raison d'être (george weasley x reader)

6.4

The compartment was quieter than most years. The sounds of the train's wheels chugging against the rails filled the gaps of silence produced by the sixth years as they did their best to move on from conversation surrounding the World Cup.

Y/N stared out the window at the passing landscape, lost somewhere between mind-numbing silence and ease. She wasn't sure what to make of the World Cup or the arrival of the Death Eaters; if it were anyone else, she'd probably define the night's events as traumatic, but since it was her, she didn't. She and her friends had come out physically unscathed, and that was all she could focus on.

George's eyes wandered over to her, searching for the right words to say. He knew she thought she felt fine, but there was still something slightly off about her demeanor.

Unable to find the words, he placed a ginger hand on her knee to quell the anxious shake and catch her attention. Once she met his eyes, his gaze softened and she let out a sigh, laying her head against him. There was a brief moment where she contemplated grabbing his hand, but she decided against it - she wouldn't push her luck.

"You don't suppose they'll bring the dementors back, do you?" Alicia asked. "I mean...given the situation."

"No," Fred replied, leaning back in the booth with his arms crossed. "Dad or F/N probably would have mentioned it."

"But, you never know," Alicia said, though her voice faltered towards the end.

"I don't think they will," Y/N pitched in. "I mean, Death Eaters aren't likely to storm Hogwarts. I'm sure their children are here as well."

The room grew tense from the realization and Y/N cleared her throat uncomfortably. George instinctively squeezed her knee.

"Anyways," Lee trailed off, taking the initiative to bring them past the conversation. "Who do you suppose the new DADA professor will be? You reckon it's someone we know?"

"When has it ever been someone we know," Angelina replied.

Lee shrugged, "Well, maybe Dumbledore's called in a favor."

As the two fell into a, definitely unrealistic, conversation about the many people they would like to be their new professor, George and Y/N fell into a comfortable silence. Each fought the urge to move closer and push the boundaries they'd established over the years. From beside them, Fred and Alicia exchanged an exasperated look, wishing their friends would just bite the bullet and say something.

"Fred," Alicia spoke loudly. "Snacks?"

He glanced to his side and nodded; and as the two stood up to move, they both intentionally bumped into the other pair, forcing them to shift closer. A smirk was shared as they silently slipped out of the compartment.

"Sorry," Y/N mumbled, now being fully pressed to George's side. "I can-"

"No," George said, tightening his hold on her to stop her from moving away. "It- it's alright. Well, you know, as long as you're-"

"I am," she said. The position was far from uncomfortable and she figured, since he was letting it happen, that there was no reason she shouldn't indulge.

Likewise, George felt relieved that he hadn't made her uncomfortable. He had acted without thinking, solely driven by the want to stay close. At this point, he figured he'd take anything she'd give him; every lingering touch, friendly hug, or even her pushing him out of annoyance, he'd take them all.

Halfway through the ride, the clouds that had been rolling in since that morning began to release a downpour of rain. The water brought a slight chill to the compartment, especially for Y/N, who was right by the window. She slowly inched closer to George — if that was even possible — to try and keep the chill at bay.