Disclaimer: As always, I'll never own Harry Potter.

A/N: This is a late Halloween tribute to all of you. Happy Halloween! I am sorry it's this late, I tried to find a BETA for it, but I didn't succeed. Well, I guess I did try. My friend, who was better in proofreading was away so Iris was the only story that she managed to read and I couldn't wait to share it with you because it was already late. But then again, how was my writing? Seen some improvements? (by the way, English was only my second language, and it has been a long time since I last had lessons before I wrote this fic, but I am learning. . .again. The only reason I wrote it was to share my thoughts with you, in a story that was not perfect.)

I hope this would show you a bit of the true meaning of Halloween we always encounter here. . .and a bit of George Weasley. Enjoy and don't forget to send me some reviews. :)

Chapter 22: Remembrance

For some people, Halloween was a time for a trick or treat, the day when a kid ventured off to the neighborhood to collect candies while inside a scary-looking costume. I've experienced that, once or twice.

There were times that I was bullied by Dudley to go to the neighborhood and gather candies. He usually tore off the clothes that I wore and spilled some paint on them. It was a good thing that the people in the neighborhood never did mind about who the children were, because I didn't want them to find out who I was. When I got home, he always ran towards me like a big bouncing ball and would snatch all the candies. Yet, he never did know how I used to laugh when I was able to sneak a few bunch for myself and hid them inside the pillow of my bed.

But as I grew up, people in both worlds taught me the true meaning of "Halloween". I learned that it was not usually about the sweets that you would get to eat or the adventure that you would go through just to get them. . .it was about remembering.

It was the day that we would remember the people we love who have died, to remember the time we spent with them and the adventure that we had and how much we love them, even now. Even if you do remember them every day, it was nice to be reminded every once in a while about the time that they were here with us and remember how we loved them. Halloween was. . .the day my life changed forever in many ways.

I sighed and sped up my pace as I walked towards the closed shop and went to the back. With a jab of my wand, a hidden door was revealed and there stood a ginger-haired man in a sweater, who wore a smile on his face as he let me in.

"I had a feeling you would come."

A small smile crept into my face as I entered inside. I've entered this room loads of times, but it never did fail to impress me with its brilliance. "You should've expected it. I've been here last time too."

He threw a punch at me shoulder while I feigned being hurt. "Shove off Harry."

"I would love to, but I wouldn't."

A chuckle escaped from his lips as he led me further inside the room. Colorful sheets were splattered on the table while a few cauldrons brew some kind of ickle goo of different colors, some even smelled like candy. Parts of different objects were scattered all around, along with jumping beans and some little puffy objects that I didn't want to touch. All across the floor, rolls and rolls of parchment were spread and in a corkboard were some kind of notes that I deemed important. Even the walls were occupied with parchments and pictures alike.

It was as messy as it has always been. And I guess it always would be this way.

I sat on a comfy sofa after he vanished to the kitchen. It was where he would usually sit when he was doing his experiments and smiled as I examined the new products he intended to make. He was always enthusiastic while doing his work.

But before I got to examine a curious little box, he arrived just in time to scold me to watch out. "That box is still an ongoing experiment, Harry. It's best to keep your hands off the little bugger if you don't want to get sick."

Curiosity welled inside me as I examined the external appearance of the little brown box. "What is it?"

He winked at me and grinned as I handed him the little box. "Ahhh, it was an experiment Percy and I were testing. You see, the plan for this little baby was to weaken a person's magical reserves for a few hours when you open the box, but well, we haven't been too successful."

"Brilliant. Do you think I could keep some when it's finished?"

He seemed to brighten up at the notion as he threw the box on the table. "Sure thing, mate. Percy planned to give these secret babies to the DMLE after all."

"Thanks, it would be loads of help."

"Welcome, mate. Did I tell you that you just missed Hermione? She was here a while ago."

An amused smile played in the corner of my lips at the mention of her name. "Really? She left very early this morning."

"It's funny how you two think alike." He gave me another wink as he gulped down his cup of tea. Warmth crept on the corner of my face at his statement as I tried to look nonchalant and drank on my own cup. "So, how's work?"

"Errr, well. I guess. We've already captured twenty-five convicted Death Eaters. Sadly, none of them could tell us where the others were hiding or if they knew the location of Voldemort's inner circle that managed to survive. We've lost a few Aurors too."

George looked at my bandaged left hand with a shudder. "Let's not talk about it, gives me the creeps. So, what brings you here?"

"Err. . .I just I wanted to know how you're doing and all."

"Right. I'm good. Funny thing though, I remember how we always made bet on this day on how many pranks we would be able to pull, just to get people to loosen up." A sigh escaped from his lips as I looked at his face. There seemed no trace of bitterness on him, even when I knew how much he lost. His gaze was fixed on the table, on the distant days where he was with his other half.

We sat on a comfortable silence for a while as I carefully observed how his facial expressions would twist and turn while he drank on the memories of his brother. But there was no sign of resentment, only joy.

His mouth was closed, but one would notice that he was trying to speak, to say some words, but he only succeeded on releasing the breath that he tried to hold. I never did get tired of this silence, Hermione and I had loads of it when were together.

Because sometimes, words were not needed to express how you felt.

He looked at me as he chortled. "I think. . .I would never get use to it, mate. But well, death taught you things that you never knew were possible."

"Like what?"

"Forge and I were always a team. You knew how I coped with it at first. But I discovered something when I finally visited him and told him how I felt."

I looked inquiringly at him as he looked back and played with his cup. "When he died, a part of me died with him, only to be replaced by a part of him."

My forehead creased into a frown at his words. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know if I could explain this one, Harry, but well, I was never good with names. It was usually Fred who would give our inventions their quirky names but well, after I started doing new products again, I found it easier to name them and I knew it was him who gave me the ideas."

I offered him a small smile as I stared at the ceiling. I suddenly remembered my Godfather, on how we talked about living. I missed him. "Sirius told me once, that the once we love never really leave us, and that we could always –"

" – Find them in here." He put his right hand over his heart. "Ahhh well, the bloke is my other half; I guess he would be haunting me until I joined him."

His eyes glowed as he finished his words and both of us couldn't stifle a laugh as we imagined it. "Who would ever think that George Weasley would tell me some inspiring words."

"Ahhh. I learned from the master. You never knew that my brother was sentiMENTAL, did you?"

"Fred?"

"Yes. Forge and I had our shares of those. But the one that I would never forget was when he told me he fancied Angelina."

A sudden realization hit me when he told me those words. "I remember that, he asked Angelina to dance with him during the Yule Ball."

"Well, yes, there was that." George sighed as he finally took a seat on a nearby chair and put the cup on the table. "I was about to tell him that I fancied Angelina, but he beat me to it. So I hid that secret from him for the longest time. It was actually the only secret he didn't know."

I wasn't able to hide the shock etched on my faced at his words. My mouth hung open and my jaw clenched. He looked at me with a smile of amusement as he raised his index finger over his lips and winked at me. "I – I'm speechless."

"When did we fail to make you flabbergasted, Harry?"

I looked at the ceiling as I thought of a time when they didn't leave me with my mouth wide open and dumbstrucked. . .I failed miserably. "I couldn't think of any."

He looked triumphantly as he pointed his hand towards me. "See? So how about you, have you visited your parents' graves yet?"

My lips quirked into a small smile as I recalled the earlier events that led me towards the Wheezes; I figured that I was smiling like a fool but it didn't matter. "I have and well, she beat me to it too."

"She wouldn't be the brightest witch of her age if she wouldn't, I thought you knew that!" An amused grin played on his features as he rested his cheek on the hand that was on the table. "So, care to give your old pal some juicy details?"

"Errr. . .well. I just knew that she went there because of the white roses that were on the graves. She was the only one who conjured roses." Twice in a row now, in fact, because when I was in France, I used an international portkey to get to Godric's Hollow during Christmas, even if it was only a few minutes.

He hooted. "Too bad. You could have pulled a prank and not suffer, she definitely could use some."

I sighed. Hermione couldn't handle pranks. "You're wrong there. She could definitely kill me and not know it."

"I couldn't imagine. Even Angelina became fond of my jokes, so why couldn't she?"

With a smile, I looked at him in the eyes. "Because she's Hermione."

"Figures. Come, let me show you some products that I intend to release after a while. Forge and I have spent ages trying to perfect them. And did you know that I've already bought Zonko's?"

Nighttime came as I quietly slipped through the doors of Grimmauld Place. I expected everyone to be asleep now, including the elves. I tiptoed my way to the living room, careful not to produce any sound that could wake whoever was sleeping. . .when I found her sprawled in the couch with a peaceful look on her face.

A smile played at the corner of my lips as I approached her sleeping form. I brushed the stray hair away from her face and quietly observed. When she's asleep, all those worries and fears were replaced by peace and all those creases in her forehead would disappear. It was during these moments that I was glad to watch her while she's sleeping, as I've done loads of times. There were times that I would usually wake up from a nightmare and when I knew that it was no use in trying to fall asleep, I would quietly slip into her room and watch her.

I debated if I would wake her up but thought otherwise, I didn't want her to sleep here when she would be more comfortable in her bed. With a sigh, I lifted her into my arms.

She stirred at my action and her eyes opened slightly as I proceeded on climbing the stairs. "You're late."

I gave her a warm smile as I kissed her forehead. "Spent some time with George's toys."

She closed her eyes again and snuggled closer to me as I've landed on the second floor. "Mmmm. Hope it was fun. How's your wound?"

"I haven't felt it ache at all."

With closed eyes, she nodded at me and mumbled, "Good, it will teach you to be careful next time."

A laugh escaped from my throat and we fell silent as we arrived in her room. As I lowered her into the bed, she clung tightly around me and I found her wide, chocolate eyes, staring at mine. "I don't want you to go."

"You need your sleep and I still need to change." Funny, even when Hermione and I got together, we never did sleep on the same bed. She seemed to realize my uncertainty and kissed my cheek as she closed her eyes again. "Mmmm, you can sleep with what you're wearing. I feel safer when you're around."

My face contorted with a frown as I stared at her. "Nightmares again? Do you want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?"

"Hmmmmmm. Sleep here, stay close to me."

I smiled at her and kissed the crown of her hair as I lowered her down the bed. "I would love to, but I'll just stay with you until you fall asleep."

When she didn't reply, I stroked her hair as I watched her fall asleep. My exhaustion was already taking its toll, but I didn't care as I've repeated my actions. She was so. . .vulnerable when she was asleep, not like the fierce and very brave Hermione that I knew when she was awake. There was a little smile on her lips as I brushed her cheeks and I suddenly understood.

When I was sure that she was in a deep sleep, I sneaked into my own room and changed my clothes.

I sat on my bed while I carefully lifted the object that I hid for a few hours and played with it. Satisfied, I rested on my bed and examined the item as I closed my eyes, lost in my own little world. I tried to remember this day and what it meant for all of us who suffered because of the war. . .and how it still plagued us, even when we have started to rebuild. I remembered her face, her smile as she slept and how wonderful it felt when I always see it.

Then the door opened and I suddenly leapt in shock, wand in my hand. But what I saw was a sight that I would never forget.

It revealed a tired-looking Hermione who walked towards me, half-asleep, with her eyes a bit closed. She looked like a little girl who wanted to sleep with her Daddy that I tried to stifle a laugh. She dumped herself into my bed and crawled as she nestled herself into my arms.

I guess the goofy smile I had never quite left my lips. She fitted right into my arms as she fell asleep, yet again, a few moments later. Without knowing it, I quietly put the object on her finger as I tried to determine if it would suit her.

Someday.

A/N: Sorry folks, I am not trying to hide it but if you still didn't get it, wait for more chapters to find out. I still have a week's worth of vacation so I think I can still write a chapter or two, if I don't have anything to do. So, how was it? Did you enjoy the update? Once again, a never-ending sorry for all the typos/wrong grammar. Tell me your opinion by sending reviews.

For the next chapter, I guess we'll see more of Neville and Draco if I don't change the sequence. :)