Disclaimer: The characters and places and stuff belong to JKR. But for now, they are at my mercy. *evil grin* I'll return them as soon as I'm finished…maybe.

This is the sequel to "What Is Happiness?" To understand this story, you must first read that one. It is located at http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=946096

In this chapter: More Harry/George bonding…was it really such a good idea for Harry to go to Diagon Alley?

Hey, I didn't get any reviews after posting Chapter 16! Get to reviewing, people! *grin*

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A few hours later, Harry walked into The Leaky Cauldron, glancing frantically around at the crowd of people. He really wasn't used to being around so many people, and he sighed with relief when George came over to him.

"Let's get out of here," George told him when he saw the panic in Harry's eyes. Harry nodded and was grateful when George led him by the arm outside. "I'm sorry. I probably should have picked a better meeting place."

"I have to get used to it sometime," Harry admitted as the two walked along the road. "There's hundreds of people at Hogwarts. If I can't handle a crowd of fifty, how will I handle going back to school?"

"Do you want to get your school stuff first?" George wondered. Harry agreed, and they headed to Flourish & Blotts. "Ron says they're offering extra classes this year for sixth years. To help you think of what you want to do after you graduate or something?"

"Some of them," Harry confirmed. "We choose a field we're interested in, and we take classes that deal with that field. Then there are the extra advanced classes."

"What do you want to do after you graduate?"

"I don't know," Harry sighed, running his fingers along the rows of books. "I used to think I'd want to be an Auror. Fat lot of good they do, eh? Couldn't even track me and Draco down... I'm thinking I might want to teach."

"You'd be a great Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," George commented. "Even with the experience you have just now. Just think of what you'd be after you've finished your training."

"We'll see," Harry replied. "What about you? Are you and Fred just sticking with the joke shop, or are you going to get another job as well?" George's eyes twinkled at this.

"Actually, I'm getting another job, too. Madam Hooch resigned as the flying instructor and the Quidditch coach. I'm taking over her position." Harry's eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Yep," George said, slinging an arm over Harry's shoulders. "And that means, Harry dear, that you haven't gotten rid of me yet. I'll be around you all year long. I can bug you. I can trick you. I can give you points and take points away. I can--"

"I get the idea," Harry interrupted, smiling. "I'm glad you'll be there, George. It'll be nice having you around. Truthfully, I would have missed you if you were gone."

"And I, you, kid," George said, softly, as Harry paid for his books. The two then went to Eeylop's Owl Emporium, so that Harry could buy some things for Hedwig.

"Last year, they never got a replacement for Donovan, in Divination," Harry commented. "Do you know who it'll be this year?"

"No idea. You're still taking that class? I took it for a year and dropped it. Hated it."

"Nah, I think I'm going to drop it as well," Harry responded. "I think I might take up some of those extra classes."

"Are you and Draco keeping that suite you had at the end of last year?"

"I don't think so," Harry murmured. "I don't know what's going on with Sev, Katie, and the baby yet, though. Don't know if they're all staying in the dungeons. Draco might stay with them. I'm probably going back to Gryffindor Tower, but I think Dumbledore is going to keep the rooms the same for us, in case we need them in the future."

They got the rest of their shopping finished, and then they went into Florean Fortescue's for some ice cream.

"Do you still have nightmares?" George wondered, gently. Harry sighed and nodded.

"Every few nights, I wake up, screaming and crying, in the middle of the night. I'm in pain, and I can't breathe. Sometimes it's nightmares about what they did to me. Sometimes it's nightmares about what they did to Draco. Sometimes it's just normal, scary nightmares. I feel bad, because Dad or Daddy usually ends up staying with me the rest of the night, and I wake up Sean and Kayla... But I can't help it, you know? I'm not going to start taking Dreamless Sleep Potions every night. I just have to deal with it."

"I think it'll get better, given time," George told him.

They finished their ice cream and went outside. George asked Harry to wait on the porch, then went back into the shop. As Harry waited, a man suddenly ran up to him, peering at Harry's forehead.

"Blimey!" the man exclaimed. "You're Harry Potter!" He grabbed Harry's arm and turned towards the people in the street. "Oi, everyone, look! It's Harry Potter!"

Instantly, Harry was surrounded by wizards and witches, all eager to meet him. He tried to back away, but they kept pulling at him. He felt dizzy amidst the shouts and the pats on his back. He tried to calm down, to take deep breaths, but they only got caught in his throat.

"Get off of him!"

Harry suddenly saw a blur of red pushing through the sea of people, and he clung tightly to George, who was yelling at everyone to get away. The crowd cleared, and George rushed Harry over to a bench. They sat down, and Harry collapsed in his friend's arms, trembling and taking shaky breaths.

"Merlin, Harry, I'm sorry," George whispered, rubbing the younger boy's back. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone..." Harry didn't speak a word. "I'm going to Apparate us to your house, all right? Don't let go of me."

Within a minute, the two found themselves in the Lupin-Black living room. Remus and Sirius were cuddling and kissing on the sofa, but they jumped apart when they heard the boys. When they saw the state Harry was in, they rushed to him, but he wouldn't let go of George.

"It's all right, Harry, you're home now," George murmured.

He gently, but firmly, removed Harry's hands from him and made the younger boy lie down on the sofa. Remus knelt down next to Harry, smoothing his hair from his sweaty forehead. Harry's eyes seemed to be unfocused, so Remus grabbed Harry's hands in his own and looked straight into the boy's eyes.

"Harry," Remus said, softly. Harry tried to pull his hands away, but Remus kept the grip tight. "Harry, it's me, it's Daddy. Focus on me. Can you do that?"

Harry blinked a few times, and then realization set in. He threw himself at Remus, burying his face in his chest. Remus rubbed Harry's back, whispering comforting nonsense in his ear while George explained what happened.

"I left him alone for a minute because I'd left a bag in Florean's. While I was getting my bag, I heard commotion from outside, and when I ran out, there were ten or twenty people crowding around Harry, all talking to him and touching him. He was panicking, and I pushed my way through and told everyone to leave him alone. I Apparated us here, and he hasn't said a word."

"I expect that he just can't speak when he's scared," Sirius sighed, reaching down to rest his hand on top of Harry's head. "It's happened several times. He won't talk after nightmares, either."

"Thanks for bringing him home, George," Remus said as he held Harry. "You can go on home. Harry will be fine." George nodded and leaned down to kiss the top of Harry's head.

"I'll see you later, all right?" With that, George took the Floo home.

"Harry, do you want to go upstairs and lay down?" Sirius asked, softly. "Draco's upstairs with the kids. They're doing some tests at the hospital, so he came over for a little while."

Harry agreed and allowed Remus to carry him upstairs. Remus tucked Harry into bed, while Sirius retrieved Draco. The blond boy came into the room and lay down next to Harry, visibly worried. Sirius and Remus left the boys alone.

"You all right, love?" Draco murmured, tucking a lock of hair behind Harry's ear. Harry nodded slightly and cuddled up to Draco. "Go to sleep. I'll stay right here."