Lumos

Chapter Nineteen: "Matchstick"

A/N: HI!

First off: Happy birthday Anna! I hope your day is lovely. <3
Next: I cannot thank you all enough for the love and encouragement you've given me. I worked really hard on this chapter, and every week, I get so nervous about things not being just right, but your comments, kudos, and even just taking the time to read it--it's all so appreciated, so THANK YOU.
Please forgive me for any typos/errors. I've been writing and editing for hours, and it's highly likely that I missed something, but we're in one of those "It goes up now or not at all" places.

As always, I do not own the rights to these characters or story world.

This week, our songs are "The Wisp Sings" by Winter Aid and "Lay All Your Love On Me" by Abba.

Get yourself some chocolate for this (if you like chocolate), your warmest flannel, and a hot cup of tea. <3 Let's dive in.

----------------------------------------------

Hermione

March 2, 2003

All her life, words had guided Hermione along pages, onto higher planes of learning, and through danger. But now, when she needed them most, they abandoned her.

The only thing rocketing through her mind was a sense of shock—that someone could feel something so deeply, and about her.

She should've known.

She should've known.

She exhaled a shaky cloud of white.

The cold bit at the edges first—her shoulders, hands, and face. Then, its claws crept inward, and the tremors started, rattling her chest, her throat, her chin, no matter how hard she tried to keep still.

George was slumped against the wall, staring at his hands.

It would be warmer at his side, but she couldn't bring herself to shift closer. She was broken, and it was hurting him. So, she watched him, wishing she knew enough about love to understand how to respond. But, the gap stood between them. Five years may as well have been a lifetime, and the words "I'm sorry" were too paltry to offer.

George's head lifted and his eyes, brown and dazed, flickered over her. "Have I frightened you?" he whispered, concern emanating from him.

"I-I—" she couldn't string two words together. The dark river rushed inside her. She would drown in it. "I don't know what to—" Hermione pressed her fingers to her forehead, searching the ground for answers that wouldn't come.

"I know," he said, gently.

"George—" she said, trying again. But still, nothing came.

"I know," he repeated. She glanced up at him. That familiar, pained smile had come over his face.

"I wish I—" she sucked in a breath, afraid to say it. To acknowledge the brokenness between them.

"It'll be alright." He was looking at her with such tenderness that she couldn't help but see it for what it was, now.

Love.

Then, he started, his eyes widening.

"Merlin, Granger, I'm freezing, and you're not even wearing a coat. Please get over here," George said. Hermione ribs constricted as she looked at him. "Come on, then," he said, sighing. "I won't bite." He watched her, waiting for her to move, so she scooted across the metal floor, scrambling to reach him. Then, she lifted his arm, slipping under it and tucking herself against his side. George didn't say anything. He only peeled the wool coat from his shoulders and draped it around them both like a blanket.