A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers! You're great! :)

XXX

December 2nd, 1996

It was about quarter past three in the afternoon and George was exhausted and hungry. Never in all the years he and Fred had talked about it they had expected their business to be such a success. Yet here he was on a Monday afternoon in early December, the shop being so full he had barely had time to breathe.

Sure, people were buying Christmas presents, but did they all have to buy them at WWW? As good as it felt to have such a well-going business, right now all George wanted was half an hour's time to sit back and have some lunch.

He saw Fred helping a customer trying to find a suitable present for their five year old daughter (definitely going to choose a Pygmy Puff, George thought), and when their eyes met for a second he knew that Fred was thinking the same.

They had given their shop assistant a day off, which she deserved, but George was regretting it now. Thankfully there weren't too many customers there anymore, so maybe there was a chance that he could go over to The Leaky Cauldron or the bakery next door and get himself and Fred something for lunch soon.

George was on his way into the back office to change out of his work robes when the bell at the door announced the arrival of a new customer. George was going to ask Fred to take care of it, but then he saw who it was. "Alicia!"

"Hi." She smiled.

He couldn't help marvelling at how pretty she was when she smiled like that. "What can I do for you?"

"My cousin's daughter is turning six tomorrow and she invited me for tea. I need a present."

George grinned. "A sixth birthday tea? Sounds like a real party."

Alicia shrugged. "There'll be some of her friends there, too. Sarah's asked me if I could help out keeping them from wrecking havoc. Two of the other girls are witches, and even if they're not supposed to do their own magic at six, you know how it sometimes happens when they get excited."

"How would I know that?" asked George innocently.

Alicia nudged him, gently. "I'll bet you know better than anybody."

"Okay, so it might have happened every now and then when we were young – not very often, of course –"

"Liar."

"What kind of present are you thinking about?"

"No idea, to be honest. I thought I'd ask you what you'd suggest."

"Well, we have Dream Charms."

"What is that?"

"Dream potion. You can choose a dream while you're drinking the potion and you will fall asleep, dreaming exactly that dream. I tested it; the dream feels quite real, like you're actually doing it."

"Doing what?"

"Never mind." George felt his face get a little hot. He didn't really want to tell Alicia, what he had been doing in that dream, but he supposed that she had an idea, anyway. The way she was smiling knowingly seemed to confirm his suspicion and he quickly said, "You can do anything you like. Like riding a broom or something."

"And how long do you sleep?"

George shrugged. "Depends how much of the potion you've had and how tired you are. You can take it in the evening, then go to sleep, have a good dream and wake up in perfectly good mood the next day."

"Sounds like an idea. I can give it to Susie as a birthday present and make sure her mum keeps it so she won't sleep all the time."

"Sure," said George and went to get a flagon. He was about to tell Alicia the price when his stomach gave a loud growl. He felt embarrassed for the second time. "Haven't had a lunch break," he explained to Alicia who had raised her eyebrows. "Shop's been busy all day."

Alicia took a look around. "I'm the only customer now," she said. "How about you take a short break now and we'll go the bakery next door for a coffee and a sandwich?"

"Sounds inviting, but I'm afraid I can't", said George nodding towards the door where two elderly witches and a young couple had just arrived. "Perhaps we could meet for a drink at the Leaky later, though? Unless, of course, you've already got plans for tonight."

"I was going to the pub with Angelina, anyway, so why don't you bring along Lee and Fred and we'll all go?"

"Sounds fine," said George who would have preferred meeting with Alicia were a few things they had to talk about. Things that should have long been said and that hung between them, making him feel slightly uncomfortable around her.

"Okay, that's settled then. Now, do you want me to walk over to the bakery and get you a sandwich to bring back here?"

"Would you do that?"

"Certainly."

"What about me?" asked Fred who suddenly had appeared at George's right shoulder.

"I'll get you something, too, of course," promised Alicia.

She was back ten minutes later. They arranged to meet at eight that evening, and for the rest of the day work was much more enjoyable for George. The prospect of having a drink with Alicia that evening brightened his mood considerably. He even bore with Fred teasing him for dressing up after work.

"You still like her, don't you?" he said.

George ran his hands through his hair trying to make it stay in place the way he wanted. "So what?"

Fred shrugged. "How about acting on it?"

"Easier said than done –"

"Why? Since when have you been shy?"

"I'm not. It's just that – we never really made up after the argument we had last year."

"But that's more than a year ago. How can you still be bothered by that?" asked Fred, sounding bewildered.

"I would try to explain – but you're so thick you wouldn't get it, anyway –"

Fred sniggered.

"Stop laughing. One day even you will probably understand."

"Yeah, I might. But in the meantime I see it as my duty to help you getting laid finally. After all, we're eighteen and you're still a virgin! I mean it's not like you didn't get your chance with that Muggle girl in Ottery St. Catchpole –"

George shot his twin a vicious glance. "Don't you dare mention her to Alicia tonight –"

"No worries about that, mate. In fact, as you might know, since you didn't want to I did get laid by her. She will never notice the difference, anyway," said Fred. "But don't worry, the looks Alicia keeps giving you, you won't be a virgin for too long, either," he added after a moment.

"Shut up."

"Wanker."

"Arsehole."

"Let's go."

"Fine."

The girls were already there when the twins arrived at the pub but there was no sign of Lee. George couldn't help feeling a bit nervous. In the past couple of months since Alicia and he had become friends again he had found himself thinking that there could be more to it, again. At least there was no denying that he still fancied her; tall and slender, with long blonde hair, pretty face. And that wasn't all; he was also deeply impressed by her kindness and her good-hearted nature. And her ambition.

She smiled at him as he and Fred and sat down at the girls' table. Meanwhile Angelina was giving Fred a unfriendly look but didn't say anything. George had no idea what had happened between the two of them now.

Angelina was also a little over-dramatic sometimes in George's eyes. She loved to get all the attention, especially Fred's attention, but that didn't mean she thought it necessary to pay him the same attention she expected. George didn't think he would have wanted to put up with that attitude of Angelina's, and he knew that Fred was even less willing to. It was a pity really, because underneath, George thought, they did like each other very much. But it was their problem, though, and George was going to leave up to them to solve it.

Angelina offered to buy the first round of drinks, and not much later, Lee arrived as well with a petite witch in tow, whom George guessed to be the colleague from WNN Lee kept going on about. She was pretty enough, and of course Fred flashed her his most charming grin when she introduced herself. Her name was Corinna.

George rolled his eyes. Angelina was on her way back to the table, carrying their drinks and she was already frowning.

"Looks like it's going to be interesting evening," whispered Alicia into George's ear.

He couldn't help grinning and bent over to whisper back, "If it gets too bad we can go somewhere else any time."

"Why not leave now? I can see Angelina's in fight mood already, and I'm really not up to hearing it tonight. There's a lovely Muggle Pub just outside Diagon Alley we could go to."

"Do you have Muggle money?" George asked.

"I happen to have Muggle relatives, so yes, I do. Enough to pay for a couple of drinks, anyway. Just wondering what we're going to tell the others?"

"How about just that we're leaving?"

"Where're you going?" asked Fred, who had heard them.

"None of your business, dear brother," said George with a grin. He gave Angelina some money for the drinks she had bought, and then got his and Alicia's jackets. On the way out he put his arm around Alicia's shoulder. She met his eyes and smiled, giving George hope that she still fancied him as much as he fancied her. When she edged a little closer, he made up his mind to find out tonight.

The Muggle pub Alicia had suggested was much busier than The Leaky Cauldron. There was a football game on television, and people were watching with interest. They found small table in the back of the pub. The television wasn't visible from there, but neither George nor Alicia minded. Football didn't excite them at all.

"So," said George after they had got their drinks, "how's work going?"

"Boring. But it's only temporary, so I can put up with it."

"Temporary? Did you put in an application somewhere else?"

"Not yet, but I'm going apply for a job with the Ministry."

George winked. "You can have a job at WWW anytime you want."

Alicia shook her head. "No, thanks! No offence, though."

"None taken." He grinned. "But if you ever change your mind just tell me – I mean, you saw how busy the shop is these days."

"Is it always? Or is it because of Christmas?"

"Hard to say when we're in our first year. And with the war that might be coming –"

"Oh, right," said Alicia. "That's true."

They talked, sipped their wine and talked some more. After three glasses George felt the effects of the wine begin and Alicia laughed as though she was already a little tipsy. It was just after half past ten, and the time had gone by so quickly it had felt like not more than half an hour to George. Unfortunately, it was his turn to open up the shop the next morning and he knew he should get home and into bed soon.

Alicia had seen him look at his watch. "What's it say?"

"Almost eleven o'clock."

"Really? Merlin's sock, it's time to get home; I have to work early tomorrow!"

"Shall I walk you home, then? I guess we've both had a bit too much wine to Apparate."

"Well, it's not far, so yes, why not?"

Alicia lived in a side road of Diagon Alley, where she had moved to just after finishing school. She had told George that her parents helped her pay for it because her part time job at the Magical Menagerie didn't supply enough money for a flat so close to Diagon Alley. But Alicia's parents owned their own magical construction company and they could easily afford paying for their daughter's flat. It made George feel a tiny bit self-conscious to think about Alicia coming from such a wealthy family.

Alicia paid for their drinks and insisted it was her treat. In the end, George settled with a promise from her that next time she was going to let him pay.

It was a cold and frosty night. When they turned into the small road where Alicia lived she slipped on a frozen puddle and fell against George. "Whoops! Sorry."

"No harm done." He slipped his arm around her waist to steady them both and kept it there in case she slipped again, or so he told himself.

When they arrived at the house where she lived, George was about to tell her goodnight when she asked him, "Want to come on in?"

He didn't hesitate. "Why not? I haven't seen your flat, yet, have I?" He had tried to stay cool, but couldn't help his voice sounding a little shaky. Alicia gripped his hand and he followed her up the three flights of stairs.

Alicia's flat wasn't as big as he had expected. Just two rooms, one being her bedroom and the other one living-room with a comfortable looking couch and a desk in the far corner. She also had a rather big kitchen that could almost count as another room. On the walls hung pictures of Alicia's family and one of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, both she and George had been part of.

"Your pictures don't move," George said as he took a curious look around.

"Yeah, I prefer them to be still. It irritates me when they move all the time," Alicia replied. She motioned towards the couch. "Sit."

"Thanks."

"I'll make the coffee."

"Actually, I don't want anything. If I have coffee now I won't get to sleep later, and I have to open up tomorrow."

Alicia smiled. "I'd better not have any coffee, either –" She sat down next to him. "I have to get up early, too."

She was sitting close to him. Very close, actually.

Go on, kiss her!

The voice in his head had sounded just like Fred's. It wasn't always helpful to know exactly what your brother would say about the situation you're in. George rolled his hoping Alicia didn't see it.

It's now or never, you coward!

He kissed her. The voice in his head luckily shut up after that.

Alicia responded to the kiss as if she had been waiting for him to do this all evening. The kiss was quite different to anything he had experienced – so much deeper and more intensive – and he didn't want it to end.

He started with moving his hands under her blouse and towards parts he had never touched before, slowly caressing her breasts. He didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable or pressured. If she told him to stop, he would have, but she didn't. She was rather passive, though, and it made him worry.

"Everything alright?" he asked.

"Uh-huh."

"I don't want to do anything you don't –"

"I want it," she said, kissing him deeply.

He could hardly believe his luck. "Are you sure? You've had some wine and –"

"I'm not drunk," she said. "And I want it."

He wanted it too, so much that he went too fast and the whole thing was over almost before it had even started. George felt a sudden hot anger towards himself. He should have had more control, recited Arithmancy equations or something. The silence in the room was becoming uneasy. Alicia hadn't said a word since it had happened, but she didn't look particuarly unhappy.

He settled for mumbling, "Well, that was – awkward."

"It sort of was," admitted Alicia.

When he made to leave, Alicia said, "No, stay."

"But –"

"We'll just sleep."

"Are you sure you want me to stay?"

She nodded. And so he stayed, lying awake half the night, worrying.

XXX

A/N: Poor George!