I'M GOOD, I'M GONE ? george weasley

# 013 ━━ the black lake

   It was all a bit too much—too loud, too chaotic, and far too cold for her liking. Deleine shivered again, burrowing deeper into George's embrace, desperately trying to shake off the chill that had seeped into her bones. She hated every second of it.

   George looked down at Deleine, his brow furrowed with concern. "You alright?" he asked softly. Deleine nodded, her response almost automatic, though she hadn't quite processed everything that had happened. George, however, was more concerned with her well-being than with the notion of her being Cedric's prize.

    "Attention! Attention!" Dumbledore's voice boomed across the grounds, pulling their focus. "The winner is... Mr. Diggory!" he announced, and the Hufflepuff students erupted in cheers, celebrating Cedric's victory. "For showing unique command of the Bubble-Head Charm. The way I see it, Mr. Potter would have finished first had it not been for his determination to rescue not only Mr. Weasley but the others as well," Dumbledore continued, his voice carrying an air of respect. "We've agreed to award him second place! For outstanding moral fibre!"

   Harry's friends, along with the rest of Gryffindor, cheered loudly, their voices echoing across the lake. Deleine joined in, her voice slightly shaky but genuine. George's arms tightened around her briefly before he released her. "Come on, let's get you inside before you freeze to death," he said, gently steering her forward by her shoulders. The group of friends moved together, a sense of relief mingling with the lingering adrenaline from the task.

    "I can't even begin to think what we'd have done if we'd lost you down there, mate," Lee said to Deleine, trying to lighten the mood. Deleine looked down, a small laugh escaping her as Lee wiped an imaginary tear from his cheek with a dramatic flourish. "Who'd be around to keep us in line, eh?" he added in a mock-whiny voice.

   Cassia chuckled softly, her arm brushing against Deleine's as they walked. Fred, always quick with a quip, glanced over at Ron and Harry. "All that moral fibre, eh?" he said with a grin.

   "Blimey even when you go wrong it turns out right." Ron said.

   "Well done, 'moral fibre,'" George chimed in, grinning at Harry as they made their way back towards the castle, their footsteps crunching on the frosty grass.

   "Congrats Harry!" Deleine said with a smile.

.  .  .

   Oh, believe me, George never let Deleine out of his sight after that ordeal. She was soon perched on his bed, her back resting against the headboard as he sat beside her. Their friends had given them space without a single complaint, understanding that the two needed a moment alone. Deleine was bundled up in George's oversized jumper and a pair of his sweatpants, the soft fabric engulfing her in warmth. Her hair, still damp from the lake, was wrapped in a towel as she attempted to dry it with a touch of irritation.

   "This is ridiculous," she groaned, her tone tinged with a snarl as she wrung out the ends of her hair.

   "Not a fan of the water, then?" George teased lightly, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. Deleine only shook her head in response, her expression somewhere between a pout and a scowl. George reached over to his bedside table, pulling out a candy bar, and handing it to her. She accepted it with a sigh, her mood still as grumpy as a troll denied its bridge toll.

   "The least they could've done is warn me," Deleine muttered, unwrapping the candy bar with an annoyed huff. She bit into it with more force than necessary, as though the chocolate might somehow absorb her frustration.

   George tilted his head, a smile playing on his lips as he watched her. Despite her anger, he couldn't help but find her endearing, even when she was in a mood. "I reckon they thought a bit of a surprise would make it more exciting," he suggested, his voice warm with amusement.