Ash and George cry some more, and Fred's cryptic message is revealed. Sorry if all this crying is getting depressing.

***

Ash cried for a long time. It was as though Fred had died all over again. When she finally collected herself, she got up and staggered over to the window, which looked out over the garden. She looked out over the garden, then at the sky. She gasped, and her head snapped back to the garden when she realized what she had seen.

George was curled on the grass, and Ash didn't have to see his face to know that he was crying. She ran from the window, hurtled down the stairs, through the kitchen, and out into the garden, locking the door behind her. Ash kneeled next to George and put a hand on his arm.

"George?"

"What do you want?" George asked thickly.

"I'm going to move you now. We're going to apparate up to your room. Is that okay?"

"No, it's not," George snapped. "Just leave me be, will you?"

Ash sat back on her heels, frowning. George was hardly ever this harsh with her, but it couldn't be helped. She would have to ride out the storm.

***

When George's tears subsided, he calmed down and allowed Ash to apparate them back to his room. Once there, Ash began to question George, but he cut her off.

"George, what-?"

"Shh. Ash, I'm sorry about what happened. I was just… really angry."

"It's alright, I understand," Ash said. "But what happened?"

"It… was Fred. He… he told me to go back to the shop." Ash put her hand over his.

"What else did he say?"

"He said that there had to be two foxes. What d'you think that meant? There's only one fox now," he added bitterly. Ash smiled a little.

"No there isn't," she said. "Look."

She drew her wand, and murmured a spell. A silvery fox burst from her wand, and trotted lightly over to stand by its master. George looked at her in wonder.

"Your Patronus changed?" he breathed.

"Yeah."
"When?"

"Just… just after he…" Ash trailed off, unable to finish. George put his arm around her shoulders.

"I see now," he said softly.

***

Woopee, another lame ending. Ah, well, at least we're nearly out of the emo-zone.