A/N: Sorry this took me so long to write. School is starting in two days, and one of my best friends is leaving for France soon, so I've been really busy and stressed lately.
George sat out near the ocean. It was late November, and he knew that he should have been wearing a coat, but he couldn't be bothered with going back inside. He looked over his shoulder and saw Ron and Harry in the kitchen, both of them grinning as Bill said something. George knew that he didn't fit in with them anymore. Hell, maybe he never fit in with them in the first place. Maybe Fred was the one who really fit in, and George just got swept along in his wake.
George sighed heavily, staring though his misting breath at the horizon. He tried not to shiver, and buried his head in hands. A particularly loud bark of laughter from the kitchen startled him, and he sat upright, gasping in the cold air. Sometimes Ron's laugh sounded just like Fred's. Tears flecked the corners of George's eyes and he got to his feet. He stared at his feet as he walked back toward the cottage. One step at a time. He breathed heavily, and froze. What was the point of going back inside? Everyone would look at him with pity, and would try to make him eat, and would ask if he was okay even though they knew the answer.
The breeze off of the sea was cold, but George could barely feel it anymore. He could barely feel anything anymore. He had gone numb a few days ago, and he liked it. It dulled the pain and horror within his head.
…
Bill looked out the kitchen window and saw George standing outside of the house, looking down at the ground. He could tell that his younger brother was shaking, but he wasn't sure if it was because of the cold or what he was thinking.
"Excuse me," Bill said, as he grabbed his jacket off of the back of Fleur's chair.
"Where are you going?" Ron asked.
Bill jerked his head toward George, who was still staring at the ground. Bill turned, opening the back door and walking outside. He softly closed it behind him and walked toward his brother. "Hey, George."
George looked up, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Come inside?" Bill held out one arm.
George walked forward, and Bill wrapped his arm around George's shoulder, leading him into the house. Fleur opened the door when they got close, staring up at Bill with concern in her eyes.
George shrugged out from under Bill's arm and practically ran out of the room. Ron stared after him. Harry and Fleur shared a look. They both wanted to help, but they knew it wasn't their place.
Bill and Ron looked at each other, then nodded, walking out after George.
…
George was sitting on his bed, his hands knotted together, when he heard a knock on the door. He looked up as Bill and Ron walked in. None of them said anything as Bill and Ron sat on the bed on either side of George. The three brothers sat together in silence, staring at the floor. Ron lifted his hand, letting it fall onto George's knee. George glanced over at him, and Ron stared at him. There was so much Ron wanted to say to his older brother, but he didn't know how to get the words out. The hollow, haunted glint in George's eyes was enough to make the breath in his throat catch. So, he stayed silent.
…
A/N: Sorry that was so ridiculously short. I'm wayyy too stressed about school… and it hasn't even started yet.
