Chapter 7

'Hello, lovey.' Ashley said, throwing herself down on the sofa next to Ron, 'How are you this so very, very cold evening?'
'Tired. And cold.'
'Wonderful.'
'Of course.'
'How are you, overall, though? With everything?' she asked, and Ron was quiet,
'I mean...' he said, eventually, 'I'm okay. It's...okay.'
'I know you don't like emotional crap,' Ashley started, 'But you can talk about it, you know.'
'Yeah, I know.'
'And no one's gonna laugh at you or anything, if that's what you're worried about.'
'It's not even really that,' Ron said, before turning to face Ashley properly, 'You know when you're worried about something, and then you say that something to someone, and then you know that they're going to be constantly aware of what you told them?'
'...I … think so..?'
'It'd be like that. I'd constantly feel like if I told someone, I'd have to be smiling and happy all the time to make them think I was okay all the time. Like, George is obviously upset. He didn't need to tell anyone, but you can tell when he's happy and when he's not, or when he's in a … void, of nothing. If I was speaking about it all openly, it'd be hard to ever be in that "void" because everyone would just think I was sad.'
'...in the oddest way, that actually makes a lot of sense. If you tell people what you're thinking, they usually look at you like you're a time bomb. They're waiting for the explosion of sadness or anger or anything.'
'Exactly. I don't want to be a time bomb. I don't want mum fretting about whether I'm not eating or not waking up early enough or sleeping too much.'
'All of which you've been doing,'
'Not because I'm sad, though.' Ron clarified, 'I just...don't feel like it.'
'I understand what you're saying. People notice more when you tell them what they should be noticing.'
'Exactly.'
'Well, trust me when I say if George had kept all this to himself, he'd be going crazy. I'm not saying you should spill your innermost thoughts, but I'd consider letting out a little.'
'Hermione's been saying that. I've told her some stuff, but not enough – apparently.'
'Well, like I said, you need to speak to someone. If not it'll all build up and that will end disastrously.'
'I've also been told that.'
'Anyway, I'll leave you to your thoughts. I need to give your brother this jumper back.' she pulled at the sleeves, 'Talk to Hermione. She'll understand, she's good at that stuff.' she messed Ron's hair, and left the room just in time to hear him curse loudly at her. She ran up the stairs and into George's bedroom, where he was talking to Ginny.
'Oh, sorry, I was just wondering when you wanted the jumper back?'
'You may as well keep it,' he said, 'Given you're probably going to wear it more than I ever will. Plus you have no other clothes whatsoever, and although you walking around half naked would be wonderful, I don't think everyone in the house agrees.'
'Twat head.'
'That's rude, Redford.'
'Ginny, how did you put up with this growing up?'
'...patience. Lots of it.'
'And yet you're still have the shortest temper of everyone I know.'
'I didn't say I exercised it well.'
'Weren't you looking after a baby earlier?'
'I was. He's somewhere. Mum's probably got him, I imagine.'
'Hair still blue?'
'Probably more purple now.'
'I wish I was a metamorphmagus.' George said,
'So you could have your ear back?' Ashley smirked,
'...that and try some different colour hair. I've always kind of wondered what it would be like to not have a bright orange head.'
'You know they have hair dye, right?' the brunette girl raised an eyebrow,
'Yeah but then if you don't like it you can't do anything about it.'
'...True.'
'I think you'd look great blonde,' Ginny grinned, 'Maybe like an ugly Cedric.'
'Oh god.' George groaned,
'Talking about Cedric again, Georgie? I'm starting to think you're the one who fancies him.'
'Fancies? Present tense?' George asked, 'Do you still like him?'
'Don't be stupid,' Ashley scoffed, 'I haven't spoken to him in years.'
'George is just jealous no girls fancy him,' Ginny said, 'Especially the one he actually wants.'
'Who is she?!'
'No idea.'
'She's just a girl.' George shrugged,
'I need more detail still.'
'She has hair and wears clothes.'
'Amazing.'
'What kind of hair?'
'I don't know? The wavy kind?'
'I'll find out, and when I do I'll make sure she's actually good enough.'
'I'm sure she will be,' Ginny spoke, 'But until then, we have more important things to worry about.'
'Like?'
'I'm not sure yet, but there must be something.'

-oOo-

'George?' Ashley murmured, 'Are you asleep?'
'Obviously not.' she rolled over and looked at him, 'What's wrong?'
'Do you ever wonder about what the point is?'
'In...what, exactly?'
'Life. How am I meant to ever know what I wanna do, for my entire existence? Actually, what's the point in doing anything? It'll all be over before we have time to stop worrying.'
'You're so cynical now it's actually scaring me.'
'What?'
'You used to be...carefree. You didn't think about death or mortality, or life, really.'
'Things change. People change.'
'I know.'
'I'm sorry.'
'You don't have to be. I know why you've changed. I still love you even though you're a little bit different.'
'I'm all negative and shitty now. I don't even like me anymore.'
'You should like you. Because I think you is pretty great.'
'You should like you, too.'
'I do like me. I'm annoying, clingy and over the top some times, but I like it.'
'I like it, too.'
'Good.'

'Ashley?' George asked, a few hours after their last discussion.
'Yeah?'
'You remember when we were younger?'
'How much younger?'
'Like...years and years younger.'
'Okay...'
'And we used to say we'd all grow up and have fun all the time and get married?'
'Yes,' she smirked,
'How much easier would it be if all that had just come true.'
'Well, I think I'd have had to have chosen which one of you I was going to marry -'
'You know what I mean.'
'Of course it would have been easier. But when you're ten, it's easy to think everything will just … work. That you'll get a great job and earn lots of money and meet someone who makes you feel good who you'll marry...but it doesn't happen.'
'Who's to say it won't happen?'
'Fate? Destiny? Whatever. Anything.'
'Maybe we should just marry each other. Get it over with.'
'Georgie, if I had to chose anyone to marry, it would definitely be you.'
'That's sweet.'
'But I don't think I could deal with having your ginger children.'

'We could compromise on the ginger.' he started again, later,
'How?'
'Isn't brown hair dominant over ginger? Like brown eyes are dominant over every other colour?'
'I have no idea.'
'What would be wrong with ginger kids anyway?!'
'Nothing. I said your ginger children.'
'I'm offended.'
'They'd be all...hyperactive, and I'd probably end up getting killed by one of them in some sort of prank tragedy.'
'...That's a fair point.'

'Hypothetically,' George started, and Ashley groaned, 'Just hear me out – if neither of us is married by the time we're … what, thirty five? We should get married.'
'Okay.'
'You didn't put up as much argument as you thought I would.'
'If I'm still alone at thirty five I will resign myself to having your ginger babies.'
'I'm sure they'd be cute.'
'As long as they didn't get your giant nose.'
'Oi!'

'What time is it?'
'Probably like four.'
'So early.'
'Yes.'
'Have you slept?'
'Not at all.'
'Is it because I said I didn't want your ginger children.'
'That's exactly it. You wounded my ego.'
'I'd say I'm sorry but we both know I'd be lying.'
'We would.'
'Can I ask you something?'
'Sure.'
'You remember when you lost your ear?'
'Vividly.'
'And you remember Bill and Fleur's wedding?'
'It's a bit hazy. There was a lot of alcohol.'
'But you recall most things?'
'Yeah.'

'Do you remember...us kissing?'
'Erm – yeah.' he blushed slightly,
'Why'd you do it?'
'Kiss you?'
'Yeah.'
'I don't know.' he muttered, frowning at the ceiling, 'It seemed right, at the time. Like it'd stop the world from spinning too fast. Especially at the wedding, everything got … real, and terrifying.'
'I'm glad I could help.'
'So am I.'
'You're a good kisser.'
'I'm glad you think so if I'm going to be your future husband.'
'Good point.'

Getting really good at writing things that have nothing to do with anything because the plot line for the original chapter makes me want to curl up inside myself and die.