More Than Heart Could Desire 《 A George Weasley Love Story 》

Chapter#21 Guilt and Hurt

NARRATOR'S POV:

Anna's consciousness rose slowly, like a curtain lifting after a long night. Warm sunlight streamed across her face, coaxing her awake. She stirred, blinking at the unfamiliar ceiling above her. This wasn't her dorm.
A faint jolt ran through her chest as the truth settled in, she was in George and Fred's room.

Before she could fully piece it together, she felt a steady rise and fall beneath her cheek. She wasn't lying on a pillow at all... but on someone's chest.

Her breath caught.

Carefully, almost afraid of what she might see, she raised her head. George lay beside her, fast asleep, his arms wrapped securely around her as if protecting something fragile. Their legs were tangled like vines, his sweater draped over her shoulders and soaked with his familiar scent, a warm, calming breath that enveloped her entire being.

She tried to remember what happened last night. Tried to pull the hazy fragments together. But all she could grasp were faint flashes of having a few drinks, Oliver spinning her in a messy dance, Darla's voice cutting through the noise, arguing, George, then nothing.

A throbbing pain hammered behind her eyes. She sat up too quickly.

"Ahh, my head," she winced, clutching her temples.

The sound roused George. His eyes fluttered open, warm concern instantly replacing the fog of sleep.

"Anna", he murmured, sitting up, sliding an arm around her shoulders without thinking.

"Georgie... what am I doing here? My head feel like it's being split open?", she groaned.

"It's a hangover", he said, voice raspy with sleep. "You were drunk. Completely gone".

"Drunk?", she echoed, as if the word itself were foreign.

"Was... were you drunk too?", The question slipped out in a breathy rush. Her thoughts spun wildly, his bed, wrapped in his sweater, surrounded completely by him. None of it made sense and all of it made her heart race.

"No!", he blurted, cheeks coloring. "I wasn't drunk. I just couldn't leave you alone in your dorm when you could barely stand. So I brought you here. I hope you don't mind".

She swallowed hard. "No, Georgie... thank you. Really. For taking care of me".

A silence followed, thick, a little awkward, but charged with something neither of them dared name.

"I should go", Anna muttered, forcing herself to stand, only for pain to spike violently up her leg.

"Ahh!", She collapsed back onto the bed.

"What is it?", George moved toward her instantly.

"My ankle... it's killing me", She gently touched it and froze. It was visibly swollen.

"Oh Merlin, right. Anna you hurt it last night", George said, guilt flickering in his eyes, something strange, something she couldn't decipher.

Before she could ask anything, he had already stood, sweeping her effortlessly into his arms.

"I'm taking you to Madam Pomfrey",

Anna stared at him utterly shocked, at the ease with which he held her, at the small, sweet smile he gave when he noticed her gaze. Heat flared beneath her cheeks and she looked away quickly, arms looping around his neck for balance.

By the time they reached the common room, it was already buzzing with students. Conversations froze mid-sentence as George emerged from the boys' dormitory carrying Anna. Eyes widened. Whispers erupted instantly.