A Bad Month

November was the complete opposite for George as October. No where as good. Without Alicia he was depressed and tried to hide it with meaningless sex with random girls. By the second week he'd already shagged three witches. Plus Tia. And Verity twice- the second time he 'just happened' to be by the Ministry. He told Verity he had went to see his pops.

And George still wasn't sated. He figured this had to do with Alicia and finally decided to Floo her one night. They had a good conversation and met for lunch the next afternoon. It ended with a quick kiss. And though he felt a bit better, he still wasn't good. George didn't know what it was. And no matter how many witches he shagged thinking it would be better, it never got so.

The only good thing to be said about the month so far was that they had finally perfected Grant's ball, and had just released it to good reviews. People were saying it might be better than the dung bomb- very high praise in George's opinion. And he knew it would only get better with the Christmas season coming up.

"Another good end to a good day" Grant said.

"Yeah… not bad." George replied.

"Still in your funk, hun?"

"A bit… I just can't figure out what it is…"

"Well you already know what I think it's about."

"Alicia, I know. But I'm talking to her again, aren't I? But I still feel weird."

"Maybe it's the other witches." Grant offered.

"Nonsense…"

Though George had actually started thinking that might be it as well… but how do you tell someone you think you have a problem? That you can't stop shagging witches…

"Ok… maybe it's the business side." Grant offered instead.

"What? We're doing great."

"The store is doing great… not necessarily the owner. Are you working on anything?"

"Actually…"

There was one thing that came to him a while back. He hadn't figured out all the schematics yet, but it would be big. But he had put it to the side with trying to get out Grant's ball.

"Actually what?" Grant asked curiously.

"There was something I had started on… but I held off until we got your idea together. I wanted to make sure I had at least one new product out for the Christmas rush."

"Well mines is out now. So let's work on yours." Grant said.

"It's not that simple, I still haven't figured out if it's even possible yet."

"What is it?" Grant asked eagerly.

By now George fully trusted Grant. I mean Grant even let him take some creative credit for the Bouncing Gas Ball- BGB for short.

"An add on to the Extendable Ears sort of…" George said.

"What? Do you mean making the string longer?" Grant asked.

"No… I mean the whole Extendable line… Extendable Eyes." George finally stated.

"Eyes? That's Brilliant. Together you'd see and hear everything." Grant said looking thrilled.

"I know, 'buy 'em Separate or Use 'em as a Set'" George said stating his obvious sales pitch, "but like I said, I'm still working on the schematics."

"You know I'm available to help if you need it right? I mean… the Ears are brilliant… but the eyes…" Grant seemed to go off in his own world with a huge grin on his face.

George was suddenly glad he had hired Grant.

"Yeah, I know Grant. I'll let you know when I start working on it again." George replied with a smile.

"Excellent… well I'm off. Got dinner plans." Grant said.

"Dinner? With who?" George asked.

"Sally of course. Took a whole lot of convincing, but she finally agreed to come. I think I'm finally breaking through to her, you know?" Grant said.

"Yeah… that's great. Have a good time."

But George was worried. What if he was breaking through on more than one level? What if he broke the memory charm? He couldn't let that happen. The next time he saw Sally, he'd have to check up on her.

"Thanks George. What about you? What you doing for the night?"

"Me? Just relax I guess… I didn't really have any plans."

Which was true. At the very least he figured he could just go to the Leaky Cauldron for a bite to eat.

"Yea right. You'll probably have another tale to tell in the morning." Grant said as he opened the door.

"Contrary to popular belief I don't always have to go out." George tried to say seriously.

"Have a good time George." Grant replied ignoring his words and left with a smile on his face.

George just shook his head and proceeded to do one last money count. Just as he was about to head up to his flat, someone rang the bell.

"Why me?" He asked aloud.

He walked over to the door fully intending to tell whoever it was they were closed- unless it was a helpless witch in dire need of help.

It was a witch alright. But George had never known her to be helpless at all.

Earlier… (Angelina and Alicia)

"Hey Lina"

"Hey Licia"

Angelina and Alicia hugged each other, after giving their customary greeting to each other and sat down for lunch.

"How's life?" Alicia asked.

"Good as can be expected. What about you?"

"Good… good…"

"Ok, that was the worst attempt at a happy reply, what's wrong?" Angelina asked her friend.

"Nothing…"

"So it's George then? What did he do? Still not talking to you?"

"No we're talking… it's just that… oh Lina, I think he set me up." Alicia said looking grief stricken.

"What, with another bloke or something?"

"No, not like that… a friend of mines said they saw George…"

"Ok…"

"They saw George doing some… things…" Alicia whispered things as is if it hurt.

"Ok Licia, this'll take forever at the rate you're going… spill it. The whole thing."

Angelina watched as Alicia took a breath, and sighed.

"They saw George in a… bar of sorts… and he was engaged in… intercourse."

Angelina had to ask Alicia to repeat the last word as she had whispered it.

"What?"

"He was shagging" she whispered louder.

"What?" Angelina yelled.

"Sshhh" Alicia replied.

"Nah… are you sure?" Angelina quizzed.

"Yeah, they were sure. And it wasn't just one girl, it was two…"

"What?" Angelina yelled again.

"Sshhh" Alicia pleaded.

"So a friend of yours, saw our George engaged in shagging? And not just with one witch, but two of them?"

"Yes… that's what she said"

"And is she a trustworthy friend? And is she sure she saw George? I mean where does she know him from?"
"I mean were not close friends, though we've known each other for a while… my mum and her mum were friends. And of course she was sure it was George… how many one eared, red hair and blue eyed people can there be? And she said he's a regular in that… establishment."

"Ok, so she's reliable, and she may have definitely seen him, but… a regular? So she means he regularly shags two witches there?"

"No, no… she said that she thinks that was actually the only time she saw him engage someone that way. She thinks he might be above paying for that type of thing."

"Of course he is. That's disgusting. But then the two witches-"

"She says he didn't have to pay for that… that one of the girls seemed to know him, and invited him in."

"I don't know Licia… it all sounds so… so… so un-George like."

"I know. But what if it's true? That means he had no right to be mad at me… nor to make me feel bad about it."

"Now that's not funny." Angelina stated.

"Exactly."

"But that's a point too, isn't it? It's not funny… their always funny. Fred and George have always been about the laughs. This is serious. They would never get involved in something like that." Angelina stressed.

"They? Lina, it's not they anymore… and I've been telling you for a while now… George isn't the same as he used to be… he's different without Fred." Alicia explained.

"He can't be that different." Angelina remarked.

"I guess…"

"The only way to really know is to ask." Angelina stated.

"I couldn't…"

"I could."

"No… that would be weird."

"Weirder than the thought that George was shagging two witches at the same time?"

Angelina gave her friend a look as she said it, and Alicia couldn't help but shake her head.

"Alright then. So ask him about it." Angelina stated.

"Alright… but not now, we just got back on good terms." Alicia replied.

"Well if this is true, then it won't matter. He's been lying to you; you'll have the upper hand."

"It's not about upper hands."

"Alright Licia, take your time then… let him go around shagging random witches… that only means he'll expect you to put out too as well."

"Lina, we've never gotten further than a few touches. He's always been a complete gentleman."

"Then why are we having this conversation?" Angelina asked triumphantly.

Alicia was quiet.

"I'm sorry. It's just, I don't believe it. George has always been a good guy. And nothing's changed as far as I can tell. So let's just have lunch, and put this little lie behind us, ok?"

Angelina waited to see her friends reaction. She thought she saw some doubt still there, but eventually Alicia smiled and nodded.

"Ok, I'll forget it." Alicia replied.

"Good. Now for lunch."

The rest of lunch went well- the girls talking about regular things and leaving for their own respective lives. But little to the other's knowledge, both had secretly come to their own conclusions.

Alicia realized by Angelina's use of the word 'they' and her words of 'and nothing's changed' that Angelina might still be under the illusion that George is more Fred, than George. She didn't want to point it out to her friend because she was afraid she'd hurt her feelings- it wasn't a secret that Angelina had liked Fred. So Alicia decided she'd keep quiet on the information for now, but just in case she'd ask her friend a few more questions.

Angelina on the other hand couldn't believe her friend was gullible to believe a story like that. And that if Alicia was going to continue to believe in it, there was only one way to know for certain. To ask George herself. Of course she'd have to tweak the facts a bit, but in the end she was sure she wouldn't have a doubt in the world that George was still the same guy she'd always liked… as a friend of course.

Back at the shop- Current time

"George." Angelina said simply.

"Angelina" he replied back in the same tone.

"May I come in?" she asked.

"Of course."

George stepped aside and let Angelina walk in.

"Place looks good." Angelina commented.

"Thanks."

"And I heard about the BGB, better than a dung bomb they're saying." She added.

"Depends on who you ask, but we're not arguing." George replied.

"That's right, you're new partner… what's his name, Grant right?" she said

"Yeah, that's it." George replied.

She didn't say anything more and continued to look at George. George knew that she didn't come to his shop after hours to discuss the shop, but wasn't going to bring anything up. More than likely this was about Alicia.

"I guess you're wondering why I'm here… then again knowing you, you already know."

George said nothing.

"I'll take that as a yes. I'm here about Alicia. She doesn't know I'm here, but she's really feels bad about what happened, and I couldn't be a good friend and do nothing about it." Angelina said.

"You do realize we're talking again, right?" George asked.

"I know… but she says it's different."

"Well it can't just go back to being how it was overnight."

"Of course not… though I think she expects it too… look, she just feels like your holding it against her."

"Holding what against her? The fact that she was seeing someone else the same time she was seeing me." George quizzed.

"Yes, she was. And there's no point in denying that, or trying to ignore it. But that's what being exclusive is about George. That's why she wanted to be exclusive with you. She didn't like seeing two blokes at the same time."

"Then why did she do it then in the first place? It couldn't have been that terrible, could it?"

George was so into this he almost forgot that he had been seeing other people too. He was just releasing his thoughts onto Angelina.

"George she was seeing Paul-"

"What type of name is Paul?" George asked with a cross look.

"Anyways," Angelina said though she had to fight down a smirk, "she was seeing Paul before you. And then when you showed up at Dinner it was a surprise. And she said she realized just how much she missed you. But she didn't know how you felt about her yet, so she kept Paul, because she still liked him."

George realized that everything Angelina just said was probably true, but he didn't care.

"But it was her idea from the start. I mean she was the one who said she wanted to hang out sometime."

"Yes, to catch up with each other one on one. Test the waters. And you guys did that. And when she was sure she wanted you, she chose you. You won, you should be happy." Angelina stated.

"I shouldn't have had to compete in the first place." George yelled.

"You're just being jealous over nothing." Angelina accused.

"Nothing is it? And how would she have reacted if she found out I had done something like that? You'd all want my head, wouldn't you?" George spat back.

"And what about you?" Angelina quizzed with a certain edge.

"What do you mean? This isn't about me." George said seeing a bit of something in Angelina's eyes, as she had asked him that.

"Isn't it? Alicia said that you said you weren't seeing anyone else, but I have good word that it isn't true."

George hadn't expected that, but he knew he had to handle this carefully.

"Nonsense. Whose good word?"

"A friend of mine said they saw you."

"Saw me what? I run a business, it's quite easy to just see me you know?" George replied sarcastically.

"Joke if you want, but my friend knows what they saw."

"And what did they see exactly? I have to associate with all types of people. Customers, kids, the other business owners in the Alley, other people in the trade come in all the time… they could have seen me with any one of those people couldn't they?" George argued.

Angelina paused for a moment, and seemed to remember that could be true, but her mad face returned-

"Maybe you were out with a customer, or some other person, but what they said they saw you doing… it didn't have nothing to do with business." Angelina stated.

"Then maybe they got the wrong guy."

"How many guys with one ear do you think are there running around Diagon Alley?"

Angelina asked this with an expression that clearly showed she thought she had the upper hand. And George had to admit… she did… almost.

"Look, the only thing I can think of is when Grant and I visit the Midway. You know what the Midway is?" George asked seeming to calm down a bit.

"No."

"It's this little spot just before Knockturn Alley, it's a sort of a… gentleman's club if you get my meaning." George said looking at Angelina's face.

She nodded.

"Right… well they serve all types of people in there. And I mean all types… goblins, vampires, I even saw a Jarvey once. And it's not unusual to see battered types in there either. I mean not every disfigured person is still as naturally cute and funny as I am, and they need other ways to… relax." George said, adding a smile to the end.

George knew Angelina could never resist their smiles. His and Fred's that is. Fred's a little more. And Angelina did smile, even though she didn't seem to want to.

"I don't know George…"

"What did they say they saw me doing?" George asked curiously.

"The wouldn't go into detail… but it seemed like it involved at least three witches or something…" she exaggerated.

"Three?" George said in a genuinely shocked voice (though privately, he was smirking). "That's mental. Ang, look how much trouble I have with one girl. With three I'd go absolutely bonkers." George said looking Angelina in the eyes.

She stared into his eyes for a long time, and George wondered if she could suddenly read minds, but she finally came to herself-

"I'm sorry… sorry… it's just you called me Ang… Fred used to call me that. And then you looked into my eyes… forget it, I'm being silly." She said rubbing her head nervously.

George was suddenly hit with a very familiar urge… but he knew he couldn't. This was Angelina for Merlin's sakes. He couldn't. He wouldn't.

"I'm sorry I doubted you… I mean… maybe I should go…" she said beginning to get her stuff together.

"Wait Ang, don't leave like this. It's alright. I understand you were just trying to help." George said in an understanding voice.

"Yeah, and look what happened? You're probably even madder at Alicia than before, and now you probably aren't feeling very good towards me either." Angelina said sounding apologetic.

On the contrary George was feeling very good towards her, and in a very personal spot at that.

"No… we'll always be friends. And I'm not extra mad with Alicia. The only reason things are different is because I'm just being cautious, that's all." George said trying to soothe her.

"You sure?" she asked.

"Positive."

She looked at him again. And again they caught eye contact, and his body was reacting, even though he didn't want it too- at least he kept thinking he didn't want to… No. Not Angelina.

"So just don't worry about it ok?" George said speaking to bring them back to the moment.

"Right… no worries."

Angelina went to hug George, and George made sure to keep as much distance away as possible without alerting Angelina to his current state. But even as she pulled away he still felt her breast brush against his arm, and she pulled him down for a kiss on the cheek as well.

"Can't just let you leave like this, a drink before you go." George said pulling away to head behind the counter where he kept the firewhiskey.

"Oh… alright then. One drink couldn't hurt, I suppose" she said taking the seat that was Grant's from earlier.

A part of George was really trying to stop this. But that part of himself wasn't strong enough. And that same part knew that if he drank too much firewhiskey it would only be a losing battle.

He poured a glass for Angelina and them himself. He seemed to have poured himself less than Angelina.

"What do we toast?" she asked.

"To friends." George said.

"Right, to friends." she replied.

And they both drank their cups.

"Wooh… I'll have to try and remember not to go so long in between drinks…" she said as she shook her head.

"No better time like the present."

And before he could stop himself he was pouring two more glasses.

"No… one is enough… more than enough really…" she said trying to stop George from pouring.

"One for the road won't hurt right?" he said as the glass filled up again.

"Alright… but this is the last one…"

They drank them down again.

"Easier wasn't it?" George asked watching her expression closely.

"It was…" she said as she leaned a bit on the counter.

"Remember when we used to party after we won Quidditch matches?" George asked.

"Of course… and you two would always get food from the kitchens and butter beer… always wondered how you did that." She said.

"A magician never tells his secrets." George replied smiling.

"Silly…" she said.

Her word had slurred a bit, and George knew what he should do. But that part of his mind was slowly drowning in firewhiskey.

"Ang?" he said.

"Yes?" she replied, though she wasn't actually looking at George.

"Remember the Yule Ball? That was fun, right Ang?" he asked her.

Angelina looked up at him. This time George was set to hold the eye contact as long as she did. It turned out to be about a minute.

"I… I think I should go…" she said looking more than a bit confused as she finally looked away.

"Now? We were having good memories Ang. The Yule ball, remember?" George restated.

"I remember, I can't forget it… one of the best times of my life…" she replied.

"It was good for me to Ang." George replied catching eye contact with her.

This time when they caught eye contact, she seemed to look at him as if she were looking for something.

"It… it was?" she asked.

"Of course it was. We were all there together having a good time." George said.

They reminisced for a few minutes, George never actually saying anything that would remind Angelina it was George she was speaking to and not Fred, including keeping her on his right side. He even managed to pour them another drink.

"We really did have a good time, didn't we?" she said.

"Yeah… the best. And remember afterwards when I kissed you?" George asked staring at her.

"But… but you didn't…" she said, looking as if she'd forgotten something important.

George of course knew this. Fred had admitted it back then, that he had chickened out. So George leaned in and kissed her on the lips. A moment later, he pulled away.

"I always wished I had you know?" George said.

"You… you did?" she asked still looking at his eyes.

"Of course I did. A girl as beautiful as you Ang deserved the best that night." George said.

"I had the best… I had you… Fred…" she said reaching out to touch his face.

George let her hand reach out, but when she came close to the side of his face where his ear used to be, he gently put his hand on top of hers, and pulled her hand back down to his to place a kiss on it.

"You mean that Ang? I always thought I disappointed you somehow…"

"Never…" she said.

And this time Angelina leaned in and kissed him. George readily accepted the kiss. And let it go on for at least five minutes before he pulled away.

"Let me make up for that night Ang. Let me make it up to you now." George said looking into her eyes while their foreheads touching.

"How?"

"By taking you upstairs… you'd be making my dreams come true."

George could tell there was something in Angelina's face that knew something was wrong… so he kissed it away.

And ten minutes later Angelina was officially upstairs in the flat- but there was one problem.

"Come over to this bed, Ang" George said carefully.

"Fred… don't be so silly… you know that's George's bed… he'd kill you…" her words still slurring.

George waited to see if anything clicked in her mind, but she just continued to look at him and smile.

"Come on…" she added patting the space on the bed next to her heavily.

George walked over to Fred's bed cautiously. He hadn't touched the bed since Fred died. Technically he couldn't even remember the last time he even really looked at the bed. And a whole tidal wave of guilt washed over him, stopping him in his tracks, just as he reached the bed.

Angelina started to pull her shirt over her head- revealing her breasts sitting in a red lace bra. George lost track of his train of thoughts, and quickly sat in the spot next to her. And Aagain they started kissing. And soon George was caressing her breasts… her legs… her thighs... her clit…

"I can't believe this is finally happening…" she breathed as he continued teasing her, two of his fingers dipping into the heat of her wet folds.

George just moaned in reply, and laid a kiss on her.

"Please Fred… I can't wait any longer…" Angelina said looking into his eyes right above her own.

And George stopped working his fingers. Angelina looked at him curiously. George even sat down for a moment.

"I… can't do this…" He said rubbing his hand (the one that hadn't just been in Angelina) across his face.

But Angelina was too far gone now. And she was in heat.

"It's okay… everything is gonna be ok…"

And she sat up and pulled George in for another kiss. He half heartedly tried to resist, but she had started caressing his cock. It happily twitched in response in her hand and then he started to return the kiss back.

And no more words were spoken. There were only the sounds of a lustful female and the moans of one soon to be very troubled man.

Instead of laying there for a moment enjoying the silence of a job well done, or taking a seat and just watching her sleep, or doing any of the other things George usually does after bedding a witch… he went to the loo and retched.

George Weasley truly felt sick with himself.

Angelina Johnson. His fellow Quidditch team mate. His fellow soldier in the war against Voldemort. One of his best friends. One of his brother's closer friends.

And what had he done? He'd shagged her. He'd shagged her while letting her think he was Fred. And to top it all off, they'd done it in Fred's bed.

George retched again.

When he felt as if he couldn't possibly have anything left in his stomach he looked at himself in the mirror.

He didn't like what he saw. He felt ugly. He felt dirty. And most of all, he felt sorry. He had a problem. And there was no denying it now. I mean only a man with a problem could do what he just did. He needed help.

But who could he tell? Who could he ask for help? Would anyone even believe him? I mean he'd erased almost all recollections from all of the women…

And then George remembered how he'd treated the women. He'd turned Sally into a Nut for a Knut Slut. Janie was officially a lesbian. Damn… and Verity would damn near cum herself at the sight of him. And god knows what else happened to those other women… and by now he couldn't even remember all their names.

He thought about telling his family. Mum was definitely out. She'd probably be a mix of tears and shouts that he didn't particularly want to hear- even if he did thoroughly deserve it.

And dad? Well he'd probably pull the understanding bit at first, but once he got to the erasing of memories he was sure he'd flip- and then tell mum. No dad.

He knew if he told Bill, Bill wouldn't tell but he'd pressure him into telling mum and dad. He'd also probably glare at him every time the two of them were in the same room.

Charlie was in Romania slaying Dragons, and he was sure Charlie would show up with a dragon in the middle of Diagon Alley threatening him if he didn't come clean.

Percy was a lecture waiting to happen. A lecture that would surely go on, and on, and on. And then he'd tell mum and dad… he may even tell Kingsley as fiddling with memories is definitely worth a stint in Azkaban.

And Ron and Ginny were out. There was no way he was telling his younger siblings about this- even if some of their classmates were on his list of witches.

The family was out.

Grant technically already knew about his deeds. But he didn't know the full extent. And he supposed Grant might look at him a bit differently after he told him- if he didn't mention Sally as part of it. Once Sally was thrown in, he was sure Grant would flip out. And George had no desire to have to hex Grant.

The search for a new partner around the holidays would be torture.

Lee was another person he'd have to leave at least one person out of the picture- Angelina. Of course Lee always joked about dating her, and he's happy with Katie now, but he was sure he wouldn't take that aspect well.

And that was really it as far as friends went. He definitely wasn't going to ask any women for advice if he couldn't ask his own mum.

Then he thought about order members. He really wished Moody or Remus were alive. He was sure Moody would give him a good talking too. But would have come up with a plan if needed. And Remus was always an understanding type. He probably would've been upset with him, but would have had something worth while to say without screaming it.

And George was wrong, there was one female he would've asked- Tonks. She would've hexed him, but she would've calmed down after a while.

But he couldn't dwell on those who definitely couldn't help. If that was the case even Snape would've been helpful. He would have probably given him a potion that could fix everything.

Kingsley was probably way too busy being Minister to be able to do anything- unless Percy brought it to him making it sound like George was demented.

Dung would've been good too. And even though there have been various sightings of him, no one from the actual Order have laid eyes on him.

He went through a mental list knocking names off- Dawlish, Hagrid, Dedalus, Proudfoot, Savage… he didn't know any of them well enough.

And then it struck him. Aberforth. He was smart, skilled, alive, and most importantly- he wouldn't tell anyone else. The only thing was George didn't know was if Aberforth would even talk to him. The man went back to being a recluse after the war. Or at least he tried. People couldn't help but want to visit his bar after the war.

Yes he'd go see Aberforth. The worst that could happen would be that he turned him away…

"Fred…"

George heard Angelina call out and realized she must have woken. In his mind all the bad feelings came back. But elsewhere, blood was flowing…

"Fred… come back to bed…"

George groaned. He wanted to stop. He had to stop.

"Please Fred…" she called.

Then again, George had never been one to make a girl beg… and he was going to go see Aberforth in the morning… what was one more time for the road really?

"Coming… Ang" He said.

And George rinsed his mouth out, and went back to Angelina.

Who thought he was Fred.

To shag her again in his brother's bed.

A/N- Well, well, well… he's done it now, hasn't he?

But okay I have a serious question, should I try and keep it canon? Or go ahead with the original plot, and make it George/Alicia? Even though the story is mostly typed out already, I haven't gotten down to the main pairing. If it turns out people want Angelina/George, it'd be quite tricky to pull off, but I'm sure I could think of something… anyhoo. Let me know.

Oh, and I'm excited for all the rest of the chapters. After reading DH, I've always wanted to write Aberforth as a character. And I got to do it in this story, so he'll really be appearing.

Happy Holidays and Later Days! :)