Fred strolled into the Leaky Cauldron. As it was so early, there was only the bar man, Tom and his niece, Ron's classmate Hannah Abbott, standing behind the counter polishing glasses for the day. They both nodded at Fred as he went to the fireplace, took a pinch of Floo Powder from the pot on the mantle and vanished into the emerald flames.
"The Burrow!" he shouted before racing past hundreds of fireplaces until he finally stopped at the oh-so-familiar one in his mother's kitchen. He stepped out, brushing the soot off of his lime green robes.
"Fred! What are you doing here?" Molly Weasley cried when she saw him.
"Morning to you, too, Mum," he said glumly. He took his normal seat at the kitchen table, resting his hand on his hand.
She placed a steaming cup of tea in front of him before sitting across from him with her own. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing."
"Fred Weasley, I know you better than you know yourself and I know that when you hold your head like that and turn up in my kitchen two hours before you normally wake that something is wrong." Her warm brown eyes, identical to Ginny's, stared at him waiting for him to give up some piece of information.
"It's just… ever since I came back, it's been me and Angelina and George. The three of us. And I don't resent either of them for getting together, its completely understandable, but I don't understand why." Mrs. Weasley watched her son in silence, hoping that he would keep talking. "I know that you didn't like the idea of the three of us, but it never was like that. It was always George and Angelina and I was just there." He sighed, unsure of how she would react to everything he was telling her. "They fell in love, Mum. They're in love in a way that Angelina and I never were. And I know that Angelina didn't want to hurt my feelings when I came back and they were already together. I… I loved her, Mum. I loved her first. I guess I'm wondering why it isn't me."
Molly reached across the table and took his hands in hers. "George, do you remember your uncles Gideon and Fabian?"
"Not really, no."
Molly had never told any of her children this, and never intended to. "Their last year of Hogwarts, my fifth year, Fabian was dating a beautiful muggleborn witch named Isolde Markeby. She was very similar to Hermione, brightest witch of her age, funny, stubborn, vivacious and didn't put up with any nonsense. But Fabian was careless, he never took care of things that were important to others and truly mattered, including people. He would go days with out speaking to Isolde but expected her to come when he called. Meanwhile, she forged a strong friendship with Gideon. Gideon was a better friend than Fabian could ever be and they were completely platonic. Then, after they graduated, Fabian just took off with out so much as an owl to let us know where he was and when he would be back. Isolde was heartbroken because she truly loved him and wanted to marry him. She thought he had forgotten about her. Gideon was there for her, to comfort her with the most honourable intentions. It didn't take long for their platonic friendship to bloom into a true relationship. They married a week after your father and I." Mrs. Weasley sipped her tea and then continued: "Fabian turned up a few years later and expected not only for Isolde to have remained single for seven years, but for them to pick up where they left off. Needless to say, Fabian was not happy when he knocked on the door of her cottage and Isolde opened the door only wearing his brother's quidditch jersey. He snapped. He attacked her and Gideon." It was here that her voice broke. "He used the cruciatus curse on them until they died. Then he killed himself." She tried to wipe away a single tear that slid down her soft cheeks before Fred could notice but it was too late.
"Mum, that's not going to happen with me and George."
"I know. You are much more caring than Fabian ever was." She sniffled. "That was why I had such an issue with you and George sharing her. It was so clear to me that they were meant for one another that I was afraid that you would never see it or would fight it. Your brother deserves Angelina. They need each other. And someday, Fred, you will find the girl that you need."
"I think I already have, Mum."