𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 | g. w

35. reunion

a/n: i hate this chapter. mostly because it proves how much i've gone off the original story. i mean, it's still somewhat correct in the sense that everything that happens in the story, happens in mine. but it's all in the wrong order, hahha don't know why i chose to do that tbh. hope you enjoy it anyways. :)

"George?"

It's peculiar how when you spend so much time being separated from a person you care so unbelievably much about, you make up little stories in your head when you're finally reunited with them. The way I look at it, is your mind protects you from getting your heart broken once more by convincing you it's all something you're imagining. I think that, in this very moment, that's what's happening. I've gone so long believing there's a possibility they could both very well be dead, so that in this very moment, I don't even believe it's real. Despite the fact that they're both standing a few short feet away from me, I can't let myself trust that it's really them. Cause what if it's all an illusion and I get let down again?

The figure I've yet to realise is actually the love of my life smiles at me, tears brimming in his eyes which I've yet to accept are truly his. "Rune. You-you're okay. You're alive". His voice is fragile, on the verge of breaking, and he watches me with those soft eyes of his, carefully examining me as if to make sure it's not a ghost he's seeing.

I know the feeling.

"It's good to see you, love", Fred murmurs, before letting out a light and airy chuckle that shows he's relieved to be seeing me again. "How've you been? You look like you've been trampled on by Grawp."

"I— " I start, but soon come to the realisation I don't really know what to say. I can't even really be sure it's them. For all I know, it might be my imagination playing tricks on me, or even worse than that, the people in front of me could be Death Eaters, polyjuiced to look like them.

"It's us, love." The person who looks like George tries to convince me, but I have yet to believe it's even close to the truth. I need some way to know for sure. I can't risk anything else.

"What was the last thing I told you before you left to go get Harry at his aunt and uncle's the night of his seventeenth birthday?".

It's a question to which George would be the only one knowing the answer, as I had spoken quietly into his shoulder before we were separated on that faithful night. It's a moment I'll never be able to forget, even if I wanted to.

He clears his throat, wiping away at the tears spilling from his eyes.

"You said you'd never forgive me if I left."

"I—", I start.

"It's me, love."

"George?" I cry, nearing him slowly, not yet entirely sure of myself. I place a careful hand on his cheek, my eyes looking into his brown, familiar ones. Something about him calms me, and I start to let go of the uncertainty.

He smiles. "I've missed you so much, my love—-"

He doesn't get a chance to finish his sentence, before I throw my arms around him, pressing my lips onto his in desperation. I never knew this feeling, the feeling of finally being reunited with someone you love so much, could be so strong. Run so deep.

"I love you", I cry into his neck, before pressing kisses along his throat, his cheeks and forehead. "I love you so much, and these last few weeks without you— I—I don't ever want to feel that way again."

He chuckles, and I can feel his lips turning into a smile against mine. "I thought—I knew I'd somehow get see you again, Rune. Freddie's been trying to reason with me, but I never lost hope that you were out there somewhere."

"I love you so much, please don't ever let me go again", I whisper against his lips, my our tears mixing work one another's. "I can't take another second without you."

"I love you", he answers, holding my face in his hands, his gaze never leaving mine. "You won't ever have to worry about that again."

(...)

We spend the following moments sharing our last few weeks with each other. I try filling the twins in on what little has happened with me and Alfie in the woods, how we tried to come up with any sort of clever idea to return to them but failed, and how I'd quickly begun to lose my mind in that forest.

They both send me worried looks when I mention how I left Alfie to find them.

"You shouldn't have done that love. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that you're here with us again, but—what about Alfie? You could be putting you both in danger by coming here. And who's to say he's not gone looking for you? You're his best friend, he's not just going to accept you leaving like that."

"I know. I—I just couldn't bare it any longer. Being without you tore me apart. I don't regret coming here. But I regret leaving him behind. I should've tried harder to convince him to come with me."

"Yeah", Fred speaks up for the first time in a while, "then again, it's Alfie we're talking about. He's as stubborn as stubborn can get."

"What about you guys? You haven't been coming to see your parents, so where have you been holding up? I know it's not the Burrow and your shop is", I look around the rubble surrounding us, "well, not the most inhabitable at the moment."

"We've been hanging with Andromeda Tonks for the most part", Fred relays.

"Wait—Tonks's mother?"

"Yeah, she's been letting us stay with her and her husband while we figure out a way to fix up this beaut." George's eyes trace around the shop, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. I press closer towards his chest, feeling safe within the comforts of his arms. He presses a kiss to my forehead, leaving me flushed as always.

"Why haven't you gone back home? Molly's worried sick."

"You've been to the Burrow? Love, you shouldn't have. It's dangerous enough as it is having you here. There's Death Eater's at every corner looking for any Blood Traitor they could her there hands on. Us being so close to Alfie is only making things worse. To be honest, I don't really understand why my parents haven't gone into hiding yet themselves."

"They're scared, George. They know that if they abandon ship, they'll only prove to His followers that they're an easy target. I guess your parents think that by staying home, they're not being too obvious in their "blood treachery." I think it's quite brave."

"Or stupid", Fred snorts irritably.

"Anyway, we can't stay here. We need to find someplace safe. Any suggestions?" I smile.

George grins.

"Only one."