Secrets Only Trouble Knows - George Weasley

21 - Under the Cherry Blossom Tree

George's POV

"You're going to be cold, Pierce," I called out to Nova, catching up to her and Jasper as we all made our way into the greater part of the house. "It's a little chilly outside."

"I'll be fine," she replied stubbornly, refusing to look at me.

I glanced at the small patch of skin showing between her shirt and shorts, then her bare arms and legs. I wasn't so sure of her answer. Nevertheless, I let her be headstrong. It was her funeral.

"Suit yourself," I answered with a shrug.

The four of us stepped through the front door and—not to my surprise—were immediately hit by the cold night air. Nova didn't say anything about it, though, so we began following Jasper towards the field he'd told us about. The boys and I talked and joked along the way, and every now and then we'd catch a sassy remark or eye roll from Nova— her usual.

Ten minutes into our journey, Fred and Jasper split off into their own conversation as we turned down a little dirt path. I hung back some, slowing to walk next to the littlest Pierce. She'd been quiet for the last few minutes.

I noticed her arms were wrapped around her stomach and that she was covered in goosebumps. I couldn't help but smirk.

"Don't gloat, Weasley," she mumbled quietly, sensing my satisfaction. "I already know you were right."

I thought about teasing her some more, just for added effect, but decided against it when I saw a sudden chill run down her spine, causing her to gasp. A slight twinge of guilt I didn't quite understand bubbled up inside of me.

Stopping abruptly in the middle of the path, I set my broom down on the ground. Nova looked at me, appalled, as I then shrugged off my Gryffindor Quidditch jumper I was wearing, leaving myself in just the black t-shirt I had on underneath.

"Here," I said, handing it to her, "take it."

With utmost confusion, her eyes flickered back and forth between my face and the jumper in my outstretched hand. Then she shook her head resolutely when she determined I was seriously offering it to her.

"I didn't mean for you to pity me," she huffed. "I'm fine, George. You keep it."

I sighed heavily, shoving the jumper against her stomach, trying harder to get her to take it from me.

"Don't be so stubborn, Pierce," I grumbled. "You're cold and I'm not, so wear it. I'd rather not spend the rest of this walk listening to your teeth chatter obnoxiously."

"But—"

"I already took it off," I hissed. "Just fucking put it on. It's not a big deal. We need to catch up with Fred and Jasper."

Reluctantly, she finally took the jumper from me. Her slender fingers just barely brushed my hand in the process. I tried to ignore how their contact sent a strange flicker of electricity through my body.

All annoyance I'd had with her evaporated when I watched Nova pull my jumper over her frame and let it fall loosely around herself. It was way too big on her since I was so much taller than she was, but for whatever reason I still thought it fit her perfectly.