4:

Ever since the war started, and a year after it had ended, George never got a full night's sleep. When the war started, he and Fred had been readying the shop or readying for a fight. They would split the night shift on the night watch (depending on the situation, of course), giving them both at most four hours of sleep each night. After the war, nightmares kept him awake. Painful memories and taunting beasts would shroud his sleep deprived brain if he tried to doze off. So staying up all night to work and clean wasn't all that hard for him. Actually, it was hard for him in anyway whatsoever.

The mixture of magical cleaning and manual, muggle labor kept him busy and it was surprisingly uplifting for his tired body. Throughout the night, he worked and dusted and cleaned and repaired. If it was broken or dirty, he got his hands on it quickly. Nothing in his once exciting shop went untouched by his excited hands.

Fanged Frisbees and Yodeling Yo-Yo's were put back into their proper places; hanging up where they could be seen and heard in the shop. Price tags were put back into place around the cleaned up products. The Wonder Witch products were now back up and glowing their bright pink lights, which illuminated the shop. The Love Potions were set back up and straight again and all the cracked bottles were replaced. Everything in the section was returned to normal. George even tied the up the figure that rode across a tight rope, throughout the shop, demanding for order. Figuring he could get a laugh out of those who remembered the old toad, Umbridge. By four in the morning, the shop was cleaner, though far from being ready for reopening. He knew he wouldn't be able to get it all done by himself, even with magic and a few days to spare...and then it dawned on him:

He didn't have any employees!

Lee Jordan and Verity Winters had been laid off at the end of the war, when George decided to shut down for good. Gnawing on his lip, George thought about who he could get a hold of this early in the morning. Lee, if he recalled correctly, had moved from his flat in Diagon Alley, which meant George didn't know where his old friend moved or how to get in with him. But he remembered Verity's home and he also remembered that Verity always would pick up for him and Fred. No matter how early it was. So, with a devious smile, George hurried to the workshop in the back of the shop. He muttered a spell and the flames in the fireplace turned green. Long time since he used the flames to talk to someone.

After a few moments, Verity's young face appeared in the flames. George gave her a bright smile, allowing Verity to return it with an excited grin.

"Mr. Weasley! I'm so happy you called! How're you sir? Feelin' better?"

George just gave her a small nod, smiling. Still as chipper and happy as before. "A bit. How about you?"

She gave a yawn, but continued to smile at him, "I'm very well. Was there somethin' you needed? I mean, there must be, since you're here-,"

With a smirk, George interrupted her, "Ver, I need my best employee to come to work. Today. Preferably soon. Say…five?"

Verity stared at her former boss, brow raised. "You're…you're re-openin'? Mr. Weasley, that's brilliant!"

George grinned ear to ear, shrugging, "Not just yet. We're gonna clean up the shop though. While you're at it, wake Lee's lazy arse up. I don't know where he lives. Tell him to be here at five as well."

Without giving Verity a chance to respond, he extinguished the flames and darted out of the workshop and through his store. So Verity would be there soon, along with Lee, hopefully. All he needed now was Asteria. He decided, out of sheer hope, that he'd go over to her personally. Not only because she was right across the street, but also because he wanted to check on her, like Fred had told him to.

He didn't even bother changing before he walked out of his shop. But it was okay; he was going to be fine and she wasn't going to be….well, overly upset, at least. So, with the stealth of a mouse, he snuck out of his cave.

It was the first time in a long time that he had actually looked around Diagon Alley. And while the shops were closed at the moment, everything seemed back to normal. A few abandoned buildings. Some unrepaired, broken windows. Some things had missing bricks but nothing horrible. The only thing that was truly just demolished was Gringott's Back; the roof was missing and everything was bashed in. Was it even still open? It didn't seem like it could have been. Not after what Potter, Granger and Ron had done to it…But it didn't matter. Because everything was back together, besides the bank.

It broke his heart, though. Seeing everything had moved on without him. Every shop was back at work. Every person was alive and well. Everyone was…better. Diagon Alley had moved on without Weasley Wizard Wheezes. How could he have just…ignored everyone for such a long time? Did he even realize that everyone had gone back to their normal lives? No, you didn't. Fred reminded him suddenly. George looked up for a moment, taking a deep breath.

George now stood outside the bake shop, looking up at it with a sad look. After a moment, he smiled again and eyed the door, wondering how he was going to get to her front door. But he grinned mischievously and pulled out his wand, kneeling down in front of the door. With a quick mutter of Alohomora, the lock's gears turned and the door swung open. Smirking proudly to himself, George crept into the shop and through the dining area then up the stairs of Asteria's flat.

At the top of the stairs, George stopped and stared at the door. He imagined what she would do when he knocked on the door. He visualized her opening her door and glaring at him, half awake. She would give him an irritated look and then proceed to slam the door in his face. I dunno what I'll do if she does that…, he thought to himself as he raised his hand to the door. Three swift knocks on the door and he dropped his hand, placing them in his pockets.

For a while, George stood there. His hands in his pockets and he looking up at the ceiling, George began to consider leaving. She wasn't going to open the door; it was four thirty in the morning. Why would she open the door now? With a solemn nod, George turned on his heel, walking towards the stairs. Then he heard it; the turning of lock gears again. He quickly turned and returned back to his spot in front of her door with a bright smile.

Asteria poked her head outside the door a bit, looking…well…horrible. "It's half past four…what are you doing here?" She asked; her voice was shaky and exhausted.

"Yes it is," George replied smoothly then grinned at her, "I have something really important to ask you."

She stared at him blankly for a moment, taking some time to wake herself up. A minute or so later, she narrowed her sleep deprived eyes, "How did you get in?" she stared at him again then rubbed her eyes, throwing the door open fully. She waved him inside the house, walking off towards her bathroom. "Don't…just don't answer that. Lemme brush my teeth at least."

As he followed her, he was frowning deeply as he took in how sick and pale she looked. Her hair was a mess and her already pale skin was tinted green, as though she had been sick. She motioned for him to sit down then wandered off into her bathroom. He did so, looking around quietly. It was still the same, although there were now blankets on the floor. It seemed like she had been sleeping the floor before he had come over. He raised a brow, looking around again; Teddy's door was cracked open slightly, giving George the idea that she had been going back and forth all night. His eyes then drifted to another door, which was wide open. It was another bedroom, which he assumed belonged to Asteria. From what he could tell, the room was relatively clean and dull. Hmm. Just then, Asteria walked out of the bathroom, still exceedingly pale and sick looking, but cleaner than before.

Her dark hair was pulled out of her face and her eyes were still bright red from crying hours before. For a moment, he felt guilty. He felt as if it was his fault for her crying. After all, he was the one that brought her home and was the one to allow Teddy to take a hold of the wolf toy. Asteria, though, didn't seem to mind that he was there now; especially since she was picking up the area where she had been asleep. After she folded those up, she sat on the couch beside him, smiling faintly; obviously still tired.

"What do you need?" she yawned out, running a hand over her face.

George then began his long story, about how he needed to open the shop again and how he'd be making Fred's legacy live on forever. Every little detail –minus the whole hearing Fred speak, thing –was told to the girl in front of him. And the entire time, Asteria just nodded along, rubbing her eyes and yawning. Momentarily, George thought she wasn't even listening to him, but decided that she was because of how she started to respond soon after; with a bright smile, she would give him an excited nod. And when he finished, George took a deep breath and watched her.

Asteria yawned once more, "That's absolutely brilliant, George. But why am I needed?"

"I'm hiring your impressive baking skills. I'm gonna open up the shop within the next week -I want you to sell your treats at the grand re-opening."

Asteria stared at him blankly, not comprehending her neighbors request, "You want me to what?"

He reiterated himself and Asteria leaned forward, running her hands over her face as it paled even more than before. George bit his lip, hoping she'd agree.

After another moment of silence, Asteria took a deep breath and looked at him, "George, I don't have anyone to help me, I barely have time to bake what I already have down there, and I can't leave Teddy-,"

"I'll watch him!" He exclaimed, standing up, "All I have left to do is shower and change and I'll be with him the entire time. And I've called up Verity Winter –she was a Hufflepuff in the year below us –and she can help you. And Lee. I have Lee. I think. We're just cleaning up the shop right now, nothing more than that. You have plenty of time." With pleading, puppy dog eyes, he looked at the young witch beside him, "Please Asteria? I'll pay you. Please?"

With a heavy sigh and another running of her hand over her face, Asteria stood and extended her hand to him, "Just…lemme get ready, okay? I'll have everything done by 9:30 with help. Come by at 9:45 and get everything."

George beamed, "Really?"

She nodded and gave him a friendly smile, "Really."

Without a thought to it, George threw his arms around the small witch in front of him, hugging her close to him. Asteria was surprised for a moment but hugged him back with a small smile.

"Thank you so much, Asteria. This…this is going to be brilliant. Hurry up and get dressed. When you're done, I'll head back to my flat, get dressed then come back. Then, we'll decide everything I'll need you to do."

Asteria nodded and stood, releasing herself from George's embrace. "Alright, alright. Send Verity over when she gets there!"

George nodded and watched as Asteria darted off into her bathroom, disappearing behind the door. He grinned foolishly as he fell against the couch. I've done it, Fred.