《End of the Tunnel》V
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Hannah had never been so nervous. She was wringing her hands, wearing a whole in their kitchen floor as she waited for George to be ready. She smoothed her dress for the thousandth time and glanced at her reflection in the microwave. Nothing was out of place, except for her, she was going to be ridiculously out of place.
"Ready to go?" he asked coming out of the bathroom. Hannah whirled around, terror written across every inch of her face. "Are you alright," he all but laughed, rushing to her side.
"No," she gasped, "They're going to hate me."
"No one is going to hate you, in fact my dad might want to adopt you the moment you meet," he laughed but she wasn't convinced. "Hannah, I'm telling you, it'll be fine. You've been wizards before."
"Not your family."
"You know Ron and Hermione; they'll both be there." That settled her nerves a bit, but she was still shaking from head to toe. He rubbed her shoulder before kissing her forehead. "Shall we go?"
"Fine, but if they hate me you must promise you won't abandon me."
"They're not going to hate you, and I most certainly am not going to abandon you." She sighed and he took her hand. "You look lovely by the way, I love this dress," he said twirling her around a bit to calm her nerves, admiring the red skirt of the dress that flowed away from her waist.
"Thank you," she laughed when he caught her in his arms.
"Ready?" She nodded and with a quick wink he apparated the pair to just outside the Burrow.
Her eyes were wide with delight at the sight, and all the little creatures running around the garden.
"It's magnificent! Even if they hate me I might have to sneak back," she gasped and he rolled his eyes.
"They're not going to hate you," he reminded her once more, but she wasn't having it. She simply shooed him away and took another deep breath.
"Lead the way," she finally managed to say, and he did so, hand on the small of her back. He pushed open the door and chaos ensued. Twelve people were darting around the kitchen, two of them no more than tiny children held in the arms of their keepers. When the door closed another wave of anxiety washed over her. Twelve very capable wizards were dancing around this kitchen and she was nothing but an insignificant spot in their room.
"Hannah," Hermione called over the masses, rushing towards her. The moment she was in Hermione's hands, George disappeared into the kitchen. "I didn't know you were coming to dinner, I would have insisted we apparate together."
"I'm just glad you're here," Hannah said breathlessly, looking around at the small room. "It's a bit much."
"Oh yes. It's a large crowd for your first day. Almost everyone decided to show up. I think just Fleur is missing. I wasn't even aware George was coming today, it's been ages since we've seen him around here."
"Oh."
"Shall I show you around?" Hannah almost dropped with relief.
"Yes, please, before we have to sit down," she managed to stutter, and Hermione offered her a soft smile before drawing her into the crowd.
"Charlie, this is Hannah," Hermione began before assuring her that Charlie was certainly the most relaxed of the bunch.
"Nice t' meet yah."
"You too, Charlie."
"How'd they manage to get yah in here on this fine Sunday morning?"
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"She's George's."
"Really? And how'd yah meet?"
"My bar actually."
"Not school?"
"Unless he was secretly attending muggle school, I don't think so," she laughed, trying to slip the fact into the conversation as naturally as she could. She just wanted to see how he would react.
"I wouldn't put it past him," he laughed and Hannah breathed a sigh of relief as Hermione dragged her away, towards another corner where Ginny and Harry were laughing between themselves.
"And this Harry and Ginny, they're deeply in love," Hermione informed her just out of earshot.
"Hermione," Harry greeted before flanking at the girl standing at her side, "And you must be Hannah. Ron and Hermione mentioned you last week at lunch. How are you and George doing?"
"Uh, uh, we're good. I didn't know anyone knew," Hannah managed to say.
"Oh, you know Ronald, he can't keep anything to himself," Ginny laughed, "Honestly, I'm glad George found someone, he just seemed so sad."
"Well, I don't fix that," Hannah whispered, glancing at George was having a solemn conversation with another one of his brothers.
"Yes, you do," Ginny said, "He wouldn't even think about coming on Sunday's before you, the last time was... a nightmare."
"Oh, what happened?" Hannah asked but the group grew quiet.
"Just know Sunday dinner didn't happen the next week. It was-."
"Supper time," the woman at the center of it all announced and Hannah darted towards George as quickly as she could, not wanting to get sat by some stranger who was going to question her about every little thing. She grabbed his hand through the crowd, and he pulled her to his side, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"How goes it?" he whispered, and she shrugged.
"They haven't thrown me out yet."
"And they won't." Hannah rolled her eyes before sitting beside him, sliding her chair as close to George's as she could.
"Relax, it's just family dinner."
"What happened at the last one you went to?" she asked softly and he tensed.
"Let's not talk about it," he replied gruffly and she nodded, setting a small reminder for herself to bug him later. Eventually the group settled around the table, not quite silent but certainly more contained than before. It was a large table, the largest one she had ever sat at and they all looked so warm, at least to one another. He took her hand beneath the table and she leaned in. It was that moment that his mother took notice of the uncommon couple.
"George," she gasped staring with wide eyes at the pair, "Who is this?"
"I'd like you to meet Hannah." All eyes turned to her and she wished the chair would swallow her up. She offered a small wave.
"Oh, I didn't know you were seeing anyone? Were you in the same year at school?" she asked and like an angel sent from above, Charlie interrupted her.
"Mum, interrogate them later, I'm starving," he said and if she hadn't been dating George she would have kissed him, right there. Their mum narrowed her eyes but returned her eyes to the food. Simultaneously, the two looked at Charlie and offered him grateful smiles.
The food was delicious. She had never eaten anything so wonderful, except of course her own mother's. It was cooked with love and tenderness and she could feel it in every bite.
"So, Hannah, how is business?" Hermione, who had thankfully sat on the other side of her, asked.
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"Awesome actually, the wizarding side of business has definitely increased since the war and George putting up the flyer really help."
"That's amazing."
"Yes, it is. You should come by sometime, and Ron, of course."
"Where do you work?" his mum asked from across the table.
"I own a bar, along the edge of London."
"Oh? And how old are you?"
"Mum!" George snapped but Hannah ran her hand along his thigh.
"Nineteen, twenty in June, Mrs. Weasley."
"Molly, and that seems a but young to own a bar."
"It was inherited. Tragically, during your war."
"Our war?"
"I guess it can be mine too, seeing as we were all affected by it, even us muggles," she said, choking softly on the word. The table seemed to grow quieter, almost deathly silent at the proclamation.
"I didn't know you were a muggle."
"Since birth."
"Well, Dad, make sure you talk this one," Bill called to his father and Arthur glanced up from his meal, a quizzical look on his face.
"Huh?" The table burst into laughter and Hannah eased into relaxation.
The rest of the evening had all gone by in a blur. Hannah had met the whole family, a couple times over, and promised Arthur she would answer everyone of his questions. Molly had interrogated them, just as promised. She was forced to answer everything from her favorite subject in school, to her favorite color, to the size of her own family. At the end of the day it hadn't been nearly as awful as she had predicted.
But now it was George's turn to be nervous.
"I'm a wizard, Hannah, Merlin's beard they're going to be shocked."
"Weren't you just telling me last week that there wasn't anything to worry about?" she laughed, their arms linked together as they walked down the street. "They've met wizards before."
"But you've never dated one before," he yelled before turning to her quickly, "Right?"
"No, I've never dated one before you, but I do have other friends, speaking of we've been invited to lunch on Wednesday with a wizard friend of mine and his girlfriend."
"Yes, yes, that's fine, it's today that I'm worried about." Hannah rolled her eyes.
"If anything you can take comfort in the fact that my dad can't curse you if he doesn't like you. Anyhow, it's my brother you need to impress."
"Not helpful," he said through clenched teeth and she laughed again, coming to a stop in front of a rather large house. "And of course, you're rich."
"What?"
"You're rich, didn't think to mention that before we got here?"
"I was testing you, to see if you're a gold digger," she joked and he elbowed her.
"Not funny, what fork am I supposed to use?"
"The one by the plate..." He groaned but she took his hands in hers, staring up at him with understanding eyes. "George, look at me, you're going to be fine. I love you, and therefore, they'll love you." With that she knocked on the door, sending him a comforting smile.
The door swung open and a blonde woman beamed at them.
"Hannah's here," she called, pulling the girl into her arms.
"Caroline!" Hannah greeted, returning the hug full heartedly.
"And who is this?" she asked, eyes running over George with a smirk.
"George, meet Caroline, my baby sister."
"Baby, please, a year does not constitute baby. Please, come in." The couple stepped through the threshold and George couldn't help but stare at the large paintings and enormous chandeliers. Another couple came out of the dining room and George's stomach churned once again. They were dressed very nicely, and suddenly his nicest pair of slacks didn't feel nice at all.
"Hannah," the woman gasped, pulling her daughter into her arms before turning to George and offering him the same warm welcome. He was surprised to be completely honest, but he awkwardly returned it before shaking her father's hand.
"Where's Henry?" Hannah asked peering around.
"He'll be in a bit later. Now George, I hope you don't mind but we've forgone the dining room for the patio, if that's alright with you?"
"Oh of course, Mrs. Gladdis."
"Do hear that, Mrs. Gladdis, call me Diana, and this my husband, Peter."
"It's nice to meet you both," he managed as Diana dragged both him and Hannah through another grand hall and into the backyard. Fairy lights were hung on every banister and burgers were grilling in the corner. It smelled divine, but he was mostly glad that he was outside.
He answered question after question, mostly from Caroline and Mrs. Gladdis, while he endured an interested stare from her father. It was going smoothly, or as smooth as meeting the parents could, until the front door slammed shut again.
"Honey, I'm home," came a call from the kitchen and suddenly Hannah was gone, running towards the voice. George almost stood to follow but Caroline held him to his chair.
"Henry," she cried, not even stopping when she rammed her shoulder into a pillar.
"I wouldn't risk it, she's his absolute pet and I wouldn't get in the way of their reunion," she said with an eye roll. "I mean, impressing my dad is nothing compared to Henry."
"Oh, why's that?" he asked nervously.
"Well, let's just say dad never beat up on her boyfriends that didn't pass." George swallowed, and then again when they walked in together. Henry had taken after her father. While George was a bit taller, he certainly wasn't as broad.
"Henry, you must meet George," she gushed, dragging him towards the table. George stood, shaking his hand as he went. His grip was tight but friendly, it seemed he would not meet the same fate as the boys Caroline had mentioned quite yet.
"Pleasure, to meet you Henry."
"The pleasure's all mine, Hannah's told me a lot about you."
"Hopefully good things," he chuckled nervously and Henry gave him smirk that spoke in volumes, they would talk later, when he could be properly threatened. Hannah watched the exchange, eyes wide before she leapt from Henry's side to George's. Henry seemed a bit surprised, but his smile was suddenly softer.
"Of course. Now, mum, shall we eat?"
Dinner proceeded without many incidents. Henry only caught their hands clasped beneath the table, and after a swift kick from Hannah, he left the matter alone. It was the moments after dinner and the friendly laughter, when the women went inside to clean up that George set up his guard.
"She's absolutely smitten with you," her father said and George nodded.
"And I with her."
"That's good, that's good," he said before following his wife into the kitchen. Now, it was just him and Henry.
"She is smitten. And you make her happy."
"I hope so, she makes me happy."
"I just hope it stays that way."
"Me too."
"Yes, for both of your sake, I hope it does. I love Hannah, and I would do anything to keep her safe. And the fact you're a wizard means nothing to me." George nearly choked.
"You know?"
"Of course, I told you she told me about you. We all know, it's just not that big of a concern. My only concern is her happiness, and as I said before, for now, that's you." George swallowed nervously, prepared to kiss Hannah right there when she came back onto the patio and sat close to him, smiling warmly.
The rest of the night went of without a hitch and it wasn't until later that night, as they were climbing into bed that George's mind finally relaxed enough to remember their supposed double date later that week.
"Hey Hannah?"
"Hmm?"
"Who's that wizard friend of yours, I might know him."
"You did go to school together; he was a couple years younger though I think. Draco Malfoy."
"Oh," he said before closing his eyes, pulling him close. It was only a few seconds later that the name registered and he shot up, startling Hannah in the process. "What!"
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