Hello! How are you all?
I'm here after some time, and today's one-shot was brought to you by a request from
I hope you enjoy it and have as much fun reading it as I had writing! Now without further ado, I'll leave you to the one-shot. :)
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As soon as I stepped inside Grimmauld Place I almost regretted it, because it took me no longer than a second to realize that I would be a snake in the midst of lions.
Sweet Salazar, I could already see the stink eyes and hear the whispered words.
But I hadn't made my way up the Auror department and hadn't become one of the youngest highest-ranking Aurors in history by listening to whispered words or believing whatever the rumour mill was saying, and that had been why I had quit my job as an Auror and decided to join the Order of the Phoenix, when Tonks presented me with the invitation to do so, of course.
I gripped my bag when a man with a moustache and scars on his face walked past us and Tonks gave him the heart eyes when he gave us a quick hello.
So that should be Remus Lupin, I'd say.
"Right, so this is probably not exactly what you're used to, but welcome to the Headquarters. I'll show you to our room and then we can come downstairs for the meeting." Tonks gave a quick glance to her watch. "We should have time for that."
As we climbed upstairs, we bumped into a red-headed teenager on his way down and as I took one good look at him, I figured he probably was one of the younger Weasleys. The red hair couldn't fool anyone on that point.
"Shafiq?" he asked, and I nodded before I stuck my hand out for him to shake.
"I am assuming you are one of the younger Weasleys? I'd recognize Bill and Charlie anytime, and I am one thousand percent sure Percy wouldn't step in here. Also, I've seen Percy only last week and he looked nothing like you." I said and he nodded.
"I'm Ron, the youngest of the guys." He said as he shook my hand and I nodded as a memory hit me. "Last time we saw each other I was like ten years old."
"Oh, how could I forget? You kept following me around that one time I spent summer at your house! You even wrote me a little love letter." I said as Tonks laughed and Ron blushed.
"Way past that Shafiq, but nice seeing you here." He said before he jogged downstairs, and as we continued our way up, I turned to Tonks.
"When's the Potter boy getting here?" I asked and Tonks shrugged.
"Sometime along these days I'm betting. Dumbledore's dropping him off." She said before she turned right and walked to the fourth door, opening it. "And this is our room."
I stepped inside the room, placing my suitcase near the neatly arranged and empty bed, as Tonks threw herself on top of the other bed.
"I still can't believe you quit your job as an Auror." She said as I opened my suitcase and began placing my clothes on the bed. "The two top drawers on the dresser are mine, you can have the others."
I nodded as I began putting my clothing in the drawers." After the tournament and the Quidditch World Cup last year and what I saw there, and the Ministry still denying the return of You-Know-Who while the department were working ourselves off trying to round up as many of his followers as possible, it was the only option for me. Those lies just don't cut it with me." I explained and Tonks nodded.
"They couldn't have been happy to let go one of their top Aurors for sure." She said and I sighed as I folded one of my sweaters neatly.
"Oh they weren't. That is why I agreed to stay on the back-up list. I will eventually quit for good, unless they take a drastic turn and decide to be honest for once, which I somehow doubt." I said and Tonks nodded.
"Same here, but I did that a while back, my mum wasn't good, and I couldn't very well get sent off without any way to contact her, so I enlisted myself as part of the reserve team." She said and I nodded, before she stood up. "You can finish this later, c'mon, we need to get going."
We exited the room, and she closed the door, locking it, and I rose my eyebrow. "The Weasley twins are here, who knows what they might get up to while we are in that meeting." She said and I shook my head.
The twins?
I hadn't laid my eyes on them since they were measly second years, attending their older brother's graduation ceremony. Ever since then, I had always noticed their inclinations towards the mischievous ways.
They had, after all, turned my robes neon pink when I had stepped up to receive my diploma.
We walked downstairs, bumping into Mrs. Weasley, who smiled at the both of us.
"Oh dearies, they are running a bit behind schedule," I felt my eye twitch ever so slightly. I loathed anything falling behind schedule. "Harry's not coming for a few weeks."
I hid my will to let out a huff, I was more professional than that.
I found the heavy weight of Mrs. Weasley's eyes on me, and I turned to meet her gaze head-on, giving her a slight smile.
"Oh, it really is you! I haven't seen you since you graduated!" she said as she hugged me, and when I looked at Tonks, she just shrugged as she walked away. "How's everything? Arthur said you are already one of the top Aurors around the department?" she asked, and I nodded.
"Everything's great Mrs. Weasley, and you?" I asked and she nodded with a smile, as if to say she was okay as well. "Oh, I trained under Moody, I was bound to end up being a good Auror." I said shyly and Mrs. Weasley nodded.
"And on the love department? Are you married? You surely aren't, I see no ring on your finger. Maybe there's a dashing young man?" She asked, and I shook my head. I was building my career, I barely had time to breath, let alone date!
"So, if you don't have anyone, maybe I could find you someone? My Charlie is still single, and you two used to be so close..." she said wistfully, and I sighed.
"I'm really not looking for a relationship right now, Mrs. Weasley." I admitted, and Mrs. Weasley let out a loud sigh.
"Well, whatever makes you feel better dearie. But if you ever want to reconsider, I'll owl Charlie for you. I'll see you around." Mrs. Weasley walked away from me, and I walked into the first door that I saw, finding a living room, where Ron and the twins were seating, with a curly-haired girl I found oddly familiar.
"Auror Shafiq!" the girl greeted as she stood up quickly to greet me.
I let out a light laugh as I shook her hand. "You can just call me Shafiq. Technically I'm not an Auror anymore."
"Oh, it's an honour to meet such a renowned Auror!" she said, and I laughed again.
"And what is your name?" I asked and she blushed slightly.
"I'm Hermione Granger." She introduced and I nodded as I recalled from where she seemed familiar.
"Oh, just last year I was in charge of reading your statement on the Moody impersonator!" I said before I took a seat. "Brilliant phrasing and exceptional memory." I complimented and Hermione muttered a small thanks as she blushed.
I turned to the twins, as I took in how much they had grown, now being about half a head taller than me. "And you two... Still causing trouble in Hogwarts, I expect?"
"We are deeply offended that you hold us in such low praise." They said in chorus, and I sighed, as Ron cut in.
"Don't sell yourselves so short, is there anything else you do at Hogwarts that isn't creating mayhem or providing the tools, so others, do it?" Ron asked, and if the smirks the twins gave were of any indication, it had just been a rhetorical question.
"Now, now, Ronald," one of them began.
"Don't say such things in front of such a lovely lady." The other ended, sending a wink my way and I rolled my eyes, before standing up.
Who did they get this flirtatious way from? Neither Charlie nor Bill had ever been the type to flirt so shamelessly, and I am sure Percy isn't capable of so much as a small smile to anyone who isn't his dearest Minister.
"A lovely lady whose just a few years too old for a child." I said as I walked out of the room, decided to find Tonks, and ask her about how I should deal with this type of behaviour from a guy who I wasn't even legally allowed to address as anything other than a child.
(...)
As an Auror, there is always the possibility of you getting your wand taken away by your enemy, or it getting broken in the line of duty, and as such, we are required to be able to fight in hand-to-hand combat.
Of course, ideally, no Auror should even be prone to get disarmed, since our wands were our biggest weapons, and our best defence lines, but it was still a possibility, which was why I knew how to handle myself on a hand-to-hand combat.
I had taken this opportunity around the Weasley youngest – Ginny I think- and Hermione, to teach them how to fight without their wands. Nothing too complicated, just the basics, like how to do a proper chokehold without killing your opponent.
We had to pass time while we waited for the Potter boy to get here, and seeing as I wasn't on patrol duty today, I had taken to teach these two young ladies how to defend themselves without a wand, should they ever need to.
Let's hope they wouldn't.
"Pull harder Hermione, don't be scared to hurt me." I said softly as I felt Hermione tremble behind me. "Don't worry about hurting me, I will let you know if it becomes unbearable." Which I doubt it would.
Hermione pulled harder and, I let her pull for a while longer, as she applied the pressure, before I waved the hand Hermione was holding down and she promptly let go.
"Great effort. Now, do you know how to throw punches?" I asked and they both giggled. "What am I missing out on?" I asked, confused, before Ginny filled me in.
"Oh, almost two years ago, Hermione punched Draco Malfoy right in the face. From what Harry and Ron said, she did land quite a punch." Hermione looked away, slightly blushing, before she looked back at us.
"My hand hurt for three days after that." She admitted and I smiled.
"Well, let's make a pause for a snack and after I'll teach you how to punch without hurting yourselves." I said as I guided them to the kitchen, so we could get something to eat.
As we entered the kitchen, I noticed the twins sitting there, also eating as they chatted with Sirius, and one of them -the one who had been doing this ever since he'd first seen me when I got here, George- winked at me in that flirtatious way.
"Didn't you say they had girlfriends?" I asked Ginny in a whisper as we went to get stuff for our snacks and she shook her head.
"Fred has a girlfriend, but George and Alicia broke up a few months ago." Ginny whispered back as Kreacher walked by us, mumbling angrily about "mudbloods invading his mistress's space and how Sirius is so ungrateful and disrespectful" completely ignoring us as we tried to make our snacks. "This is the happiest I've seen him since."
I was about to answer her when Tonks came into the room.
"Shafiq! C'mon, something's up." I immediately followed her outside as she updated me about a group of Death-Eaters rounding up the house trying to catch us and we needed to take them down, and the Ministry wasn't going to help us.
Before we stepped out, I saw the look George gave me as he seemed worried about me, but I wasn't. I was more than capable of handling myself in a fight.
(...)
George had been hovering around me ever since Harry had gotten here last week and we'd had that meeting, which neither of them (not even Harry himself) had been allowed to hear.
I knew he only wanted to know what had been discussed in the meeting, and that was only because one of their gadgets had ultimately failed in letting them hear us from behind the door.
Although, from what Tonks said, George hadn't left my bedside when I came back from the fight.
That was another thing. I had underestimated the Death Eaters that we were to catch, and we had managed to win, but it had been just me and Tonks, and I had taken quite a few hits, because I'd body-bind Tonks after I thought I'd seen her get hit by an unknown curse and I had thought she was more hurt than she really was, so I'd jumped in to fend off four Death Eaters on my own, before Moody and Lupin had come to save us, at which point they'd had to carry me to the Headquarters.
I didn't want to think about what it meant, for George to be following me around, and for him to have stayed at my bedside. Not when there was such an enormous threat looming over our heads. And legally, he was still a child, so I really didn't want to read between the lines.
"C'mon Shafiq, you can't possibly tell me you never got drunk." George admonished and I rolled my eyes.
"I take my job as an Auror seriously. Never in my life have I gotten drunk. I barely even went to Hogsmead while I was at Hogwarts." I said as I looked out the window, finding the street completely empty. I looked back at George to find him glaring at me.
"That last one I knew; don't forget I am Charlie's brother. The most handsome one, some may say." He said and I smiled patronizingly at him, which I'd come to learn he hated. Which only lead me to do it more often.
Maybe he was rubbing off on me, but no one needed to know that.
"Really? I always thought Bill was the most handsome Weasley." I said in a serious tone, although I was anything but.
"Though luck sweetheart, Bill's committed right now. But I'm single."
"It would be illegal."
"So you're saying I only need to turn eighteen for you to go out with me?" he asked hopefully, and I rolled my eyes at myself upon realizing my mistake.
"No." I stated. There would be no point in sugar coating it. "You're too young and not serious enough. You like to joke around too much, and I take everything seriously."
"Sirius is in the room next door." George whispered before he added. "Having a little bit of fun never hurt anyone. Look at Snape, he was always too serious and look at him now."
I sighed softly as I looked at George. He did have a point. I needed to have more fun, go out more.
"Then owl me. Once you go back to Hogwarts, owl me and I'll go have a butterbeer with you in Hogsmead. As friends." I caved and saw the way George's eyes were shining as he smiled, a smile that threatened to rip his face in half.
"I'll hold you to that." He said, before he pressed a kiss to my hand and left me alone, as I stared out the window, pondering on what I had just agreed to.
"I thought it was illegal?" Tonks called out from the entrance of the room, and I turned to look at her. "Also, he has to be in love with you, your face looks like you dived head-first in an ink-well and he still managed to keep you company."
"It's not illegal to have a drink with an acquaintance." I informed as I crossed my arms. "George just thinks that I should have more fun and let loose a little more."
"He's not wrong." Tonks said as she shrugged, and I rolled my eyes.
"Technically, I'm working, I'm not here to have fun exactly." I said and Tonks laughed.
"Then why'd you agree to have a drink in Hogsmead when you didn't even go there while you were a student?"
(...)
George had already gone back to Hogwarts, which meant I had been left to my own thoughts and had gone back to being the serious Auror who took her job way too seriously, and even on breaks I was working.
I had to admit that without George around my days were dull, and I had never realized how strict and boring my routine was until it had been broken by George's presence, and I had to say, I missed him.
Until, one day, their owl arrived at number 12 Grimmauld Place, and I dismissed it, thinking it was probably a letter to their mum, but along with that letter, there had been a letter from George, addressed to me, and I would be lying if I said that the letter hadn't put a smile on my face.
Dear Miss Grumpy Pants,
Mum has written in her previous owl (yes, she writes every other day, but we only answer once a week) that you are utterly miserable without my presence and that you are now permanently frowning and are once more relying on coffee to survive.
Well, I'm here to tell you to stop that! What would it take for you to be less grumpy and live a little more? A letter from yours truly every day? If so, I'll do it!
I was discreetly asking around, and I've been told that while working at the Ministry you've hexed Umbridge?
I'm sure you had a good cause (with that woman, the mere fact that she's breathing still is enough cause for a hex), but no one could tell me the hex you used.
Which hex was it?
Keep in my mind that until you answer this question it will be a repeated question in every single letter.
All right, now seriously (yes, I can be Sirius sometimes, just not as old. Pun intended) how are you?
I miss your company more and more each day. I can't wait for Christmas break!
Also, Hagrid wants me to say hi, and so does McGonagall.
McGonagall is really proud, she says you were one of her best, most well-behaved students.
Now, why am I not surprised?
Alright, I want to save some news for Christmas break, so I'll end the letter now.
Love,
George.
P.s. -Next weekend is a Hogsmead weekend, and you know what that means... We, my dear, have a date. Hope to see you there!
The letter had really brought a spark to my day, and from the looks I was getting from everyone in this house, I could tell that it was obvious that George really impacted my mood for the better.
I was seating outside in the backyard, enjoying my lunch as I looked around, keeping an eye out for anything that seemed weird.
And right now, what seemed weird was Sirius and Molly (she had insisted I called her by her first name) seating down on either side of me.
"Can I help any of you?" I asked cautiously as I side-eyed them carefully when neither of them said a word.
"It's a lovely day out." Molly said with a smile, and I rose an eyebrow, before retributing her smile uncertainly.
"Even more so if you're in love and have received a letter from a certain special someone." Sirius contributed and I rolled my eyes.
So, they were here because of George's letter. Of course.
"I see no point to this conversation, or to whatever Sirius has just said." I admitted bluntly as I took a bit of my sandwich, and Sirius laughed.
"Now dear," Molly began "if you think I have a problem with whatever you and George get up to because of the six years age gap, I don't, as long as you are being safe." Molly said and I turned white at her words before I hurried to counter.
"George and I are only friends Molly! It would be illegal, and highly unprofessional of me!" I clarified and Sirius laughed.
"So what you're saying is that after he turns eighteen, you're totally cool with it." Sirius said and I rolled my eyes and stood up, my mood and appetite completely spoiled.
"This conversation is over."
(...)
I had stood in front of my mirror for over forty-five minutes this morning, trying to decide what to wear to go have a butterbeer with George, and that wasn't like me at all.
It had taken me more than I cared to admit to get ready to see George, and as such, I -of all people- was running late to meet him.
I almost ran through Hogsmead, bumping into a whole lot of people in my rush to get to George so he wouldn't be waiting around for me too long.
I got to the Three Broomsticks, and found George near the door, watching his wristwatch attentively.
"I'm sorry I'm so late." I huffed out as I stood in front of him, and George's eyes snapped up towards me, and he smiled as he looped his arm around my shoulders.
"I was beginning to think you stood me up." George said and I rolled my eyes at him.
"You wouldn't let me hear the end of it, and neither would your mum." I said as we headed inside, sitting down on a more hidden booth. "Besides, I told you I'd be here, and I don't back down on my word."
"So, what took you so long? You hate being late." George said and I sighed.
"Getting ready took me too long." I admitted. "It's been a long time since I last went out and I couldn't decide what to wear."
George looked at me more attentively before he gasped. "A dress and make-up?! All for me?!" he asked as he put a hand over his heart, and I rolled my eyes.
"Who's to say I don't have a date after our friendly get together?" I teased and it was George's turn to roll his eyes.
"Please. We both know I'm your only date." George stated as he flagged down Rosmerta and ordered two butterbeers and some pumpkin pasties.
"Oh, so this is a date?" I asked and George nodded as he beamed.
"Of course! I am here alone if you haven't noticed. If this weren't a date you better be damn sure I'd be here with my brother and Lee." He said and I blushed as I looked at him. "Besides, I called it a date in my letter, and you didn't complain."
"Oh yes, the letter which caused your mother and Sirius to tag team in harassing me to get our relationship status updated." I said with a roll of my eyes.
"Mum joined forces with Pads?" he asked, sounding completely surprised and I nodded as Rosmerta placed down our orders with a smile. We both thanked her quietly, and she smiled as she went to serve her other clients. "I'm really sorry for you."
"Not more than I am." I said as I almost forgot I had make-up on and nearly rubbed my eyes.
"Speaking of the letter, which was the hex?" he asked as he sipped his butterbeer and I smirked.
"Wouldn't you like to know, huh Weasley?"
After we had finished our butterbeers and the delicious pumpkin pasties, George and I had decided to take a stroll around Hogsmead, and I was enjoying my time with him, until Umbridge stood in our way.
"Auror Shafiq." She greeted with a fake smile that I imagine was supposed to be sweet, but it only made me want to puke. "Wouldn't imagine this would be the kind of company you'd enjoy."
My eye twitched in annoyance as I addressed her. "Dolores, I never thought the company I keep would be any of your concern."
"Watch your tone Shafiq. You're talking to a powerful witch. One word of mine to the Minister and your career is over." She threatened in a light tone, and I smiled at her.
"Oh but do just that Dolores. Do it and simply forget about that file I have on a certain case, which could ruin your life." I said with a light laugh as I felt George staring at me. "Wouldn't the Minister like to know that his dearest shadow, oh my bad, employee, has been illegally- "
"There's no need to go that way Shafiq." Umbridge cut me off quickly, and I smirked in victory.
"Then I better not hear any type of comments as those again, or I will not hesitate to send the Minister a little owl. I'm sure that he would have the time to read it through calmly, now that you are not there, trailing after him like a little lost puppy." I said as I crossed my arms and Umbridge cleared her throat, as she became red with the annoyance of not being able to say anything back to me.
Poor her, it really must suck to be that dumb.
"It was great to see you, Auror Shafiq." She said and I almost laughed.
"Yes Dolores, it must've been great for you. For me, let's just say I'll be on the Dreamless Sleep potion for a while." I grabbed George's arm and walked around Umbridge, and as we walked further away from her, George began to laugh.
"You absolutely destroyed her!" he laughed, and I smiled at him.
"You let me know if she bothers you or any of your siblings again, and I'll take care of it." I said and George rose an eyebrow. "I mean it. I look after my team."
George gave me a small smile before he looped an arm around my shoulders.
"You know Shafiq," he began and I looked at him, to find him staring ahead of us. "All of my brothers had a crush on you when we were younger, and yes, Charlie and Bill included. Percy probably not, he never told us stuff like this." He admitted and I blushed before I decided to regain my voice.
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked and George smiled as he stopped and stood, facing me.
"Because there was one thing, we all dreamt of doing and I'm the only who has done almost all of it." He said in a whisper as he came closer, and I rose an eyebrow.
"And what's left?" I asked in a whisper as I watched his face, mere inches away from mine.
"You're about to find out." He answered as he pressed his lips to mine, and even if I knew that once his mother heard about this, I would not hear the end of it, I linked my arms around his neck and pulled George even closer to me.
(...)
As my roommate and closest friend, Tonks had been the first one to know about what had happened between me and George and she was, obviously, stoked.
"Trust me, we all knew Charlie had the biggest crush on you, what I didn't know was that it was a Weasley thing." Tonks teased and I laughed before I sighed.
"Help me! I'm supposed to be focusing on doing my job, but I am freaking out because George gets here like what? Next Week?" I asked as I laid down on my bed and Tonks laughed.
"Haven't you guys been owling each other constantly?" she asked, and I nodded. "Then what's the difference?"
"For one, his mother will be watching our every move." I began before I sat down. "And secondly, through a letter it's different, I'm scared of facing him." I admitted and Tonks laughed, before I shot her a glare. "What are you laughing about, you idiot?"
"Oh nothing, just one of the bravest, fiercest Aurors I've ever met, who wasn't afraid to face four Death Eaters on her own is scared of facing her lover-boy. Sorry, but this is hilarious!" she said as she laughed, and I groaned.
"You know you're not helping matters, right?" I asked and Tonks nodded.
"That's the funny part!"
I laid there as I waited for Tonks to stop laughing at once, and when she stopped, I looked at her in hopes she could help me.
"It's George we're talking about. He's such a laidback and funny guy." Tonks said and I nodded. "And he kissed you. In Hogsmead. I'm pretty sure everyone already knows about that. And he hasn't stopped owling you, you keep owling each other almost every day, it gets disgusting, I swear. But at the same time, it's adorable, and what? The worst that could happen is George French kissing you as soon as he steps through that door, and that would only be bad for the poor watching eyes, because I'm sure you'd find it quite... enlightening, if you know what I mean." Tonks said and I blushed before nodding.
"You're right! Worst case scenario, you get traumatized, and I get a big kiss for Christmas! It's a win-win situation!" I said and Tonks snorted.
"Look at you... Who would have said that stiff woman with a stick up her backside would be so laid back and dating a renowned prankster."
I paled at her words and Tonks, understanding my sudden worry wrong, hurried to assure me. "He would never play a prank like this! His feelings are real!"
I waved a hand. "Yeah, I know, so are mine, but I don't know what we are!"
"And do those labels affect your relationship in any way?" Tonks asked and I shook my head. "There you go, it doesn't matter the label, you guys are still in love with each other, and that's all that matters." Tonks said and I gave her a look.
"Is this love already?" I asked unsurely and Tonks smiled.
"It might be, it might not be love yet. That's up to you."
I looked at the pile of letters from George I had on my desk and let out a smile, as I felt my heart beating faster and my cheeks heat up.
So maybe it was love already, after all.
(...)
George and everyone else that was at Hogwarts were supposed to arrive later today, and I had been feeling jitters and butterflies in my stomach all day long, which wouldn't allow me to stay still for even a second, and I was always on high alert, lest they got here by surprise earlier than predicted.
"Hey." Arthur said from behind me, and I looked at him before he asked. "Do you want to come pick up the kids with us?" he asked, and I nodded immediately, straightening my shirt out lightly.
"Yes, of course. Let me just grab a jacket." I said and Arthur nodded before I left him and climbed the stairs, two at a time, to grab a jacket and a holster for my wand.
Once I had everything I went back downstairs, to find the Weasley parents in front of the fireplace waiting for me.
"Ready dear?" Molly asked and I nodded as she smiled and grabbed a handful of floo powder and announced King's Cross Station after having stepped inside the fireplace, and Arthur and I followed suit.
When we emerged on the other side and stepped into the platform (the muggle one, not 9 ¾) I was surprised by how familiar everything about this place still felt, even after more than five years since I last stepped in here.
We ran through the wall and as soon as I stepped into platform 9 ¾ I felt closer to home than I ever remembered feeling.
We only had to wait for a few minutes, before the Hogwarts Express arrived and the students began vacating the train, and I found myself looking out for tall masses of red hair, one very specific mass of red hair.
I spotted Ginny's fiery long red hair at the entrance of the train, and she was quick to spot us as well, waving goodbye to her friends and hurrying towards us, giving a hug to her parents before she noticed me.
"Came to pick us up Shafiq?" she asked as she hugged me as well and I laughed.
"Of course Gin, why would I miss out on a chance to come here to the platform?" I said with a smile, just when Ron, Hermione and Harry also gathered around us, and finally, the twins.
I was able to tell which twin was which because, the moment they laid eyes on me, George was smiling like a fool, his face almost tearing in half as he half jogged with his trunk in one hand, so he could get to us faster.
George hugged his parents and so did Fred, but Fred hugged me first, before they began walking ahead of us and George looped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer to him.
"And how's my miss Grumpy pants?" he asked, and I laughed.
"Better now that you're here." I said softly and heard George sigh.
"You're adorable." He said with a laugh as he pressed a kiss to my head. "Listen, Fred and I have a few plans, and I really want to tell you everything about them, but I can only talk about it when there are no listening ears around, understand?" he said and I nodded.
"Of course, we can talk about it once we get to Grimmauld Place. We can go to my room." I suggested and watched George smirk as he lowered his head to whisper, noticing the listening ears of his entire family, especially his mum's.
"If we go to your room, talking isn't the first option."
(...)
"C'mon, I've been here a week already, and all you've done is stare out through windows and run out in the middle of the night whenever there's even the slightest sight of something weird happening. We need to do something fun." George complained as he laid across my bed and I gave him a side look before I rolled my eyes.
"You do know the gist of our situation here, don't you? We can't exactly afford to get distracted and get attacked and killed." I said and George sighed dramatically as I crossed one leg over the other, doing my best to avoid the smile from blooming on my lips.
"Mum thinks Fred and I are sick. We haven't played any pranks or 'accidentally' given Ron any of our products." George admitted and I laughed.
"I know, your mum came to thank me for straightening you two out." I said and George immediately shot up from the bed and looked at me very seriously.
"Wait, she did what now?" he asked, and I nodded.
"Exactly what you heard Georgie, she thinks I- give me a second, I think I heard something outside." I stood up and approached the window quietly, peering outside as I tried my best to remain hidden. I saw someone, dressed in all black clothing pacing the street, wearing what one could definitely identify as wizarding clothing. "George, get me Remus or Tonks please."
For a second, there wasn't any noise or movement in the room, until George approached me and pressed a kiss to my head.
"Be safe out there, okay?" he asked, and I nodded as I blindly reached for his hand as I watched the person keeping their pacing. Once my hand found his, I gave it a squeeze, before releasing it and listening out as George went downstairs.
I kept an eye out for the person pacing, and noticed a wand sticking from their pocket, and noticed the narrowing in their steps, their 'walk' along the street becoming a guard in front of Grimmauld Place.
I heard footsteps behind me, and cast a look over my shoulder, finding Tonks and Remus, as well as George.
"George, join Fred, I promise I'll get to the two of you as soon as I can." I said and heard George huff as he paced.
"Be careful. All of you."
As soon as George was out of the room Remus turned to me.
"Tonks and I got this, stay inside, and alert all the adults to be on high alert. Harry's inside, so our defences need to be more concentrated here." Remus said and I nodded as I put my wand in its holster.
"Alright, good luck you guys. I'll be here if you need me." I warned as they ran outside and I went after them, searching for every adult in the house, and warning them of the potential threat we were facing.
Molly was the only person I hadn't warned yet, and it had been hard to find her, it truly had.
"Molly." I called out seriously, and Molly lifted her head and looked at me.
"What's happening dear?" she asked me as she put down her spoon and stood straighter.
"There's a minor threat outside, Tonks and Remus are on it, but it's best if we stay alert." I warned and Molly nodded.
"You know, after Christmas break, we're going back to the Burrow, Arthur and me. You could come with us." She offered and I stopped for a second, looking at Molly as if she'd grown another head.
"I wouldn't want to intrude, and I'm staying here because I'm part of the Order and this is the Order's Headquarters..." I said softly and Molly laughed.
"And the Burrow is the Weasley family home, which is where my son George lives, and seeing as you are George's something..." Molly suggested, and I gave her a tight smile.
"I'll give it a thought Molly. I'm going to check on them now." I ducked out of Molly's sight before she could say anything else, and went straight to the twins' bedroom, finding myself paling when I found it empty.
I ran through the whole place looking for them, feeling the panic rise each time I opened a door, and I didn't find them or I called their names to no answer.
Finally, I entered Harry and Ron's room, finding them all huddled there, all except George.
"Is everyone okay?" I asked and they all nodded.
"What's going on?" Harry asked and I sighed as I looked around for George
"Minor threat, but we need to take every precaution. Remus and Tonks are on it, so don't worry." I looked around once more, before giving in to my curiosity. "Where's George?"
Everyone shrugged before Fred called out. "He went to see if he could find you. He's probably in your room."
I thanked Fred as I almost ran to my room, finding it empty, except for medical supplies in my bedside table. I hurried towards the window and peaked, finding Remus and Tonks with the man knocked-out on the ground, ready to Apparate him to the Ministry, and George ducking behind a bush, peaking at them.
I huffed as I stomped downstairs and walked out through the back door, before joining George in his bush.
"I thought I told you to stay with Fred." I hissed as I came closer to him and George turned to look at me, tackling me to the ground in a hug. "In the name of Salazar's hot mother, what the hell?!"
"I went to your window to check on the combat and I didn't see you, so I assumed the worst!" he admitted as we walked back inside through the back door, and I groaned.
"I was tasked with warning everyone inside and keeping an eye out for Harry. I nearly had a heart attack when I couldn't find you anywhere!" I chastised and George smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry, but when I couldn't see you... I just had to come outside and see if I could find you."
"Look inside next time you idiot!"
George nodded as he lowered his head and I sighed, stepping forward in his direction. "George." I called softly and he hummed but couldn't quite look at me. I sighed and grabbed his hand, dragging him behind me to my room so we could have more privacy.
I opened the door and let him seat down in my bed, before I stood in front of him, taking his head in my hands. "Georgie... C'mon love, look at me."
George finally looked up and I smiled softly at him.
"I'm not mad, okay? You just have to be more careful, okay? Don't do something so reckless, you're the best thing in my life right now, I don't want to lose you." I said and George nodded as I smiled more brightly. "Alright, that's settled, do you want to get Fred and we can all play a prank on Sirius or something." I suggested and George pulled me into his lap, kissing me deeply as his hands ran through my hair.
When we parted I saw George smile the brightest, I'd ever seen him smile.
"I could marry you after that woman."
(...)
So, I had taken Molly up on her offer and had come to the Burrow with Arthur and her, but only because Fred and George were planning to drop out of school and open their joke shop in Diagon Alley and a peacekeeper had been needed, so I had taken up that job.
Here at the Burrow, I spent most of my time either helping out with chores or reading, and I must say I was having quite a peaceful time.
I wasn't actually sure when George and Fred would be getting here, but it should be any day now, I suppose. They were very explicit with the whole 'we are doing something big as soon as possible'.
What I hadn't expected was for them to land in the backyard, just as my book was getting good.
As soon as I heard the unusual noises and laughter, I was on my feet, wand at ready as I carefully put my book down on the table, pointing my wand at the sky.
I looked around, Molly was inside baking a cake, and I had come outside to enjoy the sun and read. Arthur was, obviously, still at work.
I heaved a deep sigh of relief as Fred and George landed in front me, and as they rose their hands, I put down my wand.
"Hi." I smiled as I greeted the two of them, telling Fred from George almost at that second. George's face was slightly longer, and he had a small scar on his right eyebrow, from a fall down from a broom.
"Hello!" they both greeted before George swept me into his arms and I smiled brighter, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
George pouted, and I rolled my eyes, giving in and pressing my lips to his.
"Frederick Gideon Weasley! George Fabian Weasley! What are you two doing here?!" Molly shouted from the doorway, with a sweeping broom in her hand, and both of the twins hid behind me almost immediately to avoid their mother's wrath.
"Mum, we can explain..." George began quietly creeping his head behind my shoulder.
"Then come here and explain it to me!" Molly demanded, and even I, the poor and innocent bystander of this whole thing was scared.
"We're good here mum, thank you." Fred said and I elbowed him.
"This is probably the worst time to contradict her or make jokes." I advised and Molly nodded.
"She's right boys! What happened?! Why are you here?!" she asked as she put the broom down and walked towards us, stopping in front of me.
The twins stepped out from behind me, facing their mother, and George was surprisingly quick to reach for my hand, and interlocking our fingers, which made me draw circles on the top of his hand with my thumb.
"Harry gave us his prize for the Triwizard Tournament." Fred began and Molly rubbed her head softly as she nodded.
"We've rented a place with an apartment above in Diagon Alley, we are going to open a joke shop. We were supposed to have warned you, but all the mail that comes to or from Hogwarts gets read before being sent and delivered, and we couldn't risk that toad getting her hands on this information." George explained and Molly sighed.
"Harry's a nice boy..." she said, and I exchanged a look with the twins. Was she accepting her son's dropping out this easily? Where was the Molly Weasley that almost bullied me into dating her son? "But why couldn't you have finished school first?!"
"We couldn't stay there another second, not with Umbridge ruling the school. And Harry needed to contact Sirius without their communications getting read, we had to repay the favour, so we caused a distraction..." George said, and Fred nodded.
"It was now or never mum, and Harry needed us."
Molly stared at her sons for a long while, before her eyes became teary, and she pulled the three of us for a hug.
"Oh you boys... Don't get this wrong, your father and I will a have a serious conversation with you two, but I'm just so touched with you helping Harry and vice-versa."
We hugged Molly, before going inside, and the twins went upstairs to put their bags in their room.
"You know," Molly began, "I really think you and George are good for each other, you make him more level-headed, and he helps you live a little more." Molly said and I smiled.
"Well, I do what I can." I said as they came back downstairs.
"Go outside boys, enjoy yourselves before your father gets back." Molly suggested, before George and Fred looked at each other and then at her.
"We were thinking of going to our apartment in Diagon Alley tonight mum, if that's okay with you? Shafiq here would obviously, be coming with us. I wouldn't leave my girlfriend behind." George said and I stared at the side of his head.
I was going?! No one had told me that!
"You can go tomorrow or the day after." Molly said as she walked back to the kitchen, and we walked outside.
"That went a lot better than I thought." Fred admitted as they took the two chairs, I had brought outside for themselves, and George pulled me to seat on his legs.
"It really did." I agreed before I turned to George. "What was that about me moving in with you two?" I asked and George smiled before pressing a peck to my lips, as Fred made gagging noises.
"Well, you couldn't expect me to go to Diagon Alley and not take you?" George questioned and I rolled my eyes playfully.
"Of course not, what was I thinking."
TWO YEARS LATER
"Where's George?" I asked as soon as I stepped in the Burrow, just as the Polyjuice potion I'd taken began wearing off and I was looking like myself, thankfully.
"Dear, your arm..." Molly began but I cut her off quickly.
"George, how's he? Where can I see him?" I asked once more, and Molly sighed. She had probably realized by now that I knew what had happened to George. In fact, I had been only a few feet away when that blasted curse hit him and he began bleeding.
"He's over there..." Molly said as she guided me through the house, Fred quickly joining us as he figured where we'd be going.
She stepped aside and I saw George laying on the couch, probably unconscious from all the blood he'd lost.
"I'll leave you with him. The bleeding's stopped for now, but he lost his ear for good I'm afraid." Molly left as she took one last look at George, and Fred and I stood there looking at George until he stirred, and his eyelids began to flutter open.
"George. Hey dear, how do you feel?" I asked as Fred and I gathered around George, who had just woken up after having lost his ear.
"Who are you?" He asked as he looked at me strangely and I felt a knot in my throat, and I felt like I'd just been stabbed straight in my heart.
"It's... I'm... You really don't remember? I... I'm just no one, just a no one, a friend?" I asked as Fred placed one hand on my shoulder, and I could've sworn I saw George narrow his eyes.
"Merlin woman, be cool. I dropped my ear, not my standards." George muttered with a laugh, and I nearly hexed him.
"You daft troll! I hate you!" I shrieked as I collapsed on George's chest, as he used his hand to rub my head softly.
"Hey, at least I'm not dating Potter anymore. You look better with your own appearance." He said and I sighed out in relief, as he began joking around, before he looked at his twin.
"How do you feel Georgie?" Fred asked once again, and George's fingers groped the side of his head.
"Saintlike." George muttered and Fred looked at me, completely terrified as I grabbed George's hand tighter.
"Do you think his mind was affected?" Fred asked and I sighed before I shook my head.
"Saintlike," George repeated, opening his eyes, and turning to Fred. "You see... I'm holy. Holey, Fred, geddit?"
I let out a low sob, as Fred's face regained colour and he turned to George. "Pathetic! Pathetic! With the whole wide world of ear-related humour before you, you go for holey?"
"Ah well, now mum will be able to tell us apart Fred." Then George looked behind me and I looked up as well, finding Harry behind us. "Hello Harry... You're the real Harry, right?"
"Yeah..." Harry trailed off, avoiding looking in George's direction. "Yeah, I am."
"Good," George began "At least we got you back safe."
Everyone began clearing the space, and soon Fred put a hand on my shoulder before he left.
I turned to George as tears reached my eyes and my body began aching, my arm hurting and I could tell my body would be full of nasty bruises and cuts, and I was certain I had at least a few broken ribs, a broken, nearly shattered arm, my legs weren't in the best state either, but I wasn't leaving George's bedside for nothing in this world.
"Baby." George called out and I knelt beside him, brushing some hair from his forehead, before grabbing my wand and muttering a cleansing charm, to rid him of all that blood staining his face and neck.
"I'm here Georgie." I whispered as I smiled softly, and George gave a slight nod as he laid back down.
"Call mum to take a look at you." He whispered and I shook my head.
"Shh, just rest, I'll be right here when you wake up, okay?" I said and George sighed as his eyes dropped.
"Ask mum. Please?" he said, and I sighed, before I called Molly, and let her fix me, but when she offered me a pain potion, I shook my head, figuring it would be of more use to George or anyone else.
As a result, I was still hurting, like hell, but at least I'd gotten fixed and now George could rest.
"C'mon Georgie, you can rest now, I'm here." I said softly as I stroked his hair softly, like I usually did, which always helped him fall asleep.
"I love you, you know that right?" he asked, and I let out a soft laugh.
"I love you too Georgie."
(...)
"Are you okay?" George asked as I took a few deep breaths as I sat on the living room floor of our apartment, trying to calm myself down.
"I'm fine Georgie." I mumbled before I noticed George joining me on the floor, and soon Fred came out of his room and joined us as well.
"Is this a floor party?" Fred asked as George took me into his side and I buried my face in my hands as I felt myself shake while I tried to hold back my sobs and my cries.
"Oh Salazar," I murmured before I looked up "My dad's been taken in for questioning and so as my mum, my dad for denying that bastard and my mum for being a muggle-born witch." I explained softly and they both took me into their arms. "Umbridge is questioning them. It's taking a lot of self-control to not go there and hex her. I'm not really close with them, but damn it, this stuff still hurts!" I said before the twins both hugged me, and we stayed there like that for a while.
After a while, I felt slightly better, and so I stood up and stretched a little before I jumped up a bit.
"Alright you kids, what do we have for today?" I asked and Fred smiled.
"Firewhiskey and cookies, do you want some?"
I gave a bright smile as I pushed all thoughts of the chaos around me to the back of my mind.
"Count me in!"
We walked to our kitchen and Fred waved his wand, the glasses coming to the table, and so did the Firewhiskey and the cookies. We sat down and I took a cookie, nibbling it as I heard the twins discussing their newest invention before a glass of Firewhiskey was pushed in front of me. I picked it up, downing its contents in less than nothing.
I made a face at the burning sensation in my throat, before I gave the twins a smile, taking another bite of my cookie. "Keep 'em coming Freddie boy."
We had been drinking for a little while now, and we were playing a weird sort of truth or dare, which was only the twins providing me stories from their family.
"Alright," George slurred slightly, and I looked at him, "clarify something for me, baby girl, will you?"
I nodded immediately as I took another shot before George spoke. "Listen, princess, Charlie once told us you two kissed, and I want to know if that actually happened, and he wasn't just imagining things."
I nibbled on another cookie as I nodded. "We did," I began before I laughed "He was my first kiss ever in like, sixth year. Awful kiss it was, we were just friends and after that I couldn't..." I laughed again "I couldn't even look him in the eyes." I said and noticed George pouting as Fred laughed.
"What's wrong ear-less love of my life?" I asked and George sighed as he downed two shots of Firewhiskey in a row.
"I thought I had been your first everything." George pouted and I smiled as I pinched his cheek.
"I don't count that kiss with Charlie as my first kiss. It was like, really awkward for starters, too much tongue and he bit my tongue!" I said and Fred laughed as George seemed outraged.
"Well, now Charlie's kissing dragons, and I have you in my bed. Guess who won that one." George said and Fred smirked.
"No offence Shafiq, but Charlie clearly won. He's got hot stuff happening to him all day long!"
We laughed before George stood up and pulled me with him. "Freddie, we advise covering your ears and stirring clear of our room, I've got someone hot incoming myself."
Fred groaned loudly as George walked us to our room and locked the door, before casting a silencing charm on the room, and the Imperturbable charm on the door.
He pulled me flush against him and kissed me deeply.
"Well baby girl, let's have some fun while you admit I'm your favourite Weasley." George said and I smiled innocently.
"My favourite's actually Charlie." I lied sheepishly and George laughed.
"Let's see whose name you're about to scream."
(...)
"In the name of Salazar Fred! If I hear one more single joke out of your mouth!" I threatened as we backed ourselves, trying to battle the Death Eaters around us.
George had been placed somewhere else, and I had been joined with Fred and Percy.
The hood of one of the Death Eaters fell off, and I saw Minister Thicknesse, and I would have been surprised if this hadn't been long coming.
"Hello, Minister!" Percy said as he sent a jinx to the Minister, which looked like it left him very uncomfortable. "Did I mention I'm resigning?"
"You know how to be humorous Percy?!" I asked, completely shocked and I heard Fred laugh beside me.
"You're joking Perce!" Fred bellowed, as we managed to make another Death Eater collapse, and Thicknesse was crumbling to the ground, with tiny spikes erupting all over him, making him turn into some sort of sea urchin. Fred was staring at Percy with a glint of happy in his eyes. "You actually are joking Perce; I don't think I've heard you joke since you were-"
"Protego!" I shouted in a futile attempt to protect the three of us when the air exploded, holding tightly to Fred and Percy, as all of us were blown through the air, and when we finally landed on the floor, the world around us seemed to stop as the rubble from the walls fell on top of my Shielding charm, making it weaker and making me feel weaker as well. I heard Fred groan and looked momentarily at him to find him kind of battered and bruised, and so was Percy. As my legs began giving up on me, I heard someone shout for a Shielding Charm before we were dragged from there.
Once out of harm's way, I let my arm drop and with my arm went the rest of my body.
I was gasping for air when Harry, Ron and Hermione got to us, and George was also running in our direction.
My ears were ringing, and I couldn't make sense of what they were saying, but from George's expression I figured it would be something to do with our safety.
"Percy made a joke." I said softly as George helped me up, and I could feel George's stare burning holes into the side of my head as I slowly heard more and more noise and felt slightly better. "Percy made a joke and Fred and I had to acknowledge it."
"You lot could have died! Then what about little old George, huh?! Alone for the rest of his life because the love of his life and his twin decided to acknowledge a joke ?!" It was only then I realized that Fred was hanging from the other side of George as he guided us somewhere safer, so we could get checked, and Percy was following after us, limping ever so slightly.
"I had never heard Percy joke." I admitted as I coughed, feeling my throat itching, which only made me cough more.
"Like fuck if I care!" George chastised before he turned to Percy. "I'm glad you got your sense of humour back, but that nearly killed two of my brothers and my girlfriend, but I'm sure I'll laugh at it someday." Percy blushed as he nodded, before the twins took a hard right and walked into a secret passage. Of course, they would know these. "And you, missy, where did all your professionalism go?! Acknowledging a joke in the middle of a Battle?!" George chastised in a low voice, and I smiled.
"You might be rubbing off on me too much." I admitted softly and heard George groan, before I let out a soft laugh. "I've learned to make and take jokes and you've become all serious and boring."
SEVEN YEARS LATER
George's birthday was a few minutes away, and I was timing my entrance in our home so I could walk in singing Happy Birthday to him. I took one look at the cake before my free hand immediately reached for the envelope in my pocket.
Let's just say George always complained I never surprised him, but today, oh he was going to be surprised alright.
I watched as the seconds ticked, waiting for 23:59 to go by so I could walk inside the house, singing for George, who I knew would be awake because whenever I worked late, he never went to bed before I got home. At midnight I walked in, singing Happy Birthday softly, a smile blooming on my face when George came to stand in front of me as his eyes shone.
I gestured for him to blow the candles out before I kissed him.
"Read the frosting honey." I said as I fished the envelope from my pocket, and I saw George's confusion.
" 'Happy Birthday Daddy'? Never knew you were into this type of thing, but I'll take it." He said and I laughed as I handed him the envelope.
"That's not it, dumbass. You know that type of thing creeps the life out of me." I said as I watched George carefully breaking the seal on the envelope, and carefully take out the two sonograms, which showed our two babies.
"Wait, for real?!" He asked excitedly and I laughed as I nodded, putting the cake down on the table before George embraced me tightly, lifting me off the ground.
"Oh Merlin, I can't believe this! I'm a dad, and with twins!" He said as he caressed my belly and I laughed as I nodded.
"So, what do you think of making a nursery out of the vacant room?"
(...)
George was shaking with anxiety, and I couldn't figure out why, because he wasn't telling me and I am not a Seer nor a Divination expert, so I couldn't very well guess what in Merlin's name was going on.
"Love?" I called out as George was looking ahead, staring at the dull wall of our living room. I looked back, where Fred was in the kitchen along with Angelina, preparing snacks for us and I rose an eyebrow when Fred looked at me, but Fred just shrugged.
Great, the twin didn't have a clue.
They came back with the snacks and placed them on the coffee table, with Angelina running her hand across my belly, which was far too big, but taking into consideration we were having twins, it was a normal belly I'd guess.
I exchanged a look with them as George continued staring across from himself, at the wall, before Fred smirked, leaning in to whisper something in Angelina's ear, to which she nodded before giving me a thumbs up.
I nodded as well, figuring it couldn't hurt to let them try out their plan.
Fred sat down next to George and cleared his throat before he shouted.
"Oh Merlin! Oh fuck! She's going into labour, oh Merlin! Stay calm!" Fred shouted and George was immediately on his feet, beckoning me to stand up and extending his hands towards me, before he noticed it was a false alarm and sat back down, giving Fred a filthy glare.
"Don't joke around like that!" George grumbled and I snorted into my tea.
"If you weren't staring at the wall and shaking, we wouldn't have needed to take such drastic measures." I said as I caressed my belly and George gave me a sheepish smile.
"Sorry, I was just thinking about some stuff I've been reading." George explained and I rose an eyebrow.
"Oh Fred, we forgot to bake something, c'mon, let's get to the kitchen." Angelina said as she dragged Fred to our kitchen, leaving George and I alone in the room.
"Georgie, what's wrong?" I asked seriously, and George sighed as his shoulders fell, and he stared at my belly, laying a hand on top of mine.
"I've read somewhere that twins have higher risks of having complications at birth and..." George swallowed as I used my free hand to run it through his hair, watching him relax slightly at my touch, "and there's a bigger chance of diseases or even death during the birth, for the mother."
I stared at George for a few seconds, before I took him into my arms, feeling him shaking and that was when I realized, he was shaking earlier because he was holding back his tears, and not because of his anxiety.
"Georgie." I called softly as I pulled away slightly, and George looked at me. I smiled softly and brushed away his tears before I continued. "Everything will be alright honey. Don't worry, okay?" I asked and George sighed.
"How can you be so sure? What if something goes wrong?" he asked, and I sighed as I grabbed his face.
"Everything we'll be fine Georgie. In two weeks, I'll be at the hospital, and they'll be taking care of me, and in no time the kids are going to be born, and we'll all be home. Think positive Georgie!" I said as I pressed a soft kiss to his face and George gave me a small smile.
"Alright, I'll think positive." He said with a sigh, and I smiled.
"Freddie boy, get us some giggle water for your brother!" I shouted and heard Fred and Angelina laugh from the kitchen.
"Anything for my sister-in-law dearest who will surely name one of her kids after me!" Fred shouted and I laughed and so did George.
"We won't be naming one of the twins Fred!"
"I bet you would have if I had died in the battle! Ouch, Angelina!" At Fred's words, George and I exchanged a look and George stood up and helped me up before we went to the kitchen, to find Angelina with a wooden spoon in her hand, trying to hit Fred as she called him some names that would make a sailor blush.
At spotting me, they both stopped and I extended a hand for the spoon, which Angelina willingly gave me, and I immediately tossed it aside, before slapping Fred in the back of the head.
"Say that one more time, Freddie boy, and I just might stab you with a butter knife." I threatened and Fred rose his hands in surrender.
"You're the boss."