Annabella The Sidekick (Sequal To Defiance)

Chapter 45

Soon, it's Harry's sixteenth birthday. He's so excited because he only has one year until he comes of age. We have a small party in Grimmauld Place. Molly makes a cake and we all give him gifts. I give him a sneakascope. With all that's going on, he may need it.
Mum and Dad are still really protective, but they allow me to floo to George and Fred's shop one afternoon, as I wanted to surprise them.
I floo into Diagon Alley and to my surprise, most of the shops are closed. I do however, see a bright and colorful shop, which I make my way towards. "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes" the sign reads.
I step in and am surprised by the amount of people in the shop. It's absolutely packed! Children, teenagers, and parents are running around like crazy. Every so often, the store plunges into darkness for a few seconds. Instant darkness powder I assume.
I see a certain red head keeping watch over things on the balcony up top, so I go to make my way up the steps. It's a slow process, and a painful one too. Not all my wounds have healed, buy I'm not going to let them keep me from doing what I want.
After a few minutes, I make my way to the top of the steps and walk to George, who turns around quickly. "Bells," he says. "Please do not tell me you walked up those stairs by yourself." Smiling, I hug him tightly. "Surprise!"
Hugging me back, George shakes his head. "You'll never heal like that." I shrug before leaning onto the balcony, trying not to show that I need it's support. "You alright there, Love?" George asks. I nod and look down at the bustling store.
"I suppose you're going to be keeping busy then," I say quietly. "Never so busy that I won't have enough time for you," George whispers. "Yeah but you don't have to take away from your dream for me Georgie," I persist. To my surprise, George lets out a barking laugh. "Oh Bells," he says with a smile. "I thought you knew. You are my dream."
I go back to the twins' shop a few times, but they're always busy so I usually just sit on the counter and chat with Lee. He's always been alright. He's not the twins, but his quidditch commentating always cracked me up.
In late August is my birthday. We have another small party that day. Molly has prepared my favorite dinner, and before we all dig in, my dad stands up. "I just wanted to say that I am so glad to be at this party. Earlier this summer, I honestly wasn't sure my daughter would have another birthday, but yet here she is. My little fighter," he says and sits back down. Fighting back tears, I look at him with a smile.
After we eat, presents are piled in front of me with shouts of, "Open mine first!" Finally, I choose one at random. It's from Fred, who pumps his fist in the air and laughs. Inside the box is a ton of stuff from their shop. He instructs me to carry on their legacy, which both of my parents object to.
The next present is from my parents. They got me some new books I've had my eyes on for weeks. They always said I loved reading because I spent so much time with Remus as a child. When I unwrap the small box, I cover my mouth and gasp.
Inside the box is a golden wolf pendent on a chain. Engraved onto it is the words "To my god-daughter. It turns out we had to save each other." I begin to cry and clasp it around my neck immediately, which has been feeling bare without my other necklace.
"Thank you Moomy," I say, making him chuckle. Nobody calls him Moony anymore, but I gave him the name a while ago and it's a term of endearment. It's mean to sound like Moony, but it's Moomy.
I open up a few more presents, but George didn't set one on the table. I choose to ignore it and enjoy the rest of the party. I really don't care whether or not he got me anything. He makes me happy and that's enough.
That night, I change into my pajamas and go to lay down. Before I fall alseep, George slips into the room and snuggles into bed with me. "I did get you a present," he says. "George you never have to get me anything," I say, kissing his cheek. "I know," he replies.
"I just like seeing your happy face. Shall we go see your present when everyone falls asleep?" He asks. I nod and lay on his chest, listening to the beating of his heart as we talk about nothing in particular.
Later, when the house has gone silent, George takes my hand and we sneak quietly to the top floor. "I was up here cleaning for Mum when I found this," he says, pointing at a pensive.
"Alright?" I reply. George pulls a small vial from his pocket. "I've spent about a week collecting a ton of memories of you. I don't know how many their are, but I wanted you too see yourself from my eyes," he tells me.
I smile widely and run over to him, hugging him tightly. "You are the best boyfriend," I whisper. "I love you." Smiling, George squeezes me tightly. "I love you too," he replies.
I promise myself that I'll watch the memories tomorrow before I reach up and kiss George. I feel warmth spreading throughout my body as our lips connect.
His hands slip around my waist and mine were already around his neck. His lips move against mine slowly as he pushes me against the wall. I gasp in surprise as we I hit the wall, and George lets out a chuckle against my lips.
He pulls away from me and we're both breathing heavily. George smirks and I look into his dark brown eyes. "Did you think you were getting away that easily?" He asks before kissing me again, harder this time.
It's more than just lips on lips, it's something indescribable. I feel butterflies in my stomach, beating their wings. I feel fire when George's lips touch mine. I feel a love for him.
I knot my hands in his hair, and he sighs. It feels like I never want his lips to leave mine. His chapped lips move against mine over and over. I slip my hands under the back of his shirt, running my hands up and down his back.
Suddenly, the light flicks on and we whip our heads to the door. "What do we have here?" Fred is smirking. George rolls his eyes and wraps an arm around my waist lazily.
"I thought you were Mum for a minute," George laughs. "No," Fred replies. "I just came to tell you I'm going home. We have to open the shop tomorrow remember?" He asks. George nods in reply. "Go ahead, I'll be along in a moment." Fred leaves, shutting the door behind him.
"Home, huh?" I smile. George chuckles. "Yeah home. We've used an extension charm to make it bigger so we have more room," he says. For not the first time, the weight of how much older George is sinks in. "Eighteen suits you," I say with a grin. "Fifteen has never looked better on anyone," he replies. George walks me to my room, stopping outside the door.
"When will you be back?" I ask him. He shrugs. "I don't know Bells. The shop gets really busy. You come visit me sometime," he replies. Rolling my eyes I tell him "I do but I never get to see you then," I reply.
"Well it is work," he reminds me. "I go back to school in less than a week Georgie," I point out. "Yeah and so does everyone else so business will go down." I sigh, looking at him. "Is all you ever think about the stupid shop?" I ask, frustrated.
"You're really asking me that?" He demands. "Really?" I moan in frustration. "Yes I am. It's all you ever want to talk about," I say to him. "I spent all day with you!" He exclaims. I can feel the heat in my face, a sure sign I'm getting angry.
"The shop is all that matters to you!" I exclaim. George stands in front of me, mouth agape. "You really think that?" He asks quietly. "Wow. Here I thought I had thought of something special for your birthday. Here I've been planning on surprising you the first Hogsmede weekend."
My face grows hot again, not from anger this time, but embarrassment. "Everything I do, I want to do for you. We've been on and off again for five years Bells. Do you think I would do this for anyone else? Do you actually think I want to earn all this money for me? I love the Wheezes Bells, it's what I love to do."
George gets a serious look on his face. "Annabella Black, I told you. You are my dream," he says. "I'm honestly kind of hurt that you would think otherwise." I'm at a loss for words. "I know you're probably mad at me still, because you're so stubborn. I have to drop off some stuff for Mum tomorrow. I'll talk to you then."
"Georgie," I say quietly. He turns around and is surprised when I run into his arms and snuggle my face into his chest. "I'm sorry. You're right," I whisper. "I'm just stupid." George puts his hand under my chin and lifts up my eyes to meet his. "You are not stupid," he smiles. "And you don't have to be sorry." With a last kiss and a promise to see me before I leave for school, George leaves. Now that he's gone, I'm afraid to sleep because I know the nightmares will come.