A/N: First of all a HUGE Thanks to everyone who's reviewed! satelliteblues21, Phoenix Feather Quills, x.o.gossipgirl.x.o, trustsnape38, Squealing Lit. Fan, hondagirl, Kerichi, book babe1990, MBP, Evenstar606, Tina101, Bad Mum, uniquegrl7, S0phia.weasley, shannoneduffy, mustardgirl1128 & hannahannah - thanks for all your support and kind words!

I'm really happy that so many are reading this! :)

XXX

Chapter 17 January 22nd, 2000

On Saturday morning Alicia woke up early. Next to her George was still asleep, snoring lightly. After checking the time – it was only 7.30 – Alicia turned over and tried to get back to sleep. When it became clear after about an hour that it wouldn't work, she decided that she could as well get up now. There was a lot of housekeeping to be done, anyway.

Alicia couldn't concentrate. She couldn't help thinking about Thursday evening, when George had taken off without telling her what he was up to. Again. Even after his return, she hadn't managed to get much information out of him.

"I have a suspicion," was all he had said. "I'll tell you when I know more."

In the end, Alicia had given up.

It was around 10.30 when a knock on the door and a familiar voice interrupted Alicia's constant stream of unpleasant thoughts. "Leesh, you there? It's Katie!"

"Er, yeah. Come on in!" Alicia waved her wand at the door and it opened, revealing a smiling Katie. "Have you had breakfast, yet?" she asked, stepping into Alicia's flat.

Alicia shook her head. "No. But I'm not really that hungry anyway."

Katie sighed compassionately. "Trouble again?"

Alicia shrugged. "Sort of."

"George?"

When Alicia didn't answer Katie continued asking, "What's wrong? He okay? You seem worried."

"He's fine. At least I think so. It's just that – well, it seems that he is up to something."

"Up to something?"

"He won't tell me what." Alicia told her friend about Harry's visit two nights ago. "And then after Harry left George took off without a word. Ten minutes later I got an owl from his brother Charlie saying that I wasn't to worry, George was with him and they were going to pay somebody a visit."

"And George never told you who they went to see?" asked Katie disbelievingly.

"No, he didn't."

"Did you ask him?"

"What? Of course I asked him!"

Katie shook her head. "Did you really ask him?"

Alicia frowned. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Alicia, you can't keep letting him do that!"

"Letting him do what?"

"Letting him get away with … well, with anything. That is exactly why I haven't told you about my suspicion that he was taking something. You never really stand up to him."

"I do!"

"No, you don't. All he has to do is give you puppy dog eyes and you cave in to whatever he wants. Every time! Just think what would've happened if you had known about him possibly being addicted! You would have gone right back to him and he would have taken advantage of you."

"He would never do that," Alicia objected.

"I'm afraid he would. He wasn't quite himself when he was under the influence of that stuff. He would have told you all the time, tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'm going to stop taking it. Tomorrow, everything will go back to normal. And you would've agreed."

"I wouldn't." Deep down Alicia knew that Katie was probably right but she didn't want to admit it, not yet at least. She always tended to give in to George way too easily. Lowering her head she avoided looking at her friend while Katie continued talking.

"Did you know that it was because of you not being there that he finally realised what he was actually doing?"

"You mean, he stopped using because of me?"

"Yes," Katie confirmed, eagerly. "Because he realised that his behaviour had consequences. It's what I've always said – you just have to stay consequent and he'd do anything for you."

"You really think so?" asked Alicia and couldn't help smiling.

Katie nodded and hugged her friend.

"I hope he didn't hear us," said Alicia suddenly, breaking free from the hug.

"He's here?"

"Yeah, but he was still sleeping a moment ago. Ron's minding the shop today – so George doesn't have to be there until later."

"Well, it's good he's here, 'cos I wanted to talk to him, too."

"About what?"

"I'm afraid he's not going to like it. I will need you to back me up."

"On what?"

Before Katie could reply, the bedroom door opened and George stuck his head out. "Licia, d'you know where I put my –" he interrupted himself when he saw Katie. A huge grin appeared on his face. "Why, it's Katie Bell! What a surprise to see you, little Katie!" He did seem genuinely surprised to see their friend so Alicia didn't think that he had heard anything of her and Katie's conversation.

Katie chuckled. "Good or bad surprise?"

"Lovely surprise," said George with his usual distinctive charm, exiting the bedroom wearing only boxers. "Haven't seen you in ages! Don't go away, I'll just take a quick shower and be with you in five minutes!"

It took him less than five minutes to get showered and dressed and come back, smelling of shampoo (Alicia's shampoo, which Alicia acknowledged with a smile), wet hair sticking out in all directions. He gave his girlfriend a kiss on the cheek then greeted Katie with a hug.

Katie stood on tiptoe returning the gesture, then moved back to look George up and down. "You're looking good, George," she said.

He grinned broadly. "Thanks. Unfortunately, I'm taken."

Katie rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean," she said.

"No, as a matter of fact I don't know."

"Think about it. I believe you do."

Realisation dawned on him and he narrowed his eyes. "How much do you know about it?"

"Pretty much everything," said Katie unconcernedly.

"But –"

"George, I'm a Healer. I recognised the signs. And I've tried to talk to you, remember? Even though you denied it and wouldn't accept my help I knew. Besides, your brother Charlie asked me for help the night before the reunion."

"You were there?"

"Yes, I was. You were pretty much out of it, so I don't expect you to remember."

"But you never said anything about it. Not at the reunion, not at New Year's Eve, not when I came to Lee's party at WWN at the beginning of January. Why?"

"Two reasons," said Katie. "One, there were always too many people around on every occasion we met, and two, I didn't want you to react the way you're reacting right now."

Crossing his arms in front of his chest defensively George asked, "So what changed your mind then?"

Katie sighed. "I've thought about it a lot, lately. And the more I thought the more worried I became."

"No reason for that, everything's fine. I am fine."

Katie gave George a doubtful look. "Are you? The other night, when Charlie called me, you were pretty sick."

"That was weeks ago. I was going through withdrawal."

"I know. That's exactly what worries me. You should get checked over by a Healer. I could do that any time –"

George shook his head empathically. "No, I'm fine, Kates. Besides, we're friends and I don't like the thought of you seeing me as a patient."

"Let another Healer do it, then –"

"Katie –"

"Okay, look. If you won't go to a Healer then at least take a look at this –" From the pocket of her jeans Katie pulled a small, folded piece of paper which she handed to George. He unfolded it but when he saw what it was his expression fell. It was a St. Mungo's leaflet and Alicia could see the title that said, 'Life After Lethe – Psychological Guide To Cope Without The Potion'.

Alicia nearly laughed. She knew that the situation wasn't a laughing matter, but the thought of George going to a psychologist for help just seemed absurd to her. And not just to her obviously, because George thrust the paper back, right into Katie's hands, at once.

"A headshrinker? No way, I'm not going to see a sodding headshrinker! I mean, just crazy people go there, right?"

Katie gave Alicia a short glance before she turned to George again. "It doesn't mean you're crazy. It's just talking. You need understand your past mistakes in order to keep yourself from repeating them."

To Alicia's surprise George smiled at their friend. "Katie," he said with a sigh, "I know you're just trying to help, but there's no need to worry. I've never been better, have I, Licia?"

Katie and George were both looking at Alicia now, expectantly. She looked from one to the other; Katie was raising her eyebrows while George was smiling calmly. Before she could help it Alicia found herself saying, "I don't know, Kates … if he says he's fine … shouldn't we believe him?"

At that George grinned broadly, while Katie simply shook her head and ran a hand over her face. And of course Alicia felt bad at once. Why did she say that? She had stood up to George before, hadn't she? When she had asked him to tell his parents about the Lethe, for example. Or when she had broken up with him (not that she wanted to think of that, now). But one look at Katie made it quite clear that her friend had expected more of her, although she didn't say anything else.

"Anybody hungry?" asked George, still looking decidedly pleased with himself. "I'm starving. How 'bout we all grab a bite at the Leaky? My treat. – Katie, why didn't you bring Lee, by the way? Haven't seen much of him lately!"

"Neither have I", said Katie gloomily. "He's all over Europe with that silly radio show of his. Look, I'm sorry but I don't think I can join you, I have to get to work. My shift starts in twenty minutes."

"Okay," George said with a shrug. "It was good to see you anyway, little Katie."

"You too," said Katie and hugged them both. "And if you change your mind about that –" she help up the leaflet and put it on the table "– let me know."

After Katie had left Alicia picked up the piece of paper when George wasn't looking, folded it and put it into the back pocket of her jeans. She and George had an early lunch at the Leaky Cauldron and afterwards George left for work while Alicia decided to go and see Angelina.

When her best friend opened the door Alicia had a distinct feeling that she had come in a bad moment. But Angelina let her in, anyway. They sat on the sofa in her tiny, crowded flat, sipping tea. Alicia took a look around.

"Wow, this place looks relatively tidy – compared to usually," she said.

Angelina smiled sourly. "Yeah, well … I sort of had a lot of time, lately."

"Is something wrong?"

"Wrong? No, nothing's wrong. Except –"

"Except what?"

Angelina let out an annoyed sigh and said, "Well, Oliver and I broke up. That's all."

"That's all?" asked Alicia. "But … that's terrible!"

"Oh c'mon, Leesh, it isn't that bad. We never fit together, anyway."

"When did you break up?"

"A couple of days ago. Sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I needed time to think, and I also thought that you have enough on your plate already – what with you just rebuilding your own relationship with George."

"And why did you end it? Or was it him?"

Angelina shook her head. "No, it was me." She shrugged then started to explain, "It didn't really work out from the start. I just didn't want to see it. But the only thing Oliver is committed to is Quidditch. I'd be second best all the time. Plus, I'm sort of jealous for his career is going so well, while I'm still stuck with bloody second rate teams interested in me. It was annoying. He's also not …" Her voice trailed away.

"He's not Fred," Alicia ended the sentence, knowing quite well what her friend was thinking.

"Well, Oliver's not the man I've been looking for," said Angelina, while avoiding direct eye contact. "So I ended it."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be – it was the right decision. But let's not talk about it anymore. How're things with you and George?"

"Slowly getting back to normal. Well, as close to normal as can be – after all that's happened in the last two years. And there's happened a lot I had no idea about."

Angelina creased her forehead. "What do you mean?"

Alicia hesitated, but decided to confide in her best friend. "I need you to promise that you won't talk to anybody about what I will tell you now."

"What?" Angelina's expression became more and more worried. "What happened?"

"Lina, will you promise not to talk about it?"

"Sure," said Angelina. "C'mon, tell me."

"Honestly?"

"Alicia!"

"Okay, here goes then …" And she told Angelina everything she had learned about George in the past weeks, ending with the tale of Harry's visit two nights ago.

"So after Harry left, George just went off and never told you where he was?"

Alicia nodded.

"And Katie told you off for letting him get away with it?"

Again, Alicia nodded, slowly, waiting for Angelina's reaction.

Angelina took her time, contemplating everything that she had heard. Finally she said, very carefully, "I'm afraid I have to agree with Katie. If you want your relationship with George to work, you will have to put your foot down in situations like this. I mean, you do shy away from arguments, don't you? Especially with George."

"Not always," Alicia protested at once.

"But in most cases you do."

"Well, he wouldn't have told his family or anybody else about the Lethe, yet, if it hadn't been for me."

"That's true. But why don't you make a point more often? Why not about him not telling you what happened on Thursday?"

"I tried. I really did. But he can so damn stubborn."

"Did he say why he didn't want to tell you? Not that I don't want you to worry crap again, was it?"

Alicia nodded. "Sort of." She felt her eyes filling with tears. Why did she always have to cry so easily?

Angelina saw how upset her friend was and put her arm around her. Alicia let out a sob but then she tried to compose herself. "It's just so hard sometimes …" she managed to get out. "So difficult to get through to him. I wish I could understand him the way Fred could."

"Alicia, no one can understand him like Fred did," said Angelina calmingly and hugged her friend. "It's just the way it is. I think you two are doing great. Look at me and Fred – we never even managed to maintain a relationship like you and George had – and have again, now."

Wiping her eyes Alicia looked at her friend sympathetically. "You really wanted that, too, didn't you?"

"Yeah … I guess, I did. Somehow. But things were different with Fred and me. We both couldn't really admit how we felt about each other. Anyway, no use in thinking about it. Fred's gone – and nothing in the world can bring him back."

"Oh, Lina, I'm so sorry." This time it was Alicia who put her arms around her friend but Angelina tolerated it only for a few seconds.

"Don't worry about me, Leesh. I'll find somebody someday. You'd better try and keep your own relationship on the right track. Tell George that he has to confide in you or otherwise things won't work out. He'll come to his senses."

"You think so?"

"I know that. Think about it, Leesh, all the things he went through, just to win you back. He loves you."

Talking to Angelina gave Alicia new strength and determination. When George came home from the shop that evening, she waited until after dinner, when they'd cleared away the last dish, to say firmly, "George, we need to talk."

To Alicia's surprise George replied, "Yeah, I guess we do. You mean about Thursday night, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. What happened on Thursday, George?"

He sighed, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "I'll tell you."

XXX

A/N: Wanna guess which will be the next Past chapter?! Tell me in your review! ;)