I stare at Fred as he puts his shorts on, quietly making note to cut my hair...it's getting long in the back. Fred finally turns his eyes on me, probably wondering why I'm staring in the first place.

It used to be that we'd stare at one another for hours on end. We were fascinated by one another. That is to say, we still are, but in a more discreet manner.

"What're you thinking, Georgey?" Fred asks quietly.

He probably knows, but he'll always ask. "Remus is dying, Fred."

"Yeah." Fred seems to find increasing interest in the floor.

I pat the bed and he obligingly sits down on the edge, bowing his head, never once looking up at me. I wrap my arms around him and just hold him.

We watched them today. They came into our shop and sat there with chocolate ice cream cones. Harry was watching Remus, occasionally cleaning him up, to which Remus would always protest, "You're wasting good chocolate, Harry! I must not have taught you as well as I'd thought."

Harry would get this sad little smile. Even if they wouldn't tell us what was wrong we could see it. We could see our favorite mentor withering before our eyes. We could see the last of Harry's family dying.

Don't get us wrong, we love the boy to pieces...but Remus is his true family.

I don't know why I'm surprised when a sob shakes at Fred, and he finally looks up at me. His fingers brush across my cheek, pulling away tears I didn't even realize were existent. He shows me that singular bead of water, holding it in the crease of his fingers. I nod, knowing he's telling me that I'm crying too.

I can't stand it. I bury my face in Fred's shoulder, and he just holds me, while his tears fall onto my skin.

Snape stayed after the rest of them had left, even watching disgustedly as Ron bounced off, Hermione hanging onto his hand. I'm sure it was that he realized that they hadn't seen the last bits of Remus fading, and not that they were together. (Fred would take this time to say, "FINALLY!" So I'll put that in for him.)

"The Loss is upon him," Snape said so suddenly that we both jumped. He was staring out the window at Professor Lupin. Hunched over as he was, Remus still managed to point out Quality Quidditch Supplies to Harry, who despite looking horribly interested in the latest broom, hung onto the lycanthrope.

"What's the Loss?" Fred asked quietly. I wait for an answer, silently.

"The beginning of the end." Snape is mute for several minutes, as we both struggle with something to say. Anything. We come up with nothing. He gives us a nod of acknowledgement and disappears out the door in a flourish of dark flowing robes. (I'd never admit it aloud, but I've always found this rather interesting. And slightly hypnotic.)

The morning is cold; the kind when snuggling deeper into the covers seems to be the best idea of the day. I realize why I've waken. Fred had just gotten up. We must've fallen asleep in the same bed after our teary- eyed session.

I can feel him watching me. I keep my eyes nearly closed, knowing he'd sooner make sure all his morning chores are done before waking me. I would do the same.

Instead, I feel him sit back on the bed, tugging the covers over me, tucking me in like Mum used to do. He doesn't leave when he finishes. He just sits there.

His voice comes thick, and I realize he knows I'm awake. "George. I want to find out what the Loss is."

"Today?"

"Yes."

"We're in the middle of one of biggest customer weeks."

"We can..." he starts to protest.

"Go take a shower, you big idiot. I never said we couldn't."

Fred looks back at me, grinning. "Is that supposed to be an insult to my smell?"

"Yes." I'm grinning now. "You reek."

He pushes me off the bed, and disappears into the adjoining bathroom. I hear the water running as I struggle out of the tangle of blankets, trying to keep my shorts on as I do so. I eventually lose the battle, and my shorts, as I stumble out of the nest of covers and decide to just grab another pair, while putting the lost pair to the in the hamper.
I take a deep breath, and immediately regret it as I sneeze violently. The dust seems to surround me mockingly, as if daring me to breathe more of it in. Fred snickers at me, reminding me in a soft voice, "Don't you know by now not to inhale?"

"Oh shut it," I chuckled at myself and give him a shove.

He runs up the stairs, towards the 'Defense Against the Dark Arts and Dark Creatures' section. I follow obligingly, nearly trampling a little witch in the process. I offer a grin and an apology, but she looks in the other direction.

I imitate her for Fred, while he stands at the top of the stairs. He offers a hearty laugh and returns that shove from mere moments ago when I reach him. I stumble into the 'Creatures' section and immediately start scanning the titles.

I have no clue what I'm looking for.

Fred motions towards the aisle beside the one I'm in and I nod. I turn back to scan, still completely oblivious as to what I should be searching for.

I squint at one title in particular, unable to read it. "It's in Russian," a voice behind me says.

"Oh." I shrug and turn, realizing I should be looking down.

The man who spoke is nearly my height. Quite a feat, Fred and I aren't short. He stares back at me, whilst leaning against the opposite shelf. I'm guessing I'm in his way and I make a motion to move. He shakes his head, grinning, "I was wondering if you needed help."

"Oh you work here?" I ask, deciding firmly I've never seen this man here before.

"No. I have this section memorized though."

"Um." Odd? A bit.

He gives a shake of his head, dark hair reflecting the light in ginger strands. Now's the time I decide he must have a redhead in the family, having inherited sheen of one in his dark hair. Then I decide he finds me horribly amusing. He doesn't seem to dispute this idea by laughing at me. (Aren't I supposed to be the one laughing?)

"The name's Theodore Nnn...Er...well. Just call me Theo." He reaches out a hand and I grasp it, though he interrupts my introduction with, "You're George Weasley."

The only thing that comes to mind is the shop. I grin and nod. "Heard of Weasley Wizard Wheezes?"

"Who hasn't? I know you from school."

Suddenly I feel a sinking feeling in my belly. I should know him then? I don't remember any Theos.

"I'm in Harry's grade...and a different House."

"Oh..." I sigh, relieved, taking a moment to start breathing again.

"So, you need help? What're you looking for?"

"Lycanthropy."

"That's an awful serious subject." He doesn't seem surprised. Instead he reaches over my head and grabs a furry book. This he places in my hands, followed by a thinner book with a drawing of a man turning into a wolf on the front. "Those are the best two here."

"Thank you." I shift the books under my arm. He said 'here.' Meaning there's another place to find books, with possibly more information.

"Your shop's just around the corner, right?"

I nod.

"All right. It was nice to finally speak with you, George." He offers his hand again, I grasp it obligingly. "I'll see you around."

I start to protest, interrupted as someone pulls the books from my lax arm. I try to grab them back, and turn to confront my mirror image. "Who was that?" Fred asks, giving the books one final tug.

I let him have the books, stepping from the aisle to see if the other had left. "Theo Something-or-Other. I dunno. He wouldn't tell me his last name."

"That's always a good sign."

"Hm. But he said those were the best books here about lycanthropy."

"Well then...A bit of light bedtime reading. Shall we?" He makes a motion with his arm, indicating both paying and leaving at the same time.

Author's notes: Odd having them at the bottom of the page... I mean, um, so survey, who wants more George? I'm diving off into a subplot because I'm odd like that, and all this sadness is making me depressed. (I worry about how you are fairing, if its affecting me!) Anywho. I was either going to go from Theo's point of view (if you know who this char is, and yes, he's from the books, don't give it away) or from Fred's, any preferences?