George was sitting up in his bed, propped up on the pillows against his headboard. He glanced down briefly at the woman beside him and then returned his eyes to the framed photo in his hands. The photo was of him and his twin brother. He and Fred were standing in front of their new shop wearing their magenta robes; the photo captured the fireworks display above the sign and the twins' heads on the day of their shop's grand opening. It seemed like yesterday. He ran a finger over Fred's laughing face.
Oh, how he missed his brother
. Tears began to stream down his cheeks. It had been only two months since Fred had died. Since they had buried him up at Hogwarts, where they'd had so much fun laughing, and pranking, and becoming men from boys, never quite growing up, and it was where Fred had died. He would never grow up now; never have children or fight with their mum or burn the bacon he loved for breakfast. No more Firewhisky or blueberries or Quidditch.
George swallowed the sour taste coming up in his throat, and he remembered the woman beside him again when she rolled over with a grunt, resting her arm across his lap, snuggling her face into his hip, taking him only slightly by surprise. He closed his eyes, leaning his head back on the headboard, giving the tears their freedom to squeeze out silently. He let his hand fall gently into Rhia's hair, brushing it distractedly with his fingers.
After that first night, she had refused to let him sleep on the floor. He tried to argue, but she was persuasive. She informed him that, since she wasn't paying him for the room, she would sleep on the floor, and he wouldn't have any of that, so they agreed to share the bed until he was ready to clear off Fred's. He definitely wasn't ready for that step. He was still in denial. Or was it anger? He looked at his dead brother's bed, but couldn't bear it for long. He looked away again.
Rhia stirred again, pressing her arm down and putting pressure on his lap. He didn't know how much longer he could endure having her in the bed with him either, come to think of it. He noticed one more freckle on her earlobe and smiled. She was not completely covered in freckles like he and his family were. She had a smattering across her nose and under her eyes and the one in the corner of her eye that disappeared when she laughed heartily. On him, it was more like connect the dots; for her, it was a scavenger hunt with just enough to make it interesting. She had barely been here one week, and he'd taken about a dozen cold showers. He often woke up in the night with her against him, legs around him, hands on his chest or stomach, breasts against his arm or side. Each time he looked at her, he could see her naked under him in the Hogwarts' dorms. He loved the memory, but hated the torture she was putting him under each time he awoke to find her close, her flowery scent filling his nostrils.
"Mmm," she murmured.
George smiled. She had moaned like that every morning so far, and when she smiled, he smiled. He wouldn't mind hearing those throaty sounds while he was touching her curves – naked, of course. He enjoyed observing her morning ritual as she liked to stretch her whole body out, like a cat, and that included her voice with this tiny little moan. Unfortunately, the stretching habit also included her stomach with her almost ritualistic daily spate of vomiting. He asked her about it, but she dismissed it simply as a stomach bug caused by the strange surroundings, different foods and added stress of no home and a new job. George decided the best course of action was to leave her be, but he was determined to ask Hermione about it or maybe to drag Rhia's arse over to St. Mungo's for a proper diagnosis.
She was awake now and smiled up at him, and for an instant, she looked concerned at his tear-stained face, but in the next moment, he almost laughed as his prediction was spot on. She leapt from the bed, hand over mouth, darting at top speed to the loo. George let his laugh free now that she was out of earshot, and covered his ear with the pillow. The sound of her retching almost made him want to vomit as well.
Looking at his brother's bed, he spoke quietly, "Oi, Fred. She's beautiful, but the bloody retching – sweet Merlin, I'm not sure she's worth it." He paused, then laughed. "I know, they're all worth it."
Rhia came back to the bed, climbing over George, lying on her side, facing him, with her one arm curled around her stomach. George put his hand on her back, rubbing circles between her shoulder blades. She snuggled her head on his thigh with her other hand on his leg and under her cheek, and as they both stared at the photo of Fred and George, neither one realized that his hand had slipped beneath the fabric of her shirt, caressing her bare back. "He was very handsome," Rhia commented.
George smiled. "We're identical. If he's handsome, I'm handsome," he protested.
"Not true. He's much better looking than you. Don't you see the sparkle in his eyes?"
"That's a reflection of the fireworks."
"You don't have the reflection. No sparkle."
"That's because Fred's dead," he said sadly.
Rhia squeezed his leg, startling him. "I'm sorry. I was trying to be funny. I shouldn't have said anything. I'm just trying to take your mind off him. You seem so sad, George. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. You're only trying to help, but I should tell you – you need to move your hand before you take my mind somewhere else entirely." His hand had been lowering into her shirt, rubbing her back, making her feel warm and her stomach feel settled. "I don't want to forget about Fred. Not ever. But it hurts. I'm tired of being so numb and sad. I miss him."
She pushed herself up to look at his face. "It's hard now, but eventually, you'll feel better, and when you think of Fred, you'll remember the really wonderful things you did together, and what an incredible brother he was to have had for as long as you did. Would you tell me about him? Tell me about Fred."
He began to talk about Fred: about their inventions and opening the joke shop, about their pranks, especially the ones on their younger brother, Ron. He looked into her dark eyes, and described his best friend whom he desperately missed. "Fred was the smart one, the funny one, the incredibly outlandish one. If he thought we could do it, well then, by Merlin, we could do it. Nothing could stop him when he put his mind to it. We were exactly alike except that he was the better brother." George winked at her. "But I'm still the better looking one,"
He choked as his words became caught in his throat, as if they had begun to strangle him. His shoulders hunched, and he began to cry, not being able to continue. His breathing was ragged as she quickly sat up on her knees, straddling one of his legs. At first, she was touching his face with soothing fingers, but soon was putting her arms around him, holding him close as he cried, his face pressing into her neck and shoulder. He rubbed his face on her nightshirt, and moved his lips closer to hers, but before he could kiss her, their eyes met briefly.
"My stomach's better. I should have breakfast," she said hastily, rising from the bed, his hand slipping from her waist, and falling to the bed.
He watched her walk into the kitchen. "There are some scones. I'll go in the shower first."
"Why are you up so early? I thought the shop was closed today." They glanced at each other as they spoke, but both were avoiding eye contact.
"We are closed. We're, I mean, my family's going to Hogwarts to see Fred, and then tea at the Burrow. That's my family's house. You're coming, yes?" he asked impulsively as he pulled his shirt over his head, dropping it into the pile of laundry at the foot of the bed. He'd mentioned it once before, but they hadn't discussed it again.
She tried to look away as he dropped his pyjama bottoms, but her eyes were drawn instead to his tight stomach, and broad shoulders. "I don't want to intrude on your family time."
"You wouldn't be. You're my flat-mate. You work in my shop. My family really should meet you, don't you think?"
"Yes, but probably not at your brother's grave."
"Fred should meet you as well."
"All right," she said, after some thought. "I'll go along, but George –"
"Yes."
"You won't tell them how we met, will you? You won't mention the dorms?"
"No." He shook his head, and smirked before dropping his pants and stepping into the bathroom and another cold shower filled with more pleasant memories.
Rhia shook her head. Sharing the flat with George, even for a short time, was going to be interesting if nothing else, and frustrating. Yes, frustrating.
*
Hogwarts' battle scars were still evident, even two months later. The grass was scorched and torn up in many areas at the front of the castle and coming around alongside the lake, past Hagrid's hut was very similar. It appeared as though the roof to his hut had been repaired. There was still a gaping hole remaining in one of the castle's battlements. Rhia stopped as George paused to look at that particular area of destruction. She looked on in silence, and then George bit his lip and began to cry, still staring at the fissure.
She reached out, taking his hand in hers. When his eye was drawn to hers, she touched his cheek, now smooth and beard-free, with her palm and wiped a tear away with her thumb. On an impulse, she grasped him around the waist and pulled him to her. He began to cry in earnest and sank his head into her neck and shoulder. Rhia stroked his back and kissed his wet cheek, whispering sweet words of comfort.
"I miss him so much, Rhia. When I think I'll never see him again, I can't breathe. I can't move. I wish I'd been the one to die. He was so much better than me."
He took a deep breath and lifted his head a little, not speaking, but looking into her eyes with gratitude, truly grateful that she was here again. He couldn't help himself. He took another deep breath, and as he exhaled, he kissed her. His lips rubbed against hers, his tongue begging her lips to open, which they readily did. Her fingers dug into his back, and when a cool breeze blew across them, they pulled apart, chuckling, not believing that they had just snogged standing in the shadow of Fred's death, just metres from his grave. Rhia touched George's face once more, and when he saw his family approaching the Quidditch pitch whose shade would cover Fred's eternal resting place, he took Rhia's hand and they made their way to meet them near the granite marker over Fred's grave.
Rhia stopped walking and let her hand slip from George's. He stopped abruptly when she did, turning to face her, looking quizzical. "I don't want to intrude –"
"You're not –"
"George." She touched his hand, which he took up again. "Your family's never met me. I'd rather wait until we're at your house, if that's all right. I'll be right here if you need me. I promise." They both turned away, towards a voice calling Rhia's name.
"Aunt Rhiannon. Why are you here? Are you here to see Daddy?"
"Daddy?" she asked, hesitantly, keeping George's hand clutched in hers, gripping it tighter now.
"Yes. We're here to visit Daddy. Will you come?"
She began speaking to her young nephew gently. "Dai –"
George interrupted. "Rhiannon." She turned back to face him. He squeezed her hand.
"It's all right, love," he smiled. "Go with your nephew."
"George –"
"Go with your nephew," he said slowly. "Who knows? Perhaps, it will be good to see your family." She nodded, but she didn't really believe his optimism. She kissed his cheek, and she released his hand, finally, reluctantly. Dai took her hand and led her away from George and the Weasleys and across the grass towards the damaged castle. They hadn't gone far when they were approached by a woman, looking infuriated.
George had just leaned against a tree near his brother's grave observing as Rhia walked away, holding her nephew's hand when a woman approached them. She yanked the boy from Rhia's grasp, and began shouting at her. Rhia took a step back, but the woman continued to berate her and stepped closer. George stood up, away from the tree, and with a glance towards his own family, he began walking towards Rhia. He hadn't quite reached her when the woman struck her across the face. Rhia stumbled back, falling down into the grass. The woman was still shouting, and George began running over, calling out Rhia's name. When the woman saw George moving swiftly towards them, she took Dai and walked away. George kneeled beside Rhia. She had started crying, and when she felt his hand on her, she became hysterical, leaning into his chest, her arms around his neck. He put his arms around her, hugging her and watching the woman move away as she sobbed.
"I'm sorry, George. I'm supposed to be here for you today."
"That's just foolish. We're here for each other. Who was that woman?"
"My sister – Catrin. She blames me for her husband's death. She…she says it's my fault."
"It's not."
They were interrupted by one of George's brothers. They were all tall, but this was the shortest brother. He wasn't as lean as George, but similarly built and with more muscle tone.
"Mum wanted you to know we're going back. She knows you want to be alone with Fred, but expects you to come for tea." He put a hand on George's shoulder as they both looked at their brother's grave.
George nodded, letting out a deep breath. "Charlie, this is my friend, Rhiannon. She works at the shop now, and she's staying in my flat for a bit. Rhia, this is my older brother, Charlie."
He put out a hand to shake. "Lovely to meet you."
She nodded, but remained silent, avoiding any eye contact as she shook his hand.
"Bill and I are going to the Hog's Head for a bit and then home. Will we see you there, Georgie?" George nodded.
When Charlie left, he led Rhia over to Fred's grave. She stayed by the tree, so he could have some privacy. He kneeled in front of the marker, touching the smooth granite and then over the engraving of Fred's name and date of birth. Rhia leaned on the tree even when George's shoulders began to shake from his sobbing, somehow knowing that he didn't want her there yet. She waited until he finally stopped and laid himself across the grass, and when she approached him she laid a hand on his shoulder, but remained silent.
He nodded his head and rose, suddenly embracing her and surprising her with a deep kiss, only stopping when an errant breeze blew cold across them, slapping his face with a sprig of oak leaves. He chuckled, looking at the headstone and shaking his head and then, taking Rhia's hand, he walked away from the castle, from their school, from their childhood.
When they arrived at the Hog's Head Inn, they easily found Bill and Charlie sitting with a few other wizards, toasting a variety of names, presumably some of the dead that had been remembered today. As Rhia sat, Bill put out a hand, introducing himself. She acknowledged Charlie with a smile when he gave her a small wave. George had been detained near the door. When Charlie smirked at his older brother, Rhia turned to see George's friend, Katie, with her arms wrapped around him, pressing against him after an apparent kiss.
Katie was taller than Rhia, with an athlete's body and long dark hair. Rhia was disconcerted, noticing that she and George looked good together – they fit well. Rhia was so short in stature that she and George probably looked like a sideshow. She couldn't believe that she was feeling so much jealousy towards them. Rhia frowned slightly, and when she turned back to the table, Charlie had pushed a pint glass towards her. She took a tiny sip, but ignored it for the most part. George and Katie joined them moments later with their own pints as Katie positioned herself between George and Rhia, her back turned to the other girl. After three toasts to Fred, everyone except Rhia had nearly empty glasses. George laughed and took hers from her hand, "I'll finish it for you," he said with a wink.
Katie had threaded her arm through George's and was leaning into him, but turned slightly to speak to Rhia. "So, Rhia, have you found a permanent place to stay?"
Rhia looked at Katie with a confused look. "Sorry?"
"I thought that staying with George was temporary." Rhia shrugged, but remained silent. When Katie paused, she became aware that George's brothers were staring at her waiting for her response, but then Katie asked her about school. "I don't remember you at all – did you attend Hogwarts?"
"Only for my seventh year. I went to school in Wales until then."
"Which school was that?"
"Yr Ysgol Cymreig achos Gwyddoniaid."
"What the hell is that?"
Rhia looked at Katie with just as much disdain as she was receiving in return. "It's The Welsh School for Wizards. It was an all girls' school. I attended there from first through sixth year, and then when the Ministry ordered all purebloods to attend Hogwarts, I went to Hogwarts. My Dad had just been murdered at the Ministry – he worked as an auror for Minister Scrimgeour. My mam said that I didn't have a choice. We had to prove our loyalty. I was friendly with Neville and Ginny that year. Neville and I were in the same year, but I'm older by one year."
"Did you get left behind?" Katie smirked.
"No." Rhia was feeling exasperated. She knew that Katie was trying to upset her, and it was working. Rhia swallowed, her eyes beginning to tear. "We start at twelve in Wales. I graduated from Hogwarts after Voldemort was defeated." Everyone at the table cringed at the name.
"And now you work for George," Katie stated.
Rhia looked at her smug face. "Yes, I do."
"You didn't want to do something…I don't know, more meaningful? Your career choice was shop clerk?"
Everyone was looking at Katie now, not knowing what was spurring her on. Rhia looked at her possessive hold on George's arm, and began to rant.
"There's nothing wrong with being a shop clerk. Verity's a shop clerk and she's not an idiot. Actually, Katie, I wanted to be a Healer, but when my mam threw my arse out of the house, I was left with no money and no place to live. I don't know what I would have done without George. He's been a wonderful friend. More than that, really." She looked into George's face. He looked ashen and seemed infuriated. She watched as he extricated his arm from Katie's, much to her surprise, and Rhia smiled. He reached out and drained the drink he had taken from her. Bill looked at George and then his wristwatch, nodding and said, "Last round. Mum's expecting us soon."
With a smile, George stood to get the next round and at just the same moment, a short warty man grabbed George by his collar. "Fred, m'boy, It's brilliant to see you, lad. I thought you'd died."
George looked infuriated, like he could kill the man and the group became quietly appalled around them. George pushed the man away. "Get off me, Dung, you bloody arse. Fred did die! I'm George, you tosser!"
"Oh, George," Dung cried out, grabbing George's collar again. "I'm so sorry, George. You lads look so much alike.
Bill and Charlie both jumped up with Bill dragging Dung off of George as Charlie restrained George, unsure of what his brother was apt to do. "Of course they do, Dung," Bill said quietly. "They were twins."
George stood there catching his breath for a moment, and in the next instant, Rhia was at his side.
"George?" she asked in a soft voice as she took his hand. "Will you take me home? I don't feel well."
He looked at her, trying to decide if she were simply attempting to distract him, but he noticed that she did look peaky. He remembered that she had been sick again this morning. She had also begun having dizzy spells. Just yesterday, he found her face down at the bottom of the stairs. He still wasn't sure if she fell down the stairs or passed out at the bottom. She couldn't remember. He honestly didn't know how she did it – getting up every morning, vomiting, and then eating a full breakfast and going to work in the shop all day. She was an interesting woman, and he realised that she had in fact distracted him from Mundungus Fletcher after all. He smiled at her. He thought he should keep her around for awhile. He could feel a few tears slipping from his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away with the back of his hand. He wondered what kind of relationship they would have had if his brother were alive instead of dead. Would they even have slept together in the first place? Would they have ever met again?
"Of course. I'll take you home."
Dung tried to talk to him again, but George ignored him. Taking Rhia's arm, they left the Hog's Head, waving to his older brothers and Katie with a feeble smile. As they exited, he paused, looking up the path that leads to Hogwarts.
"Do you want to go back up?" she asked quietly. He stared up the path and thought for a moment, but then shook his head, a grimace still fixed on his face.
"Ready?" he asked, trying to smile at her, but not quite managing it. She nodded, and he turned on the spot, and seconds later, they were standing on a grassy path. Rhia swayed; George felt certain she would have fallen to the ground if he hadn't been holding her arm.
She looked beyond George, catching sight of a lopsided thatch-roofed house with an enormous garden. She had a tremendous feeling of wellbeing as she looked at the view.
"Where are we?" She gave him a questioning look.
"Home," he breathed out. "Sorry. When you said 'home,' I instinctively thought of here." He smiled at her. "Come meet my family."
He released her elbow, and they were both surprised when she remained on her feet. He extended his hand, which she readily clasped and they approached his boyhood home hand in hand. Most of his family was already there, and after meeting his parents, there were four pops and Bill, Charlie, Katie and Kingsley Shacklebolt all Apparated in. George was pointing out the more interesting aspects of his family's home.
"That's the apple orchard, and just beyond that," he said, pointing his finger, "is our Quidditch pitch. It's small, but large enough to practice on."
"Did you all play?"
"Except Percy. Well, that's not true. He played at home, but he never joined the team. This is the shed. We used to have a Muggle car, but now it's just Dad's workshop, and his Muggle collection."
"He collects Muggles?"
George laughed. "No. Just their stuff. Here's the broom shed. You can figure out what that's for."
"Broomsticks?" she asked, still laughing.
He began to laugh again with a nod of his head, but they hadn't noticed Katie until she answered, "Not the last time, remember, Georgie?"
He blushed a deep red, and when Rhia went to release his hand, he gripped hers tightly. "Charlie asked you for tea?"
"Yes, I hope that's all right."
"Of course it's all right. You should stay. You were close with Fred." He turned to Rhia. "Come along. You should meet everyone else as well."
Rhia met the rest of the family, and in addition to the whole family being in attendance, there were also Andromeda Tonks, her grandson, Teddy, Harry Potter, who was dating George's sister, and Hermione Granger, his brother, Ron's, girlfriend. Teddy was crying loudly and finally Mrs. Weasley took him and handed him to Ginny to try and settle him. Ginny looked quite annoyed, and trudged over with the screaming three month old, depositing him in George's arms. He looked horrified.
"What are you doing, Gin? You know, I'm rubbish with babies." He tried to hand Teddy back, but his sister stepped away.
"Just because I'm the only girl doesn't mean I get stuck with the screaming baby. I'm rubbish as well." She turned on her heel and walked away.
"Gin!" he called urgently.
Rhia had tried to suppress her laugh, but it finally escaped her lips as she sat leaning against the tree.
"You think it's funny?"
"Hilarious," she laughed.
George took out his wand, looking up at the apple above her head, but when she stopped laughing to glare at him, he pointed the wand at Teddy and sent him levitating over to Rhia, much to her own horror. She threw her arms up, and carefully caught the screaming child. His hair had just turned orange, and he was beginning to look like a Weasley. Rhia gave George a confused look.
"Metamorphmagus," he replied. He sat next to her. "Not so hilarious anymore, is it?"
Rhia ignored him as she lifted Teddy up by his armpits, steadying his neck and resting his head on her chest, leaning back against the tree more comfortably. Her shirt was becoming wet from his drooling and crying, but as she leaned back, she began to hum and then sing quietly in what George now recognized as Welsh. George stared at her face, watching her and watching Teddy's hair change from the bright orange to the darker red that very nearly matched Rhia's own colour. Teddy had stopped crying as soon as his hair colour changed and his breathing regulated, coming out evenly with an occasional snore.
"How did you do that?" he asked in an awed sort of voice.
"Babies like to feel snuggled. They like to hear the heartbeat. It's very calming to listen to someone else's heart beating. It's like before they were born. At least, it always worked with my nephews." Rhia looked over George's shoulder as his mum approached them.
"Do you have any children, Rhiannon?"
"No. Not yet, Mrs. Weasley."
"George, can you help Bill with the tables?"
"Bill's got Charlie, mum."
"How long have you known our George?"
"It's just been a few weeks."
"George, can you help Ginny bring out the platters?" She turned back to Rhia. "Where did you two meet?"
"Mum, Dad is helping Ginny, and we met at the café. Remember, I told you about her brother."
"Oh yes, of course, dear. Ginny thought you met at Hogwarts."
"Well, yes, that's true. We met briefly, but we didn't go to Hogwarts together. Are you sure you don't work for the Ministry, mum? Come on," he said, leading his mother away. "Let's let Teddy rest before the second round of screaming starts."
"George, I'm simply trying to get to know your new friend. She seems lovely. Really good with babies. Are you two dating? Is it serious? Have you met her family? Where are they from?"
"Mum –"
"George."
"She is. She seems to be. No. Again, no. Some of them. Wales. Does that satisfy your curiosity?"
"Not in the least."
After tea was over, Rhia sat once again under the apple tree. No one even tried to calm Teddy down this time. Ginny merely picked him up and went straight to Rhia, and without saying a word, handed the baby to her. He was asleep in moments, resting his ear against her beating heart. Rhia sat there, patting the baby's back and watching everyone in the garden. She watched Bill and Charlie juggle bowls of ice cream. Harry, Ron, Katie and Ginny were playing Catch-the-Snitch on broomsticks. Percy and Mr. Weasley were having an animated discussion about Muggles with Hermione. Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Tonks were exchanging recipes. The Minister of Magic was finishing his bowl of ice cream, laughing at Mr. Weasley's under-appreciated Muggle fascination.
George sat next to her under the apple tree again, putting an arm around her shoulders. She laughed unexpectedly, causing George to turn to her as Teddy snorted, but continued sleeping.
"Your family's brilliant, George, just brilliant."
He broadened his smile, and leaning over Teddy's sleeping form, he kissed Rhia on her forehead.
"They are, aren't they?"
Glossary:
Mam – mum, mother or mama
Yr Ysgol Cymreig achos Gwyddoniaid – The Welsh School for Wizards (it is literally The School Welsh for Wizards) – I chose wizards as a neutral, like mankind. Ironically, it is an all girls school, but apparently not when it was named.