The Dark Mark (The Girl Who Lived part II)

George's Ending: Like Father, Like Son

I think I just like the endings for the twins - C.S.

"I swear, I'm getting too bloody old for this!". Again, I found myself stuck in one of the luggage carts. George had left me sitting here in front of the pillar that led to the platform 9 ¾. He said that he'd be coming back, but that was nearly two hours ago. This wasn't any different than when we attended Hogwarts. Well, maybe a little different. Fred wasn't here to argue with George about whose turn it was to push the cart, George and I had tied the knot (much to the Weasley's joy), and instead of sitting here mixed in with a bunch of luggage, I sat alone in the top half of the cart with a boatload of a variety of snacks and other various foods for the cravings. A suitcase of George's things shoved on the bottom portion of the cart. Well, I suppose at this point in the pregnancy, you couldn't necessarily say I was "alone". Just me, and what was to be our baby boy in less than a few weeks.

Blame it on the hormones, if you like, but a sudden anger within me began to boil. "I'm going to bloody kill him when he gets back, I mean it!" I violently kicked my legs, which loosely hung out of the cart. But I suppose, "violent", wasn't the right word. At least, not to witnesses who laughed as they walked by. I think, "seizure-like", fit what the bystanders saw. A short while later, George was in sight, walking leisurely, with a lollipop hanging out of his mouth. "Just you wait until I cut myself out of this cart, George Weasley!" I screamed in a fussy, attention grabbing, Mrs. Weasley-like manner. When he saw me sitting there in the cart, his eyes widened with some sort of emotion. Fear, maybe?

George appeared no different than a deer in the headlights. I stuck a finger out and and curled it inwards toward me. He trudged over to me, head hung low. "Sorry, Scarlet". George apologized. My anger subsided. Fizzled away like an alka seltzer in a cup of water. "That's alright, let's just get on the train". George took hold of the cart and sprinted towards the pillar. The idea of running straight into a pillar still made me feel nauseous. That, or it was just the morning sickness kicking in. When we were on the platform 9 ¾, George gathered the suitcase, and then attempted to help me out of the cart. The position was just about as comfortable as it is for a turtle on its back. George pulled and yanked, but I didn't budge. I felt very much like Winnie the Pooh when he got stuck in a tree. A sadness washed over me. Tears flooded my cheeks as they ran down my face. "Scarlet, what's wrong?" George had stopped attempting to free me from the cart when he noticed my sorrow. His thumbs wiped away my never ending stream of tears while his other fingers massaged my temples. "This whole incident's been a long time coming. I haven't stopped gaining weight since the pregnancy and I've been aging like there's no tomorrow. I'm reminded of it every time I look in the mirror. I'm certainly no spring chicken. And being stuck in this bloody cart isn't a good reminder either".I sobbed.

After George pried me out of the cart, we boarded the train. Ever since I was weeks into the pregnancy, I'd been an emotional trainwreck. George was surprisingly supportive. Even though I'm certain that I drove him over the edge sometimes. Halfway through the train ride, I had returned to normal. And I found myself perfectly content while I snuggled up against him. "No matter how you change, you'll still be the girl that I fell in love with at Hogwarts". He stared into my eyes. And in his, I saw a twinkle much brighter than any star in the galaxy, and that flicker of mischief that I loved and loathed so much.

The train jolted forward it came to a slow and complete stop. I stood up. George collected his suitcase. "Scarlet". "Hmm?" He took off his coat and gently placed it over my shoulders "Can't be too careful". I wobbled off the train, and into Hogwarts. George wanted to showcase his newest inventions to the first years, and he didn't want me to be home alone. "I'll be back in about an hour. Why don't you go find Neville and invite him to dinner". He kissed me on the forehead before leaving, suitcase in hand. I knew exactly where to find Neville. I found him in one of the greenhouses. "Neville!" "Scarlet!" We attempted to hug one another, but Neville was covered in dirt and he didn't want to get me dirty. "How are you doing?" I asked him. "Great! The first years can be a bit of a handful, but it isn't too bad. I can see that you're doing rather well. I didn't know that you were expecting". "Well, neither does the rest of the Weasley family. Speaking of which, we'd like to invite you to dinner tonight at the Burrow. You will come, won't you?". "I wouldn't miss it for the world. But how were you able to hide it for as long as you have?" "It wasn't intentional. The shop was just always so busy, and so were the rest of the Weasley's. We wanted to set a date that fit everyone's schedule". "Scarlet!" My name was being called from a distance. "That must be George. Go on, I'll see you tonight".