As soon as the three friends reentered their small flat, Katie crossed the room and fell with a slight huff onto her bed. She kicked off her shoes carelessly, aiming them at her open closet, one of which hit George in the leg as he made his way to the kitchen. He picked up the small slip-on and looked at his friend, amused.

"Alright there, Katie?" he asked with a smirk on his face as he tossed the shoe into the closet and carried on.

"I'm fine," she said somewhat impatiently.

"What was up with 'Olly Wood tonight?" George continued, opening the biscuit jar and taking one for himself, tossing a second to Lee. "He just…disappeared."

"George, just because you understand Muggle cinema now doesn't mean you get to make that joke every five seconds," Katie snapped, a little angrily.

George just shrugged. He knew she was annoyed with him for bringing up Oliver, and that there was something going on there that he didn't know about, but for the first time in some while, he simply wasn't concerned. Angelina had let slip that Katie wasn't getting Wood anything for Christmas, but that she was working to actually hand-make something for himself. And that was all he cared about at the moment.

"It is a bit weird though, isn't it?" Lee joined in curiously. "He didn't even say goodbye to any of us."

"Maybe he had to leave somewhere in a hurry," Katie shrugged from where she lay on her bed. It was clear that whatever her thoughts were on the subject, she wasn't keen to discuss them. George decided not to push his luck.

"Probably," he said in a neutral tone. And then, in a more playful one, "Hey Kay, fancy a biscuit?"

And without waiting for her answer, he tossed one in her direction that landed on her forehead and then bounced off onto the bed.

A split second of anger flashed across Katie's face, but then dissolved into a grin and laughter.

"Oh fine," she said, biting off a piece. "Biscuit it is."

XxX

The following Sunday afternoon found George hurriedly wrapping his long scarf around his neck and pulling on his coat, while simultaneously trying to locate a bin of his latest Wonder Witch products he had promised for his mother. Lee had already left, heading for his parents' house for dinner, and George was about to do the same. Katie, however, was standing by the large bay window, hanging tiny ornaments on a medium-sized evergreen.

This made George laugh to himself. Despite the fact that downstairs the entire store was decked from floorboard to rafter in trees, fake snow, and tiny lights, Katie had insisted their flat had needed some Christmas cheer. So, she had dragged himself and Lee out of bed that morning in hours earlier than they had been used to keeping and out to the countryside where George had been made to chop down a live tree. Lee, who was still recovering from his cold, would be a couple more days in forgiving her for this stunt; George had been slightly annoyed at the time, but now, watching her fastidiously decorate the tree, was rather amused. This was the girl who, just a couple of days ago, had sworn she wasn't going to get wrapped up in the Christmas season. It seemed she was happier than she cared to admit.

George understood. It was going to be her first Christmas—his first Christmas—everyone's first Christmas without Fred. They ought to be steeped in gloom and dreading yuletide bliss. And maybe they would be, eventually, but George had felt buoyed up ever since that Sunday evening that his father had reaffirmed his faith in himself and his identity. He was suddenly more aware of those he still had with him, and the love and warmth they provided. And that was what the Christmas season was about celebrating, wasn't it? He couldn't be unhappy. At least not yet.

"You sure you want to stay here, Kay?" George asked, finally having located the bin and heading toward the door. "Your mum probably won't be too pleased."

Katie turned from where she was fastening a poinsettia onto a branch and scoffed. "As if I'm going home to meet Daryl any sooner than I have to," she said. "No, you go on, George, I'll be fine."

George cocked his head and observed his stubborn friend in an amused manner. She was wearing a faded-red Gryffindor sweater from their second year, which was probably several sizes too small for her, but that she wore nonetheless. A mismatching scarf was wound carelessly around her neck and from inattention, her hair had formed into its natural soft, unruly ringlets that so resembled her brother Michael's.

"What?" she asked, unable to restrain a curious smile.

"Nothing," George grinned. "You can always come with me, you know."

"No, I'd rather stay and finish the tree," she replied, turning back to her work. "But tell your family hi for me."

"If you say so," he said easily, and made to open the door. He paused, however, leaning against the frame and turning to look back at his friend. Her shoulders had hunched slightly and, shifting his gaze, he saw that she was holding a star that he knew Fred had nicked from a Gryffindor Christmas tree during their fifth year. His face pulled into a sad smile as Katie eventually stood on her tiptoes and attempted to reach the top of the tree. She was missing by a mile.

"Here," George laughed, setting down the bin. "I'll give tonight a miss. You'll never be able to do all of this yourself anyway."

He crossed the room and took the star from her, easily reaching the top of the tree. "Besides," he added, looking down at her grateful smile and attempting to dispel some of the poignancy. "You don't have the right eye for this kind of stuff like I do."

Katie laughed and then raised an eyebrow.

"Is that really something you want to admit to, George Weasley?" she asked as though indicting him.

He shrugged. "I'm secure with myself. Surprised you didn't know that already, love. I like your curls, by the way."

She scrunched her nose and raised her hand to head to mess them up. "You're nutters," she said.

"No," he remarked more sincerely. "I really do."

"Oh," Katie replied, smiling slightly. "Thanks."

"Welcome. Now hand me that nutcracker Lee made so I can hide it in the back."

The two friends laughed and continued to trim the tree, warm and comfortable, as the London streets ran with sleet and fog outside.

XxX

Alicia Spinnet huffed under the weight of the pile of dirty bed sheets she was now carrying to the laundry receptacle. It appeared you had more healing time as a top-level junior healer than you did on the bottom rung of seniority as a full-fledged healer. All she had been doing since she had been promoted was paperwork and laundry. Lots of laundry.

She managed to hoist the pile into the bin, and then leaned against the stack and was breathing heavily when a voice nearly made her jump out of her skin.

"'Leesh!" called the voice, gleefully. Alicia jumped what felt like a foot in the air and then whipped around to find a grinning redhead in front of her.

"George Weasley!" she shouted angrily. "You scared me half to death. What are you doing back here, anyway? It's quarantined!"

The lanky ginger cocked his head and looked at her in a curious way that let Alicia know exactly how he was going to respond. Not in the mood to wait for theatrics, however, she beat him to the punch line.

"I know, I know," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "You're George Weasley. Now what on earth could you possibly want?"

George gave her a look that told her he was deeply disappointed in her. "What, Alicia, I can't just come say hi to one of my best mates while she's working? And the real reason I'm back here is because I'm on a lunch break and the witch behind the reception desk is very obliging."

Alicia simply put her hand on her hip and glared at him. "And since when is getting out of work and unnecessary flirtation not part of the George Weasley package?"

George held his hands up in surrender and then continued. "Actually, I needed to see Angelina too but she always takes lunch with her clients, so I came here first."

"Lucky me," Alicia said sarcastically. In truth, however, she was glad to her friend. It was shaping up to be a rather long day. "So what's up, George?"

"I heard Katie's making my gift this year," he said, without missing a beat.

The blonde observed him shrewdly, looking for the signs she had been used to seeing when this certain topic came up. Either George had prepared himself for this or Alicia was overanalyzing, because he simply blinked at her.

"That's what she said," she answered slowly. "What of it?"

"Well, it got me thinking that maybe I should make everyone's gifts this year," he continued. "Don't worry, 'Leesh, yours will be extra special," he added when she gave him a look.

"I don't want any more of your love potion, George," Alicia said tiredly.

"Never," George promised, making crossing motions over his chest. "Besides, these days you aren't much in need of it."

Alicia was aware she was blushing, but she didn't draw attention to it. "So what do I have to do with this?" she asked.

"Well," he said, now with the look in his eye Alicia recognized from his Hogwarts days when he had a particularly good idea. "I know what I want to make for Kates. But I need everyone's help—including yours."

Alicia nodded. "Alright," she said. "What can I do?"

And George bent down, closing the long distance between his height and Alicia's, and began whispering into her ear. When he was finished, Alicia was genuinely touched. She had always known George had a capacity to be incredibly thoughtful, astonishing to anyone who knew him simply as 'one of the Weasley twins,' but this was one of his best ideas she had heard.

"Okay," she said, smiling. "I can bring that by tonight."

George grinned. "Great. That's perfect, 'Leesh. Thanks."

"She won't be there?"

"Nope, she's finally being trapped by her family into meeting her aunt's lover."

The two laughed at this, and then Ben came around the corner. He was a tall, good looking healer with dark brown hair and brown eyes, slightly higher up on the professional ladder than Alicia. He grinned at her and when he saw George, he turned in surprise.

"Alicia," he said congenially. "Who's this?"

"Oh," Alicia said quickly. "Ben, this is George Weasley. George, Ben Hammond."

Ben held out his hand. "George Weasley, eh?" he asked. "So it was your party I took Alicia's Halloween shift for?"

George looked from him to Alicia curiously, and Alicia looked away.

"Yeah," he said in a friendly manner. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Excellent," Ben returned. And then, turning to Alicia, "'Leesh, I took care of the sheets on the fourth floor for you, so you can go attend to the witch in Room 181 if you like. Bad use of bobotuber puss."

Alicia simply nodded as Ben grinned and departed, and turned to George who simply raised his eyebrows as he turned to go.

"Like I said," he called, back turned as he retreated. "No need for love potion at all."

The healer simply shook her head in a frustrated manner, and then collected her clipboard to head toward Room 181.

XxX

Across the city and in the shared cafeteria of the Ministry of Magic and the Daily Prophet, Katie was having lunch with Jacquelyn and, as ever, discussing Oliver Wood. He was once again at a separate table with a loud group of laughing friends from the Magical Games and Sports Department. Unable to keep her annoyance with Wood to herself, Katie had told Jacquelyn everything that had occurred between them from the night of the Halloween dance to Saturday night at the pub. Now the two girls were surreptitiously staring at the Keeper from across the busy room.

"That doesn't seem like Wood," Jaq said, scrunching her nose slightly. "At least from what I've seen of him. He always seemed so friendly and measured when he was hanging around the newsroom.

Katie rolled her eyes. "Well that's Wood for you," she said. "When it comes to winning something, he can get pretty childish. Throwing tantrums all the time, but without the follow through to do anything about it."

Jaq shrugged. It was obvious she was still rooting for Oliver. "He did try to do something about it, though," she countered. "Why didn't you ask him to dance?"

Her friend frowned. "Because," she said exaggeratedly. "It was so bloody obvious that he was expecting it. And I…didn't want to give in," she ended somewhat deflatedly.

Jaq raised an eyebrow. "So it's just Oliver being childish, then?" she queried.

Katie simply scowled at her.

"Isn't there any chance you can see this as flattering?" Jacquelyn continued to press. "I mean, you've essentially made a grown man befuddled."

"Befuddled?" Katie challenged comically, and the two girls laughed.

A few seconds later, however, their attention was diverted by a man and woman crossing the room. Katie's eyes grew wide as she hissed, "That's my aunt!"

Elizabeth was being accompanied by a tall, dark, good-looking man; both were grinning widely. Jacquelyn turned to her friend.

"Is that the famous Daryl?" she whispered. "He's scrumptious!"

"He is," Katie echoed, somewhat surprised. "But how on earth did they know where to find me…?"

She trailed off as she realized her aunt's gaze was not directed on her but rather, surprisingly, on Oliver. She took Daryl's hand and the two headed over to where Wood was now waving in a friendly manner.

"Doesn't look like it's you they were coming to see, love," Jaq smiled.

Katie's mouth opened a little. Of course. That was right—Wood had run into Daryl plenty of times at the Department of Magical Games and Sports. And Elizabeth, as the adoring girlfriend, was obviously in tow frequently. It looked as though the two had been in this morning, spotted Oliver on their way out, and went to say hello. She felt an unreasonable annoyance as her former captain greeted them warmly and the three laughed together. Of course Wood could be charming when he chose—he'd certainly never had issue at Hogwarts attracting a female audience; but they had never been to his ridiculous dawn practices. They didn't know what he was really like. And Wood had the habit of being mostly oblivious to his power over women, something that was even more maddening when Katie was now predisposed to be annoyed with him.

Of course.

He would be perfectly friendly to everyone apart from her. From her, he wanted more. And she was probably one of three females on the planet who would deny him that.

She sighed and rested her jaw on her open palm.

"He's completely perfect," Jaq said, somewhat annoyed now. "The only things he's apparently irrational about are you and Quidditch. A list of two is pretty damn good once you compare that to other men. My ex got wound up every time I tried to get him to clean the bathroom on a regular basis. I don't know what's the matter with you."

Katie gave her friend a tired look. "It's too soon," she said for what felt like the thousandth time, and involuntarily reached for the ring around her neck. "He's not Fred."

Jacquelyn regarded her seriously now. "Maybe that's a good thing," she said simply. "Oh, here they come—are you going to say hello?"

Katie turned to see what she meant. Surely enough, Aunt Liz and her boyfriend were now back en route to the exit, and would pass right by where she was sitting with Jaq.

"No, not now," Katie said, maneuvering so that she was mostly obscured by a pillar in the room. "I'll save that headache for tonight."