[I apologize once again for the delay. I planned on a chapter a day for this story, but I've had so much going on between summer work for Honors English and a few confusing emotional problems in my own personal life that I won't go into here. But, nonetheless, I once again thank you for all the support and constructive criticism :D Keep the advice coming please, I love being able to improve my writing, but enough blabbering. Here's chapter six.

George woke up leaning against a large, beautiful oak tree in the middle of a lush meadow. The sun was shining flawlessly through the leaves, leaving neat patterns on George's skin. He leaned forward, away from the tree and looked around. He could see nothing but dead, twisted trees over the horizon behind him and to his left and right, However, waiting before him, there was nothing but an endless, open meadow. He stood up and looked up at the tree. It was so high, he couldn't even guess where it stopped. He placed a hand softly on the bark and instinctively closed his eyes. He could feel a power pulsating through the tree, like the life source of any normal human being, only amplified. He could hear the heart of the tree beating steadily against his palm.

George opened his eyes and looked around at the meadow, it's tall grass swaying in the cool, almost rhythmic breeze. He felt his hair tousled by the wind, as if it was teasing him. Looking to the forest, he was surprised to see that none of it's deceased trees were moving. He furrowed his brow curiously and walked past the oak tree, his fingers gliding over the bark, letting the life flow through him and the heartbeat fill his ears.

As soon as he moved to the other side of the tree, the wind disappeared, but it still moved the open meadow opposite of the forest. The wind was, strangely enough, emanating from the tree.

George looked over his shoulder at the meadow. It was like an ocean, ripples of grass flowing towards the horizon. What was beyond that horizon, George didn't know. He looked back to the forest and saw something moving in the gloomy, lifeless shadows of the trees. George squinted. The figure began to move towards the forest edge. He felt the heartbeat of the tree quicken. A scream drowned out the tree's pulse, echoing shrilly in his ears. George took his hand from the bark to cover his ears.

He squinted at the figure in the woods. It looked almost human, familiar in fact, but he couldn't make out a face. He tried to yell something out, but his lips could not form words. He saw the pale white of an evil grin through the shadow, and like a hosed down painting, the whole scene melted away before his eyes.

George woke up peacefully in his bed. Raindrops were pouring over the rooftop and trickling down his window while thunder rumbled softly in the distance. George immediately rolled over to check his clock on the nightstand. It was six in the morning. George threw off his covers and groggily rose from bed and staggered over to the window. The cobblestone street was wet and slippery looking, and puddles formed in the corners and in deep crevices in the stone.

Remembering it was Sunday morning, George considered going back to bed and letting the rain lull him to sleep. He put his hand on his bare stomach and felt it growl hungrily. None of the cafés were open on Sundays, and his stomach didn't sit very well with the stuff that the Leaky Cauldron was brave enough to call food. He decided leave Diagon Alley and find a Muggle breakfast diner to go to.

George pulled a t-shirt out of his closet with a picture of the muggle band "Oasis" on the front. He yanked it over his head and pulled on some socks and sneakers. He dug through his closet for a muggle jacket and found a black pea coat balled up in the corner. He put it on and buttoned up as he left his apartment and walked downstairs to the shop front. He went behind the counter and tapped the cash register twice with his wand.

"Password?" asked the cash register in a cool woman's voice.

"There's no such thing." he replied.

"Confirmed." said the register, it's drawer sliding open. George lifted the black box where all the money was and scooped out a handful of muggle money out from the bottom. He attempted to count it all out, a little rusty on his mathematics. He had around thirteen pounds. He pocketed the money, figuring that would be enough for a cup of coffee and some bacon and eggs.

He left the store, locking the door behind him, and put up his hood before venturing out into the heavy rain. George ran with his hands in his pockets to the other side of the street, pressing against closed shops to shield himself from the rain. Diagon Alley was completely empty, and all of the shop windows were dark and empty aside from the usual displays set up. The sky was a dark gray, and George could see thunderclouds in the distance. He should've thought to bring an umbrella with him. Only a few stores more popular stores would open today, like the Magical Menagerie and Flourish and Blotts.

George turned the corner past Fortescue's. His thoughts took a sharp turn from the weather to Autumn. He immediately began to wonder when he would be seeing her again. He remembered her saying she worked at the Leaky Cauldron during the day, but did he really want to bother her during work? Maybe he could send her an owl asking her to meet him again, but he didn't have an owl, and the post office was closed on Sundays.

George had also remembered her saying that she had her own room at the Leaky Cauldron. Maybe she had breakfast there too. George turned past Flourish and Blotts and sprinted across the street to the enchanted brick wall. He tapped it accordingly with his wand and jumped through the hole before the bricks had even finished moving. He hurried over to the back entrance into the Leaky Cauldron. He rushed inside, closing the door behind him to shut out the rain.

He pulled his hood down and looked around the bar. Aside from a few tired looking wizards huddling over their morning coffee, the bar was empty, and completely quiet. George took a seat at the bar, taking off his jacket and setting it on the floor next to him.

"Mr. Weasley…" yawned Tom, the barman. "Up early this morning aren't we?"

"Couldn't sleep." George murmured, reaching into his pocket for his breakfast money. He groaned as he felt the muggle coins in his pockets. "I forgot my wizard money."

"That's ok, Mr. Weasley." said Tom. "Converting muggle money is simple. What can I get for you?"

George yawned. "Pea soup?"

"Coming up." said Tom motioning at a red headed waitress cleaning tables behind George. The waitress nodded and hurried to the back room. Tom gave another yawn. "So…" he began. "I heard you were causing a right bit of trouble in my bar the other night."

George felt guilt in the pit of his stomach. "I'm sorry Tom, it was just…well Malfoy-"

"Apology accepted Mr. Weasley. Miss Davies told me the whole story after you went home yesterday morning. Didn't Molly ever tell you no to go to bars so late at night, or to pick a fight with wizards like Mr. Malfoy for that matter?"

George nodded. "Yeah, I just wasn't being myself last night. Felt a bit out of sorts."

Tom yawned into his hand and wiped his nose on his sleeve. "Now you know why I don't work the night shift, ever! Scary people hang out here at night, and I'm sure your mother would go frantic with worry if she knew you had been among any of them."

George felt rather small, being scolded for being out too late at the age of eighteen. "Autumn told me that Malfoy has caused trouble here before."

"Oh, you bet he has. Always coming in here with those friends of him. Gives me the chills whenever I have to go down there at night. I have yet to see his father down here though, but let me tell you, that Malfoy boy- ah, Hagrid! Great to see you!" Tom's attention turned to the large, hairy man who had just ducked through the door way from the muggle street, pink umbrella in hand.

"Lo', Tom! Ruddy day to be out in't it?" asked Hagrid.

"Unbelievable!" answered Tom. "I'll have to hand out towels to all my customers if this rain doesn't let up."

Hagrid sat at the bar only a seat away from George, his giant body taking up three barstools. Tom handed him a large mug of fire whiskey. "Jus' go' a few things to do before classes start this year." Hagrid took a deep drink from his mug. "Professor McGonagall 'as taken over for Professor Snape, and we 'ave a bit o' cleanin' up to do."

Tom nodded. "Yes, that big fight over there must've done a lot of damage."

"Like you wouldn't believe!" said Hagrid.

The red headed waitress from before came up to the bar holding a bowl of what looked like green mud. "Pea soup." she said placing the bowl and spoon in front of George.

"Why, George! Didn' see you there all huddled up an' everythin'. How you been?" asked Hagrid.

"I've been great, thanks." George took a sip of the soup and winced. It tasted revolting Tom eyed him curiously.

"Hot." George lied quickly.

Hagrid and Tom proceeded to talk about work and such. Hagrid was preparing a couple of Kelpies for his first lesson this year, and Tom was discussing about an infiltration of doxies in the cellar that someone was going to try ton fix later that day. George politely attempted to take a few more sips of pea soup, but couldn't stand the horrible taste and decided to ignore it. He propped his elbow up on the bar table and rested his chin in his hand as he began to think about Autumn again. Did he really like her? Did she like him? How was he supposed to tell. He had never really liked someone more than a friend, but he just didn't see Autumn as a friend.

George took in a sharp breath as someone tapped his shoulder softly. He spun around to see Autumn standing behind him, her hair up in a messy bun.

"So, how do you like that pea soup?" she asked taking the empty seat next to him, Hagrid and Tom still deep in conversation.

"Good morning Autumn." he said, avoiding the subject as quickly as possible.

Autumn smiled. "So, you working today?" she asked.

"Nope, we're closed on Sundays." he said.

"I'm off today too." she said yawning.

George saw his opportunity and seized it eagerly. "Really? So, do you want to ….I dunno, maybe hang out later?"

Autumn smiled as if that was what she was waiting for him to say all along. "What do you want to do?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe we could side-along-apparate to Hogsmeade, you'd get a nice view of Hogwarts from there if you want to see it."

Autumn just looked a George for a few minutes, like she was trying to figure him out. George almost couldn't stand her eyes, they were so piercingly beautiful.

"Alright." she finally answered. "When do you want to go?"

"I'm ready to go anytime, I just need to go home and put on some robes."

"I noticed." she said looking down at the muggle attire with some amusement. "I'll run upstairs and get ready. Meet you back here in about fifteen minutes?" she asked standing up.

"Alright." said George.

Autumn turned around and disappeared up the steps to the second floor of the Leaky Cauldron.

George stood up and noticed Hagrid beaming at him. "What?" George asked.

"Oh, nothin'." he said, still smiling at him."

George gave Hagrid an I-know-what-you're-thinking look before turning around to leave the pub through the back door. "Goodbye, Hagrid." he said.

"Have fun a' Hogsmeade." Hagrid replied with amusement.

George disappeared out the door.

[Sorry if this chapter seemed kind of pointless, but (BEWARE OF EXTREMELY VAGUE SPOILER) pieces of it will be vital later on, so it was completely pointless (END OF EXTREMELY VAGUE SPOILER) :D I'll try to write and post the next chapter as soon as possible. Thanks for reading :D