Casting Shadows (Sequel to Stepping Into The Light) ON HOLD

Chapter 4

So, I just realised that Sirius would have died by now... So, we're just going to pretend he lived somehow... That was totally my bad. Please excuse me :P

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I look down at the table, suddenly my appetite has gone. For a little while I'd forgotten everything that happened with George. How could I have forgotten? I look down at my pancakes. George makes the best pancakes, but right now I want nothing more than to get up and run away from them. And him. Mainly him. I have nothing against the pancakes. I could even take them with me.

"What happened?" I ask him quietly, "who was she?"

"She's the daughter of one of mum and dad's friends," he answers, "I've known her since we were kids, but I hadn't seen her in years. She came into the shop and she was upset about something. We got talking and she was crying. I gave her a hug and then she kissed me. And I... I didn't know what to do. I pulled away and then you walked in."

My mouth is completely dry. I close my eyes for a long moment, feeling tears burning behind them. I know George is waiting for my reaction, but I don't know what to say, I don't know how to feel. On the one hand, he kissed her, but it wasn't like he was seeking it out, or it was really his fault. I mean, if a boy just kissed me like that, then I don't know what I'd do. I mean, I'd probably curse him into oblivion, but... I look up at George. He's staring at the table. He's very pale and his eyes are a bit red. I think of how he looked when I broke up with him months ago, how he looked every time I hurt him. That look of anguish and betrayal. He looks worse now. This must've been eating him up.

I take a long breath. I hurt him countless times and he always gave me another chance. The least I can do is the same. I stand up and he looks up at me. I walk towards him and he stands up, watching me closely. I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze him tightly. He responds immediately, holding me close.

"Oh, George," I murmur, "I do love you, so much."

"I know," he says, burying his face in my hair, "I love you too."

"Can we have pancakes now?"

He laughs and releases me.

"Go ahead," he says, sitting back down. I skip back to my seat and sit, entwining our feet under the table. George smiles at me from the other side of the table. I wink at him and pick up my cutlery.

"How's work been?" I ask.

"Good," he nods, "you?"

"Good, I got a raise," I tell him, "I'm meant to be moving out of Father's place today."

"Do you need a hand?"

"Nah, it's okay," I say, "it's your day off."

"Come on, Fair, we always spend Sundays together," George says. I bite my lip and smile at him.

***

"And where have you been?" Father demands as soon as I step in the door. I roll my eyes.

"I stayed the night at George's," I tell him. Father raises his eyebrows.

"And what's this Mundungus tells me about you being, I believe his word was, 'smashed'?"

"Ugh, Father, I'm an adult, I can do what I like," I tell him, "and before you 'not under my roof' me, I'm moving out today, remember?"

Father glares at me, then turns to glare at George.

"Don't," I groan, "just go and make yourself some tea or something, leave us alone to move."

I walk upstairs and push my door open. There are boxes piled around the room. George lets out a low whistle.

"Glad you know how to pack light," he says, "is all this stuff your clothes?"

"No, dung for brains," I roll my eyes, "it's everything I need for my own house, cooking stuff, light bulbs, chalk..."

"Chalk?"

"You never know when you'll need it," I say, picking up a box.

"Are you going to apparate back and forth with all this?" George asks, "it's going to take hours."

I smirk at him and head back downstairs. I hear him pick up a box and follow. I walk outside and fish my keys out of my pocket. I glance over at George and wink. I click the button and my car's lights flash.

"You have a car?" he asks, staring. I walk over and open the boot.

"I have a car," I say. He shakes his head.

"We didn't talk for, like, two days," he says, "and suddenly you have a car and a house?"

I take the box and fit it into the boot next to the other one.

"Yeah," I shrug, "the car was going to be a surprise, but, well... Anyway, let's go and get another box."

"Can't we use magic?"

"No."

"Why?"

I shrug.

"Just another way that I can make you miserable," I say happily, scooping up a box.

By dinner time everything is basically organised; I caved and let George use magic. There's still a few bits and bobs lying around that need a home,  but for the most part it looks pretty good. I was lucky enough to get somewhere furnished, which allowed me to get a car, which you might be wondering why I have, since I can apparate. I figure if I'm going to make muggle friends, it would be handy. Also because apparation doesn't allow for site seeing.

"I got pizza," George says, walking in to the kitchen. I grab a couple of plates from the cupboard and we sit down to eat.

"You know, you could move in here," I say slowly. George looks at me, surprised.

"What?"

"We could live together," I shrug, "I mean, you know, if you want."

"Are you asking me to move in with you?" he asks, putting his pizza down. I shrug and pick a piece of pepperoni off, popping it in my mouth.

"If you want to."

"I'd have to talk to Fred about it," he says. I nod.

"Yeah, well, think about it," I say, "if you don't want to now, then there's plenty of time down the road."

George smiles at me, picking up his pizza.

"You're definitely changing," he says. I grin at him and shrug.

"I hope it's for the better."

George laughs and looks at me fondly.

"It definitely is."

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All the apologies ever for not updating for like a year. I just had too many stories on the go and not enough time for any of them and they all got neglected. This one was like 95% written, I just hadn't done the ending and had forgotten all about it!!