Pain In My Side
Soon after Harry had taken the golden egg and the crowd roared their excitement. "Nice one mate!" Both twins bellowed, hands cupping their mouths for added volume. Yourself and the girls cheered, proud of Harry for representing your house. Eventually the crowd died down and people began heading back to the castle. As you were walking with Ginny and Angelina a voice called out to you, "Tonks!" George called, lingering behind you. You slowed your pace to match his and Fred went to catch up with the girls up ahead. "Yes?" You raised an eyebrow at him but continued to walk. "You know I-" He was struggling to get the words out, looking between you and the grass at his feet as he walked.
"I don't hate you, Y/N." It was as if he had to force the words out. "I know I act like it, but, you're not so bad," he couldn't look at you as he walked, his eyes unmoving from the greenery beneath him. "Years of rivalry down the drain, what a waste." You shook your head with a smile. "I don't hate you either, carrot top." He met your eyes after you said it, sending him a playful wink. His face started to pink and he buried further into his scarf, obscuring his now patchy red face.
"Good, just with Fred and Angelina. Thought you should know..." Without another breath he stormed up ahead to catch his brother, dragging him past the girls. "Tonks! Hurry up!" Ginny called back, ushering you with her hand. "Coming!" You dashed up the miniature hill, linking arms with Angelina and Ginny at the top. "Where are they going?" Angelina groaned, upset her time with Fred had been interrupted, again. "Do we really want to know?" Ginny giggled, walking back into Hogwarts.
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All of Gryffindor was cheering for Harry in the common room, Fred and George had him on their shoulders. "Do you want me to open it?" Harry cheered, gesturing to the magnificent gold egg in his hands. The common room roared with excitement, egging him on. *lol get it* As he unclasped the egg, an earsplitting screech emitted from the egg. The twins dropped Harry as the whole common room covered their ears. The room dispersed, most annoyed with Harry's egg gimick, not that it was his fault. You were sat down on the couch in front of the fireplace, the same place you'd sat with George the night of the fire.
"Um, hi." Extremely awkwardly, George gawked down at you, rubbing his arm. He was normally so confident, so sure of himself. Like that night with the blanket incident, before butterflies swarmed his stomach and clouded his brain. When he could say anything to you without a second thought, oh how he wished he could go back to those times. "Hey." In a less awkward manner, you smiled back at him, inviting him to sit down. "Did you have a good time? With us I mean." He looked at you as he spoke, waiting with baited breath for your answer. "Yeah, I did. Your sister is so cool!" You couldn't contain your excitement as you talked about your new friend, a bright wide grin sweeping over your face.
George felt his cheeks go pink again, that had been happening a lot lately. "Yeah she's pretty taken with you too." He chuckled, allowing himself to relax and enjoy the conversation. "I don't mean to dob, but did you know she likes Harry?" In a low whisper you leaned in to pry, Ginny had been pretty crap at hiding it earlier. "Tonks, everyone knows. She's mad over him!" George rolled his eyes at your question, surprised you hadn't figured it out prior to now. "What? Are you serious? Does Harry know?" "No! It's like you and him are the only two people in Hogwarts who didn't know! Been like this since his first year." The two of you spent the night gossiping about people in the school, slowly bonding and letting the hate of the past dissolve.
It wasn't going to happen overnight but you couldn't help the way his presence made you feel. A desire to change things.
After what felt like years only a few lingering students were in the common room. "Godric, what time is it?" You asked, stretching your arms with a yawn. "Around 12, times flies when you're having fun I suppose." He gave you a cheeky grin, tilting his head back and giving you a devilish look. "Yes yes carrot top, but it's bedtime now." In that moment, it happened again. That memory, the two of you curled up together and the way he hadn't let you go. He couldn't control himself, he couldn't stop thinking of you. "George..?" You raised an eyebrow and gave him an odd look, he'd been staring at you for over thirty seconds... "Fuck... Yeah, let's go." He let out a soft whisper before affirming that it was time to leave.
Propping yourselves up you both walked over to the girls stairs. Sharing a final look, you walked past him and headed up the stairs, "Y/N-" he began. You went to turn but caught your own foot on the stairs and you were now falling backwards. It felt like it was in slow motion, but just as quickly as it had began you were on the floor and your ankle was aching. "Merlin are you okay?" George ducked down next to you, cradling your head in his hands. "My ankle, fuck. It hurts like hell..." Your eyes squeezed shut as your whole body ached from the impact. "It looks broken Tonks, we need to take you to Madame Pompfrey." George began trying to pro you up, placing your arm over his shoulder.
"No, no George it's fine. It's midnight we can wait until tomorrow." Trying to get your arm back you waved him off, the fire fiasco earlier in the year was enough midnight drama for your liking. "Y/N, we're going. Now come on." He slung your arm back over his shoulder, supporting your every step. After a very slow journey to Madame Pompfrey's sleeping quarters, you'd arrived. Knock knock... "Do you know what time it is Mr Weasley?" Madame Pompfrey whipped the door open, giving him a glacial look. "Yes, I'm sorry but I think Y/N has broken her ankle." he gestured to your ankle with a wince.
"Come dear." She ushered you both over to the nursery, with George still helping you walk. "Drink this dear." She spooned you a grimey looking potion as you lay on the medical bed, George sat by your side. Grimacing, you swallowed the concoction and put your head back on the pillow. "Now get some rest. Mr Weasley, I suggest you get back to your common room." She gave him a look but walked off without any protest, leaving you both in the empty medical bay. "I'm sorry, it's my fault you fell." George was playing with his hands, staring at the floor. "No George, I was a clutz it's fine." You didn't move but you let your eyes linger on him. He looked so worried.
"She's right you know, you should go back before someone knows you're here." This made him look up. "Do you want me to go?" Thick silence hung in the air, you were both just staring at each other. It was like time froze, neither of you dared to move a muscle, not wanting an answer to come to light. You couldn't stand the tension, looking down at the white duvet covering you. "No..." It was a whisper, the softest, smallest of sounds. "Then I won't go." He matched your tone, light and soft.
You felt your body begin to sweat, when had it gotten so warm? An involuntary yawn escaped your lips and you sunk back into the covers. "Sleep, it's okay." It was like he had read your mind. "Thank you, George. I mean it." The two of you stared at each other, a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Goodnight Y/N." Was the last thing you heard before you drifted off.
It was like deja vu for George, how had he ended up here again? Watching you sleep beside him. Your breathing was soft and the only light in the room was a small candle hovering above the bed. He leaned over and stroked your hair, placing a kiss to your temple. He didn't know how to show you what he wanted. How his feelings had changed so fast. How he wanted every second of the rest of his life to be next to you. Godric what spell had you put him under? Slowly sleep consumed him as well, leaving him to dream of what might be to come.