A/N: Hooray! Am updating SO soon, right? Love me for it ) And sorry, no George in this chapter, but he'll definitely be the star of the next one. I'm thinking about writing it from his PoV…your thoughts?

It was now four o'clock in the afternoon, and Katie Bell was at her flat. Oliver had convinced her to go home and sleep before going after George, which had turned out to be an excellent suggestion. She felt quite reenergized, and had been able to take a shower and change her clothes. She now sported nicer denim jeans and a dark brown wrap-around top which matched her hair. She ran a comb through the short, choppy mess one more time and headed out the door. She Apparated quickly to the outside of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and stared up at the large brick building. A lurid banner, complete with a picture of Lee demonstrating the Headless Hat announced the shop's grand re-opening on Monday. Beneath it, displays of several new products hung: Ron was under the influence of the Hiccuping Humbugs, Harry Potter looked pained and was holding a Knicker Nutroll, and Hermione Granger had even volunteered to demonstrate the effects of a Mucus Mint. Another banner proudly boasted the kick-off which was to take place tomorrow night at seven o'clock. Katie had no doubt in her mind that tomorrow evening would be a success; not only because she knew George and his capacity for brilliance at things of this sort, but because several people had taken it upon themselves to decorate the large hanging banners with words of support.

"We'll definitely be there!", "Long Live WWW!", and "We're rooting for you, Georgie!" filled the blank spaces of the various banners that covered the side of George's shop. Katie felt warm inside looking at them. The amazing thing was that these shouts of support weren't only from George's family and close friends. Sure, the Weasleys', Angelina's, Alicia's, Oliver's, and Harry Potter's handwriting were easily spotted, but so was Ernie MacMillan's, Justin Finch-Fletchley's, LeAnn's, the Patil twins', Neville Longbottom's, Terry Boot's, Michael Corner's, and Cho Chang's. Even Jacquelyn, who had never met George, had taken the time to send words of support. Katie smiled to see that some of their old professors had stopped by to sign the banner: McGonagall, Sprout, Madame Pomfrey, Sinistra, Hagrid…Professor Flitwick left a particularly warm greeting, recommending to anyone who might care to read about the utter brilliance of the portable swamp. Amos Diggory had signed it. Fleur had written something in French. Perhaps the most heart-warming signature was Percy's, a warm but brief promise of brotherhood and support attached to it. Katie had not yet signed one of the banners, unsure of what the best words of well-wishing would be. She pulled out her quill for the thousandth time, pondering yet again what she ought to write. Finally, she opted for brevity, compacting all her support and love into the words "Any time you need me." She signed them with her initials. George would know.

She climbed the short steps that led to the door and began to knock. "George?" she called. No answer. She hoped he wasn't still asleep. "George?"

There was still no answering voice. Feeling that the need to thank George for staying at St. Mungo's over night could not wait, she pulled out her spare key to the shop and let herself in. It was quiet inside, but several lamps were lit and the supplies which were needed to take inventory were out. Someone was here.

"George?" she called again. "Ron? Lee? Anyone here?"

Catching sight of the door which led to the back room, Katie strode over to it. It was slightly ajar. Genuinely worried now, Katie gently pushed it open.

"George?"

It wasn't George, however, it was Lee. The dreadlocked twenty-year-old was sitting on the couch with two tall, blonde twins. He was snogging one of them while the other twisted one of his dreadlocks around her finger playfully. Katie gasped, and the glared indignantly, disgusted as Lee unglued his face from the blonde girl and stared at her, shocked.

"Katie!" he said, clearly embarrassed. "What brings you here?"

"Lee Jordan!" she shouted, striding over and grabbing him by the elbow. She practically dragged him out of the back room and into the shop floor, causing the twins to giggle and whisper, "That must be his girlfriend."

"Jordan, just what the hell d'you think you're doing back there?!" she exploded as soon as they had gotten far enough to be out of earshot. "I thought you were supposed to be in love with Ange!"

"I am!" protested Lee. He threw his arms out and then let out a deep breath, staring at the ceiling. "But she won't have anything to do with me, and sometimes a bloke needs a little bit of attention!"

"From tarts?!" Katie cried. "Lee, where did you find those girls??"

"They're not tarts," he said moodily. "And I found them at Flourish and Blotts. We were out of ink so I was going over to pick up some more so that I could finish inventory, and ran into Jamie and Amy."

Katie quirked an eyebrow. "Jamie and Amy?" she repeated. "Their names rhyme? Oh, come on, Lee…"

"It's not hurting anything," he whined. "What are you doing over here anyway? Thought you'd still be at hospital, or at least taking a nap…"

"Mum and Aunt Liz came," she explained. "And I've been taking a nap."

"Ah…" he seemed embarrassed now. "So how's your brother?"

"Michael's fine. Should be out in a week or two."

"Oh, good..."

The silence was uncomfortable. "Did you need something?" Lee asked again, shifting from one foot to the other.

Katie recollected her reason for being there. "Is George around?" she asked. "I wanted to check up on him. He stayed at St. Mungo's all night and I didn't get a chance to speak with him…"

"Nah, his parents took him out for dinner," Lee answered. "Think they wanted to give him an extra bit of encouragement before tomorrow. Seems a bit nervous."

Katie nodded. "Well that's nice…" she trailed off. She knew that George needed to spend more time with his family, but she still felt a little jealous that Molly and Arthur were getting George's last evening before the opening of the store. This was ridiculous, she knew, but Oliver's words that she had been a great support to George were still ringing in her head. Oh, well. Clearly, the best thing she could do for her friend right now was let him be with family.

"Yeah," Lee answered. "He's sort of been avoiding his mum and dad for a while, I think this will be good for him. Especially after last night. Alicia owled me at Ange's to say that you and George had come in, and that he'd had some kind of breakdown…"

Katie was suddenly angry. "Yes he had some kind of a breakdown," she said testily. "Which may not have happened if you'd been acting like the best mate you're supposed to be and stayed with him instead of running off to monitor Ange's dating life! Honestly, Jordan, what the hell were you thinking?! It's not even been a bloody three months yet! How could you just leave him on his own??"

Lee looked taken aback by Katie's sudden outburst. "I didn't leave him alone," he stumbled. "Ron was here. I thought George was going to pop 'round at The Burrow for supper with him!"

"You just said he's been avoiding his mum and dad! How could you think he'd be going back with Ron?!"

"He seemed like he was in a good mood!"

"He seemed like that, or you just hoped he was so you could go gallivanting off to Ange's?!"

"Knock it off, Katie, it wasn't anyone's fault what happened! It just did!"

"So you're taking absolutely no responsibility for leaving George by himself?! Great, Lee, great. Did you at least invite him to come with you??"

"Well…no…"

"Lee!" Katie shouted, exasperated. She flung herself down on a random pouf that was sitting in the corner of the store. "You're supposed to be his best friend! That means that you sometimes sacrifice what you want to do for the sake of the other. He's really counting on you right now!"

"I know," Lee groaned, flopping down next to Katie. He sighed and began to rub his temples. "That's the problem."

"What?" she asked, confused.

"Katie, look," Lee said, looking strained. "I know that you've done a lot for George since---"

"Since Fred was killed," Katie finished for him half-heartedly. Finishing this sentence for others had become almost second nature to her, but every time she said it, a bit more of the reality of it ground itself into her and left her solemn.

"Right," he said, wincing a little. "You've probably done more than anyone, outside of his family. And we all really appreciate that, honestly. But—and don't get mad—you haven't been living with him, and it's the living with him that's hard."

Katie's initial impulse was to overreact and start coming down on Lee again, but she checked herself, noticing for the first time the dark circles under her friend's eyes. She softened a little.

"What, Lee?" she asked as gently as she could muster. The old quidditch commentator continued.

"George is my best friend, Katie," he said firmly. "You've got to understand that. And I'm gonna be here for him the whole way through, but sometimes it gets so…so draining. George's got no clue how to be alone. He's had Fred with him his whole life. He is a twin, whether Fred's here or not. And just sometimes…I dunno, Kates, it's like he's trying to replace him with me. I don't think he's doing it consciously," he added in response to Katie's opened mouth. "No, not at all. He definitely doesn't know he's doing it, but…I dunno, he can't go to sleep unless I'm in the room. He waits so we can eat dinner together. He even times it so we brush our teeth together…and he'll break off in the middle of his sentences, and I know he's wanting me to finish them like Fred used to, but I never have a bloody clue what he's going to say. I promise that I care about George, Katie, but I don't want to become his twin. I don't think it's healthy for him. And—and it's hard on me, too. To be around that all of the time. I haven't said much, I know, but I really miss Fred, too. The three of us were best mates at Hogwarts. Being around George without him is hard, not because I liked either of them better, but because they're so much alike. D'you understand what I'm trying to say?"

Lee looked at her pleadingly, almost begging to be told that he wasn't a horrible person for wanting a little break from their friend once in a while. Katie suddenly felt ashamed of herself for not having realized what a toll this must be taking on Lee. She bit her lip and stared at her knees. Perhaps she was being a bit overly defensive of George.

"Yeah, I understand," she muttered. "I'm sorry, Lee, I'm just…" She trailed off. What was she?

"You're just worried about George," he said simply, putting his hand on her back. "We all are. But I think if we take this as a team effort, it might go smoother." He gave her an encouraging smile. "And I promise never to leave him alone to go interrupt Angelina's dates again. That was pretty thick of me."

Katie smiled back, and the friends stood up and embraced. Lee hugged her tightly and she hugged him back.

"And get rid of the rhyming twins before George gets back, will you?" she asked with a crooked smile. "That's the last thing he needs right now."

Lee nodded and saluted her. "Wizard's honor," he said.

She grinned and walked once more out of the shop.

XXX

Katie walked along the streets of a busy Diagon Alley alone. Street vendors were hollering at her to come try their wares while Hogwarts students flooded the streets, preparing to head back to school in a couple of days. Katie observed them interestedly. Most of them probably didn't know or care that they would be going to a school where so many had died just a few short months ago—where Fred had died. She felt relief that she had already graduated and had no need to go back to the castle where her fiancé had been killed. She wondered how Ginny would handle it; if she would avoid the corridor that had witnessed the last few moments of Fred's life, or if she would walk through it, head held high. Knowing the youngest Weasley, it would probably be the latter. Katie had wished several times throughout the past few months to have even half the courage that Ginny seemed to possess. She had never felt less worthy of her Hogwarts House in her life.

As Katie paced the cobblestone streets, she considered and then rejected several times the idea of visiting Angelina and Alicia. She even paused outside their apartment complex. Angelina had Saturdays off, and Alicia would surely be off her shift at St. Mungo's by now. The two friends were probably getting ready to go to Scotland's quidditch game that began at seven. They were playing Puddlemore, which meant Oliver would be playing. He had invited her to come to his game and then out for some drinks afterward, but Katie had scrunched her nose, telling him that it was too much like a date. Wood had redacted immediately and apologized many times. It had struck her as sort of cute, in a way. But no mind. She wasn't exactly sure that she wanted to be around her friends at the moment.

Leaves fell from the overhanging trees, and were crunched under Katie's brown leather shoes. Autumn seemed to be coming rather earlier that year, with September only beginning the next day. She reflected on this, and decided that she didn't mind. This reminded her of a song which her mum used to sing to her when she was small. It was about a young woman named Sarah, who cursed the cold and the snow and hid away in her house every time winter came because that was the season in which her lover had died. At the time, Katie had thought it ridiculous that something as wonderful as the snow could make Sarah want to hide away from the world, but she now felt a connection with the girl from her mother's song. It was on the brightest, sunniest days when the rest of the world seemed alight with joy that Katie hid in her flat or in the office of the Daily Prophet for as long as she possibly could. She used to love the summer; now it filled her with the utmost sorrow.

Katie began to consciously make her way toward St. Mungo's. She thought she could use a chat with Grandpa Artemus right about now. The elderly man's sweet gruffness usually shook her out of whatever sort of melancholy she was in. Upon entering the hospital, she glanced at the in and out chart of the employees and noted that Alicia Spinnet had indeed checked out for the day, and was not due back again until Monday night. Using the elevator to avoid her mother, she pressed the number seven and the cool voice announced her arrival at the floor of recovering patients.

Katie pushed open the door to find her grandfather in the middle of a coughing fit.

"How's my grandson?" he barked out when he had recovered.

"Hi, Grandpa," Katie returned wearily, rolling over a chair and sitting down. "Michael's doing great, the Healers think he should be ready to leave within the next week or so."

"Lucky bastard," Grandpa Artemus coughed. "I've still got another month."

"What?" Katie asked, concerned. The last time she had consulted Alicia, her grandfather was due to be out within the week.

"Yes," the old man said. "Caught this bloody cough, which is slowing down my healing process, or so says your little blonde friend."

"Well are you going to be okay?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

He waved a hand. "I'll be fine, I'll be fine. Just another month in this damned bed. So, Kathryn. What brings my pretty young granddaughter in to see me on a Saturday evening when she could be off on a date with a handsome quidditch star?"

Grandpa Artemus coughed again and Katie laughed. "You mean Oliver?" she asked amused, rolling her eyes.

"Oliver Wood, that's the one," he affirmed. "Right fine young man. Would treat you real well, the way that you deserve. Not like that red-haired boy you dated for so long…always fighting."

Katie frowned. "Grandpa, Fred and I were engaged," she said firmly. "I loved him."

"I know, I know," said his gravelly voice. "I was just teasing with you." He smiled toothily at her, but she did not return the gesture.

"I don't think it's funny," she told him.

"Oh, lighten up, old girl," her grandpa said, patting her on the back. "You know I'm sorry."

"Are you?" Katie asked, eyeing him.

"Of course!"

"You swear?"

"Every damn day," the old man said with satisfaction. Katie rolled her eyes.

"Not what I meant," she muttered. "But whatever."

"Oh, Kathryn," Grandpa Artemus said seriously. "I'm sorry for what happened to you. Nobody understands more than I do, except for maybe Lizzie."

Katie nodded and patted his hand. Aunt Elizabeth knew exactly what Katie was going through, perhaps even more so, though she had not cared to share her feelings with anyone other than Andromeda. And Grandpa Artemus…

"I loved Hypatia with all my heart," he said. "I don't know what she ever saw in me…she was a smart, beautiful Ravenclaw with the world at her fingertips and I was a rough, quidditch playing Gryffindor with a smart mouth and not enough owls to trade a galleon for. But she married me when I asked her…and we raised five beautiful daughters together. I always thought that we'd grow old together, but it seemed that Fate had different plans…killed in the First War, trying to teach tolerance for all types of blood. And I never stopped loving her."

"There's no such thing as Fate," Katie said quietly, small drops of tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"Now you stop that crying, Kathryn," her grandfather said sternly. "And don't feel sad for me. Of course there is Fate! Everything happens for a reason, you've just got to be smart enough to figure out what that reason is! You used to know that!"

"I used to be stupid," Katie said solemnly. "Why did Grandma die?"

"Because it was her time," the elderly man returned simply. "Her passing was dignified, and it made me and every one of her daughters stronger. Do you think your mother could be the person she is and lead her broken family on over these past few months if she had never known sorrow before?"

Katie just shook her head. "I don't know anymore, Grandpa…"

"Well then take it from someone who does," he replied. "Your Fred passed on exactly as and exactly when he was supposed to. You'll understand why in time."

Now Katie was firm in the shaking of her head. "No, Grandpa," she said. "No, I can't believe that. And I don't think Aunt Liz does either."

"Of course neither of you do! You're both right in the middle of it! But some day, Kathryn, some day you'll see."

Katie made no response, only stared at her hands in her lap.

"So you really like Oliver, then?" she asked suddenly.

"Aye, that I do," returned Grandpa Artemus. "He's a fine lad, and he cares about you a great deal. He came in to see me this morning under the pretence of checking on my condition, and talked about you the entire time."

"He did?" Katie asked, surprised. Her grandpa grinned.

"Most definitely," he answered. "Now if that boy were to ask you to dinner tomorrow before the re-opening of that shop of your friend's, I'd suggest you say yes."

Katie raised an eyebrow. "And why would Oliver do that?" she asked suspiciously.

"Let's just say someone older and wiser than he lent him the idea," he replied, winking.

Katie rolled her eyes, but grinned as she tossled her grandfather's thinning white hair.

"I'll see you later, Grandpa Artemus…" she said as she walked out the door.

"Fate, Kathryn!" he shouted after her, collapsing into another coughing fit. "Fate!"