Firecracker | George Weasley

Chapter 32

The Christmas holidays were fast approaching, just one more week and Scarlett had never been so excited. She'd always been excited to go back for Christmas to be reunited with her parents and carry out all the Diggory family traditions, the first day back from Hogwarts Cedric and Scarlett would recount events of the school year so far and get so excited they would finish each others sentences. Christmas eve was her favourite, they would play games all day, Cedric and her vs their parents and Christmas day her mum would cook a feast while she and Cedric would have a snow ball fight in the garden while flying on their brooms. She was gutted that she didn't get to have that last year, but the Yule ball was a good alternative and a part of her was glad the break of the tradition happened last year, it didn't feel so bad to not have the tradition happen again this year. This year's excitement was different than before, she was excited to be with George without having to hide and steal intimate glances across the classroom. She was excited to be herself again, all the time, not having to pretend to be someone in front of Umbridge and sit and listen to ramblings on but most importantly, she was excited to be away from the ghosts of her memories with Cedric.

She hadn't had another dream or nightmare, she still wasn't sure what it had been but she had finally built the courage to face it and do as Cedric had asked and let her mother know. She hadn't written everything, she specifically left out the bit about Sirius since she herself wasn't convinced by what she had experienced. The only reason she had finally decided to face it was Bianca. Every night before they went to sleep, she could see a flash of worry in her best friends eyes and she knew whatever horrible experience it had been for her, Bianca had experienced it too.

"I give in. These damn N.E.W.T.s have won, I can't do it. Without actually practicing the spells these are just words and I'm crap with words." Andrew exclaimed frustratedly in study hall. He pushed his book to the centre of the table to make his point even more prominent as Scarlett and Bianca giggled.

"What's got your wand in a knot Andy, I might be able to help." Scarlett said through giggles as she pulled Andrew's book back towards them and leaned closer to see what he had been writing.

"If you could just do my Transfiguration homework for me that would really help."

"Hah, fat chance of that happening."

"Why not, you're a natural! You mastered Human Transfiguration last year, you'll look at this and have it figured it out in a second." Andrew whined making the girls giggle even more. Before he could continue Snape walked over and they all fell silent and went back to their work.

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Across the room Fred and George were designing product packaging for their shop, they'd given in with homework. They spent most of their time concentrating on their business despite Umbridge banning their products in school, that wasn't going to stop them. The only reason they weren't in their room or the Gryffindor common room was because George had wanted to see Scarlett, despite not being able to physically be with her, being in the same room as her was enough especially since in a week's time he'd be able to spend every minute with her and they were going to take their relationship further.

"I don't get why you do this to yourself. Isn't this torture? She's so close yet you can't be with her" Fred whispered

"Better to be near her than nothing."

"You're smitten mate."

"Whatever, at least I've got a girl."

"I've got girls, so who's really winning?!" Fred boasted as he caught the eye of a Ravenclaw girl and playfully winked at her. George rolled his eyes and before he came up with a response his attention was caught by Scarlett getting up with Andrew. A pit in his stomach formed as Andrew rested his arm around Scarlett's shoulder as they started to walk out but it quickly melted away when Scarlett turned around and gave a quick smile as they caught eyes.