"How are you feeling?" Harry and I sat away from the rest of their friends the Friday night before the quidditch game between Gryffindor and Slytherin. The boy had been sitting on his own, looking down when I had entered the common room with the twins. I waved them off to the others and sat with the younger boy.

"Fine, I guess." He answered dully, scratching at his forehead. "I don't know, just a little – stressed." I gave a nod in understanding. How could he not be? What with everything that has been happening. I wish that I could protect him from it all. From everything bad. It's impossible, I know, but it doesn't stop me from wishing an easier life for Harry.

For myself.

"Are you worried about tomorrow? You haven't been as lively as you normally are during practices." As much as I feel awkward being on the team, I'm glad I can be a backup for Harry should he not feel like he can play. He shrugged in response.

"They have better brooms than us… And you know how Wood has been pushing us. I just want to win." His head hung as he picked at the edges of the table we sat at. I placed a hand over one of his own, drawing his attention to me.

"And we will," I gave him a reassuring smile, "We have an excellent seeker, way better than Slytherin's." Harry gave me a weak smile. I grinned back, patting his shoulder. "And – if you change your mind about playing – I can always step in for you."

He chuckled and shook his head, "No, I can do this. Thanks, Will."

I ruffled his hair with a laugh and stood from my chair. "Anytime you need to talk, I'm always here to listen. Maybe give advice if that's what you need, too." He grinned and stood with me, trying to smooth his hair. There was still a shadow in his eyes, but his nerves went deeper than just a simple quidditch game. I knew he and his two friends were up to something, from all the whispers they share and the fact that Hermione had been asking me about where to find different ingredients for potions. Most potion ingredients were monitored by Snape and you need permission to take some. And he almost always said no. She knew that. It had been too suspicious. I figured I'd let them do what they please and only step in if things got too hairy.

Knowing them, it probably would.

We had rejoined our friends, letting their banter and laughter help us forget the deeper worries of our minds. George had pulled me onto the couch with him, not even looking away from Lee as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and held me to his side. I smiled wistfully, listening to the twins and Lee argue about the best brand of fireworks. Angie, Katie, and Ali were all talking about the game tomorrow. It should always be this simple. We're kids for Godric's sake. We shouldn't have murderous wizards coming after us… I sighed heavily and rested my head on George's shoulder. Not much can be done about it now so there's no point in fussing.

George looked down at me and kissed my forehead. "Doing okay, love?" Just as I promised to be Harry's confidant, George would always be mine. I smiled and nodded, playing with his fingers on his free hand.

"I will be."

I sat nervously on the reserves' bench. Harry had walked into the Great Hall for breakfast this morning looking as he had the previous night. Like all his anxieties had returned tenfold. He barely registered when people would clap him on the back and wish him luck. I offered for him to tap out one last time, but he insisted that he was fine. I nodded and followed the rest of the team to the pitch.

The weather was dismal and didn't hold much promise for this match. The clouds were heavy with rain and I could smell the lightning in the air. This game wasn't going to be a good one, I can feel it.

As the rain started to slowly putter down, the two teams hovered in the air as Madam Hooch stood below them, ready to release the Quaffle. Once it was, the chasers surged for the ball. The rest of the balls were released and the game was in full play. Harry drifted above; eyes peeled for the snitch. Malfoy was already taunting him.

A gasp left my throat and my hands flew up to cover it as a bludger whizzed past his head. George was immediately there, redirecting the bludger. But not for long. It cut through the rain and jetted for the boy again. My brows furrowed and I sat forward in my seat. Why was this bludger fixated on Harry? Over and over again, no matter how many times one of the twins hit it away, that bludger just returned for more. Fred and George flanked Harry, trying desperately to defend him.

As the three were occupied with the rogue bludger, Slytherin continued to score on us. I grit my teeth; someone did this on purpose. A whistle sounded in the air at Wood's signal to Madam Hooch. The three of them crashed to the muddy ground, narrowly avoiding the bludger once more.

The team huddled and I wished I could have been down there. Over the sound of rain and boos from the Slytherins, I couldn't hear a thing. Oliver looked angry as he questioned the twins, mostly glaring at George. George, too, looked annoyed, gesturing to Harry and out to the pitch. My leg bounced nervously as Madam Hooch made her way to them. Harry, the twins, and Oliver argued more fervently, glancing over at her. Trying to resolve this before she reached them. Alicia seemed to try and intervene, even pointing up at me; Harry shook his head violently. Fred looked up at me and I raised my hands in question. George was yelling, pointing aggressively at Oliver. And Madam Hooch finally reached them. What is happening?

Oliver glared back at the twins, giving out orders and they were back on their brooms. I gnawed at my lip, not enjoying not knowing what was going on. What about the bludger? The game resumed and Harry was back to dodging the vicious ball. The twins had backed off, but they didn't look pleased as they flew nearby. As Harry spun out of the away of the bludger, laughs rose from the Slytherins that had me gripping my wand. Malfoy also was laughing, taunting Harry when he lost the bludger for a second. Even from where I sat, I could see the golden gleam of the snitch just above Malfoy's shoulder. Who should be laughing?

Apparently the bludger. I screamed as it slammed into Harry, making him spin and nearly fall of his broom. His arm hanging limp at his side. In a dizzy stupor, Harry speed toward the snitch, and to Malfoy, it probably looked like Harry was coming for him. But the young Gryffindor's finger wrapped around the snitch. No one was celebrating, though. He had come in too fast and too steep and couldn't pull up with a bum arm and the snitch grasped in the other hand. I was out of my seat and running for the pitch before he even hit the ground.

He was unconscious when I got to him, Lockhart and a crowd not too far behind. "Harry!" I dropped to my knees beside him, scanning him for wounds besides the obviously broken arm. His eyes fluttered when he tried to focus on at least one of us.

"Willow…" He croaked, eyes rolling in his head.

"Don't worry, I can handle this!" Lockhart announced to the crowd, a glimmer seeming to flash in his too-white teeth. I rolled my eyes, ready to rebuke him, and take Harry to the Hospital wing.

"No, not you…" Harry groaned in his haze. Lockhart merely laughed and waved him off.

"Poor boy doesn't know what he's saying." He pulled his wand from his ostentatious robes with a flourish. "Don't worry, Harry, I'm going to fix your arm!"

Harry protested at the same time I did. "Professor, I think Madam Pomfrey should handle this." I held a hand over Harry's arm. Harry's arm is already messed up, we don't need to be carting him to the Hospital with anything more than this.

"Nonsense! It's a simple charm I've done countless times!" He brandished his wand now. I was about to block him when Oliver stepped in, an overly pleased grin on his face. I narrowed my red eyes at him.

"He should really, Professor," he said – referring to the hospital wing. But that was where the concern stopped. I grit my teeth as he continued. "Great capture, Harry, really spectacular, you're best yet, I'd say –"

"Oh, shut up, Wood! His best? His arm is bloody broken because you failed to care about the bloody bludger trying to kill him! You are so far up your ars-" I was cut off by Lockhart ordering us all to stand back. "No, Professor!"

Too late.

"I can't believe him. He doesn't care at all about Harry!" I ranted, pacing in front of the fireplace after everyone had gone to bed. Except for George. He sat on the couch in front of the fire, watching me pace with a small smile on his face.

"Who? Lockhart or Wood?"

"Both!" I tossed my hands up in defeat. Neither male cared for Harry's wellbeing. "They only used him for their gain. Lockhart to make himself look like the hero, once again. And Oliver to win the quidditch cup for once. How could either of them put him in danger like this, I swear I'm going to-"

George stood and wrapped his arms around me, stopping me from wearing a hole into the floor. He rubbed my back soothingly, pressing his cheek to the top of my head. "I know you're mad, but Harry's got all of us to watch him. Especially you." I sighed and planted my forehead on his chest, letting my arms dangle defeatedly at my sides. "But he also has to do things on his own. What I mean is, you can't always protect him because he's got to learn how to protect himself, right?"

My energy suddenly dropping and all I wanted was to cry. My anger wasn't even from today's incident. I'm still pissed as hell at the two men, but it's more than that… "I know… It's just easier said than done. I've lost too many people and I just got him back a year ago and I don't want him to disappear." I took a shaky breath in, tears filling my eyes. All I could do was grip George's jumper and hide my face in his chest. "And I feel like it's not ever enough… Like I'm not strong enough… Something is always after him and I don't know how to stop it. I just want it to stop."

The tears were flowing in hot streams down my face and onto his jumper. He didn't say anything, just held me tighter with his nose buried in my hair. He had one hand on my back, rubbing circles. The other took one of mine and held it reassuringly. It was like a tap had been opened and wouldn't close. I'm sure there was a huge wet spot on George's jumper now, but he just hugged me close. My throat burned and my chest clenched painfully.

In the corner of the room, a grandfather clock chimed. Midnight. I sniffled, finally coming down. Stepping back from George, I wiped my eyes with my sleeves. "Thanks, Georgie. I feel much better."

"Anything for you… Really." My lips turned up in a small smile as I looked up at him. He grinned back, a faraway look in his eyes. "Hey, Will?" My heart skipped when he grabbed my hand, his skin was rough from holding quidditch bats. The look in his eyes made my insides feel like pudding. I truly felt safe with him, I always had. Besides Fred, he was the only one to stick with me through everything. And the only time he hadn't, it was through the interference of a sad, lonely girl.

"Yeah?" I was glad for the dim lighting in the room and the orange glow of the fireplace, otherwise, I couldn't excuse the red color my face was sure to be. He was quiet for a moment, his eyes flicking over my face, filling me with a warmth like I was wrapped in a blanket. Something flickered through his eyes but was gone before I could make out what it was. My smile widened as a wicked grin broke out on his face.

"Wanna prank Filch?"

I could kiss him. Really, I could. He always knows the best ways to distract me and remind me that it's okay to be a kid. I smirked and nodded.

"I thought you'd never ask."

Looking at the pure giddiness and mischief on his face made it feel like Lumos was cast in my brain.

I love him. I love George Weasley.