𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 | g. w

27. showtime

"I'm telling you—you can't go risking your necks for Harry and expect me to not worry. It's absolutely mental!"

I've just been told by the twins—albeit that they left out most of the details—that they are planning on going on a mission for the Order yet again. They've not shared with me exactly what it is they are going to be doing, just that it's important and dangerous, and now they're expecting me to just be okay with it. To be honest, I have no idea why they even shared it with me in the first place, if they're not even going to tell me more than that. It's completely doing my head in. Sometimes I wish they weren't so goddamn brave all of the time.

"What is it you'll be doing, anyway?"

"We told you, it's nothing. You don't have to worry about us, love." George mutters, refusing to meet my eyes. It's as if he's feeling guilty about it all. As he should. I'm really not loving the secrecy. "We'll be back before you know it."

"It's not nothing! You said it yourselves, this—whatever this is—could get you killed! How am I supposed to just sit back and not worry?!" I throw my arms around in concerned rage, whereas the twins just grin, adding to my fury.

Ever since Luna's kidnapping and the with the war seemingly growing closer and closer with each passing day, the twins and I have started living at the Burrow. Hopefully, it's not a permanent change, but it does the job at keeping us all safe (or safer) from Death Eaters and Snatchers waiting to grab at us. It's slowly driving me insane, being cooped up like this, not knowing what's going to happen to them, and I guess finding out that two of the people I love the most in this world are going on some kind of suicide mission, isn't really making me feel any better about it all.

George exhales deeply, his smile growing serious. It's a sight I rarely get to see, as the boys mostly keep to being cheerful and acting mischievous. You know something dangerous is about to occur, if the Weasley twins keep themselves from cracking a joke.

"Come here", he says and gestures for me to step forward, making it easier for him to wrap his arms around me. Home. Home is what this feels like. "We'll be fine. We won't be alone out there, and besides, mum won't let us hear the end of it if we get hurt." He smiles cheekily.

"It's not funny, George.". The sound of my voice becomes muffled as my face is pressed against his shoulder, his hand in my hair.

He chuckles. "It's a little funny."

"Don't you dare leave me, George Weasley. I won't ever forgive you if you do." I say, sternly. Looking into his honey eyes, I find myself losing all perception of what's really going on for a split second. That's until I hear someone clearing their through behind my shoulder.

"Showtime", says Fred, sending me a wink, to which George rolls his eyes. "You look after yourself, Rune. Otherwise I might never hear the end of it from this one." He points with his thumb towards George.

Without really thinking it through, I stand on my top toes, pressing a wet kiss to George's cheek. I can feel my face growing hot from embarrassment, and because I don't know what else to do, I turn around and do the same to Fred, whose face grows equally red.

"Come back to me. Both of you." I say sternly. It's more of a demand or a threat than anything else.

"Will do", they say in unison.

I send a worried look their way, watching as Fred gets on a broomstick alongside his father Arthur, and George with Remus Lupin.

The boys send me one last glance before disappearing out into the night.

"The boys will be okay, dear. I have faith that they will come back to us unharmed." Molly Weasley smiles, handing me a warm cup of tea as I sit down next to Ginny on the couch. I've always been quite close to the Weasley family, ever since I've known the twins.

I let a deep sigh escape me.

"I hope so, Molly. I really hope so."

(...)

A few excruciating hours later, and I'm awoken from my entranced state by the sound of something crash landing outside. Running to find out what said sound might actually be, I pull both Molly and Ginny with me, telling them what I've just heard.

"That must be them now!" Molly says, a worried tone of voice. "Come on Ginny dear!"

Stepping out into the dark night, we find that Harry and Hagrid are the first ones back. Seeing that Hagrid is injured and Harry's lost a tooth as well as hurt his arm and leg, Ted and Andromeda Tonks (who I've come to learn are the parents of Nymphadora Tonks, an animus I've come to take quite a liking to) take to healing them both, while I continue to stare into nothingness.

Worry takes over me like a tidal wave to the shore, and I'm beginning to think I might have lost my best friends tonight. My breathing grows shallow, and in sheer panic, I start to hyperventilate. My chest feels constricted, my body working on overdrive to supply my lungs with enough air. Thankfully, Molly takes notice of my fragile state, and runs over to me, forcing me to take a seat.

"Dear? Are you alright? Here—drink this, it'll make you feel better."

"George? Fred?" I croak out.

"I—-" Molly starts, her eyes doing a poor job at acting untroubled, but is quickly interrupted by something from outside. She disappears from my side for a moment, and I find myself missing her comforting presence.

"Here. Put him in the couch. Oh my dear boy."

It's only when I catch a glimpse of a person lying bloodied on the couch where I not minutes ago sat that I return to reality.

"George?" I hear myself muttering confusingly, though I'm not entirely sure I was the one to have said it.