George Weasley x Reader ~ Jaffa Cake

9 - Expelled

You were unsure as to where the professors were taking you, but did know that George (at least) was in big trouble. McGonagall was leading you swiftly down a thin corridor with Snape holding George behind you, his black cloak billowing out at all angles as he lengthened his strides to keep up. Thin windows appeared every few steps, letting a small slit of daylight paint the floors you walked on. A little line split the small windows in two, leaving a dark line across the middle where light was absent. There wasn't a lot of time to look out of the small windows due to the speed you were being pushed at, so you resumed holding your head straight forwards.

The hard stone floor was tough against your thin-souled shoes and every time you placed your foot down you could feel it echo through the base, leaving an odd tingly feeling in the bridge of your foot. It was quite an uncomfortable sensation, but nonetheless you walked quickly to keep up with McGonagall and tried your best to step on the floor as gently as possible.

Eventually you all came to a small room - which appeared to be an abandoned office - that, you assumed, had belonged to a long gone teacher. McGonagall whispered an incantation and the door quickly unlocked, swinging backwards to reveal (as you had assumed) a very small room. Old frail paperwork was strewn across an ancient looking chestnut desk, which bore a thick layer of brown tinted dust. Two plain chairs with what looked like a deep royal blue satin material sat on one side of the desk, nearest the sad forlorn bookcase that was wedged full with untouched aging books. Sat opposite the chairs on the other side of the desk were two more smaller, even plainer chairs, that lacked the satin and were simply made of oak. There was a very miniscule window that let in a small flood of light, a line of dust dancing in the single thread that stretched across the diameter of the room, and landed on what looked like an oversized chest with an overbearing amount of locks. Through the small window grew a single string of poison ivy, which coiled and clung closely to the crumbling curving wall, seemingly the only thing in the room that wasn't entirely layered in a coat of grime.

'Sit down', Snape instructed coldly as you stepped carefully into the room and were immediately faced with a sudden rush of cold air. Upon instinct, you wrapped your arms around your front in an attempt to preserve the last of your body heat. When you reached the chair furthest from the door and finally got to look at George, he too had wrapped his arms around himself and shivered for a second as the chilly atmosphere embraced him. McGonagall had at once taken the seat opposite you and as you sat down, you could have sworn she gave you an encouraging smile. When you looked back, however, her face was just as steely as Snape's was.

Everyone had now sat down. The hazel wooden door was shut again, and for a moment silence hung almost obnoxiously in the air.

Snape surveyed you and George from down his hooked nose, before speaking directly to George.

'Why you thought it necessary to attack a fellow student, Mr Weasley, I will never know', he began slowly, with a slight pause between some words, 'And I doubt your explanation will be enough to stop you from being expelled'. Snape closed his mouth with a slightly triumphant air and you felt a sickening zap through your stomach.

McGonagall seemed to notice this and shook her head. 'You will not be expelled Mr Weasley, I can assure you. Although this does depend on your excuse, which I hope is a valid one for your sake', she said clearly and looked in your direction.

'With all due respect Minerva, Weasley here attacked Marcus Flint and knocked him out cold. Who's to say he isn't going to act on impulse and do it again?' Snape cautioned, a faint glimmer in his dark eyes. When he said that name, you flinched unexpectedly and caused everyone to look at you closely - George, however, looked at you in concern.

He picked his chair up and moved it closer to yours, took your hand in his and once again said, 'You don't have to say anything'. As grateful as you were for his reassurance, you knew that this incident had made up your mind.

Snape and McGonagall were eying you closely, waiting for you to come clean with everything that had happened to you.

And so, you told them everything.
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It was exhausting, having to relive the story over and over again. What was worse, however, was having to look the professors right in the eyes during this process. There was a mixed expression of looks exchanged from McGonagall to Snape when you had finished, and you sat rigid with trauma on the chair with your hand in George's, close on the verge of tears.

'He was trying to protect me', you croaked as you swallowed heavily, your dry throat contracting stiffly. 'You can't expel him, please.'

Snape and McGonagall had completely lost the steely glares that they entered the room with. Now, their faces were of mirroring sympathy as they both listened to you intently.

'We will be expelling Flint, no exceptions. There is absolutely no excuse for what he did', Snape assured you with a surprisingly soft tone. 'I'm sure Dumbledore will agree with this decision'.

McGonagall nodded and you felt an overwhelming rush of relief seep into your body. Marcus was leaving. You would finally be safe.

'Fortunately for you, Mr Weasley, as head of your house I will not be setting you any detentions. I think your behaviour was justified', McGonagall said to George and you saw a smile creep onto his face. Snape had clearly noticed the smile that he let through. 

'That does not mean that you can do anything of the sort again', Snape said quickly and firmly, 'And if you ever were to dare, your days at this school would soon be over'.

George shifted in his chair and said rather haughtily,  'As long as that big toothed git isn't around, I think I'll do just fine.' 

No one bothered to say anything to his insult, and at the silence McGonagall looked at you.

'You know Miss l/n, you should have come to see your head of house or myself sooner. I understand it is difficult, and the victim is not always seen as being entirely truthful, but judging by George's outburst I very much see that you've told the truth. I also see that you were hesitant, which again is completely understandable, but please know that we're here to offer you our endless support', she reassured you calmly, and you smiled at her from your seat. 

'Thank you professor', you said gratefully.

'So can we leave now?' George asked impatiently. He knew you were feeling slightly uncomfortable, but you also had the feeling he wanted to get out of there before the professors changed their minds about letting him get off unscathed. Snape nodded fixedly and waved his wand ever so slightly, causing the hazel wooden door to lean open, so you and George both stood up from your chairs and left the little abandoned room, the professors following out not too shortly after. 

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Hiya guys, I hope this chapter was alright. Online school started up so I'm having less time to write, but I'll do my best to get a chapter out every Saturday/Sunday. If you guys have any ideas or scenarios you'd like to see, please don't hesitate to suggest - it's very helpful to get ideas from one's readers! Thank you for your patience x