Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was packed, as usual. Angelina was trying to reorder shelves in the back. It was proving quite impossible. Every time she restacked a product, a child ran by and knocked it over again. She finally gave up with a frustrated huff and marched into George's office behind the counter.
"We need to invent something that's like an instant cleaner or something!" George struggled to keep the smile off of his face. Angie's hair was coming out of it's braid and she had her no-nonsense face on.
"We can work on it tonight," he assured her. "I think I've got a pretty good idea about how we could do that."
"I was thinking," she walked over and sat on the edge of his desk. "That maybe we could charm an object, like a stuffed toy or something," she began to redo her braid, meticulously removing the clips and lying them on the desk.
"A toy?" he asked her, picking up one of her hair things.
"In the Muggle world," she snatched the clip back from him, "they have children's toys that are like tiny robots." George cocked an eyebrow. "We can charm a toy, or any object really--"
"To clean up. Like a miniature house-elf." he finished her thought.
"Exactly. And if we do it well-enough--"
"--we can give Hermione one on the wedding--"
"--and she can show people at the ministry--"
"Since she's so big on house-elf rights." George grinned. "And that takes care of the wedding present problem."
Angelina finished re-braiding her hair. She studied him for a moment. "You opened another shop, Bill and Fleur had their baby, Hermione and Ron are getting married, Ginny's gone pro in Quidditch, Harry, Ron and Hermione will be starting at the Ministry soon, Percy's got a girlfriend." She ticked them off on her fingers, "A lot has happened in a year. A lot of good things." she looked out of the window at Diagon Alley and smiled a little wistfully.
"I know. Everyone is getting married. All of our mates, all of my family…" he watched her play with things on his desk. George could guess what she was thinking, or rather, hoping for. He grasped her hand and pulled her to him. "I love you Ange," he kissed her on the cheek.
"I love you too," she smiled brightly at him.
"You know," George began rather nervously, "about the whole getting married thing…" He was interrupted by Ron bursting into his office. His younger brother's hair was disheveled and sticking out at odd angles. His pale skin was flushed bright red and he was breathing hard.
"I need a place to hide!" he yelled, panicked.
"Ron, what the he--" George let go of Angelina's hand to yell at his brother.
"I may have accidentally stained Hermione's dress--"
"Her wedding dress?!" Angelina was up too and looking furious. "How did you do that?! I haven't been gone an hour and you already destroyed it?!"
"It wasn't my fault! Mum was altering it and I was writing a note for the Ministry and Pig knocked the bottle over…"
"Oh, hell Ron. They're going to find you here, you know that right?" He could already hear his mother bursting into the shop. Angelina gave Ron a sympathetic look.
"Since you helped me this morning, I'll do you a favor." she didn't sound happy about it.
"Thanks!" Ron gave her a grateful look.
"Don't mention it," Angelina walked calmly out of the office to head off Ginny, Hermione and Mrs. Weasley. George looked after her for a moment before seizing his brother by the back of the robes.
"Get in the chest behind the desk. You'll come out in the shop in Hogsmeade. You can figure it out from there. I suggest stopping at Honeydukes and getting something nice for your future wife. If she still wants to marry you after this." Ron gave him a horrified look.
"Do you think--" George shoved him toward the chest.
"Go!" he laughed. Ron nodded and jumped in. Instead of hitting the bottom he kept sliding until the top of his red head disappeared. George flipped the lid shut just in time to watch his female family members barrel into his office.
"Where is he?" Hermione's bushy hair stuck up around her head. She had fire in her eyes. George's mother and sister flanked her. Angelina shot him an apologetic look from behind.
"Where's who?" George evaded like a pro.
"You know who!" Ginny interjected from behind her future sister-in-law. "Ron!"
"What did the little git do now?" George asked nonchalantly.
"He destroyed her wedding dress!" Ginny answered furiously. She gestured to Hermione, who was clearly near tears and in Mrs. Weasley's arms.
"Now, now dear. It's nothing a stain charm can't remove. We'll fix it up." Molly rubbed her shoulders comfortingly.
"But it's not the same!" Hermione sobbed into his mother's robes. "He's seen the dress now. It's bad luck!" Ginny glowered at George, then went to comfort Hermione.
"Well now. You do realize that if he didn't live there he wouldn't have seen the dress, much less ruined it." Angelina's eyes widened at Molly's comment and she quickly beat it out of the office. George hastily sought his escape as well.
"Got to go to work mum. But Hermione, try this," he tossed her a small can. "It'll take a stain out of anything. Trust me." he quickly walked around his family and out into the shop. Behind him, Ginny had discovered the chest and was climbing in after Ron. Without warning, the chest spit both her and Ron out, throwing them unceremoniously on the floor of George's office. George shut the door behind him quickly and put the muffliato charm on it. He looked back into the shop. Angelina was behind the counter, doubled over in laughter.
"I love your family." she managed to force out in between fits of giggles.
"I'm glad love. You'll probably be part of it one day." Angelina's head snapped around.
"What do you mean?" another interruption materialized, this time in the form of a wave of customers. George was pulled away and Angie went back to work. By the time it was time to close shop the two of them had a half hour to get ready for Ron and Hermione's rehearsal dinner at the Burrow. She apparated to Alicia and Lee's house to get ready, giving him a quick kiss before she left and telling him he better wear nice robes.
George finished getting dressed and patted his pocket to make sure he had everything. He felt his keys and his wand. He fished deeper and retrieved a small, square velvet box. He studied it for a moment before flipping it open. The princess cut gleamed up at him for a moment before he shut the box and tucked it safely back into pocket. He checked his appearance one more time in the mirror.
It was time.
