Friends | 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲

chapter 48

year 6

Hallies pov.

i ran, and ran until i couldn't breathe and my side was piercing in pain.
i pressed my back against the wall collapsing to the floor, letting myself sit there until i could catch my breath. reliving the image of Draco's bloody face and Fred's numb look.
i mean.. what the hell just happened? and what am i going to tell Sage..?
what's going to happen to Fred?
i had so many questions with no answers.

i finally got my breath back. i pushed myself onto my feet, standing with my back against the wall and clutching at my side which ached every time i inhaled.
i ran until i was practically bursting through my dorm room door.

Sage was sat in her bed with a book in hand, she looked ready for bed and half asleep, her head slowly bobbing.
she jerked up, jumping in her bed, her face frightened.
"Hallie?! are you okay??" she got out of bed, rushing over to me.
i looked at her with wild eyes.
"F- Fred—"
"what?! what happened to Fred!" she looked so scared like she was going to pass out. i felt queasy. i didn't handle blood all to well.
"he- he almost beat Malfoy to a pulp! and i think- well i- i don't know!"
Sage furrowed her eyebrows. "wh- what..?" she asked me, looking frantic.

"Malfoy, he was talking shit about you and Fred got so angry he just- just punched Draco and kept beating him up while he was down.. there was blood.. so much blood.."
Sage was at a loss for words. she looked like she didn't believe me, like this was some prank Fred and I were forming. that nobody would beat someone up for her. but he sure did. Fred loved her that much that he almost killed someone for her.
"he almost killed him!" i had to sit down because i felt like i was going to collapse.
"where is he..?" Sage spoke quietly.
i shook my head.
"i don't know.. Professor McGonagall said she was taking care of him" i fidgeted with my fingers.

"oh God.. he's probably got himself suspended, even worse, expelled!" Sage said angrily. even though i could feel the hint of appreciation in her tone. i pulled my legs up onto the couch. i didn't know what to say.
Sage began pulling on her robes.
"where are you going?"
"well i'm going to find him!" she said, trying to pull on her shoes quickly. there was no point in me telling her she wasn't going to find him, she was on a mission. so i let her leave the dorm room.
i let out a shaky breath, my heart still pounding rapidly in my chest. this was the first time i had actually felt bad for Draco. he was a horrible person sure, but Fred had gone to far.

-

"Hallie" i heard Sages muffled voice. i opened my eyes, sun was shining on my face and i realized i had fallen asleep on the couch last night.
i groaned, sitting up and realizing all that had happened last night. immediately wanting to sink back into the couch.
"what?" i asked whilst yawning.
"he's been suspended." she said pacing back and forth.
"that's better than expulsion..." i said rubbing my forehead, my forehead aching.
"does George know?"
"well, yeah.." Sage crossed her arms then sat down just after i swung my legs off the couch.
"you don't think it's right?" i asked her, rubbing my neck now. i wish i didn't fall asleep on this couch.
"well.. it's kind of excessive—"
"Sage, he beat up Draco to the point of near death... i can't imagine what Mrs. Weasleys thinking" i trailed off.
"what exactly did Draco say that made him so pissed?"
i avoided telling her. i didn't want to relive it and i couldn't believe she was supporting the excessive need of violence.
"ask your boyfriend." i said, getting up and going to the bathroom.
"be glad i let you sleep!" shouted Sage.

-

it had been a week since Fred's expulsion, he was finally back. i was over it now because Sage convinced me to shut up about it.
we were sat in the dim library late at night everyone studying. i couldn't pay attention to anything so i sat staring at a book thinking.
i mean.. sure, Fred beating up Draco was kind of good.. in a way. but Malfoy was still in the hospital wing, his father pissed. it wasn't just a simple deserved punch.

George kept asking if i was okay, but to be fair he had been doing that ever since Cedric's death. it was starting to become annoying because this wasn't about Fred. it was about everything. everything wrong in my life. maybe it's annoying because i didn't like that he could tell i wasn't okay.

abruptly i had gotten up, leaving behind their conversation and my useless open book. i could soon hear Georges footsteps after me as i left the library. but i was walking so quickly he could hardly keep up.

i just wanted to be left alone for a second, one second of quiet without the pestering of George or Sage or anybody else. but of course, George was a good person and he followed me. knowing something was wrong.

i found myself up the Astronomy tower, the bitter chill of wind blowing against my face, my hands resting on the ice cold railings. my fingers were already turning red.
"Hallie!" George said breathlessly, he had just ran up the stars judging by how out of breath he was, fog exiting his mouth.
"what." i snapped, not meaning for it to come out that way but i was angry.. with everything. i turned to face him.
"Hallie.." he swallowed abruptly, searching for his words like he was walking on eggshells.
"i know you're going through a lot but you can't just push me away." George said, i hasn't heard hun this serious in a while. he stood up straight. he had maintained his breathing and i could feel tears rushing to my eyes. i gritted my teeth and looked to my feet. he was right.

maybe i could accidentally pitch myself off the astronomy tower and disappear from this moment.
this felt awful, like someone was squeezing my heart.
there was a big lump collecting in my throat that was writhing.
i bawled up my fists.
"Cedric died.. and then my sister.." i hesitated. "my blood.. my forever best friend d.. d- died.."

i paused, licking my dry lips,
"i wish it was me."

i finally broke, tears fell down my cheeks. i was crying now, letting the pain in my throat surge as i gasped for air.
i looked back up at George, tears clouding my vision but i could still see his face had gone so pale, he was like a ghost, all the color drained. i almost regretted what i had just said. wishing i could go back in time and take back those words.

"Hallie.." his voice was so gentle, so soft it made me crave for his arms to be wrapped around me, for my head to be against his chest.
i didn't notice how badly my hands were shaking until i went to wipe my wet cheeks.
George stepped towards me. he didn't know what to say. finally he had grabbed me and pulled me into the tightest hug he had ever given me. like if he let go he would loose me and i immediately sobbed, letting my feet collapse beneath me. we both sunk to the ground, he caressed my hair gently and i felt him shake with sobs. i could hear him sniffling making my heart hurt even more.

1332 words.

9/11/2023

apologies for the lack of uploads.
i've had no motivation, but finally i've got something to give you even though it's not the happiest... 🏃‍♀️
-Jane.