Sorry for the delay, everyone, my plot bunny went on vacation. Guess what? I still don't own anything. Shocked much?

Amortentiaaa, Narcissa Malfoy was tried for aiding known criminals, not telling the government about them, etc. Thank you for pointing out to me that that was not entirely clear.

It was another month before I could open the store again. Surprisingly, it was Ron who helped the most. He was around most of the week, organizing shelves, taking inventory and working on some advertisements. To my great surprise, my little bro actually had some good ideas!

He cried a lot around the shop, especially when he found things with Fred's signature. I occurred to me that I wasn't the only one missing Fred.

I was glad to have him there. It was hard for me too. In some ways, I didn't want him there because it felt like he was taking over Fred's spot.

But then I realized how much he was doing to continue Fred's dream and really to keep me alert and alive, so I didn't complain.

He wasn't as good with the joke stuff or the manufacturing or anything, but his advertising and, to Hermione's lasting shock, people skills were quite impressive. People liked talking to him. When he visited likely investors, they listened. And it wasn't only because he was the famous sidekick of the Boy Who Lived, though that was part of it. It was because he knew how to identify with the people.

I was impressed. We all were.

The war had changed him. He no longer had the emotional range of a teaspoon, as Hermione once eloquently put it. He understood people better, didn't just dismiss them as annoying or boring. Ron now understood that there were things bigger than the next meal.

It was an improvement. And I'm pretty sure Hermione thought so too.

The opening day arrived. It seemed to me that all of wizarding England tried to fit into the shop. It was crazy.

Verity, Ron and I were going nuts when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Three people who I had definitely never seen before stood behind me: A short, Asian witch, a tall blond guy and a maybe ten year old witch with a 'I love ponies' t-shirt who seemed to be looking daggers at the Asian one.

"Need help?" asked Miss 'I love ponies.'

"Uh…who are you?"

"Your sister," she replied.

I couldn't help it. I laughed. Ginny, probably one of the most powerful witches of her age, was in the body of a ten year old who loved ponies.

She probably would have hexed me if she hadn't been so glad to hear me laugh.

"I'm Hermione and he's Harry," the Asian witch said. No doubt about it, that was definitely Hermione.

"There are some spare robes in the back," I said. They disappeared.

"Excuse me?"

A little boy was pulling on my robes. I would guess he was about eight or nine.

"How much does this cost?" He handed me Disappearing Hat.

"What's your name, little guy?" I asked him, crouching down to look him in the eye.

"Mark Brown."

"Lavender's brother?"

"Not anymore," he answered, looking at me with these wide brown eyes. "Lavvy went to heaven."

I felt my eyes brim over suddenly. "For you, Mark, it's free," I said, giving him back the hat.

"Are you sure?" he said.

"Yeah. Just come visit me some time, little guy, okay?"

He nodded and before I knew it, he was giving me a huge hug. The next second, he was gone.

"George, who are those people wearing our robes?" It was Verity.

In a moment, I was back in the position of capable shop owner. "Harry, Hermione and Ginny?"

"They didn't look it."

"Hermione's been making Polyjuice since second year."

"No way."

"Yeah, it's a good story. Ask me about it some time."

"Will do," she replied and headed back into the crowd.

Two seconds later, I was seized in a huge bear hug. Angelina, I realized. No one else hugged like that.

"Great to see you, George. I'll stop by some quieter day—" she said before being pushed away by the crowd.

Of course, there was the business part of the day too. People were buying our stuff like crazy. I guess after all the tension and sadness people really needed a laugh.

WE, THE WEASLY TWINS, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO BRING LAUGTHER INTO A WORLD THAT SORELY NEEDS IT.

I was doing my part.

I love you all! I hope you love me and the best way to show that is by hitting that little button.