Felix Felicis- A George Weasley and Adrian Pucey Love Triangle

14. The Aftermath

We skip dinner. The twins, Lee, and Ginny sit with me in the common room. George sits right next to me, his arm around his shoulders. He hasn't let go of me since we spoke in the halls. We all speak about light, shallow topics.

Hermione had magicked away the hickeys from my body, making everyone feel a tad more at ease. It soon becomes very late at night and almost everyone leaves the common room to go to bed. George and I are the only ones of our group left, although the common room still had a few stragglers. His arm was tight around me still, doubling the guilt that had filled me since the incident.

"Georgie?" I ask quietly. He looks down at me and whispers a small yes. I look up at him and my eyes well up with tears. "I understand if you don't want to take me out anymore. I know I don't deserve to even be near you after what I've done." I look away, ashamed.

"You're barking mad! We obviously still have a date tomorrow, you dunce" He says quietly.

"George, I know I hurt you today. I feel so horrid." I say, blinking back my tears. The lust that had filled me for Adrian brought him pain, I just know it.

"Look at me." He says. I oblige. "Stop blaming yourself. I lo- I care for you so deeply. The only thing that hurt me was that you were hurt. Drunken decisions aren't clearheaded, as we all know." My heart races. I must have misheard him. I can't believe this sweet boy and the words that come out of his mouth. I can't believe that he's forgiving me.

I touch his cheek gently and whisper, "I don't deserve you" He doesn't respond. He puts his large hand on top of mine, still looking into my eyes.

"I think it's best we go to bed," He says quietly, sadness glinting in his eyes. He starts to get off of the couch and leads me to stand close to him. "Will you be alright?"

I shake my head, still holding his hand. I don't want to leave George's side. I'm afraid he'll go after Adrian whilst I sleep, or will never want to see me again once I'm finally out of his sight. "Can I lay with you?" I say to my shoes. He leans down and kisses my forehead; he cusps my chin with a warm hand.

"Of course you can. Go on and change. I'll wait for you here." He pats the couch.

I nod and quickly go up the steps towards my dormitory. I change out of my jeans and sweater, putting on a soft tshirt. I stop dressing for a moment. I hold my usual pair of little shorts in my hand, but something stops me from putting them on. I dig in my drawer until I find a pair of flannel pants; I put these on instead. I am not going to instigate anything else. I've been going back and forth far too much already.

Once dressed, I quickly brush my teeth and hair. My hair is still beautifully styled, although all my makeup had been cried off earlier. I rush back down the stairs to the common room.

George is semi-sitting on the top of the couch, leaning over with his elbows on his knees. He rests his head in his hands.

"Georgie?" I call out. He looks up quickly and smiles. His face is red, sad.

"Right then. To bed!" He says as if we were going on a grand adventure, making me giggle. He leads me up the stairs, putting a finger to his mouth to signal me to be quiet. We quietly sneak into his dorm, where George's roommates are already asleep in their beds.

George motions to his bed, then to his jeans. He grabs his pajamas and walks over to the bathroom adjacent to his room. I walk over to his bed and sit on its edge. I hug myself tightly, wanting to forget everything that had happened that day.

A small sadness fills my chest. George is one of the best people I've ever known. He was willing to hold me, comfort me, even after I'd made a decision that had hurt him. But George and I weren't dating; it wasn't like I had cheated... Adrian and I had really only kissed. I try to justify myself, but it doesn't work.

George exits the restroom at last, looking as handsome as ever. He wears a pair of red flannel pants and a white tshirt, perfectly tight on him. His red hair is wet; had he really taken a shower while I was lost in my thoughts? It felt like only a few minutes he was gone. He walks over to me.

"Why aren't you in bed already? Go on, in you get" He motions to the bed. I crawl under his covers and he follows me in. I sink down into his chest, our bodies facing each other. He rubs my back gently.

This is what it's like to feel safe in someone's arms. George's heavy breaths instantly calm me. He smells so clean, like pine and something vaguely metallic. I'm nearly asleep when I hear George whisper to me.

"Mason, you could hurt me a thousand times and I'd forgive you every single time. I know this wasn't your fault. And I'm going to make it right." He kisses my forehead.

--

"What is going on here?"

My eyes flutter open. Fred and Lee are leaning over the bed, staring at George and I. Lee reaches out and pokes me on my cheek.

"Mate, this is for real!" He laughs. George is still asleep.

"Piss off" I whisper.

"Piss off, she says! She sneaks into our dorm, wakes in the arms of my brother, and then tells us to piss off!" Fred exclaims.

"Please, Fred, you'll wake him" I beg. He nudges Lee and they both roll their eyes but leave anyways. George is still asleep; he looks so peaceful. I shift a bit and he pulls me closer into him. His heartbeat is slow, calm.

I could lay here for hours. I don't know how much time passes until he wakes. He shifts a bit and rubs my arm, prompting me to look up at him.

"Morning" he whispers to me. He leans down and kisses my forehead. I don't move.

"Good morning, Georgie," I whisper, frozen. I remember the words he spoke to me last night as he thought I was asleep. My thoughts are heavy in my head. George was safe, George was kind, and George was willing to give me one more chance. I can't lose him.

"As much as I'd love to stay here forever with you in my arms, I think it's best for both of us to get breakfast. Then we can both get pretty and meet for our date. What d'you think? I might curl my hair..." He says, squeezing me tighter.

"I think if you do that, you'll be stood up" I laugh back.

"I'll meet you back in the common room and we'll walk to get breakfast together?"

I nod and get out of his bed, already missing his touch. Today I had a date with George Weasley, and I'd be damned if I ruined what could be my last chance.