Epilogue

A faint ticking resonated throughout the apartment. The sounds of a couple breathing quietly could be heard. One of them was asleep; the other was lying awake, staring at the ceiling. He turned over and touched the girl's shoulder, causing her to wake. She smiled inquisitively at him.

"Yes?"

"Sorry, were you sleeping?"

"Well, not anymore, what's on your mind?"

"Y-You love me right?"

The girl raised an eyebrow at this question but answered nonetheless.

"Of course, and no matter what happens I'll never, ever stop loving you alright?"

He nodded, kissing her softly on the forehead.

"You can go back to sleep now."

The girl drifted off to sleep and the boy turned back over to look at the ceiling once more. Soon all that was heard again was the faint ticking of the clock, but only one person breathing.

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Chapter One

Lavender White re-arranged the display in the front window of her shop, fussing about with the hem of a skirt. An arm snaked its way around her waist from behind and she smiled.

"You're not supposed to be distracting me while I'm at work, Ethan."

"Yes, but I was on my break and I thought to myself, "Why don't I go visit my lovely wife?" Besides, I know you're happy to see me."

Lavender rolled her eyes to herself and then turned around, dodging his kiss and busying herself with something else. Ethan coughed and raised an eyebrow.

"So, someone bought the shop right next to yours."

"Really? Who?"

"Something called Weasley's Wizarding Wheeze's, I think I've seen them in Diagon Alley, looks interes-"

A tinkling sound was heard and Ethan turned around to see Lavender picking up some broken glass and cursing under her breath.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, it just slipped out of my hands is all."

Ethan nodded, and then frowned, looking as though in thought.

"Hey, didn't your mother mention you dating a guy named, something Weasley?"

Lavender swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat.

"Yes."

She said quietly.

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Next door, George Weasley was walking around the empty space and poking at a few things here and there. He turned to the very anxious looking man standing in the doorway.

"Looks alright."

"Well, I'll go now, if you find anything wrong with it just contact me, you have my number. The next shop over should be able to help you with that door in the backroom that leads to her shop. I don't think she'll mind plastering over it or whatnot."

"What's the owner's name?"

"Lavender White."

"Lavender? Is her maiden name there?"
The man searched through his papers and then aha'ed.

"Mrs. Lavender White, nee Brown. Huh, that's a cute little coincidence, both her last names appear to be colours."

The man chuckled to himself and exited the shop, leaving Fred there, shaking his head and chuckling as well.

"Lavender Brown, how 'bout that…"

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The next day Lavender was unlocking her shop doors early when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

"You dropped your purse."

She whirled around and felt her stomach lurch.

"What? No "HI GEORGE!"?"

George said bemusedly, and he held out Lavender's purse. She took it.

"Oh, hi, sorry."

And for a second I thought he was-Well, never mind.

"Well, you haven't changed a bit, except maybe you shrunk."

He teased a grin forming on his face.

"My hair's shorter and my style's different as well."

"How old are you now anyways?"

"29, you're 30 right?"

George let out a low whistle.

"4 years? Has it really been 4 years?"

"Yes George, 4 years."

Lavender said coolly, brushing a piece of hair out of her eyes. George spotted the wedding band on her finger.

"Oh, right, you got married, I'd forgotten. How's Ethan?"

"He's…He's fine."

She fiddled with her wedding band.

"This seems a bit stupid to ask, but d'you, d'you still wear the one he gave you?"
Lavender pulled a chain that was hiding under her shirt out. On the end was a platinum diamond encrusted ring.

"Every day."

She said quietly.

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That night when her husband was asleep, Lavender pulled out a box of memorabilia she hadn't opened in nearly 4 years. She blew the dust off the top before raising its lid. Yellowed "Daily Prophet" articles stared up at her, and she took these out first, scanning the headlines.

Missing Wizard still not found

Weasley family pleads for any information on missing son

Distraught mother of missing boy reaches nervous breakdown

Underneath were muggle police investigations, Ministry reports, and then, the photos. As each photo flipped past her eyes the tightening in her throat worsened.

Flip

A couple building a snowman and the girl getting a snowball thrown at her.

Flip

A couple standing proudly in front of the door to their new apartment.

Flip

A couple sitting in a living room, the girl laughing, the boy staring lovingly at her.

Flip

A couple kissing, and then realizing someone is taking their photo and laughing.

Flip

Flip

Flip

A small drop of water landed on the last photo and Lavender realized that she'd started crying. Wiping at her eyes hastily, she removed the photos to find letters, many, many letters, and finally she found the one she was looking for. The last one he'd ever written to her.

Lav,

I'm going somewhere. I don't know for how long, I don't know when I'll be back, but you have to promise me you'll wait for me, and that you'll still be here when, and if I do come home.

These past few years have been a blessing to me and I'll never ever forget to, I don't want to. I don't want to forget anything about you. I don't want to forget the shape of the hair that wisps in your eyes when you bend down, I don't want to forget the way you bite your lip when you're doing anything that requires concentration, and I don't want to forget what you look like when you smile.

I love you.

Fred.

A fresh wave of tears hit Lavender and she carefully put everything back in the box, except for that letter. She tucked the letter away in a safe hiding place and curled her knees up to her chest and sat there quietly until she dozed off.

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Knock, knock.

George tiptoed down the hallway and on his way passed a clock, catching sight of the time.

Christ, 1am? Who the hell is it?

The knocking was becoming more and more urgent and George rolled his eyes.

"Give it a second I'm coming."

"It's fucking freezing out here you git!"

George stopped, his hand just inches away from the doorknob. He knew that voice, and yet he couldn't quite believe who it was. Slowly he opened the door and gaped at the figure standing in front of him.

"Get out of the way! I'm cold!"

George moved out of the way as the drenched figure entered the house.

"…F-Fred?"