March To The Sea - George Weasley ✔️

- 1 3 5 - AURA OF SADNESS

TRUE TO HER WORD, LORELEI WENT TO HER GODFATHER'S HOUSE THE NEXT MORNING. She wanted to yell at him about how wonderful he was, werewolf or not, and how he should just be with Tonks, but he was not there. Groaning aloud, she knew he was either on a mission or running errands, so she went back to the shop. George and Fred were working already, so she made herself a cup of coffee before standing at the top of the stairs above the shop observing the madness at work. She grinned when she saw George glance up at her once, then twice as if to do a double take, before grinning and winking slightly.

Lorelei sipped her coffee quickly after she realized she needed to do something to help them. She had been a burden long enough. Putting her mug back in the kitchen, she took a deep breath before going into the madness. She found Fred first, who only directed her to their stock room where she could so some paperwork for them. He was glad she was moving and wanting to help because he didn't like the aura of sadness that seemed to follow her nowadays. With her mind busy, he hoped for her to find some relief.

George finished with a customer before telling Verity, their cashier and only other worker, that he would return shortly. Going into the stockroom, he saw Lorelei with a clipboard in her hands looking just as she did a year ago when she would take orders at Hogwarts. He was momentarily stunned by how young she looked. He felt his heart rate increase. "You look beautiful as always, love," he whispered after he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek.

"Thanks. What mess do you two have this organized in?" she said, glancing at the scribbles all over and messy boxes that were half-open.

George grimaced as he backed away. "Well, you weren't around. We don't like doing the paperwork, and you do. I was going to see if you would get all of the deliveries ready to go. There is a large list for Hogwarts students who can't make it to Diagon because of Voldywart looming over the alley."

"I'm organizing first," she deadpanned, receiving a grin in return.

After the shop had closed, she met Verity. The woman was beautiful, being part-Veela and all, but she was very nice. She was respectful to the mermaid, even gossiping slightly in a joking manner about her bosses as they stood right next to them. Lorelei felt she could find a friend in Verity. By the looks on Fred and George's faces, that's what they felt too.

Lorelei visited Harry at the Burrow just as she promised she would. George and Fred went with her, claiming they didn't feel like cooking or buying food that night. Lorelei knew it was George's way of keeping an eye on her because he was still a bit nervous that she would crack.

Molly, forced by Arthur, asked the trio a question to make sure they weren't Death Eaters. Molly thought for a moment before deciding with a smirk to say, "What did you three promise and proceed to send Ginny in your third year of Hogwarts?"

"Easy. Toilet seat," Fred said with a grin. Kissing his mother's cheek, he went into find Bill or Fleur. Arthur came up to Molly, reprimanding her that all three needed to be questioned next time, not a general question. George snorted and kissed his mother's cheek as well before pulling Lorelei into the Burrow.

He was proud she hadn't collapsed or panicked yet, but he didn't want to speak too soon. He let her hand go as she already was searching for Harry.

"He's upstairs," Arthur said before telling Molly he would be late at work again. Lorelei tuned out their conversation and moved to find Harry.

She knocked gently on Ron's bedroom to find the trio sitting on the floor talking quietly about something. Harry stood up with a smile immediately when he saw her. Hermione glanced at Ron with a frown. He had never reacted that way when he saw them. Harry excused himself from their very important conversation to hug Lorelei.

"Hi Hermione. Ron," Lorelei gasped out while Harry squeezed the life out of her.

Ron grinned at her, also moving to get up to hug her. "Hey, Lorelei," he said. Harry reluctantly let her go to allow Ron to hug her.

"Hi," Hermione said.

Harry glanced at his best friends before biting his lower lip. "You two don't mind if I talk to her for a moment?"

"No, go ahead," Ron said. "I'll go find Fred and George. Coming 'Mione?"

Lorelei's hand was grabbed by Harry's as he led her outside the Burrow. They were walking, Harry let her hand go as they just strolled through the grass. Harry managed to stay far from the pond.

"So... er--How are you?" he asked tentatively.

Lorelei scoffed as she kicked a rock, stuffing her hands into her pockets. "Do you want the fake smile and lie or the realist version?"

"Realist?"

"I think I'm like... sucking? Yeah, like full on vacuuming the life out of George," she said causing Harry to stop in his tracks with a grin tugging on his lips. "Stop laughing! I'm serious!"

"I know. That makes it better," he said with another chuckle escaping his lips. "Lor... come on. You and George have been after each other for as long as I've known you two. You're meant to be. I doubt you're sucking anything... well--"

"Stop while you're ahead, Potter."

"Right. Erm... anyway, he loves you. You love him. He knows you've been through a lot. He's patient--"

"He's too patient. I wish he'd get angry or something! I deserve him to hate me," she said.

Harry glanced at her curiously. "And why do you think that?"

"Because all I've been is a burden since we left school--no, before that. When my Mum died, I became dependent on everyone. Sirius ended up dying because of it--"

"You did not kill Sirius," he said vehemently. He had yet to talk to anyone really about Sirius's death. He hated the topic; Hermione had been trying to get him to speak on it, but he longed to push it away. With Lorelei, he felt he could say anything. After all, they knew each other best. "You dueled alongside him. Bellatrix was always going to win. There was nothing we could do," he whispered the last part, pain etched into his tone.

She hadn't realized they had walked right up to the pond. Harry sucked in a breath. "Let's go. I wasn't watching... I'm sor--Lor?"

"Right here," she said, losing her voice as she spoke. "Right here, she was murdered. This was where I came out of the water with George for the first time. This was where we would lay to watch the stars. This was where my Mum would sit next to me to tell me about her day. This is where that bitch killed my Mum. I'm going to kill her, Harry. I swear to it."

Harry hadn't noticed George walk up at that moment. He watched as she turned, eyes zeroing in on George's own wide eyes. He sent her a hesitant smile. "Dinner's out. Whenever you two are ready."

He left without another word.

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A/N

Just some love real quick... I'm so glad I decided to publish this. I wrote legit up to the OOTP before gathering the courage to hit the little publish button. Everything is going to be a little crazy from here, so stick around! Thanks for the votes, comments, and reads (what are we at? like 70k?? WOW!) And if you noticed, I update the rankings as they come in. We were #1 in potter for weeks!! Anyways... thanks again. Happy reading :)