Shit, I'm Falling For A Weasley || George Weasley

Chapter 39 - In which I play Truth or Dare... again

*There's so much history in my head, the people I've left, the ones that I've kept*

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"Do you know what we should play?" Ginny asks abruptly looking up from the tinsel she had been magically untangling. "Truth or Dare." She says with a glint in her eye. 

I frown. Truth or dare? What kind of game is that? 

"We played it around this time last year remember?" Ginny continues and I just raise my eyebrows at her dumbfounded. I spent my holidays in Hogwarts like I usually do- didn't I? 

"Yeah I remember..." I say in a light voice as I focus on what I know what to be true. My name is Lily Fowler. I'm the daughter of Ben and Emilia Fowler. My father died protecting me and I'm going to finish his mission. That's what I know to be true. It's a mantra I like to do when people tell me things that 'happened' but I don't remember. 

"Should we play it again? It would be good to get everyone together and in the holiday spirit," Ginny rambles not really paying any attention to me.

"I don't know if that's a good ide-" I start but she darts away from the table where we're sitting and runs to the staircase bellowing out for her brothers to come down. 

"Why is she always yelling for?" A voice grumbles making me jump. My skin crawls but I stare out at the distance and try to remain calm. The holidays are almost over. It's just Christmas tomorrow and then I'm taking the Knight Bus back to Hogwarts. 

I don't care if that's not part of the plan, it's the only way I'm going to remain sane. I feel like every second I remain here, I'm just threatening my memories to all come spilling back and that's going to ruin everything. But running now would be foolish. It would draw too much attention to myself from both the Order and the Dark Lord. He has no idea I'm at the Burrow and I think it's safer that way. Snape was right, it's a much needed break from having to always be on my guard. 

Except here, I have to be on my guard in a different way.

"What's she even yelling about?" George asks sitting opposite me. I lick my lips nervously as I glance at the door willing Ginny to come downstairs. 

"I don't know, some game she wants everyone to play. I can't remember the name," I say in a flat voice, as he frowns at me.

"What game?" He asks sharply.

"Look you don't have to do this small talk thing," I say abruptly at the same time. He widens his eyes and puts his mug down. 

"Am I just supposed to pretend that you're not living here? Would you prefer that?" George asks raising his eyebrows.

"Whatever's easiest for you. I don't care. I just don't want to pretend to be someone I'm not." I mutter, meeting his gaze for the first time. I hold it steady but again I can't hold it properly and look away. 

"Don't then," he says simply. What's caused this change in attitude? Where has all his anger gone? It's almost as if he's giving me a fresh start for some reason. If he expects the same from me, he's got another thing coming. 

I sit uneasily in the silence and find it weird that no one has come down yet. Is this another one of Ginny's attempts to get George and I to reconnect? Oh I'm going to kill that girl. 

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I try and come up with an excuse to leave but when I look at George he's got an odd look on his face as if he's lost in a memory or something. Our eyes meet and he shakes his head as if he's trying to refocus himself or something.