A/N: To those that read my story, A Second Chance in Love, this is part of the reason why I haven't updated my story in awhile. I was part of a fic exchange at a livejournal community called Hermione_smut. I wrote this story for mihnn a fellow livejournal user. I hope you guys like it.

Thanks goes to keelhaulrose and DramaGeek2010 for being great betas.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Prologue

"'Why so serious, George? It doesn't suit you,' Fred asked, as they ran to their posts.

'I'm worried,' George answered.

'About?' Fred asked, curious.

'How are we going to survive this war? We've lost so many friends and family because of it. I don't know how I would handle losing any one from our family.' George answered, sad.

'It'll be okay, George. We're all protecting each other and making sure that we survive. When everything gets back to normal, we'll be back at our joke shop in no time, you'll see.' Fred said, with a smile before running in a different direction."

George Weasley took a sip of his Firewhiskey as he thought about the last time he saw Fred. He had believed Fred's words that they would survive the war. That everything would go back to normal. It was what kept him going, kept him from giving up hope.

But when word reached him of Fred's death, his world came crashing down. He had felt numb as he ran towards the Great Hall. He couldn't cheer like the rest of them when Voldermort was defeated. He cried the moment he saw his twin brother.

Things were never the same after that day. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move on. Everything around him reminded him of Fred. The joke shop, the Burrow, their flat all felt empty without him there. How was he to move on with his life when everything reminded him of his pain? What was the point of celebrating their birthday or any holiday? Nothing was the same.

To ease his pain, he took up drinking and no longer kept contact with his family or friends after an incident with his mother. She was trying to convince him to go home to celebrate his birthday. She kept asking him while he kept saying 'no'. She made one simple mistake when she said, "Please, Fred." which caused him to snap back and say, "Fred's dead, mom!"

He still remembered the pain in her eyes when he yelled at her. She was speechless and tears were flowing heavily. He tried to apologize, but she dismissed it and left. His family and friends had tried to talk to him but he kept pushing them away. After awhile, they stopped coming. None of them understood what he was going through. They had moved on while he found his comfort in a bottle.

As he sat in front of his fireplace, pouring him another glass of Firewhiskey, he was surprised to hear a knock at his door.

Who the bloody hell could that be?, thought George, turning towards the door. He pondered on whether he should open the door. Before he could decide, he heard someone say, "George Weasley, if you don't open this bloody door, I'm going to blast this door down!"

He recognized that voice in an instant and ran to the door. He knew better than to get on their bad side.

She sure does scare the crap out of me, he thought as he opened the door.