Oh my goodness! I am so sorry it has taken so long to update. I had a college open house, work, an athletic banquet, and of course the Hunger Games premier this week! So without further ado, Chapter Ten!

Chapter Ten Loss

The end of the school year came ever nearer and all of the students and staff were greatly anticipating their summer holidays. The castle had continued to warm up and there was an ever tempting view of the lush grounds from Ella's classroom.

On the morning of May second, while most of the students were at breakfast, Professor McGonagall gave a speech about the many lives and their victory of the Second Wizarding War.

Ella had been in France for that event and George never spoke of it. She was interested to hear about it and the students all applauded when the Headmistress finished.

After he last class of the day Ella changed out of her robes and apparated to the Burrow. George had told her he would meet her there.

As soon as she walked through the kitchen door she was attacked by a horde of children and almost brought to the ground. As Ella tried to regain her balance she saw a flash of blonde come running through the door.

"Ella!" Victoire yelled, wrapping her arms around the woman's middle.

"Hey!" Ella ruffled her hair.

Victoire pulled away. "Where's my present?"

"Victoire!" Fleur exclaimed at her daughter's rudeness. "Aren't you glad she iz 'ere?"

Victoire nodded. "Yeah, but it is my birthday."

Ella laughed. "I didn't forget. Your Uncle George is bringing it," she explained.

A couple of hours later after they had cut the birthday cake and sang 'Happy Birthday' to Victoire, George had still not shown up. The little girl was getting impatient, but she had to wait for her favorite uncle.

"Percy, I'm going to get her present and maybe George," Ella said quietly as she left the kitchen.

All of the Weasleys watched her go, fearing what she might find, what they had all found at one point or another. They had all suffered through the anniversary of the end of the War and they had all seen George struggle worst of all. Even after Victoire was born and they had a reason to celebrate, George had not come around.

Ella apparated into George's apartment and began searching for Victoire's present that they had picked out together. She rummaged through the closet and under the bed and everywhere else she could think of, but after twenty minutes of looking she came up empty handed.

Walking through the joke shop and out the door, Ella thought of what that day meant to George. He had lost his twin and other half on that day and though he suffered every day, the anniversary was so much worse. She understood why it was so painful for him, she really did, but at the same time she thought he should try to make an effort for his nieces and nephews.

Ella knew where she could find him and as soon as she walked into the deserted pub she saw his red head sitting at the bar. She put her on the bar so he would notice here when she came to stand next to him.

Slowly George turned to look at her with bloodshot, bleary eyes.

"I was just on my way to the party," he said quietly.

Ella nodded. "The party started," she checked her watch, "Almost three hours ago."

Victoire's present was sitting on the bar in front of him, next to his whiskey glass. "I just needed a drink he muttered."

"Well it looks like you've a few more than one." Ella put a hand on her hip.

George looked back up at her and the bleariness was gone from his eyes. It had been replaced with a deep hatred that shot right through Ella. "Get off my back, Ella," he nearly snarled.

"Excuse me?"

"I said get off my back. You're standing there judging me like you could possibly understand." He traced the rim of his glass. "You have no idea. You've lived your charmed life and nothing has ever gone wrong for you," he spat.

"You're right, George. I haven't been through anything nearly as traumatic as you have." Ella looked at him evenly. "Many people haven't, but you make them suffer as if they had."

George glared up at her, but she continued unfazed. "What do you think Victoire things? She probably thinks she's done something terrible and she can't understand what made you upset with her. You are her favorite uncle and you're not at her birthday party, George!"

"How do you expect me to celebrate today? He died today!" George hissed.

"Fred died six year ago," Ella said quietly.

"Is that supposed to make it easier?" George demanded. He had a vice-like grip on his glass and Ella feared it might shatter.

She shook her head. "No, of course not." She put a hand on his shoulder. "It will never be easy."

George violently jerked his shoulder and Ella's hand fell away from him. "So what do you want? Why are you here? It's none of your business anyway."

Ella sighed exasperatedly. "I'm here to try and help you. You're hurting your family," she said, an edge evident in her voice.

"I hurt, Ella!" George exploded, causing the few other bar dwellers to look at the arguing pair. "What do you not understand?" He yelled, banging his glass on the bar.

Ella stepped back from him. He glared at her for a moment, his angry face as red as his hair. He finally looked away and Ella took a deep breath. She had never seen him so angry. Occasionally, he would have an outburst, but he had never spoken to her in such a manner.

Running a hand through her hair, Ella looked down at him. She felt sorry from him and she could understand his pain, but he couldn't be so miserable for the rest of his life. George would make everyone miserable if he continued on the way he was and Ella wasn't sure she wanted to spend the rest of her life trapped in his misery. She was honestly a little frightened of his temper, but she knew she couldn't back own. His own family wouldn't approach him, but somebody had to.

"Do not raise your voice at me, George Weasley," she said sternly. "Again, I understand. Do you understand that the rest of your family lost Fred too? Your parents lost a son!"

"So why are they celebrating today?" He asked. "How do they go on as if nothing happened?"

"They don't. It's a hard day for everyone, but they come together to support each other. And I think because they know that celebrating the victory and Victoire's birthday is what Fred would want." Ella was speaking gently, trying to help him.

He looked at her curiously.

Ella went on. "I think Fred would want you all to celebrate. He would want you to celebrate the victory that he fought so hard for." Ella looked at him, hoping her words were doing something for him, but he stubbornly refused to meet her gaze. She sat on the barstool next to him. Not wanting to argue with him any longer, she put herself on his level, sitting next to him.

"I believe he's watching you from wherever he is and I don't think he's enjoying g the show, love. He doesn't want you to be upset and sat. He wants you to be happy. He wants you to be celebrating with the rest of your family. I'm sure he wants you to let yourself be happy." She placed her hand, taking a deep breath, on his.

"My God, Ella!" He was yelling at her again. "How can you talk about him like that? You don't know where he is or what he wants! You didn't even know him! You have no right!" He nearly threw her hand away from him.

Ella put her head in her hands and tried not to cry. She couldn't cry in front of him, it would only enrage him further and cause him to yell more. She wanted to be done arguing with him.

"Well I guess I'll just take Victoire her gift." Ella picked up the wrapped package.

"I'll go to the party," George muttered.

"That's not the best idea. You don't want the children to see you like this and you'll only upset your mother." Ella turned to walk away and got a few feet from the bar when she barely heard him speak again.

"Have you ever lost someone, Ella?" He whispered.

Ella wasn't sure she had heard him, but she put the present on a table and turned around, going back to him. She twisted the beautiful engagement ring off of her finger. Holding it in her palm and staring at it for a moment, she laid it on the bar next to George's whiskey glass.

"I just did."

I had to get back to my angsty roots! It's just too easy with George! I hope you liked it! Let me know what you thought!

Happy reading,

Avonmora