Chapter 34 – Forgive me

GN

Ignoring George was hard. Hearing his voice, seeing him... In the great hall I felt his stare on my back, in our joined classes I saw him glance at me while I avoided eye contact. I was mad at him, but still I longed for his touch, for him to sit close next to me. Every time my eyes (involuntary, I might add) found him, my heart skipped a beat. A mixture of anger, love and frustration filled my head and my heart when I saw him or think of him.

I walked into greenhouse seven for my first Herbology class that year and took a seat near the back. The room was filled with mistletoe plants. Professor Sprout probably wanted to revise our lesson from last year for our NEWTs at the end of the year as they learned about them last year. Fred walked in the greenhouse, and I saw his eyes search for me. When he found me, a timid smile appeared on his lips and walked over. He hopped up on the stool next to me.

"Hi, Guinevere."

"Hello, Fred." I kissed his cheek quickly and put on my gloves and apron. "Good summer?"

"Guinevere, you -"

"Don't!" I snapped and put up my hand, and he fell quiet. "I need to focus on class." I said as I looked to Professor Sprout in front of the green house. In the corner of my eye, I saw Fred look at me for a few minutes before he turned to Professor Sprout when she started to speak. I talked to Fred during the classes we shared, but he never asked or told me to speak to his twin again. I knew he wanted to, but we just talked about our classes.

GN

"Hey, Gwen?" A soft voice came from behind me when I placed my bag over my shoulder and headed out the Transfiguration classroom. I turned just as I stepped out of the classroom and saw a nervous chaser in front of me.

"Angelina?"

"I come in peace; I promise." She held out up her hands with a small smile. "Can I talk to you?" She nudged her head to the side of the corridor. I nodded briskly; my shoulders tense as I followed her until we were alone.

"So..." I started with a slight frown.

"So..." She scratched her temple nervously. "I wanted to apologize."

I had a hard time to stop my mouth from falling open, so I just looked at her wide-eyed. "What?"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry about last year, about how I acted." My shoulders started to relax as I saw the sincerity in her eyes. "I wasn't over George, and I was jealous. I know it isn't any excuse of my behaviour, but I want to apologize and make it up to you. I don't know how yet, but I will."

"Wasn't expecting that." I said honestly as I let out a breath of relief.

"I should have come to you sooner. But I let my pride; my stubbornness get in the way. I knew I was wrong and did horrible things to you last year, I came to my senses before the third task. I know how happy you make George, happier than I could ever make him. Could you find a way to forgive me?"

"Uhm..." I hesitated. "I think I can, maybe not today or even next week, but I think we can get past it."

"Thank you." Angelina suddenly flung her arms around me, and I froze. She pulled back beaming as she guided me to the great hall. Her face turned serious when we almost reached the great hall for lunch. "There is something I need to tell you." She glanced around the corridor. "You still need to be careful with Cho. I know you and Cedric are just friends, now that you and George... but she blames you for the break-up. She came up to me to ask me to help her get him back, to get you out of the way but I refused... she didn't like that."

I pursed my lips as I frowned at the stone floor beneath my feet. "Thanks for the warning."

"Anytime." She gave me a rueful smile. She turned to walk in the great hall before looking over her shoulder. "Sit with me in the next Transfiguration?"

"I think I can handle that." I smiled before I walked over to the Hufflepuff table.

GN

I stopped laughing at Cedric's joke as I saw George waiting for me just outside the great hall. His eyes were fixed on me, and my heart skipped a beat, once again.

"Can - can I talk to you?" He asked, the hope in his voice was clear.

"Ced and I-" I started trying to find an excuse and looked next to me, just to see Cedric gone. I grumbled internally and promised myself to get back at him. I sighed and cast my eyes to George. "Fine."

George held out his arm, but I wasn't ready to get that close to him, to touch him. I didn't know if I could stay mad at him if I did. I stepped up next to him and let him show me the way to a more private place. He guided me to the first empty classroom he could find, and I stepped to the other side of the room, creating as much distance between us as I could. I heard the door close, but my eyes were fixed on the books against the wall as my fingers grazed the back of the books.

"Guinevere." George voice a whisper but clear in the empty and silent room. My fingers stopped at a muggle book, but I didn't turn around. "Please, look at me." His voice still came from his spot at the door.

I shook my head slightly, my eyes still on the books. "I can't." My voice trembled and I fought back the tears that were starting to form.

"I'm sorry."

I huffed and turned around angry; George had his head down. "For what exactly?" I spat at him; I couldn't help myself. I was so hurt and angry it's been bubbling up all summer. "For not having the decency to break up with me in person?!"

George's head snapped up, his eyes wide. "Break up? No, I didn't - I don't... I don't want to break up."

"You could've fooled me."

"Guinevere..."

"Stop!" I put up my hand. "Stop saying my name." I glanced at the floor. I heard George coming closer and I stepped back.

"Please." He was close and reached out for my wrist, but I refused to look up. "I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye."

I looked up to him with fierce and angry eyes. He was close, so close. I could feel his breath ghost over my face. I shook my head. "I understood that part. Cedric and Bash explained it all to me. The rest of the summer on the other hand." I looked back down. George's hand came to my cheek and caressed it softly, guiding me to look at him.

"Do you remember the Order of the Phoenix in the first war?"

"Yes." I frowned, not knowing what this has to do with anything.

"Dumbledore started the order back up again, now that You-Know-Who is back. We were moved to a safe house this summer. We weren't allowed to go out or write letters, to anyone."

"Hm." I gave slow nod and looked down; his hand fell away from my cheek. "And you couldn't send a fire message or find anyway to send a single word? I don't believe you and Fred couldn't find a way to send one simple message without it being traced."

"We tried. We send out a fire message but the moment it reached the barrier of the safe house it went out in flames. I tried to sneak out, but we couldn't apparate outside of the house and the floo was closed off." He pulled up his sleeve and showed a white scar on his elbow. "When I tried to apparate out, I bounced off against the wards and it left a mark." My hand unwittingly went up to his elbow and my thumb graced the scar. "I tried everything to write to you or to come see you. Charlie had come over in July, but I just missed him because Fred and I were in our room searching for a place to start the shop. The next time I saw him, you already left Romania and were staying at Cedric's, so I couldn't pass on a message." With my hand still on his elbow, his free hand reached up to cup my cheek. "I'm so sorry." I looked at him, my eyes shined with unshed tears. "Please forgive me." His voice a whisper as he leaned his head against mine.

I let out a dry chuckle. "That's the second time this week I've been asked for forgiveness."

"So, I've heard." He murmured. "Forgive me." He whispered again. I lifted my eyes and instead of answering his question I stood on the tips of my toes and kissed him. One of George's hands went to my waist and pulled me closer, while the other was still firmly on my cheek. My hands were resting on his chest when he pulled back. "You thought I... you thought I broke up with you. Did you and Cedric?"

I shook my head. "No. No one." I whispered against his chin.

"Thank Godric, Helga, Rowena and damn it even Salazar." He sighed happily and kissed me again, but now more franticly, more passionately. My arms found their way around his neck and pulled him down. My body melted against him, it'd been so long since I felt his touch, his lips. I missed him, more than I care to admit, but I only noticed it now, all summer I was filled with anger and insecurity. I kept myself busy the whole summer to keep my mind off him. So, now it all came flooding in and I didn't want to let go.

GN

That day we spend the whole day together. After we finally departed from the empty classroom, we spend our time wandering around the castle, catching up. George told me about the money Harry and Cedric gave him and Fred and that they were now producing more and more products as they looked for a property to start their shop. After sitting together in the great hall, George's arm around my waist the hole time; and Fred that grinned happily and said: Ah, George finally got a hold on you, hé? Now he can stop moping around. I chuckled as George threw a piece of bread at his twin's head. We made our way to the Gryffindor tower. I sat in his bed with his quidditch shirt on and a pair of his pyjama bottoms as I twirled my necklace between my fingers. George flopped down next to me, and I turned so we could face each other.

"I missed you." His index finger trailed my face slowly. "Fred was going sparse with me whining and dragging around that dreadful house, there was nothing to do besides clean."

"And making products for the shop." I pointed out as I bobbed his nose. "You can't convince me you two didn't work on them." I chuckled and George's grin was the only confirmation I needed. "And I missed you too."

"Did you really have time to miss me? From what I heard you were all in with the dragons." He gave me a lopsided grin.

"Hm." I hummed with a nod as my fingers trailed the buttons of his pyjama shirt. "I was." My eyes followed my fingers as I twisted the buttons between them. "I may have missed you a night or two when I was there." I smirked at him with a shrug.

George clutched his heart in mock shock. "Don't break my heart, queen Guinevere." He exclaimed dramatically, his hand falling on his forehead like a damsel in distress. Before he rolled over and hovered above me. "I love you." He said as his eyes locked with mine, and before I had a chance to replicate the words, his lips were on mine and the kiss deepened quickly.