On the night of the planned attack, Draco and I stayed back with my Aunt Narcissa. No matter what my aunt says I don't stop pacing. I know for a fact that George is out there right now, battling to protect Harry, risking his life for the greater good and I'm not there to protect him. I can't be there to protect him.
There's a loud crack in the dining room. The three of us look at each other before running from the living room into the dining room to see who came back. Severus is standing there looking at us, "They used Polyjuice potion to disguise themselves as Potter. Seven of them. I think I managed to get one..." He says breathlessly. He looks at me and I don't know what I saw in his face but I run from the room.
"Violet! Violet don't do anything stupid!" Draco shouts from behind me. I sprint up the stairs and go to close my bedroom door but Draco sticks his foot in the gap before I can close it.
"I've got to go. It could be George. He could be dead Draco!" I spin around and look at him. My hair sticks to my lip as I do that. I don't have to look in a mirror to know that I look absolutely crazy right now.
"Go then. I'll cover for you." Draco says. I look at him for reassurance and he nods a couple of times, "Tell me if you see Potter. Make sure he's alright."
"Draco are you sure? I don't want to get you in any trouble with Him." I say staring at my cousin's face.
"Make sure he's alright Violet, I'm serious."
As soon as those words leave Draco's mouth I apparate away. I land in front of the Burrow, which seems to have been rebuilt nicely after the fires last year. I can see Harry, Ginny, Hagrid, Hermione, and Remus all standing outside. I take a deep breath and walk out of the shadows.
Instantly all of their wands are pointed at me, "It's me! It's Violet!" I call out.
Only Ginny falters and lowers her wand, everyone else stands their ground, "Right! Likely story, sending Violet LeStrange out here to take care of Potter." A man spits a man that I don't know.
"Please, I heard that someone was hit... I came to make sure you were all alright." I say stepping forward carefully.
Ginny looks at the people around her, I can't hear what she says but they all look rather annoyed, "What did George give Violet the first Christmas that they were interested in each other?" Ginny calls out to me.
"A silver necklace with a snake on the front, if you used alohomora on it then it opens to reveal a red lion. I gave him the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes sign that's on his door."
Ginny smiles a bit then looks at the people around her once more. She then comes rushing over to me and takes my hands in hers. "It's George who's been hurt. Come inside."
I push past Harry and the others that are waiting outside the front door for whatever it is that they're waiting for and follow Ginny into the living room. Fred is sitting on the floor beside George, Molly is cleaning the wound that's on the side of his head. The rag she's using is soaked in bright red blood. I instantly break down when I see him, which causes Fred to turn around and look at who's making all the noise.
"What the bloody hell is she doing here?" Fred says angrily. His words cut me but I stand my ground.
"Is he alright?" I choke on my words.
Fred softens almost instantly. He comes over to me and wraps me in a big hug, "I'm sorry... just on the defence right now. He'll be alright."
I look at his face and put my hands on either side of his head, "Are you alright? You're not hurt too, are you? I don't think I could handle that."
Fred smiles a bit, "No, no. I'm alright. Everyone else is alright too I think." He looks over at Molly and George, "Ron and Bill aren't back yet..." He whispers to me.
I hug Fred tightly again, "I should have warned you all, I should have sent something to you saying that they were planning an attack or something. It's all my fault." I whisper so only he can hear me.
"None of this is your fault, Violet. Don't beat yourself up about it. It's Snape who sent that hex towards George's head, not you." He strokes my hair as he speaks.
"Can I... can I see him?" I say looking at George's unconscious body laying on the couch.
Fred pauses, "I don't think that's the best idea, Violet. George was drunk for three days straight after you said you didn't love him anymore. I don't think he wants to see you."
Molly looks over and gestures me to come closer to him, "You really shouldn't be here darling." She says to me softly, "George told me what happened between you two at the funeral."
I sit down on the floor, where Fred was sitting moments ago and hold George's hand in my own. "I had to say it. He wouldn't have let it go if I didn't. He has to forget about me, it's not safe for us. We can't love each other." I whisper.
Fred puts his hand on my shoulder and hands me a small cup of water. He sits on the coffee table behind me and rubs my back a bit.
Molly finishes cleaning George's wound and starts to wrap it up with gauze, "But you do love him..." Molly says softly.
I look at him with my eyes full of tears, "Course I love him." I look back at George and very gently brush the hair out of his face, "I love you dummy." I whisper.
Molly looks at me, "You two are going to drive me mad I swear."
I look at her and smile a bit, "You can't tell him that I was here." I turn around and look at Fred as well, "If you do then he'll just get hurt all over again."
Molly scoffs, "Just stay here till he wakes up and you two can have a real conversation. No more lies."
"No I agree with her mum. Especially with George hurt like this, it'll all be too much," Fred says. He pats my back again, "Not that I don't want you two together or anything. I'm just trying to protect you both from each other."
Molly clicks her tongue, "Says the one that told me the girl he loves was just a friend."
Fred and I both look at her with confusion, "I'm your mother Fred, I know when you're smitten for someone, and you were smitten for that Emma girl."
"The woman can't tell us apart but she can tell when I fancy someone." Fred mumbles. I laugh a little and Molly rolls her eyes.
"Hold on. Do you still fancy her?" I ask Fred looking away from George for a second.
Fred looks at the ground and smiles to himself a little, "It's more than that Vi. I'm pretty sure I'm in love with her."
Fred looks up from the floor and makes eye contact with me. He laughs once he sees the dumb smile i have on my face. "Once this is all over I'm going to need you to grow a pair and tell her how you feel alright?" I say, trying desperately not to tell him that Emma loves him too. It's not my place to say.
Fred laughs again, "Trust me, when this is all over I'm never letting that woman out of my sight ever again."
George stirs a little, ending my conversation with Fred. "It's them! Mum Bill and Ron!" Ginny shouts from outside. Molly and Fred rush out of the house together leaving me alone with George. I set the now empty cup on the coffee table and brush my thumb against George's face softly.
"You're a complete idiot." I whisper, "A complete fucking idiot, out here getting your ears hexed off." I trace my thumb over his rather chapped lips and smile, "And drinking? For days straight? I am not worth getting yourself that sick G... Course you dunno that I'm here do you? You probably never want to see me again, Fred's right, I shouldn't be here, I can't be breaking your heart all over again..."
I lean forward and kiss him on his forehead as carefully as I can, "Don't hurt yourself anymore please, my heart can't handle that." I pause, "You're the love of my life dummy."
I get up from my spot on the floor, George's eyes flicker open for a minute. He looks at me, confused, concerned, scared, in pain. I smile at him a little and apparate myself out of the Burrow and back into my bedroom at the Manor.
Draco is sitting on my bed, he stands up as soon as I get into the room, "That wasn't long. Are you alright?"
I nod a bit, "He's lost an ear but he's not dead so that's alright."
Draco sighs, "That's good... that's good yeah..." He goes over to the door and pulls it open.
"Harry's good too. Not even a scratch." I say to him.
Draco looks at me and smiles before closing the door behind him.