I'd Wait Forever (George Weasley x Reader)
Harry Potter (HPHM) - George Weasley x Reader
Summary: When you, Harry, Ron, and Hermione disappear after Bill and Fleur's wedding, George laments that he hasn't been able to tell you that he loves you. (Requested by @jenniweaslee for welcome back celebration. Prompt 24. Of course, I’m being irrational, I’m in love! for George Weasley.)
Wordcount: 1.5k
Warnings: angst, pining canon-typical talk of violence and death
A/N: Thanks for your patience with these. My work absolutely exploded (a lot of our team was let go so I'm taking on a ton of work plus I added on an additional freelance project). Also, my husband accepted a new job so we're preparing for moving! Requests are still open. See the celebration post for details.
“Where are they?” George screamed at no one in particular as he burst through the kitchen of the Burrow long after midnight.
In the immediate aftermath of the chaotic and terrifying events of Bill and Fleur’s wedding, all he had thought about was survival. Fred had pulled him hard out into the orchard to tackle the incoming attack head-on. And the fighting had been nothing short of vicious. The death eaters truly thought that taking the wedding party by surprise was a guaranteed path to maximum devastation. But what they seemed to underestimate was just how fiercely those in attendance would fight to defend their own— the people they love.
It was Molly who answered George as she sat at the dining room table patching a cut on her husband’s brow.
“Who, George?”
George looked at his mother in pure bewilderment. He knew his appearance was one of utter dishevelment. His clothes are muddy and his hair a mess. He still clung to his wand with a white-knuckle grip, more to keep himself grounded to some sort of reality so he wouldn’t spiral out of control.
“They’re gone,” came the faint, quiet sound of Ginny’s voice as she stood in the archway wiping tears from her eyes. “They fled and, well, we knew they were leaving after the wedding anyway. I just didn’t think it would be so sudden.”
George felt a guttural scream starting in his chest but he swallowed it as best he could. He had no right to be this upset. He had no right to be more upset than Ginny. She was actually in a relationship with one of the foursome that fled in the middle of the night to do… well, they never really made their plans that clear. They had a mission, and for it they had to stay hidden, but that was all any of them really needed to know.
But it wasn’t all George needed to know. Before the wedding had been interrupted, his arms had been tight around your waist. He held you close as you danced to music he could barely hear, and not because of the damage to his ear. No, for the past year he had trouble with acknowledging anything but you when you were near. You rendered him utterly useless.
The words had been on his lips, words he had bottled up for far too long, too scared for what you might say. The fantasy of eventually having you in his arms, in his bed, buried in his heart for the rest of his life, was far too precious to give up. And if it meant leaving it nothing but a fantasy for a little while longer, he was willing to do it. But last night had been his last opportunity. With what was to come — and it was clear now things were going to get much, much worse — who could say if you both would be alive this time next year to say those words again.
“I love you. I have always loved you. And I always will love you,” were the words George had planned to say. He had practiced them in his own head all night, had imagined how he’d lean forward and capture your lips for the first of what would be many kisses once all of this was behind you.
