A/N: Here's the newest 'Present' chapter. Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter, I didn't expect to get that many ;-) Tina101, Kerichi, mustardgirl1128, MBP, S0phia.weasley, Evenstar606 , x.o.gossipgirl.x.o, babes412 & uniquegrl7 – I loved every single one of your lovely comments!

One thing I just wanted to say to the people who used to review every chapter, but haven't reviewed the last couple ones; if you don't like into which direction the story is going, please let me know. I'm open for any kind of constructive criticism!

Special Thanks to Kerichi for her help with this chapter!

XXX

Chapter 11 January 16th, 2000

Alicia woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and pancakes. Rubbing her eyes she sat up and yawned.

"George?"

"In the kitchen! I'm making breakfast. How many pancakes do you want?"

Alicia smiled. This was unusual. She couldn't remember George cooking very often – apart from coffee or tea, maybe – in all the time they had been together, before and after the war. Not that she was going to complain.

And it wasn't just cooking. For the last week George had also made a huge effort to try and talk to her about Fred and how much he was missing him. During the past week they had sat in her small kitchen every evening, drinking tea and simply talking until they had gone to bed and cuddled until they fell asleep. Alicia had sat and listened patiently to him, for she had realised very quickly that he was telling her things about him that he might never say again.

Alicia thought that he was maybe never going to be the same person he was before the war, and that it might not even be a bad thing. Change was a part of growing up, and George had certainly grown up a lot in the two years since the war, and especially in the last two weeks.

"Licia?" He was sticking his head into the bedroom, grinning. "You haven't told me yet, how many pancakes you want."

"Four," said Alicia without missing a beat.

"Honestly? Four?" said George, chuckling. "You know, I'm making them bigger than you do?"

"How am I s'posed to know that?" said Alicia in a mocking tone. "It's not like you've ever made any for me before."

"True. But that's going to change now," said George and disappeared again.

Alicia was still smiling to herself when she got up and stretched. Then she pulled on some comfortable clothes and went into the kitchen where she found George busy at the stove.

"Hey, something smells really good," she said, hugging her boyfriend from behind. "Anything I can help you with?"

George turned around in her embrace, kissed her forehead and then shook his head, saying, "No, you're supposed to do nothing and leave it all to me."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, just sit back and relax." He led her over to the small table, made her sit and went to get her a mug. "There you go," he said, filling some coffee into the mug before returning to the stove.

While sipping her coffee Alicia smiled, watching George prepare their breakfast. A warm, comfortable sensation pooled in her stomach when she realised, once again, how much she loved him. She knew that there was a very good chance for things to work out for them this time if he stayed as considerate as he had been during this one week.

They had talked about everything except one thing they would have to discuss, and Alicia wasn't sure how George would take it.

Trying to relax, Alicia pushed the thought to the back of her mind. She had been putting it off for a week now, so it could certainly wait a few more minutes. She didn't want to ruin the mood now while they were eating.

"We're havin' fe monfly Weasley family dinner tonight," said George around a healthy mouth full of pancake. "Do you want to come?"

Alicia hesitated. She did want to come but was also afraid of seeing George's family, especially Charlie.

George saw the uncertainty on her face and grinned reassuringly. "Don't worry. They'll all love to see you."

"All of them?" asked Alicia doubtfully. "Even Charlie?"

George shrugged. "Don't think that Charlie will make an appearance," he said. "He was expected back in Romania last week and the International Floo Network's become too expensive to use often."

"What about your Mum?"

"What about her?"

"Has she forgiven me for leaving you?"

"Don't think she blames you," he said, lowering his head to stare at the remains of food on his plate. "I rather think that she hasn't forgiven me for letting you leave."

Although Alicia didn't believe that it was quite obvious that George did. She took his hand into hers and said, "We've both made mistakes. I don't believe that your mother blames you for what happened between us."

George didn't answer; he just sat, chewing his bottom lip and staring ahead at some point on the wall behind Alicia. After a while, he snapped out of his bad mood and grinned. "So why won't you come if you don't think Mum blames you?"

"Because Charlie does," said Alicia.

"He won't be there," said George confidently. "And don't worry – even if he shows, I'll talk to him. He'll leave you alone."

"It would mean a lot to you if I came, wouldn't it?"

He nodded.

Alicia smiled. "Okay, then I'll go with you. On one condition."

"What condition?" asked George, frowning.

"If you haven't told them, yet, you need to tell your family about the Lethe."

"What?" George stared at her for a moment then shook his head. "Why?"

"Because they need to know. They need to know why you behaved so strangely. They need to know because it's addictive and it's possible that you will relapse. I think they should know what's going on so they can help."

"Mum'd kill me if she knew," said George, still shaking his head. "I can't tell them."

"You have to. Otherwise I'll do it."

Narrowing his eyes and pulling his hand away from hers George sat back on his chair. He crossed his arms in front of his chest defensively and said, "Are you trying to ruin the day? We just got back to together and now you want to go and bring up all that crap again? I'm not taking it anymore, isn't that enough?"

Alicia sighed. "No, and I thought that you have learned that much in the last couple of weeks. You have to face the past and take responsibility for your mistakes. I know it's hard sometimes, especially when you have to tell your parents something like this but –"

"How would you know?"

Rolling her eyes impatiently Alicia quickly added, "Okay, maybe I don't know exactly, but I can imagine –"

"Like hell you can," he interrupted her stubbornly.

"Do you want me to come or not?"

"I do," said George.

"Then stop behaving like a child."

He sighed and got up from the table to start doing the dishes. "I'll think about it," he said.

"Fine," said Alicia. "Think about it, then."

The good mood seemed to be spoiled; Alicia spent the morning doing laundry and practising a few tidying spells while George was at the shop, doing the books – work he was never able to do during the week. All morning Alicia mulled over their argument during breakfast. Was it maybe her fault? Should she have left it to him? But a voice deep in the back of her mind assured her that she had been right to ask him.

If he has a relapse and starts taking it again, you can't take it, all by yourself. You need help with this, both of you.

George returned in the earlier afternoon. He sat next to Alicia on the sofa where she was reviewing a couple of files she had brought home from the Ministry. Wordlessly George put his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder and pulled her close to kiss her cheek.

"You tell them," he said. "I can't."

Alicia smiled to herself. "Okay. I'll tell them," she said. "But in your presence."

"Fine."

To change the subject Alicia asked, "Have you had lunch?"

"I had a sandwich at the Saucepan," said George, nodding.

"Oh, you go to the Saucepan? I never saw you there – and that means something; it was my second home for a while," said Alicia.

"Well, that would be the reason why I never went there before we got back together," admitted George, smirking. "But lately I realised that they have some pretty good stuff."

"Yeah, and some pretty good staff as well, haven't they?" added Alicia thinking of the young waitress that hadn't taken her eyes of George when she was serving them while Alicia and George had met during their lunch hour on Monday.

Knowing exactly what Alicia was talking about George sniggered. "She was annoying, wasn't she?"

Alicia threw him a sceptical glance. "You didn't look that much annoyed."

"I didn't?"

"George!"

"Okay okay, I admit I like to get a bit of attention every once in a while. Nothing wrong with that, is there? So do you, by the way."

Feeling her face getting hot Alicia quickly tried to change the subject again but before she could even speak George bend over to kiss her. After the kiss ended he said reassuringly, "Don't worry about it. I really thought the waitress was annoying. And I love only you."

"Prove it," demanded Alicia.

George proved it.

It was the first time they had made love since they had got back together a week previously and it was probably the best time ever. Alicia didn't remember George ever being so tender, always putting her pleasure first. Afterwards they both fell asleep, naked and content in each other's arms.

When Alicia woke up she had no idea what time it was, but it was dark outside and it hadn't been dark when she had fallen asleep. Yawning, she reached for her alarm clock on the bedside table to check the time. '6.27' read the display. Alicia sat bold upright. They were supposed to be at George's parents' by half past six and they still needed to shower and get ready!

They tried, but didn't make it on time. It was almost seven when they finally climbed out of the fireplace at The Burrow and Mrs. Weasley came bustling out of the kitchen at once. "George!" she reprimanded. "You are late –" she interrupted herself when she realised that Alicia was there, too, standing half behind George and clinging to his hand. "Alicia?"

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley," said Alicia hesitantly, not daring to still call her boyfriend's mother by her first name like she used to.

"Oh, dear, it's good to see you!" said Mrs. Weasley happily.

Alicia was taken aback when Molly Weasley suddenly rushed over to pull both, her and George, into a bone-crushing hug. "Does this mean you two are really back together?"

Alicia turned to George. "I thought you had told your family."

"He hasn't," said Molly, letting go of both of them and slapping her son gently on the back of his head. "Ginny's said something about it, though."

George ran a hand through his hair making it stick out all over and shrugged. "I wanted it to be a surprise," he murmured sheepishly.

"Well, then your surprise was a real success," said a voice behind Mrs. Weasley. Ginny was standing there, wearing a grin that reached from one ear to the other. She, too, hugged both, Alicia and George.

"Come on now," said Mrs Weasley, "in the kitchen, we've already started dinner."

The Burrow's kitchen was magically extended to almost trice its usual size, and it still seemed too small for all the people in it; Molly and Arthur, all of their children (minus one, said a voice in the back of Alicia's head causing an unpleasant jolt in her stomach), then there were Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Fleur Delacour (although her name was Weasley now, too), Bill's and Fleur's eight month old daughter Victoire and Harry's godson Teddy Lupin.

Alicia's eyes met with Charlie Weasley's she suddenly felt very nervous. Charlie glared at her and Alicia turned to find some reassurance from George who simply gave an apologetic shrug. Before Alicia could think about it any more, Mrs Weasley had already conjured two more chairs and plates and ushered her and George to sit down.

Soon their plates were loaded with food and George was tucking in as if he hadn't eaten in days. Mrs. Weasley kept glancing over watching her son, fondly, but frowning when she saw the progress Alicia was making on her food.

"Alicia, you've hardly eaten – is something wrong?" she asked after a while. "Don't you like it?

"No, it's delicious, Mrs Weasley, really –"

"Molly."

"Okay. It's as delicious as always, Molly, but I'm afraid, I had too much for lunch."

"Oh," said Mrs Weasley, looking slightly disappointed, but soon enough she was smiling again. "Well, this won't be the last time you're coming to dinner, so never mind."

After dinner Fleur disappeared to change her daughter's nappies and Harry had left with Ginny to take Teddy back to his grandmother. Everybody else was in the lounge, drinking Butterbeer or Firewhisky. So far, neither George no Alicia hadn't said a word about George's addiction to Lethe but Alicia could tell that he was nervous from the way he was holding an extra tight grip on his glass of Firewhisky. Alicia bent over and elbowed him lightly, asking, "Do you want me to tell them now?"

George shook his head. "No, I'll do it," he said. "But I don't want Ron and Hermione to listen."

"Why? Because they're younger than you?"

"Yes," said George firmly and his tone was leaving no room for arguments. "Yes, that's exactly the reason."

"Okay, then I will find an excuse to get them out of the room. Got an idea?"

"I think Ron's got a new broom."

"Will Hermione be interested in that?"

George grinned, "No, but she'll realise that we're having a conversation here, that's none of her business."

"True," said Alicia.

It worked perfectly. Ron's new broom was a Nimbus – not the newest – it was a Nimbus 2001 – but he had bought from his own money which he had earned working at WWW. He talked about the broom none stop for what seemed like hours, causing Hermione to heave a deep sigh or raise her eyes to the sky and shake her head every once in a while, but the rest of the time she was smiling, clearly amused by Ron's enthusiasm.

It was about forty minutes after they had left when George came to ask them to rejoin them. He was looking exhausted and strained, and Alicia could tell that he was a little drunk as well. Not long after they had rejoined the rest of the family in the lounge, George leaned in to whisper in to Alicia's ear, "Let's go."

They said good night to the rest of the family and travelled back to Alicia's flat in London by Floo powder. Once they were both sat on the couch Alicia asked gently, "What did they say?"

George didn't answer right away.

"George?"

"What d'you think they said? They were disappointed, of course. And Mum was worried. And Dad was so angry with Charlie that –"

"Hang on – why Charlie?" Alicia interrupted him. "Did he know?"

George nodded. "Yeah, he almost caught me taking it once." Suddenly his expression changed; he covered his eyes and forehead with his hands and groaned. "Now I understand."

"You understand what?"

"Charlie blamed you for making me take Lethe in the first place."

"Blamed me?" asked Alicia outraged.

"He thought I had only started taking it after you broke up with me."

"And you didn't tell him?"

"I didn't want to talk to him about it," said George, looking very guilty. "I'm sorry – but I think he knows better now. He'll probably apologise to you."

"But if he knew, why didn't he tell anybody?"

"I promised him that I wasn't going to take it. He didn't know that I had already been taking it regularly for a couple of months. But when he came home again for Christmas he found out the truth and he was furious. He helped me stop it and get through withdrawal, though."

"The day before the reunion at Hogwarts."

George nodded.

They remained silent for a couple of minutes until Alicia asked, "Do you still miss it?"

"Miss what?"

"Taking it. The Lethe."

"Sometimes, yeah. When I can't sleep at night. Doesn't happen very often but –"

"But if it happens, you will wake me, won't you?" asked Alicia concerned.

"You sure you want me to?"

"If the option is you maybe going to buy some more of that potion –"

"I wouldn't," said George seriously. "I have learned from past experiences, especially those hours, when the effects wore of for the last time and Charlie forced me to stay sober. That was horrible enough – I wouldn't want to go through it again."

"I hope so," said Alicia. She hesitated a moment; there was something else on her mind and she couldn't understand why she hadn't thought of it before. "George?"

"Huh?"

"Do you – do you think we should report that this witch sells Lethe to the Ministry? It's illegal to sell that potion, after all."

George looked sceptical. "Won't I get into trouble as well?"

"Probably," said Alicia. "But maybe you should talk to Hermione after all. She works in the Department for Magical Law, doesn't she?"

"She does, but I doubt that she will be able to help me in any way."

"Maybe she could at least give you some advice."

George shrugged. He didn't look too happy but then he nodded and sighed. "Fine. I'll talk to her."

XXX

A/N: More trouble ahead ... next chapter will be 'Past', though ...

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