Shopping with Molly and the girls wasn't that bad. I found a simple little white dress that wouldn't be too fancy, but it was flattering on me.

I nearly strangled Lavender because she said I was too shapeless. Ugh, that girl is going to die before she even makes her wedding in a week.

But the week did pass slowly. And on the night before Ron's wedding, I was laying in Fred's old bed, staring at the ceiling. The only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock. George's breathing was too quiet for me to hear over it.

We'd become friends. We didn't exactly like being around each other all the time. And we really couldn't be. He was working at the shop all hours of the day trying rebuild his empty stock. He was losing business. He just wouldn't ask anyone for help. It was clear he needed it. But he was stubborn and I wasn't going to help unless he asked me to.

I threw the covers off of me quietly and stood up on the wooden floor, using the pads of my feet to silently creep across the floor to my trunk. I grabbed Hogwarts; A History, and quietly opened the pages. I didn't want to wake George up. Speaking of George, I looked up and noticed he was staring at me.

I blushed, thankful the room was dark.

"Can't sleep?"

I shook my head, "Not at all."

"Me neither." It was quiet and I looked down at the book before I heard him get up. "Mind if I join you?"

I shook my head, "Why ask? You'd just do it anyway."

"Last time I sat with you, you hounded me about it over lunch," George replied. I watched him grab his blanket and pillow before he took my pillow and tossed it to me.

"Thanks," I muttered. He sat beside me and I rested against the wall, my arms wrapped around the pillow on my lap. I set my book back in my trunk.

"What's on your mind?" George asked.

"What's on yours?" I countered.

"The shop," he shrugged. "I can't get stuff out fast enough."

"Maybe you should close it for a few days."

"I'm closing it Sunday and I'll open it early on Monday," George replied. "I just, I can't think of any spells to duplicate the products fast enough."

"Have you tried the Copy Spell?" I suggested.

"Yup. The copies don't work like the originals."

"The replica charm?"

"The same thing happens."

"I'll look around, if you want. Through my books and stuff."

"I'd like that."

I nodded, "Alright."

"Now, what's on your mind?"

I was quiet for a moment, and he didn't press it, but I finally spoke, "Before you forced me to lunch last week-"

"I didn't force you-"

"No, dragging me is consider forcing. Anyway, that's not the point. I took Dolohov to the Ministry."

"Dolohov?" George asked.

I nodded, not looking at him, but straight ahead. His eyes were searching my face, even though he couldn't see all of it.

"He was trying to kill Harry. Ron spotted him in the crowd. I took him for myself. Anyway, that's not what I'm talking about. He asked the Aurors to say a final word. I thought he was going to say something to the Minister, you know? He has issues with Kingsley. He was an Auror and an Order member. But it wasn't for Kingsley."

"It was for you, wasn't it?"

I nodded, sighing, "He said, and I quote, 'Mudblood," George flinched. "You have fun with your blood traitor. Tell me how the children are'. I didn't know what he meant. And he said, 'You tell me in a year. I'll expect your visit'." I shrugged. "What did he mean? It's been eating at me for a week now!"

"Maybe you're overthinking it?"

"So what? The know-it-all Mudblood Granger can't think about something that might threaten her life? What did he do to me, George?"

"First off, don't call yourself that filthy name," George said sternly, sliding his arm casually around my shoulders. I gave him a look, but didn't shrug it off like before. I wanted a little comfort. "Secondly, I'm just saying maybe he just wanted to get under your skin and make you scared? Maybe he really did nothing?"

"And if he did, then what?"

"Then you'll know."

"But the year? Is it happening now? Will I feel whatever he did in a year? Will I die in a year? What is it?"

"Maybe you should ask him?" George suggested.

I shook my head, "He's still powerful in Azkaban, even if he was just thrown in there. I would have to wait, at least, a few months."

George nodded, "Maybe you should see a Healer?"

"I don't want to know, if it will kill me, George," I said quietly. "If it does kill me, I don't want to know how long I have."

He sighed, "Fine."

"What do you think he meant?" I asked quietly after a moment.

He shrugged, "I think he got you with a spell, you didn't realize while dueling with him last week, and it was a nasty one. You just don't know the effects."

I winced, "Thanks for being honest."

"Didn't think you'd want me to sugar coat it."

I shook my head, "No, I didn't. Thanks."

He was silent and I could feel his gaze on me. I kept my arms firmly around the pillow, which he noticed.

"Can you stop strangling the poor pillow? What'd it ever do to you?"

I giggled slightly, glad I had someone around to make me laugh when the war was only over three weeks ago. I loosened my grip on the pillow and rested my head on his shoulder. "Sorry."

He shrugged slightly, "I just don't want to deal with burying the poor thing."

I rolled my eyes, yawning tiredly. "Well, I'll make sure you don't have to dig a pillow sized hole any time soon."

"Who said I would be digging the bloody hole?"

"Well, you did say you didn't want to deal with burying it..."

"That didn't mean digging the hole," George insisted.

I snorted, "Sure it didn't. So you'd make me dig it?"

"You could handle it."

"Jeeze, thanks."

"There's something else," George said after a moment.

I nodded.

"And?" George pressed after a few minutes when he was sure I wouldn't answer.

"Ron's wedding's tomorrow...or rather today, since it's three in the morning."

"So?"

I sighed and shook my head gently, "Forget it."

"I can't stand Lavender," George admitted.

I giggled, "That makes two of us."

"it's her laugh. Too fake and squeaky."

I snorted, "Didn't think you'd pay attention to her laugh."

"Hard not to when that's all you hear," George shrugged. "Mum's going to be tired of her in a month. She'll be the same as Fleur."

"No, it'll be two weeks," I nodded.

He snorted, "No way. Mum's still fussing over her injury."

"But now that they'll be married, she's going to be growing sick of Lavender complain about how she's fat," I started, trying and failing to imitate her voice, "How she has a bruise on her arm, how she can't carry the baby because she gave birth to the thing and taking care of it is over with her."

George was laughing, "She wouldn't."

I yawned, nodding, "I really think she will."

"Let's make a bet. If you win, you get whatever you want. If I win, I get. . ." I looked up to see him grinning, and waited. "A kiss."

I raised my eyebrow, an evil plan already forming. Merlin, even Malfoy would be proud of this one. "Fine."

"Alright, I say Lavender will be thrown out by the end of the month."

"And I said two weeks," I nodded, getting where this was going. I put my head back on George's shoulder. "Deal."

"Deal," he grinned, holding out his hand. I hesitated before taking it. I squealed and instantly retracted it.

"What the bloody hell was that!" I shrieked.

"A handshake. . ." George said slowly. "They're Muggle custom, you know, to greet people. I would have expected you to know that."

"Why was it wet?" I demanded, my eyes wide.

"Oh!" George laughed. "That is how we seal the deal."

"With your spit!" I gasped in disbelief. "You're disgusting!"

He shrugged, and pulled me closer to him. "That's why you're stuck with me."

I rolled my eyes, "Ron's wedding's... today and Ginny's is next week. Charlie's is a few days after that...then it's. . ."

"Ours," George offered.

I nodded, "Yeah. Dear Merlin, I'm going to be sick."

He snorted, "Nah, you won't be. You'll see my charming face and be instantly relieved."

"Shut up," I muttered. "You are so vain."

He just chuckled and we sat in silence for a long while. His soft breathing and heart beat slowly lulled me to sleep, my legs much to tired to move me back to my bed. The world was lost to me.

Two weeks until the wedding of Hermione and George! They're progressing:) REview and tell me what you want!

-Nastya