My sincerest apologies about the delay. Last chapter summary: A visit from Mark Brown, Lavender's younger brother, causes George to realize how much he misses his family. Mark ends up helping out in the store on the weekends and George sends his family letters.

My letters must have really worried the family, since I got long responses from nearly everyone the next day. Bill's came first, early in the morning.

Dear George,

I miss you too. Want to come by for dinner sometime? How about this Thursday night?

What's up in your life? Life here is good, though Fleur is a bit stressed, but the Healer says that's normal for pregnant women and I shouldn't worry. She's as lovely as ever though, and we're very much looking forward to our little boy or girl. If he's a boy, how would you feel if we named him Fred? We'd like to, you know. We miss him.

Send Ron my regards and tell him that he should under no circumstances venture into Gringotts without me. In fact, send him by sometime and I'll do my best to patch up relationships with the goblins. They don't take kindly to robbers, though when they found out it had to with defeating You—I mean Voldemort, they were slightly mollified.

Love,

Bill

Dear George,

Your father and I were very happy to hear from you. You really should come by sometime. How about Friday night for dinner? Bring a friend if you want. I have to say, life is so much quieter without you! I miss you so much, George. Thank you for writing.

Love,

Mum and Dad

Naturally, I had to say yes to both invitations. I asked Verity if she wanted to come, but she politely declined, hinting at other plans with a mysterious suitor. Making a mental note to pry more later, I wrote out quick affirmative replies.

It had been three days since Angie left. I didn't know what to do, so I didn't do anything, except run the shop.

Alicia came by for the first time on Wednesday. It had been Sunday when Angie left. She told me she wanted to show me something. "Something" was a painting. I hadn't know Leesha could paint, but by God, she could! The painting was of the Gryffindor common room, featuring one of our—Fred's and mine—demonstrations of some of our products. Angelina and Lee were on the floor, laughing. We all looked happy, like nothing oculd harm us.

My eyes were wet.

"Wow," I managed. Alicia looked at me with a small, sad, smile.

A thought occurred to me. "Could you—I'm going over to my parent's for dinner on Friday. Would you…like to come?" I stammered. "I mean…and show them this? It's really amazing and I think Mum would like it even if it shows us in some of our less moral behavior and—"

"Yes," she said, not letting me finish my rambling. "I'll come, and I'll bring this…" She looked at her art fondly.

I swallowed, hard. "And…"

She looked up at me. "Yeah?"

"Have you…never mind."

"Have I what, George?" She looked at me intently, willing me to answer. I didn't. "George?"

"I was just going to ask…it doesn't matter."

"You were going to ask?" she prompted.

"Ifyouhdherdfrmgelina." I blurted, and blushed.

She blinked at me and went over what I had said. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Yes, I have."

"Did she…say anything about me?"

Alicia shook her head slowly, thinking. "No…but there were a couple times when she crossed something out entirely, and that might have been about you…"

"Oh," I said intelligently.

"Don't worry about it, George," Alicia told me, and pulled me into a tight hug before leaving me to continue wallowing in my self-pity, something I had grown quite good at in the past few months, and something I had never been allowed to do before, when I had someone with me always to cheer me up.

Oh, Fred…How could you leave me? I thought, not for the first time. And not for the last. Then, Angie…how could you? I need you here. I don't have Fred anymore…

I brushed away the tears threatening to fall, and turned to face the next customer.

There was still a steady trickle of customers in the small store, more on the weekends and such. Mail orders from Hogwarts were fairly common.

The next morning, I had a reply from Percy.

Dear George,

I love you too, and I miss you. I've been far from a good brother to you, and you can't know how much I regret that. I was so awful to you two. Please forgive me for that. When can I come by and see you?

Love,

Percy

It took me a long time to answer him. He had walked out on us, and that had hurt Mum more than anything. He left us. Percy had always been a prat, but it took me a couple weeks to fully absorb what he had done. Ginny, especially, couldn't believe that one of her brothers had let her down. Fred and I swore to her that we never would, but it hadn't helped, and we had spent hours at a time coming up with ways to get revenge. He had supported Umbridge and that alone was horrendous.

And yet…he had come back, and it was he who stayed with Mum every day now that Ginny was back home. And he had been with Fred when I hadn't, something I would never forgive myself for.

Dear Percy,

It would be unfair to let you take all the blame—Fred and I were far from nice to you. Percy, I can't say that I don't mind your walking out on us, but I can never forget that it's thanks to you that Fred died laughing. I can't forgive myself for not being there, but I am grateful that you were.

And Percy, you are my brother and my door is always open to you. You don't need a time to stop by.

Love,

George

Yes, I know it's short, and I apologize. But the next one is already started.