The First Unraveling | G.W [1]
Going back to Hogwarts after what happened the previous year, with the tri-wizard tournament and Voldemort coming back; Y/N Potter was wanting a calm year before death eaters tried to attack. The ministry of magic had other plans by placing Umbridge as a teacher at Hogwarts. What's worse than her detentions? To Y/N it's having the guy she's been crushing on since third year, suddenly choosing to be around her all the time.
Love, Me | O N E
Pairing: George Weasley x Y/N Potter (Fem! Potter! Reader)
Warning(s): a few curse words, ootp movie spoilers, this basically being an introduction to her and George, slow burn!
Note: I hate the summary and how I ended this chapter. I should have split some parts up because the first two - three pages on word are literally exact order of the phoenix scenes but I promise I added my own in there. I wanted to give a good "back story" before jumping in which is why I would honestly consider this like a "pre-chapter" to chapter 1, but I didn't do it that way. It's a kind of slow burn so... also the next part will be better.
The golden Trio and Y/N are also aged up! I don't think anyone's age will be mentioned in this chapter or this series but just in case, I'm writing them as of age. Again, it's not exactly state and it's just my thoughts while I am writing it. 💜
Word count: 4.1k
*Not edited!*
Taglist is open!
Y/N wasn’t quite sure when it happened. Maybe it was before second year when they came to bust her and Harry out of their aunts house. Maybe it was third year when they gave her and her brother the map to get to Hogsmeade. Whenever it had started, she couldn’t put a finger on it. All she knew was that she had an utterly helpless crush on her friend’s older brother.
“What are we going to do now?” Y/N asked Harry as the two headed to the second floor where Mrs. Weasley had told them Ron was waiting.
“I haven’t gotten that far.” Harry mumbled back.
“If they don’t believe Voldemort’s back, then there are definitely going to be consequences.” The slightly older girl stated to her brother.
Harry didn’t reply, instead pushed open the door to the room where Molly had told the two to wait. “Harry, Y/N!” The twins were immediately wrapped in a hug by their friend. Y/N wrapped her arms around Hermione to return the hug. “Are you alright? We heard them talking about a dementor attack.”
“Let them breathe, Hermione.” Ron spoke up once the Potter’s shut the door.
“The hearing, It’s outrageous. I’ve looked into it and they simply cannot expel you two. It’s unfair!”
“There’s a lot going on in our lives.” Y/N spoke up as she walked forward and sat down on the bed that Hermione was previously waiting on. “Lucky for me I wasn’t there with Harry and Dudley when the Dementors showed up.”
Y/N hated that her brother was under the heat of the ministry, but she was beyond happy she had stayed in the house that day. Simply because her anxiety would not be able to handle the thought of never returning to school with her friends.
“Theres definitely a lot going on at them moment. So, what is this place?” The younger Potter asked as he glanced around the room.
“It’s headquarters.” Ron replied.
“Of the Order of the Phoenix. It’s a secret society. Dumbledore founded it back when they first fought you-know-who.” Hermione explained to the twins.
Y/N let out a huff looking at two of her friends, “This would’ve been nice to know. Instead you’ve left us with our aunt and uncle who despise us.” She muttered crossing her arms.
“Y/N’s right. You couldn’t have told us with a letter or anything?” Harry asked the two friends.
Ron sighed giving Harry an apologetic glance, “We wanted to write, mate, we did but-“
“Dumbledore made us swear not to tell you two anything.” Hermione explained.
“Dumbledore said that? Why would he want to keep us in the dark? Maybe we could help. After all, We’re the ones who saw Voldemort return, we’re the ones who fought him.” Harry explained his annoyance showing through.
“We’re the ones who saw Cedric Diggory get killed.” Y/N mumbled adding on to Harry’s rant with the sight that still haunts her. She would never let on like it did, but the thought of the death eater placing her and Harry’s name in the cup makes her anxious knowing what their magic could work around.
She was knocked out of her thoughts to the appearance of the Weasley Twins popping up beside her. She jumped a bit at first, startled since she was distracted. “Harry, Y/N.” Fred Greeted.
“Thought we heard your dulcet tones.” George joked as he sat himself on the bed beside of Y/N who gave the twins a knowing look.
Fred kept his gaze on the youngest Potter, “Don’t bottle it up, mate. Let it out.” He encouraged jokingly.
“Anyway, if you’re all done shouting-.”
“Do you want to hear something a little more interesting?” Fred gave the group a mischievous look.
The twins held up an ear that had a a string attached to it and then another ear. One of the things that could allow others to eavesdrop on conversations. The group then went and huddled around the stairs so they could hear what the order was saying. “If anyone has the right to know it’s Harry and Y/N. If it was’t for them we wouldn’t even know that Voldemort was back.” The voice of Sirius could be heard through the ear that Fred was holding. “They’re not babies, Molly.”
The Potter Twins looked at each other knowing that their Godfather was more than willing to give them the information about the Dark Lord. Y/N would like to have stayed in the dark if her and her brother weren’t the ones who were in the middle. She would have rather have the adults listen to Mrs. Weasley, but that couldn’t be because she and her brother were the ones to witness his return and to see him.
“They’re not adults either!” Molly argued with Sirius. “They’re not James and Lily, Sirius.”
“They’re not your children.” Sirius retaliated to, who the group assumed, was Mrs. Weasley.
Molly huffed, “They might as well be.”
The oldest Potter scooted herself a bit closer to George, seeing as she was standing in between the twins, to make room for the youngest Weasley when we got to the group. Y/N gave the girl a slight smile as a greeting while Harry greeted Ginny with a simple “Hey, Ginny.” The group kept on listening in. Hearing Sirius and the order go back and forth with each other before Snape’s voice could be heard.
It was a surprise to Y/N to hear the voice of Snape, but she wasn’t against the idea. After all, Gryffindor’s had issues with him, but she seemed to be an exception. Maybe it was because she looked more like her mother than Harry, or maybe it was simply because she wasn’t as outgoing as other Gryffindors. Whatever the matter, she wasn’t complaining that he never gave her a hard time in class.
Their listening was cut short once Hermione’s cat, Crookshanks, started playing with the ear. Which led to the cat tearing the ear off the listening device. Hermione and Ron bickered a bit about the cat as the group dispersed in the Black household, waiting for the order meeting to conclude.
“Hey, Y/N.” The voice of George Weasley spoke up as everyone went their separate ways. Fred was off, probably angry over the cat, and the rest of the group had went back in the room that they had met in. The oldest Potter turned to face him and gave him a slight smile to let him know that she was listening. “Are you alright?” He asked carefully, softly, like he knew deep down the secrets she hid.
She nodded, “As good as one can be.” She replied. Her mind flashing back to when her and Harry had almost gotten in trouble for their names in the goblet, then the tasks, and finally, the maze which led to the graveyard. She pulled herself out of her thoughts before revealing herself to the one in front of her. “Not everyday you try to get killed by an infamous dark wizard.” She tried joking, hoping it would hide her inner thoughts and feelings.
George let a weak smile show up on his face, one that doesn’t appear very often. “Do me a favor, yeah? Don’t hide how you’re feeling.” He whispered to the girl so no one could eavesdrop even if they wanted to. “It’ll all bottle up ’til the top explodes.” With that he gave one last saddened smile before turning to make his way to his own twin brother.
Y/N stood there for a moment, her cheeks slightly flamed. She hoped there was no color on her face at all and it was just her feelings. She knew that he was talking about her emotions and feelings from the twi-wizard tournament and everything. He was definitely not talking about her crush on him, but little did he know, she made herself have plenty to deal with. “Hey George,” She called before he went to enter the room. The ginger turned to face her, awaiting what she was wanting. “Thank you.”
The eerie darkness from Grimmauld’s place didn’t help the nightmares that the girl had been having. Everyone was asleep, the house, quiet and dark. It matched how she felt if she were honest. It felt lonely, the same inner feelings she tended to carry. She knew no one made her feel like that on purpose. It was complicated, everyone being friends with her twin, Ron being the slightly awkward one around girls, Hermione obviously having a crush on Ron, and Ginny having a thing for Harry. Whether the two other girls in their friend group would admit to their crushes, it was obvious, at least to oldest Potter. She tended to feel like the fourth wheel most of the time. Something she would never tell anyone.
“Couldn’t sleep?” A voice came from the shadows breaking the girl out of her thoughts. She didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. The warmth creeping up her neck was enough.
She shrugged at his question, “I slept a bit…” she mumbled pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders. “Sometimes my mind won’t shut off.” she added to help him understand.
“Do you mind if I-“ He started softly, pointing to the spot on the sofa beside of her. She shook her head and patted the spot to let him know that he was welcome to join her if he really wanted to. “A lot to take in, isn’t it?” He asked whilst getting comfortable.
Y/N let out a sigh, “I hated my life before finding out about Hogwarts, but part of me wonders if it would’ve been for the better.” She mumbled. A thought she had before but she was too scared to admit it. She knew George wouldn’t speak of it again though, which is why she laid it out on the table. The older boy opened his mouth to speak but closed it, not exactly knowing how to respond. “I know, not very Gryffindor of me.” She added fixing the way she was sitting.
It was true. She sometimes thought that the sorting hat made a mistake. The hat decided in no time that she was to be placed in Gryffindor, but she wondered if she would’ve fit better as a Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. It would make sense, with her not really liking the idea of going against Voldemort. When it’s all said and done, who would want to go against the ‘Dark Lord’ anyway. Y/N didn’t view herself as brave, courageous, or noble; but she could see how she may fit seeing as she is often very determined and can be quite, daring, when given the opportunity.
“Anyone would be nervous to be where you are.” George replied in hopes of making the girl feel better. Before tonight, the two were familiar. They spoke sometimes and held brief conversations. But they never had quiet, soft, deep, meaningful conversations. The kind that Fred would make fun of his twin for having, or the ones that would make Ron disgusted for his friend having with his brother. Truth be known, Y/N never opened up to anyone much. Not even her own brother… her own twin. “No one wants to go up against… Voldemort. That’s why the ministry is denying his return.”
She knew he was right. The ministry wanted her, Harry, and Dumbledore to be lying in hopes of nothing happening. No matter what they wanted though, the dark wizard was back and people needed to prepare. He wanted to take over the wizard world when they were babies, and his motive definitely hasn’t changed any. “I’ve been having nightmares.” She admitted to the younger Weasley twin. A small flush forming where she didn’t want to admit it to him but she wanted to tell someone. “Since I saw Cedric die… since I witnessed him come back.” She murmured her eyes closing for a moment. Usually she could get through anything but this time it was different. That one event changed everything in her life and everyone else’s in the wizard world, whether they knew it yet to not.
George didn’t say anything at first. He just kept his attention on the girl beside of him to register her emotions. “You’re not going mad if that’s what you’re thinking.” He spoke softly noticing the way her facial expressions changed. “You went through a traumatic event, if anything you’re too normal.”
She let out a small laugh at that, “too normal, huh?”
George’s eyes widen slightly at how mean that sounded when she said it out loud, “not in a bad way… just considering what you’ve been through.”
“On that comment, I should probably try to go to bed.” She teased a bit fighting back a yawn as she stood up and stretched. “Thank you… again.” She added softly and sending him a smile as she headed towards the creaky stairs.
“Hey, uh, Y/N.” George called softly and low enough to not bother anyone but to get the girl’s attention. “If you ever need someone to listen…” he trailed off hoping she would get what he was trying to say.
The smile on her face turned a bit shy at what he was getting at, “Thank you, George.” She told him yet again. “Really.” With that she turned and went up the stairs in the room that her and Hermione were sharing.
Y/N was hoping that being back at Hogwarts would ease her mind and help her relax a bit. That wasn’t happening, at least what she could tell. She wasn’t sure if it was the information Harry had given her about the trial or if it was everything that was looming around. The stares her and Harry were receiving around the castle weren’t helping either, if anything they were adding to everything she was dealing with.
“Are you alright?” Hermione asked noticing Y/N glancing at a couple Slytherin boys who were pointing and whispering about her and Harry. Upon hearing Hermione she turned her attention back to the Gryffindor table to notice George waiting for a response.
Her eyes flitted over to Hermione before nodding, “Oh… yeah.” She lied plastering a fake smile on her face. “Slytherins are… Slytherins.” She mumbled. Her gaze moving down to her plate of food. Feeling like there was a hole burning through her face, she lifted her gaze and met George’s questioning one. Him giving her a knowing look like he could read her.
Luckily, before he could speak up Dumbledore stood up to start the announcements. “Good evening, children. We have two changes in staffing this year. We’re pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking care of Magical Creatures while Hagrid is on temporary leave. We also wish to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Delores Umbridge. I’m sure you all will join me in wishing the professor good luck.” Before Dumbledore could go on with his announcements the woman dressed in all pink walked up and stood in front of Dumbledore’s podium.
“She was at my hearing. She works for Fudge.” Harry leaned over and whispered to Y/N, Ron, and Hermione.
The moment her voice opened, Y/n cringed. The fake sickly sweet tone made her want to gag and shiver at the same time. “Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome. How lovely to see all your bright, happy faces smiling up at me. I’m sure we’re all going to be very good friends.”
“That’s likely.” Fred and George mumbled while the ministry woman kept talking.
Umbridge kept talking for a little bit longer, but Y/N zoned it out knowing that the real issues had just began. Something about the woman talking rubbed her the wrong way. Maybe it was the fact that she works for the ministry… or maybe the woman was pure evil. Whatever the reason, she was sure that it would all be out in the open soon.
After dinner was done, the whispers in the castle seem to get louder. Probably because most of the students were heading to their common rooms and it was crowded trying to leave the great hall. Y/N had slowed her walk, wanting to get to the back to stay away from the drama and people whispering about the Potter Twins. When she walked into the common room she came across harry and Seamus having a fight.
“Don’t you dare talk about my mother like that.” Seamus told the youngest Potter when Y/N entered the common room.
“I’ll have a go at anyone who calls me or Y/n a liar.” Harry argued back.
“Harry, it isn’t worth it.” Y/N whispered as she walked up to her younger brother. “Leave it be.” She urged with pleading eyes.
“What’s going on?” Ron asked once he got in and noticed the twins whispering to each other and everyone just staring.
“They’ve gone mad is what’s going on. Do you really believe the rubbish they’ve come out with about you-know-who?”
Y/N stepped around Harry to head to her dorm, there was no way she was going to be in the middle of a fight. Especially not this soon. “Hey Seamus!’ She called with a little mocking tone in her voice. “If we’re lying… how about you say his name?” Y/N taunted before turning around and jogging up to her dorm. Could she have come up with a better come back? Probably, if she wasn’t exhausted. All she wanted to do was lay down and try her best to get some rest before classes began in the morning.
“Oi! Y/N.” Fred Weasley’s voice spoke up as Y/n entered the common room after running to the prefect’s bathroom after her first detention with Umbridge. Defending her brother always seemed to get her in some sort of trouble. “Can I interest you in puking pastilles, free of charge of course.” He offered holding the skiving box out towards the girl.
“Not now, Fred.” She brushed off, gently shoving the box away with her good hand and pushing back towards the older Weasley twin. She would have felt bad if she wasn’t exhausted, in pain, and in a bad mood currently.
“Are you alright?” George asked taking in her demeanor and body language. It was clear to anyone that you weren’t alright. The Potter twins were the talk of the school, that the two were going crazy and trying to cope with Cedric’s death. The nightmares were still occurring except, Voldemort’s voice was becoming blatantly obvious in the dreams making her afraid to sleep.
Y/N huffed, “Would everyone stop asking me if I’m alright?” She snapped loud enough for the whole common room to hear her. All eyes turned to the area of the room she was at with the twins and Gryffindor kids who were buying things off the Weasley twins. “I can’t do this right now.” She muttered as everyone’s eyes stayed on her. She grabbed her bag strap until her knuckles turned white and headed back out of the common room and towards the library. She needed time away to breathe.
Getting to the library through the whispers, teases, and jokes was a nightmare. At least for Y/n whose social fuel was running on empty. The year had just started and she was already excited for the year to be over. She didn’t want to be back home with the Dursley’s but it would beat having to be talked about at every corner here.
In the corner of the library, her bag laid on the table. Not one book on the desk as she glared at her injured hand. Harry’s hand was bad too, but he didn’t do as many sentences. Mainly because Y/N was petty and didn’t want to let the devil in pink think that it bothered her as much as it did. She knew it would take longer to heal than Harry’s, simply because she had written three pages, front and back to prove a point.
“What the bloody hell happened to your hand?” She sighed knowing that he always seemed to follow her or appear when she felt as if she needed to be alone. Maybe that was a sign that she didn’t need to be alone or maybe it was the universe telling her that someone cared, because to her it sometimes felt like they didn’t.
She let out a humorless laugh at the question, “that’s what happens when you defend your brother in class and say Voldemort’s back.” She muttered, exhaustion clear in her voice. “You get detention with Umbitch.”
“Detention? That’s what that is?” He asked as he carefully picked up her hand to inspect the damage of the so called “detention”
After a moment, Y/N pulled her hand back and cleared her throat. “It’ll heal.” She mumbled her jaw clenching as she accidentally moved it the wrong way. “It’s my fault anyway. I should’ve stopped when Harry did. I shouldn’t have tried to prove a point.” She leaned back in the library chair and clicked her tongue. Her eyes stayed on her hand but as her anger and frustration died down, guilt was slowly creeping in. “I’m sorry.” She apologize, lifting her eyes to meet his. “You’ve been nothing but nice to me and I freaked on you and Fred.” She explained noticing his confusion.
George shrugged it off, “Forgotten.” He assured noticing the way her eyes were glassy and drooping. Signs that her body was exhausted and she was tired. “Are you sleeping?” He asked the question but he felt as though he knew the answer.
Y/N sighed rubbing her good hand over her face, “not very well.” She admitted almost against her will. The last thing she needed was to have a Weasley following her around worrying about her, even if it is the one she used to dream about. The one she had a stupid school girl crush on. If she wasn’t so exhausted she probably would’ve been a blushing mess. If she didn’t have to worry about an impending wizard war then she would probably be beyond excited to have the attention of said Weasley she had a crush on. “I’m fine.”
George let out a sound between a snort and a humorless laugh, “sure and I’m actually Fred and the older twin.”
“George,”
“Y/N.”
“I’m fine.” She stated looking directly into his warm eyes. His eye narrowed at her not understanding why she felt the need to lie to him.
George leaned closer to the girl. She sucked in a breath not expecting him to get that close to her face. “I’m calling you a liar.” He replied, reading her like she was an open book. She truly didn’t understand why it mattered. Harry was good at hiding his feelings and she would be too if she could get a decent amount of sleep. Y/N pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows slightly, “look I’m not here to pester you.”
“Could’ve fooled me.” She grumbled. Annoyed that he willingly called her a liar.
“I’m trying to make sure that you are alright.” George finished ignoring her commentary while he was trying to think of the right words. “I know it’s annoying being asked all the time, but when I ask… I truly want to know.”
She leaned back, surveying him. Last year, she would’ve fainted if he would’ve given this much interest in her. After all, it’s all she’s wanted since third year and here it was. Even if he didn’t want her the same way she did him. “I don’t need anyone to watch over me.” She stated crossing her arms.
“Merlin, woman. Just let me check on you.” George muttered slightly annoyed. Why was he trying so hard? He didn’t even know. “You don’t have to be so stubborn.”
She wasn’t used to letting people in, regardless of what her friendships looked like. Regardless of her emotions and her feelings for the Weasley across from her.
It was going to be a long year, for her and George.