Plot Twist [GEORGE WEASLEY]

42.

Once upon a time, Hogwarts was called the safest place for wizards and witches. This had been tried against the test of time. Strange things kept happening. Then got brushed off.

The world moved on. It became old news. Not this time.

Whispers arose. People speculated about how Cedric died. Some spoke like it was an old tale. Like it they were just outsiders and did not know him. But they did.

Cedric Diggory was that handsome boy in the corridors who smiled at you once and you swore you were in love with him. He was the the kind boy who would help you pick up your books when your bag split open. Cedric was the heroic boy who flew over the Quidditch field, searching for the snitch. They all knew him in some way.

And that's why they carried his death on their shoulders.

___

Hogwarts was not safe anymore. No matter what assuring letters his mum sent Ron. Or what the teachers said. It was all waffle. It did not stop him from feeling scared.

At night, he lay awake. Never did he think death was their next door neighbour. It could knock on their door any day now. It made him question his own mortality and his life.

Strangely, this confirmed that he would not regret opening up a joke shop.

Not only it made him feel better about such a risk, it showed him different possibilities.

The day it happened, he had been with Amara. Well, not actually being with each other. It was more like just being forced to sit with each other. Regardless, he was with her presence.

Their knees had touched. His skin had tingled. It would have made him turn red. They had not been that close since the Yule Ball. Fortunately, she moved her leg away. He had no doubt she did because she despised him.

Speaking of despising, she had almost gotten him to trouble. His mother now thought he knew about love potions because he used one on someone. A girl. A candidate for the mother of his children. He had braced himself for a scolding. It never came.

The worst part was not that.

She had spoken to Fred. While he sat in between. Deliberately ignoring him. It hurt him. Merlin, he knew it was his fault. He regretted it. He missed her. At that point, it had been weeks since he had seen her.

Then she did something surprising. Cedric and Harry had come out of the maze. They had seen Cedric's unmoving body. Amara had locked eyes with him. Seeking solace.

He almost took her hand.

He really wanted to.

But, he did not.

The entire thing taught him a lesson. It was okay to jump. Consequences were everywhere. Sometimes you did senseless things. Those senseless things could be right or wrong. That's just the way life was.

One senseless thing stuck to his mind. Telling Amara how he felt. Yes, it was the millionth time he considered this. It would not be the last. Like always, he was going to back out.

Despite that, he could not stop thinking about the way she looked at him. She was looking for comfort. Some kind of reassurance. His heart told him it meant something larger than he knew.

Beating in his chest, it told him it was time and he should not be afraid.

It was bound to happen anyway since he first set his sights on her.

___

First Year, 1989

His' trousers stopped at his ankles. George would blush if he was the only one. Even Fred seemed to be embarrassed too. He tried to hide in the shadow of the student in front of them. It did not help that their red hair served as a beacon.