Changes: {George Weasley}

XXXIII: Daniel?

    I ran. I ran through a field of flowers outside the gates of my house. Flowers so tall that you could barely see me running through them. There wasn't much beauty where I lived but this was one of the bearable places. I think I was finally snapping, whenever I argued with my parents I'd run over here and I found myself doing the exact same thing. Running for a person like me doesn't last long because I inevitably tripped over an outgrown root. As I sat on the floor, I screamed. I did say that I was snapping, didn't I? I had a huge decision to make with a deadline and I had no idea what to do.

    I heard Howl close behind me. He bowed down for me to mount him. I shook my head. Howl indignantly flew away. Maybe I should stay. I didn't see Hippogriffs in the Mirror of Erised after all. I shook the feeling and clumsily stood up. I saw someone standing on the other side of the field. He approached me. A cloak covering his mysterious face but I could see a ministry uniform. I drew my wand just in case.

"I don't need to be taken out, if that's what you're here for." I said. "I own this land." The hooded figure said nothing. He continued walking until he was a few feet away, he took the hood off to reveal a brown-haired, slightly lanky guy that I knew by the name of Daniel.

"Blimey, Daniel." I said. "Would it kill you to send notice?" He chuckled.

"I did." Daniel said. "But you keep ignoring my letters."

"Sorry." I muttered. "I've been distracted."

"No, yeah. I could notice." He said. "Running and screaming? Interesting hobby." I chuckled.

"I like to change it up." I said. "Walk with me up to the manor, will you?" He nodded.

"You know why I'm here, right?" He asked.

"I have a feeling that I do."

"Well, people have found out about the position opening.." he said. "Mother almost came here herself." I chuckled. "I'm serious, do you at least have any idea of what you're going to do?" I shrugged.

"I've been dreading it." I said. "It's a hard process."

"Leaving me wasn't as hard." He said. I rolled my eyes.

"I stayed with you in America years more than I intended to." I said. "I hate leaving people behind." He sighed.

"Your parents loved you." He said. "You didn't leave them behind."

"But I left everyone else." I said. "In America I only left you and your family."

"And my mom almost died when you did."

"Exactly, imagine Narcissa and Andromeda." I said. "And Teddy." In that moment, we arrived at the gates of my manor. "Just apparate inside." And we did. George was laid across the floor blocking the staircase inside with Teddy, who had turned into a cat, jumping on him. I chuckled at the sight of them. Daniel cleared his throat. George sat up.

"Good afternoon." Daniel said. "I didn't know you two were..together.."

"No. I just live here." George said and laughed. Daniel looked startled. I smiled and rolled my eyes.

"He's my butler." I lied. "He closed up the joke shop to work for me." George laughed and stood up. He was taller than Daniel by a few inches but looked intimidating for some reason. Teddy turned back into himself.

"He's one too?" Daniel asked. I nodded.

"Daniel!" Teddy shouted.

"Hey, kiddo." Daniel said.

"Wait, Aunt Gianna, are you with Uncle George or Daniel?" Teddy asked.

"Neither." I said. "They're both too ugly for me."

"That's debatable." George said. I chuckled.

"For someone who claims he fancies me you're rubbish at compliments." I said.

"I compliment your niceness." George said. Daniel cleared his throat once again.

"Right." I said. "Follow me, I'll make some tea. You can go to the balcony, it's past the living room on the right." Daniel nodded. George came in.

"What's that bloke doing here?" He asked.

"He came to beg me to marry him." I said and chuckled. George frowned. "Kidding. He came to talk about the job. I've been avoiding his owls."

"I'll take Teddy to the shop for a while, 'nd get outta your hair." He said. I nodded.

"Thanks. Be back in an hour." I said as I finished with the tea and walked over to Daniel. I sat down at the table on the chair to his right.

"So, does Weasel or whatever his name is really live with you?" Daniel asked. I nodded.

"Weasley. George Weasley." I said. "Yeah, I asked him to move in here a few weeks ago."

"So you were lying when you said you weren't dating?" Daniel asked. I shook my head.

"He just needs people to live with right now." I said. "He's been through a lot. His twin brother died..."

"Oh." Daniel said. "It's nice of you to do that.."

"Yeah." I said. "Let's get to business."

"There's three people that have applied for the job." He said.

"I thought you were waiting for my answer to send the notice?" I said.

"We were but you know Professor Clearwink can't keep secrets for too long." Daniel said. "We're still giving you until April but we have to take these new applicants in account."

"Do I have a chance?" I asked.

"I dunno." He said. "As I've said, you know that mother is fixed on having you on the post and she's very stubborn." I chuckled. Maybe this is a sign that I should stay.

"Would you care to join us for supper?" I asked. Daniel nodded.