XIV

George was fidgeting with his shirt, so nervous for some reason Cassiopeia couldn't quite understand, and the way Mr Weasley, Fred, and Bill were staring at the two of them wasn't normal, nor was Fleur's small but constant smile. It was as if they knew something she didn't, and the feeling wasn't comfortable at all.

Mrs Weasley also looked specially frowny today, and it was adding to her confusion.

"Is everything alright?" she asked her boyfriend.

"Yeah," he quickly answered. "Why do you ask that? Does it look like something is weird? Do I look weird? I'm not weird. We are not weird. You're weird."

Cas just frowned, even more confused, and Bill rolled his eyes just as she turned to him.

"George just had a peculiar dream last night and can't look you in the eye after it," Fred affirmed with a sly smile, taking a fork full of his food. "You don't want to hear about it."

She lowered her eyes, feeling her whole face hot, and Mrs Weasley gave her son an angry slap on the nape of the neck.

"Fred, stop with that," she hissed. "Don't worry, Cassiopeia dear, he's just joking."

"Am I?" her boyfriend's twin asked. "I mean… I'm the one who shared a room with him."

George blushed and everyone else in the table just rolled their eyes or chuckled, while their mother hit her son on the back of his neck again,.

"Don't worry. Cassiopeia," she looked at her once again, this time more reaffirming and in a stronger voice. "Fred is just joking with us."

The rest of dinner was as quiet as it could, and when everyone was done, Mr Weasley was quick to put some music on to try and lighten the mood.

"Do you wanna dance?" George offered a hand to his girlfriend. "Outside."

She tilted her head to the side. He was acting weird, that was definitive.

"Outside?"

He exchanged a look with his father, then looked at his girlfriend once again.

"Outside," he confirmed. "Come on. Let's go."

He guided Cassiopeia outside with a smile and stopped when they reached the garden, where the music still played.

"Come on," he offered her a hand. "It's just a dance."

He gave her a smile, swinging the girl gently to the sound of an artist she could quite name.

"You're acting strange today," she pointed out. "Did anything happen at the store that I don't know?"

George shook his head, giving his girlfriend a shy smile.

"Did you fight with any of your brothers?"

"No," he denied. "We are all okay."

Cassiopeia stared into his eyes, trying to find out what he was possibly trying to hide.

"What is it, then?" she squeezed his hand. "There's something going on."

George blushed, and she had to hold on a smile in response to the red tinting his skin.

"You know I really love you, right?" he questioned, staring into her eyes. "A whole lot."

Cas felt her cheeks flushing warm, and his lips curled in a shy smile.

"You know I… I think you're awesome, I think I always did. And…" he cleared his throat. "Do you remember when we were kids in the first year?"

She nodded.

"Well, I spent the whole first month just staring and drooling over you," he confessed. "And everyone forgot, and for I while I thought I did, but now I know it turns out I didn't."

She chuckled, hiding her face on his neck.

"George..." she half whined. Cassiopeia wasn't good with expressing emotions and just couldn't understand what was going on. "Why are you saying all that?"

He stopped and lowered his hands slowly.

"I…" he struggled and released her hand, patting his pockets. "Well, you see…"

Cas raised her eyebrows, waiting for his answer, and her boyfriend breathed in deep.

"Okay, so," he spoke slowly. "I don't know the future. None of us does and…" he hesitated. "Well… I'm nervous."

She offered him a small smile and reached her hand to comfort him, caressing his cheek.

"I know."

"I'm sorry," he shot her a small smile. "I just don't know what to say."

Cassiopeia waited in silence, and her boyfriend cleared his throat.

"I love you and I want to spend my whole life with you," he finally declared and reached for his pocket, taking something from inside it. "And I want to marry you."

When George opened his hand, her eyes went wide. He was holding a ring inside it.

"What?" she choked out.

He waited in silence while Cassiopeia just continued to stare at him, frozen on her spot.

He wanted to marry her?

George wanted to marry her?

"Yes," she affirmed, feeling calmer now that she knew what he was struggling so much with. "Of course."

George let out a breath that sagged his shoulders, and she offered him her hand, smiling when she felt him slipping the simple ring onto her fourth finger. It wasn't anything big or expensive, but a grey stone that fit her eyes closely, and she knew he had chosen it with his heart.

"Can I get a kiss now?" he asked in an almost embarrassed whisper.

Cassiopeia chuckled.

"Come here," she put her arms over his shoulders and pulled him close.

Her now-fiancé kissed her lips with a smile on his, and held the blonde teen tightly, and was still grinning largely when she pulled away. She then turned her head to the backdoor of the house, where everyone was watching the two.

"It's okay to breathe now, everyone," she shouted. "I already said yes."

Bill, Fred, and Fleur celebrated with large smiles and her future sister-in-law even clapped, and Mr Weasley's face lit up with a huge smile, while Mrs Weasley tried to show happiness in a clear yellow smile.

"We're going to have so much fun picking dresses for you!" Fleur ran to her, taking Cassiopeia from George's arms and giving her a strong and tight hug. "And your wedding theme. Your flowers! I can see you carrying a bouquet of Purple Peonies already!"

Cas tried to keep smiling, a bit afraid of her clear excitement, but she couldn't judge her. These were great news, and not everyone was as discreet as herself when it came to expressing emotions.

"And we could decorate with Morning Glories and purple Hyacinths," she continued. "And we could put some of them on your hair…" she continued. "We could have the bridesmaid holding bouquets of them in their hands. How many bridesmaids do you want?"

Cassiopeia stared at her in silence for a moment, confused.

"Sorry?"

"I imagine that you'll want two of them, Ginny and your cousin Tonks, right? We could have them wearing the same colours but different dresses."

She gave the thought a moment.

"Well, yes," she confirmed. "But… Not just Ginny and Tonks, I would like to have Hermione as a Bridesmaid too, you don't go through a life-changing experience with someone and doesn't give them the proper recognition."

Fleur chuckled and she offered her a small smile.

"And there's you, obviously."

She blushed deeply, and Cas could see Bill smiling at the two of them from where he was animatedly talking to a blushing George.

"Really?"

"Yes, of course," she confirmed like it was obvious. "I'll need a lot of help, though. I know nothing about weddings."

To that, she smiled even larger.

"Let's go upstairs. I have a lot of ideas that didn't make it to my wedding, but are just as beautiful."

Cassiopeia looked at George and gave him a nervous smile, to which her fiancé shrugged.

"Come on," Fleur insisted. "You're going to love everything!"