Closest To Heaven That I'll Ever Be

28. Anywhere But Here

I was about to sit down when a pointed cough came from somewhere to my left.

I stopped. Slowly, I turned towards the neighbouring box.

George Weasley was leaning against the divider, arms folded across his chest and one eyebrow raised so high it was practically disappearing into his hairline.

He stared at me.

I stared back.

There was a beat of silence. Then his mouth curled into that familiar crooked smirk.

"Well, well, well." He shook his head slowly. "Addalie bloody Dumbledore."

Oh how I have missed that mischievous look. "Hello, Georgie." I smiled at him, a wide smile. Compared to seeing the trio and the little tug of war game between Theo and Draco, this was a happy surprise.

But the reaction I got was not one I had been expecting.

"Don't you hello, Georgie me." He pointed an accusing finger at me. "Where the hell have you been?"

I sighed. Apparently my emotional interrogation wasn't over yet.

I glanced helplessly towards my own box.

Draco smiled.

Blaise winked.

Theo looked like he was still sulking about something.

Little buggers.

Not one of them was going to rescue me. "Traitors," I muttered.

"What was that?" George called.

"Nothing!"

George looked between the three boys and me and gave a smirk. "That's what I thought. Get over here."

There was absolutely no point arguing with a Weasley when they used that tone.

I moved towards the edge of our box, carefully stepping around the chairs. I had barely reached the divider before George leaned across it and caught me around the shoulders.

I laughed in surprise as he hauled me into a hug. A proper George hug. Tight, slightly violent and apparently designed to rearrange several internal organs.

"George!" I laughed between gasps of breath.

He shook his head. "You disappear for two bloody years and think you're getting a polite handshake?" He even squeezed a little tighter as if to drive his point home.

I gave a scoff. "I didn't disappear."

"You absolutely did."

"I've been in Diagon Alley!"

He pulled back sharply. "What?" He looked completely shocked upon hearing this. Almost as shocked as Harry did.

"I work there." I gave an awkward shrug (because he still had me in his death grip).

George narrowed his eyes. "You're telling me you've been in Diagon Alley this entire time?"

I nodded. "Technically I own a shop there."

His mouth dropped open. "You—"

"Oh, move, George." Bill appeared behind him and shoved his younger brother aside.

"Oi!" George stumbled dramatically. "I was having a moment!"

"You've had enough moments." Bill barely gave me time to smile before he reached across and hugged me too.

His embrace was different. Warm. Gentle. Familiar. And suddenly my throat tightened. "Hello, sweetheart."

I actually thought I might cry right there in his arms. I had missed him. "Hi, Bill."