What Fred Would've Done By HPFangirl71
George Weasley had been lost since the final battle of the war. The battle that had cost so much of himself. The loss of his twin having devastated his heart, leaving him feeling like a mere ghost. He was missing a part of himself that he thought nothing could replace. Somehow he'd found the strength to continue on. By throwing himself into the joke shop, covering up the pain that burned fiercely within. He'd needed something to distract him from the severity of such traumatic loss. He knew it was what Fred would've wanted.
He remembered back to the day she'd first entered the shop. The carol of the bells attached to the door heralding her arrival. Busy at the counter filling an order, he'd instinctively looked up to see her walk in. She'd looked like an absolute angel. He remembered thinking later, why hadn't he ever noticed her before at school? Perhaps antics with his brother had made him too oblivious. He knew that Fred would've noticed her too.
For some reason he'd been moved to ask her out to dinner. She'd surprisingly agreed. He remembered that night like it was only yesterday. Her blonde hair had shimmered under the glow of candlelight, her big blue eyes sparkling as she laughed merrily at all his jokes. She'd been in Slytherin house, yet he'd still found her to be delightful company. His family protested in earnest but as usual he hadn't listened. He'd been smitten from the very beginning. That was the first night he didn't think of Fred and the unbearable loss. He knew that Fred would've expected that.
When he was with Tracey he could forget. The sadness slipped away and he could be whole again. She made him feel complete and he knew that Fred would've approved. He was coping and that was all that truly mattered. Fred would've understood how much he truly needed this.
Christmas at the Burrow, he was determined to make her a permanent part of his life. She was all he needed to heal from the horrors that had left him so empty inside. She filled his heart and helped him be the man he once was. That's why George silently pulled out the grey ring box. Tracey cried tears of joy as she gleefully accepted her place within his heart. A heart that was slowly but surely being healed by the magic of her love. Fred would've been on his side when the rest were so outraged.
Yes, George Weasley had lost so much in his young life, but he now had a new reason to go on. The most wonderful of all reasons. His heart had been transformed by the beautiful bliss of love. A love worth living for. A love worth taking a chance on. Fred would've encouraged his twin brother. That's why George Weasley was going to do exactly what Fred Weasley would've done. He was going to marry Tracey Davis and be truly happy once again.