tania_sings

Title: Light up the Sky
Character Pairing: George/Gabrielle (romance coming in later installments)
Prompt: free fall
Rating: G
Word Count: 1185
Summary: A celebration and a crime
Disclaimer: Decidely unmine
Author's Notes: Part deux



They had originally planned to do this two days ago, but the arrival of little Victoire had made that impossible. So George and Gabrielle violated bylaw 414c (no entry to a graveyard beyond the designated visiting hours) on May 4 instead.

"So, what did you think?"

"I think you should be quieter."

George jumped from the fence, landing with a splash in a mud puddle. Gabrielle smirked and alighted a few feet down, high and dry.

"I'm serious."

"So am I. For someone who's supposedly good at sneaking into places, you're surpisingly loud about it."

George shrugged. It wasn't like they came here to be quiet.

"Victoire is a baby. They cry. They drink. They shit."

"She's adorable!"

"She's cute. I said that at the hospital."

She had. From the doorway. Before yawning and asking George to take her home.

He retrieved the bag that they'd pitched over the fence from a mud puddle all of its own. It was sopping wet. No matter.

"Why are you so hard on Fleur, anyway? She says you two used to be inseparable. Like best friends."

"We were. Back when she was a real girl, and not a Stepford woman."

"Stepford wife."

"Even worse. Are we doing this, or do you want to play twenty questions?"

Fleur had broken down over the breakfast dishes, sobbing that she didn't know what to do about Gabrielle and begging George to talk to her. He had protested that she wouldn't listen to him but he knew that wasn't quite true. He was actually the only member of the family she might actually listen to.

Then again she might not. And for some reason, that would hurt. Better not to risk it.

"We're doing it. It's over by the back."

They hiked through the long grass, mosquitoes buzzing around their feet. Gabrielle swore under her breath, smashing as many as she could between her palms.

"Disgusting place. Promise me when I die you won't let me be buried here. Cremate me or something. Have a bonfire."

He had actually fought against Fred being buried here. Despite growing up in the country, Fred had been a city boy at heart. London would have been far more his style. But Arthur and Molly had wanted him close, and George hadn't had the heart to keep arguing. Besides, it wasn't like Fred was going to complain.

"I'll probably be long dead by the time you finally kick off. A baby like you. You'll probably be making my funeral arrangements."

Gabrielle nodded sagely.

"From my chateaux in Avignon, where I live with my husband the Compte."

"But of course, Madame la Comptesse. And your rugby squad of little blonde cherubs."

Gabrielle shuddered.

"Don't even joke."

She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, a gesture which, coming from an unnaturally mature teenage Veela that he had begun to suspect had a towering crush on him, should have set off all kinds of alarm bells. Instead, it reminded him of strolling arm and arm with Fred through this very cemetary.

Maybe this was the right place for him after all.

They arrived at the stone and George lit the tip of his wand. Gabby knelt in the grass.

"Mischief Managed ... I like it."

"Thought you might."

George began unpacking the bag, jamming the tips of metal rods into the ground around the grave. Gabrielle made no move to help, seemingly fascinated with the headstone.

"Bonjour, Fred. I'm Gabrielle. I'm George's partner in crime."

She was what now?

He winced instictively at the thought of Fred hearing that. Silly, he knew. But he imagined it would sting.

"He's been up to all kinds of trouble, things you couldn't imagine. Or maybe you could, from what I hear. Last week we posted a dozen Nifflers to Gringotts. It's been closed for three days."

George smiled at the memory. It was his little revenge for the probbity probe up the arse that he'd had to endure every time he made a deposit during the war.

"Bill asked how we could be so irresponsible. George told him we put plenty of food in with them, and poked holes in the box besides."

Okay, Fred would love hearing that. No harm done.

"We're ready, Gabby. You sure you're up for this."

"I'm sure. George?"

"Yeah."

"You were very close, weren't you? Closer than most brothers?"

He had avoided telling Gabrielle about his relationship with Fred, focussing instead on the stories he knew she'd enjoy. She knew all about the tricks, sneaking into Hogsmeade, leaving Hogwarts in a blaze of glory. He hadn't told her about the aching hole his brother's death had left inside himself, about how he doubted he'd ever be whole again. He hadn't even allowed himself to think that too much yet.

"Yes ... we ... yes, we were close. Gabby ... can I tell you about it tomorrow? We need to do this and get out of here."

"Tomorrow, then. And tomorrow ..."

She bit her lip.

"I can take you back to the hospital tomorrow if you like."

She nodded.

"Merci. Okay, let's do this".

He extended the book of matches to Gabrielle, but she shook her head, gesturing at him to proceed. He struck one, and touched fire to the fuse.

In an instant, the sky was full of light and colours. Blues and pinks, greens and golds, exploded overhead. Dragons made of sparks roared in the sky overhead and loud booms shattered the silent night.

Unthinking, George took Gabrielle's hand and they watched the lights die out, the last embers falling to Earth in a shower of tiny flames. Amazing how they burned so brightly, but lasted such a short time.

He felt moisture running down his face and discovered he was crying. Belatedly, he realised he hadn't done that yet. A year and two days, and he hadn't cried for Fred. A year and two days worth of tears falling to the ground along with the spent ashes.

"George?"

"Thanks for being here."

She nodded, and stood on tiptoe to kiss him on his wet cheek. When he felt her skin against his, he realised she was crying too.

"I wouldn't have missed it. But George...

"Yeah?"

"I think we should run."

Still hand in hand, laughing and crying all at once, the pair of them dashed towards the nearest fence as the sound of sirens filled the air.