Mayhem - G.Weasley

54. Up in Flames

"George don't you dare!" Hermione came rushing in to stop him, followed by a concerned looking Fred.

George tightened the grip on his wand as he pointed it at the book. "I can't take it anymore Hermione."

Ginny came barreling in as well and locked the door behind her.

"George please, think rationally." She pleaded.

"I am." George gritted his teeth as he tried psyching himself up to do it.

"For gods sake Georgie, you have that crazed look in your eye." Fred was cautious with his steps forward.

"You'd feel crazed if you had an enchanted book following you around everyday." George ran a hand through his ragged hair. "In the shower, while I'm sleeping, during Quidditch practices!" George listed off just a few of the odd places it followed him to.

"George you can't destroy it." Ginny tried to reason with him. "It's still being written."

"It chose you for a purpose." Hermione added. "Maybe if you just accept it, it won't drive you mad."

"You should just accept that she's gone." George felt defeated.

"She left because she wanted answers." Fred took another daring step closer. "That book will have answers for her. We can help her."

"I don't want to see her again." George muttered aloud, feeling the walls closing in.

God, he was so pathetic. All of this drama over a girl. Why couldn't he just move on? Why couldn't he just forgive and forget?

Why did it hurt so much?

"George. . ." Ginny warned, seeing how white his knuckles became from his grip on his wand.

"Incendio." George ignored her as he watched the book erupt into flames.

"NO!" Ginny cried out scrambling for a wand or water.

But she was too late. The book was old, and the fire was ruthless.

Within seconds the book was nothing but ash.

Ginny had tears in her eyes as she pushed George roughly.

"How could you?!" She screamed as the tears slid down her face. She beat into his chest, and he let her. George deserved it all. Some part of him hoped that once this book was destroyed. . . He'd feel some relief.

But all he felt, was even more pain.

Ginny stormed away, her hand paused on the doorknob. She turned and gave him a look that saw through his very soul. "You weren't the only one who loved her." She whispered. But in the silence, she might as well have yelled.

Then one after the other, Hermione and Fred left with disappointed faces.

The faint smell of burning leather lingered in the air, even after they all left.

What had he done?

George collapsed back into a chair as he stared at the pile of ash. He had destroyed the only piece of her he had left. George hung his head in shame as he replayed those very few minutes when everything turned sideways.

He couldn't get past the look on Ginny's face when he destroyed the book. It was almost as if her soul had been ripped from her body and torn to shreds. He had never seen his sister that way. She was one of the few Weasleys who kept their emotions in check. She was always a welcome calm presence in their family.

But George had a feeling he had ruined that just now.

Why did he do that?

He shouldn't have been the one to make that decision. He wasn't the only one who cared for her. In fact, it was proven today that he wasn't the only one hurting. And now he just caused even more pain.