Throughout the years of sleeping through classes, Quidditch wins and injuries, and extreme pranking, Fred and George Weasley could always be counted on to be within twenty feet of each other at all times. The same could be said now, even after their explosive exit from Hogwarts and the success of their joke shop…except on days like today.
George couldn't help the horrible feeling of loneliness that welled inside of him as he stared out the window into the dreary, rainy atmosphere of Diagon Alley. He dreaded the day every two months when Fred would go off to some exotic and dangerous place to find new material for their products, leaving him to tend the shop on his own.
Fred of course had noticed this behavior on each occasion over the past year and had encouraged George to go the next time, thinking that he wanted a bit of adventure. George wasn't interested and Fred was confused. They had shared everything and known each detail about each other their whole lives but now there was something going on that George wasn't telling Fred.
George wasn't planning to spill the beans anytime soon. How could he explain the feeling of a painful tugging in his chest every time Fred ran out the door, rushing to make the international portkey. He couldn't, not when Fred wasn't in the least affected by their time apart. He would return with wild tales of crazed, old wizards in Peru or winged snakes in Malawi and he would be just as excited to leave again two months later.
So here George sat, contemplating the next week of solitude when his twin burst through the door, grabbing up clothes and toiletries at random to stuff into his already bulging pack. George put on his best smile as he turned to his brother and of course Fred saw right through it.
"I could wait until next month to go..."
"No we need to stock up again and we need a few new products to keep people interested. You know that."
"We could hire someone to watch the shop and you could come with me."
The temptation pulled at George for a few moments before he realized that this neediness that had developed was not normal and he had to get over it.
"Don't be silly, I'm perfectly fine here. Just go traipse all over the world will you."
It hurt for him even to say that. To send Fred away was the worst thing George could imagine but he had to do it if he wanted to retain his relationship with his brother. He knew that if Fred found about these new feeling he was having, he would freak out.
"You're sure? Georgie, won't you tell me what's going on?"
"Don't be an idiot, I'm fine." With that, George turned back to stare out the window without actually seeing anything. Fred sighed in exasperation and swung his bag to his shoulder.
"Alright, I'm off. See you in a week."
George nodded noncommittally. He didn't turn when the door snapped shut. He looked down as Fred emerged out into the rain and raised his eyes to the window. George tried his best to look apologetic, but by then Fred had turned and was striding down the street.
This had to end. These feelings were putting a strain on his bond with the person he held most dear and it wasn't worth it to hold on to something that could never happen.