Aurella had to admit that she really liked the restricted section of the Hogwarts library. The books were more alive in this section than the rest of the library and it made the hours spent begging for a pass into the section worth it.
Some books were chained behind metal grates, others had heavy weights on top of them. A few books cooed at her as she passed by, begging her to take them off the shelf. Aurella kept her head tilted to the side, reading the spines of the books until she found what she was looking for.
With a self-satisfied smile, she pulled the worn leather book off the shelf, silently sighing in relief when its pages fluttered in greeting-- it must've recognized her as a friend. Aurella walked back through the section, her shoes scuffing on the stone, until she arrived at her table.
The sun had long since set, but since Charlie's translation was beginning to appear more and more confidential, she had decided that it was best to keep her work to the night when most professors would be asleep and those who weren't wouldn't bother her.
Aurella set the heavy tome down next to her translation. She was on the verge of a breakthrough, but what it was, she couldn't figure out. She was hoping the old book would have the key to her translation.
Settling back into her creaking seat, Aurella pulled her legs underneath her and leaned forwards, scanning the translation. Quickly, she opened the restricted book and began flipping through the pages. Flickering candlelight stretched over her papers, and she narrowed her eyes, blinking against it.
The library was dead silent save for her breathing and the rustling of books in the restricted section. It was so quiet, in fact, that she knew George was approaching based on the familiar shuffle of his feet.
He appeared a moment later, still wearing his school uniform, though the tie was loose and his hair dishevelled.
Aurella watched him approach. She hadn't seen him since their brief tryst after the Yule Ball and had somewhat been avoiding him. Hadn't she started this whole thing with the goal of winning Henri back? So why did she enjoy reminiscing about George and his mouth? Why did she enjoy fantasizing about what the rest of his body might do?
Silently, he settled into the chair opposite her, giving her an awkward smile. She could feel it too-- the tension that seemed to be sinking into everything. There was an air of discomfort between them, a line they had crossed.
George traced his finger around one of the whorls on the worn oak table, before finally meeting her eyes. How he had known that she would be here, she didn't know.
"How are you?" She tried, setting down her quill on top of her translation.
George shrugged. "I'm fine, I wanted to apologize for the Yule Ball. We are just two mutuals trying to send a message to other people. I overstepped and I shouldn't have done...that, to you."
Aurella frowned. This wasn't what she had been expecting. Sure, she had started this whole thing with the goal of getting Henri back, and if the Yule Ball was any evidence, their plan was working, so why was she somewhat upset by what he was saying?
Aurella straightened up in her chair, waving her hand slightly as if to wave away the air of discomfort. "It's fine, I am partially responsible as well."
George gave her a lopsided smile. "We can move on then? As if nothing happened? I'd hate to disrupt your normalcy that you love so much."
Aurella paused. "What does that mean?"
George stopped, his eyes widening slightly. "I didn't mean it in a bad way," He started. "You just like everything normal and the same. I figured that's why you were trying to get Henri back because you like the comfortable normalcy he gives you."
Stiffening, Aurella braced her fingers on her lap. "I do not like everything to be the same."
George eyed her once and leaned back in his chair. How could he be so relaxed all the time? "You do, Aurella, and you always have. It's not a bad thing, I just thought you might want to think about why you want Henri."
Aurella scowled at him and promptly began tidying her papers and books. She would return the restricted tome tomorrow. She needed out of this conversation, and away from this man who seemed to think that he knew everything about her.
"Come on," George spoke, straightening in his chair. "Don't be mad. I didn't mean to make you upset."
Aurella glared at him. "Don't talk to me about who I am or who I want. We are fake dating, George. That is it. We are not actually partners, and you have no right to talk to me about those things. This is not a personal relationship, and it never will be."
Aurella walked away, her chest heaving and her shoes clicking on the empty library floor. George didn't get up to follow.
YOU ARE READING
Flourish and Blotts//George Weasley
Fanfiction"I don't know what we are now, and I don't know what we are going to be in the future, but I do know that I want you with me, no matter what we are." It was finally supposed to be her year. Aurella de Clare had the specialization she wanted, the bes...
