asking in vain // george weasley

chapter five

"Freeze!" Filch yelled once he saw George, Bullet, and I just standing in the hallway.

"What the hell, Andy," George muttered as Filch scurried towards us, with Mrs. Norris hissing at Bullet the entire way.

"Just trust me," I reiterated, smiling at Filch.

"I should've known one of you Weasley rats would be out here causing a commotion, but you, Miss December, are quite the shock." Filch gives me a disapproving stare.

I smile sheepishly. "I'm really sorry, Mr. Filch, but I promise we weren't doing anything wrong."

"Anything wrong? You are out past curfew, and with someone who is known for causing quite the commotion."

I shake my head. "You see, sir, we had no other option but to be out past curfew. And really, I was about to go by myself but George insisted on escorting me, being a gentleman."

"Well, what on earth was so important that you had to leave your dorms to do?" I could tell Filch was getting impatient and wanted to take house points away and give us each a detention.

"Well, sir, he was escorting me to the kitchens because I was having an issue with my heart condition and I needed something to take my medication with, but I didn't have anything in my dorm. So, you see, I had no other option but to leave after curfew, and George and I are completely innocent of any malicious deeds."

I tried not to look at George as I said this, but I could tell out of my peripherals he was looking at me in an odd way. Luckily, Filch didn't notice this and simply said, "Heart condition? I haven't heard of anything like that."

"No, I promise sir," I reassured him, "it's in my file. You can go check."

He started at me in an unsure manner. "I will go look at your file. But, the two of you will be coming with me just in case you aren't telling the truth."

I felt some pressure lift off my shoulders, as it would be in my file. All of my teachers know about it, but otherwise it's only Ali and Ang that know. Now I'll have to tell George too, but I'm really hoping he won't tell anyone else. I didn't want people to pity me, especially since it's the only reason I can't play quidditch and Lord knows no one understood why I never tried out for the team when I love it so much.

We all started making our way to Filch's office, where he quickly found my folder and read over it. He started frowning, and I knew it was because he was reading the bit about my heart, showing I was telling the truth. Well, about the condition anyway.

"Hmpf. I suppose I have to let you go. Don't let me catch you two out again. You need to keep better supplies in your dorm, Miss December."

I nodded. "Of course. Thank you, Mr. Filch."

George and I walked out of his office, heading back to the common room.

"Mr. Filch?" George questioned.

I laughed. "He likes flattery. I've used it before to get out of trouble, but nothing like staying out after curfew."

George smiled at me, pulling the map back out of his pocket. "Looks like Ang and Fred made it to the common room safely."

I sighed, glad we all managed to avoid a detention. 

"So . . . " George drew out, as though he couldn't seem to find his words. "You have a heart condition?"

I nod, slowly. I knew the moment Filch caught us I'd have to tell him. And, well, since I now consider Fred and George my friends, I figure it wouldn't be awful to tell him.

"I've had it since I was young. That's why I have Bullet, he's my service dog. My condition leads me to be prone to panic attacks if I get too nervous and my heart beats to much, which he can sense. If he thinks my heart is beating too quickly he lays in my lap to calm me down, or if I'm standing he will get up on his hind legs and hug me until I sit down and cuddle him, settling my heart."

"Ah, so like how he was cuddling you while we were sitting outside the Great Hall?"

I laughed. "Yeah. I was pretty nervous since it was my first time doing something that could actually get me in trouble."

George's face seemed to drop a little bit, as though this wasn't the reason he was hoping was behind my elevated heart rate.

"Makes sense," he said, smiling at me nonetheless as we entered the common room.

Ang and Fred jumped up when they saw us. 

"Where on earth did you two go? You weren't outside the hall when we got done so we came back here hoping you might've just come back."

I shook my head. "Filch---"

"Nearly caught us all and Andy here managed to convince him to let us go, and he didn't have any suspicion about you two in the hall. It was quite brilliant, actually," George said, smiling at me.

"Just some simple flattery," I commented, laughing. "But, I'm pretty tired. I'm going to head up to bed, I'll see you two in the morning." I pointed the last bit at the boys as I headed up the steps to my dorm. 

Tonight had been long, but it was quite fun as well. Who knows, maybe I'll join the boys on their nightly terrorizing plans more often.

Kind of a short chapter, I know I'm sorry. I've been wanting to continue writing this and I know where I want it to go but the problem is getting there, so I'm sorry if the updates are slow. I promise I haven't given up, just struggling to find some inspiration at the moment!

Love you all! <3