Lumos

Chapter Twenty-Eight: "Langlock"

Langlock: A jinx which glues the tongue to the roof of the mouth.

[Above is the trailer for this chapter. It does contain hints/spoilers, so keep that in mind if you choose to view before reading.]

A/N: Hello Lovelies!

I hope your week was wonderful, and that the new year has been treating you well thusfar. <3
Thank you so much for taking the time to read, and/or commenting/leaving a kudos. You are all so very kind and encouraging, and wonderful. <3 <3

As always, I do not own the rights to this story world or to these characters.

Playlist: "Irish Coffee" by WYS (December 25), "Anything Could Happen," by Ellie Goulding/"You Make My Dreams" by Daryl Hall and John Oates (First part of Dec. 26), "In the Blue Hours of Morning" by The Oh Hellos (When Hermione opens the card/Dec. 26), "Afterglow" by Ed Sheeran (When Hermione brings up movies, Dec. 26), "Really Deep Snow" by Lindstrom (December 28), "Man on a Mission" by Oh the Larceny (December 29, conversation with Fred), "Farther We Go" by Walk Off the Earth/"Wild" by John Legend (December 29, at the pond), "Run Boy Run" by Woodkid (When George looks in the trees), "A Little Bit Yours" by JP Saxe/"Shield" by WYS (December 29, apparition), "Smoke Rising Like Lifted Hands" by The Oh Hellos/"Afterglow" by Ed Sheeran/"Friedrich Dances With Jo" by Alexandre Desplat ([I can't pick one, so go with what you like] December 29, when the world quiets).

Please pardon any errors. <3 I edited this rather quickly.

OKAY.
Grab your snack (I suggest peanut butter or chocolate fudge, if you can get your hands on some), your drink (definitely hot cocoa this week), and a blanket at least twice your size. Let's dive in.

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George

December 25, 1998

Plates and mugs piled high in the sink's basin, and George and Mrs. Weasley's wands worked, sorting the stacks into something more manageable. They'd have to caste the cleaning charms more carefully, as the family had used his mum's special plates for supper.

"Honestly, dear, your father was beside himself when you didn't come home with Ginny," Mrs. Weasley said, staring at the dishes.

"Was he, now?" George replied, casting a well-aimed scrubbing charm on the pie pans. Across the kitchen, Arthur snorted.

"Cried my eyes out," Mr. Weasley said flatly, prying his wand tip against a large, rubber duck. "Thinking about you, all alone in Hogsmeade during the holidays." He rested the duck on a rough, wooden shelf. "Then I slipped on my pink housecoat and baked an extra three dozen biscuits." He paused. "Oh, wait—no, that was your mum."

George stilled. Mr. Weasley crossed to the sink and clapped George on the shoulder. "I understand you're very busy, but you could've sent an owl."

"Sorry," George said, wincing. Mrs. Weasley sniffed. George's eyes widened, and he set his wand on the counter.

"Haven't been coming to dinners, either," she said, blinking. "Did we do something?"

"No—not at all," George said. "I-I, um—I've just been busy."

Hermione's face flashed through his mind, and he shook his head, trying to focus.

Molly wiped a crocheted sleeve over her eyes and redirected her wand. "I worry about you out there. I know you've got Ginny, but you've always done best with family around, and this is your first year living apart from Fred."