Broken

"You're opening the joke shop back up?" Mr. Weasley inquired. "My, that's wonderful George!"

"Thanks, Dad." George said, scooping some potatoes in his mouth. "I'm really excited, but it's going to be a lot of work. I'm going to have to contact all of my former employees, see if they want their jobs back and oh Merlin I'll need to apologize for letting them go. Oh jeez I'm a prat." He thrust his hand into his hair and stood up, his eyes wild. "I'm sorry everyone I've got to get started with this."

"That's fine dear, run along." Mrs. Weasley said, her eyes sparkling.

George left, muttering under his breath and massaging his temples. Hermione crinkled her brow and looked after him but Ron slipped his hand into hers under the table and stroked the back of it with his thumb. She looked at him and he smiled at her, and she smiled back, relaxing a little.

The rest of dinner was rather silent. Mr. Weasley asked Hermione about some things in the Muggle world and Ron kept telling him to stop bugging Hermione. She'd tell him to hush and politely answer his questions. Mr. Weasley seemed very content and after dinner he bustled off to his shed. Hermione helped clear the table and then Mrs. Weasley shooed her off.

She wandered into the family room and found Ron there. He was just sitting on the couch, and he looked deep in thought. Hermione walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug.

"Hey," he said.

She kissed his cheek. "Hey." She let him go and picked up her forgotten book. She sat down on the couch, pondered something for a minute then lay down, gently resting her head in his lap.

He grinned down at her and she blushed, bringing her book up to hide her face. After a while she brought the book to a normal height so she could read it, and it no longer hid her face. A few minutes later Ron gently started playing with the ends of her hair. Then his hands ventured farther and he was combing his fingers through its length. Hermione was finding it hard to focus on reading her book, but being her stubborn self she kept trying.

"Your hair is very soft." Ron said quietly, his voice full of affection.

"Thanks." She murmured.

"You're welcome." He said softly. He continued running his fingers through it until Hermione couldn't read any longer. She shut her book and let it fall on the couch. She sat up and was bringing her face to his for a kiss when the door opened and Harry and Ginny came in, laughing their heads off. Hermione pulled back and Ron scratched his head. "Oh you're back." He grumbled.

"Yes! Oh it was so wonderful!" Ginny exclaimed, grinning madly. "You're the best Harry." She grabbed his face and kissed him fiercely. Harry wrapped his arms around her waist.

Ron groaned. "Please stop right now."

Hermione laughed. Harry and Ginny pulled apart, smiling happily at each other. "Sorry mate." Harry said.

"No you're not." Ron said, but he was chuckling.

"I'm gonna go change." Ginny announced. "Don't miss me." She winked at Harry.

Ron pretended to retch and even Hermione grimaced. Harry blushed and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"So I'm guessing it went well?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah. I did everything right, I guess. She seemed really happy and she kept smiling all the time."

"That's good, I'm happy for you Harry." Hermione said.

"Thanks. I hope she won't be so moody all the time now."

"You're not the only one." Ron said.

"Yeah well I'm going to change too. I'll be back in a bit." They nodded and Harry went upstairs.

"How 'bout that kiss then?" Ron said expectantly, leaning towards her. Hermione brought her hand up and shoved him away by the face, laughing. "Alright guess not then." He captured her hand and brought it to his lips. She pulled it back quickly and blushed, her skin tingling where he had kissed her.

Ginny came back down stairs in her pyjamas and plopped down on the love seat, bringing her feet up and throwing her arm around the back of it. "Muggle restaurants are fascinating!"

"Are they now?" Ron rolled his eyes.

Ginny narrowed her eyes at him. "Shut up Ron. You're just jealous that you couldn't come up with something as creative as Harry did for a date."

"Sure." Ron said. "Whatever you say."

Ginny made a disgusted sound and shook her head. Harry came in and her face changed into a smile. She bent her knees so Harry could sit down next.

"What's going on in here?" He asked, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Ron's jealous of your romanticism." Ginny said smugly.

"Am not."

Harry grinned but didn't say anything. He rested his hand on Ginny's knee.

"Oh you guys!" Hermione said. "George has really good news!"

Ginny straightened up. "What?"

"He's going to re-open the joke shop!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Oh my goodness! That's wonderful!" Ginny cried happily.

"That's fantastic!" Harry said.

"Yeah, he was a little worried about it but we talked to him about it and he's going to do it!" Ron said.

"I'm really happy for him." Ginny said. "Where is he? I want to congratulate him."

"I think he's up in his room."

"Ok! I think I'll actually head up to bed after, so night guys." Hermione and Ron said good night and Ginny turned to Harry, leaning forwards. "Good night Harry." She said softly, before kissing him.

"Night Ginny," said Harry as they pulled apart. Then Ginny got up and left.

Hermione yawned and stretched her arms. "I think I'll head up to bed as well. Good night boys." She said. She turned to Ron expectantly and he cupped her face, giving her a long good night kiss.

"Night, Mione. See you in the morning." He said.

Hermione gave him another peck and padded up the stairs. She slipped into the bathroom and brushed her teeth. Then she went into Ginny's room and put on her pyjamas. She had just gotten under the covers of her bed, Crookshanks hopping up beside her, when Ginny came in. She went over to her dresser and brushed her hair silently. Then she climbed into bed and sat with Arnold in her hands.

"Hey, Ginny are you alright?" Hermione asked, sitting up in her bed.

"Yeah… just thinking about something."

"Mind if I ask what?"

"No, no… It's just I went to go see George, right? And I thought he'd be all happy but he's not. I mean, I think he's glad to re-open the joke shop but he's also really sad inside, going on without Fred."

"I know. I feel so bad for him but I… don't think that he'll ever get over Fred's death."

"I don't think so either." Ginny frowned. "Well George said that he's had some trouble contacting former employees."

"Can't he just send them all owls?"

Ginny gave Hermione a look. "Have you seen our family's owls?"

"Right." Hermione said. "Well then can't he just produce a Patronus? They can deliver messages."

"Yeah, that should work… I didn't mention that to him because something in the back of my mind told me that he'd already tried." Ginny said solemnly.

"Oh."

Silence filled the room and Ginny lay down on her bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. Hermione did the same. Poor George…

But Hermione felt like she had already pushed him too much, just to re-open the shop. There was no way he could handle any more. Something in George was deeply broken. She held Crookshanks close, and pressed her face into his fur. He smelled like leaves and dirt. Hermione wished she had Ron beside her, to comfort her, but she didn't want to have to deal with any comments about it from the others. She shifted once more, trying to get as comfortable as possible. When she was satisfied, she shut her eyes and willed sleep to come.