Chapter 26 – Three little words

Lyra and I were getting ready in our dormitory for the twins' birthday party in the Gryffindor tower. I let Gryffindor red stripes appear in my hair as I put it in a high ponytail. I pulled on my high-waist skinny jeans and burgundy top George loved so much and picked up the boys' gift and we headed out to the common room where Cedric and Odin were waiting. Lyra kissed Odin before locking their arms and walking out of the room first. Cedric wrapped his arms around me, and we followed after the couple.

"Are you nervous?" I asked, looking sideways at him.

"No." He shrugged. "I mean I probably will be, but the third task is three months away."

"Hm, well since you don't have much to do then, you can help me prepare for my exams." I grinned.

"Only for you, Winnie." He smiled. "Everything still going good between you and lover boy."

"Yes." I chuckled. "It's been great actually. And I'm really happy that you and the twins get along now."

"Me too. If I'm being honest, I'm afraid at what kind of party they are going to throw."

I laughed at his serious expression. "It doesn't get too wild. McGonagall is more strict than Sprout."

"Thank Helga for that than." He chuckled. "Or our parties would be lame."

"Have you had any problems with Cho recently?"

"No. After I broke up with her at Christmas, she backed off. She still glares at me, or you. But other than that..."

"That's good." I nodded.

"What about you and Angelina?" I frowned as I thought it over.

"Glares of course, even after all these months. But other than that... I just don't know if she has given up or if she still plotting something."

"Hm. Have you asked the twins about it?"

"No, I don't want them to worry."

"Alright, but if something happens you come to me, okay? Or if you just have an inkling that she's about to do something."

"I will, I promise. Thanks, Ced."

"Anytime." He kissed the top of my head.

"So... you got your sights on a girl?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. Even after being with George for three months, I was still afraid of the answer.

"No." He said slowly gauging my reaction. I looked down to the floor and internally let out a breath of relief. I know it wasn't fair to George, but feelings don't just disappear. But my feelings for George were strong, and I think I'm really falling in love with him as I try to put my feelings for Cedric aside. "Maybe I can snog a girl tonight." He chuckled. "But not ready to be in a serious relationship.

"Come on! The fat lady won't let the portrait open forever!" Lyra cried out from the top of the stairs.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist, Davis!" Cedric called back laughing as we climbed the stairs. When we reached the stairs, we heard the music playing loudly already and I saw people dancing and drinking in the common room. I ducked my head to the other side of the open painting and smiled at the fat lady.

"Mathilda, how are you?"

"I'm excellent, my child. I'm actually off to go drink some wine a few paintings down." She giggled.

"Oh, then I better let you to it." I winked.

"Better give your birthday boy a good snog, Gwen." She giggled again before she walked out of her painting. I turned to look at the others who were watching me.

"I hope we're the last ones, because the fat lady is gone." I laughed as I climbed the portrait hole with the others. My eyes scanned the room quickly, in search of the birthday boys. I found them in the corner, standing on a little platform showing of their homemade fireworks for their spectators, that included a lot of girls fawning over them. But the moment George noticed me come in, he pushed the last pieces of fireworks in Fred's hands, who grumbled under his breath, and raced down to me. He picked me up by my waist and twirled me around. When he put me down, he kissed me softly, before turning to the other three Hufflepuffs.

"Happy birthday, mate." Cedric clapped his back and handed over a gift.

"Thanks, Ced. Oh, we brought some butterbeer with a twist that you like, it's right over there." George said pointing behind him, while his other hand was wrapped around my waist. Cedric grinned and walked over to the table.

"Happy birthday, George." Lyra smiled and Odin tipped his head as he handed over a bottle of fire whiskey.

"Wicked! Thanks guys!"

"We'll let you two to it." Odin said as he dragged his girlfriend to the other side of the room.

"Happy birthday." I smiled as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Even better now that you're here." He said as he kissed me.

"Oi, you big sap!" Fred's voice came next to us. We turned to face him, George with a scowl on his face, I with a grin. "Don't I get a happy birthday?" He pouted.

"Happy birthday, Fred." I kissed his cheek and handed over his present. Fred excitedly opened the present to reveal a whole set of different muggle fireworks. "I thought you might like to learn or tweak a bit from the muggle version of fireworks."

"Brilliant!" Fred kissed her cheek. "Thanks, Guinevere. I'll put these upstairs." He said before he ran up the stone spiral staircase.

"What about my present?" George had his own pout, finishing it off with doe eyes. I stood on my toes and leaned closer to whisper in his ear.

"I'll give it to you later." I purred. "It's a present for your eyes only." I felt him shiver against me as he gripped my waist. And even though I couldn't see him, I knew his eyes were dark and full of lust. "So, don't get waisted tonight. Or the only one who's going to see it is me." I pulled back, gave his cheek a chaste kiss and walked to the refreshment table, leaving a stunned and flustered George behind.

The party was fun and not to crazy. Harry had to drag Ron up the stairs when he got too plastered again and asked me to transfigure into certain animals or people. I've seen Hermione kiss Fred's cheek for his birthday, both blushing before she headed off to bed. I was glad there wasn't any truth or dare tonight, and after the party calmed down a bit, I was sitting in front of the fireplace with a glass of fire whiskey in my hand. Cedric was talking to a fifth year Gryffindor girl I didn't recognize while Lyra and Odin sneaked away an hour ago. To my right Fred and George were laughing at something Lee said. I drank the last bit of my glass empty before I stood up and went to Cedric.

"Hey, Ced." I smiled at him and the girl. "I'm heading off to bed. I'll see you tomorrow." I kissed his cheek.

"Breakfast?" He smiled as he gave my hand a little squeeze.

"Breakfast." I smiled and squeezed back. "Are you going to get back alright?"

"I'm a big boy, you know." He teased and I rolled my eyes. "Night, love."

"Night." I turned and headed to the twins and Lee. When I arrived at the little group, George wrapped his arms around my waist in an instant as he continued talking about a prank they were planning. I leaned my head against his chest as my eyes roamed the room. I saw Angelina and Alicia in the corner whispering, making me feel on edge. I tore my eyes away from the two girls and looked up to George. "I'm going to bed."

"I'll come with." He stopped his conversation and turned to me.

"No, no." I smiled and patted his chest. "You stay, have some fun and enjoy your birthday. I'm just knackered."

"Are you sure?" His brows knitted together.

"Yes." I chuckled and stood on my toes to kiss him softly. Then I turned to the other two. "Night, boys." I kissed them both on the cheek, and after they said their goodnights, I walked up to George's dorm.

When I entered the room, I closed the door behind me and changed into the lingerie that I bought for his birthday and climbed into the warm bed, that smelled of fireworks and candy. Just as I started to drift off, the door opened, and the twins and Lee appeared. I didn't open my eyes as they changed and waited for George to climb into bed with me. And like I preferred, he stepped into the bed with only his boxers on. His body radiated of heat as I curled myself into him, my head on his chest. George closed the curtains and put a silencing charm on it.

"I told you to have fun." I mumbled in his chest.

"This is fun." He whispered, but there was something off in his voice. I lifted my head to look at him.

"George?"

"It's nothi -" He started to say but cut off his own sentence when he saw my look and sighed. "The moment you went upstairs, Angelina tried to make a move." I clenched my teeth and balled my fists; George rubbed the balled fist on his chest reassuringly. "I didn't let her do anything."

"I know." I relaxed my hand on his chest. "I trust you."

George caressed my cheek and leaned in kissing me passionately. He leaned his head against mine with a little smile. "I love you."

"What?" My eyes wide as I looked at him.

"I love you. I'm so in love with you that those two nitwits can't stop teasing me about it." His smile soft, his eyes full of love. "I don't need you to say it back." He traced his thumb over my cheek softly. "I know you've been through a lot this year." His voice so soft.

"I'm not ready." I admitted, casting my head down. But George just lifted my head again as he tipped his finger under my chin.

"That's okay. I can wait."

"You're amazing, you know that?" I smiled before I kissed him, and I tried to put everything into the kiss that I felt for him. George wrapped his strong arms around my, pulling me slightly on top of him. He kissed the top of my head, and I smiled. "Night, Georgie."

"Good night, love."

The next morning, I woke up first when I heard the door close. I opened my eyes and looked over my shoulder, where George was still sleeping firmly, being my big spoon. I leaned forward, trying not to wake him, and looked out of the curtains. Fred and Lee's bed were empty, I smiled as I took my wand from the nightstand and locked the door. I closed the curtains again and rolled over so I could straddle the still sleeping George. I started kissing his chest and went down slowly, it was when I was near the hem of his boxers, I felt him stiffen. I looked up at him innocently as I saw his eyes pop open. He looked down and saw me sitting near his morning erection.

"Morning. I thought I'd give you your birthday present." I say as I played with the hem of his boxers.

"I thought you in my bed was the present."

"Hm." I hummed as I licked my lips, and my hand slipped under his boxers gripping him firmly in my hand, making him groan. "I've been in your bed plenty." I gave him a lopsided smirk. "This was actually the present." I straightened up, revealing the black negligée, that accentuated my breast perfectly. I was happy when I hear George's breath hitch. The night before he didn't see wat I was wearing as the room was dark and I was already under the covers. I slowly moved my hand up and down as I took him out of his boxers. I sent him a flirty wink before I took him into my mouth. George's hands grasped the bedsheets while he tried to keep his eyes on me. But when it became too much, his head fell back as he came with my name on his lips. I was just getting back under the covers, but George stopped me as he jumped up and hovered over me with a predatory grin.

"My turn." His eyes dark as he started kissing me, before going to my breast as he explored my body.