second chance - george weasley

twenty-seven

A WEEK LATER - 12 grimmauld's place

'' Sirius, I've told you already, we won't let that happen, so please spare me the conversation or even the thought of something like that happening.''
'' Just please listen to what I have to say.''
'' Fine, let's suppose that does happen, what then?''
'' I want her to stay with you and Arthur.''
'' While I'm honored, I must deny the offer, solely because I want you not to give up.''
'' I'm not giving up it's just as a precaution.''

A few moments of silence followed after the whispering and I could hear a sigh.

'' Alright, of course, we'll be happy to have her.''

I assumed the conversation was done so I quickly move away from the door to the kitchen where I was eavesdropping and went back into the living-room, where the twins were terrorizing Crookshanks.

'' Wonder what McGonagall would think of that.'' I joked.
'' Those two just won't leave the poor thing alone, ugh!'' Hermione got up angrily to chase after the twins.

I walked closer to Harry who was quietly staring at the burning flames from the fireplace and sat down next to him, completely unnoticed.

''Something on your mind, Potter?''
''Hm?'' he jumped slightly ''Oh... no, just.. everything.''
''About Voldemort being back?''
''Also that, yes.'' He sighed.
''Also? What else could be in your mind right now?'' I said, slightly in disbelief, to which Harry responded by stealing a glance at Ginny, who was reluctantly trying to explain something to Ron ''Matters of the heart?''
''It's almost Valentine's day, and I can't even do tell her I-'' He stopped mid-sentence and sighed.
''You have a serial killer coming for you and you're actually thinking of that?'' I mocked him playfully.
''Pft. Aren't you also thinking of George most of the time?''

I looked at George, who glanced at me quickly while laughing with Fred.

''I guess I am.. but still, the best thing you can do right now is wait and plan, you need to keep her and yourself safe, that's the best thing now.''
''Yes... yes, you're right.'' He sighed ''It's just a stupid holiday anyway.''
''Harry...'' I pat his back ''Let's do this, I'll try to find out what flowers she likes the most and I'll get back to you, maybe you can be the last romantic amidst all this chaos.''
''Will you, really?''
''Anytime.'' I smiled.

Harry smiled back at me and I got up to go sit back on the couch, Sirius joined me soon after.

''How are you feeling, Violet?''
''I'm fine, how are you...?''
''As well, we're planning and investing where he's more likely to attack next, where he's going to look for you.''

Like a lightbulb, my brain lit up as an idea crossed my mind.

''That's obvious.'' I answered.
''Hm?'' He faced me ''You have a suggestion?''
''He's clearly going to infiltrate Hogwarts.''
''That's impossible, the Dementors would quickly capture him if he tried to invade the grounds.''
''What if someone lets him in? Through a back door of sorts.'' I tilted my head, expecting him to understand without me having to name it.
''You don't think...'' He looked down.
''The Malfoys, yes.''

His foot tapped as a feeling of uneasiness spread through his chest, he got up suddenly and rushed to the kitchen to join Molly and the others and to try figure out how to determine the best course of action to take.

''You're welcome...'' I murmured to myself.

LATER THAT DAY

''No, turning into an animagus was definitely not easy...'' Sirius laughed while retelling school-time memories at the dinner table.
''Were you truly called the Marauders?'' Asked Fred.
''We were, indeed!'' He looked up at Remus who gave him a nod and he got up and went to a nearby drawer, taking from its inside a folded piece of parchment. ''Here, this is for you.'' He handed it to the twins.
''What is this?'' Fred flipped and opened the paper countless times as he asked.
''That, my boy, is the Marauders map. With a tap of a wand and 10 magical words, it will show you everyone...'' He got closer to them ''I mean everyone, at Hogwarts, and their exact location.''
''Wow, seriously?'' Ron got up from his seat to look at the map closer.

Sirius readied his wand and whispered ''I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.'' and just liked that the map unfolded before them, showing them every movement at Hogwarts, from Snape pacing impatiently back and forth in the hallways to Seamus running after Lee in the common room.

''Wicked!'' The twins said in unison.
''Now, once you're done using it, simply say mischief managed'' and just as Sirius said, the map went back to being the regular piece of parchment it was before ''So that you won't be caught.''
''It was quite useful to us back then, I assume it will be of use to you too.'' Remus said playfully.
''Boys, don't go around causing trouble! You do enough damage as it is!'' Said Molly in a tone of disapproval.
''Yes, mom...''

The dinner went on, Sirius kept recalling moments of his adolescence along with Remus and the Weasleys, it was like seeing myself in them, my group of friends is a bit like they were back then, each of us a small puzzle of a bigger picture.

''Violet?'' Fred snaps me out of it.
''Yes?''
''Help me take this to the kitchen?'' He pointed at the dishes.
''Yes.''

I got up and followed behind him to the kitchen, carrying along some dishes which I set down near the sink, allowing Molly's self-cleaning spell to do its job. Just as I was about to leave, Fred pulled me back.

''Look, come here.'' He grabbed my hand and quietly took me somewhere quieter ''Did you notice this earlier?''

He unfolded the map and waited for me to analyze it carefully... Draco was in the Room of Requirement, past curfew.

''Maybe he needs few training dummies to take out his anger on but...'' He nodded his head from side to side ''It looks sketchy.''
''It does, we should tell the others.''
''Not yet, if we tell them now we won't have the chance to follow Draco and find out what he does there.''
''Good point.'' I said surprised by his quick thinking ''Are you positive you're not a Slytherin?''

Fred nodded and held back a laugh before heading back into the living room with me behind him.

''I might be going to sleep soon guys, so, I'll see you tomorrow.'' I said to everyone present.
''Me too, good night.'' George followed behind me upstairs and into my room.

I sat in bed still clueless he had walked in after me but hearing the door closing slowly behind me.

''Darling-''
''Jesus!'' I jumped ''You scared me.''
''Sorry, didn't mean to.''
'' It's ok, come.'' I pat the bed, inviting him to lay with me.
''No, it's okay I just wanted to kiss you good night.''
''Hm, so you don't want to stay.''
''I-I do!'' He sat down next to me ''I'm just... they would notice I didn't sleep in the other room.''
''You talk too much Georgie.'' I tucked myself in and pulled him in as well.

He gave in and laid down beside me, his arms around me and his breath brushing softly the top of my head.

''Violet.''
''Hu-hum?'' I asked mid-yawn.
''I'm scared...''
''Of what?''
''Of everything, I was never scared of anything but now that I have you, I'm scared of everything.''
''It's okay George, that's just love, it's a double edged sword, you just need to hold the balance.''
''I don't want to lose you.''
''You won't.'' I looked up and planted a soft peck on his lips as I reaffirmed once again ''You won't.''

His grip around me slowly softened, signaling he had drifted away to sleep.

I was stuck thinking about Draco and his involvement with Voldemort. Deep down, I knew where snake face was going to look for me, and it wasn't Hogwarts, but I had kept it to myself because... it was my battle to fight.