A/N: Thank you to all my reviewers! You're helping me so much!

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Chapter 21 February 11th, 2000

Eight days after she had put in the application for the job as Evan's assistant, Alicia received an invitation for an interview. It was a handwritten card from Evan, asking her to come in that day.

It was not her first job interview, but despite her experience, Alicia felt as though she had given all the wrong answers. Evan, however, just smiled and instead of the expected "I'll owl you about my decision," he said, "You're hired."

"Really?" said Alicia, who could hardly believe her ears.

Evan shrugged. "Yes, you're the best for the job."

"How can you make such a decision so quickly?"

"You haven't seen the other … the others I've interviewed."

Alicia hesitated. Something about this didn't seem right to her. "Evan," she said, very carefully, "are you sure you haven't just hired me because we went out together?"

"Why would I do that?"

"I don't know. Maybe you …" She didn't know what to say. "I don't know."

Evan laughed – a friendly laugh. "Alicia, I think you are the best for the job. That has nothing to do with the two of us going out together. Only once, I might add. And since I know you're in a – hopefully happy – relationship, what good would it do to hire you just because I fancy you?" He paused and then said, "You are happy, aren't you?"

"Very," said Alicia, feeling her cheeks get hot. "I'm sorry I asked, Evan. I really am. It's just that it's so overwhelming you're giving me this chance."

"Don't worry, Alicia, I can keep my professional life and my private life apart. I don't blame you for wondering, though. But I haven't got any applicants left to interview, and of the people I have already interviewed, you were the one who convinced me. Besides, my father told me he was very happy with your work."

There had been times when Alicia had felt like Evan's father had not been happy with her work at all, but she knew better than to mention it. Maybe it had been just her impression. She had always felt a bit insecure, working for Richard Delavera, and he had been an impatient man. She hoped that working for Evan would not be the same. The job, however, was perfect; she would get to travel a bit, make contracts with ministries of other countries about transportation regularities.

Now she would just have to tell George.

He came home from the shop that evening in such a good mood Alicia decided to put off telling him about the job interview and its outcome for a while. Some people said it was better to tell people things they wouldn't like when they were in a good mood, but Alicia hated the thought of possibly spoiling the evening. She'd rather wait a little while to tell him, perhaps before bed.

"What happened today to get you into such a good mood?"

George shrugged and pulled her in for a kiss. "Nothing special," he said then. "Just had a great day at work. I think we're going to break our selling records from last year. Oh, and Lee came by the shop today."

"Lee? Is he back from his tour?"

"Just for a couple of days, yeah. It's his birthday tomorrow."

"I know," said Alicia, "I just didn't think he'd be here over his birthday."

"He asked if we'd like to come to the Saucepan tonight, celebrate into his birthday. I said it was okay with me but that I'd have to ask you as well."

"I'd love to go, but don't you have to be at the shop in the morning?"

George waved that off. "Nah, Ron's opening up. It'll be fine if I come in round noon –"

"Hung over."

"I'll live. It's not like I haven't done it before." He grinned and drew a deep breath, asking, "What's for dinner today?"

Alicia smiled. "Pasta and tomato sauce."

"Smells wonderful."

"You're only saying that because you think if you always praise my cooking you won't have to cook for yourself."

Looking innocent George replied, "Maybe I do. Is that a problem?"

Now Alicia laughed. "I'll have to think about that." She gave him a gentle push towards the table. "C'mon, let's eat, before it gets cold."

After dinner George performed a dish-washing spell his mother had taught him and Fred when they were about to move out. Meanwhile Alicia went to get changed for the evening.

"Did Lee tell you anything about his tour?" she called from the bedroom while she tried to choose a skirt to go with her brand-new lilac blouse.

"Not much, only that he's had a really good time. I didn't have much time to listen, though, the shop was full."

"Which countries has he been to?"

"Can't remember them all. You can ask him later." George appeared at the bedroom door. His eyes lit up at the sight of her. "You look sexy," he said.

"I'm not even wearing a skirt, George."

He grinned. "Yeah, that's why."

Alicia giggled and shook her head. "I thought we were talking about Lee?"

George laughed. "Alright then. What I do remember him saying is that he's going to France next week. And he's planning to take Katie with him for a couple of days. He said he's planning to show her Paris, but I'll bet anything that they're going to spend most of that weekend inside at the hotel. – Unless …" he added after a moment's thinking, "unless he really meant it."

"Meant what?"

"Can't tell you."

"Tell me what, George?"

"Promise me you won't say a word to Katie."

"George!"

"Promise?"

Alicia rolled her eyes. "Okay, I promise."

"Lee's going to propose. At least he said so – dunno if he's really going to pull it off."

"Why not?"

George shrugged. "Takes a bit of courage, doesn't it?"

"And you don't think Lee's got that?"

"I didn't say that. I just said I don't know if he's got the courage."

"So he's going to propose to Katie. In Paris, the City of Love."

George nodded. "Maybe he's going to do it on the Eiffel Tower or something soppy like that."

Alicia let out a sigh. "Sounds romantic, doesn't it?"

George didn't answer. She knew that he was thinking about the same as she was – the night when he had proposed to her and she had said no, not yet. It had been the only right thing to say at that moment, but she knew that it had hurt him. It would be a while until he would find the courage to ask her again, but she didn't doubt that he would. And with Lee proposing to Katie in France Alicia was almost sure that George would do his best to come up with something even better than that.

The past two weeks had been harmonious. No arguments, no discussions about Alicia's job ambitions. George had been so polite and peaceful that Alicia had even jokingly wondered if he was still the same person or somebody else, Polyjuiced.

By the time Alicia and George arrived at the pub, Lee and Katie were already there, enjoying when looked like their second round of Butterbeer. Alicia noticed that Lee had had his hair cut very short, and he had lost some weight, too. All in all, he was looking pretty good and was grinning from ear to ear as he watched her and George approach.

"Oi, mates, it's about time you showed up!" he shouted, waving at them.

"Anybody else invited?" asked Alicia when they sat down at the table.

"No, just the four of us. I thought about inviting Oliver and Angelina and then I decided that might not be such a good idea – and inviting only one of them wouldn't be fair, either. I'm having a big party at our flat tomorrow, though. I thought it's better to invite them if there were more people around. I'd be glad if you two showed up as well tomorrow, by the way."

"Who else will be there?"

"People from work, mostly. And some people I've met on my journey."

"Which brings us directly to the interesting part of this evening," said Alicia. "How was Europe?"

It was clear that Lee had only waited for that question to be asked. "It was great. You wouldn't believe all the things I've seen. Did you know that almost every European Country's at least one pure wizard village? I've been to Luettje Huus in Germany, Sjoegesund in Denmark and Siebenhausen in Austraia – just to name a few …"

For the next half an hour Lee told them what he had seen in all the countries he had been to. He had been on a trip for his first own radio show, Wizarding Europe, that was always sent directly from the country Lee was talking about. The show was on the Wizarding Wireless Network at half past eight every Tuesday and Thursday evening and Alicia had listened to it whenever she could. But hearing it all directly was still different, and Alicia asked lots of questions. Katie soon began to look a bit bored, rolling her eyes every now and then. Alicia supposed that she had heard it all before.

A couple of drinks and lots of stories later Lee and George went to play a game of magic darts, which was lot like Muggle darts, only you could influence the dart the other threw with a couple of spells. It was all about muttering the spells quickly enough and that made Lee extraordinarily good at it. Alicia watched them for a while but then Katie caught her attention placing her hand on Alicia's arm.

"I didn't tell you the best, yet, did I? That Lee's going to take me to Paris next week?"

"No," said Alicia. "But Lee told George and George told me. Lucky you!"

Katie grinned. She took a quick look around to where the boys were still busy, before she whispered, "Don't tell Lee, but I got a suspicion."

"A suspicion?"

"Yes. I think he's going to propose."

"Really?" asked Alicia, hoping she had sounded as surprised as she had intended to.

"Yes. But don't mention it, please. I want him to think it's a surprise."

"My lips are sealed," promised Alicia, trying hard to stifle a grin.

They watched their boyfriends silently for a while. Wizard darts had the huge advantage that the darts vanished into thin air as soon as they hit something solid on their way, so the game was absolutely harmless. Still Alicia winced when she saw Lee hitting George with one of those dangerous looking little things on the left side of his head.

"Touché," said Katie cheerfully who had watched as well. "Right through his ear." Then she clapped her hand over her mouth. "Oh, damn! I still keep forgetting sometimes …"

"So do I, don't worry," replied Alicia. "Even George doesn't worry as much as he used to about it anymore." A wave of sadness overcame her. "Ever since the battle, you know …"

"He's had something else on his mind," Katie added with a nod. She frowned but then her face lit up again. "That makes me remember – there was an article I read last week. It was in the Healer's Monthly Update, a magazine I always read when I'm on break at Mungo's. It said that there was this healer, in Wales, I think, who's invented a potion that makes it possible to grow back cursed off body parts. At least the article said it sometimes works. They're doing a study on it at the moment."

"They have succeeded? In growing back –?"

"Yes, but it's very powerful magic. It said the article that the patients who participated in the study said that it was quite painful."

"And how long will it be until the finished testing it?"

"No idea. Could be a couple of years, actually. However, when I read about it I couldn't help thinking about George. Do you think I should tell him?"

"You mean, in case he wants to take part in the study?"

Katie shrugged and nodded at the same time.

"I don't know," said Alicia hesitantly. "It sounds a little ominous. And you said it's painful – is it dangerous, too?"

"No, I don't think so. Either it works or it doesn't. They just haven't found out, yet, why or when the treatment is a success."

"I don't know, Kates," said Alicia hesitantly. "I don't like it."

"Maybe, but shouldn't we leave it up to him? I should at least tell him, don't you think?"

"Must you? You know what he's like … he'd pack his things and go if he knew." Alicia sighed. "What's the risk?"

"Only that it might not work."

"No other risk?"

"Not as far as I know."

"Okay, tell him then. Let him decide."

"I think that would be the best," Katie agreed. "Not tonight, though. I'll come by your place on Monday. Maybe I can get a little more information until then."

The boys arrived back at the table after Lee had beaten George three times and George had lost interest in the game. It was still a couple of hours until midnight and Alicia didn't doubt that during that time quite a few more drinks would be consumed. It didn't matter for her; but George was due at the shop the next day. He would certainly regret drinking in the morning but Alicia knew better than to point that out to him now. And Lee had already bought them another round anyway.

He raised his glass. "To friendship," he said melodramatically, making the girls giggle. "'Cos you are the best of friends a man like me could wish for."

Katie raised her glass, as well. "To birthdays," she said, giving Lee a kiss on the cheek, "because it's only two more hours until your birthday, love."

Alicia raised her glass and said, "To Lee, 'cos he's paying for all the drinks."

There were all looking at George now who had an unusually serious expression on his face. "To Fred," he finally said, "because, unfortunately, he cannot be here to join us tonight."

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A/N: Poor Fred :-(