Firecracker | George Weasley

Chapter 52

Scarlett woke up in George's arms to the sound of their alarm. A hint of excitement rushed through her knowing what day it was but quickly the feeling turned to pain. She quickly stopped the feelings from overwhelming her mind. George squeezed her tight as he felt her tense up. "Deep breath my love, I'm here with you."

"How-"

"Because I know you Letty."

"If you know me so well, why have you let the alarm go on for this long?"

George chuckled and pulled away to turn the alarm off. Scarlett felt her eyes become heavy, she let them close. The familiar sharp chest pain ran through her as she felt herself drift. When she opened her eyes and walked through the veil to see Cedric in the living room of their childhood home. He ran to her and pulled her into a tight hug "Happy Birthday lil squishy." Cedric said as they hugged.

Scarlett broke down in his arms. As toddlers Cedric had struggled to say her name he'd manage 'sqar' and that had evolved to 'squish', at least that was the story their mother had told them. Cedric was the only one who was allowed to call her by that nickname and he had only been allowed to use it when they were at home and there was zero chance of guests.

"I ca-can't bel-believe you would use th-that name again."

"This is the first opportunity since we turned 10 that I've been able to use it, I had to."

"If letting you call me by that stupid name would mean you could come back I would let you use it all the time." Scarlett pulled away from Cedric wiping her tears away and steadying her breath.

"If I could, I would. You know that I would."

"I know. Do I wish you a happy birthday or is that not a thing for you now?"

"It's still my birthday even if I don't age anymore."

"Are you kidding me?! I'm the only one of the two of us to get older?! You're going to look like that forever."

"Yeah..."

"Then I'm definitely not wishing you a happy birthday."

"I'm fine with that. As long as you have a good day today."

"What makes you think I won't?"

"Come on Letty, if I can let you know someone is going to die months in advance what makes you think I don't know you've stopped celebrating our birthday."

"That's the future not the present."

"I knew you were in depression after mum died."

"What person wouldn't be after the loss of their twin and mother within a year of each other."

"Well now you know."

"So is this meeting because I don't celebrate my birthday anymore?"

"Yes and no."

"What's the no reason?"

"In February there will be an auror who will apparate on the 4th floor, he will be in bad shape. Use the spell mum developed during our 3rd year then when he is stable take him to the 2nd floor and hide him, there should be an empty room from a patient you discharge that morning."

"Okay. This is a lot more detail than I got last time. Why?"

"With you-know-who back deaths are a lot more certain and clearer."

"Why do I get the feeling you are keeping something from me?"

"You always could see through me. Mum gave me a message, are you ready to hear it?"