A Soulmate's Love

Chapter 36 - I care

George's Perspective

I didn't sleep at all that night, everything Althea had said still fresh in my mind. The next morning, I came to the conclusion that she would probably sleep for the entirety of the day due to her hangover, and used the opportunity to go get her some food from the kitchens. 

I didn't know how to confront her about it. She had never spoken a word about it and it seemed as if Elise hadn't known, so it left me wondering if I should even bring it up at all. I could pretend she never told me about the rape which is what she told me to do before she got drunk, but that didn't sit with me right as a part of me knew I had to say something. 

Arriving in the kitchens, I bumped into one of the elves and ordered a bagel and cream cheese, some fruit, and an iced coffee. I asked for a larger coffee considering she would be exhausted and asked for a painkiller as I knew it would ease her headache. I then made a quick stop at her dorm and gathered some clothes for her to wear.

When I finally got back to my dorm, I saw that she was still asleep, bunched up in my jersey. I posed the meal and clothes down and began pacing through the room, trying to think of what to say when she woke up. 

I must have done this for a long time as I was sent out of my thoughts when she said, "What's wrong babe?" in a raspy voice. My attention drew to her sitting up in my bed, her head tilted to the side in concern. I sat down beside her slowly, at a loss for words. Her expression grew alarmed and she began fussing over me. "You look a little pale are you sick from last night? Do you have a fever?" She asked as she put her hand on my forehead, "Eat this." She handed me the bagel I had gotten for her and I couldn't help but laugh softly, watching her with adoring eyes. "What?" She stopped what she was doing, starting to smile too. 

"I got the food for you love," I said, though it came out as a whisper. 

Her lips pouted slightly and her eyebrows furrowed as she was thinking, "Oh thank you but you can have it!" She decided, pushing the tray towards me, "But I'll take the coffee." As she quickly took the iced drink. 

"You can take both." I reasoned, taking a bite out of the bagel to show her that I didn't need it. 

"But aren't you going to be hungry?" She asked, concern clouding her features. 

"Love, I ate breakfast earlier." I lied, wanting her to eat some of the food. She hadn't been eating due to the stress of the exams and I had noticed. But now I knew it wasn't because of the exams, it was her mom. 

"Oh, ok." She took a few bites of the bagel and drank her coffee before setting it down, looking up at me suspiciously. "George, you seem a little off. What's the matter?" The truth is I couldn't come to terms with how she had been so hurt and never mentioned it. 

"You said some stuff last night..." I began, not knowing if she remembered anything.

She put the food on the table and huffed, muttering a few curses to herself. "I'm sorry babe if I said something mean or did something - I swear I didn't mean it I was super drunk and no one means anything when they're drunk. I'm sorry-"

"Love, were you- were you raped?" I whispered, looking up to her and searching her facial expressions for any sign of recognition.

"What- why- George what are you talking about?" She spluttered; complete shock written all over her face.

My eyes watered as her reaction confirmed my question, and her face faltered for a split second in sadness before she recovered it, morphing into anger. We stayed in silence for a few seconds, both not knowing what to say.

"I'm so sorry darling I-" I began before she stood up, her eyes shutting closed in pain for a moment before she stared at me. I remember her telling me about some sort of iron deficiency and the more I got to know her, the more I saw its effect.

"NO. George, don't start." Her eyes watered with tears threatening to spill but they never did, as always, they never did. "I'm fine, and we don't need to talk about it." Her voice was hard and full of anger, though it also contained profound sadness that I knew she hid.

"Althea-" 

"I said NO." Her voice cracked at the last words and a piece of my heart broke. "I can't- just stop." Her shaking hands bunched into fists at her side and her gleaming eyes looked everywhere but mine. 

I stood up slowly and reached for her hand but she took hers away, "Love," My voice was barely above a whisper and a lone tear fell, leaving a trail on my face. 

She ran out of my dorm before I could say anything and I followed her, screaming out her name as she continued into the courtyard. It was pouring rain but she didn't care, and my tears mixed with the rain as I ran behind her. 

"Althea Victoria Jane!" I shouted through the thunder, making her stop in her tracks and whip around to face me. 

We both stood in the rain, not saying anything. She ran a hand through her soaked hair, looking in the distance, not looking me in the eyes. I walked closer to her and this time she didn't back away, and as I put my hand on her shaking one, she flinched. 

"I don't speak of it. I don't want to speak of it."

"I want to help-" 

"Why do you even care George?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips and finally locking eyes with me. 

Her question left me speechless. "Why do I care?" I said, anger rising in my veins. "WHY DO I CARE?" I shouted, laughing dryly as the sound of the pouring rain drowned out my shouts. 

"YES. WHY DO YOU CARE? I'M FINE NOW, SO WHY THE FUCK DO YOU CARE GEORGE?" She shouted back, finally letting go of the pent-up anger.

"BECAUSE I FUCKING LOVE YOU ALTHEA JANE! MY LOVE FOR YOU IS ALL-CONSUMING, IT'S ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT. I SPEND EVERY SECOND WORRYING ABOUT YOU, EVERY MINUTE WONDERING IF YOU'RE HURT. I AM SO UTTERLY IN LOVE WITH YOU, AND I HAVE BEEN FOREVER. CAN'T YOU SEE THAT? I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT HURTS. IT HURTS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN SINCE THE MOMENT I RAN INTO YOU IN THAT STORE; SINCE YOU FIRST SHOWED ME THE STARS, I HAVE LOVED YOU FROM THE SECOND I MET YOU AND YOU- YOU DON'T- YOU DON'T SEE IT!"
I was now out of breath but I couldn't care. I ran my hands through my hair and looked at her intently.

"YOU THINK I DON'T LOVE YOU EITHER? THAT I DON'T SPEND HOURS DOUBTING THE FACT THAT YOU DO BECAUSE I CAN'T FATHOM WHY? I FUCKING LOVE YOU GEORGE- I HAVE FALLEN WITH YOU- ALL OF YOU AND I CAN'T-"

I slammed my lips down onto hers, claiming her entirety. Her hands wrapped tightly around my neck and tugged at my hair, mine holding her figure in my arms. We molded into one and all the frustration, the emotions, everything we had was put into this earth-shattering kiss. A thousand words- an entire lifetime of love in one moment. 

"I love you, George Weasley." She laughed out, breathing deeply for what looked like the first time.

"I love you, Althea Jane." I whispered, "I love you. I love you. I love you." I said in between kisses, relieved that I could now say the words I had been waiting to say for so long. "And I love you Althea Victoria Jane because everything you are- all of your being is beautiful. I'm going to make sure that you understand that I don't just love you for your incredible intelligence, but for the way you glow when you smile, for how magnificently capturing your eyes are when they look up into mine; I love you."