—
The rain dropped slightly as it hit the eaves, and the wind slipped through the crack of the window, not only made a smoothing but also terrifying sound, I turned to my side and grabbed my blankets more tighter, trying to get some sleep, but it didn’t work nevertheless.
Inside my mind, millions threads were being intertwined though I couldn’t make them keep sticking. It’s such a miserable feeling when the rain fall down on the windows or rather my mind, or maybe I’m just nervous about the first time I spend my Christmas holiday at the burrow. This is the sixth winter since I started school at Hogwarts, the Weasley twins and I became friends at our third grade, who were both in Gryffindor and I’m in Ravenclaw. You could barely see the twins separated from each other, nonetheless, the first time I met George was in the library, alone. I’m still wondering what brought him there though, strange person at the strange place, but in a good way.
Eventually I stood up and pulled on my jumper, closed the window and opened the door, decided to find some night snacks.
I walked down the stairs and glimpsed a certain person standing in front of the stove, his back facing me, wearing a navy blue hand knit jumper, hand absentmindedly running through his fluffy hair, I could feel the flutters inside my chest, closing my eyes as I took a deep breath, I barely made a sound as I tiptoed toward him.
“Hey,” I poked his shoulder slightly, as he startled and turned around, I shifted to the other side with a chuckle. He sighed, with a lightly smirk on his face, “It’s no fun for you to stay up so late and just to scare me.” Rolling my eyes, “Funny. Who gave you the impression that I stayed up late for you, Georgie?” I leaned my back against the stove, tilting my head and smiling at him. “Why are you staying up so late, though?”
“That’s exactly what I’m going to ask you,” George chuckled. “It’s one in the morning and it’s raining and cold, why aren’t you sleeping in your bed with lovely dreams?” I closed my eyes and shook my head feinting resignedly, joking, “I guess someone’s just wouldn’t get out of my mind.”
He laughed, muttering something like “what a lucky guy” as he started pouring butter into a pan, then grabbed two pieces of bread and began spreading butter across them. “Do you want cheese?” He asked, I nodded as he turned his face to me before facing the stove again. Neither of us turned on the light, there’s only a little glow in front of the stove, which was orange and warm, shining brightly into George’s eyes, and his red hair now seems like flame, I can’t take my eyes off him.
He must noticed my intense gaze, scratching his flushing ear, he spoke: “You know, you’ll really make me blush if you kept looking me like that.” I chuckled, but also flushed a bit and turned my head to the opposite direction. “Sorry, but I thought you’re already blushing–“
“Oh c’mon, Cissy, just take a seat, please.” His ears turned red.
“Fine.” I giggled.
—
Sitting on the couch rather than the chair, I turned my body to look at him, George chuckled as he grabbed two slices of cheese and put them across the butter he had spread on the now toasted bread. My arms leaning on the back of the couch as I gently placed my head on it, he turned off the stove, put the sandwiches on two separate plates and walked towards me, placing one plate in my hands.
Mouthing a “thanks” to him, George grabbed a blanket from the armchair and laid it on top of our laps, I curled up my legs and leaned against his body, he led out a light chuckle, leaning his chin on my head like we usually did. “It’s like Hogwarts, isn’t it? Sneaking out from your dorm and sitting in front of the fireplace with me? ” He smiled mildly as he spoke, I chuckled, “Did I sneak out now? Why are you still awake anyway?”
“Just can’t sleep well, dunno why.”
Instead of answering, I stared at him for a while and moved back my gaze to my sandwich, it’s still hot–almost burnt my hand, indeed, I took a bite before I spoke: “You have something on your mind? You know you can always tell me anything, I’m here.”
George chuckled softly, which made me thought he was making fun of me, flushing. “Don’t laugh at me, I’m worried about you!”
“No, no, I’m not making fun of you,” he explained, though he didn’t stop grinning. “Just thinking…you’re really spending your holiday with us, with me. I just couldn’t stop thinking about it.”
He’s playing with my hair gently, I can still feel butterflies inside my stomach though he’s done it several times. His pleasant smell suddenly filled up the air between us, with the mix of cinnamon and peppermint.
“Oh, so you can’t sleep because you’re thinking about me?” I teased him and resumed to finish my sandwich, as he seemed not interested with it anymore.
“Yeah, you can say that.”
There was a pause. It’s like my heart skipped a beat when I heard what he said, his voice sounds not only teasing but delightful, and I couldn’t even speak a word. Are we always this close? Since when did we become more than friends? I couldn’t find a word to describe my feelings, which was rattled and flustered, the only thing I know is my heart always pounds as hard as it could be whenever he exists, and I couldn’t help smiling whether I think about him or see him.
He put his plate on the table with mine, as he turned his face to me again, I can feel my cheeks getting warmer.
“This is the first time I spent christmas with others instead of my family. I mean,” I chuckled slightly, “this is special. You are special. So I’m nervous, I guess that’s why I couldn’t sleep either.”
“This is the first time I invited someone to my house.”
“Is it?” My eyes widened in surprise.
“It is, you are special for me.” George grinned bashfully. “And…I also think you should come here more often.”
The blanket’s now crumpled up underneath my tightly wrapped hands, I couldn’t help grinning when he noticed that and held my hands. There’s another pause after promising him, neither of us spoke or blinked as the time seemed to freeze, staring into his eyes made me feel dizzy, I must be charmed, or how else I could never get tired of looking at him? My heart pounded so hard that he must’ve heard it. He smiled softly and moved a strand of hair out of my face, we stayed in that position for a while and I think I might as well be drunk in the aroma of his.
“I’m just wondering-“ I cut the silence, “if we both can’t sleep now, why don’t we go get some fun?” George let out a chuckle, raising his eyebrow. “Say that again?”
“Let’s go outside and find something interesting.”
“Are you sure you know how late is it right now?”
“Half past one.”
“I’m not aware that you’re not as innocent as your appearance.“ Instead of resisting me, he laughed and stood up with grabbing my hands, gasping, I held his hands tightly in hurt, apparently surprised by the suddenly action, not even waiting me to respond, he grinned.
“Now, where are we going?”
—
Chilly breeze brushing through my face as I tried not to shiver too much, it was still colder than I expected though I’ve already worn my coat and put on my scarf and earmuffs. Originally I thought there’d be nobody on the street, however, there were still a few couples holding hands, wandering on the snowy pavement and kissing beneath the streetlights.
It wasn’t unpredictable, though, Christmas’ coming just so soon.
George must’ve noticed my shivers, he smirked and held my hand silently into his warm pocket. “You’re not so forgetful, are you? It’s the middle of December,” he teased. Squeezing his hand softly, I let out a soft chuckle. “See? I forget it on purpose.” I could even imagine the blush appearing on his pale face without looking at him as he gripped my hand back. “Well, I guess we can still hold hands whether you’re wearing gloves or not.” He said in a soft, embarrassed voice. Oh, we must blushing like mad now.
The rain has stopped a while since we left the burrow, yet the floor was still slippery, our hands didn’t seem to separate even once. George kept rubbing my fingers, which made me giggle a lot. Shiny bulbs were hanging on every glass-fronted billboard and Christmas trees, dazzling as I twinkled my eyes to widen my gaze at the glistening snow, some euphonious trill of silvery bells ringing through the air, my heart never felt so brightly even though I’ve passed this street hundreds times, then I suddenly realized that it was George, who held my hand tightly the entire time made the moment significant.
“Wow,” George broke the silence, “you certainly picked a beautiful night to come.” There were some little clouds beside his mouth, I laughed: “It’s Christmas Eve in two days, it’ll be more romantic if we–“ My eyes widened in shock, the word had slipped out from my mouth faster than my awareness. Blushing, I closed my mouth and looked away. What did I just say, romantic? For my surprise, George laughed brightly.
“Romantic, you say?” He nudged my shoulder softly though I still refused to show my scarlet face to him, “I guess someone’s fluttered?” He chuckled a lot more while I glared at him, his hand still gripping mine tightly, my heart pounding so fast that I thought it might pop out.
“Forget that, I didn’t mean–“ without finishing it, George cut in. “But I meant it. Yes we are, romantic, and I like the word you use so don’t even think to regret it.”
The rest of his words seemed to fade out, it was too fuzzy to hear because my brain went blank by his words. Leaning up my head so I could see the twinkling in his deep brown eyes, which made me associate with the toffee I ate this morning, and the hot chocolate–sweet enough for making me melt, or some flaring flames. Wind blowing through my ears as he called my name, “Cissy, Cissy–hey, Cecilia–are you still here?”
“Ah–yes, I’m here.” I replied, face fully covered with red. George’s still grinning, seemed to enjoy my shyness. His gorgeous smile, pleasant smell and his lovely eyes, he is amazing–so incredibly amazing. The butterflies inside my stomach didn’t seem to disappear, there’s nothing I can do but stood there and looked clumsily into his eyes.
“I think it’s just right, you know, this night. Not the coldest, not the most crowded, not the rain and snow pouring down on us and getting all wet–“ George stopped to giggle with me, “it stops exactly the right time when we get out, see? We’re so lucky.” My gaze softened when I heard his sweet praises, I smiled when I heard some Christmas jazz music coming out from the open bar, he looked slightly flushed at the moment. I held his hand and kept walking until turning back to him.
“You’re right, we’re lucky,” I paused. “Lucky you, lucky me.”
George’s cheeks turned slightly red, he seemed a little bashful that I’m looking at him in such a way. He tried to clear his throat and look to the side, but he failed. Instead, he looked back at me and smiled.
“That we are.”
A suddenly idea popped up in my head, he managed to take a deep breath as I grabbed his hands and held his fingers, grinning broadly, I swung our hands rhythmically yet he seemed to realize what I am doing. “Dancing, are we?” He then laughed through my childish action, his smile was always as bright as the sunshine, and it made me think of everything warm in the world. I blushed but nodded.
“If you wanna dance, you should put your hands here,” he took my hand and placed it on his shoulder, smirking, his hand tracing down my waist and bringing me closer, I chuckled and leaned my head on his chest. As long as our hands were still gripping each other’s tightly, the world has somehow shifted this night. Every time we swayed and forth made my heart floated, despite to the nippy wind, his palms, his body and his embrace were as hot as it might burn my skin. George outstretched his hand to make me spin, I heard his lovely chuckle, he pulled back my hand abruptly and I couldn’t help gasping and chuckled too.
“George,” I leaned my head against his shoulder, speaking softly, he “hm” back as a reply. It was always hard to confess the feelings to others, at least for me. But as his words, it was just right–more like perfect. It was the best opportunity for me to spill my feelings out. “Have you ever kissed someone before?”
He was blushing like crazy right now, his face rather crimson. He then covered his face with his free hand and laughed, shaking his head. “You’re so amazing, Cecilia. Clever, gorgeous, precious, and even more braver than I thought,” I smiled coyly, rubbing my cuffs embarrassingly.
“You’ll make me bashful…and you haven’t answered me yet.”
“No, I haven’t.” As the music switched to the other song, we stopped dancing and his eyes met mine. “I haven’t kissed anyone before. I thought it was obvious enough for you to know that I like you?” He chuckled, but I still noticed his voice was slightly nervous. “I always do. It’s quite strange to say, but I can tell that you’re different from anyone else in the world the first time I saw you.” I grinned, he moved his hands up to my face, thumbs caressing my cheeks softly.
“How different? Why?”
Showering beneath his sweet gaze and swimming inside his loving words made my legs weak, I placed my hands slightly on his waist, caressing it gently like he did to my cheeks, though he might not even feel it under his sweater and jacket.
He leaned down his head. “I kept thinking about you after we met in the library. Your eyes, your smile, your heaven-like smell, every time our eyes connect make my heart pound so fast, I never had the same feeling to anyone before. I want to know you better, I want to be your friend, I want to be more than just a friend.” The heat between us rose up suddenly, he must heard my heartbeat when I placed my head against his chest, it was beating the exact same way as mine. His hand gently moved to my back, slowly rubbing it, I was blushing like mad and his eyes were so glued to my face. “Maybe just like the way you could always tell Fred from me, you told me before, remember? It’s more like a feeling.”
We have plenty of love languages and physical touches: in class, coughing once means I want to catch your attention, blinking twice means I want to leave with you, tapping the desk three times means I really miss you; always cuddle more than friends do, we hold hands easily and he taps the desk during class too much which always makes the professor giving him detention. We’re so much more than friends, how come I never realize this? Standing on tiptoes, I leaned my head against his and our lips connected. The whole world became silent.
I couldn’t help but feel his tensed body at the moment but it softened suddenly, it’s rather lips-touching than kissing: it was so soft, so sweet and flawless. He smiled through the kiss and moved his hands to my neck, deepening the kiss as his warm hands caressing me, tracing my back up and down as I slung my arms around his neck, the kisses made me giddying, I couldn’t think anything but his lips and his breath, my moan and his slightly chuckles. Every flush of the fingertips was significant, every touch was making me melt, every time our gaze met was feeling like forever, I love how intimate we are now and I love how he embraces me which was tighter than ever.
Breathlessly, our lips broke apart. I panted and giggled as his hot breath sprinkled through my ear, as though feathers tickling my heart. He resumed to cuddle up my face and left small pecks on it, too much to count, both giggling as I held him closer to me. “Oh-” he kissed my eye, “stop Georgie-” this time my nose, “you such a big baby…” he grinned before leaving the last peck on my lips.
“You can’t blame me, can you?” When our lips finally broke apart, his smile was too wide and looked silly as well, I giggled before he caressed my hair and spoke. “I can’t believe it was really happening! Am I dreaming? I wish I’ll never awake if this is a dream–“ I snapped him with pressing my lips against his, neither nor I could imagine this was actually happening, but if it wasn’t true, how could his lips be so soft, so warm and so incredibly real? His eyes reflected the shine of moon, it’s glittering and crystal clear, and suddenly I know I will always fall in love with him again and again, forever and ever.
“I’ll kiss you whether it’s a dream or not.”
His gaze softened. The way he smiled and I knew that he understand my feelings and my love without explaining, there’s no need to rush, the night is still massive, our lives as well. I’ll make sure he knows it someday and somehow.