Secrets Only Trouble Knows - George Weasley

65 - Smells Like Teen Spirit

{ A/N: I apologize for not getting you this chapter sooner! I've been incredibly busy with family lately so it's been a bit difficult to sit down and write!

Get ready for the next chapter, though... it's going to be a lot of... fun...

I hope to post it soon, don't worry <3 }

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After several weeks of being back home in Castle Combe, I'd felt a significant amount of weight being lifted off my shoulders. Things in my life were far from perfect and probably always would be, but, as a whole, I was doing a lot better mentally and emotionally.

This past school year had been incredibly challenging. Yes, I know I've said that for the past three years, but this go around I really meant it. To say I struggled was an understatement. I'd been put through a lot and pushed way past my breaking point on a number of different occasions.

Therefore, I desperately needed a break from all of the stress, drama, and everything else in between. Luckily for me, the summer was providing me with just that.

Now that we knew for sure my father wasn't a threat and didn't want to kill us for any reason, Mum, Jasper, and I were back to doing all of the things we loved to do without any kind of fear. And it was incredible not to feel so trapped and tied down anymore, unsure of whether or not we were safe. I felt like I could breathe again.

Whenever we could, we spent quite a bit of time outside, taking walks in the woods and nearby fields and strolling casually along the streets. We gardened some in the backyard, went on picnics, and obviously held a couple movie marathon nights here and there on Mum's off-days. Cookie baking and dance parties were common too.

Additionally, something that made this summer even more special than any other one was the fact that Remus Lupin had become a frequent house guest and an additional participator in all of our fun outings.

Just like he told me he would at the end of the term, he'd gotten back in touch with Mum and one day, just prior to my brother and I returning home from school, they met up for tea. Apparently the two of them had sat and talked for hours together that day, simply catching up, talking about what happened with my father, and then rekindling their old friendship.

It had probably been thirteen years since they'd seen each other last, but they didn't act like they'd been apart from each other for that long at all. As Lupin started tagging along on our outings, joining us for dinners, and sometimes even spending some nights on our couch, I started to realize how close he and Mum really were.

They were like two peas in a pod— they were so similar and I could tell they were the best of friends back in school. They acted just like siblings. I was so glad they had found each other again and would be able to keep each other company during hard times.

As the summer drifted by, I was quickly realizing how amazing it was to be around Lupin so much. Yes, he'd technically been my professor this past year, but it wasn't a weird dynamic because of that at all. Truthfully, he had simply begun to feel like an uncle to me now.

I absolutely loved bonding with Lupin. I was spending a lot of my free time with him simply because I found his company to be so enjoyable. Sometimes we'd leave the house and go on walks or check out the record shop, but sometimes we'd opt to stay in together and it would be just as fun of a time. One of our favorite things to do at home was just peacefully sit together in the living room and read comfortably in each other's presence.

And, currently, that's exactly what Lupin and I were doing this one afternoon towards the end of July. Mum was off at work and Jasper was out with some of his local friends, so it was just us two in the living room. Lupin was looking over the Daily Prophet, giving a "humph" here and there, while I was reading another muggle book I'd picked up recently.