Chapter 53: VII
"It was very embarrassing," George said, blushing slightly with his head resting on Cassiopeia's lap. "Your Uncle retold me everything I tried to not remember from McGonagall's special classes that week."
She felt her face warming up. She remembered the week of 'special' classes she had once she reached both her second and third year. The first – on her earlier ear – was directly focused on girls and the blond had had to hear about how her body would change and she'd start having her period from a very tired Madam Pomfrey, who was clearly done with the all-female class of 12-13-year-olds giggling about the basic information about the male puberty.
The following year, however, wasn't so private. Snape had had the whole third year of Slytherin in his classroom and explained not only what 'intercourse' was, but also the mechanics of it, how it led to conception and how to avoid said conception with spells and potions that the students would end up learning at their sixth and seventh years. As embarrassing as it was, though, she now thought of it as a good approach to the subject.
"Who taught you in the first class?" Cas asked.
George thought in silence for a moment.
"I think it was Madam Pomfrey. She looked very…" he looked for words.
"Done?" his girlfriend suggested.
"Very done. Everyone was laughing or making 'ew' noises… And after 3rd it was only worse. Did you get those?"
She nodded.
"Snape had to explain what consent was to us," she told him. "And contraceptives. I mean…" the girl made a face, cringing at the sole memory. "It can't get worse than that."
Her boyfriend nodded, mirroring her expression on his own face.
"And then dad came to talk to us and it was so much worse," he whined. "He couldn't even talk! It was me, Fred and Ron in the living room, he'd done the talking with Percy, Bill, and Charlie before and I don't think it was much easier."
Cassiopeia laughed. Her mother had a similar conversation with her, but it was a bit different. She just said how things worked mechanically and how she had the right to reject any advances that made her uncomfortable. She never mentioned potions or spells, and was adamant that her daughter was only supposed to be intimate after wedding a proper man, and only then.
When a thought crossed her mind, the girl bit her lower lip, feeling her face warming up once again.
"Do you… uh… I mean…" she cleared her throat. "Ever think…?"
George blushed so much that Cas thought he'd disappear in all the blood on his face, ears and neck.
"Once…" he choked the word out. "Or… Twice. But not if you're not ready we… uh…"
"We're very young," she decided, feeling her neck burning hot. "We have a lot of time."
Her boyfriend just confirmed.
"Yeah. We've been together for such a short time."
She nodded.
"No need to rush."
They fell into silence after that, both clearly embarrassed. Cassiopeia couldn't say she hadn't thought of getting closer to George in that sense, but she didn't feel close to ready. It could change everything in their relationship and she couldn't begin to imagine how.
The young woman took a long breath, throwing her head back and feeling the wind on her face. When she opened her eyes, her boyfriend was staring at her with a foolish smile.
"What?" she frowned.
"You're beautiful," he put himself on his elbows. "Have I ever mentioned that?"
She felt her cheeks warming up in response.
"Sometimes," she simply whispered.
George smiled, moving up until he was levelled with her, and kissed her cheek shortly.
"You're gorgeous," he gave her skin another peck. "Intelligent…" he moved close to her mouth. "Sweet…" he bit her lower lip. "Loving…"
Cassiopeia's eyes drifted closed when he finally kissed her lips, and in no time they were both lying down on the grass with him on top of her, cupping her face gently and using his thumb to caress her skin.
"And incredibly brave," he finished. "That's why I love you."
Cassiopeia's whole face felt burning hot as soon as he'd done saying the words, and she moved a hand to touch his cheek.
"You do?"
George nodded and she leant forward, kissing his lips softly.
"I… uh…" she struggled.
How could he say those words? Dammit, they weren't easy.
"It's okay," he rubbed his nose on hers. "Don't worry about saying it back."
She didn't try again. George knew her well enough that he didn't expect such words to be returned so soon.
"But I do," he repeated. "I love you."
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