Another Weasley?
George mulled over what ingredient to use to remove the horrible smell from his latest experiment and tried very hard not to think of anything else. Finally, he decided to try with Nettle leaf.
He reach for the jar and paused. He could hear some movement in the front of the shop, the sound growing louder with each step. George drew out his wand and went to investigate. Caution had become necessary because of recent incidents.
He recognised the Weasley-red hair and relaxed somewhat. He realised who it was a moment later; in his inebriated state, the boy could barely stand.
"Hugo!"
George caught the boy by his shoulder before he could stumble and led him to a stool. "Shouldn't you be at Hogwarts?"
Hugo looked up, dazed, and blinked. "Uncle George."
George crouched down on the floor, in front of the boy, and repeated his question.
"Missed the Express."
The older man studied him for a bit and realised that it must have been deliberate. "Does aunt Ginny know?" It took the boy a moment to interpret the question, but he shook his head. "Hugo," George said with a sigh, "why did you decide not to go to Hogwarts?"
That caused tears, and Hugo trembled as he spoke: "Mum always said I'm too much like Dad. He didn't complete his seventh year, did he?" The tears fell faster now, and George pulled the boy into his arms. "I couldn't go, without them there to see me off."
George wouldn't say he understood what Hugo was going through, having had his parents murdered in the safest office at the Ministry of Magic, but he knew about loss.
"You know your dad found he wasn't really Auror stuff soon after, but it took him years to actually pluck up courage to leave the job and join me here?" Hugo shook his head, and George continued: "What do you say? Do you want to miss years of fun, or would you like to get started right away?"
The boy looked up, gratefulness evident in his eyes. George had wished there were someone who understood, when he had lost Fred. It wasn't the same for his brother's son, but he would do all he could.
It took a moment for Hugo to find his voice, and even then, he choked on words. "I would like that very much, Uncle."
396 words
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