Tidal Wave [george weasley post war]

9. Ringing In The New Year

The next few days after Aurora's trip to Diagon Alley with Ginny went by quickly. She had stayed the week at the Burrow, helping Molly around the house and working through explanations of muggle technology with Arthur. She also drank her fair share of wine after having Ginny apparate them back to Diagon Alley so she could venture out into muggle London to buy a few bottles for them. Since walking into Weasley's Wizard Wheezes after kissing Oliver, she has not seen or spoken to George. He stayed away from the burrow for the most part, but the morning of New Years' Eve she did heard his voice from upstairs as he apparated to invite Ginny, Ron, and the rest of his siblings to his flat for a party later that night.

"Aurora too, yeah?" Ginny spoke up with a smirk, her head tilted off to the side as she looked up at her brother. "Yeah, yeah, sure... Didn't know she was still here." George replied flatly, his hands digging back into his coat pockets. Ginny nodded as her response to George, glancing over her shoulder as she heard footsteps on the stairs.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, Georgie." Aurora spoke a bit harsh, but also with a humor. She crossed her arms over her chest as she looked up at him once she walked over to stand between Ginny and Ron. "Georgie?" Ron laughed, making a face as he watched his brother's reaction to the affectionate nickname, he so obviously did not want Aurora calling him.

"S'alright Rory." George bit back, shifting his weight from foot to foot before glancing back to Ginny. "Before you ask, no, don't worry about bringing anything. I've got a kitchen full of alcohol and food." He told his sister with a small smile. He was really trying. He was.

Ginny nodded back enthusiastically. "Great!" Her gaze turned to Aurora who was standing awkwardly, trying to move her hair to cover the blush that was starting to spread on her cheeks. The sound of her own affectionate nickname rolling off his tongue.... did something to her. Strange.

Aurora watched as George spun away with a loud crack. A breath she didn't realize she was holding slowly escaped through her lips. Almost standing in a daze, Aurora ignored the conversation between Ginny and Ron as it pertained to her and George.

"I think I know who Aurora will be kissing at midnight!" Ron howled with laugher, earning a gentle punch to the arm from his sister. "Ron! Stop!" Ginny growled, though she was also trying to hide a smile and a laugh.

Aurora snapped out of it, turning to look at the redheaded siblings. "What?" She cleared her throat, running her hands through her hair before she shook her head. "Sorry, I kind of zoned out a bit." She turned to head back up the stairs so she could try to figure out what she would be wearing, "And Ron," She stopped halfway up, turning to look around to look over her shoulder at him, "I won't be kissing anyone at midnight. That's dreadfully cliché, innit?" She joked with a smirk.

Ginny laughed with her head back at this. "Godric, I love you Aurora. Never a dull moment." She pat Ron's shoulder as she walked past him. "Now let's figure out what we'll be wearing tonight! I haven't seen Harry since the morning after Christmas." Ginny wiggled her eyebrows playfully as she linked arms with Aurora and walked the rest of the way up the stairs and to her bedroom together.

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Apparating with Ginny, clutching tightly on her arm, Aurora took a moment to regain her footing once they arrived outside of George's shop – his flat right above the storefront. She was particularly proud of herself for only having had a few...major freak outs in regard to magic. Maybe she could have the best of both worlds.

No. She wasn't thinking about unlocking her wand and diving right back into the wizarding world. But she could see how being a part of Ginny's life again was bringing her up from the brink of loneliness and darkness. In the past week, Aurora was aware that she had not laughed or smiled this much in a very long time. It made a warm, fuzzy feeling spread throughout her body. The darkness that loomed over her mind and her heart was slowly breaking apart, letting the light shine in.