Out of the Dark (A Harry Potter Fan Fiction)

Chapter 21- All that Laughter

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE HARRY POTTER STORYLINE, SETTINGS OR CHARACTERS, ALL CREDIT GOES TO J.K ROWLING.

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Instead of asking Twitchy, I went to retrieve my bags myself. I owed Molly and Arthur my thanks and an explanation. I arrived back at the Burrow and walked slowly into the kitchen; Molly swung around and smiled "Hello, Athena dear."

I smiled back widely, "I've come to pick up my bags!"

Her face fell "You're going to live with Sam aren't you."

"No!" I laughed in surprise "What gave you that idea?!"

"Well, you went to see him this morning..."

"I'm going back to the flat."

Her eyes widened dramatically and she suddenly rushed over to me. "You're finally with George, thank the Lord!!"

"Umm..." I stuttered "I not 'with' him as such, just moving back in with him."

She pulled away still holding my arms, she shook her head and chuckled slightly. That's strange.

"Go and get your bags then!" she ordered.

I quickly ran up to my room and swept up all my possessions, I ran to the bathroom just as quickly and got my things from there to. I looked in the mirror briefly, I saw that I still looked tired, my hair had dried off though and there was mild relief etched across my face.

I ran back down the stairs and found Arthur stood with Molly. I looked at them both gratefully "Thank you for everything." I said breathlessly.

"Thank you, Athena," said Arthur "for being a wonderful guest, and keeping to our agreement." He nodded at me knowingly.

I felt a little uncomfortable so I gave them each one last hug and made my way out. As I left I briefly heard Molly speak, "She saved him, Arthur." I shook it off and made my way home.

As I entered the flat I realised how fast this had all happened. This morning I had woken up thinking that I would never see George again, let alone be stood in his flat. Now, I had butterflies fluttering around in my stomach, I could see George stood in the kitchen opposite me, he looked like he had just put something in the oven, he doesn't do that often.

Suddenly, I felt a pair on thin, bony arms wrap around my legs. I looked down and laughed, Twitchy was clinging on to me.

"Oh Miss Athena." She was saying happily "You're back, you're back!"

I pulled her away from me and bent down.

"Hey, Twitchy." I said soothingly.

She had tears in her eyes.

"Oh I've missed you Miss Athena" she hugged me tightly, then looked back at me shocked "I'm so sorry, Miss Athena, Twitchy isn't allowed to do that, bad Twitchy, bad Twitchy!"

I couldn't help but laugh out loud, "It's ok, Twitchy!"

I grabbed her arms and looked at her reassuringly. I gave her a quick hug to calm her down and stood up again, I saw George stood in the doorway.

Being stood there with my bags at the door, it reminded me of when I first came out of the elite, I had felt scared and alone, but George had picked me up and taken me under his wing. I never felt so much gratitude towards a person; I guess that's one of the reasons that I love him. Knowing that fact wasn't so alien to me anymore, it was natural now, like the sun rising and setting, or magic.

It took us a while to say anything to each other; we just stood there staring into the other person's face. I guess that he looked similar to me, tired, relieved but it was hard to tell until he started smiling. It was that beautiful smile that I had been longing to see for weeks, the one that stretched right across his face and made him light up.

Then he started walking towards me, my heart thumped loudly but my feet stayed rooted to the spot, I just kept staring at him, at his smile.

Suddenly, I found him in front of me; my heart stopped thumping. He ducked down to look me in the eyes and then he kissed me. It was the lightest of kisses, like a feather stroking my lips, it was sweet and beautiful.

"I'm sorry." He whispered.

I found tears rolling down my face. I laughed lightly and instinctively put my arms around his neck, "It's ok," I breathed "it's ok."

Twitchy scuttled off into her cupboard, it broke our gaze momentarily.

"It's not ok." He said.

I stayed silent, wondering what he meant.

"The last six weeks almost killed me," He put a hand over my mouth to stop me from interrupting him "I didn't think it would to be honest, but like you said; I can't not have you in my life."

I pushed his hand away; I put my hands up to his face and pulled him towards me until our noses were almost touching. I looked him right in the eyes "I love you." I said, grinning, almost laughing. It wasn't hard saying it aloud; it felt just as normal as breathing.

He let out a light chuckle "I guess the heart wants what the heart wants." He smirked at me cheekily, sliding his arms around my waist.

The first time he had said that to me was when I was angry about Athena Janes and Draco Malfoy. He told me that they couldn't help who they fell in love with.

I looked into his deep brown eyes, and this time I kissed him. It was deep kiss, that sent shivers over my body, but at the same time it was warm and inviting. Completely natural, like being in his arms was the only place I was ever meant to be. The best thing was, he kissed me back, and he pulled me into his body, his hands placed on my hips. He picked me up lightly and walked me off down the corridor, still kissing me. My mouth opened ever so slightly- a bitter smell entered my nose.

I pulled away from him "Do you smell burning?"

He looked me quizzically; his nose twitched slightly and looked at me in shock "The pie!"

"What?!" I asked confused.

"I made pie!"

"You made pie?" I asked bluntly.

"Well, Mum made it, I put it in the oven." He admitted

I couldn't help but laugh out loud, he let go of me ran into the kitchen, I soon followed. I stood in the door way and saw the oven billowing black smoke. George was flapping a tea towel around and trying to open the oven. Once he had succeeded more smoke flowed out of the oven, I ran around opening as many windows as I could, still laughing. I turned around to see George holding an incinerated pie, a small cough came through the smoke, Twitchy was stood with him "Do you need some help Master George?"

I exploded into laughter, it crippled me, I had to hold my stomach. George began to laugh with me; he placed the pie on the counter and stood there simply laughing at it.

"I- think-you," I tried saying between fits of laughter "should leave the cooking to your house elf."

George looked up; tears of laughter rolling down his face, although the smoke probably contributed. "That's probably a good idea." He said hysterically.

We found ourselves in that state for some considerable time. I couldn't ever have been happier than I was then, laughing in the kitchen with George Weasley.