#likeasymphony

The next time she opened her eyes the pain wasn’t as severe. It was more of a dull throb which made her moan slightly, turning her head as her eyes flickered trying their best to open. But the light seemed a little too bright. She couldn’t remember what had happened and the first feeling that enveloped her, after the pain was frustration. Rachel hated no knowing on account of her Ravenclaw nature. And though she knew she was hurt, she wandered how she had gotten hurt.

Finally she had enough strength to open her eyes.

The second she did, the memories came crashing down. The alley being attacked....fireworks.......scream worthy pain at the side of her stomach.......blackness.......George. That was all her mind could piece together as she lifted a hand to her bandaged head and wincing at how tender the area was.

Ever since that particular.......event Rachel had taken to listening to music on the small portable cassette player she had bought at a second hand shop in the Muggle streets. Her old one had broken a long time ago, but at least her headset was still intact. Besides she had to distract herself somehow, not to mention she was avoiding talking that much to George since that night. Or was it him who was not speaking with her?

She wasn’t really sure.

Placing the last of the Skiving Snackboxes on their respective shelves, the brunette jumped down from the stool. “Done with the putting away!” She yelled, a little louder then was necessary. But then she was wearing her headset and the volume was rather high and she couldn’t hear what was going on around her. As she walked past the piano, a little skip in her step that matched the beat of the music playing in her ears, she let her fingers trail over the keys, feeling the sudden urge to just sit on the bench and start playing. But not yet, she had work to do.

She felt him wrap his coat around her shoulders and her hands went up to push it further around her, grasping it from the lapels. Leaning up she kissed his cheek as a thank you as he pulled her against him. “Harry gave it to me after extracting it from Teddy. Apparently he grew quite attached to it.” The brunette commented, head rested against his shoulder, hazel eyes trained to the sky as she watched the fireworks explode. At his whisper, her eyes widened and she smacked his chest playfully, blushing. “Shut it Carrot Top.” She muttered, turning her gaze upwards once more, avoiding his so he wouldn’t see the blush on her cheeks. “Besides you missed a birthmark.” The brunette commented with a grin, playfully shoving him to the side.

Rachel smiled in relief at his words. “I’m really proud of you George. And I know Fred is too.” Her arms wrapped around his chest as she pulled him into a hug, smiling softly as she pressed her face into his shoulder. “And thank you for allowing me to sing. I hope I did my family proud just as you did yours.” Everyone was gazing up at the fireworks, commenting or pointing out at a new animal that would burst with a loud whiz and bang.

Rachel gave a small wince at how Mrs. Weasley all but told Ginny off. She briefly wandered how a discussion involving Draco and Ginny would go. The mental image was not pretty. One fireplace later they had arrived at the burrow. And after brushing off some soot Rachel peered around the kitchen where the fireplace was, taking in her first look of the Burrow. “It has a nice homely feeling to it.” She commented with a shy smile.

“Homely is a good word for it, I think.” Mrs. Weasley agreed as the small group stepped through the fireplace and into the living room. “George’ll be sure to give you the grand tour once you’re feeling up to it. For now though, I think it would be best to set you up in Bill and Charlie’s room. You’ll be right next to Ginny, and George-” “I’ll be right upstairs in Percy’s room. Gin, help me carry these bags into Bill’s room.”

“And George? After you’ve dropped the bags off and everything could you draw me a bath? I really want to wash off that hospital smell.” Rachel called out as both siblings stated to take up the bags. That was phase one of her revenge plan. And she was going to have fun with it even if she were confined to a chair. The brunette gave a sheepish smile to Mrs. Weasley. “He’s going to hate me for making him do small tasks like that.”

“Yeah? Will you need help undressing as well?” George called back to Rachel from Bill’s room. “Gross, George!” Ginny groaned. “Can you wait at least a few hours before you try to get into Rachel’s pants?” Molly shook her head and tutted under her breath as she wheeled Rachel into the kitchen so she could start preparing dinner. “Oh, he won’t mind. He might complain but you know he would do anything you ask of him, especially while you’re healing. All you need to do is bat those pretty eyes of yours at him and you could make that boy do just about anything.”

“I intend to do just that.” The brunette said with a satisfied smirk. “And I promise I won’t use my eyes against him anymore the I would have to.” She added quickly, not wanting Mrs. Weasley to think she was somehow using her looks or charm to get George to do what she wanted. Then again she had the charm range of a teaspoon. “Is there anything I can do to help?” She asked, feeling a little strange sitting there with nothing to do. But then what could she do. Her arm was still in a sling and the wrist of the arm that wasn’t was wrapped up.

Mrs. Weasley merely looked amused as Rachel concocted her revenge for George’s stunt with her favorite bra. She knew Rachel well enough to know that the girl didn’t have any intentions of using George, but merely giving him what he deserved. Merlin knew that boy needed a taste of his own medicine, especially after all of the years of pranks and mischief she’d had to endure as their mother. “Oh no dear, you just relax. It sounds like George is setting up your bath right now.” Sure enough, a few minutes later, George finally came into the kitchen. “I’ll set up your room while Gin helps you.”

“What you’re not gonna help me?” Rachel asked, a giggle escaping her at his reaction before she nodded. “Alright then. You going to wheel me to the bathroom Weasley? I don’t know my way around your house yet and I can’t wheel myself because I don’t have my wand.” Her eyes widened as she patted her sleeve where she usually kept it. “George? Please tell me you have my wand. And if your try to prank me or make a joke about it so help me I’ll bury you alive.”

George took the handles of Rachel’s wheelchair so he could wheel her toward the bathroom. He bent down low over her and kept his voice low so that his mother wouldn’t hear him. “Would you like me to?” He smirked. “Wait…your wand?” He gasped as he stopped the wheelchair in front of the filled bathtub. “Fuck Maestro. The last I saw it, I think it was…..up your arse?”

His comment earned him a hit to the head followed by a hiss of pain since she had turned her upper body to reach him. “I’m serious George.” She grumbled as she turned back around to slowly pull her sling over her head keeping her arm cradled to her chest before slowly stretching it out. “Could you take off my head bandage for me please?”

“Ouch, watch it-” George instinctively flinched as Rachel reached around to smack him. Though admittedly, the girl was too weak to actually hurt him. “Calm down, I have it. I’ve been using it as a backscratcher.” At her request, he began to gingerly unwind the layers of bandage off of her head, letting out a small sigh of relief as he saw the that the wound there was nearly healed.

She shot him a warning glance before sighing and shaking her head, wincing slightly at the dull pain. As the bandages fell away from her head she sighed in relief, gingerly running her fingers through her hair, grimacing when they would brush against a rather tender spot. “You can leave if you want. I’ll call you if I need you.” She said with a shrug. Despite her earlier teasing she wasn’t about to undress in front of him.

“I’m taking pity on you. It wouldn’t do for your mother to kick my servant out of the house for taking advantage of me.” She smirked at him before shooing him off, playfully trying to hit him as she did. The feeling of his lips pressing to her slightly throbbing temple made her go still. She was still staring at the wall of the bathroom her finger lightly grazing the area where his lips had touched her when Ginny entered. “Hey Ginny.” A smile of sympathy was given to the red head. “How’re you holding up?”

Ginny tried her best not to seem like she was sulking, but it was difficult when so much was weighing heavily on her mind. “What’s more important is how you’re holding up,” she diverted, “How are you feeling? Are you sore? What am I asking, of course you’re sore. Maybe once you’re done bathing you’ll get to take some of those pain potions that make you go all loopy.” The redhead smiled mischievously and dipped her hand into the bath water to test the temperature. “Feels alright. Let’s get you in.”

Ginny tried her best not to seem like she was sulking, but it was difficult when so much was weighing heavily on her mind. “What’s more important is how you’re holding up,” she diverted, “How are you feeling? Are you sore? What am I asking, of course you’re sore. Maybe once you’re done bathing you’ll get to take some of those pain potions that make you go all loopy.” The redhead smiled mischievously and dipped her hand into the bath water to test the temperature. “Feels alright. Let’s get you in.”

Rachel let her rant, silently sitting in her wheel chair and listening to the girl speak. Once Ginny told her that the bath was ready she nodded and slowly started to remove her clothes, not wanting to accidentally pull on a sore muscle. With Ginny’s help she climbed into the tub and sighed as the warm water enveloped her whole body. “This geeks amazing.” She sighed, resting her head back against the tub.

Ginny assisted in undressing Rachel, helping her to tug off her sleeves and navigate her head through the neckline of her shirt. But finally Rachel was able to sink into the warm tub of water, and Ginny could only imagine how good it felt after days of laying in a hospital bed. “Imagine how nice it will be to spend the next few weeks laying in bed and bossing George around while mum serves you home cooked meals.” Ginny said with a smirk as she handed Rachel the bar of soap.

She giggled, running her fingers through the water. “Sounds like heaven.” Taking a deep breath she dunked her head under the water for a few seconds, eyes squeezed shut before emerging, her hair plastered to her head and face. She took the bar of soap and gingerly moved it across her body, being careful not to run too hard on her dis-colored skin. “I guess it was a good thing Draco Malfoy came to warn us. Otherwise I have a feeling none of us would be here.” She commented.

“….Oh. Yeah, I suppose so.” Ginny muttered in reply. She was fetching a wash cloth out of the cupboard to hand to Rachel, but her movements became hesitant at the sudden mention of Draco. “I guess that makes him a bit of a hero. No one ever anticipated that.” It felt strange to talk about him, pretending to be casual about her feelings for him when in reality, she couldn’t seem to think about anything /except/ him. She’d been visiting his flat every day since the battle, hoping he’d show up. But the boy had vanished.

Her eyes followed every movement, trying to decipher something, anything that would give her some leverage as to how deep the feelings for Malfoy went for Ginny. “I suppose it does. Do you know when he will be back?” She asked, slowly letting the warm water wash away the soap suds, sighing how clean she felt. Though her hair was still dirty despite being wet. Reaching out for the shampoo with her less injured arm she attempted to open the cap with the same hand, still feeling an ache in her other arm.

“Oh, let me-” Ginny hurried reached out and grabbed the shampoo bottle away from Rachel, grateful for any distraction from the current subject. She knelt down by the tub and poured some of the lavender-scented creme into her palm so she could assist her friend in scrubbing the stuff into her hair. “I don’t think he is coming back.” She finally muttered a minute or so later. “He’s just…gone.”

The brunette sat quietly for the next few seconds. Partly enjoying how Ginny’s fingers were gently massaging the throbbing in her head away, and quietly thinking over how everything had gone for Ginny. And with the lack of information she had, there wasn’t much to think about. “I’m sorry he left like that.” She finally spoke, turning her head slightly to look at her friend.

“Are you? George will be ecstatic when he finds out that Draco probably left the country.” Ginny wouldn’t help but mutter bitterly. “And my parents. And Harry.” It truly seemed like everyone in her life was disappointed with her. She’d made a bad decision. She’d fallen for the one person she was supposed to resent. She sighed and gave her head a small shake as she cupped her hands in the water to begin rinsing out the suds in Rachel’s hair. “But it doesn’t matter now. Because I’m probably never going to see him again.” At this, it was apparent that she girl was struggling to keep her voice even.

She kept quite after that, not know what else she could say to the red head. Closing her eyes to avoid getting any suds in them, she helped wash out the shampoo as well sighing in relief once every last bit of foam was gone and she was finally clean. “Thank you for helping me Ginny.” She said after getting out of the tub and tying a towel around her body. “I know it may seem hopeless right now, but from what is saw before I passed out, something was different about him. I may not be an expert in love or anything but how he protected you and came to you, to warn you the second he could, just shows that despite him leaving he cared for you.” She reached out to place a comforting hand on the red head’s shoulder, giving her a smile. “He did all that for you. So maybe he might come back for you.”

Ginny helped Rachel out of the bath, holding her elbows to steady her while she wrapped herself up in a towel. “Much better.” Ginny commented with a smile. “How are you feeling?” Rachel then spoke up about Draco, and Ginny wasn’t sure of what to say. She wanted to believe her words, but it was hard to trust the man after he’d told her time and time again that she didn’t mean anything to him. “Listen to me rambling about boys while you almost died a few days ago. C'mon, smells like dinners almost ready.”

Despite her best efforts Rachel let out a small snort at Ginny’s words. “Way to change the subject Ginny.” She teased before nodding. “Alright. Let me just get into my clothes. I’ll have George comb my hair later.” The brunette added with a small grin before proceeding to pull on her clothes, wincing every now and then when her body or a limb would move at an odd angle. She tried cleaning up the bathroom as much as she could too. “Lead the way then please.” She looped her good arm through Ginny’s before stepping out of the bathroom.

The redhead was glad that Rachel seemed to have enough energy to get around without the wheelchair, albeit with assistance. It seemed the shower had worked miracles on her, as though the warm water had helped loosen her joints and alleviate her pain. They piled her hair up into a towel turban on top of her head and the pair finally shuffled out of the bathroom for supper. Molly had made a large, delicious supper that was particularly decadent to celebrate Rachel’s homecoming from the hospital. Warm mashed potatoes, deliciously seasoned steak, plenty of cooked vegetables on the side, and wine for the entire table.

As she sat at the table with the rest of the Weasleys, Rachel wandered to herself when was the last time she had sat down to a family meal? Usually she ate dinner alone. She ate lunch with George sometimes since they would be at work. But if the shop was crowded she would eat in between customers. Sitting at the table with everyone laughing and smiling made her feel warm inside, yet it brought on sadness a well. And by the time she had bid everyone goodnight she was near tears, half aware of someone pushing her towards what would be her room during her stay.

Several glasses of wine helped George to feel at least a little bit more comfortable with being back at the burrow again. And having Rachel to care for was also a good distraction. However, it seemed that nothing would ever be able to make him feel completely at home at the burrow again. Not when every single inch of the place reminded him of Fred. Once they’d finished eating, the lanky redhead helped Rachel out of her chair, muttering something vague about getting her to bed as he led her toward Bill’s old room. He’d arranged her things in the room for her while she’d been in the bath, and had borrowed one of Ginny’s stuffed animals to put on the bed to make the very…male room seem just a tad bit more comforting. “What is it? You seem quiet.” He asked her as he led her to the bed.

She plopped down onto the bed, grateful to get off her feet, especially her right legs which still felt a little sore even though it was almost completely healed. “I’m alright.” She answered with a smile, before returning her attention to the bedspread, tracing her finger delicately along the flower pattern that adorned it. “I was just thinking about the last time I had a family dinner. With my grandparents and Dimitri. It seemed like so long ago. And it probably was.” She added with a small laugh, before turning to look at him. “You’re lucky to have people you can have family dinners with.” She lightly kicked her foot out to graze against his leg. “So to which famous Weasley did this room belong to?” She asked, looking around the room, eyes blinking rapidly to push away the tears burning behind her eyes.

It had been a while since he’d been in Bill and Charlie’s room. The pair of them had moved out years ago, so it was most commonly used as a guest room nowadays. “Bill and Charlie.” He responded when Rachel asked him whose room she was staying in. “That’s why there’s a collection of both quidditch posters and books on dragon breeding.” He chuckled to himself as Rachel toyed with his ankle. She suggested that he should be grateful of having his family, and the man simply nodded in reply. “I take them for granted.” He admitted, feeling a bit guilty for it. It was then that he noticed the tears welling in Rachel’s eyes, and his brow creased with concern. “Rachel, what’s wrong?”

“Sounds like quite the combination.” She muttered, though her heart wasn’t into joking or kidding around for once. Even with having him around. He was the only one to ever get her to show the mischievous side she had. Something she had always suppressed in order to let her more brainy and Ravenclaw-ish personality shine. “Nothing.” She shook her head. “I guess the medicine or whatever the Healer’s gave me is making my hormones go crazy.” She said with a laugh, wiping at her eyes, sniffing before she took a deep breath. “I’m alright.” She reassured him, hazel eyes turning up to look at him. “Really, stop worrying.”

Though she tried to convince him that she was fine, George still had his doubts. He lowered himself onto the mattress beside her, his blue eyes lingering on her face as she spoke. “Hm.” He hummed in reply, reaching up to gingerly pull the towel off of her head and let her half-dried locks tumble over her shoulders. They still smelled of the lavender shampoo. “If being here is too much to handle, we can figure something else out. The Weasley clan can be a lot to handle, even if there are only half of us right now. Just imagine what it’s like at holidays.”

She reached up to gently pulled at her hair, making sure no strands were piled on top of her head. “Its not that. Honestly so far I love being here.” She pursed her lips before sighing and avoiding his gaze she started to speak. “Its just I had forgotten how it felt to sit at dinner surrounded by people. A family. Even though its not my family, it made me miss all those dinners I had with my grandparents and Dimitri.” She shook her head, tugging lightly at her hair, as she fiddled with it. “I know it sounds stupid, but I really miss that.”

“It’s not stupid,” George assured Rachel as she played with her hair. “Of course you miss it.” He just wished that there was something he could do to make her feel better. It wasn’t as though eating dinner with /his/ family would ever fill the void that Rachel felt missing her own. And yet here he was, wishing that he could run as far away from his family as possible. “Here, let’s…get the tangles out of your hair.” He muttered as his gaze shifted to the ends of her hair. “I’ve never brushed hair before. Is there a charm for it? Or perhaps…” he paused, and it was apparent in his expression that his mind was racing with ideas for brush-related products he could sell. “A hair-eating hair brush..” he murmured thoughtfully.

She raised her eyebrow at him. “George? You know how I love all your ideas and always encourage them.” Placing a firm hand on his shoulder she shook it lightly. “But take it from me, you do not want to invent one of those. Because you do not mess with a girl’s hair. Or even a boy’s hair for that matter.” Her voice was serious as she spoke. “Now get the thought out of your head, take this brush.” She held her brush out to him. “And start brushing. It already has charm on it and untangles hair without the pulling and the yanking.”

He smiled to himself in satisfaction, already itching to get back to inventing. It had only been a few days since the battle, and yet already he was beginning to feel antsy without work. There was so much work to be done to open the shop again. The repairs themselves weren’t going to be easy and would likely take a week or so to complete. And so soon after they’d had their official re-opening….why couldn’t the damn place just stay in one piece for more than a few months at a time? Rachel was leaning against him as he brushed her hair, and he wrapped an arm around her waist to support her as she hummed to herself. “I wouldn’t mind.” He admitted after a few moments. “Only if you brush mine as well, though. I’m thinking of growing it out like Bill’s. Will I finally be badass?”

She let out a sigh of content as his arm wrapped around her waist giving her more support to fully lean back against him, head resting on his shoulder, her hair now partially dry and brushed. “I like your hair short. Makes it easy for me to mess up. Messing up long hair means tangles and fingers getting stuck in said tangles.” She was speaking while she was half asleep now. And clearly she wasn’t completely in her mind. “And you’re already a badass George. You made history when you left the school. That’s pretty bad ass.” She snuggled even more against him, curling up slightly as she did. “You’re warm.” The brunette mumbled sleepily.

“Well perhaps you should cut your hair short so that I can mess it up.” George proposed, as he ran the fingers of his free hand through her hair. In truth he loved her long hair, but it was still fun to tease her. She sleepily called him a badass and he chuckled to himself. “I suppose so. Still, maybe I’ll take some hair growth potion tonight just so I have have luscious locks for tomorrow.” He laid back on the bed, pulling her down with him. “And you’re falling asleep.” He commented, giving her a brief kiss atop the head. “Just promise it’s only for tonight this time, okay? No more three-day naps.”

“Just run your fingers through it to mess it up.” She muttered her voice somehow sounding irritated at his even suggesting that she cut her hair. Rachel was barely aware of him pulling her back to lie down, but she already had him to lean against so it didn’t make much of a difference to her. “Tonight.” She mumbled sleepily. “Maybe till midday tomorrow. Promise…..George.” She drifted off, her breathing even and deep as she fell asleep, tired out from her first day back in the land of the living.

According to Rachel :3

Attractiveness:

repulsive || hideous || ugly || not attractive || unappealing || not unattractive || meh || no preference || ok || mildly attractive || nice looking || cute || adorable || attractive || pleasant on the eyes || good looking || hot || sexy || beautiful || gorgeous || hot damn || would tap that || perfect || godlike || holy fuck there are no words

Personality:

grating || irritating || frustrating || boring || confusing at best || awkward || unreasonable || psychotic || disturbing || interesting || engaging || affectionate || aggressive || ambitious || anxious || artistic || bad tempered || bossy || charismatic || appealing || unappealing || creative || courageous || dependable || unreliable || unpredictable || predictable || devious || dim || extroverted || introverted || egotistical || gregarious || fabulous || impulsive || intelligent || sympathetic || talkative || up beat || peaceful || calming || badass || flexible

How likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending || fuck no! || never || no way || not likely || not sure || indifferent || I’m asexual || maybe || probably || it depends || fairly likely || likely || yeah sure || yes || would tap that || hell yes || fuck yes! || wishing that could happen right now || as many times as possible || we are already having sex

Level of Friendship:

never in a million years || worst of enemies || enemies || rivals || indifferent || neutral || acquaintance || friendly toward each other || casual friends || friends || good friends || best friends || fuck buddies || bosom buddies || practically the same person || would die for them || true friends || my only friend ||

First impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

Current impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

How good of a kisser:

Making sure the coat was covering her dress fully, Rachel stepped out of the room, after waving goodbye at Ginny who was still getting ready. She turned on her heel and quickly appeared inside the joke shop. Quickly walking to the counter, the brunette took out the recorder and the cassette with the song already recorded and ready to play. Smiling almost giddily and suppressing her giggles she quickly put in the device, setting it up and leaning over the counter to hide it from view.

With an almost longing and loving glance at the piano that sat in the middle of the shop, and not even bothering to shed her coat, Rachel quickly made her way up the stairs, and for once instead of the loud stomps of her boots the shop echoed with the sound of her heels clicking against the wood, sounding rather elegant, she mused to herself with a small smile. Reaching the small living quarters, Rachel opened the door, peeking inside and finding no one, simply stepped in, closing the door behind her.

She was nearly dozing where she sat, her elbow resting on top of the counter, chin resting on her open palm while her other hand gripped a coffee mug which she had just poured. Who knew that the last minute preparation could get rather hectic? And after dealing with the last minute food preparations, and having fireworks explode in her face on accident, her face was still stinging and had ash from where it had exploded. And making sure the shelves were all stocked and ready to be purchased by the customers they would be getting.

And that only left the matter of the entertainment. Rachel knew she would be performing and had been practicing inside her room at the Leaky Cauldron, after making sure the room was sound proof, because she did not want anyone shouting at her for being loud. Which was also another reason she was a little sleepy. Her elbow slipped and the jerk woke her up, nearly making her slosh her coffee over her hand. But she quickly steadied herself, shaking her head as she took a sip of the warm beverage.