Secrets Only Trouble Knows - George Weasley

52 - All That Matters

{ A/N: Wholesome Lupin content in this chapter because he's such a comfort character & I love him <3 }

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The next few days after George and I split up were interesting, to say the least. The school could talk of little else besides Sebastian Pierce and Sirius Black, which obviously wasn't all that new for me at all. But what was new was how all conversations were now mostly centered around how the two men had entered the castle.

The theories circling around about how they did so became relentless and wild because what on Earth did they have to do in order to get past dementors? Beings that are not fooled by tricks or disguises? How were they able to slip past them without being caught? Not to mention all of the other school protection systems that were set in place as well. It was really quite extraordinary.

Additionally, everyone also began discussing how my father and Black were obviously after myself and Jasper (and Harry too, but no one else knew about that). However, of course before what had happened on Halloween I'd heard a few people claim they thought Dad and Sirius were coming for us, but no one could really be sure because they'd been out of Azkaban and on the loose for over a month and hadn't attempted anything at all.

But then they snuck into the castle and it became undeniably clear that they were hunting us. After all, they were trying to specifically break into Gryffindor Tower— they weren't trying to get into any other House common room, they weren't trying to go after Dumbledore or the other professors. None of that. So it was obvious to the whole school we were their targets.

But no one could understand why. People theorized about it, of course. I'd heard rumors like they were coming after us to get us to join them on the Dark Side, to kill us, or to even kidnap us in order to manipulate the Ministry into clearing all of their charges in exchange for our safe return. And, honestly, all of these theories seemed plausible to Jasper and I, unfortunately.

Because of all of those things, Jasper, Harry, and I were suddenly being watched closely every second of the day. Teachers were finding excuses to walk along corridors with us and even Adrian started following me everywhere he was able to, almost like a guard dog to me. My brother and I were receiving letters from our mum and grandparents more frequently as well, constantly checking in with us and asking us if we were alright and to remind us to pay close attention to things. If anything seemed suspicious to us for any reason, we were to tell someone at school, and them too, immediately.

But aside from my father's situation, there were many other changes happening in my life as well, like my relationship with George. Everyone in our friend group now knew we were split up, mainly because George was making it so obvious. He stopped interacting with me any chance he got— he no longer sat next to me in our classes or in the Great Hall at meals, he didn't walk with me in the corridors, and he didn't greet me or attempt to say anything to me whenever either of us entered a room.

Though it certainly made me feel sad, I couldn't blame George at all. I knew he was hurt and upset and I fully expected this kind of reaction from him. I'd accepted it— I knew this was just how things were going to have to be from now on. We needed time apart from each other for our respective reasons and though I hated how he was suddenly barely present in my life at all, I knew it was all for the best right now. I could understand if he hated me for the time being and I'd be able to take the blame for things, but I only hoped that in time he would see this was a good decision. I only hoped he wouldn't resent me forever.

So, I didn't say anything about this behavior of his at all for the next few days. I let him react to what had happened between us however he needed to because he had every right to be upset here.