LIONHEART ❃ george weasley

053 | friend in need

"Al, that's amazing!" George cheered, pushing forward to celebrate at the girl's side. She grinned up at him almost nervously, pulling the towel tighter around herself.

"Couldn't have done it without you," she replied nonetheless, and smiled.

Carly was shrieking with unbridled excitement still as Fleur Delacour tentatively approached, glancing curiously at her shorter classmate. Carly didn't notice her presence for several beats, though hastily ceased bouncing as she did, smiling sheepishly.

"F-Fleur," she greeted the blonde, stumbling over her words. "Bien joué."

"Merci, Carly," Fleur returned with a genuine smile, and the curly-haired girl was so flustered by this she had to turn away, pulling sharply at her curls. Fleur appeared a little confused by this response, though turned to Albany instead. "Et — ah, Albany, is it?" she asked sweetly; her English was not nearly as fluent as Carly's had become.

"Yeah," Albany replied awkwardly, eyes drawn to the fresh cuts that littered Fleur's face. She'd been attacked by grindylows too, then.

"You saved my sister," Fleur said earnestly. "Though she was not your 'ostage."

Albany blinked, glancing to Harry. "It was — it was all Harry, really," she insisted hastily. "I just helped him, he should get all the credit, really—"

She stopped abruptly as Fleur kissed her once on each cheek, her words dying in her throat with a feeble "oh".

Fleur flashed the group another smile before leaving their company once again. It was a little difficult to tear her eyes from her, even as she walked away — though the second George brushed against her shoulder, Albany's awareness was brought back completely. Carly and Fred were the last to turn away.

"She's really something, eh?" Fred murmured breathlessly. "Just something about her."

Albany, shocked, glared at him. "Fred!" she chided, reaching across George to slap the boy's arm. "Angelina's right here."

Angelina, however, only laughed. "You didn't tell her, Fred?"

Albany's glare snapped back to Fred. "Tell me what?"

Fred grinned at her sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Er... that we broke up?"

Albany gaped at him, and Fred nervously took a step back. "Fred Weasley," she growled lowly, and the redhead in question pushed George between them in attempt to defend himself. "You didn't think it was important to tell me? Again?!"

"I thought you had other things on your mind!" Fred said hastily. "George, help me!"

"George can't save you now, Weasley!"

⋆ ⋆ ⋆

The celebrations after the Hogwarts success at the second task lasted long into the night. Albany couldn't get a minute to herself, even after dodging the Slytherin party to attend the Gryffindor one once again, where she figured Harry would be the centre of attention. The constant socialising was tiring, and on top of her exhaustion from the task that morning, she wanted nothing more than to go to sleep; but that said, she far preferred sticking it out in Gryffindor tower than facing Faith and the rest of the Slytherins. Their parting words before the second task still unnerved her, mostly because she still had no idea what the "goodbye" had been referring to. She'd half been expecting Morgana to attempt to kill her in the middle of the second task, but she'd crossed paths with Freya instead; and she hadn't even had time to discuss that whole ordeal with Merlin or Arthur yet.

"What was the lake like?" Colin Creevey was currently asking with wide eyes as Albany fought back a yawn. "Was it scary?"

"Oh yeah," she replied softly, her voice nearly lost again. "Really scary. It was dark, and cold—"