Chapter 17

Disclaimer: I do not own the magical world of Harry Potter. I wish I did, but that changes nothing. I wish I had more money than the queen of England, but alas, I do not. I am a poor college student writing fanfic. However, Christmas is coming up, so donations would be appreciated…Just kidding. I'm not making a dime off of this story.

A/N: Okay, this chapter should answer some of the questions I've been presented about Fred. Also, we will see some aspects of George's relationship with Alicia. Hey, you get to see the joke shop, so lighten up people! Next chapter will pick back up with Ron & Hermione. Good things come to those who wait.

It was time, as Fred had said. George knew he was right, but that didn't make it any easier. They needed to go visit Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. It wasn't like facing a firing squad, but it still made George nervous. He'd gotten owls from his employees saying that Alicia had been looking for him.

Fred came up to him. "You can't hide from her forever, George."

"I know. I just am still too sore from the breakup. I don't know how to deal with her."

"Well, if she put up with you when you had no wand and were sitting in a bed in St. Mungo's, she seems like the kind of girl you'd want to keep around. She must really love you, George."

George shrugged. "She deserves better, though."

Fred laughed. "Shit. You know you want one another. It's time to stop avoiding her. Besides, I want to check out the shop."

George frowned. "You won't like it."

"I'll take that chance. Let's go. You're going to have to get us there, though, because I no longer have a wand. Stupid ministry won't let me get a new one either."

"Yeah, well, I got mine back a month ago. Not as good as my old one, if you ask me. Of course, with Ollivander gone, what do you expect?"

"Yeah. No one else ever did compare. Let's go, little bro."

"Hey! Five minutes doesn't count."

"It does in my book. Come on!"

George grabbed Fred's shoulder. "I really don't have clearance for side-by-side, Fred. If I get caught, Ron'll kill me."

"Piss on Ron. Let's go."

George shook his head. Fred and Ron were still having problems. Fred didn't appreciate what Ron had done over the three years he'd been missing. Of course, he probably didn't realize to what extent Ron had saved his family member's lives. "Alright. But if anything happens, it's your fault."

"What could happen?"

"I could splinch you." George grinned. "That would be fun to explain to Ron. He'd let you sit on it too."

"What's with you defending him?" Fred was growing angrier by the second. "He's acting like a parent to us all, and you have the audacity to defend him! I'm not a child, George! I don't like being treated like one."

"Fred, we all needed it. He's not just your little brother anymore. He's not just obsessed with quidditch and chocolate frogs. He's all grown up. He may only be twenty, but he acts like he's at least thirty. Cut him some slack. Even Dad got screwed up in the head. Ron never snapped. Hell, even if you weren't dead, I would have. Having to take care of everyone? Having to take care of Ginny, busting her out of St. Mungo's no less? Give him a chance. He's just afraid you're going to crack too. Like everyone else did."

"What about Harry and Hermione?"

"Hermione ran away from her problems. Ron just sucked it up and dealt with them as they came. One by one by one by one. Money was so tight; we had to sell everything we could. And we had diddly.

"Harry left him too. He broke up with Ginny, which is really what caused Ginny to go completely mental. She thought everyone was leaving her. Ron was her only visitor. Then Harry and Ron got into a row about it. So Harry never came back. All his other friends thought he'd lost his marbles like the rest of us. Everyone avoids us, Fred, in case you haven't noticed. Ginny says they're afraid of catching Weasley."

"Well, I'm sorry for ever doubting ickle Ronnikins," Fred said sarcastically. "Can we go?"

George sighed, but relented nonetheless. The two twins found themselves in the joke shop with a pop.

"Fred!" Joe, one of the oldest employees, cried. "I can't believe you're back after all this time!"

Fred grinned. "Yeah." Only then did he look around the shop.

It was darn near deserted. The shelves were half empty and deserted. The whole place had a dingy look and feel to it. "Oh, George, it's awful."

"I warned you. We haven't had any new products for three years. Ron's salary is keeping this place afloat. Our friends still come and shop. They know they're giving us money in a way we'll pretend isn't charity, I suppose."

Fred stifled a groan. Ron was keeping the joke shop running. He bit down bile. He didn't want to owe Ron anything. Not after having Ron to blame for all those years. If he hadn't managed to pick the key out of his captor's pocket, he'd still be rotting in that shed in France. Thought no one would ever find him in a foreign country. Thank God Hermione happened to be there…

"Hello, Fred," a familiar voice said softly. Fred turned and met Alicia Spinnet. The first thought Fred had was that she looked like George. Too old, completely exhausted, and dead inside.

"Hey, Alicia? How've you been?"

"Looking for George. Where'd he go?"

Fred looked around. It seemed George had conveniently disappeared. "I don't know. He was just here."

"I broke up with him about a month ago. I just needed a break from all the depression. Turns out I can't live without him either. He keeps avoiding me, though."

"He thinks you deserve better and shit like that. I don't think he knows how to deal with you. Do you still play quidditch?"

Alicia looked bemused. "Haven't played it in years, Fred. I work at St. Mungo's. The only exercise I get is shagging your brother."

Fred blushed. He didn't like that mental image. He needed to focus on something else. "St. Mungo's?"

"Yeah. Ginny and I worked together for a time. We worked with the babies. Until…"

"She snapped?"

"Yeah. Until then." She looked at Fred appraisingly. "Do you reckon George'll be okay now. With you back?"

"I hope so."

Alicia's eyes filled up with tears. "Good. Because I can't give up on him. I want to grow old with him and have his babies. You tell him that, okay?"

Fred nodded. "You bet I will."

A/N: There was just a little taste of the angsty relationship of George and Alicia. Yes, I know, this chapter is second only to the Weasleys at the bar chapter. I apologize. Chapter eighteen will be better, as I promised. I actually don't have any more depressing chapters planned out. (I have through 25 outlined, thank you.)

Thanks to jwoods471 and JohnCardy87 for being my betas. Check out their stories!

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