J.K. Rowling owns.

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2nd August 1998

"Put that sign a little higher Harry?"

"Sure," Harry said, levitating the sign a few inches higher. "That better?"

"Much better," Ginny grinned. "One second. Engorgio." The banner grew slightly bigger. "Perfect."

Ginny and Harry stood back to admire their handiwork. Exactly three months after the war that had caused so much pain, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was finally opening for business again.

The party had been Ginny's idea. "We need to do this," she had said to the family. "For Fred. He never turned down an excuse to have a party. And besides," she added to George, "you can't open it without some sort of gesture. It would be an insult just to open it again."

Luckily everyone had agreed, and so, here they were, fixing a banner, which read Grand Re-Opening… Enter at your own risk.. Next to the door was a memorial plaque, made of bronze, which read;

In Memory of Fred Weasley

1st April 1978-2nd May 1998

Co-Founder of this Establishment.

Fred Weasley gave his life

To make the world better for others.

His sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Just looking at it made Ginny cry.

"Hand me that crate of Butterbeer, Ron?" Ginny turned around to see Ron and Hermione carrying boxes from around the back. Ron passed his box to Bill, who was organizing the refreshment table. No-one thought it was wise to allow George near it.

A loud crack made Ginny jump. Charlie had just apparated outside the shop, carrying two huge bags.

"Mum asked me to bring these," he said, dumping them on the table and beginning to unpack plates of pies and cakes. "She and Dad are bringing along the rest in a minute. She's just icing the cake."

"Good, good," said Percy. As the most organized of the family, he had taken it upon himself to organize the party. He had made all the plans, and given every family member their jobs, and he had, admittedly, done an admirable job. Ginny also had a feeling that he was trying to make up for the years he had lost, the years he had spent being, in Fred's words, a "Ministry-loving, family-disowning, power-hungry moron".

"Say, has anyone seen George?" Ginny asked. She hadn't seen him for an hour, when he had gone to change into his robes.

When everyone shook their heads, Ginny decided to go and find him. She slipped through the shop, which she, Harry, Ron and Hermione had decorated last night, and through a small door which led to the upstairs flat.

She stopped by the living room, and peered in. George was sat on the sofa, in his bright magenta robes, but even the brightness with which the robes clashed with his hair couldn't disguise the melancholy on his face.

He was staring down at a piece of paper. It was a news article, written in the early days of the shop. Let Them Laugh! Joke Shop Continues to Sell Out screamed the headline. Underneath was a picture of her twin brothers outside their shop.

"Georgie?" Ginny said quietly. "Georgie, people will be arriving soon."

George shook his head, as though trying to shake out the memories. "I know," he said. "I was just…"

"I know," Ginny said. "We all miss him. You aren't the only one. Mum and Dad never really prepared themselves to lose one of us," she continued, the words pouring out of her, beyond control.

"Bill is beating himself up because he thinks that he should have looked out for him, Charlie's wishing he had been around more these last few years, Percy, Ron, Harry and even Hermione are all blaming themselves because they were with him when he died, and I just want my big brother back. I want both of my brothers back."

Her voice became stronger and more forceful. "I've already lost one of the finniest people I've ever met. Don't make us have to lose the other. You can't lose yourself George, you just can't. You need to stay with us, do you hear me?" She didn't know when her voice had become so loud.

George looked at her, surprised. "Chill Gin. I was just having a moment." Ginny raised her eyebrows.

"Come on George. You aren't fooling me."

"OK! Ok. I feel bad, because… it's getting easier. Not much, but it's definitely easier to get up every morning, despite knowing he isn't here. And it makes me feel guilty."

"Oh George. Don't you think that's what he would have wanted?" Ginny hugged her older brother tightly.

"Of course. You're right," he said, hugging his little sister.

"Let's get this show on the road," Ginny said, pulling George to his feet.

"Yeah," he said. "And, Ginny? Thanks… you know. When'd you get so smart?" he laughed.

"Being in love does that to you," she smiled.

"Right," George said, his mouth twitching into a smile.

"That's better," Ginny said. "Who wants to buy joke products from someone who looks like they've swallowed a lemon?"

"I do not look like that," George protested. The argument continued as they walked down the stairs, through the shop and out into the blazing sunshine.

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Hope that wasn't too sad. But hey, what are we without emotion?

Thanks again to everyone who's read, reviewed, favourited, followed, but most importantly, enjoyed!