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

Chapter#23 Memory

NARRATOR'S POV:

After dinner, long after the corridors had quieted and the castle had begun to breathe in its nighttime stillness, Anna found herself standing outside Uncle Remus's office. Sleep refused to come to her. Every time she closed her eyes, her thoughts tangled themselves into restless knots. So she did the only thing that she thought would brought her comfort when her heart felt unsettled.
She went to him.

Inside, the room glowed softly with lamplight. Remus sat at his desk, parchment spread before him, quill scratching quietly as he worked. Anna slipped into the couch across from him without a word. She rested her chin in her hand, elbow propped against her thigh, watching him with tired eyes, studying the familiar lines of his face, the calm concentration that always seemed to ground her.

After a few moments, Remus noticed. He set his quill aside, closed the folder in front of him, and turned toward her fully.

"You alright, love?", he asked gently.

"Yeah", Anna replied, though the word came out slow and unconvincing.

He studied her for a beat, then rose and crossed the room, sitting beside her instead of returning to his chair. "That doesn't sound like an alright to me".

She exhaled, her shoulders sagging.
"I couldn't sleep", she admitted. "So I came here".

Without thinking, she leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder like she had done countless times before. Remus shifted instinctively, wrapping an arm around her.

After a quiet moment, he spoke again, softly, carefully.

"Is this about George?".

Anna stiffened. She lifted her head, blinking up at him in surprise. "Why would you think that?", she asked, confusion lacing her voice.

Remus gave a small, knowing smile. "Because", he said slowly, "I have a feeling you like him as more than just a friend".

Her eyes widened. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she dropped her gaze to her hands, fingers twisting together in her lap. She didn't speak, not because she didn't want to, but because she didn't know how. The fact that he had noticed left her strangely exposed.

"I've seen it for a while now", Remus continued gently. "It's in your eyes. You light up when he's around".

He chuckled softly, fondness in his expression. "You're like a daughter to me, Anna. I've known you since you were no taller than the length of my wand. I know your heart better than you think".

Her throat tightened.

"I know how you feel", he said, pulling her closer again. "And there's nothing wrong with it".

Anna let out a nervous laugh and covered her face with her hands. "This is so embarrassing".

"No, no", Remus laughed warmly. "It really isn't".

He tilted his head thoughtfully. "George is a good boy. Clever. Incredibly inventive, both of those twins are. Far too much trouble for their own good".

She laughed weakly, peeking through her fingers.

"And", he added, his tone turning slightly teasing, "he watches himself around you. Tries very hard to appear composed", He glanced at Anna. "That alone tells me a great deal".

Her blush deepened, and she said nothing, didn't need to.

" Now I don't know what's going on but you can always come to me", Remus said softly, pulling me into a hug. "Whenever things feel too heavy".

"I know, Uncle", she murmured, smiling into his shoulder.

They drifted into lighter conversation after that, talking about nothing important, just small, comforting things, until a knock echoed through the office.