Another chapter! Things are heating up.

Lyra makes an interesting choice for her future, and an accidental encounter has far-reaching consequences...

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice sharp as I began to push my way through the crowd. Finally making it to the front to stand in the doorway, I stopped. "Oh George," I murmured.

The boy was sitting on the floor, curled up as his body shuddered with silent sobs. A photo lay before him.

The others stood behind me, unsure. I acted, moving into the room. I bent over, scooping the photo from the ground. "I never liked this anyway," I remarked quietly. "I always thought that you two shouldn't be limited by any boundaries, even a frame." Carefully I pulled the photo from the frame, sticking it to the wall with a quick charm. My next move was to remove all the glass that had shattered on the floor with the Vanishing Charm.

Then I turned my attention back to George.

He was still in the same position, crouched there. His hands were clenched, his knuckles white. It was almost like he was gripping something…I gasped, springing forwards.

"Stop!" I gasped, seizing the boy's wrists. Carefully I turned them palm up, gently urging his left hand open. A multitude of cuts adorned it, caused by the shattered glass and driven deep into his skin with his clenched fists. An inspection of his right hand produced the same result.

I pulled out my wand again, this time pointing it at his hands. "Hold still." Under my direction, the glass slowly eased from the wounds. When I was satisfied that I had gotten it all, I Vanished it, and began to wrap handkerchiefs around George's wounds. As I started on his other hand he shuddered. "He's gone."

My heart filled with anguish at the hollowness of his words, but I kept my head bowed as I focused on his injuries. "Yes George," I replied softly, "I know."

"I'm alone."

My head shot up as I finished the bandage. "No you're not," I said firmly. "You have us. You have me."

"No I don't." At my perplexed expression, he elaborated, "I heard you before, talking with Ginny. You want to go back to Hogwarts with her."

He knew. And I thought I was being so clever. A lump formed in my throat, but I didn't deny it. Instead I nodded. "I was going to tell you tonight, but..." my voice trailed off helplessly.

George stared at me. After all this time, he was still as devastated as he had been that first day during my welcome home party. "Why?" His voice was a cracked whisper.

I met his gaze, fighting to stop my own tears from forming. "Hogwarts is my home away from home. When I was there, I could think. I knew where I was going, what I wanted to do, who I wanted to be. Here, at The Burrow…I don't have that. I need to figure everything out." I paused. "And part of me wants to get my N.E.W.T.S."

"You're leaving me? But I need you." There was so much anguish in those four words.

"You've got Drake. I know he'll help you as much as I have."

The flame haired boy's head shot up again. "He's not you," he rasped, his gaze pinning me like a beetle to a card. I struggled against the onslaught of so much raw emotion.

"George-"

"Just go," he muttered, pulling away. "I need to be alone."

I stared at him helplessly. Finally, I placed a hand on his shoulder for a brief moment, then rose, leaving the room.

~oOo~

"I hope George is okay."

"Would you drop it? He's fine."

The two girls stopped in the middle of Diagon Alley, the blonde glaring at the red head.

"And stop dropping hints," I snapped. "I'm sorry that I'm going back to Hogwarts. Actually, I'm not. I'm sorry that George is upset over me going back to Hogwarts. But I need to go back."

"And what if he's not there when you graduate?" replied Ginny, her gaze as piercing as her brother's of whom we spoke.

"Ugh!" I threw up my hands and turned away, breaking into a run.

"Lyra!" Ginny's voice chased me as I slipped into the crowd.

A couple of turns later I found myself breathing fast. I paused, looking around briefly to get my bearings, and went still. In front of me was a very familiar store, one which had been closed for weeks ever since the Battle of Hogwarts.

Ever since Fred had died.

Weasley' s Wizarding Wheezes.

Pain rose up, and I turned away quickly-and bumped into another witch.

"Oh!"

"Excuse me, I'm sorry-" I cut myself off as recognition bloomed. "Verity?"

"Oh," repeated Fred and George's shop assistant as she looked at me.

"Lyra Malfoy," I introduced myself. "What are you doing here?"

She looked down. "I come in every week, just to check up on things. Someone needed to take care of the Pygmy Puffs-they're at my place," she added.

I nodded. "I'm getting my things for my seventh year," I replied, studying the witch curiously. "So, you just come here?"

"Every week," the woman repeated. She looked at me. "You're going back to Hogwarts?" When I nodded, not wanting to elaborate (my conversation with George was still very fresh), she hesitated, before speaking again, he voice softer this time. "Is everything alright with Master Weasley?"

It was still so odd to hear George being called that. I sighed. "I don't know."

The witch nodded. "Well, I have to go now," she said, rummaging in her pocket. Producing the key, she stuck it in the lock and turned as she added, "Master Weasley doesn't know I come here-"

I blinked frowning at her sudden halt, and slowly wheeled around to follow her gaze.

George stood in Diagon Alley.

"Merlin's pants," I cursed. He thinks I came here on purpose. He doesn't know that it was all an accident. The only thing premeditated is Verity's weekly visits.

George watched us. As we all stared at eachother, Ginny appeared round the corner. "Lyra!" She skidded to a stop. "Merlin's beard, what's wrong with you-" She too cut herself off upon seeing her brother. "George?"

"Wait!" The cry left my lips, but it was far too late. George Disapparated with a loud crack.

"Shit."

Shit indeed. Everywhere. It has all just hit the fan.
By the way, CH 14 (the songfic) is set quite a bit after Lyra's welcome-home party, around late June, while this outing in Diagon Alley is mid-July.

Hope you liked it! Or rather...well, you know what I mean :)

In case you're wondering, yes, I am pairing up Lyra and George. I'm just an evil person who won't make it very easy for them. But they'll get there in the end :)

I've also been inspired, by everybody's such nice reviews, to write a sequel! YAY FOR YOU GUYS! :D I really want to know what happens when everybody's grown up! So keep an eye out for that! :)

Love you all, and thank you for the reviews for inspiring me to write! :D

MagicalLeaves