stardust ⋮ george weasley

ninety-six :

N I N E T Y - S I X

⋮✰⋮

If it hadn't been for Fred holding onto her arm, Adeline would've collapsed onto the ground. As the three rushed inside, Remus managed to explain to them how Severus Snape had cast a curse that hit George in the ear and sliced it off, but Adeline could barely process the words leaving her former professor's mouth.

When they made it into the Burrow, they found George laid across the couch and a large bandage wrapped around his head, covering the area where his ear used to be. Her stomach twisted in on itself, and she nearly threw up when she saw the blood covering his shirt and how he barely opened his eyes when Fred and Adeline walked in the room. Mrs. Weasley was already standing above him, her hand on his forehead as she tried her best to comfort her son.

George managed to turn his head slightly when Adeline and Fred kneeled down in front of him. "How are you feeling, Georgie?" Fred asked as Adeline reached out to place a hand on his jaw.

"Saint-like."

His words were so quiet that no one was entirely sure if they had heard him right, prompting Fred to question, "Come again?"

"Saint-like," He repeated as he gestured up to the side of his head where his ear used to be. "Get it? I'm holey, Freddie."

Mrs. Weasley began to sob, but she still managed to smile. "Out of the whole wide world of ear-related humor, you go with 'I'm holey'," Fred said with a relieved laugh. "It's pathetic."

"Reckon I'm still better looking than you." George weakly gestured between Adeline's eye and his ear. "Look at us, my dear Addie. We're the holey couple."

Adeline nearly sobbed like Mrs. Weasley had a few seconds before. "I think I have to be a saint to put up with you sometimes," She managed to joke. It was partly out of exasperation, but also a part of her was relieved that George was still smiling in the midst of it all.

Despite his smiling and the jokes he cracked, it did little to dissipate the heavy feeling in the room. Bill Weasley arriving with the announcement that Mad Eye Moody had been killed in the battle didn't help with those feelings.

For Adeline, the adrenaline of the battle and running immediately into the room had finally started subside. She hadn't even noticed her hands had started to shake until she felt another hand wrap around hers. Adeline looked up to see Mrs. Weasley holding tightly onto her hand. She couldn't help but feel grateful for the comfort, and Adeline squeezed her hand in return.

Eventually, the family and Order members started clearing out of the room, leaving just Adeline and George. "It's strange being on this end of it," George commented to her. "Normally, I'm standing over your hospital bed."

"It's not feeling great on my end either. I wouldn't wish this on anyone."

"And yet somehow I've been in that position with you more times than I can count," George teased. "Maybe you should start thinking before jumping into impulsive situations."

If it were any other situation, Adeline might've swatted his shoulder. Instead, she let out a loud sigh and chose to move one from the comment. "Do you want me to go find you a new jumper? We're probably going to sleep soon anyways, so we should get changed."

"I'm fine in this."

"That jacket is soaked in your blood. Me asking if you wanted a new one was a formality."

"I could just go to bed shirtless, you know. I'm sure you wouldn't mind the sight."

Adeline tried to ignore the way her cheeks burned at his comment. "Why are you always like this?"