and George grinned.
'I don't know what I just walked in on and I really don't wanna know.' Fred said.
Didn't have access to the book when i wrote the flashback thingy, so I have no idea how accurate it is - kind of just had to try and remember what happens, but I think I did okay.
Okay. Review and whatever.