Chapter 6:
Fred frowned as he looked around George's room. He had come in here to see if his black dress trousers had been put in with George's clothes. He hadn't found them; he hadn't found anything really.
In George's wardrobe there were only one pair of jeans, four or five shirts, a pair of dress shoes that George had just gotten for the wedding, flip-flops, and one set of green dress robes. The only other article of clothing Fred had seen, besides the suit George had laid out for the wedding, was a blue fleece jacket. What had happened to all George's clothes?
All George's bookshelves were empty, which was extremely odd considering they had been so full that his brother had started piling them on the floor at one point. Where had all the books gone to? Maybe George had finally decided to pack them in a trunk with an enlargement charm on it.
Yes, Fred reasoned, that must be it; George must have done that to his clothes as well. He chuckled as he walked out of the room to find Jinx or Trix so he could get his trousers. George loved his clothes, it was impressive how many vintage muggle pieces he had managed to collect, yet still be able to appreciate all the new styles had were currently popular with muggles.
In his room Fred smiled at the suit that Angelina had decided on for the wedding. He was so excited - well of course he was, he was getting married today – but he was nervous too.
He wasn't a hundred percent positive about marrying Angelina – though his mother would murder him if he didn't after knocking her up. Yeah, he loved her and he was thrilled about having a future prankster to pass the art down to, but every time he thought about being with Angelina forever…it was a bad feeling he got in his gut…
That he needed to get over! Be quiet, Fred told himself. He really needed to get those thoughts out off his head. It was just the nerves talking. Angelina was great, their getting married was great, and the baby would be great.
He smiled into the mirror on the back of his door; he was fully dressed and looked damn good in his humble opinion. His smile morphed into a smirk as he walked into the living room to look for George. He couldn't wait to see how George would react when Fred told him he was going to be the godfather. Though George should have already suspected it, Fred thought, when he heard Ang was pregnant. Who else would Fred name godfather but his twin brother?
Everything would turn out brilliant.
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George reclined against a wall as he sipped on his glass of water. His clear brown eyes surveyed the scene not feeling anything particular. People were dancing, eating, drinking, and over all in high spirits. Who wouldn't be? There had just been a wedding after all.
Ah, the wedding. It had, of course, been beautiful and a smashing hit. Large white tents like the ones that had been a Bill's wedding had been set up and hundreds upon hundreds of rose petals soared through the air, prettily dancing on the May breeze.
The setting had been picture perfect for a wedding. The traditional blushing bride had glided gracefully down the aisle with a white, muggle dress on (she had insisted on muggle attire for everyone) going to meet her groom. Poetic vows had been read, I do's exchanged, and matrimony sealed with a chaste kiss (funny considering Angelina was no virgin and very much pregnant though no one could tell for looking yet). Then the event had easily transformed into a rowdy reception.
The entire thing had made him sick, even more so than his morning sickness.
George glanced at his pocket watch and noted that it was almost time for his portkey to leave. He had just one last task before leaving for his self-exile in Rathlea. At least he would have Draco and Harry to keep him company. Huh, that thought would have sounded extremely strange at one point in his life.
He found Charlie speaking with his boyfriend at the other side of the yard. He had been surprised when he learned his real estate agent had been dating his brother for quite some time now. But he was completely fine with it; Leon was a great guy as far as he could tell. (Extremely patient too, considering Leon had dealt with Draco without blowing up or quitting.)
"Hey, Charlie. Leon." He greeted as he came up on them.
"George." Charlie said with an easy smile as his boyfriend did the same.
"Hey, George." Leon said, "When are you going to move into your new house?"
"Today actually." He replied snatching another glance at his watch. He didn't have long left.
"What!" Charlie yelped, his head jerking towards his younger brother. He hadn't heard of this, and no one in the family seemed to know about George's purchase or impending move.
"Yeah, today's the day. That's why I wanted to talk to you." George said looking more serious than the elder Weasley had ever seen in his life. "I'm not going to be around for awhile so this is the last time the family will see me. I don't really know for how long."
"B-Bu-But- what are you saying- what do you mean – what's this about George?" Charlie asked frantically. A tornado of worry for his brother setting in, he grabbed George's shoulders and shook them for only a moment before George pushed him away with a crazed look in his eyes.
"You'll know eventually, it might not be for years, but someday you'll understand. Well," he said hesitantly, "you might not understand, but you'll know my reasoning."
Leon looked at George solemnly. "So, this is good-bye? That's it? What about the rest of your family? You're just going to up and disappear without saying anything at all to them?"
"Yes." Said George darkly, not thrilled to leave Charlie and Leon behind to deal with the fallout when his disappearance became known.
Leon tilted his head curiously, "I know where you're moving to you know." The implied 'I know where to find you' was left unsaid.
Charlie was the one to respond to that unspoken statement. "Magic, obviously. If he really doesn't want to be found it will be too easy for him to vanish. There are many concealing spells and charms, after all." The elder Weasley spoke in a dead monotone, as he came to terms with the situation for what it was.
For some reason Charlie couldn't fathom, his little brother didn't want to be around, and there was nothing he or anyone else could do to stop it.
Charlie licked his suddenly parched lips and gasped desperately. "Why? Why so soon after Fred's wedding? You know it'll break his heart when he comes back and finds that you vanished after the supposedly happiest day of his life."
George's face was as motionless as a statue and just as hard as he responded. "I only stayed as long as I did because of the wedding. I had been planning to move earlier, but I knew I had to stay around until today for Fred."
It was true, he should have gone to Rathlea weeks ago so he could rest and try to preserve his rapidly weakening strength. At the moment he couldn't manage to do some lower level spells much less apparate ergo: the portkey. Honestly, it was all he could do to maintain the glamour on his bulging belly; he knew it was likely to fail the moment he got back to Rathlea. Hopefully Draco, Harry, or Trix would have a pepper up potion waiting for him.
"So…you've been planning this for awhile." It wasn't a question.
George shrugged lightly and nodded his head, confirming the statement. Looking at his watch once more he found he only had seconds left before he was transported to Rathlea, so he smiled at his brother and Leon once more and said, "Good-bye. Don't bother looking for me. Tell everyone I love them." He clutched at his bracelet and moments later he was gone.
Charlie stared at the spot his brother had just moments ago stood until Leon gently grabbed his elbow and steered him over to where Ron, Bill, and Ginny were talking and drinking at.
"Where's George?" Ginny asked having seen him last talking to their second eldest brother.
Charlie shrugged not trusting his voice not to break as Leon spoke. "I think he went home."
"Really?" Bill asked, "That's unusual, but then again he has been looking tired for the past few weeks."
Ron just chuckled. "He's probably just upset Fred got married before him. He'll most likely come up hitched soon enough to keep up with Fred."
Charlie wouldn't have believed Ron's theory even if he hadn't know George was gay, he was just sad that they wouldn't know if George did. George was gone.
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"Took them long enough," Draco huffed irritably, throwing down the Daily Prophet onto George's bed. He was sitting in the lounge area that was beside George's king-sized canopy bed. Harry was sitting beside him looking angry.
George sat up and looked at the paper and snorted as he read the title.
George Weasley: MISSING!
BY: Rita Seeker
Mr. George Weasley, age twenty-two, co-owner of the popular prank shop 'Weasley Wizarding Wheezes' has vanished. The Weasley family reported his disappearance to the Ministry two days ago. Surprisingly though, this reporter uncovered that Mr. Weasley had not been seen since his brother's, Mr. Fred Weasley's wedding to Mrs. Angelina Weasley nee Johnson.
Had the family been so distracted with the wedding that they failed to notice the disappearance of one of their own?
The Weasley's have been known to be long time friend's of our Savior, Harry Potter, so it has been speculated that this could be a kidnapping by some of the rogue Death Eaters that are still at large. The Weasley family was unavailable for comments.
Let us all hope this upstanding young man is found safe and sound.
George sighed and shredding the paper with a vindictive glee. "I'm not sure I should be glad they took this long to realize it or cry because they only figured out I was gone when Fred pointed it out." Two days ago had been Fred and Angelina's return date from their honeymoon in Spain.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you cried considering how hormonal you are." Draco said snootily, and dodged easily when George weakly threw a pillow at him.
"Oh, shut up you. I'm not that bad, yet, I haven't cried because of a hat dropping now have I?" the read head said as Harry returned his pillow to him
"Yet." Agreed Draco with a smirk.
George turned to Harry with pleading eyes. "Could you hex him for me? Bat Boogey, Jelly Legs, anything, at the moment, I'm not picky."
Draco laughed and dodged out of the way as Harry sent him a tickling charm. Harry shrugged relaxing back into his seat, and in response to George's look, he said, "I tried."
George snorted delicately. "Yes, you've obviously exhausted all your powers to complete my task. Right."
Harry stuck out his tongue playfully, "Don't you know it. I'm going to have to take a nap after all that strenuous work you had me doing."
"While this is an absolutely riveting discussion," Draco drawled, growing board now that he wasn't a target. "Don't we need to get started on designing the nursery?"
"Paint the walls blue," suggested Harry, earning him questioning looks from the other two. "What? Teddy loves blue."
"Sorry, I was thinking more-"
Draco cut him off with a snort. "Let me guess Gryffindor red and gold. Atrocious colors in any setting. Much too bright for the baby to sleep, and all the house fixtures are silver. Not to mention if the child is cursed like the rest of your family, that red will clash horribly with my godson's hair."
Draco hadn't noticed the amusement growing in George's eyes. Oh, just wasn't the blond going to be happy to hear his plans, but it was so funny to hear him go off on a tangent.
Finally George started to chuckle, not really feeling able to go into a full blown laugh. "Draco, I was actually planning on just moving the furniture in here around to make space to put a crib in here, and not do a traditional nursery…" he paused relishing Draco's look of disappointment. It was obvious that the blond had wanted to help design the nursery. Then he continued, "Actually I was going to ask you to decorate the room across the hall as the nursery. Full creative control." He added with a wink at the end to let Draco know he could do full Slytherin colors if he thought it was good. Draco was the creative, picky one of the group anyway.
"Really?" asked Draco, a happy light popping up in his eyes.
"Really." George confirmed feeling suddenly tired. He leaned back into his pillows. It was so strange he wasn't supposed to be this weak already. If his strength kept going at this rate… No, he wasn't even going to think of that outcome.
"Though, Draco," he continued,"I don't want you to start until the end of July or early August." Seeing the look on the blonde's face he amended "You can start planning, picking out the colors and design already. Just don't start the actual room until then."
The blond scowled but nodded his head in assent. After all it was George's house and child despite it being his godson.
Harry noticed George's fluttering eyelids and decided it would be best for them to leave so he could rest. Harry caught Draco's eye and glanced at George and then the door. Draco tilted his head a fraction in acknowledgement.
After leaving instructions to call the house-elf to get them if he needed anything, they left him to rest.
They entered Teddy's temporary room and sat down on the floor near the child, who was playing with a stack of blocks that changed color every few moments.
"He's not doing well." Harry said softly, keeping his eyes focused on his godson.
There was no need to state who 'he' was.
"No, he's not." The blond agreed quietly. "And I don't think he's going to improve anytime soon."
"So eager to be a father Draco?" Harry asked dryly with dark sarcasm.
Gray eyes flashed with anger as Draco glared at the raven-haired man. "How dare you say that? Even imply it?" he hissed.
Harry realized what he had said in desolate sadness and bowed his head in shame. He just hated this; he hadn't thought he would have to face the death of another loved one for a very long time. And he had never thought that watching someone he loved waste away would be harder than seeing them murdered.
He hated to watch George grow weaker by the day, and he hated himself for being so selfish.
"I'm sorry Draco."
The blond sighed defeated by the weak voice his crush spoke in. He scooted closer to Harry and wrapped his arm around Harry's shoulder.
"I know. We're both just on edge lately."
Harry covered his face with his hands. "It's just… just so hard to see this." Harry whispered. "Why is he so insistent to keep this baby at the cost of his life? Do-Don't look at me like that – I know abortions are atrocious – but he's killing himself with no guarantee that the child will even live." Draco stared at him in disbelief; Harry continued, beginning to feel as if he was missing something. "He could always have another. I hadn't known he wanted a child this much."
"I have a hard time believing you're that oblivious, but there is no way you are that much of a hypocrite."
"What!" Harry shot back sharply.
"Don't you remember? You let the Dark Lord hit you with the killing curse – with no guarantee that the others would finish him off."
Harry paused contemplating Draco's words for a moment with a confused expression. When he spoke it was slow and deliberating. "That's different."
"How?" Draco demanded.
Harry didn't respond so Draco plowed forward. "You can't come up with an answer because there isn't one. He isn't doing anything different from what you did except for the scale of the effects." He pulled the black haired man closer instinctively.
Finally Harry spoke again. "You didn't answer why."
Draco sighed heavily. "Probably because of Fred."
"I know George loves him, but what has that got to do with this?"
"Everything." Draco said with a shrug. "Here, let me explain. Fred got married right? Well now George thinks he'll be put aside by Fred for Angelina and the baby. George probably would have gone mad having to watch all that, and he might have felt like he was losing his purpose in life." Draco paused, thinking of how to word the next part.
"In a way the George's getting pregnant couldn't have happened at a better time – regardless of the consequences. It gives George something to focus on besides Fred and his despair. The pregnancy is anchoring … even while it's hurting him."
A moment of silence prevailed.
"This is so screwed up."
Draco merely nodded in agreement, because it was a lose- lose situation.
AN: Yeah I'm really sorry it took this long to get this chapter out. First my computer wouldn't work and so many months had passed so I thought that no one was interested in this story anymore. So, really, I'm sorry about that. Now there will be more frequent updates. Anyway I apologize for any mistakes, I was trying to get this chapter typed up as fast as possibe so... Anyway, everybody thank fredgeorge forever2011 for getting my butt in gear and posting another chapter.