The next three weeks went by quickly. George and Alf would be leaving Godric's Hollow tomorrow, with George finally having the flat over the shop fixed up appropriately for the addition of Alfred. It had been nice, though, spending time with Ginny and Harry, and the kids. It had been good for Alf as well, George felt; he and Teddy had bonded into tight friends, and the younger kids adored him. George had taken to going in to the store a couple of times a week, leaving Alf in Ginny's care; when he was around, he often let Ginny take some time for herself. It had been a perfect arrangement, all in all. And if he had a niggling worry or two in back of his head, he would handle them. Eventually. Right now was just time for him and Alf.
Tonight, Alf was propped up in the bed, elbow resting on his pillow, looking at George as George went to settle in. "You…" George said, rubbing his head. "Should be sleeping."
"Couldn't sleep." Alf said. George saw he was holding that photo from the Yule ball. "I wanted to ask you about this photo…how my Mum and Dad got together. You promised me you'd explain."
George sighed, but Alf's look was so imploring, he couldn't help himself. And after telling his father about Angelina's abandonment, he found he could look back at that time more at peace with himself. He took the photo from his nephew, and looked down at the smiling and waving faces, at four young people who didn't fully realize how dangerous their future was. And he began to talk.
"You have to understand, Alf, that what was between your mom and dad started a long time before that night…it started back in third year. The family was buying school supplies in Diagon Alley; your dad and I were just thirteen years old. We were just on the cusp of realizing girls were something other than annoying sisters or targets of pranks. Katie Bell was a second year, who'd been a reserve chaser on the Quiddich team, and someone who we paid little attention to at all, especially with your Uncle Ron around for us to torture…"
And for George, the years fell away.
"Geroff, Percy." George pulled away from Percy the Prefect, Percy the PRAT, in annoyance. "I just wanna look at the brooms!"
"You KNOW we can't afford new brooms." Percy informed him.
George did know that new brooms were out of the question…too many kids on his dad's one salary. But that didn't stop him from wanting to LOOK, right? It didn't hurt to look!
Mum was beside him. "George, do stop annoying your brother."
"He's annoying me…" George mumbled, but was quelled by a stern glance from Molly.
"Where is Fred?" Percy asked suddenly.
George was startled. Fred had been right there. Fred was always right there!
"George!" Molly was on him quicker than a seeker on a snitch. "George Weasley, where is your brother!"
"I dunno…" George stammered, both startled by how angry his mother was, and by the simple fact that he didn't know. He always knew where Fred was!
Molly was well aware of that as well, and she grabbed him by the ear, pulling him to the side "OW, mum…Really…I…OWWWWW…"
At that moment there was a commotion as Ron, the soon to be first-year, toppled in to a stack of empty cartons out for disposal. Molly let go of George, who rubbed his ear, sulking and worried. As Mum extricated Ron from the boxes, fussing in concern to make sure he was okay, George was surprised to see his little brother wink at him from around her elbow.
"Heh…" George came back to present time with a start.
"What?" Alf came over and sat beside him on his bed, curling up next to him.
"Nothing, just I realized for the first time, that your Uncle Ron was looking out for me even then." George shook his head, and continued.
Fortunately for George's ear, Fred came around the corner before Molly could resume the grand inquisition. He wasn't alone, though…he was helping an injured Katie Bell, who had a bloody nose and was limping. Molly saw Fred and abandoned Ron immediately; both George and Ron followed her towards this new scene.
"Fred, what happened? Who is this?" Molly asked, pulling Katie's hand from her face and working on healing her.
"There, Katie…told you my Mum could fix it." Fred smiled at her, and then explained, "Some little blond twerp actually threw a curse at her."
"Dear me!" Molly said. "Any idea who it was? I shall speak to his parents!"
"Draco Malfoy." Katie said, somewhat nasally. "And I don't think there's much point in speaking to his parents."
"I see." Molly said, her tone registering agreement. "The Malfoys are so unpleasant. George, don't just stand there, get some of those boxes for Katie to sit on."
"Er…right, Mum." George hurried to comply, with help from Ron. Katie smiled at him when he got to her side. "Hi, George…didn't expect to see you all like this!"
George explained further, where Fred had left off. "Mum, this is Katie Bell…she's a year behind us in Gryffindor and a reserve chaser on the team."
"Ah…one of the Sussex Bells?" Molly asked, still dabbing at her face.
"No, M'm, from Southampton." She said, blushing.
"Really? And you're in Gryffindor?" Molly seemed quite surprised.
"First one in my family not in Slytherin in 100 years." She admitted. "That's why Malfoy threw the curse at me. He'll be first year this year."
"Sounds like a winning class-mate for you, Ron." George said, grimly. Molly, for no reason he could see, thwacked him on the side of the head. "OW!"
"Don't pick on your brother, George." Molly said. "Go get your father from Flourish and Blotts, while I finish up with Katie."
In a thundering bad mood, and with two sore ears, George walked away, Ron tagging behind him. "I know you weren't picking on me, George." Ron pleaded.
"Tell that to Mum." George grumbled.
"Anyway, I think that's the first time Fred really noticed Katie. He saw her being picked on and Fred would never abide by a bully. Mum used to accuse us sometimes of BEING bullies, but there wasn't anything further from the truth…we never set a prank except in good fun, unless we saw someone picking on someone who wasn't a fair fight. Then we'd feel it our duty to even up the odds, a bit."
"Like Robin Hood." Alf said.
"Er, Right. You'll have to explain that one to me some time." He coughed lightly. "So that's how both of us, really, came to notice Katie Bell; we all became closer throughout that year, which had a lot of adventure, thanks to the arrival of Harry Potter and his attachment to your uncle Ron as best friend. I didn't realize until the end of the year, though, that there was anything more to it."
"Hey, Katie." George spotted her in the library, and came over to sit down with her.
"Hi, George." She said, with a big smile.
It amazed him that she could always tell them apart. "All packed?" He asked.
"Yep…not really looking forward to going home, though. Rather stay at Hogwarts. You must have so much fun at the Burrow with your brothers."
George had no problem spending the next five minutes regaling her with tales of life at the Weasley household. Katie was a good listener, had a nice laugh, and could tell him apart from Fred. George had been surprised to feel a flutter in his stomach, when she reached over to touch his arm at one point. He realized, with a start, that Katie was alright for a girl. More than alright, maybe.
Then George looked up and saw Fred enter the library. He saw the look on Fred's face as his twin looked at Katie, and saw the look on Katie's face when she looked at his brother, and knew the game was over before he'd even had a chance.
"You were in love with my MUM?" Alf gaped up at him.
"I'd just turned fourteen, you wouldn't call it more than a crush." George admitted. "And it never got farther than that moment, Alf. Not that it ever went smoothly, either."
Three years went by. Fred was awkward, sometimes, a little wild, and definitely not ready to date, to 'tie himself down.' George also didn't date much…but to be fair those had been some eventful years. Ginny had that whole issue with Tom Riddle's diary their fourth year, and fifth year they would go on to win the Quidditch cup, thanks to Oliver Wood, and Harry. But sixth year was the tri-wizard tournament, and the first ever Yule Ball...
"Ron's a twit, George." Fred was pacing in his room.
George laughed at him. "You're the twit, Fred. What did you go asking Angelina out for if you didn't want to!"
"I panicked!" Fred uncharacteristically ran his hands through his hair in agitation. "Here I was torturing Ron for not having a date..."
"He ought to just ask Hermione and get it over with. Those two are so destined for each other even Trelawney could predict it." George laughed at his own joke.
"Well, I didn't expect Ron to call me on it!" Fred said. "He asked me who I was going with, and I saw Angelina behind him, so I figured, why not?"
"Why didn't you say Katie Bell?" George asked.
"What?" Fred sat limply down on the bed, and gaped at him.
"Katie Bell. She's who you wanted to ask, isn't she?" George was puzzled.
Turns out, Ron wasn't the only dense brother when it came to matters of love. "I didn't want to ask Katie either, George. Katie's just a kid." Fred said, dead-on serious.
"She's a year older than Ron and Harry, Fred, and girls mature faster." Privately George thought Katie had matured QUITE nicely; pretty smile, nice personality, beautiful hair that seemed to flow out behind her…He pulled himself from his thoughts quickly.
"I'm not interested in Katie Bell." Fred lied to himself, though he wasn't fooling George. "I don't want to go to the Yule Ball at all. I thought we might stick together and, I dunno, maybe slip some dung-bombs under the tables."
"Oh, like I want THAT howler from Mom!" George protested. "And you can't back out on Angelina. She is bigger than you, and stronger than you, not to mention better looking than you, and she will kick your ass."
"Right…so that means you need a date." Fred announced. "Because I am not going without you!"
George studied Fred carefully, and realized he was completely serious. And desperate. George took pity on him, and answered simply. "Right, then. I'll just head to the library and see who enters into my line of sight."
"Dad sounds like he was pretty confused." Alf asked, nuzzling up next to George, who pulled blankets around him.
"You look like you're ready for sleep now." George commented.
"No…please, I want to hear the rest." Alf pleaded. George smiled down at him.
Fred Weasley may have been confused about what girl he did or didn't want to go to the Yule Ball, but George Weasley knew exactly what he was doing. He immediately sought out Katie Bell, finding her in the common room by herself, sitting near the window watching the snow.
"Oh, hey George." She said, sounding depressed.
"Hey there." He sat next to her, watching as her hands played with a scarf she was slowly pulling to pieces in her lap. "Tough day?" He asked.
She didn't answer right away, and then asked quietly, "Did Fred really ask Angelina out? She's really pleased to be going. Not sure how she feels about Fred specifically, but…"
"Would you like to go…with me?" George asked, gently, taking the abused knitwear from her hands. "I know I'm not Fred…although sometimes I'm not sure anyone else does…but maybe if you squint a little bit…"
Katie had laughed, and thrown her arms around him. "You always know the right thing to say, George. And yes, I will go with you…and no, I will not squint. You know damned well I can always tell you apart."
It was the happiest moment of George's sixth year.
"You DID love her!" Alf accused, but with a smile on his face. "You loved my mum!"
George felt himself blushing. Funny thing about telling these stories; sometimes things became clearer as you talked them out. "Maybe I did." He admitted softly. "But things have a way of arranging themselves, sometimes."
The night of the Yule Ball the four of them went together. Angelina was stunning; a tall, athletic black girl, she had chosen a golden gown, which seemed to light her whole face up. George didn't feel like he'd ever really seen her before.
Katie, more petite, with dark silky hair and blue eyes, was wearing red, a ruby red silk gown that shimmered in the candle light. Fred took one look at her, and it was at that moment that he realized his twin had known him better than he knew himself.
Halfway through the evening, it was quite clear that Katie and Fred couldn't stop looking at each other. Angelina didn't seem angry at all; Katie's crush on Fred had been perhaps the worst kept secret in the girl's dorm. She had turned to George and suggested that they dance…the minute George had taken her hand, he was lost. And for the rest of the evening, and for the next few years, in school and beyond, that was how it stayed: Katie and Fred, Angelina and George.
Alf sighed. "You were all so happy in this photo…what were you laughing at?"
"You." George said, with a twinkle in his eye.
"Be serious!" Alf said, sternly.
It was towards the end of the evening. They piled in to the booth in the new arrangement for the evening: Fred, Katie, Angelina and George. They each had a butter beer and were eating off a collection of deserts.
"I can't believe Hermione Granger went to the ball with Victor Krum." Katie said, watching the couple leaving.
George watched a surprisingly beautiful Hermione twirl her way out of the room. "Ron can't believe it, either. Stupid git he was for not asking her."
Angelina smiled. "Some men have problems seeing what is right in front of them." She shot a look at Fred, who blushed. "But as for Viktor, you can't deny he's attractive."
"Not my type, thank you." George said, sipping butter beer. "I prefer chasers over seekers." He teased her.
Angelina took his hand, but did sigh wistfully. "He is a good Quidditch player. I might name a son after him."
"Geroff." George stuttered. "After THAT? The man has only one eyebrow!"
Angelina looked down her nose at him, but with a slight smile. "And why would you be worried about what my son will be called?"
Fred got him off the hook.
"I know what name I'm going to give MY son!" He announced, sounding serious.
The three others turned to him. George expected a punch line. Instead, he got an answer. "Alfred."
"Alfred?" Katie asked, puzzled.
"Alfred?" Angelina echoed, looking to George for help.
George, who knew they had no relatives with the name, and suspecting his twin with still having a joke up his sleeve, had no choice but to be the straight man this time. "Alfred?"
"Of course." Fred took Katie's hand in his and looked deeply into her eyes. "Because if we have a son, he will be half Katie…and 'Alf Fred!"
George moaned out loud, Katie blushed and giggled, and Angelina put her head in her hands, not believing she'd fallen for it. Then Fred laughed as well, and when Fred laughed you had to join in, and laugh hard. And that was where Colin Creevy…poor kid…snapped the photo.
Alf was aghast. "You've got to be kidding me…THAT's where I got my name? There isn't some great Uncle Alfred who battled trolls in Iceland or something?"
"Fraid not, kiddo. But I can tell you, when you showed up in the store with that name, I knew for damned sure you were Fred and Katie's kid. So be glad of the name. I am." He kissed Alf on the head. "Now, to sleep with you…tomorrow is moving day, and I need to get my head out of the past!"
He scooped up Alf into his own bed, tucking him in firmly. The boy was two thirds of the way asleep already, but he managed a question. "Can I help at the store, Uncle George?" He murmured. "I'd like that…I'm a good worker."
"I'd like that too…we'll give it a shot, then, eh?" He stroked the boy's head gently, somewhat confused but happy nonetheless.
WWWWWWWWWWW
The past, it turned out, was not done with George Weasley for the evening. He found himself in dreams on a magic carpet, which was strange, because he'd never been on one before, only heard of them. But it made sense when he saw Fred lounging beside him.
"Hey there, Bro." George smiled at him serenely. "Taking me to your part of the universe this time?"
"Just a scenic tour of the upper stratosphere. Easier to talk here than on brooms." Fred leaned back on an elbow, letting the wind run through his hair. "I miss flying with you, George."
"Ditto." George sighed, remembering how it had felt when they were beaters on the house team.
"So…what are you worried about?"
"You make it sound like I only dream about you when I'm worried." George crossed arms and glared at him.
"Not only then, although those seem to be the only ones you remember. Never mind that, though…you are worried about my progeny, George…I can sense it. Spill. I might have some insight, you know." Fred sat back and waited.
"Well, I guess…" George tried to think out exactly how to explain what had him baffled. "I mean he is your kid, Fred, but he's, well, don't take this the wrong way, but he's a damned site better behaved than I would have expected." George found himself fully understanding in the dream what had been a niggling worry. "I mean, not that I expected him to set Harry's house on fire, but he's so perfect it scares me."
Fred smiled at him. "You're good, George. Probably a damned site better with kids than I ever would have been."
"Come again?" George blinked, coloring slightly.
"It scares you, because Alf's scared." Fred watched him trying to digest that. "Think about it, George. He's had one hell of a summer; his Mum died, his step-father essentially threw him out with the garbage. He enters a world he didn't even know existed and has to cope with seven thousand relatives, or thereabouts. And he's probably feeling responsible for you and Mum behaving like idiots."
George bristled. "I am not the one being the idiot, Fred!"
Fred's expression softened. "Perhaps not, George. Just, please, keep trying, okay? But anyway, from Alf's point of view, he probably thinks you and Mum were just fine before he got there. And he's thinking that sooner or later he's going to screw something up and you'll drop him too."
George chewed his lip thoughtfully. "So he's trying to be the worlds most perfect kid? I don't need him to be that, Fred. I just want him to be happy."
"I know that." Fred grasped his arm gently. "But he doesn't. And like I said, it's not like adults have the greatest track record in the world to him."
George stared down his twin, now more worried than before he'd fallen asleep. "But what can I do, Freddo? I keep trying to show him how much he means to me, keep telling him that we're going forward together. How can I get him to believe that?"
"You can't." Fred sighed. "He's human, and he isn't perfect…nobody is…and sooner or later the ten year old in him is going to do something perfectly ten year old stupid. And when it happens, he's going to expect you to gut him like a fish and then toss him onto the street. Until you don't do it, he's going to just expect you will."
"Ugh." George threw himself down flat on the carpet. "I don't suppose you could give me any actual hint as to when his veneer is going to crack, Fred?"
"Do I look like Trelawney?" He laughed. "Relax, George. You can't make it happen. But trust me, when it does, you'll know it, and you'll find a way to make him understand you!" Fred's eyes twinkled in mirth. "You never had a problem letting me know when I was being a stupid git, why should it be any different with my son?"