If I had to pick one place I absolutely hated to go, I would pick St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies. After our visit there to see Katie Bell, who insisted chipperly that she was fine even as she struggled to sit up straight, I left our shop to go for a walk in the chilly mid-October evening. The sun was just starting to set, casting long shadows on the empty streets of Diagon Alley.

Was it sad that it was beginning to feel normal for the diminished crowds to leave so early in the day? I found that I rarely thought about the bustling days before the attack anymore. The more time passed, the less I thought about how things used to be. I could only think about how things were in that moment and how they would be when the war ended. Which it would, I kept reminding myself. This was all temporary. Voldemort had been defeated once, and he would be defeated again. This time, with Harry Potter, it would be for good. There would be no return.

Of course, to achieve the ultimate victory, many more sacrifices would be made. Sacrifices like Emmaline and Amelia. Like Katie. Like me.

George originally wanted to come with me, but I insisted I wanted to be alone. I even snapped at him a bit when he chased after me with a jacket, although now I rather wished I had taken it. It was a bit nippy, after all. Hopefully, he understood. I just really hated that hospital. All the sick and dying, reminders of how a perfect life could be ruined in an instant by something completely innocent, made me queasy. Katie's life changed immediately because of an amulet. An amulet. It made me feel like the charm bracelet on my wrist, a Christmas present from Fred, would kill me somehow. Maybe the necklace I wore, a gift from George, would strangle me. Who knew?

I heard Angie's footsteps running up behind me and knew it was her before she said anything, recognizing her gate and the little "hmph" noises she always made as she ran. Still, I pulled out my wand just in case, only to put it away when she caught up. She easily caught my stride and fell into step with me, walking silently beside me for quite a while. The sun was no more than a sliver on the horizon, and I was just turning back for home with my head no clearer, when she broke our silence.

"I have to join the Order."

"Excuse me?" I frowned at her. "You have to what?" This was news. Angelina Johnson never had to do anything.

"I mean, I don't want to join join. Not like you lot. I don't want to do rescue missions and be in the middle of attacks. But, living with you three and seeing what's happened here," she motioned to Diagon Alley, "and to Katie…" She shook her head. "I need to know what's going on. I need to be in those meetings you go to, not sitting two rooms away with a crotchety house elf. If I can do something to end all this, then I have to do that."

"You're sure?"

Angie nodded solemnly and looped her arm through mine. "I'm sure."

"All right, then. We'll talk to the Order, get you sorted out. There are plenty of tertiary members like that. Only used in emergencies, scouting and things like that."

"Works for me," she agreed. "How are you?"

"I don't like St. Mungo's," I mumbled.

"I know. It wasn't that bad, though. Katie's got a long recovery ahead, but she'll be just fine. She's in good hands."

"I know."

"You've been off lately, Mel. Is everything all right with you and George?"

As we were almost back to the shop, where lights were on and the boys were clearly visible through the windows chucking things at each other and laughing happily, I took our few precious moments to admit something to my dearest, oldest friend.

"No, Angie. I don't think they are. I think I've ruined it."

"I doubt that," she told me, resting her hand on the doorknob. "He's still very much in love with you. You'll sort it out." With that, she opened the door, which I was thankful for. Because, yes, George may still have been very much in love with me, but that was exactly the problem. If he knew what I did, he probably would not be.

"Ah, just the ladies we were looking for!" George beamed. "How're you doing?"

"We're fine," I assured him. I wrapped my arms around him and cuddled against his body for warmth, which he seemed to have no problem with. "I'm cold."

"Because you didn't take a jacket. I told you to take a jacket."

"I know," I mumbled into his chest. "I didn't want one."

"Well, when you wake up tomorrow with a cold, don't complain."

"I'll complain all I like," I informed him, sticking my tongue out playfully. George grinned and planted a kiss on my forehead. Fred gagged.

"Disgusting. You two are absolutely disgusting," he told us.

Angie smacked him solidly in the shoulder. "They're cute," she corrected. "Just because you have the heart of a glumbumble doesn't mean-"

"You want to go out with me?"

"-you get to…what?"

Fred's eyes flew wide open, and Angie threw a hand over her mouth and scrambled away from him. Apparently, his question surprised himself as much as it did her. Fred's face turned beat red as Angie stared at him silently, and George buried his face in my hair to keep from laughing. His fit of near giggles put me on the brink of laughter, too, at our friends' predicament, and I stuck two knuckles in my mouth to control myself.

Fred swallowed heavily and tried again. "Do you want to go out with me, like, on a date?" Angie continued to stare, which only seemed to agitate him. "Oh, come off it, Ang, it's not that shocking a question." Nothing. "Angie." She blinked. "Right, if you want to say no, that's fine, just say it." She shook her head slowly, and Fred flared at me. "I told you."

I pulled my fingers from my mouth. "What have I got to do with this?"

"You've been telling me all about how she –"

"Yes."

Fred, unlike Angie, actually stopped at the sound of her voice. "I thought you said 'no'."

"I was just shaking my head. That wasn't a no," she snapped, crinkling her eyes as if she found the very idea of turning him down preposterous. "Are you an idiot?"

Fred looked at George for an answer, but his brother had no answer. "I…don't think so, no. So…that was a yes, then, right?"

Angie rolled her eyes. "Of course it was a yes, you daft dimbo. What else would I say?"

"Erm…" This time, Fred looked at me. The answer just seemed too obvious, and I knew he would get smacked for saying it, but I only shrugged. Let him take the plunge if he felt so inclined. "No?"

Angie "hmph"d and backhanded his forearm. "To be perfectly clear, Fred, yes. Yes, I will go on a date with you."

"She's not cheap," I warned him. "I've been on dates with Angie. She's high maintenance.

Angie whirled around to hit me, but I flinched into George's chest and narrowly avoided her hand. "I will end you, Mel, I swear!" She turned back to Fred. "Don't listen to her. I'm not high maintenance."

"I really don't care," Fred informed her. "If you're too much trouble, I'll just leave you behind and go have fun on my own."


This one ended up shorter than most, I know, but the next one will probably be on the longer side to make up for it! I'll be going back to school soon, so if posts slow down in a few weeks, that'll be why. Everything should be fine, but I wanted to warn you just in case! As always, thanks for reading and reviewing! Comments, criticisms, suggestions, and whatnot are always welcome!

Next Chapter: Coins and Carefully Laid Traps