NOW AND THEN I THINK OF ALL THE TIMES YOU SCREWED ME OVER
BUT HAD ME BELIEVING IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT I'D DONE.
gotye

"These are great seats, love. Angelina is a really good friend. I'm glad you have her." Andrew smiled.

"Yeah, I am. I just wish he wasn't going to be here." Rory shuddered. She was dreading seeing George.

All of their fighting aside, there was something so wrong to worry about seeing his face full of life and color while Fred's was just an apparition. Not that it should've been George who died, just that it shouldn't have been Fred. Her grief was especially bad that day. Quidditch was a sore subject for a multitude of reasons.

Fred was just another thing he shared with Rory when they were together. The late night and early morning practices he made her excited to go to. The endless times they'd cheer each other on. The playful games in his garden when she stayed at his for the summer. The last time she saw Fred at Hogwarts before the war he flew away on his broom. There was an emotional attachment to the sport beyond it being a thing she did for five years of her life.

She also remembered the conversation Andrew and Cordelia were having that night at Aunt Muriel's when Remus came. They were talking about the very first match after the war, if people would want to go at all or if the sport would even come back. Then Remus came and told them all that Aaron was gone. Rory had yet to wipe her father's face that day from her memory.

Rory knew she should've been happy and grateful to have gotten such great tickets to such a hot event. However, she hated being there for her own selfish reasons.

"And are you sure you don't want any snacks before the game?" Andrew asked.

"I'm sure, Dad, but thank you," Rory sighed. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw him. She saw his bright red hair and heard his laughter and for a moment, her heart got excited because that hair and that laugh belonged to Fred. Fred wasn't there though. It was George.

"You'll be alright, Ror," Andrew whispered. Rory nodded and kept her eyes on the pitch. She didn't plan on engaging with him at all. At least, that was her plan.

"Rory!" A perky Scottish voice beamed from beside her. Rory had no choice but to turn her head and see the beautiful woman next to her. Just behind her was George.

"Kirsty! Hello!" Rory smiled. "You look great! How are you?"

Kirsty really did look great. She was wearing a yellow sundress with black sandals, black nail polish, and a black hat with yellow stitching sitting on her blonde curls that said Wimbourne Wasps EST. 1312. She had matched the team colors perfectly yet in the most stunning way. Rory was feeling very plain in her yellow and black striped shirt and denim shorts.

"I'm fantastic, Rory! You look beautiful yourself! I hope everything is well and you're taking care of Hogwarts, yeah?"

Rory nodded. "I start my official first term teaching soon but I couldn't be more excited. What have you been up to?"

"I've been working at the shop for the most part. Nothing much has changed since last time."

"Well as long as you're happy." Rory smiled.

"I am. Are you?"

The brunette rolled her eyes. "As happy as I can be, yeah."

"Hi, Rory!" Verity waved from behind George.

Rory waved back and shot her a polite smile. She always liked Verity and Kirsty and wished they would work under a boss who wasn't a total prick because they deserved better.

Because Rory had such good karma, the stadium was filled suddenly with loud music and an eruption of cheers. The players were being announced and the match was starting. There would be no awkward silence or no looks of death for a while.

When Angelina's name was announced Rory basically strained her voice for the next six months with how loud she screamed. It was such a surreal feeling. Angelina had finally made it. All of her dreams were coming true and Rory was there to witness it. Every early morning practice and all those laps around the Black Lake were worth it for the moment her name was called to the crowd. Everyone was going to watch her play and fall in love with her talent. Rory's heart felt as if it were going to burst with pride.

She had forgotten all about George as she watched her friend score goal after goal. She seemed to be the star of the team. Of course they all had a strong dynamic and worked well together. The Keeper blocked the shots, the Seekers scored, the Beaters kept Bludgers away. The crowd was insane with every cheer. She could tell the world missed Quidditch. It was something people could bond over and something that brought so many people together. Quidditch made the world go 'round.

After about an hour of the Wasps destroying the Appleby Arrows (their long-time rivals), the former's Seeker caught the Snitch, ending the game and securing a final score of 250 to 130 Wasps. Better luck next time, Arrows!

"Cordelia is going to be thrilled that the Arrows lost!" Andrew beamed.

"Fuck the Arrows." Rory nodded.

"Yeah, fuck 'em."

Avoiding George wasn't as hard as Rory thought. She completely forgot he was there, actually.

And it would have stayed that way too if Andrew wasn't so Andrew.

"I forgot to tell you earlier but er... Cory spoke with Angelina yesterday and she's throwing her a bit of a party for after the match and well of course you don't have to go but it might be nice to spend some time with your friends."

If looks could kill, Andrew Harrison would be a dead man.

"You're a shit father sometimes, you know that?" She sighed.

"Trust me, I'm well aware of it. Cory invited everyone else and it was sort of my job to just ask you so... sorry."

Rory just shook her head and said, "Fine."

"You don't have to."

"Well yes actually I do have to because now if I don't it's going to look bad and I haven't got a real reason not to go."

Kirsty looked very happy as she turned to speak to the father-daughter duo.

"Are we still good to come over later? I was so thrilled when Cordelia invited us. I think Angelina is going to love it!"

Andrew nodded. "Still good. How does five sound? It'll give Angelina enough time so she's not rushing."

"Perfect. I'll let George and Ver know."

"Shit father," Rory mumbled sarcastically.

"Well, the apple doesn't fall far, does it?"

Rory went straight to her father's house after the match. Her thought process was that if she didn't go then Angelina would spend all that time with George and Kirsty and Verity and realize they're much more fun to be around than Rory and then she'd ditch Rory for good.

Also, there was the sliver of hope she had that George would apologize.

Her expectations were very low though.

She sat quietly in her parent's living room as they got things ready in the kitchen. Zane had prepared a cake and the McDowell twins arrived slightly early to deliver it. Of course they had to come too because why wouldn't Andrew invite the children of the man who tortured her to his house, right?

Rory wasn't actually mad at her father. She was mad at the world and was taking it out on her father.

"Ror! Can you come in here and watch Emily for a bit?" Andrew called from the kitchen. "I'm going to get the pizza."

"Sure!" She said with false enthusiasm. She got up reluctantly and stepped into the kitchen. Seeing Emily never failed to put at least a little bit of a smile on Rory's face. Her little sister was thrilled to be around her no matter the circumstances. She was so innocent and naive and Rory was envious.

"Hello, Emmy!" Rory smiled. The toddler ran to her with a cheerful grin across her plump cheeks. "Have you made new friends?"

Cleo and Zane, who were in the kitchen setting up, softly chuckled at Rory's comment.

"I wish you were my sister instead, Emily," Zane teased.

Emily giggled, "Daddy said you wore coming over... and... and then I got weawwy happy and then I tolded Cweo that I was sad you wore in the wiving woom but then she tolded me that... that you didn't want to be in the kitchen because there was aweady lots of people in there."

"Yes well I didn't want to get in everyone's way. Mummy told me you got a new color for your walls upstairs? Why don't you show me while Cleo and Zane finish up in the kitchen?"

Emily nodded and grabbed Rory's hand. She began trotting a bit quicker than Rory anticipated and she nearly lost her grip on the child. However once they hit the stairs, Emily was a lot slower since her short legs couldn't quite tackle steps one foot at a time.

Rory smiled nostalgically at the magical images in frames that covered the walls of the stairway. Some of them were Rory when she was very small, Emily's age and younger. Most of them featured Andrew holding her. She recognized her childhood home, but others varied in location. She had recognized others in the pictures like Sirius and Remus, a man who looked strikingly like Harry, a woman with thick bushy curls, and other young people who were most likely all dead now. There were barely any baby pictures of Aaron but tons of Emily. It made Rory feel bittersweet.

"Ro Ro," Emily said as they got to the top of the steps. "I want you to see my bedroom."

"I know, sweetie. I'm very excited to see it."

"Can you sweep over tonight?" Emily asked, pulling Rory down the hallway.

"If you want me to and Mummy and Daddy say it's okay, yeah."

Emily smiled and with excitement, ran into her bedroom, letting go of Rory's hand. Rory shook her head and followed the girl. Her bedroom was now painted a beautiful yellow color. It made Rory want to cry, given the fact that that was the same color as her childhood bedroom. It was refreshing to see though. Emily could have the life Rory always wanted.

"This is my bed and it's a big girl bed and... and then I sweep here and I have a wite because if I go to sweep and it's too dawk then I get weawwy scawed and sometimes Mummy says I have weawwy bad dreams."

Rory bent down to Emily's level and tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "I have bad dreams sometimes too. It's okay, sweetheart. Thank you for showing me your room — do you hear that? I think Daddy's home."

Emily got very excited and began to run downstairs, but of course she slowed down on the actual steps once again. The doorbell began ringing and Rory quickened her pace to answer it. Andrew had probably forgotten his key and his wand which he did often. They were a forgetful family.

Rory reached the bottom of the steps and opened the door, expecting to see her father.

Instead, it was George.

"Oh. Hello," Rory said.

"Are we early?" Kirsty asked. "Ver couldn't make it because she's got pizza night with her gran."

"Not at all." Rory shook her head. "Come on in."

Kirsty stepped in first with George following behind her. Rory closed the door behind them. She took a deep breath and smiled at Emily who was looking up at her.

"Hopefully Daddy will be back soon, yeah?"

Emily nodded eagerly.

"C'mon, why don't you introduce yourself to our guests?"

Emily walked over to Kirsty and George with enthusiasm.

"Hewwo! My name is Emiwy and... and I'm two and a half almost free but my birfday is not until December and Ro Ro's birfday is also is December and then so is Cwistmas and I weawwy wike Cwistmas." She babbled.

"Nice to meet you, Emily. My name is Kirsty and I'm twenty one. My birthday is in May." Kirsty beamed. She seemed genuinely happy to speak to Emily.

George gave a small smile and said. "I'm George. I met you before when you were really little, but you probably don't remember me. You've grown up so much."

"Yeah I know you befowe because I was wif Mummy and Daddy when they wore staying wif your famiwy when I was weawwy wittle. You're Fwed's bwover." Emily said calmly.

Rory, Kirsty, and George exchanged looks that were a mixture of shock and confusion.

"We've never told her about... er... I don't know how she knew that... I'm sorry," Rory whispered. Just then, Andrew opened the front door, accompanied by Cordelia who was out in the garden. Her father had three boxes of pizza in his hands and a smile on his face.

"I made dinner," he joked.

Rory plastered on a semi-normal expression and rushed over to help him. "I'll put these in the kitchen, yeah? Thanks so much, Dad."

Andrew didn't protest as Rory hurried the boxes into the kitchen and placed them on the counter.

"Kirsty and George are here if you want to say hello," she said to the McDowell twins before quickly exiting the kitchen.

"Angelina should be here any minute now," Cordelia said excitedly. "She deserves all this and more after how she played today."

Rory nodded, but internally she was fighting the thoughts that said Oh yes, I'm sure Cordelia wishes Angelina was her daughter instead of you.

There was a knock on the door and Cordelia clapped and squealed slightly. She opened the door and low and behold, there was Angelina on the other side looking drained yet joyful.

"Hello! Thank you so much for having me over. This is too kind. Sorry if I'm late, I was seeing my parents off since they're travelling for a bit soon. Hi, Emily!"

"Angaweena!" Emily said, waving her hand around frantically.

Andrew chuckled softly. "The pizza is hot and fresh. Why don't we dig in and chat over dinner?"

"Sounds lovely," Angelina nodded.

So, the group headed into the kitchen and served themselves before assembling in the dining room. Andrew got everyone drinks and cut up Emily's pizza into smaller bits.

Rory was anxious to be sitting so close to George. It made her angry that something that used to be so natural was now making her feel sick. She didn't want to fight with George forever but it was so hard to just forgive and forget.

The dinner chatter was stale and Rory barely participated. She was pretty sure if she had gotten up and left, no one would have noticed she was gone. It was typically how she felt in groups most of the time though.

After dinner and cake, Andrew and Cory stayed inside to get Emily ready for bed while the young crowd went to the garden and got a bonfire started.

"Are you feeling alright, Ror? You didn't say more than two words all night," Angelina asked with concern.

Rory shrugged. "I'm fine. It's just sort of strange being around George."

As she said that, George appeared behind her and tapped her shoulder. She turned around and felt nauseous.

"Can I pull you for a chat?" He asked.

Rory nodded and followed him away from everyone else.

"How are you?" He asked quietly.

"Fine. You?"

He shrugged, "I'm alright. Listen, I've done a lot of thinking since I knew I'd be seeing you and I just want to say... I forgive you."

Rory scoffed. "For...?"

"For abandoning me," he replied without a trace of humor.

"Excuse me? Is that how you see it? I just got up and left you for dust one day?"

He nodded, confused at her reaction to it all. "I mean, yeah. Pretty much."

"This -T- This is ridiculous. Wow. You are so bold, George Weasley. Did that blow to the ear affect your brain as well? I mean, really. You treated me like dogshit, practically gave me no choice but to move out... yet I'm the bad guy." She spat, her voice getting louder.

"I wasn't in a good place — "

"And you think I was? I needed you, George. You have no idea how I felt when I read Marina's letters and instead of being there for me you belittled me to the point where I was willing to give up everything. I hate you for what you did. How dare you say that I abandoned you."

"You chose to leave. I didn't force you to do anything!"

"Hey!" Angelina's voice interrupted. She had approached them while the other three guests stayed at the fire, yet watched the whole thing from afar. "What is going on over here?"

"George was just telling me that he forgives me for 'abandoning' him. He needed his ticket to heaven, I suppose." Rory explained harshly.

Angelina took a deep breath as if she were attempting to stay calm.

George began to explain himself. "Angie, you know I'm just being honest — "

"Will you shut up! Both of you please just shut up!" Angelina shouted. Her words were like molten lava after erupting from the oldest volcano on Earth. They were hot and impatient, but cathartic. "I am so sick of this. For two years I've had to be the middleman while the two of you acted like children about one another. You're both the most selfish people I have ever met. You act like the war only affected the two of you and everyone else is supposed to shape their lives to suit you. Well guess what? People I loved died too. I had to go back to my flat the night Marina died and have her not be there. She was my best friend and it is so fucked up that neither of you took a moment to ask me how I was grieving or if I was okay while I poured my heart and soul into being there for the both of you."

Angelina began crying, something Rory hadn't witnessed many times from her. Angelina was usually the "strong" one. She had kept Rory afloat for so many years, but at what cost? Had being there for Rory really drained Angelina so much? Rory had no idea that she had been such a shit friend.

"Angelina, I — " Rory began, but was cut off.

"I'm not finished." Angelina sniffled. "I have been waiting my whole entire life for today and you've spoiled it. George, you said some nasty things to Rory and Rory, you said some nasty things to George. Neither of you were in a state of mind to be so dependent on each other after everything you went through. It's been two years... Please just apologize to each other. Do you think Fred would want you two to be fighting? What about Marina? You were their favorite people and I just know that if they knew how you've been acting they'd be just as hurt as I am."

"Is it really just that simple, Angelina?" George asked.

"Yes," Rory sighed. "It is. George... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have walked out on you when you were so vulnerable."

"Okay." He nodded. "I'm sorry too. I was horrible to you."

Angelina hiccupped slightly. "See? You apologized and the world didn't explode. Who would've thought?"

Rory gave George a weak smile and apologized to Angelina for everything. She knew it was not going to be that simple to let George back in her life as he used to be, but it was a step in the right direction.

However, Rory still felt a very heavy weight on her chest. It appeared that making up with George did not absolve her pain.

a/n

rory and george are both fire signs can you tell?