If tears could build a stairway

And memories were a lane

I'd walk right up to heaven

And bring you home again

No farewell words were spoken

No time to say goodbye

You were gone before I knew it

And only God knows why

My heart still aches in sadness

And secret tears still flow

What it meant to lose you

No one can ever know

But now I know you want us

To mourn for you no more

To remember all the happy times

Life still has much in store

Since you'll never be forgotten

I pledge to you today

A hallowed place within my heart

Is where you'll always stay

"Happy Birthday! Another year older, eh? Twenty one, quite the age. Mum's throwing me a special birthday bash this year. She say's it's cause twenty one is an exceptional age, one of the landmark ones but I know it's cause she thinks the bigger the party the smaller the hole where you should be. Sorry, I'm being a downer, aren't I? I hope you're not alone up there. No one should be alone on their birthday."

George woke up late. He had decided to close the shop even though, being April Fool's Day, it was one of the highest earning days of the year. He just couldn't face it. Not today. How was he supposed to go to work and act like everything was ok when it wasn't? When today marked a huge change. George was one year older but his twin wasn't. For the first time Fred and George were truly different.

The bell rang. George sighed and looked at the clock. It was only half eleven. His family wasn't due to arrive for another three and half hours but he guessed it was them. They liked to check up on him, especially on special occasions.

George clambered out of bed and pulled on a t shirt. He lifted a few fire whisky bottles and carried them to the bin. He dropped them in and arranged a handful of litter over them. George knew it worried his mum when she saw bottles scattered about the house. He usually made an effort to hide them before she came over. George didn't want to worry her.

He made his way to the door and pulled it open.

"Angelina?"

His eyes fell on a tall, striking girl. She was fidgeting uncomfortably on the front step. Her long dark hair was tied up in a messy bun. Her dark eyes were round and soft. Her skin was the colour of deep coffee.

"George." She sounded out of breath. She actually looked almost surprised to see him. George almost laughed. Who had she been expecting to answer?

"Do you want to come in?" It was weird for George, acting like a host. With the exception of family he hadn't had anybody round since Fred's death.

He pulled open the door and gestured for her to come in. Angelina didn't speak but stepped over the threshold and entered the small flat.

"Do you want a seat?"

Angelina sat down on the couch George had indicated. She still hadn't spoken. George wondered why she was here. He actually felt kind of guilty. George knew he should have said something to her at the funeral or in the months after it but he never contacted her.

Fred and Angelina had dated, on and off, ever since the Yule Ball. Despite a few rocky periods everyone that knew them could tell they had been very much in love. George, of course, had been the first to realise that what they had was love. George knew his twin better than anyone and had his suspicions very early on that what they had was meaningful. George had even forced Fred one day to admit that his suspicions were correct.

Yes, Fred Weasley had loved Angelina Johnson. And she had loved him. George knew that he should have comforted Angelina, told her what Fred had told him but he couldn't. He couldn't comfort anybody else when his pain was still so raw. When his pain was still lodged like a shard of glass in his neck. When his pain seemed to be slowly but surely ripping his heart into pieces.

"I woke up today and I realised what day it was. I don't know what I was thinking but I ended up here. I had knocked on the door before I even had a chance to think. I just didn't know what to do."

Angelina spoke hurriedly in hushed tones. When George didn't reply she spoke again.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come. I'll just go."

"No. Stay, I don't mind."

She hovered for a moment halfway between standing and sitting before lowering back down onto the chair.

"I still can't believe he's gone." George could see the pain clearly in her eyes.

"I keep thinking he's just going to turn up someday and laugh at me for being so depressing. I keep waiting for him to come but . . ." She trailed off. Her eyes were watering now. She took a deep breath and spoke through her tears.

"I know it's silly but-"

"It's not silly." George came and sat next to her on the couch. "I think that too."

Angelina lifted her head and looked George in the eye.

"You do?" George nodded.

"Sometimes I even think I can hear him. If I see something funny happen I'll hear him make a joke, the kind of joke he would've said if he was there."

Angelina smiled, weakly.

"I thought I was going crazy."

"Well, if you are, I am as well."

Angelina sighed and looked at the floor.

"No, I am crazy. I see him sometimes. I'll catch a glimpse of someone with red hair and for a second I'll think it's him. It's so stupid. I know it's not him but I can't help but hope."

George wanted to help her. He really did but he couldn't think of anything to do. After a moments deliberation he decided the best thing to do was prove he was crazier than her. That wasn't going to be hard.

"I still talk to him."

Angelina looked at him, surprised.

"You do?"

George nodded.

"Yeah. Crazy, huh?"

Angelina smiled gently and shook her head.

"I reckon he can see us. And hear us. I think they watch us from up there. It makes sense."

Angelina paused for a moment.

"Does it help?" She asked.

"Yeah. Sometimes you kind of feel like he's right there, listening. You know?"

Angelina nodded and looked at her feet while she spoke.

"I worry about him sometimes. I worry that he's lonely up there. That he's sad. It's silly."

A small blush rose to her cheeks.

"I don't think it's silly." George too her hand, "I worry about him too. All the time."

Angelina smiled.

"Do you remember when you and Fred left school? You flew out of there on confiscated brooms and defied one of the most senior members of the Ministry. I don't think I've ever seen anybody as alive as you two were that day. It was amazing."

George looked at her.

"That's my favourite memory of him." She whispered.

"Mines too." George confided. "Do you remember the time we set off those fireworks just after Umbridge became Headmistress?"

Angelina nodded. Her face seemed to brighten right before George's eyes.

"Or when Harry did that quibbler interview and Fred charmed the cover so that Harry said things like 'Eat dung Umbridge!'"

Angelina giggled, quietly.

"Fred did always have a way with words." Angelina said, sarcastically.

Together the burst into laughter and then at the same time they gasped.

"That's the first time I've laughed since Fred died." They said in unison.

They looked at each other and smiled.

"I guess I'd better go. Do you mind if I come back and see you again at some point?"

"Not at all." George answered with a smile. For once it wasn't a fake smile, forced because it's the polite thing to do, it was a genuine smile. A happy smile.

Angelina hesitated before leaning in and squeezing George in a hug. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and left.

George lifted a hand and placed it on the slightly damp patch on his cheek. She'd kissed him and it'd felt surprisingly nice. Her lips had been soft and light. He wanted to see her again. More than anything else he wanted to see her.

After a few hours the family began to arrive. George's parents arrived first.

"Happy Birthday, Honey." Mrs. Wesley leant in and crushed George against her chest.

"Hey, Mum. Are you trying to suffocate me?" Mrs. Weasley let go and smiled at her son.

"How are you? Are you doing ok?"

George nodded.

"I'm fine." Mrs. Weasley squeezed his hand tightly and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It'll get easier, son, I promise." whispered into his ear.

George nodded but didn't speak. He didn't know what to say.

A few minutes later Ron and Hermione arrived. Hand in hand, as usual.

"Happy Birthday." Hermione gave him a quick hug and smiled kindly at him. It was obvious to George that Hermione was itching to ask if he was doing ok but, thankfully, she refrained. George knew that people fussed over him out the kindness of their hearts but he couldn't help but wish that they'd leave him alone.

Ron nodded at him and added his gift to a small pile on the table.

Next to arrive was Bill and Fleur. Moments after their arrival Percy and his new girlfriend, Audrey, arrived.

George was glad for the new distraction. Today was the first day everyone got to meet Percy's new girlfriend. George was thankful that for once the spotlight wasn't shining on him.

George had felt surrounded ever since Fred had died. He was very rarely left alone and when he was in company he felt like everyone was waiting for him to crack. He felt like everyone was watching him carefully, looking for signs that he might not be able to take it anymore. It suffocated him. The constant watching, constant listening and constant company.

Charlie, being back in Romania, wasn't able to make it so last to arrive were Harry and Ginny.

"George!" Ginny flung herself into his arms and squeezed him almost as tight as his Mum had done.

George held her close and patted her head.

"Oh, my little Harpie, it sure is nice to see you again!"

"You heard?" Ginny asked, a smile lighting up her face.

"Yeah, course I heard. Not even out of school yet and already being scouted by the Holyhead Harpies, not bad little sis, not bad."

Ginny grinned and gave George one last quick hug before going to say hello to her mum.

George looked around the living room and his eyes fell on a small pile of presents on the kitchen table. They were all wrapped in different wrappers. There was one of each.

Just like he and Fred, they weren't in pairs anymore.

It looked so indescribably odd to his eyes. On his Birthday there had always been two copies of each present. The presents came together, each had a partner but this year, just like George, they were alone.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear. . ."

There was a moment of awkward hesitation as everybody thought about the name that was misssing, the person that always would be missing. ". . . George! Happy birthday to you!"

As everybody erupted into a loud chorus of hip hip hooray George struggled to hold himself together. His name didn't sound right on his own. It sounded lonely. It wasn't right. It had always been Fred and George. Fred and George. Fred and George.

But now it wasn't, it was just . . . . George.

He opened his presents one by one. As each one was unwrapped George could hear Fred doing a running commentary.

"Oh, New beater bat! Not too bad. A guide to running a successful business? That'll be Percy's present I guess. Is he trying to insult us? Voucher for Honeydukes. From Harry? Wow, good present. If he wasn't Ginny's I might just date him myself."

George grinned as Fred continued to offer his remarks on the presents he had received.

After a couple of hours everyone began to leave. Although first to arrive his parents were the last to leave.

had already left via the fireplace but as stepped up to the fire she paused.

"Are you ok George? You seem different today?" She placed her hand on his cheek and searched his face, worried.

"I'm fine. Mum, I've told you."

"I know. But you do seem different. You look. . . Lighter, more hopeful. You seemed more like your old self today. It was nice. I've missed you."

She kissed him on the cheek and again enveloped him in a squashy hug.

After she left George thought about what she had said. She was right. He did feel different.

Today, for the first time in ages, George had smiled because he was happy and not because it was the socially acceptable thing to do. He laughed and he joked. Just like he'd always done.

George felt . . . He didn't now what it was but he definitely felt different, better.

For the first time George believed his father words.

"It'll get easier."

It seemed things already had.

The shards of glass in his throat hadn't gone but they seemed less sharp. It was easier to breath.

George smiled, as he got ready for bed, only one thing was on his mind.

Angelina.

"Hey, bro. I have favour to ask you! I know it's against the rules of the guy code but I think you should make an exception for me. I sense I like Angelina. What do you think? Ha, I'd knew you'd understand! Got any tips for wooing her? Yes, you can think about it and get back to me in the morning. How was your birthday? It was weird without you. Well, happy birthday.

Night Freddie."