I found out about the funeral from Katie and Alicia. Apparently, Fred's family had decided not to invite me. Guess he took getting dumped harder than I'd thought, especially given that that was two years ago. Then again, knowing Errol, it was entirely possible the old owl had just gotten lost or tired and given up.

"Are you two going?" I asked them. Katie shook her head.

"We didn't really stay in touch with them after graduation," Alicia said. "It would feel too weird; like we're intruding."

I nodded. It made sense I guess. But at the same time... "Poor George. I wonder how he's going to get on without Fred."

Alicia shrugged. "Dunno. We should send him a card or something, reach out to him."

Katie frowned. "After two years of not really talking, except to drop by the store? It might seem like we're only getting in touch because we pity him. If I were him, I'd want some space right now, especially from well-wishers. Maybe in a week or two. Give it some time for the sting to wear off."

I nodded, but I couldn't agree. Maybe it was because I'd always been closer to them than the other two, but somehow I just knew that the last thing George needed was to be left alone. He'd already be feeling lost without Fred. He didn't need to feel abandoned by his friends, too.

I made some excuses about remembering an errand I needed to run and said goodbye to my two best friends. I was already in suitably funereal black-and-white, so I Apparated straight to the Weasley home. If I knew anything about that family, I knew Fred would be buried somewhere nearby. And if I was really lucky, I would make it just in time.

I hit the ground harder than I meant to and looked around. The house was silent. A breeze whispered through some trees down by the little brook that ran through the property. I stood very still and waited for it to die down. A few moments later, the air grew very still, and I could just make out voices singing hymns down the way. Over it all, I could hear Molly Weasley sobbing. I squared my shoulders and set off to see what was going on.

At the crest of the hill, the view opened up before me. Maybe thirty yards away, they were lowering Fred's coffin into a hole in the ground. Molly cried hysterically, holding her wand high above her head. Arthur had an arm around her to comfort her, but his face was grimly set as he held his own wand aloft. I saw Ginny sitting with Harry, and Ron sitting with Hermione; Bill with a beautiful blonde woman, and Charlie with a dark haired baby in his arms. I wondered whose it was. Percy sat stiffly at the edge of the row, looking deeply uncomfortable. When had he reconciled with his family? And then I saw George.

He looked terrible. His complexion was ashen, and dark circles ringed his eyes like the raccoon that his and Fred's Patronuses had taken after. He seemed shrunken, diminished, and had lost a lot of weight. My heart broke for him as I watched him struggle to raise his wand above his head, as he closed his eyes and grimaced against the truth. When he opened them again, the shared magic of the assembled family and friends had entombed Fred in a small but tasteful rose granite tomb. Already ivies were beginning to climb over the top - probably Molly's doing; Fred had always said she had a unique aptitude with plants. In time the entire thing would collapse into dust.

I bit my lip and began to walk down toward the gathering as the priest struck up one more hymn. Percy looked over and saw me; I put a finger to my lips and he nodded slightly, turning back to face the tomb. George Disapparated before the song had ended. He hadn't seen me, so I knew he wasn't running from that. But I was concerned for him. I needed to know where he had gone.

The hymn ended, and the gathering scattered. Percy jogged up the hill toward me.

"Don't advise dropping in just now, Angie," he said. "Mum's likely to kill anyone who interrupts."

"I wasn't planning on crashing, Percy. But Katie and Alicia told me, and I couldn't not come. I loved him, too, you know."

Percy gave me a skeptical stare.

"Just because I dumped him doesn't mean I didn't care!" I said, trying to keep the fraying ends of my patience firmly in line. "I just didn't want to lead Fred on. Anyway, I came because of George."

"He just left."

"I noticed. Any idea where he's gone to?"

"Probably the joke shop. He's taken to hiding out there since the battle. Claims he's doing inventory and figuring out how to keep it open, now that Fred's gone. Says Fred was always the brains behind the operation."

I thought back to our Hogwarts days; Fred had always been the ambitious go-getter, scheming and dreaming while George happily tagged along. George had lost more than just a brother or a twin, he'd lost his direction and focus, too.

"Someone should go and check on him, don't you think?"

"He has the place barred against all of us. We have to knock on the door, as if we were Muggles, and he never opens it."

"Do you think he's barred it against me?"

Percy shrugged. "Considering none of us have seen you since you dumped Fred? I'd say probably not."

I nodded. "I'd best be off then."

"Angie, before you go-"

"Yes?"

"It's good that you showed up. Nobody's come to visit George. Lots of condolence post, lots of offers to visit, but none actually made good on. I know he's been turning them down, but I wish more of them would say to hell with that and show up anyway."

I nodded. "Most people don't know how to deal with death. I imagine they're relieved not to have to figure it out."

Percy shrugged. "Nobody knows how."

I had nothing to say to that, so I turned on my heel and Apparated to Diagon Alley.