Pure-Black // George Weasley

39: fight and flight

"CONFRINGO!"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

"KATRINA, GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Tom had pushed her roughly to the ground making her skid her forearm as the flash of green light hit him on the chest, the force making him land on his back as Kate watched in horror. An agonising scream escaping her shrilling through the quiet night air as George hurried forward to get her up from the ground. Tom's eyes were wide in surprise, his body lay as stiff as a board just a bit away from the lake while Kate struggled to get out of George's grasp but that's all she could do; struggle. His arms held her back firmly as she continued to reach out for her cousin's dead body, hoping that if she got closer to him, he'll wake up and it will be okay like last time and she wouldn't have to lose him.
"Take her away from here! GO!" Lionel was shouting distantly, the moment seemed all too hazy as Kate struggled in George's arms trying to free herself from his grasp and then she saw another jet of green hit Lionel and he fell to the ground at Thomas's feet. An audible gasp escaped all three of them and George's grip loosened on Kate only momentarily.

"NO, NO, NO!" she screamed trying to reach out for the two boys but before another spell could hit them; Fred and George had Apparated her. The sensation unnerving Kate the most, and even though they might have Apparated her from there; George was afraid that he could've Splinched her. The moments all blurry in her head as her eyes continued to stream and they landed on something soft and wet. Just having narrowly avoided the Killing Curse for the umpteenth time. Kate landed on her knees on the wet sand, the waves crashed behind her which indicated that they had Apparated to a beach but Kate took no notice of her surroundings; her head was ringing uncomfortably as she wailed out in agony, tears streaming down her face as she clutched the sand. The moments were all playing in her head like a reel and she only wanted it to stop, she wanted it  to be her and not them who faced the Killing Curse. How many more people were going to sacrifice themselves for her?

George saw her clutching her forehead and kneeled down beside her to hold her in his arms, to comfort her even when he knew he could have brought her no comfort in the given moment but he tried regardless. He reached out to engulf her but the moment he had done so, Kate had started thrashing against him. He didn't repulse, he knew she was grieving, she was hurt and that her behaviour in no way meant to offend him or blame him but he knew deep down that if he wasn't going to be there for her now even when she was hitting his chest then he'd lose her forever and he had already lost her too many times before to go through it again.

"NO, NO! DON'T, GET AWAY!" she cried, pushing George away but he only got closer to her, to hold her and her protesting soon died down as she sobbed into his chest, gripping the front of his shirt. No words were spoken in that moment, George only held her and stroked her head then lifted her into his arms and carried her bridal style to the cottage followed by his twin brother who wore a worried expression while the others wore one of fear and confusion when they saw no sign of Thomas or Lionel and Kate's state putting two and two together.

"Fred?" Mr Weasley asked softly, communicating through his eyes with his son who nodded sadly at what he knew his father was meaning to ask but not saying out loud making Mrs Weasley clamp her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.

They had all seeked refuge at Shell Cottage; Bill and Fleur's new house. George set Kate down on the couch making Fleur rush to her when she saw that the girl was no longer conscious.
"What 'appened to Katreena?" she asked in her crisp French accent, addressing George who looked at her miserably and flopped down on the armchair, clutching his own forehead and sighing heavily to himself only to look up from his hands when Bill patted his shoulder comfortingly.
"Thomas and Lionel, they killed them in front of her eyes. Tom pushed Kate out of the way and he –" George was unable to complete his sentence but the others looked at him and then back at Kate as Mrs Weasley rushed to her side and started tending to her.
"What more will she have to endure? She has lost all her family", Mrs Weasley said, tears sliding down her face as she placed a hand on Kate's burning forehead.