Embers of the Heart ; George Weasley

Twelve

George and I decided to go to Hogsmeade for our date. Something I'd learned about him was that he was very affectionate. He always had an arm around me, or held my hand, or stealing kisses in-between classes.

Honestly, I liked him way too much. There was something about him that felt different from all other guys.

The sun was shining as we walked hand in hand down the cobbled streets of Hogsmeade. The village was bustling with students and locals, creating a lively atmosphere that made it easy to forget about the darkness that had clouded my life recently. George seemed to sense when my thoughts drifted, giving my hand a gentle squeeze and flashing me a reassuring smile.

"Where to first?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

"madam Puddifoot's?" I suggested playfully, knowing he found the overly frilly tea shop a bit much.

He laughed, shaking his head. "Only if you want to see me drowning in lace and pink hearts. How about honeydukes instead?"

I grinned. "You know the way to my heart, Weasley."

Honeydukes was bustling with students, but George navigated us through the crowd with ease, grabbing a basket and filling it with all sorts of sweets. His enthusiasm was contagious, and soon I found myself laughing and picking out my favourites alongside him. We ended up with a ridiculous assortment of chocolate frogs, sugar quills, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.

"Think this is enough." George asked, looking at the overflowing basket with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Maybe one more chocolate frog." I said, grabbing one from the shelf and adding it to the pile. "For good luck."

With our sweets secured, we paid and left the shop, heading towards the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer, and even though the place now freaked me out, I decided to try. As we walked, George slung an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. The warmth of his touch and the steady beat of his heart against my side made me feel safe, like I was finally where I was meant to be,

Inside the Three Broomsticks, we found a cosy corner and settled in with our drinks. The rich, frothy butterbeer was the perfect comfort on a day like this, and I savoured the taste, feeling more relaxed than I had in weeks. George watched me with a soft smile, his eyes filled with an affection that made my heart flutter.

"You know." he said after a moment. "I've liked you for a while."

I blushed, looking down at my butterbeer. "Really?"

"Really." he confirmed, reaching across the table to take my hand. "You're amazing, Aurora. Strong, brave, funny... and absolutely gorgeous."

His words made my heart soar, and I couldn't help but smile. "You're not so bad yourself, Weasley. In fact, I think I might like you a little too much."

He chuckled, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. Because I plan on sticking around for a long time."

We sat there, holding hands and talking about everything and nothing, letting the world fade away around us. For the first time in a long while, I felt truly happy, like I was finally starting to heal. George was a big part of that, his unwavering support and genuine affection helping me find my way back to myself.

As the afternoon turned into evening, we reluctantly left the Three Broomsticks, and began the walk back to Hogwarts.The sky was painted with hues of orange and pink, and the air was cool and crisp. George pulled me closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulders to keep me warm.

"I had a great time today." I said, leaning my head against his shoulder.

"Me too." he replied, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "We should do this more often."