Chapter Text
Her calves are on fire. Sweat is running into her eyes and she can hardly see where she is going. Her breath comes in quick sharp bursts and her heart is beating way too fast. When the hex hits her in the back she’s almost relieved. Alicia goes down.
“You’re dead, Spinnet.” Tonks gently stubs her arm with the tip of her shoe. “If you’re going to run, you can’t just run in a straight line. And you definitely can’t stick to the path.”
Alicia’s breath starts to somewhat stabilise. “You can’t step on the grass.” She weakly raises her arm and points it at a small sign almost hidden by the lush grass. “It says so right there.”
Tonks laughs. “You idiot. You’re such a stickler for rules. Not very Gryffindor of you.” The older witch puts her hand out for Alicia to grab on to. “Come on then. Molly’s making breakfast.”
They apparate to the gates of the Burrow. Alicia is glad for Tonks taking her side-along, she is starting to feel dizzy from exhaustion. After finishing her overnight shift at St Mungo’s just an hour ago Alicia apparated straight to St James’ park for her training with Tonks who had taken it upon herself to whip the newest additions to the Order into shape. Usually they work out in the evenings and Oliver, Angelina and Lee are there too but Alicia is on nights this week. Tonks doesn’t mind having to work out twice, which Alicia finds irritatingly impressive and also very Hufflepuff of her.
“Died again?” Fred asks almost gleefully when Alicia trots into the kitchen just after the Tonks. Instead of a reply she flips him off.
“Alicia!” Mrs Weasley scolds from her left and Alicia flinches. She’s so exhausted she didn’t even see her.
“Sorry, Mrs Weasley.”
Mrs Weasley tuts but doesn’t say anything else. Fred grins at her and once Alicia has made sure that his mum has her back turned she flips him off again.
“Can I use your shower please?” As good as Mrs Weasley’s cooking smells, Alicia does not want to sit down at the table in her grubby running shorts and t-shirt drenched in sweat. She thinks she can also still smell puke in her hair from where a toddler has thrown up on her shoulder and down her scrubs. And getting most of it into her hair when her little arms had been flailing wildly trying to get back to her mum.
“Of course, my dear. Ginny can lend you a change of clothes if you want. She’s still asleep.” Mrs Weasley calls from the stove and Alicia makes her way upstairs, leaving Tonks and Fred behind at the table.
The Burrow feels like a second home to Alicia. She’s visited the twins together with Angelina, Lee and Oliver when they were all still at Hogwarts and now that she’s joined the Order after graduating just under a month ago she spends most of her mealtimes there. Alicia loves the Burrow. She’s grown up an only child and raised by her muggleborn mum who does most things the muggle way. So the magic of the Burrow is just as exciting to her as the bustle of having so many people around. And she loves Mrs Weasley and the way she just accepts everyone into her home, cooking for them and treating them like her own children. Alicia has started her healer training a week after graduating and it has been exhausting from the day one. Having a place to go to for a warm meal and an even warmer hug is just heaven.
Alicia doesn’t bother to knock but quietly eases the door to Ginny’s room open. She isn’t surprised to see Hermione Granger sleeping on a mattress on the floor and graciously steps over the young witch to grab a pair of jeans and a light jumper from Ginny’s wardrobe. Alicia is out of the room before either of the girls even stir. She runs into George on her way up to the bathroom who just yawns and walks past her downstairs, following the enticing smells of breakfast. The bathroom is locked when Alicia tries to open it. She sighs and waits. The downside to having a full house is having to wait to use the bathroom. Alicia can hear the shower being turned off and she knocks. Patience is not her virtue.
“Hang on, George.” A deep voice calls and after some rustling Charlie opens the door. “You’re not George.” He says, a towel loosely hanging around his waist.
“Not quite.”
They look at each other awkwardly until Charlie smiles. “Let me just grab my clothes.”
Charlie turns around to pick them up and because Alicia thinks it’s a smart thing to do, she goes into the bathroom after him and shuts the door behind her. She drops Ginny’s clothes and, ignoring Charlie’s confused expression, wraps her arms around his neck to pull him close. He smells faintly of coconut and Alicia dreads to think what she must smell like.
“Mhmm, sweat and puke. Lovely.” Charlie says and Alicia cringes. He sighs. “What are you doing, Spinnet?”
“I don’t know yet.” Alicia leans away from him a little, feeling self-conscious of how badly she smells. “I had a pukey shift. A nursery out in Shoreditch had a stomach bug outbreak and we’ve had a continuous stream toddlers coming in all throughout the night.”
“Sounds fun.” Alicia can feel him exhaling against her head and she hopes there aren’t any bits of puke stuck in her hair. “This is a bad idea.”
Alicia wishes he wouldn’t say things like that but then not step away from her. “I’m not doing anything.” She drops her hands down her side.
“You know I’ve got to be the responsible adult about this, right?” Charlie says not unkindly, because nothing Charlie ever says is unkind or mean or hurtful.
“Sure.” Alicia is not like Charlie so it comes out sharp and prissy.
He gently pats her shoulder before leaving and it is such a familiar and gentle gesture it almost makes Alicia flinch with the loaded meaning behind it. It’s a pat that means you’re my brothers’ best friend, pretty much part of this family. And that’s it. That’s all it’ll ever be. Alicia peels the sweaty clothes off her body and turns the shower on to the coldest setting she can bare.
~||~
Angelina and Oliver as well as Lee are sitting at the large table and already tucking into their breakfast. Alicia isn’t surprised to see them, Mrs Weasley seems to have adopted all the young adults who make up a substantial part of the Order. She can hear Ginny and Hermione laughing in the stairway on their way down to the kitchen. Alicia sits down next to Angelina and gives her a half hug, her eyes already scanning the breakfast items on offer this morning. Her gaze briefly meest Charlie’s and she pretends not to feel hurt when he looks away quickly.
“How was training?” Angelina asks, her mouth partly filled with toast and a worried look on her face that leaves no doubt that she’s witnessed Alicia’s and Charlie’s little interaction-or lack thereof- across the table.
“Not great. But it’s taking a little longer now until Tonks manages to kill me. I haven’t been to bed yet though. Night shift.” Alicia replies but there isn’t much pity coming from her best friend.
Angelina looks exhausted herself, she’s joined the Ministry after graduating and works in the Obliviation Task Force. She’d originally planned to get a job in Magical Games and Sports but Moody had wanted someone to keep track of the Obliviation HQ so that’s what Angelina is doing. It’s been the same with Oliver who had forgone his plans of becoming a Quidditch pro to take up a position at the Department for Magical Transportation two years ago and is now in floo maintenance. They both hate it. Alicia knows that the Order is trying to catch up with all the witches and wizards the Death Eaters have already placed in key ministry positions. At least Lee seems happy to work at the Daily Prophet. Moody is quite pleased to have someone who’s able to follow just to what extend the newspaper is twisting the truth.
Alicia always wanted to get into healing and Moody was keen to have a healer on standby so he didn’t object to her going into the St Mungo’s healer programme. He isn’t too happy about her being in Magical Bugs but Alicia is getting first response training and has promised Moody that she’ll sign over to Spell Damage as soon as she’s able to.
Angelina opens her mouth again, probably to ask Alicia about her shift but is interrupted by Moody’s bulldog patronus charging across the breakfast table.
“Attack on Millennium bridge. Apparition point set up in the gents’ at the Globe.” Moody’s voice booms.
For a moment there is silence and then everyone seems to spur into action at once. Fred, Angelina and Lee nod at each other briefly and then go to the fireplace to floo to the Ministry. Oliver, Tonks and George run outside to apparate to Surrey. Moody is convinced that any attack could just be a diversion from either a coup on the Ministry or to get to Harry. He has spend ages drilling into them that no matter how strong their first instinct is to protect and safe the muggles or wizards and witches in danger, it is more important to follow Moody’s orders. They don’t like it but know that Moody, and Dumbledore and Shacklebolt, are looking at the bigger picture. The three of them had learned their lessons from the first wizarding war where their efforts hadn’t been coordinated enough.
“I’ve got a first aid bag, Alicia.” Mrs Weasley somehow manages to rifle through a drawer in the kitchen whilst still glowering at Ginny and Hermione, daring them to even suggest that they could help. Finally she finds a muddy brown bag and hands it over to Alicia.
“I’ll side-along you.” Charlie says and Alicia hates herself for craving his touch so much that even something as arbitrary as side-along apparition makes her feel flush.
They leave for the garden where they can disapparate from. Panic slowly takes over at the prospect of entering an active battle for the first time. Alicia knows perfectly well that she won’t have to actually partake in the fighting but waiting on the sidelines to treat her friends’ injuries seems just as daunting.
“It’ll be okay.” Charlie, clearly aware of her rising panic, grabs her hand and squeezes it gently. “You can do it.”
Alicia feels disgusted with herself to even consider using the upcoming battle as an excuse to lean into him, knowing that he’ll hug her. She does it anyway.
~||~
Alicia’s first instinct when they get to the Millennium bridge is to run. Charlie and her have exited the Globe theatre at a quick run. Alicia’s calves are still burning but adrenaline is now slowly but surely taking over and every step pushes her exhaustion further to the back of her mind. Charlie is still holding her hand and if it weren’t for that she might’ve actually just disapparated.
There are screaming muggles everywhere and the cracking sound of Death Eaters and aurors apparating cuts through the chaos like thunder. The aurors are trying to fight the Death Eaters whilst simultaneously rescuing muggles from drowning in the river. They also have to be careful for their spells not to hit any bystanders which automatically puts them at a disadvantage as the Death Eaters obviously have no such qualms. Alicia ignores the pit in her stomach when she sees how few aurors there are compared to the much larger number of Death Eaters, clad in their dark robes and black and golden masks. The Millennium bridge itself is swaying precariously and Alicia doesn’t think it will hold for much longer.
“We’ve set up a first aid station just outside the Tate.” Shacklebolt shouts whilst running towards them. He looks frantic, trying to coordinate the efforts of the aurors and Order members on the scene. “Charlie, I need you on muggle rescue.” Charlie nods and with one last glance at Alicia he runs towards the fray, his wand already out.
“Any other healers?” Alicia’s eyes automatically follow Charlie so now she has to rush to catch up with Shacklebolt who’s almost halfway towards the museum already.
Shacklebolt shakes his head in frustration. “They’re blocking communication. We’ve only managed to get hold of some aurors via patronus. There’s more coming but it takes time. And St Mungo’s is yet to react, no idea how they managed to cut the hospital off.”
“Right.” Alicia manages to get out, hit by the sudden responsibility. She isn’t even a proper healer yet.
The two of them get to what Shacklebolt generously has called the first aid station. Alicia can only make out a shoddily and quickly drawn up ward of protection and then rows of muggles in varying states of consciousness. Wizards and witches apparate in and out, dropping off muggles at random intervals. Alicia blanches. Some muggles they drop off aren’t moving and just sink to the ground limply.
Shacklebolt stops just outside the circle and turns to Alicia. He gives her a level look. “Preserve your energy.”
Alicia holds onto her bag and wand more tightly. ‘Preserve your energy’ is healer speak for saving only those who can be saved. It means not spending more than three minutes per patient. It means no resuscitation, no easing of passing on.
Shacklebolt nods to her gravely and then turns to return to the battle at hand. Alicia enters the warded circle and forces herself not to pay any attention to the cries. She does not let the panic take over, does not let herself feel overwhelmed. Alicia takes a deep breath. There is a reason why Oliver always had her shooting penalties when they were still at Hogwarts. Alicia is great at compartmentalising. So Alicia picks a corner and starts.
She quickly assesses whether the muggles need healing or can just be ignored for now. With a trained hand she uses her wand to conjure a blob of either orange or green colour onto some part of their clothing. Healers will start showing up at some point and then they’ll know who needs their attention more urgently and who can be ignored for now and obliviated later. Anyone Alicia would normally colour red she deals with straight away. It slows her down and possibly means someone dying who she hasn’t seen to yet but Alicia can not move on and leave someone dying behind her. Not if she knows they will without her immediate care.
She doesn’t know what to do with the dead bodies splattered amongst the muggles. Some look like they are sleeping but Alicia knows they’ve been mercifully hit by an avada. Some are deadly pale and almost blue, they must have drowned and the aurors have fished them out of the river maybe not realising they were already too late. Or maybe just doing the decent thing even if it wastes time. The muggles are so distraught that they don’t even seem to notice the dead bodies scattered amongst them.
Alicia has made it through about a third when Angelina apparates just next to where Alicia is healing a nasty head wound on a maybe ten year old boy. He is staring into nothing and Alicia is certain he’s concussed and severely traumatised. She gives quick instructions to the girl sitting next to him to not let the boy fall asleep before she acknowledges her friend.
“The Ministry is fine. They’ve send more aurors and healers are on their way.” Angelina looks calm but she’s subconsciously clenching and unclenching her fist. “I can deal with the green ones.”
Alicia nods and continues working down the line. She has no idea of how much time is passing. Eventually she sees the lime green of healer robes in the corner of her vision when she is closing the eyes of a middle-aged man. There’s a distinctly Diffindo shaped cut on his chest. Alicia knows that she would have been able to save him if she’d seen to him sooner. She pushes the thought to the back of her mind.
Alicia keeps on going through the muggles. The next time she looks up there are more healers around than muggles. Alicia allows herself to relax just the tiniest bit when she sees Winnifred Stratford. The chief healer of the Spell Damage Ward is overseeing the Obliviation of the last few muggles as well as coordinating the clearing of the bodies.
“Trainee Spinnet!” Stratford calls out and Alicia walks over to the tall, dark-skinned witch. Alicia knows that Stratford is, if not an active member, a supporter of the Order so she’s not worried about having to explain her presence in casual clothes and after her shift has ended hours ago. “Good work. But we’re taking over now. You’ve done enough.”
Alicia nods but doesn’t leave the warded circle. There are some wounded aurors and members of the Order coming in now and maybe she can help still. Alicia sees Remus Lupin supporting a limping Emmeline Vance towards them. Moody is talking with some aurors Alicia doesn’t know and Oliver is just behind them, holding his hand over what looks to be a broken nose. Alicia meets him halfway, relieved to see another one of her friends.
“Feels like I’ve been mending your broken noses since fifth year.” Alicia says softly and pulls Oliver’s hand away so she can see to it. “Episkey.” The nose rights itself with a satisfying crack. Oliver groans. “Is everyone okay?”
“Yeah. There was no magical activity at Harry’s.” Oliver pulls a face. “Moody’s already told us off and he’s send Tonks and George back again. Apparently we were meant to wait for his say-so before leaving.”
“Who would’ve thought.” Alicia rummages through Mrs Weasley’s first aid bag and extracts some gauze. She wets it with a non-verbal Aguamenti and sets to cleaning Oliver’s face. He flinches at her touch but lets her wipe off the blood. “Have you seen any of the others?”
“They’re fine as far as I know.” Oliver takes the gauze out of her hand. “I can get cleaned up later. Shouldn’t you be seeing to the more urgent cases?”
Alicia looks down. “The healers have taken over. I’d only be needed now for clearing bodies.”
“Shit. Sorry, Al.”
“It’s fine. They’ll manage without me. And I’ve not been up for apparating all day and even less now. I’d only get myself splinched.” Alicia does not want to think about her exhaustion too much lest it’ll take over completely. “Is Charlie okay?” She asks before she can bite her tongue.
Oliver gives her an empathetic smile. “He’s good. Drenched though I can imagine. He’s been dipping in and out of the Thames.”
“Right.”
Oliver bumps her shoulder with his. “Come on then, Spinnet. Let’s find the others.”
They have to stop a couple of times because Alicia insists on healing minor injuries that some of the more junior aurors are certain don’t need to be looked at but they eventually find Lee and Charlie who is suffering an enthusiastic drying charm at the hands of his brother Fred.
“Alright you two?” He calls at them and waves away Fred’s wand. “Thanks for that.”
Fred shrugs, he is uncharacteristically quiet until Oliver tells him that George is fine but has been send back to Surrey with Tonks. Oliver looks at Alicia sympathetically and then pulls Fred and Lee further away. Alicia feels pathetic.
“Are you alright?” Charlie asks again, pretending he hasn’t noticed the others giving them space.
Alicia nods. “Are you?”
“Yeah.” He looks over his shoulder and seeing that Oliver, Fred and Lee have walked off towards the Tate, steps a little closer. “Do you want me to get you out of here?”
Alicia knows that they should really sign off with Moody but their friends can do that for them. “Yes, please.”
~||~
They appear in Alicia’s flat just a moment later, Alicia clinging on to Charlie’s arm just a little longer than strictly necessary. Charlie doesn’t comment.
The air in the flat smells a little stuffy and stale. Although Alicia usually enjoys having her own space, she’s spend the last few nights in the flat Angelina shares with Lee on Diagon Alley.
Alicia inherited the flat from her muggle grandmother. It is tiny and old and still needs a lot of work done to it but it’s hers and she loves it. She’s only moved in a month and a half ago. It is in a block of flats in Hammersmith and Alicia enjoys living in a muggle area. Shacklebolt has told her time and time again to set up anti-apparition wards but Alicia doesn’t want to give up the convenience of apparating straight back home after a night shift and there is no fireplace to get set up on the floo network. The flat is still in her grandmother’s name so that’d have to do by ways of protection.
“You need to get some rest.” Charlie says softly.
Alicia nods and lets go of his arm. “Will you stay?” She undoes the button of Ginny’s jeans and starts pulling them down, ignoring how pathetic she is behaving. As if seeing her undress will make him stay.
“Alright.” Charlie doesn’t take his eyes of hers, graciously ignoring her pitiful attempt of seducing him. “I can read for a bit.”
~||~
Alicia wakes to the sound of Charlie swearing softly. She yawns and sits up. The sun is high in the sky and after a quick glance at her alarm clock Alicia is surprised that it’s only just gone midday. She isn’t quite sure when they’ve come back from the bridge, but she can’t have slept for more than a couple of hours. Reluctantly Alicia gets out of bed and makes her way to the kitchen where Charlie is trying to make tea under the watchful eyes of Alicia’s cat.
“Did you put water in?”
“Of course I have. I’ve seen you do it a hundred times.” Charlie mumbles, his eyes trained on the electric kettle.
Alicia’s flat is one hundred percent muggle and moments like these are why she refuses to change it. Seeing Charlie and her other pureblood friends struggle with simple tasks like turning on an electric kettle never fails to make her smile.
“Are you going to help me or just stand there?” Charlie turns around and wriggles his eyebrows at her. His gaze briefly flickers down to her bare legs. Alicia forces herself not to read anything into it.
“Move over then, Weasley.” Alicia gently pushes him out of the way and plugs the electric cord into the outlet.
Charlie huffs. “Forgot about the electricky.”
“Electricity.” Alicia smiles at him. “You’re lucky you’re cute.” She bites her lip.
“I suppose you’ll want one as well?” He graciously ignores her blip and opens one of the cupboards to extract two mugs.
There is a certainty and ease in his movements that Alicia can’t take her eyes off. So she returns to her bedroom to get changed into her own clothes.
Charlie hands her a mug of tea when she gets back. “I’m starving.”
Alicia gently blows at her tea. “Same.” It’s looks a little too strong and probably won’t be sweet enough, but it’ll take the exhaustion out of her bones.
Charlie is already sipping on his. Alicia is pretty sure that working with dragons has made him resistant to any type of heat. “We should get back to the Burrow.”
Alicia pulls a face. She isn’t sure whether she is ready to face the aftermath of leaving with Charlie yet. There is only so many sympathetic smiles and gentle pats on the shoulder she can cope with.
“Yeah.”
Charlie drains his cup of tea and places it in the sink. He leans back against the small dining table and after trying to pet the cat, who ducks away from under his hand and runs off towards the bedroom, crosses his arms. “Why does he hate me so much?”
Alicia smiled. Charlie just can’t bear an animal not liking him and Alicia’s cat ignoring him is an endless source of frustration for him. “Archibald hates everyone.”
“He doesn’t hate you.”
“Only because I feed him.” Alicia empties her cup and lets it join Charlie’s in the sink. “Can we side-along?”
Charlie is too nice to say no.
~||~
When she and Charlie walk into the kitchen at the Burrow the atmosphere is dense. Many senior members of the Order are present and Alicia knows that shit has hit the fan when she sees Dumbledore sitting at the head of the table, an untouched cup of tea in front of him. Alicia and Charlie join the twins who are leaning against the kitchen counter.
“Harry?” Alicia whispers quietly but George shakes his head.
The kitchen door opens and Moody and, to Alicia’s surprise, her dad’s cousin Amelia Bones, walks in. Moody takes a seat between Mr Weasley and Professor Lupin. Amelia Bones sits down on the empty seat on Dumbledore’s right. She isn’t a member of the Order but their strongest support at the Ministry.
Dumbledore clears his throat. “Now that we’re all here, we might as well start.”
“I didn’t know we were meant to have a meeting.” Alicia mumbles.
“They told us after the attack.” George mumbles back, worry in his eyes. “You and Charlie had already left.”
Alicia blushes, feeling embarrassed. “You could have send a patronus.”
“No offence, but Fred told me you looked like shit. I thought you could use the rest.”
Dumbledore clears his throat again and Alicia turns her focus back on her former headmaster.
“Garrick Ollivander and Florean Fortescue have been taken.” Grave silence follows his announcement. “Amelia, if you will.”
Amelia Bones nods. “We assume that they were kidnapped while the aurors were out in force to deal with the attack on the Millennium bridge.”
“Out in force after taking their sweet time.” Hestia Jones huffs from her seat between Emmeline Vance and Bill Weasley.
“The Death Eaters somehow managed to cut of communications. No owls, patronuses or any other means of alerting the auror department were able to get through. The Unspeakables are looking into it. The same happened at St Mungo’s.” Shacklebolt explains in his deep, calm voice.
Amelia Bones nods at him gratefully. “We returned to several emergency messages. By the time we got to Diagon Alley, Ollivander’s as well as the ice cream parlour were half-destroyed. Aurors are still there trying to work out what happened.”
After an hour of heated discussion of what their next steps will be, Mrs Weasley starts
passing around plates of food and everyone spreads out to find a place to eat. Alicia ends up sitting on a bench in the garden with Angelina next to her and Oliver on a turned over bucket across from them.
“I get why they might want Ollivander, but Fortescue?” Angelina says between two bites of Mrs Weasley’s excellent sheperd’s pie.
“If we didn’t know that they were truly evil before we do now. I mean, you must be if you hate ice cream.” Oliver tries a half-hearted smile.
“Today was awful.” Alicia can’t help but say and instantly kill Oliver’s attempt to lighten the mood. “All these wounded muggles. And the bodies. And still, the worst thing was that I didn’t even have time to worry about you guys.”
“Oh, Al.” Angelina puts her plate down at her feet and embraces her friend. “It truly was awful. But I’m afraid that’s what it’s going to be like for a long while now.”
Oliver sighs heavily. “Can we talk about something else? I know it’s a shit coping mechanism, but can’t we bottle it up for now? I’ve got to go to work in half an hour and really don’t want to turn up crying. Again.”
“I’m sorry.” Alicia eats another piece of her food although she’s not really hungry anymore. “Let’s change the topic.”
Angelina lets go of her. “Alright. I think we should talk about you and a certain Weasley.”
“I don’t think we should.” Alicia puts her plate down and avoids looking at either of her friends.
“No, Angelina is right.” Oliver angles for Alicia’s plate to finish off her leftovers. “It’s our duty as your best friends to tell you to stop putting yourself through that.”
“Especially since Charlie is too nice to reject you outright. Which isn’t fair, really.” Angelina pulls her legs up and wraps her arms around her knees.
Alicia sighs. “I’m just pathetic, aren’t I.” She doesn’t let it get to her that neither of her friends disagree instantly.
Alicia curses the day she decided to travel down to the Burrow with Angelina, Lee and some more of their friends after their last N.E.W.T. exam. Despite not graduating themselves, the twins had thrown a party at the Burrow to celebrate. McGonagall had let them all go for the weekend after she’d made them promise not to bring any of the twins’ merchandise back with them. Alicia is certain that McGonagall knew that they’d have to make use of every opportunity to be able to celebrate before the war would start in earnest.
All the Weasleys, apart from Percy, had been there as well as Oliver and some other younger members of the Order like Tonks. Alicia has always had a bit of a crush on Charlie and after one too many firewhiskeys she told him just that. Charlie had been embarrassed at first but also flattered and by the end of the night they were snogging against Mr Weasley’s newly acquired Ford Escort in the shed.
Then she didn’t see Charlie again until her first order meeting halfway through June. When she moved into the flat in Hammersmith, Charlie showed up with the twins to help her get her stuff set up. He wouldn’t meet her eyes but took advantage of the twins fascination with the telly to explain to Alicia how drunk he’d been and that it hadn’t been a good idea. Alicia had cried the whole night after.
“You’re not that pathetic.” Oliver claims half-heartedly, which Alicia takes to mean that she is still a little pathetic. “Charlie is a great guy but he’s also out of the country a lot. And older.”
“And embarrassed that we kissed.” Alicia adds primly. “He feels like he needs to be especially nice to me now to make up for it. And I can’t stop myself from taking advantage of it.”
“Oh, Al.” Angelina pulls her close.
“Ugh, this is stupid. We’ve literally just fought against Death Eaters and now I’m whinging about a boy as if that were more important.”
“Is our brother making you cry again?” Fred asks from behind the bench. Both Angelina and Alicia flinch. He circles them and sits down on the ground next to Oliver. “I wish it were Perce, he’s easier to talk shit about.”
“I don’t think I could stay friends with you, Al, if you’d kissed Percy.” George says and the two young witches flinch again. “Also, you’re so easy to sneak up on.”
“Fuck off, George.” Alicia huffs but scoots over so George can sit down next to her.
“Sorry, Al. Do you want me to go punch Charlie?”
“Can we talk about something else, please?” Alicia really does not want to have a group discussion about her unrequited feelings.
Oliver takes it upon himself to save his former chaser and starts a tirade about the newest addition to Puddlemere United (“That could have been me, screw you, Moody!”) and soon they are engaged in some enthusiastic Moody bashing that goes on for quite a while. Oliver is the first one to leave as he has work and Angelina follows soon after. Fred goes to get some cake and so it’s just George and Alicia left on the small garden bench.
“Alicia?” George says softly and turns towards her.
“Mmh?” Alicia has her face up against the sun, desperate to get some sunshine before she’ll have to leave for work too.
“I’m sorry you’re hurting.”
Alicia scrunches up her face. “Thank you.”
“It’ll get better, you know.” He bumps his shoulder against Alicia’s. “I know I’m a boy and obviously don’t get feelings and all that, but your feelings are valid. Unfortunately so are Charlie’s and you’re not making it easy for him either.”
“I know.” Alicia sighs. “I just wish he’d say outright that he doesn’t want me.”
George regards her for a moment and Alicia thinks he’s contemplating which words will hurt her the least. “Give it time.”
Alicia never quite finds out whether he means time for Charlie to reject her or something else altogether as Fred returns with several slices of chocolate cake. They tuck in and Alicia feels somewhat comforted by the chocolate.