Well, the other day I was thinking about the characters George, and Angelina and I was thinking about what I could write about them. Then I got this story in my head and decided to write it down and now I'm posting it. I tried my best and hope it sounds alright. I've never written about romance before, so bear with me.
Thanks for reading!And thanks to my beta, PottyHead or Kelly. Thanks loads!
***
Hand in Hand
Angelina raised her hand to knock on the door, but let it slowly fall to her side. She thought about walking away and not going inside. She had come to the Burrow so many times in the past three months, she was afraid the Weasley’s were getting sick of her being around.
It had been three months since the battle. Three months since the day so many lost their lives. So many people she loved. People like- People like Fred.
Angelina bit her lip and let out a sigh. That’s why she was here. She knocked on the door. A moment later it opened.
“Angelina! Hi,” Ron said standing in the doorway.
Angelina smiled at him. “Hi, Ron.”
“Come on in,” he said holding open the door and letting her pass through. Mrs. Weasley was at the sink washing dishes. Hermione was also there and was sitting at the kitchen table.
“Hello, Angelina,” she said as Angelina moved into the room. Hermione got up and hugged her.
“Hey, Hermione,” she said.
“Angelina,” Mrs. Weasley said briskly. “How are you, dear?” She began wiping her wet hands with a dish towel.
"I’m just fine, Mrs. Weasley.” Angelina hugged her. “How are you?” She asked when she stepped away.
“Well, I’m managing,” Mrs. Weasley said. She cleared her throat and glanced away. There was a pause. “You’ll stay and have a cup of tea won’t you, dear?” She asked.
“Actually, no. I wasn’t going to stay long. I just wanted to see how you all were getting on and I was,” she too paused. “I was wondering where George is.”
“Well, he’s not here at the moment. Hardly is these days. He doesn’t usually tell us where he’s going, but I believe he’s down at-” Mrs. Weasley’s lip quivered. “He’s at-” She hastily pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and held it to her mouth.
“He’s at the cemetery, Angelina,” Ron spoke from behind her. Hermione rested her head on his shoulder and took his hand which was resting on the table.
“I sort of knew he’d be there,” Angelina said. “Well, I’m going down to see him. I’m sure I’ll be back soon.” She smiled as best she could at them.
“Good-bye, dear,” Mrs. Weasley said hugging her tightly. “Please come again. Perhaps you’ll be able to comfort George. He’s having a harder time than the rest of us.” She let her go and smiled at her.
Angelina left the house and apparated to the cemetery. Fred’s grave was down at the other end of the cemetery.
As she approached the grave she saw George. He was crouched down in front of the grave stone. His right hand was tracing the words engraved on it even though his head was down. Angelina closed her eyes tightly. She didn’t want to cry. Not in front of George. She had come to comfort him, not cause more pain for him. She clenched her hands into fists and crouched next to him.
“George,” she whispered, touching his shoulder gently.
He raised his head quickly and stood up. “Angelina? What are you doing here?”
Angelina frowned and stood up. “Excuse me? What am I doing here?” She placed her hands on her hips.
“I’m sorry,” George said. “I just wasn’t expecting you. How have you been?” He asked, trying to make up for his rudeness. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“I’ve been fine,” Angelina said, no longer angry. “I’ve been coming over to your place for the past three months and I can count the amount of times I’ve seen you there on one hand.”
“I’m sorry. I just haven’t been able to be at home. It’s not easy being there.” He confessed. “Mum told me you came by.”
“George, you can’t keep hiding from your family!” Angelina said. She’d wanted to tell him for months.
George turned around.
“If nobody else is going to tell you, I’m going to,” she continued.
“There’s no point,” George said over his shoulder. “It’s not going to change anything.”
Angelina moved in front of him so he would have to look at her. “George, Fred isn’t coming back,” she said softly. It hurt to say. George winced at her words. “George,” she whispered, touching his cheek. “I love Fred too. I miss him too. So does your family and your friends. You can’t keep thinking you’re alone. We all love you too and hate seeing you like this.”
“Like what?” He demanded. Angelina pulled back her hand.
“In this, denial. It’s been three months. You have to move on,” she said.
“What if I don’t want to?” He asked and we walked away from her. She ran up after him and stood in front of him blocking his way.
“George! Please!” She cried. “This isn’t want Fred would have wanted. He wouldn’t have wanted you to mourn like this. He’d want you to remember him in a happy way, not like this. And it’s not helping anyone.”
“It doesn’t affect anyone how I mourn,” he said and brushed past her.
“Do you honestly think that?” Angelina said rushing up to him. “I’ve seen your family. They always seem to be getting better, but then I mention you and everyone gets all solemn. It makes them sad to see you so distressed. They want to help you but you won’t let them.”
“Angelina!” He grabbed her shoulders. “Do you have any idea how hard I’ve tried? I have tried! Fred was like a part of me! And now he’s gone! I don’t know how to deal with that!”
“You think we don’t know that?” She asked in awe. “George, we know!” Tears were now freely streaming down her face. She didn’t attempt to stop them. “Everybody knows that, and if you were home for more than a day you might see that all your family wants is to help you through this. That I want to help you through this.”
George let go of her shoulders and put his face in his hands. “I’m sorry,” he choked out letting his hands fall to his sides. “I know I shouldn’t have pushed you all away. I guess, I just haven’t wanted to believe he was really gone. Like you said, I still believed he was coming back somehow.”
“But he isn’t.” Angelina said.
“I know.” He said. “I’m sorry, Angelina. Really I am. And I’m ready to move on now. You’re right.” He held his hand out to her. “Will you forgive me?” He asked.
Angelina laughed and in one stride closed the distance between them. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tightly. “Thank you Angelina,” he whispered into her hair. He held her close for some time then said, “I’ve missed you, you know.”
She pulled back. “You have?” She asked.
“Yeah. Is there something wrong with that?” Asked George when Angelina put her hand to her mouth.
“No! It’s just that…..well, I missed you too,” she mumbled. “George,” she said loudly. “There’s something I want to tell you. I’ve been bursting to tell you for ages and if I don’t get it out I don’t know what I’ll do.”
He stared at her apprehensively.
“George, I love you,” she said slowly. It felt good to say the words she’d been longing to say. It felt right.
George didn’t say anything. Angelina gazed at him, her eyes filling with tears again. “Say something,” she moaned.
“Angelina,” he started. “Angelina I……….”
“You don’t love me.” She cut him off.
“I wasn’t going to say that,” he said stepping over to her.
“Yes you were! I always knew it too. Here I was waiting all these years just hoping you might have felt the same way. I should have known,” Angelina sobbed.
“No. That’s not true.” He pulled her to him and held her. “I love you too, Angelina. I just didn’t know it.”
“You’re lying,” she said. “How could you not know?”
“I’ve always loved you Angelina, I just didn’t realize it until I didn’t see you. I didn’t know what I was feeling. I’m sorry and I do love you!” George said with passion. “I don’t want to be away from you! You hold me together! I see that now.”
“I want to be with you too, George.” Angelina said looking into his eyes. George reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek.
“I love you, Angelina,” George smiled. He leaned in close to her face. Angelina’s insides felt tight. She caught her breath. She’d imagined what was to come, but never actually believed it. His lips touched hers and he kissed her. Not a rough kiss, but soft and beautiful. This was the moment she’d dreamed of. For her it had always been George Weasley. She kissed him back and felt his hand stroke her neck.
When they broke apart, Angelina stood with her eyes closed for a moment then opened them. George was smiling at her. She smiled back. “You know,” she giggled. “That was even nicer than I imagined.” They both laughed.
“But Angelina, I just want you to know, I’m not going to stop working at the joke shop. Even without Fred, I’m going to keep it going.” He said seriously.
“Who said I’m going to stop you? I’m going to help you.” George took her hand. They made to leave the cemetery but before they left he looked back towards Fred’s grave and smiled.
“He’d be proud of you,” Angelina comforted him.
“And he’d be laughing at me,” he smiled back.
Hand in hand, they left the cemetery together, happy for the first time in months.
The End!
*******
Well, there it is. Thanks so much for reading! I'd love some feedback!
Chelsea