Chapter 77 - George
OoO
George apparated in front of Andromeda's house. He closed his eyes and took in slow and deep breaths, trying to find the courage to knock the door. Memories of Guinevere flashed through his mind. The World Cup, the ball, their first kiss. The way she fit in with his family, the way she helped Fred and him realize their dream. Then the more unpleasant ones. The pulling away, the break-up, the news about her and Cedric, their marriage. Cedric's death, the pregnancy. The disappearance.
He tried to move on once she officially tied the knot with Cedric. He really tried. When she disappeared after the battle, when Charlie showed him the note, something broke inside of him. He tried to understand why she did it, but why couldn't she see that George and the others would help her get through it. When Harry told her she had been in contact, another piece of him broke. Because why would she contact Harry and not him or Fred? Now, of course, he knew Harry bumped into her by accident. George hadn't heard a word from her since her disappearance.
He started dating a few months after she left. Nothing serious until Gloria. She made him happy, he met her during a social event from the ministry they were invited to. She worked as an Unspeakable at the ministry. After a year of dating, they moved in together. Six months later their relationship blew up. She had hinted that he wasn't always there, not fully in their relationship. But he waved it off, telling her he was all in, despite the fact that he knew she wasn't the one, that she wasn't the one he'd marry one day. When one night, she found a box underneath their bed when she searched for a lost earing. In the box were pictures of George and Guinevere together, one of her alone and the pocketknife and the Quidditch jersey. He came back from the shop, finding her sitting on their bed, the things inside sprawled over his duvet. That night, she left him. He took it a lot easier than he expected to. Only Fred knew about what happened between them. He might have tried to talk to George that maybe Gloria was right, that he still wasn't over Guinevere. But just like the time when they stayed with her at her parents' house during the war, he waved it off and ignored the feeling in deep within. Time had passed, dates had come and gone, and now there w-
George was pulled out of his thoughts when the door opened in front of him. Harry was glaring at him, his hand still on the door, not pulling it all the way open. "You know there are wards up here, don't you? I know you've been standing here for over five minutes."
"Right." He looked down and shuffled his feet. "C-can I talk to Guinevere?"
Harry crossed his arms over his chest. Showing off his broad muscle arms he got as an Auror. George never been afraid of Harry. But now seeing him as a full Auror, the glare pointed at him, and knowing he was in the wrong, it sends a chill down his spine. George could hear the kids laughing inside the house, then a voice he waited years to hear again.
"Watch out, watch out!" She laughed. "It's going to fall!" Then a crash and the kids laughed again. "Harry, who is it?"
"Uhm." He looked over his shoulder inside the house. George heart stopped for a second when she appeared next to him a large smile on her face. She pushed her hair behind her ear and wrapped an arm around his waist, and her smile faltered when she saw who was standing at the door. Gods, she was beautiful.
"Can I talk to you?" George asked quietly.
She glanced over to Harry and gave a small nod. He kissed the top of her head before disappearing inside. "Now you want to talk?" She said a bit snippy.
"Please." He didn't care if he sounded desperate.
"Alright." She sighed and closed the door behind her. "Let's go to the garden."
OoO
Feeling surprised to see George at the doorstep was an understatement. Even though my heart was beating fast at the sight of him, the anger got the better of me. I finally agreed to talk to him and led him to the garden. I took a seat at one of the two swing sets that were hanging on a thick three branch. George sat down next to me. I swayed a little back and forward as we sat in silence.
Then he broke the silence. "I'm sorry." I didn't say anything and waited for more. "I think I'm still in shock that you're here. It took me a while to get over the fact that you'd left, then not hearing from you for four years."
I looked down as my toes wiggled through the grass. "I know it was selfish of me, leaving like that. I know I hurt a lot of people." I glanced at George who was looking at me, his eyes soft. "I was in dark place after he died, a really dark place. I almost died, I almost lost CJ when I -" I faltered, I didn't want to tell him about their charms. "When I didn't take care of myself."
George gasped a little and I saw his hand quiver, debating if he should take my hand or not. I pulled my hand away from the iron chains, I wiped a tear away before I rested both hands in my lap.
"I wish I could've been there for you."
"Hm." I said looking at my hands. "I wouldn't have accepted your help, George. I only accepted Bash and Charlie's help after... that." Silence fell between us for a moment. I glanced up at the sky as the sun was setting.
"I'm sorry that I didn't reach out." George said. "After the karaoke bar. I'm sorry for running out of there. You kissing Harry was... unexpected."
"You saw that?" I tore my gaze from the sky and looked to George.
"Yeah." He rubbed his neck looking at ground. "So, two unexpected things happened that night. Seeing you and seeing the kiss."
"Harry and I are just friends; the kiss was a onetime thing."
He nodded. "Harry told me."
"I understood why you left like that, even if it hurt, a lot. But the time after and then earlier."
"I know." George groaned and ran a hand through his long hair. I stared at the way his long hair fell through his fingers. Damn, he looked good with long hair! "When Harry told us part of your story, I was making my way to contact you. But I didn't know how or what the best way was after just storming out like that. And when I saw you again, I don't know." He frowned. "I-"
"Panicked?" George looked at me, and he gave me a short nod. "I know the feeling."
"Yeah, left your iron on?" George's lip twitched up and I chuckled. "I've missed you." He said barely a whisper. My heart was beating fast at those few words. I heard the swing squeak and George appeared in front of me. I stood up without thinking and walked into his arms.
I couldn't stop the tears and when George noticed this, his arms around me got tighter. "I've missed you too. More than you can imagine." I clung to his shirt.
"I can imagine, believe me." He said quietly and kissed the top of my head. I didn't want to let him go, it felt natural being in his arms again. It felt like home. I reluctantly pulled back, but George still had his arms around me as he looked down. I reached out and tugged his hair.
"You've grown out your hair."
"You've noticed." His grin made me melt a little.
"Hard to miss. But I like it, too bad you didn't have long hair back at school." I chuckled.
"Now, you're the one with short hair." He tugged on my hair now. Then a blush formed on his neck and ears, and I cocked my head with a little smile. "It looks good on you. You – uhm – look good."
My smile turned even bigger at his flustered face. "Just good, huh?" I teased. "You look very handsome, Georgie." I leaned up and kissed his cheek. George stood frozen with a shocked expression. "I should head inside, need to tuck the two devils in." I stepped out of the embrace, and I immediately felt cold.
"Want to try the shop again? Maybe stay for dinner?" He was still blushing. Interesting. "Fred wants to see you too." He quickly added.
"I would love to. Maybe next Friday? CJ and Teddy are staying over at Bill and Fleur's for the night."
"It's a date." He grinned. "Uhm, well yeah, no. Not a date-" He stumbled over his words and my smile grew. I squeezed his hand and leaned in to kiss his cheek again.
"I'll see you next week, George. Goodnight."
"Night." He whispered as I walked to the backdoor. I saw the shadows of Andy and Harry quickly disappear behind the curtain and I shook my head. When I reached the door, I glanced over my shoulder and gave him a last smile before heading in.
OoO
The week went by fast. Harry tried to convince me to come to the burrow on Sunday, but I wanted to see the twins separately first before diving into the burrow. CJ's birthday was coming closer, and I started planning his party. And I convinced Andy that after the party I would start to really look for my own place. It took some time to convince her, and I had to promise to connect the floo with her or live close by, but I could live with that. It was going to hard enough to separate the boys and me from Andy, but I still believe it was for the best.
I had lunch with Fleur a few days ago while Harry took the three kids to The Tricycle. I told her what happened when George stopped by and that I was having dinner with him and Fred that Friday. There was a mysterious glint in her eye when I told her about George, but I couldn't figure out why that was. Now, I had dropped the kids at Shell's cottage and wished them all the luck before disappearing in the flames with a laugh. And like the twins had owled, because they still didn't have a phone, I arrived in the backroom. I wasn't greeted by the twins but by Lee. I smiled and hugged him.
"I'm not going to flirt with you now." Lee grinned as I pulled back. "Someone else is going to take over for that." Lee laughed as I slapped his chest. "Come on, they're on the floor. It's been busy today."
"Maybe I should come another day." I offered as we walked to the front.
"Don't be daft. The twins would kill me if I let you go. They already made all the preparations for dinner."
"Preparations?" I raised an eyebrow. "I thought it was just something simple."
"With the twins nothing is simple." He snickered and I couldn't help but agree. I saw Fred standing at the register, his back was towards us. When he rang up the costumer, he turned with a grin, then he bowed excessively deep.
"Queen Guinevere."
"Sir Frederik." I gave a curtsy. We grinned at each other before I leaped in his arms. He twirled me around and I laughed. Even with all the people in the shop, my laughter filled the room. "I've missed you, you goofball." I smiled once he put me down.
"I missed you too." He hugged me again. "I'm sorry about before."
"It's okay, Fred." Fred opened his mouth to reply but I jumped back in. "What I need to hear is the story about how you finally snapped up the brightest witch of her age."
Fred let out a booming laugh, but the tips of his ears turned red. "I tell you all about it later. But first -" He turned me around, he leaned close and whispered. "You're tour guide awaits."
George was leaning against the spiral staircase. His hair half up in a bun again, his arms were crossed over his chest, but he wore a signature lopsided smile. My heart was thumping fast in my chest. He pushed himself off the staircase and walked over.
"Welcome to our humble shop, Guinevere."
I snorted very un-lady like. "Humble my ass."
"What a foul mouth for a mother. I think she should learn some manners from our mother, don't you think, Georgie?" Fred snickered and I turned to punch his arm. "Maybe a lesson about hitting too."
"Before you beat my twin black and blue, let's start the tour, yeah." George took the hand I was about to use to punch Fred again, and guided me up the stairs, not letting go. I looked over my shoulder and glared at the two men downstairs. But again, a mysterious glint was seen in their eyes just like it was with Fleur. I shrugged it off and continued the climb upstairs. George's hand around mine gave me butterflies. No! No butterflies. I thought to myself. You haven't seen him in years, that's not possible. It must me the familiarity of it, yeah that must be it. I decided.
George started at the top floor and showed and tested out almost every product they had. He was using his sales pitch voice, the one they used on young women. A wink here, a compliment there, nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing like the flirting he did back in the day, unashamed and obvious. Then a thought popped in my head, something Harry said the first time I saw him since I got back. I heard he's seeing someone new, but he hasn't introduced her to the family. The thought made my stomach clench together but why? Why should I care that he's seeing someone? Get it out of your head. George and you, that can never happen.
We ended the tour downstairs, just as Lee and Fred were closing down the shop. George took me to the last corner.
"And of course, we can't forget our best-seller, the daydream charms. We have an adult line too." He pointed to the boxes on the highest shelve, away from kids' hands. But a panic attack started to form from the moment I saw those familiar boxes. I began to breath heavily and clutched at my chest. "Guinevere?" George's voice was filled with worry. He wrapped his arm around me, just as my knees gave out. "Guinevere! Fred! Lee!"
I heard distant footsteps coming closer, but I couldn't make out any figures above me. Black spots invaded my eyesight, and my breaths became rapid.
"What's happening?" A voice asked close to me.
"I don't know." George's voice, definitely. I felt I was lifted from the ground. "A panic attack, maybe? We know she gets them."
"Get her upstairs. Lee, you go get Harry. He will know what to do."
"Guinevere." George's voice reached me, but I couldn't answer. I didn't feel or notice George climbing the stairs, but I felt it when he lowered me onto something soft. A bed maybe? Then George's hand was in mine while the other caressed my head. "Breathe, love, breathe."