Secrets Only Trouble Knows - George Weasley

36 - Angeleyes

At last the end of term had come, I'd made it through all of the fear and chaos circling the school, and was finally on the train to Kings Cross station with Jasper and the Weasley twins.

Though I'd enjoyed being at school where I had my best friends with me, I was ready for a much needed break from crazy Hogwarts in the comfort of my own home and my mum. Just stepping onto the train earlier had been a great relief. It'd felt like a weight that I'd been carrying around for months had finally been lifted off of my shoulders. I was so excited to just relax, have fun with my brother, George, and Fred, and enjoy what was going to be a new and eventful holiday season.

When we'd eventually pulled into the station in the evening, we quickly grabbed our belongings and hurried out of the compartment, beginning our search on the platform for Mum. When we spotted her, she was talking to Callie's parents. But she caught one look at us and immediately excused herself to come greet us with big hugs.

"Mum!" I exclaimed, pulling her into me tightly.

"Oh, it's so good to see you, darling. I missed you!" she sighed happily. "And you!"

She drew Jasper to her chest too. Then she let go of both of us and turned to the twins.

"Nice to see you again, Mrs. Pierce," Fred and George chorused in greeting.

My mother beamed brightly before wrapping them each into her arms as well. They were caught off guard at first, but gradually sunk into her embrace, smiling.

"Oh, I can't believe I get two sets of twins to share the holidays with this year! My heart is so full!" Mum said, stepping back. She clapped her hands, then set them on her hips. "But alright, enough dallying. Let's get home before it gets too dark. I've got a nice batch of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove right now. Thank Merlin for magic, right? Don't have to worry about watching it!"

—

The minute the five of us came stumbling out of the fireplace after having traveled home by Floo Powder, we were greeted by the smell of tomato sauce, just like my mother had promised. On instinct, my stomach growled. Though Hogwarts provided some of the best meals I'd ever had, nothing compared to my mum's cooking. I'd missed her homemade meals terribly whilst at school.

"Drop off your bags, dears, and get comfortable!" my mum called to us kids as she hurried off into the kitchen. "Then you can tell me all about what's happened this semester!"

I started up the stairs with my bag, my brother and the twins in tow. On the second floor, we parted ways to go into our separate rooms. As I opened my door and flicked on the overhead light, a strange feeling overcame me.

As I stared at my perfectly made, untouched bed and all the things scattered around my room exactly as I'd left them some months ago, it didn't appear like anything in my life had changed at all since I'd been gone. But, in reality, so much actually had.

At the end of the summer, the last time I was home, I made the miraculous decision to become friends with George Weasley. I left for the start of this past term excited yet nervous about that. I was worried about what a newfound friendship with him would hold, and questioned if I'd made the right choice to pursue it almost all the time. I wondered if I shouldn't have forgiven him for our first three years of knowing each other, shouldn't have let him into my life, shouldn't have trusted him. For a long time, those doubts crossed my mind any time I was near him.