𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 | g. w

45. weasley vs. rune

"Why did you leave?"

I take a deep breath, knowing this is a conversation that needs to be had, but one I would much rather skip over. "I had to, George", I sigh. "I needed to take care of myself before I could be with you. And I couldn't keep pretending as if things were okay when they weren't. It wouldn't have been fair to you."

He looks away, pulling his hand from mine. Tears leak from both our eyes, and I'm not sure what is worse: the thought of the pain he must have gone through after I left, or the look in his eyes right now.

"I don't know if I can forgive you", he says quietly. "I want you to go."

"I—"

"Please. I just—I can't talk to you right now. I'm glad you came, but I just can't pretend as if things are in any way back to normal. It's not, and I need time. I think we both do."

"I understand", I feel a lump form in my throat. "But I'm here now, George, and I'm not going anywhere." I place a sloppy kiss to his forehead, standing from the bed. "If you need me, I'll be around. I need you to know that. I'm home now, and I have no intention of leaving you again."

I head for the door, smiling at Fred who's standing just outside the bedroom, having probably listened in on our conversation.

"He'll come around", he says, giving my hand a squeeze in reassurance, and I wish I could believe  him.

"I'm not too sure about that, Fred." It takes everything in me not to fall into his arms sobbing. "I really messed up."

"Well, you're hear now aren't you? And you're not going anywhere?"

I shake my head. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Well, then. That's all that matters." He smiles, an I'm momentarily transported back to a much simpler time. One were I hadn't completely ruined our friendship, one were not everything I used to love about us had gone down the drain.

(...)

Mia leaves the Burrow with a heavy heart, the weight of his pain and sorrow lingering with her. She had hoped that their meeting would bring them closer together, that they could reconnect and start anew. But instead, she had been reminded of the gulf that had formed between them, the years of distance and silence that had created a wall that she didn't know how to breach.

Now, as she walks through the familiar streets of Diagon Alley, Mia can't  help but feel a sense of regret and uncertainty. She had come back to England hoping to find a sense of home, to reconnect with the people and places that had once meant so much to her. But now that she was here, she realized that things were not as she had imagined.

She misses Athens, misses the warmth of the  Greek sun, and the easy laughter and carefree days she had gotten to experience there. She misses the life she had built there, the people who had become her family, the sense of purpose and belonging that had sustained her for so long.

But most of all, she misses George. She misses his smile, his laughter, the way he had looked at her when they were together. She misses the feeling of being loved and cherished, of being part of something bigger than herself.

It may seem ludicrous, but she might even miss him more now than she had before. Because now she can no longer hide from the fact that she knows exactly how he feels about her. How heartbroken he was and still is. And it has an awful lot to do with her leaving.

Now, everything seems different. George is still hurting, still mourning his brother, still struggling to find a way forward. And she doesn't know if she even has a place in his life anymore, if she can be the person he needs, the friend he deserves.

She tries to be patient, to give him space, but it is hard. She wants to be close to him again, to feel the warmth and love that they had shared before she left for her travels. But every time she tries to reach out again, Fred tells her he doesn't want to speak to her, and that he just needs space to heal further.

She doesn't know what to do, how to reach him, and the uncertainty is eating away at her. She finds herself staying up late at night, staring at the ceiling and wondering if she has made a mistake by coming back. Maybe it is better to just leave him alone, to let him heal on his own.

But then she remembers the way he had looked at her when he first opened his eyes, the surprise and disbelief in his eyes as he saw her sitting on the bed next to him. She can remember the way his hand had felt in hers, the way his voice had softened when he talked about the War. She can not give up on him, not when he needs her the most.

So, one day, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She goes to the twins' shop, hoping to surprise the younger of the two with a gift. She bought him a book that she knows for sure he will love, something that will make him smile and remember happier times. Times when she hadn't gone and mucked it all up.

But when she arrives at the shop, she finds it empty. The shelves are bare, the displays dismantled. It looks like the shop has been closed for weeks.

Mia's heart sinks as she realises what has happened. George has given up on the shop, the business that he and Fred had built together. He had let it all go, just like he had let go of their friendship.

She feels a surge of anger and disappointment, a sense of betrayal. How could he just give up like this? How could he shut himself off from the world, from her?

"This is ridiculous!" She exclaims loudly as the door to the flat above the shop opens, revealing a disheveled looking Fred.

The ginger quirks an unsuspecting eyebrow. "Nice you see you too, Rune."

"I can't believe you would do such a thing! I mean, it's been your biggest dream for years and you just threw it all away on the first sign of trouble?!

"Mia, I really don't think you under—"

"—And what about your other plans? Huh? That place was all you guys ever talked about. How can  you just give that up?"

—Mia, it's not like—"

"—And I get that he's angry with me, believe me, I do. But you can't just put your life on hold because of my one mistake."

"Rune!", Fred raises his voice, placing his hands on her shoulders and shaking her slightly.

"We didn't close down Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."

"What?"

"We just moved. Relocated."