Tidal Wave [george weasley post war]

10. Friends?

The year 2002 certainly started off with a bang. Aurora found herself spending every weekend, that she had off from work, at the Burrow with Ginny. The month of January passed quicker than she would have liked, but she was glad that the warmer weather was just around the corner now. It was now February 14th. Valentine's Day. Aurora hated this made up holiday more than your average person. If she loved someone, she wouldn't only spend one day showing them that. Maybe she was a bit crabby because things didn't pan out with Oliver like she had hoped. Did she really hope something would have happened? She couldn't answer that truthfully because she still felt torn.

They had seen one another a handful of times throughout the month of January. Kissed a few times, even, but there was no spark. Aurora knew to expect that. The night they spent together after the battle was void of any sparks, or any kind of romantic feelings really. She used him. She felt awful for it now that she thought more about it...but in a way he used her, too. They needed that comfort, they needed to expel the sadness any way that they could. Aurora was hitting herself now thinking that sex was the only way to do that.

"What time are you meeting Harry?" Aurora glanced down at Ginny as she raked her fingertips through her hair, moving strands around to help her perfect the look she was going for. Ginny's face was already pressed with make up and her dress was sitting delicately on the foot of her bed. Aurora, on the other hand, had her hair in a messy bun, strands cascading out from the tie and framed her face. Her skin was void of any makeup, and her clothes were wrinkled and would be what they call "lounge clothes".

Ginny glanced up at the clock, her eyes widening. "Oh bullocks! An hour! Help me get into the dress? I don't want to wrinkle it." She cried, pushing herself up, shedding the silk robe that had been tied loosely around her waist. Aurora moved to follow Ginny to the bed, helping her into the dress before sitting down and watching her friend slip her heels onto her feet. "I've never known you to be a dressy type of gal, even for Valentine's Day..." Aurora tilted her head to the side. "Is this one special?"

Ginny blushed deeply. "Well... Harry's been doing really well for himself as an Auror. I think he may want to, you know," Ginny cleared her throat, spinning a bit in her mirror to get a complete look at her attire. "Take the next step. Maybe. I don't know, maybe I'm a foolish lovesick girl..."

Aurora smiled widely. She shook her head and clapped her hands together, "Oh Ginny! Hush, that is wonderful news. Marriage?"

"Oh...goodness no. At least not yet. But I'm thinking he may ask me to move in with him." Ginny grinned, moving now to complete her look with a pair of earrings.

"Well, that is still pretty big. You'll have to figure out that phone I gave your father to call me and tell me all about your night." Aurora joked, moved to put her trainers back on and grab her purse before following Ginny downstairs. They said their goodbyes to Molly and Arthur, putting on their coats and apparating to Diagon Alley.

Aurora thanked Ginny for dropping her off here before she scurried off to meet Harry for their dinner. Turning on her heel, Aurora stuffed her hands into the front pockets of her coat as she walked off towards the Leaky Cauldron. Music, laughter, and shouting could be heard a block away from the bar. Tempted only the slightest bit, Aurora bit on her bottom lip before thinking what the hell, pulling open the door and walking in, heading straight for the bar.

Aurora had been a few drinks in, sitting alone in the corner of the bar. She could barely hear the dreadful music over the raucous laughter of the men sitting beside her. She kept her eyes forward, hands loosely gripping the glass of fire whiskey. She found herself digging into her pocket and placing a few coins on the bar before tugging on her coat and rushing out of the front door.