A/N: So basically this is all happening AROUND the same time. Just read the whole thing and you'll get it.
Chapter 11: And Be a Simple Kind of Man
"Ginny wait up!" called Harry down the hallway. Ginny had her foot on the first stair when he called her. She turned around and faced him. Her eyes were filled with tears; she hastily started to wipe them as he approached her.
"Come on, let's talk," he said as he sat down on the top stair and indicated for her to do the same. She sniffed in response and sat down next to him.
"He is such a g-git," said Ginny.
"He was way out of line Ginny. You don't need to listen to him."
"He's my b-b-brother. And so was Fred. He's n-not the only one who misses him."
"Trust me Ginny, I know. You loved Fred and no matter what George says, you know you do, and that's all that matters."
"I just thought he'd want to come, you know? I've hardly seen him since Fred d-died. I knew he was hurting, but I didn't think he'd be so awful."
Harry put his hand on Ginny's shoulder. He finally understood why she looked so eager to go talk to George, and why what he said hurt her so much; actually anyone would find what he said hurtful. Harry opened his mouth to speak again, but Ginny cut him off.
"I'm okay Harry," she said, but when Harry raised his eyebrows, she said, "Or I will be."
She gave him a small smile and got up.
"One last thing," he said, grabbing her wrist. "Earlier when I told you about getting the job, you didn't seem all that thrilled."
Her smiled faded from her face, but she regained her composre quickly.
"It's nothing. Look, mum's probably looking for us. We better find Ron and Hermione."
Before Harry could protest she walked back down the hallway in search of Ron and Hermione. Shaking his head, and promising himself to figure out what was really going on, he headed downstairs to the kitchen.
"Everything all right dear? I thought I heard yelling," said Mrs.Weasley as Harry entered the kitchen and running a hand wearily through his hair.
"George," he mumbled. "Ginny'll be down with Hermione and Ron in a minute. George won't be joining them," he added bitterly.
XxxxX
"What a prat," said Hermione heatedly.
"Calm down 'Mione. Please, he's just being stupid as usual. Don't listen to him. Come on, let's head up to my room."
Hermione followed him, her cheeks still red with anger. She entered the room after Ron and flung herself on the spare cot Harry slept on. She crossed her arms and looked at Ron, who had sat himself on his bed.
"How could he be so awful to Ginny?" she asked indignantly. "Doesn't he realize how much she needs to know he's there for her? Doesn't he see that?"
"Hermione. Calm down!"
"Don't tell me you're not upset about this! I knew you had the emotional range of a teaspoon, but this is your family we're talking about! Don't you care about Gin-"
"Of course I do! I care more about Ginny than anything! She's my sister! I want the best for her!"
"Well what's best for her is for that prat to get up off his arse and BE there for her! He needs to think about someone other than himself and help out his family!"
"Well feel free to tell George that, because I agree fully, but I still don't think he's going to hear you unless he wants to. He's my brother, but he can be a right stubborn git sometimes."
"He needs to go back to his and Fred's joke shop! It's his full responsibility now! He's got to bloody well realize that!"
"I know he does 'Mione! But it'll take a whole hell of a lot to get him to realize it!"
"What's it going to take though? This shouldn't even be a problem! It's just like Ginny said! He's not the only one who misses him! If he can admit that your whole family can work together to help you ALL to get back to how it was! Or atleast a bit better than it is now!"
"I know, 'Mione," said Ron patiently. "But for now, all we can do is help out more ourselves. Make up for George's lack of effort."
Hermione sighed.
"He's got to-"
"Ahem."
Hermione and Ron turned to see Ginny in the doorway.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we've got to get going."
"Oh, right," said Hermione. She got up and put an arm around Ginny. "It's going to be alright," she said soothingly.
"I hope so," said Ginny and Ron simultaneously. Ron shook his long hair out of his eyes and gave Ginny a small smile.
"Come on sis," he said, putting an arm around his younger sister. "Let's go."
XxxxX
"Diagon Alley!"
Ginny watched her mum dissapear into the flames.
"Diagon Alley!"
Harry was now on his way there.
"Diagon Alley!"
Ron was engulfed into the green flames.
"See you in a minute Gin! Diagon Alley!"
Hermione was gone. Ginny grabbed a handful of floo powder and was about to release the powder when she heard someone come to a fast halt a little ways behind her. She felt the floo powder fall out of her hand and into the ashes as she turned around to see who had caused the noise. Standing in the doorway was her- for lack of a better word- brother, George, standing in the doorway.
XxxxX
"Damn it!" George mumbled to himself as the door slammed shut on Ron and Hermione. Why did he always let his temper get the better of him these days? Fred. That's why. Why did he have to be killed? Why? Couldn't he be spared? Did it really have to end like that? It wasn't fair. Him and Fred had everything planned out. They were going to buy Zonko's together, open a new branch of WWW, George was going to get together with Alicia, and Fred was going to be with Angelina, have a double wedding, with both of them having twins later. George sighed. Now he really understood the phrase 'We plan and God laughs'. He decided the least he could do with this rush of annoyance was clean his room a bit. He vanished the pile of bottles in the corner with a flick of his wand. Then with another flick, the dirty clothes were sent into the hamper; another flick, the Charm books were neatly stacked on his desk. A third flick; the trash throughout his room was in a trash bin by the door. Flick; his bed was made. He made a bottle of disinfectant appear with a flourish of his wand and sprayed it around the room. He found on of those muggle contraptions his dad always had; the ones you put in a room and it sprayed this perfume kinda thing in the room once and a while. He set it to the most frequent setting and placed it on his bedside table. George sighed; all that was left to do was go find Ginny and the others and appologize. Ginny. Great, now he felt really bad. He had been awful to her, and all she needed was love from her brother. To know he didn't hate her for living. That he would still be there for her even thought Fred wasn't. On this final thought, George sprinted out of his room and down to the kitchen. He stopped abruptly when he entered the kitchen. Ginny was the only one left in the kitchen and was in the middle of throwing a handful of floo powder into the fireplace. It hit the ashes and large green flames burst to life in the fireplace. She had heard him enter and turned to look to no doubt see who it was. He opened his mouth to speak with a clearly appologetic look on his face. She cut him off with the most horrible expression on her face. It was a look of deepest loathing and hurt. Pain and anger. Her eyes narrowed as he started to say her name.
"Gi-"
"Shut up."
He tried again, but he cut him off more fiercly.
"Don't say my name."
With that, she stepped into the flames and said 'Diagon Alley'. She sent him one last look of loathing before dissapearing into a haze of emerald green heat.
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Hey! Sorry for the long wait for an update! The last few days of school were hectic with all my exams, and now It's summer so I've been hangin out with friends nonstop! Hah, and I've also been looking around and reading a lot of stories. I've now gained a huge interest with the Lily/James Maurauder Era stories. Stuff like how they got together and all that, so if you've read any good ones lately let me know! And I'm also considering writing one of my own, so give me your thoughts on that as well! Lastly, the chapter: Love it to death? Think I should do the fanfiction community a favor and stop writing? Let me know in a review! Any type of constructive critisism is welcome.
