Little Light of Mine // George Weasley // FF

Chapter Three: We're Here

END FLASHBACK

"Bagsy," George's voice pulled me from memory, but my cheeks were still flushed. I looked up and saw him with genuine concern all over his face. "You still here?"

I smiled; it was just a memory. I knew I shouldn't read into it... and yet. "Yeah, sorry," I stretched my arms up. "I am more tired than I want to admit,"

"We tire you out already?" He took a step past me and into the wilderness.

"Yes, and you didn't even try," I scoffed, taking a step with him; it was getting more regular. Soon it would be as if that moment in the detention didn't happen. I knew it must be for the best, but...

I looked at him to see him smiling down at me. George's amber eyes twinkled in the dusk. Even now, I could see the mischief dancing in his smile, but there was something else. Just below the surface, something that made my stomach dance and buzz.

Maybe I could hope?

"I blame Dudley," George said with a smile. "Who eats a wizard's sweets,"

"Dudley," I deadpanned. "Dudely would do that," I shoved his shoulder, "Be honest," I stepped closer, and for the first time, I saw George's eyes widened. "You did that on purpose,"

"Purpose?" He sputtered. "Why?"

"Test subject," I narrowed my eyes, "You wanted to see how your sweets would do,"

He stopped dead in his tracks and looked at me with an angry expression. "Come on," I paused. "It was a-"

"How did we NOT think of that," He scoffed. "The whole summer, I have been trying to sneak them to Ron; I could have just left them for the Dursleys."

"George," I laughed. "You would be expelled in a heartbeat,"

"But what a way to go out,"

"You would have plenty of data," I said. "The only person who likes sweets more than Dudley is my old nanny,"

"Would she like some," He teased.

We grinned at each other and continued down the path, "it's amazing out here,"

"You..." I turned to him to see he was studying my tone, "It's nice enough, I guess,"

"It open, quiet, and surrounded by green things," I replied." I bet you don't have a homeowners association,"

"A what,"

"Exactly," I looked around the house and back to George, "Do you have any neighbors?"

He shrugged and stepped closer, "Yeah, but no one too close,"

"All this space and just you guys?" I tilted my head, thinking about the group of neighbor kids I used to play with before Hogwarts. "Was it lonely?"

He scoffed and shot me a look, "Oh yeah, the textbook definition of lonely; surrounded by six siblings and family-," He paused.

I smiled; the idea that George was always this happy made my stomach bubble, "Guess I walked into that one," There was a pause between us.

"Just a bit," He replied; we were quiet again as we walked. "Though," He paused. "Lately... I think...." I hadn't noticed that George stopped until I was a few steps ahead.

"What?" I raised an eyebrow, urging him to finish the point.

"Nothing," He replied, shaking the thought from his mind. "You really don't see stuff like this in the muggle world?"

"I am sure it's there," I said, returning to the view, "Just where I live... I mean, you have been there," I could hear George step closer, "it's just the same house over and over, no forests or fields. Not like this,"