Bubble Bath
The air was extra crisp when you woke up, the first snow of winter hitting the ground. Yawning lazily, you saw Madame Pompfrey walking in, once again clutching that cursed bottle. "Morning dear, chilly today." She poured another spoon of the mixture, spooning it to you like a baby. Despite how many times you'd had it in the past few days, it still tasted just as bad. "Now, your ankle is healing quite nicely but it will still be a few more days until I can really let you walk on it. Take it easy for now love." Giving you a pat on the leg she smiled and left the bay. A tray of eggs and toast appeared at your side and you dug into a fresh breakfast.
Pulling out George's scrappy list of assignments you set to work on another essay from McGonagall. As you worked your mind drifted back to your project with George, how could he be so hot and cold like that? It wasn't that you minded, you were just confused. After wanting him to be nicer to you for so long, when he finally was your mind needed to know why. You reprimanded yourself for this unending need for answers. Why couldn't you just be happy that he was your friend?
Finishing the essay you put your books and quill on your table and sat in thought. Despite your hapiness for Angelina, deep down you did want to go look for your own dress. Not that you'd ever admit it but you had been dreaming of going to the Yule Ball since it's announcement. Dancing the night away with some boy, spending hours getting ready with Angelina and getting to party with your friends. The only thing was, you didn't have a date. Nobody had been asked yet but you knew it was soon to start, the ball was a little over a month away. You still had the second challenge before you needed to start worrying about it though, so you tried your best to push it out of your mind.
That said, being alone all day with nothing but books and the occasional magical snack meant a lot of time alone with your thoughts. Your mind flipped through ideas about Frangelina, your new friend Ginny, George, the Yule Ball, George, your ankle, George. George, no matter what your mind kept going back to him, his face. Just over a month ago you were cursing at each other every chance you got and planning some kind of attack. But since the fire incident neither of you had pranked each other, but you had heard of Fred and George messing with a few Slytherins.
Things were changing, it was impossible not to notice. Merlin, you'd spent way too long thinking about this. So long, that now, that same red haired boy was walking into the medical bay. He had his hands clasped behind his back and the biggest, goofiest grin plastered on his mug. "Got you something." He sat down animatedly, bouncing his leg up and down. "Go on then, I'm waiting." You extended your hands to him, closing your eyes for added effect. Feeling a weight on your palms you opened your eyes, a fat piece of rocky road sat between your hands wrapped in a (f/c) bow.
"You remembered! George you didn't have to, I was only kidding." Carefully you took the (f/c) bow off and opened up the box of chocolate. Taking out a small piece you handed it to George and popped one into your mouth as well. Both of you took a moment to eat the delectable sweets before you wrapped up the rest and put them to the side. Looking at the bow you took it back in your hands, it was quite long. "Hey did you know (f/c) is my favourite colour?" You mused at the fabric, it was simple but something about it was elegant to you. "Yeah actually... I got Fred to ask Angelina." He rubbed his arm, looking between you and the bow.
Taking the bow you tied it in your hair, creating a bun. "How does it look?" You gave him a cheeky look before turning to the side so he could admire it. "Beautiful..." You didn't hear what he'd said so you turned towards him. "I didn't catch that, go on." Smiling wide you awaited his answer. "Yeah, it looks really nice." He said in a shy manner, exhaling a breath. "Why thank you carrot top." Both of you laughed as you took the bow out of your hair, two gifts in one.
"Hey, it's only just past lunch, you're not supposed to be back for hours?" Your eyebrows knitted together, you didn't want him to miss out just because of you. "I know, I just... Didn't have a reason to stay." George met your eyes, something in the way he said it told you what you needed to know. He wanted to see you, he wanted to be here. With you. Not that you actually believed it, why would he leave all his friends to come see you? But regardless, you knew what he meant.
"Well, thank you. I like the company, I miss you when you're not here." Your eyes fell to your hands, quickly after you actually processed what you said. "Your visits I mean!" He chuckled at your words, leaning towards you. "I like visiting you too Tonks." His voice sounded like honey, his words washing over you. You raked a hand through your hair, a nervous habit you'd picked up over the years. "My hair is so greasy oh merlin." Groaning you laid back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. "Hey, it's been a few days... Do you need a bath?" George's face was bright red when you turned to him. "Yeah actually, and a change of pajamas." Gesturing to your clothes you looked up at him, still pink in the face. "Nobody else is really in the castle, or at least not that I've seen. I'll help you to the dorms?" He offered a hand and stood up, waiting for your answer.
"Yeah thanks." Taking his hand, he put your arm over his shoulder, supporting most of your weight. The walk to the dorms was slow but you filled the time with conversation, mostly about classes or any gossip you hadn't heard of whilst in the med bay. "Okay, so the girls stairs are enchanted not to let any guys up them." George said, halting in front of the stairs. "What? How do you even know that?" Whipping your head towards him you gave him a wide-eyed stare. "You think you're the only one sneaking into dorms for pranks?" He huffed, giving you a cocksure grin. "Whatever, how am I going to get up there?" You whined, miserable you may have come all this way for nothing.
"Well, the boys stairs aren't enchanted, which you know about all too well. I could take you up there instead?" He looked at you, making eye contact. You'd be going into the boys dorms, to take a bath. "What if someone comes in?" You whisper shouted, holding his gaze, nobody was in the common room but you felt the hushed tone was appropriate. "Relax, I'll stand guard if it bothers you." Rolling his eyes he turned the pair of you and began to help you up the boys staircase.
"In here, come." He opened the door for you and helped you make your way to the bathroom. There was a few baths and shower stalls, with the whole room covered in shining porcelain. For a boys bathroom it was pristine, you assumed it must be cleaned magically. "I can't stand so I think I need to take a bath." You both hobbled over and he sat you on the side of the bath tub. "Okay, I'll be outside if you need me." George turned and exited the bathroom, leaving you to your devices.
Turning the two taps you let the bath fill, bubbles pooled on top of the water, smelling of lavender. With the bath now full of water you turned the two taps, ready to take your bath. After removing your clothes you tried to get into the bathtub but your taped up ankle was giving you grief. Persevering you tried some more but getting your ankle over without getting it soaked was not working. Quickly you grabbed a towel and covered yourself, preparing for the interaction to come.
"Ummm... George?" You called out, still sat on the end of the tub. "Yeah? Are you okay?" He cautiously opened the door, not looking inside but standing just by the entrance. "I'm... decent and stuff, you can come in." Both of you were blushing a deep red, the steam of the bath not aiding your cause. "I... can't get in by myself..." Shame, that was the only thing going through your mind, this was so embarrassing. "Oh." Was all he said, standing up straight with his ears burning hot.
Ushering him over you gave him your hand, "Close your eyes, I just need you to support my weight and I'll get in okay?" You couldn't look at him, both of you were admiring different bathroom tiles not wanting to make any kind of eye contact. He nodded vigorously with his eyes screwed shut, keeping a firm hold on your hand. You removed your towel and used his hand to get into the bath, finally making it. "Okay, you can open your eyes." He took in a deep breathe, like he hadn't dared since his eyes closed. The copious amounts of bubbles covered your frame, so if he was to look he wouldn't see anything.
You were supporting your leg to stop the bandages getting wet, realising this bath was going to cause a lot more trouble than you had originally planned. "George, I don't think I can do this by myself." Nobody said a word, the only sound in the room was the faint sound of the bubbles and the occasional drip from the faucet. "What do you need?" He whispered, still not looking at you. "Can you wash my hair? Please?" You kept your eyes glued to the water, how could you look at him? You heard him turn as he came and sat on the edge of the bath behind you.
"Lean your head back." He put his hands at the base of your neck, gently helping you lean back in the water. With your body in this position, you were forced to make eye contact with him. For a moment you both just looked at each other, you saw George swallow hard, looking away first. Using his hand he cupped water over your hair, the hot water lapping at your shoulders. Putting shampoo in his hands he worked it through your hair gently, taking his time with each motion.
Something inside you melted, lit like a flame even, you couldn't help whatever this feeling was. Until you figured it out, you liked George. You definitely liked George. The boy you'd hated for years, who was now washing your hair, you liked him. You didn't know it to be possible but you blushed an even deeper shade of red, praying that George wouldn't notice or at least not bring it up. "Don't you think it's funny? You lit my blanket on fire less than a month ago and now I'm helping you take a bath." George mused, rinsing the shampoo back out of your hair. You let out a soft giggle, "Yeah, I suppose so. You've come a long way carrot top."
Scooping up bubbles in your hair you blew them in his face, getting a few on his cheek and nose. "Hey! I'm doing you a favour Tonks, don't you forget it!" George leaned back, shielding himself from your onslaught of terror. You were both laughing hard, you had to clutch your stomach with your spare arm to calm down. He raked conditioner through the ends of your hair, smiling softly as he did so. "Come to think of it, I don't really know much about you." You let out, looking up at him. He met your gaze curiously, "I'm not that surprised, we spent a lot of time at each other's throats. What did you want to know?" He hummed, mainly focusing on your hair.
"Tell me... about your family. Ginny mentioned it's quite big." Your family was small and aside from your sister's cheekiness over the years, the house was generally quiet. "Yeah, it's huge, unlike our dinky house. We call it the burrow. Harry and Hermione come and stay every summer actually, Mum considers them family too." George began, smiling to himself as he remembered past summers and memories. "I've got two older brothers not including Fred, Bill's the oldest and then Charlie. Obviously there's Ron and then Ginny is the only girl. I think that's why she likes Hermione so much, acts like a big sister." Nodding along thoughtfully, you made sure to take in each word, you truly were interested. You thought he was a good storyteller.
"Fred's inviting Angelina to stay with us this Christmas. Mum asked him to actually, after Ginny spilled the news about his 'girlfriend'." At this you chuckled, she was a little spy that witch. "I mean, Angelina will be ecstatic. She's got a thing for impressing parents, mine love her." You looked up at him and he smiled, rinsing the last of the conditioner from your hair. "He hasn't asked yet so don't you go spilling it to her okay? He specifically mentioned I can't tell you." George reprimanded, playfully pointing a finger at you.
"Mmmm and yet here you are, telling me anyway." Using your free hand to ring out your hair, you carefully sat up in the bath. Thankfully your form was still covered by the bubbles. "Shut it Tonks." Giving you another sarcastic eye roll he stood from the edge of the bath. "Do you need my help getting out?" He asked, his face warming as he rubbed his arm, he seemed to do that a lot when he was nervous. You noted the habit.
"Yes... Just give me your arm and I should be okay." Immediately his arm shot out as he faced the other way. You took it and wrapped yourself in a towel, using his arm to steady yourself. "Fuck. All my clothes are in the girls dorm..." You murmured, more to yourself than anything else. "Oh, I can give you something of mine if you want." George noted, letting you sit down on the edge of the tub. "Hurry please, it is so cold out of the water." Cold water from your hair was now dripping down your back, causing you to shiver. George re-entered with a large sweater, some flannel pants and a pair of black boxers.
"Here, call me and I'll help you walk back." He chimed, embarrassed that you were about to put on a pair of his boxers. You slipped the clothing on, blushing as you put on his boxers, dear merlin you were actually wearing George Weasley's underwear... Once you were done you noted the massive 'G' on the front of the sweater, it was hand knitted, you could tell from the feeling of the wool on your skin. It was far too big for you and the sleeves had to be rolled if they were to be functional. Huffing a sigh you prepared to call George, sweet air filled your lungs, the smell of caramel and smoke. It smelt like George, with only slight hesitation you brought the material to your face and inhaled. Parchment, toffee, fireworks... All things you'd associate with George.
You thought back to your previous years in potions, specifically when you had smelt caramel in a cauldron of amortentia... No, no, no. Surely not right? Surely you hadn't liked George before today? Not possible, not a chance. And yet...
Snapping you out of a daze, George lightly knocked on the door to the bathroom, "I don't mean to rush you, but people are gonna get back soon and getting you down the stairs is going to be a task." "Come in!" You called back, waiting for his help. Upon entering George froze at the door, seeing you in his sweater made his heart race. It looked good on you and he was trying to push back thoughts of you wearing it on other occasions. Maybe after a night in his room... No! George help the poor girl! He dashed over and helped you up, smiling as he walked you out of the dorm.
He told you more about his family on the long trip to the medical bay and you told him about yours. Your stories couldn't compare to his, so you spent most of the walk in fits of laughter. Especially when he told you about him and the flying car. Hobbling back into your bed you both finally settled down. "Hey thank you, for all of this. I really appreciate it." You were sat next to him on the edge of your bed, playing with the cuff of his sweater *the one YOU are wearing*. "Y/N, it's okay. Don't worry about it, I already told you. I like visiting you." He looked you in the eye and gave you the most genuine smile you'd ever seen, he was beautiful. You leaned your head on his shoulder and sighed, "It's so lonely here, I can't wait to be out."
"Soon, besides you have work to do while you're in here." You could feel the heat from his body against yours, distracting you from whatever he was saying. "Speaking of, I do too actually. I'll come back tomorrow okay?" He said, whispering the last part as he moved a piece of your hair. All you did was nod, getting into the bed and pulling the covers up high. "Bye George." Giving him a little wave you pulled a book into your lap. "Bye Y/N." With one final look he left the medical bay, leaving you to your thoughts once again.
One thing was certain, you liked George Weasley.