Here I am again. :) I started this story quite a while ago, planning to make this a one-shot, but as always, it turned out longer. Why does it even still surprise me? LOL

So this is set 6 months after the Battle. George and Angelina both still suffer from the aftermath of the war which cost them a soulmate and lover, respectively.

This story was mostly inspired by a wonderful song by one of my favourite bands, Flogging Molly. For those who don't know them, they're an Irish-American band and their songs are a mix of Irish Folk and Punk Rock. "Whistles the Wind" is a song of the album "Within a Mile of Home", and the quotes are from this beautiful, quite melancholic song. Look for it on YT!

The story title itself is part of the line "Wherever I am you'll always be more than just a memory" in the song "If I ever leave this World alive", also by FM and probably known thanks to the movie "PS I love you".

I have the second chapter finished and am currently working on the third. However I have a very important exam at the end of the month so this story won't be completed before early September (esp. since I haven't yet figured out the number of chapters LOL).

As always, I hope you don't only read but also review (even the shortest reviews make my day), and point out any mistakes that bother you - I'm not a native speaker so I'm always glad to learn something new.


My isolation, now there's a sobering thought
A minute alone, a lifetime too long


Perfect Isolation

"So have you made up your mind yet?"

Angelina's head shot up and she stared at her flatmate in confusion.

"About what?"

Alicia sighed, and Angelina saw an all too familiar look of concern on her face. God, she hated that look.

"Ange", said Alicia softly, "I asked you two weeks ago if you would join me for my job interview tomorrow. You said you'd think about it."

"The interview, yeah. In London."

Of course Angelina hadn't forgotten about it. Avoiding the subject was more like it.

"Yes, in London. It won't take long I hope. Chances are they'll bust me out after five minutes anyway."

"Don't be stupid, they'll love you. Everyone does. Perfect little Alicia." Angelina grinned as her best friend blushed. It was a fake smile, but she hoped it was convincing enough.

"Well, whatever. I thought it would be nice to spend the day in the capital, we could have ice-cream at Floreans-"

"It's December", Angelina interrupted. How can it be December again, she wondered. Where did the last six months go?

"- and you can ask at Flourish & Blotts about that book your mother mentioned she'd like for Christmas-"

"I already got her a present."

"- and we could stop at Weasleys' Wiz..."

"I'm not going, okay?"

Angelina was probably more shocked by her aggressive voice than Alicia. She noticed that her hands were shaking, and she hid them in her pockets. Maybe Alicia wouldn't see it.

Of course she did. She always did. She noticed when Angelina was fighting back tears for no particular reason, she knew when she had slept badly (or not at all), she always saw right through her act. Why should today be any different?

"Ange", began Alicia, and Angelina was aware of the cautious tone in her voice. "I think he'd be happy to see you."

Happy. Not exactly the word she would have chosen.

"It's been six months, hun. You can't avoid him forever, you know."

Angelina did know that. But that didn't make it any easier.

"I'm not avoiding him", she said, trying to sound confident. "Why should I? I just have stuff to do."

"And what exactly is it that you have to do during the Christmas holidays?"

Angelina shrugged.

"Stuff. You know. Work"

Alicia huffed and gave her the look again. The look. Angelina hated it with a passion.

"Fine then. Make everyone think that you're okay. I get it, you're over it. I mean, it's not that I hear you crying at night or anything, guess that's totally normal. Still I think you owe it to him. But that's up to you."

With that, Alicia left the room, leaving a pensive Angelina behind.


George was refilling the cupboards with stocks of Canary Creams when the doorbell rang. Two young people came in, and George's face lit up as he recognized his two friends.

"Lee, Katie! What are you doing here?"

"Hey mate", Lee said and shook George's hand. "We were just passing by and thought we'd say hello."

"Just passing by, hm", George smirked. "So it's not a special occasion that brought you to London then?"

"Now that you mention it...", Katie reached out her hand and showed George the shiny ring on her finger that he had already noticed. He smiled and pulled her into a hug, then shook Lee's hand.

"Congratulations you two! So Lee you cheeky bastard, how come you kept this a secret from me?"

Lee blushed, and Katie suddenly looked very uncomfortable. George had the distinct feeling that they'd anticipated that question.

"I didn't mean to, but...", Lee shifted uneasily, "you know, it didn't feel right so shortly after... well."

George forced himself to a smile. He could talk about it without acting like a girl.

"I'm sure Fred wouldn't have minded you telling me first. After all, I'm the one who said you two were a perfect match in the first place."

"You're also the first person we've told", Lee said, almost as if he wanted to apologize for not telling him earlier.

"Alicia and Angelina will be next", Katie added. "We'll meet them tomorrow."

"Oh, so you're going to Bristol then?"

"Erm, no. They are going to come here tomorrow. Alicia's got a job interview at Gringotts. Didn't she tell you?"

"I guess nobody's telling me anything these days, but that's okay, I'm not into the gossip anyway", George said just a bit too light-heartedly. In fact, he hadn't spoken to Alicia ever since he'd met her at Halloween. When he had visited Fred. And he hadn't talked to Angelina for six months.

As if he was reading his friend's thoughts, Lee said, "Maybe you should meet up with her, don't you think? It's been half a year, and you know how she felt about him. Maybe..."

"No", replied George. His voice didn't sound nearly as firm as he had intended it to. "I mean... no, sorry. How is she, anyway?"

Katie and Lee exchanged a quick look which didn't go unnoticed by George. He just couldn't quite define what it meant.

"I haven't met her for a couple of weeks", said Katie, "But I think she's doing okay. Having Alicia around helps her a lot, I guess."

George nodded. He had made the experience himself. Alicia seemed to have a sense for doing the right things at the right moments.

He forced himself to a smile – not too convincing, though, he thought. Sometimes it was still hard.

"How are you holding up, mate?", asked Lee carefully, and George knew his best friend simply cared about him even when he really didn't want to have to answer that question.

"I'm okay", George shrugged.

It was always hard. He wondered if it would eventually be easier.

Again, Katie and Lee looked at each other, but neither said a word for a couple of seconds. The silence was strained, and it seemed to George that all three of them were secretly glad to hear someone coming into the shop.

"Well, we gotta go", said Lee and patted George's shoulder. "Was good to see you again."

"Totally good to see you", nodded Katie. "Hope to meet up again soon. Take care of yourself George, okay?"

"Sure", replied George, "I always do, don't I?"

Katie hugged him quickly and kissed him onto the cheek.

When the shop door closed behind the two friends, George kept staring at it for a whole minute and wondered just when exactly life had started to go on again, and why he hadn't noticed.