Felix Felicis- A George Weasley and Adrian Pucey Love Triangle

17. Caught in a Lie

The Slytherin girl doesn't say a word. She looks at me wearily, until she finally nods.

"Can you go and get him? Quickly please?" I whisper.

She nods once more and the goes down the stairs. As I wait, my heart races. Nerves begin to bubble inside my stomach. Have I made a mistake by calling for him?

"Mason?" Adrian comes bounding up the stairs, "Wow... I didn't believe Pansy when she told me you were asking for me."

I blush. Without a word, I grab his hand and run into the hall closest to us.

"Listen, I haven't got much time. I just want you to know I don't blame you. I'm so sorry for what Fred and-" I begin to apologize, but am cut off by Adrian wrapping me in a hug.

"I thought you hated me," he says softly into my hair, "I couldn't bear it. You know I never meant to hurt you." He pulls back to look into my eyes, searching for a sign of remorse or forgiveness from me.

"You didn't hurt me at all, but it seems everyone else can't see that. No one but George will believe me-"

He pulls away from me. He growls, "That Weasley bloke. He'll get what's coming to him soon enough."

"What are you on about?" I ask, worriedly.

"The quidditch match? On Thursday? It's you versus us." He says casually.

Was it really quidditch season already? Adrian is a chaser, meaning him and George would be going directly at each other for the entire game.

"Adrian, please. I don't know what you're planning, but please don't do anything you wouldn't do in a normal match," I look at him with despair.

His eyes glaze over with a small bit of sadness. "It was always him, wasn't it?" he asks quietly. I don't know how to respond.

I stare intently at the ground, not meeting his gaze. The pit in my stomach grows even larger. "I don't understand."

"I never stood a chance. He was always the one you were going to pick." He looks down, and I can see he is growing angry.

"No, that's not true. Adrian, I don't know what you want me to say. I obviously wasn't sure of what I wanted-"

"And now you're sure?" His voice is thick.

"I never said that" I whisper, looking up to try to catch his gaze.

"You didn't have to. Today, in the Great Hall, it was obvious." His cheeks are growing redder with each passing second.

I reach my hand out to him, slowly. "There was just such a scene yesterday, and then this morning people were still speaking of it... and... I didn't know what to do." Tears begin to brim in my eyes. The last few days- weeks, really- had been so emotionally exhausting.

I can't read him. Hints of anger, embarrassment, and remorse are coming through, and this response only confuses me.

"Tell me it's me. Tell me right now."

"I can't."

He doesn't look at me, although I wish he would. I want his beautiful green eyes to look into mine; I want him to tell me he wants to start over. But he doesn't.

"I do care for you," I breathe out. My voice quivers.

"Not the way I wish you would. I can't force you to pick me. Your heart would never truly be mine," He steps away from me.

"Please, don't go." I plead. Although I know it's what is best for the both of us, the thought of losing Adrian hurt me deeply. We had shared so many little moments; he had always left me breathless. But he was right. I could never fully give myself to him- or to George- while the other was still in the picture.

"I'll still be here for you. I always will be. I'll keep trying; I just can't right now. Not while he is still... And I meant what I said; if he ever hurts you..." He reaches out for my hand and gives it a kiss, finally looking into my eyes. I can't see them properly, with the tears that are beginning to spill over. I knew deep down this would happen eventually, but I didn't expect it to come so soon.

He drops my hand and turns, leaving me alone in the corridor.

I won't allow myself to cry. I had been dragging them both along; I came to this conclusion myself yesterday. It wasn't fair to either of them, and he was right. Was it last night that made him realize it too? The way I had sought comfort in George instead of him? George.

I run out of the corridor, up the stairs to the Gryffindor dormitory.

"Fortuna Major!" I yell at the fat lady, and she rolls her eyes before opening the door to the common room.

I step inside quickly, my eyes scanning the room for George. He's sitting on the bay window which I had sat in this morning. I clear my throat.

"Well hello, lovely. Where have you been?" He says with a small smile.

"I ran into Ron, we got to talking," I lie, sitting next to him and looking out of the window, "Now tell me about Cormac!"

He jumps into the story, vividly explaining how the boy was near tears and his eyebrows were switching between all the colors of the rainbow. I laugh when I'm supposed to, but the sadness from earlier lingers on my mood. George begins explaining how he told Cormac he'd fix his eyebrows, only to bewitch the hair on his head as well.

"You're a git! I'd imagine he got a right heart attack after that!" I giggle.

"Hey guys, have you seen Ron?" Ginny comes walking up to us.

"Mira has, she was just talking to him! Where'd he say he was off to?" George answers before I can say anything.

"Um, the library. To study." I say weakly. Completely unbelievable. "Hermione's dragged him off, you know how she is," I try to make myself more convincing.

"He took my favorite quill! The bastard better give it back." She turns away and walks out of the common room.

I prompt George to continue his story, but after only a small moment we are interrupted once more.

"Have either of you seen Ginny? I borrowed her purple quill and I need to give it back before she has a conniption" I can't turn to see who is standing there. My worst fear is confirmed when I hear George laugh, "Just missed her, she just went out to look for you in the library, mate!"

I turn to see Ron standing in front of us, looking utterly confused. "Why would she go to the library? I've been in my room all day."

"You told me you were going to the library, remember?" I prompt, panic starting to show in my voice.

"What are you talking about? I hate the-" Ron is so dense.

"She's in the library, Ronald!" I snap and turn to George. I close my eyes, placing a hand over them.

"Alright then, I'll just... go to the library," He says, utterly confused.

George is looking at the space where Ron was just standing, his mouth agape. Confusion is heavy in his eyes, and finally he clicks the pieces together. "You weren't talking to Ron earlier, were you?" George is quiet.

"No." I admit, shamefully. My cheeks grow hot.

"I don't want to know who it was then; or why you felt you had to lie about it," his tone is serious, hurt. I look at him, unable to speak. I reach out for his hand, but he doesn't extend his to meet mine.

"I was talking to Adrian-" he stiffens, "-breaking things off." I look into his eyes. His light brown eyes soften, looking at me with hope. I break eye contact, the lie heavy in my chest. Adrian telling me he wished to step back was not me initiating the end, but either way it was over, at least for now.

"Swear it" he whispers.

"I swear it, on Godric Gryffindor himself" I reply, quickly. He still doesn't take my hand.

"Well, it seems the sun is going to set soon. Are you ready for part two?" He looks out onto the fields below us, not meeting my gaze and ignoring my attempt to touch him.