Okay, so this chapter has some ... I don't know what quite to call it (not sex or anything) social issues(?) included in it. I think that's the right word, anyway. And (if I remember) there'll be some in the next chapter as well, so if you don't like it you can skip it, but you might be a tad confused when you read it after...but whatever, man.
Chapter 16
Eventually Ashley awoke and sat up, she sat still for a few minutes, her eyes travelling around the room for a short time before she remembered that she was supposed to be meeting Cedric in Hogsmeade in a few hours, so decided that it would probably be the best decision to get up, however difficult that decision may be. Before she left the room she grabbed a pair of clothes from her ever-growing pile and took off her P.J's, as soon as she was standing in the hallway she realised it was most definitely a bad decision to walk around wearing no clothes in a house with eight other people, she quickly padded across the hallway and into the bathroom, locking the door behind her as soon as she set foot on the tiled floor in the bathroom. She turned the water on in the shower and stepped under, she must have stayed in there for around half an hour before deciding she should actually begin to properly get ready. She got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself, then stood in front of the bathroom mirror and attempted to dry her hair, then proceeded to use magic to straighten it (who has the time to use straightners?). After that she quickly pulled on the clothes she had taken into the bathroom with her, then left the bathroom and entered the hallway. On stepping out of the room she saw George walking in the opposite direction.
'George' she said softly, to which he turned to face her, as soon as he saw her he stared at her for a few seconds before turning away from her and walking away quickly. Ashley tried to fight back tears whilst walking into what was Percy's room.
-oOo-
George walked straight into his room without a second glance back, he sat at a desk in his room, grabbed a piece of paper and some parchment and began to write
Dear Ashley, this is quite a shitty way to say goodbye, (I mean a really bad way. Really.)but it's the only way I can think of, considering we're not speaking and everything, obviously I can't just tell you this. So, here it goes I guess … I'm sorry for everything that's happened in the last few weeks, and I'm sorry that we aren't speaking now, but considering everything that's been said I think it's understandable that I find it kinda hard to speak to you right now. But I'm writing this to basically let you know that everything I said about hating you and not wanting to be with you was a bit of a lie. Well, I say a bit, really I mean a complete and total massive lie. I tried to not want you, I honestly did, and I couldn't do it, at all. I love you, Ashley. I want to be with you every day for the rest of our lives, although the rest of my life won't be a long time, so now I think you understand the point of this letter. I hope you find someone who loves you, because you honestly deserve so so much better than me, I'm a waste of space without Fred and that's all I'm ever going to be now. Which is why I'm saying goodbye, to you and everyone else. Please remember that I love you, always have and always will, no matter what I've said.
- George.
He finished the letter to Ashley and placed it to one side. He took a deep breath before he continued writing letters to the rest of his family, once he had finished, he picked up the letter to Ashley and walked downstairs, hoping that she might be sitting there
'Ron?' George said, looking at his little brother, who was currently sitting on the sofa next to Hermione, who was leaning her head on his shoulder.
'Yeah?'
'Where's Ashley?'
'I think she went to Hogsmeade for something...?' Ron said, looking at Hermione in questioning
'Yes, she did' Hermione said, lifting her head off Ron's shoulder to look at George 'You could probably go to her if you really needed to, she said she was going to the Three Broomsticks
'Oh, thanks ... tell mum I'll be back later' George said, then walked over to the fireplace. He grabbed a handful of powder, then stood in the fireplace, 'Hogsmeade' he stated clearly, before he was engulfed in green flames.
-oOo-
'So, Cedric' Ashley asked, sitting across from him in the Three Broomsticks 'What exactly did you want my amazing advice about?'
'Well, I was thinking about asking someone to go out with me' Cedric said, smiling slightly
'Aww!' Ashley said, 'Who?!'
'I think it's just someone my father knows, you might know her actually - but that's not the point' he stated 'So, I was wondering - how exactly I could ask her?'
'So you decided to ask for a girls perspective?' Ashley laughed 'Good plan'
'So … what do I say exactly to her?'
'Well, what's she like?'
'She's … outgoing, quite blunt, loud … very loud but sweet, if that makes sense? … she knows what she wants and doesn't stop until she gets it … if that makes sense as well...'
'Yeah, that does' Ashley smiled 'Right, well if she's outgoing you don't want to act shy, you basically could just come right out and ask her to go out with you, then obviously her response is going to be either a good one or a bad one, if it's good you can ask her to go out for drinks and if it's bad you just convince her to go out with you with your charm.'
'I have charm?' he asked, smiling slightly
'Well I'm guessing so. I'm sure Cho Chang seemed to think so … and the endless amount of girls you dated before that, of course'
'Ashley?' Cedric asked, looking over the top of her head at someone
'Yes?'
'I erm – I think there's someone who wants to talk to you' he said, nodding towards the direction of the door, Ashley turned to face the same way he was looking and came to view George. Who, at knowing Ashley had seen him, walked out of the door.
'Sorry, but would you excuse me for just a moment?' Ashley said and without waiting for a response quickly stood up and walked out into the street 'George!' she yelled in the direction of the retreating red head, he stopped walking and swivelled around on his heel to face her.
'What?' he asked
'Why did you leave?'
'Why do you think, Ashley?'
'I don't know! Because to be quite honest I'm not entirely sure what's been going on lately between us!'
'Well join the bloody club!'
'Maybe you could consider freaking telling me?! Or is that too much hard work!?'
'What are you doing here with him?' he asked, ignoring her
'Is that really any of your business?'
'No, I suppose it's not'
'Exactly'
'Well, then I guess you and Diggory are officially dating' he said bitterly, 'Congratulations, hope you have a great life' he added, then turned to walk away
'George, I'm not dating Cedric!' she yelled, then ran towards him and stood in front of him
'Why would I care if you dated him anyway? It's not as if it matters to -'
'George, don't do this' she interrupted
'Do what?' he asked, frowning 'I'm not doing anything'
'Don't pretend that you don't care about it. It's obvious you do or else you wouldn't have walked out just then, you wouldn't keep randomly bitching at me whenever I speak to him, you wouldn't be acting like a completely different person-'
'I'm not pretending to not care. I honestly don't.' he said, then shoved past her and walked off with his head down and his hands stuffed in his pockets. Ashley sat on a bench outside for a while before she was joined by Cedric
'Are you alright?' he asked
'Shit, sorry, I forgot you were waiting for me'
'It's alright, you're forgiven' he smiled 'So … what happened this time?'
'How did you know something had happened?'
'Well, George stormed out, you ran after him then didn't come back inside, so I come outside to find you sitting on a bench and -' he reached over and wiped her eyes 'Crying? I mean, I'm not a genius but that doesn't exactly scream 'our conversation went amazingly well', does it?'
'I suppose not no' she said, giving a slight smile towards Cedric
'So, what happened?'
'Drama happened.'
'Ah yes, Drama, the worst thing to happen in relationships since forever.'
'I second that'
'So, this drama … I'm presuming it's to do with George?'
'Is it that obvious?' she asked again, smiling slightly
'What happened?'
'Ugh, it's a very long story to do with jealousy on his part, supposed craziness on my part, death on both parts and the smallest amount of romance on both parts, at least in my opinion'
'Supposed craziness?' he smiled
'Yeah … another rather long story that isn't really of any importance'
'Ah right … so, romance?'
'I think that's what you could call it … but quite possibly dysfunctional romance'
'Right … well, whatever stupid thing he's said, I'm almost positive he didn't mean it'
'Are you giving me the advice now?' she said, smiling
'Well, you're having problems with the male species and I am a male, it can't hurt to advise you really, can it'
'I suppose not … but I don't even know what's wrong with him, he's acting … weird, lately and I don't know why.'
'Well, I suppose he's trying to get over the fact that Fred's gone, then he's got to deal with trying to act normal in front of his family, on top of that he's got to deal with not having a best friend anymore, and I'm guessing that because he doesn't have a best friend to vent to anymore, he just acts fine all the time and randomly explodes from anger, denial and everything else'
'That's quite smart, Hufflepuff' she smirked
'Well, we Hufflepuffs are supposed to be good at this 'advice giving' stuff, are we not? Whereas you Gryffindors never seemed to be very good at that'
'Ah, what we lack in advice and helpfulness we make up for in bravery and courage … supposedly'
'Hufflepuff will always be the best'
'Yeah, at Herbology and not much else' she smirked 'Whereas we Gryffindors were good at Quidditch, Transfiguration and … ermm I don't know what else, but we automatically win for having the famous Harry Potter in our house' she joked
'But of course' Cedric said, as a bang of thunder rolled across the sky.
'Oh shit' Ashley muttered, looking up at the grey sky
'What?'
'Thunderstorms. I hate them.'
'Why?'
'Because electricity shoots down from the sky and can kill you, there's loud noises that come from nowhere and scare you half to death and not to mention that they keep you up all night and they're scary.'
'The Gryffindors scared of thunder?'
'And spiders'
'Logical …' Cedric smirked, as a clap of thunder echoed in the sky once more 'Well, although this has been great, I for one don't feel like getting drenched anytime soon, so I think I'll have to go … thanks for the advice, by the way' he said, standing up
'No problem … thanks for your advice also' she replied, smiling slightly and standing up also.
'So, I'm hoping at some point I'll see you again? Hopefully before next Christmas?' he said, giving a slight chuckle
'Yes, I'm pretty sure you will see me before next Christmas, considering it's about 6 months away'
'Well then I look forward to it' he smiled, before pulling her into a hug 'Try not to worry so much,' he said when he had pulled away 'It's not good for you.'
'Ha, I'll try my best … I can't really make any promises though' she smiled
'Well, as long as you try I suppose it's alright' Cedric smiled, 'Anyway, I'm gonna go, bye'
'Bye' she replied, giving a slight wave. He smiled slightly before disapparating. As soon as he had gone it begun raining, hard. Ashley quickly disapparated to the Burrow and ran to the front door, throwing it open and walking inside before slamming the door behind her
'You look … wet' Ron commented as she walked in
'Because it's raining, genius'
'Ginny'll be glad about that...' Ron sighed
'Why?'
'She's dragging us all out somewhere … we have no idea where though, and George isn't going, which Ginny's not happy about'
'Ah, right' Ashley said, 'Tell her I'm ill?'
'I already did' he smirked,
'Thank you, Ronniekins' she smiled, 'You're the bestest non-brother in the world … but don't tell Bill or Charlie'
'I can't promise that'
'I knew you'd say that' she replied, smiling slightly 'Anyway, I'm going to go and pretend to be ill'
'Have fun' Ron said, and hint of sarcasm apparent in his voice
'Try not to miss me too much' she grinned
'I'm almost positive I won't notice your gone' he smirked
'Arse' she muttered, whilst dragging herself up the stairs. Once she had reached Percy's room she threw herself down on the bed, switching her gaze from the ceiling to the window, which was now covered in droplets of water.
She deeply wished that the crash of thunder would stop. She disliked the noise.
Last time there had been a thunderstorm she had gone into the twins bedroom, it must have been 6th or 7th year, because they had still been at the Burrow. She'd literally crawled into George's bed and fell asleep with him.
She hadn't actually told him, but she'd fell in love with him that exact moment.
Okay, no idea if I used the right words to describe things or anything, but I'm very tired right now so I haven't had chance to edit it as much as I have with some of the others, but whatever, please review? I miss getting them :(
Thanks for reading this though (if you got to this part, of course) I should just let you know that it makes you awesome. :3