After Effects

[1]

I had never been a clingy person but after the war I found myself to be one of those annoying girls who hung all over the people they were around. I don't know if it was just lingering fear or the fact that during the Final Battle if you lost sight of someone you might have lost them altogether. I wasn't the only one dealing with this, Harry was really no better especially when it came to Ginny, people didn't mind though they expected it from Harry and he was more subtle then I was. Me though, the girl who would swear at people when they asked where I was going? My new found concern for people whereabouts tripped them up and I found myself on the receiving end of many pitying looks.

"Percy, where are you going?" I question feeling a slight feeling of panic as the glasses clad Weasley brother gets up from his seat.
I could hear a few sighs around me as he turns slowly, his eyes looking at me sadly.

"I'm just going to get a book from my room, Lizzie"
I nod, a book was good, if anything happened we would all hear him upstairs, it should only take a few minutes to grab anyway. I feel my breath come easier as a hand is lain on my shoulder, Harry squeezing it reassuringly. I turn to my brother to see him giving me a small smile, which I try to return. Try being the key word.

It had been a few weeks since we had left Hogwarts behind and the majority of our time was spent at the Weasley house, like me, Mrs. Weasley liked to keep a close watch on all of us.
None of us really wanted to be alone just yet.

I watch the stairs for a few more minutes until the third eldest Weasley makes his way back into the living room a large book in his hand. I feel my shoulders relax as he takes a seat back on the couch next to Hermione who was now staring at me with concern.

It was moments like these that I wondered if I was the only one that was feeling this way. While I was alone at Hogwarts for a short few months I had maps. I could see where Neville was, see where Ginny was and anyone who I felt I needed to look after. Here though, everyone was a little less guarded, a little more relaxed. The doors to bedrooms were kept open now and it wasn't uncommon that I would get up in the middle of the night and make a round to all the rooms to make sure everyone was safe in their bed. Like expected not everyone was asleep when I'd walk around but that probably wasn't abnormal, we had just been through a war.

"Exploding Snap?" a voice asks, I look up to see George holding a deck of playing card his other hand outstretched towards me. George was someone I talked to frequently nowadays, when he was up for conversation that was. When I did my rounds at night he was frequently one of the only ones still up. He missed Fred that much was clear and I would sometimes just sit with him in his old bedroom sometimes while he would stare at Fred's bed as if willing his twin to come back.

I understood, I didn't know what I would do if I lost Harry, we weren't as close as Fred and George had been but I understood the feeling of your twin being an extension of yourself.

"Lizzie?" he questions as my eyes follow Ron and Hermione out of the room. I could feel myself tense up again as they disappeared out of the living room and through the kitchen door.

"Uhh" I stall, trying to look around the older boys body. George frowns down at me and takes my hand into his pulling me up off the couch.

"Come on Liz, you really don't want to see them snogging do you?"
"I just…" I sigh, following him over to the small table where the chess set was, a set George carelessly levitated off the table, I bet Ron wouldn't appreciate that later.

"You'll be okay Lizzie, just give it time."

I take a seat and look around the room once more, Ginny and Harry had now moved over to the love-seat where they were talking in hushed voices. Mrs. Weasley knitting in her chair and Percy reading his large book. They were fine, absolutely fine. Physically anyways.

"You need to relax. Out of everyone in the world I never thought I would have to tell you that."

I giggle lightly at this taking the offered cards and setting the necessary ones down.
"I'm just a little on edge still" I admit as he sets down a few cards quickly, some of his already starting to smoke.

"We all are, you've only left the house a few times since you got here. Get out some more, it might help." he suggests. I smile up at George, I appreciated his suggestions when it came from him it didn't sound as pitying or scolding like it did when it came from Hermione or even Harry.

"Thanks, George." I tell him throwing down a few more cards which were beginning to burn a bit around the edges. I hear the click of the door as Ron and Hermione come back in and briefly look over to offer a smile. My body had made no noticeable change this time and I feel my eyes narrow at George.

"You were distracting me" I accuse, he smiles.
"You're welcome," he smirks, "little sister."

I feel myself grin at this, little sister, two words, but they meant so much. It was true, I wasn't okay. I missed Severus, I missed Remus who I never got the chance to say goodbye to, hug even one last time. But I did have a family and with them I could do anything.