-- Flashback --

The wind blew, making Julie shiver even though she was bundled up tightly. The sky had been cloudy and gray for two days straight, and so far this day looked as if it would be the same. Still, not a snowflake had fallen and Julie looked up, wondering when the promised blizzard would finally come. Another gust of wind interrupted her thoughts and she clutched her coat tightly under her chin, and quickened her steps to a brisk trot. After just a few minutes, a dilapidated sign which said "The Leaky Cauldron" told her she had reached her destination. Julie stepped inside hopefully, ready to feel the warmth; the temperature wasn't much different inside the building than out, however, and she frowned.

"Care for a drink?" Tom, the barkeep, asked as she walked by.

"Not at the moment, thanks," Julie answered, smiling briefly at him before she made her way out the back door. When she reached the brick wall, she pulled a wand out of her sleeve and tapped it on a specific brick. An archway opened and she stepped through into the once-cheerful Diagon Alley.

She felt a wave of sadness as she looked around, in her mind's eye seeing the Alley as it once was – bustling and full of people shopping and talking. The atmosphere used to be so relaxed and everyone smiled and spoke to everyone else. These days, however, there were not as many people in the streets and the people who were here all had careworn faces and did not stop to talk to anyone. Some of the shops were closed and boarded up but there were several hastily erected stands lining the road. Julie read one of the closest signs ("Amulets and Charms: Guaranteed protection against Dark wizards and spells of all kinds") and shook her head ruefully as she resumed her walking. Some people would do anything, even scam other people, to earn a Sickle.

She wearily tucked her chestnut brown hair behind her ear and scanned the shop signs until she found the place she was looking for.

"Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes," Julie read the sign out loud, then let her eyes fall to the window display. "U-No-Poo…yeah, this must be it." She couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she entered the shop. There were a few people in the shop, browsing the shelves. Julie scanned the place with her eyes, looking for someone in particular.

"Well, hello there, miss, how can we help you?" an energetic red-headed young man wearing magenta robes asked as he approached from the back of the shop. "Come to look for a love potion? Or perhaps you'd like a Pygmy Puff – they're on sale."

"No, thanks," Julie answered, smiling. "I guess you don't remember me?" She didn't really expect him to; they had only met for a couple moments. But there was still a small twinge of disappointment. She mentally kicked herself, telling herself she was stupid for thinking that he had thought any more of her than just another ally against Voldemort.

Sure enough, the puzzled look on the young man's face answered her question before his words did. "Remember you? No…sorry."

"That's okay, I didn't think you would—"

She was abruptly interrupted by another voice calling from an aisle over, "George, where did you put those extra Skiving Snackboxes we had?" Another redhead came around the aisle, identical to the first one. "There's no more on the shelves—Oh! Miss Tucker!"

Julie's eyes widened. In an instant she comprehended what was going on and she couldn't help but laughing. "Please, call me Julie. I was just asking your brother whether or not he remembered me."

The second redhead laughed appreciatively. "I'm afraid George's memory was never quite as good as mine, especially when he hasn't met the person in question." He winked and Julie's stomach did a quick flip-flop, despite her determination not to let her emotions get involved.

She had been hearing about the Weasley's for several months now, and especially of Fred and George, brothers who ran the joke shop in Diagon Alley but also did a lot of work for the Order of the Pheonix. Before she had even met them, she admired them. Meeting Fred had only intensified that admiration – he was extremely easy to like, having a friendly and outgoing personality. One thing that Julie hadn't realized was that Fred and George were not only brothers, but identical twins!

-- End Flashback --

The clink of a glass pulled Julie out of her reverie with a jerk. She looked around self-consciously at the others in the Leaky Cauldron, but no one seemed to have noticed that her mind had been wandering off and on for the past hour. In fact, no one seemed to even notice her at all; it appeared that she was invisible in the back corner booth and that was just fine. Julie sipped her Butterbeer – she preferred it to the stronger stuff – and tried to rein in her thoughts.

It seemed like such a long time ago that she had walked into Weasley's Wizard Wheezes for the first time. It really wasn't, but it had become such an important part of her life in the time since then that it seemed as if she'd been there forever. She had been working as a spy for the Order of the Pheonix. The Death Eaters all thought that she was a faithful, if somewhat airheaded, follower of her parents' idol Voldemort. Since she'd been in her last year at Hogwarts, it had seemed plausible for her to get a part-time job. So over Christmas break she had gone to the Weasley's store and "applied". This was her way of keeping in touch with the Order without making it obvious that she was spying. It was amazing the things she had learned, simply by being around the Death Eaters. She had never been in Voldemort's inner circle, and had in fact only seen him once outside of a combat situation. Once was more than enough.

"Mr. Weasley, it's a pleasure to see you!"

The bartender's loud exclamation caught Julie's attention instantly. She raised her head and lowered her mug slowly, her eyes scanning the room until she saw the familiar redheaded young man who had just entered the building. Her initial reaction was to smile in welcome, but that changed quickly to a sad frown. George looked so much worse than the last time she had seen him. His hair was almost shoulder-length, and scraggly; he hadn't shaved in a couple of days and his eyes had dark circles under them. Julie could sympathize with how he was feeling, but it was a shock to see George Weasley looking like that.

He made his way to a nearby table and sank into the chair, not raising his eyes to look around him once. Tom scurried over to the table – something he only did for his favorite customers; normally he didn't leave his post at the bar. George apparently ordered something, because a few moments later Tom left and returned with a mug full of liquid. Julie didn't want to be caught staring, but the more she looked over at him, the more she was convinced that George wasn't going to take his eyes off the table.

She sadly looked down at her own almost-empty mug, which she was twirling absentmindedly on the table in front of her, and her thoughts went back to the nights that the three of them had spent in the Leaky Cauldron after work last summer.

-- Flashback --

"Three Butterbeers at this table, Tom! We've had excellent business today!" No sooner had the twins and Julie entered the Leaky Cauldron than those words had left Fred's mouth. He flung his arm over Julie's shoulder, and she hoped he couldn't feel her pulse increase. After six months of knowing the twins, she only liked Fred more and more – of course, he was oblivious.

The three settled down at a table and waited for their Butterbeers. "Business has been good this summer, eh?" Julie asked. Every day the shop was full. It seemed strange to Julie that it would be in times like this, but apparently the twins were right when they said that everyone was looking for a little relief and laughter.

"Better than ever, madam, better than ever," George replied, jingling his money bag before tucking it safely in the pocket inside his robes. "And we couldn't do it without you!"

"Indeed, without you, m'dear, we'd be floundering like fish out of water," Fred added, accepting his Butterbeer, and then standing. "I'd like to make a toast!" he said loudly, including everyone in the tavern. He held up his mug and continued, "A toast, to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and the beautiful maid who keeps us afloat – Julie!"

Blushing furiously, Julie hid her face behind her mug, taking too-big gulps as everyone in the place cheered loudly for the Weasley's and her. "Sit down, Fred," she hissed, not even looking at him, "You're embarrassing me to death."

With a carefree laugh, Fred obliged. He leaned toward her so she could hear and said, "I'm only trying to show my appreciation!" With a wink, he leaned back and took a gulp of his own Butterbeer.

"Yes, I can see that," Julie replied after catching her breath, "but did you really have to make a spectacle out of me? Remember, we're not supposed to be drawing attention to me!" But she couldn't help but laugh – they needed these carefree moments to get them through the hard times.

"Julie, Julie, Julie," George scolded playfully and shook his head. "Anyone would think you weren't used to us by now! Keep our company long enough, and soon you will be drawing attention to yourself!"

"Yes, well, if you say so," Julie scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder jokingly. Then she grinned mischievously. "Really, though, if you want to show your appreciation, all you need to do is give me a raise!"

"Spoken like a true Weasley employee!" George exclaimed as he and Fred burst into laughter.

-- End Flashback --

That was one of their first visits to the Leakey Cauldron, but there had been many more that followed. Every time was full of fun, joking, and the same mischievous spirit that the Weasley twins took with them everywhere. It had soon rubbed off on Julie; she hadn't exactly been a mouse before she met them, but after a few weeks of working for the Weasley's, she was just as boisterous as they were. They always had all the customers of the Leaky Cauldron enjoying themselves, and Julie figured that the reason Tom liked them all so well was because they brought in business. Those had been good times, carefree in the midst of so many worries. The memory brought a ghost of a smile to Julie's face.

"It's good to see you smiling," a voice on her right commented.

Julie turned to face Tom, her smile expanding slightly. She had always liked Tom; her naturally kind nature had endeared her to him from the first time Julie had come into his tavern, and he was always kind to her in return. "I was just thinking of how many good times I've enjoyed here, Tom."

He smiled, something he didn't do for many people, and asked, "Can I get you another Butterbeer?"

"Yes, I think I'll take one more." She normally just had one to wind down before bed, but George's unexpected appearance had made her want to stay a little longer.

"Coming right up." Tom began to walk away, then paused. "I think someone could use your company, if you catch my meaning." He nodded discreetly in George's direction before hurrying away to get Julie's Butterbeer.

Julie sighed. What George needed was someone who could understand what he was going through, sympathize, and tell him that everything would be okay. Julie hadn't even reached that point herself; she was simply making it through one day at a time. What could she do for George? But perhaps Tom had a point; George needed someone anyway, and no one else was offering their company. Julie stood and walked over to where George was sitting two tables away.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked quietly and somewhat nervously.

With barely a glance at her, George shrugged. "Go ahead."

Julie sat down and took a good look at her friend. George looked even worse close up; she could see the worry, tiredness, and depression etched into his face and making his brown eyes appear dull and cheerless. Julie didn't know what to say, so she cleared her throat and asked, "Have you opened the shop back up?" She knew it had been closed for months, and that people were beginning to wonder if it was ever going to open up again.

"I'm getting ready to. Hopefully tomorrow morning, if I can get everything set up in time." George seemed to shake himself and make an effort to be more sociable. "How are you doing, Julie? I haven't seen you since…well, in months."

"As well as can be expected, I suppose," she answered vaguely. She accepted her Butterbeer from Tom and she and George sat in silence, both absorbed in their own thoughts as they sipped their drinks. "George…" Julie wasn't sure how to say what was on her mind. So much had changed; George looked like a different person. "If you need help with the shop and stuff, let me know. I'd be glad to have my old job back. You wouldn't even have to give me a raise," she managed a joke and a laugh.

A smile flitted briefly across George's face; he looked like a shadow of the old George. "I expect you there tomorrow morning at ten, then. Does that work?" He gulped down the last of his drink and stood. "I may even consider your raise."

"I'll be there," Julie promised. George nodded, tossed some money on the table, and walked out. Julie slowly sipped the last of her Butterbeer. He even walked differently now – gone was the boisterous, almost hopping, step. He walked like a man now, a man who had been through a lot in his life and still had a lot to go through.

Julie finished her Butterbeer, paid, and headed for the stairs with a sigh. Yes, many things had changed.