The next chapter is here for you! I know it is shorter than most but I hope it is just as good.

Chapter 12 – The Truth

The rest of the train ride was, to say the least, eventful. About half way through the trip we got a wonderful visit from a Dementor which thankfully didn't enter out compartment but I hear it did go into Harry and Ron's which needless to say, wasn't good.

During dinner we were all introduced to our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor and warned that Dementors would be patrolling around the grounds in the case that Sirius Black would turn up (Merlin I hope he wouldn't).

One the way up to the common room George and I split from the rest of the group to have a bit of time alone. It was George's idea and I assumed it was because he wanted to know what really happened on the train. I was right. The moment we were standing alone he turned and asked me.

"Well, as you know, I stayed behind so that I could properly thank your mother for giving me place to stay over the holidays and then when I went to get on the train I was grabbed by Crabbe and Goyle and dragged into a train compartment to see Draco." I told him.

"Malfoy? What did he want?"

"To tell me that he recognised me and that if I didn't do as he said he would tell his father that he knew where I was."

"How does he recognise you? You only came to this school last year."

I drew in a breath. "His father and my father are kind of cousins." I confessed. "Evie and I spent quite a large amount of our childhoods at his house and vice versa. So if his father knows where I am it won't be long before my parents know as well."

"Oh." He paused a moment before speaking again. "So what did he want, if we can get it to him then his father will never find out, hopefully, and then you will be safe."

"It doesn't matter." I said. "I'm not going to give him what he wants." George reached up and stroked my cheek.

"What is it he wants Connie?" His eyes met mine for a long moment before I looked down to the floor.

"He wants me to end my relationship with you." I muttered.

"He wants you to break up with me?!" George exclaimed.

"Yes, But don't worry I'm not going to do it." I tried to reassure him.

"That little shit!" George's hands curled into fists and I reached out to take one of them and smoothed his knuckles hoping that the fist would loosen.

"I'm not going to break up with you." I reassured him but then he said something that took me completely off guard.

"Maybe you should."

"I'm sorry... What?" I dropped his hand and stepped back.

"Maybe you should break up with me." He replied without a hint of joking in his tone. I took another step back so I was leaning against the cold stone wall of the corridor.

"You are joking right." I breathed but George shook his head.

"No, I'm not joking. I don't want to see you taken back to Ireland by your Parents. I want you to be happy and you can't be happy there." His voice was week; I could tell that he no more wanted to do this than I."

"I won't be taken back to Ireland. Dumbledore won't let them." I reassured him. "And I would rather be with you and go through complications than not be with you and not have problems." A small smile made its way to George's lips.

"Really, are you sure?"

I nodded. "Of course I'm sure. You make me the happiest I have been in a long time." His smile grew. I stepped closer again and he embraced me and kissed my hair.

"Love you Connie." He muttered, kissing me again before stepping back and stroking my cheek. At first his gaze was filled with adoration but I couldn't help noticing a slight change after a moment. "Connie, why was your cheek red back on the train?"

I sighed. "Draco ordered Goyle to hit me for speaking out of turn." I confessed. Almost instantly George had his hands held firm on my shoulders.

"He didn't hurt you anywhere else did he?" There was something in his voice that I had never heard before.

"Only emotionally." I sighed, remembering his taunting words about Evie, my hand rose to my locket, an action that didn't go unnoticed by George.

"He didn't?" George growled.

"He did." I replied.

"That is low, even for Malfoy."

"I know... but what can you do?" I asked with intentions of the question being rhetorical.

"I can talk to him." George said turning away.

"No. By talk I can tell you mean threaten or something of the sort." I jumped back in front of him. "That isn't who you are George."

"Connie. He it you."

"He didn't hit me he ordered..."

"I know what he did! You told me, but getting someone else to do it is just as bad." He was practically shouting now.

"George please just leave it." I begged. "It doesn't matter."

"Yes Connie. It does matter and to make things worse he actually taunted you by talking about your sister." I reached forward to take George's fisted hands but he pulled away. "He hurt you, in more ways than one and you expect me to just let him get away with it."

"Yes." I said reaching for his hand again. This time he didn't pull away. "What will threatening him or hurting him accomplish. That is how my parents always dealt with people they didn't like and all it ever did was create more misery. I don't want that. He may be an unpleasant person but believe it or not, I sympathise with him. He had the same upbringing as me; he just doesn't have the strength to fight against it in the same way. Don't give him the satisfaction of showing I'm that he got to you, that is what he wants, or what he thinks he wants."

George let out a sigh. "I guess you are right."

"I am right." I pulled open his now relaxed fists and slipped my hands into his. "Now can we go up to the common room? I am exhausted and could really do with some sleep."

George nodded. "Yes. We can."

"Thank you."

Thank you people for reading and again for the reviews I received on the last chapter.

Next one will be up within a week.

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