Chapter One: The Girl in the Forest
George had never felt this empty. Throughout his whole life, he had always been so happy, so full of life.
Now it was all just gone.
Nobody could explain how losing Fred felt to him. Fred had been his light in the world, his shoulder to lean on.
His everything.
It was a pleasant December afternoon, George sat by himself in a pub at Hogsmeade, sipping a butterbeer slowly. He used to love coming here on those chilly winter days; to the Three Broomsticks, getting as many butterbeers as possible. They would always warm you up and put you in such a good mood. The hot, cozy taste of them would take all your sadness away. He had the best memories of sneaking them back to Hogwarts. Filch never catching Fred or him.
Fred.
The butterbeer suddenly became tasteless. With a mix of sadness and anger, George pushed it away. "Somethin' wrong mate?" An older wizard nearby said to him, looking at George, and then the half full glass curiously. Without speaking, George shook his head and left the pub.
Stepping outside made him relax a little. The air was so fresh and inviting. The laughter coming from the Hogwarts students enjoying themselves brighten him up a bit. But he just couldn't stand being here. Month's had passed since Fred's death. He felt weak for not moving on. But how was he supposed to? Fred was his life. Everything he did would remind him of Fred, especially coming here.
He hastily made his way towards the forest till he was far inside it, far away from the rest of the world.
"Why did it have to be Fred?" He screamed to himself, kicking a large rock nearby. He would do anything for Fred to be back. He felt so guilty that it was Fred who died; felling he could have stopped it. Thoughts racing through his head; he pulled himself down besides the cold, hard rock. He hated crying more than anything. But he couldn't help himself. He buried his face in his arms and just sat there, letting the snow fall on himself, as he leaned lifeless against the rock.
It felt like ages until the sun finally went down. But he just kept sitting there; he didn't want to face the world anymore. Not without Fred.
"You know you're not alone. You don't have to make yourself feel that way." said a soft, dreamy voice nearby.
George looked up, thinking he was the only one here. He saw a girl, or more of a woman. She had long, light blonde hair and a beautiful face. She was very familiar.
But no, it can't be, he thought to himself.
But it was.
"Luna" George said out loud, without thinking. She was the same Luna he remembered back at school. But she seemed older, more mature; except her eyes still had that dreamy look to them. She smiled gently and came over towards him, sitting down in the snow. Looking up at him with her comforting eyes she said, "I haven't seen you in a while, it feels like you just disappeared."
He had never been close to Luna at school. He had to be honest; he did used to find her a bit strange. But he always liked that about her, she was so different then everybody else there. He never made fun of her like the others, but they never were really friends.
George felt like he should leave, he hadn't spoken to anyone, yet alone was he going to speak to Luna. He was sure he had forgotten how to carry on a conversation anyways. But something made him stay.
"Yeah" was the only thing he could say, but he smiled back at Luna. Maybe she was right; maybe he really wasn't all alone.