Chapter 11 – Company – No one POV
George had been sitting talking away to Laura for some time. Both of them were extremely glad of the company as George found sitting by Fred's beside on his own very lonely and was thankful having someone to talk too. He did talk away to Fred but he wasn't sure if his twin could hear him. Hermione told him it was good to talk to someone who was in a coma as it can help their recovery.
Laura had mentioned hearing people's voices before she woke up however most of them were just mumbles.
"I did recognise my parent's voices but I couldn't make out what they were saying."
George was extremely interested in Laura's muggle magazine called Smash Hits that she had pulled out of her bed side cabinet. Unlike wizarding magazines, the pictures didn't move which Laura was quite glad as the moving pictures freaked her out when she first arrived at Hogwarts. She did have some lovely ones however from her time at Hogwarts with her friends, such as from the Yule Ball and a Christmas Party.
Laura explained to George about muggle music that she liked and introduced him to her favourite bands; a boyband called Boyzone who hailed from her country of Ireland and a girl band from the UK called The Spice Girls.
"I grew up listening to these two bands along with a boy band called Take That who are no longer together." Laura told him as they flicked through the magazine.
In the wizarding world the most well know band is called the Weird sisters who had performed at the Yule Ball. To be honest Laura didn't really think much of them nor any of the other music but she never ever told anyone that. Muggle borns were hated enough in the wizarding world without that adding to it.
George was keen to hear what these bands sounded like so Laura reached into the black and pink rucksack beside her bed and pulled out a small silver gadget. George's brown eyes widened in suspense.
"What is that?" He questioned.
"It's called a cassette tape player. It plays music into your ears." Laura answered taking out a pair of black headphones.
"Wait until Dad sees this." George chirped not taking his eyes off it.
Laura opened it up with a press of a button and brought out a grey coloured tape.
"This is a tape and it has loads of songs recorded onto it. You can even record songs from the radio onto them. Bands and popstars bring these out with their songs on them for their fans to buy and then depending on how well they sell they enter into the official UK single and albums charts." Laura explained telling George everything about the muggle music industry.
George was fascinated. He couldn't believe that such things existed. Then again there was a lot of things in the muggle world that witches and wizards didn't know anything about and vice versa.
"Would you like a listen?" Laura asked George holding out one of the headphones. George nodded his head, took the little object off Laura and placed it in his ear which had been healed after getting it blown off nearly a year ago. As soon as the music started, George jumped a little.
"Wow this is amazing. We have radio but this, this is brilliant. I might have to get myself one of these. Dad will love them." He chirped excitedly like a child on Christmas morning.
It was clear Arthur Weasley's obsession with muggles had rubbed off on his children; then again the kids went to school alongside a lot of muggle borns; Harry and Hermione included. As the songs continued to play in his ear, Laura showed him how the tape player worked.
"You'll have to come to our house sometime. Once things get back to normal of course. My parents would love to have you all over." Laura suggested.
"Your parents have already asked my family over to yours."
Arthur and Molly were planning on having a party once Fred recovered and got out of hospital and to celebrate the end of the war.
"We'd love that." George answered smiling.
The pair continued to talk quietly about nothing in particular. The topic then changed to the twin's shop Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
"We were extremely lucky that our shop never got attacked, one of the only ones in the whole of Diagon Alley. We put up loads of protective spells around it and made it look like a derelict building so no one would touch it. I haven't had a chance to go and check it since we left before Bill and Fleur's wedding unfortunately. It could be blown up for all we know." George explained shuddering at the last comment.
"I really hope it hasn't been blown up. You and Fred worked so hard to get that shop up and running and it was really popular." Laura answered.
Laura loved the shop having visited it as soon as it opened. It amazed her and it made her see the twins in a different light. They were no longer the mischievous, trouble making Weasley twins anymore but were ambitious business men.
"I can't wait to get it opened again. People are going to need cheering up more than ever now. We might have to help with getting the ministry and the rest of the businesses up and running again first though. We were actually thinking of buying over Zonkos too." George said.
They were ambitious there was no doubt about it.
"Well if you need any help just ask. I don't mind lending a hand. I'm sure I could get a few people to help as well." Laura offered.
"That would be brilliant Laura. We're going to need as much help as possible to rebuild everything." George answered. He looked worried.
There was an awkward silence for a few moments. For the first time Laura got to see the real George Weasley and not George one half of Fred and George. George always seemed overshadowed by Fred at times, who was much louder. Laura had always liked the twins and thought they were quite charming, handsome young men. They seemed to have grown up so much but she put that down to the business and you-know-who returning. Everyone needed to grow up a little. There was something about George that set him apart from Fred, but Laura couldn't quite put her finger on it.