Next chapter up, thanks for reading.

George POV

I sat alone in the back room of the shop Fred and I lovingly called our lab. This was where we developed all our new products. It was a secure room, magically seals so only we could enter. These days, this was my sanctuary. I could sit back here and not worry about being interrupted by anyone. It wasn't that I was hiding, I just couldn't stand the looks anymore.

It had been a week since I met up with Dani and we had our talk. Talking with her really did help me feel better, but it didn't help make the looks stop. I wasn't sure what I was going to do about the looks. They were starting to make me develop a temper and I didn't like being that person. I didn't like being angry. I wanted to go back to being the lovable goofball, but I had no idea how to get there. I just didn't have much to laugh about, now that my sounding board was gone.

I heard a knock on the door. I groaned, laying my head on the table in front of me. It had to be Ron... again. I was thankful for his help with the shop, but he had so many questions. Questions, that if he took two seconds to think about, he could answer on this own.

The knock came again. I was just about to yell at the git when I heard Hermione's voice come from the other side of the door.

"George, can I come in?"

Hermione had been one of the few people who didn't give me the look. She had been a good friend during all of it and I was happy Ron had finally pulled his head out of his ass long enough to tell her how he felt. She had always been like a sister to me and as along as Ron didn't screw it up, she would eventually be my sister. The thought made me smile. I pulled out my wand and removed the charm keeping everyone out.

"Come in." I said, not bothering to lift my head up.

Hermione came in, closing the door behind her. He gave me a quizzical look.

"Are you alright?" She asked, taking a seat next to me.

I groaned again, wrapping my arms around my head. "Not really"

I felt her place a hand on my back, rubbing gentle circles.

"I've noticed that you seem to be getting further from your old self with time, rather than closer."

"I'm guessing you heard about my little outburst with Percy yesterday." My brother was by far the worst of my family when it came to the look. Yesterday, he had caught me at a bad moment and I had screamed at him for something stupid. I honestly don't remember what. Figures that Hermione would be the one to confront me on the mean streak I had developed. I think the family must have put her up to it. They knew I couldn't be mean to her.

"Ron told me. It's not like you to raise your voice like that. I'm worried about you. We all are."

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, sitting up in my seat to look her in the eye. "I'm just tired of it, Mione."

"Tired of what?" She asked, genuinely trying to understand.

I stood, pacing around the room. "Tired of everyone looking at me like I'm a broken toy. Like any moment I'm gonna crumble apart. I think I'm dealing with this very well, dammit. You don't know how hard it is, opening this shop everyday, knowing Fred is not here. Or going to dinner every Sunday, knowing Fred won't be sitting next to me. I could just stay in bed twenty-four hours a day, but no, I'm forcing myself to keep moving, praying every morning that today will be the day it will get easier! That today will be the day it stops feeling like someone shoved a red hot poker through my heart!"

By this time, I was shouting and fairly positive that everyone in the shop could hear me.

Hermione did nothing. Just sat with an even expression, listening to me vent. She did pull out her wand and cast a silencing charm on the door, so any further meltdown would be just between us.

"Feel better?" She asked, not moving from her seat. I could see concern in her eyes, but she was doing her best to give me room to move and say what I needed to say.

I scoffed, running my hands roughly through my hair, then chuckled, because I realized that I did feel better. "Yeah, I do."

She got up from her chair and wrapped me into a hug. "For the record, George, I think you're doing a phenomenal job dealing with Fred's death. You just need to vent once in a while, talk about how you feel to someone willing to listen. All that pent up anger is making you snap at people and snapping at people only makes them worry more."

"Or, instead of talking, I could lock myself in the lab for a few weeks. Do you think people would miss me? I won't have anger to vent if I don't see anyone." I was only half joking. Truth was, I had been seriously considering Dani's offer. The people around me needed time to deal with Fred's death and I desperately didn't want to be around during that time. Not anymore. I was having a hard enough time as it was without having to deal with everyone else's pity.

Hermione laughed, only hearing the joke in my words. "Of course we'd miss you, silly. You know I'll always be here when you need to vent. I don't take the yelling personally."

"Thanks, Mione. That means alot." I released her from the hug. "You should probably get back out there, before Ron starts to think something's going on back here."

Hermione laughed. "It would be just like him to think something silly like that."

I gave her a hurt look. "I'm offended. I'll have you know that I am highly doable!"

We both burst out laughing. Rolling her eyes, she left the lab. She always did know how to cheer me up.

It took me a few minutes to regain my composure enough to think straight. Once calm, I took a seat and thought about the options in front of me. I could stay here and utilized Hermione's offer to let me vent to her or I could run away with Dani and let the rest of the world recover without me as witness.

Decisions, decisions.

To Be Continued…

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