Lost & Found ~ A George Weasley Love Story

4 ~ Give it a Chance

Friday, 3 July 1998
Diagon Alley – London

Aino had decided to stay in London over the weekend. Headmaster McGonagall had suggested she would audition Aino for the position of potion master on the upcoming Monday. She was nervous but also excited to show what she was capable of. After all, she was quite confident she would manage to get the place. Luckily, she had not travelled to London alone and now had someone to spend the long weekend before the audition with.

"Thank you for staying with me", Aino smiled over her shoulder meeting the silvery eyes of a blond witch who had interrupted searching through her suitcase. Kiira had been one of Aino's best friends for over a decade. They had met in a wizarding book shop in Turku and were bound by the love of books but when they got to know each other, they realized how much more they had in common.

"Of course", she swung her bixie cut hair with her hand, "I have my doubts about this place though."

Aino looked around. They had booked a room from the place called Leaky Cauldron. It was pretty much the only place available in the Diagon Alley. Kiira had suggested they would go to the muggle London and stay over in a hotel, but Aino had preferred not to. Kiira was a muggleborn witch which meant she wouldn't have any problems navigating in muggle world. Aino, on the other hand, had not that much experience visiting big muggle cities. After all, London was from a completely different world than Turku.

"I know but I'd like to get to know witches and wizards in here", Aino looked at her friend with pleading eyes. "Plus what would be a better way to spend and evening than dancing?"

Kiira raised her eyebrow to her, "Dancing in the muggle club? With hundreds of people. I bet there's only the local drunkards downstairs." Kiira had a point. As the two of them were booking the room, the pub downstairs looked rather gloomy. Being an optimist Aino, however, was sure they would spend a nice evening nevertheless.

"Oh Kiira, come on! Give it a chance", Aino took her hands in hers. "I know we will have fun even if it was only the two of us there." The main reason Aino wanted to stay there was because she was afraid. All this was new to her and it was making her feel overwhelmed.

Kiira smiled at her best friend. This was the first time Aino was going out with her since the war. She didn't want to ruin it for her. Of course, they would do thighs the way Aino wished. She wanted to be a supportive friend for her.

"So, should we get dressed then?" Kiira watched as the smile on Aino's face widened.

~

"How's your family doing?" Lee asked opening the heavy wooden door the Leaky Cauldron. They stepped inside.

"Okay, I suppose. I left them having a family dinner there", George answered shortly as they descended the stairs to the pub. He knew Lee's questions wouldn't get any easier for him to answer but he just could not give more detailed speech about how his each and every family member had been doing.

"Well, I couldn't picture a better way to spend the evening than with myself. Can't blame you for ditching you family for me, mate", Lee smirked, "I'm really glad you agreed to meet." The tone in his voice was suddenly serious.

George nodded curtly as they went to place their order. After getting two beers they started looking for a table to sit at. They found an empty one on a dark corner. Both of them thought it was better to talk a bit farther away from the other customers.

"Lee", George called, eyes glued to his pint, "I am truly grateful that you wanted to meet after all that's happened." George avoided saying Fred's death out loud and Lee noticed it.

"I'm glad you let me back into your life, that's all that matters now. Or almost all..." Lee thought he had muttered the latter part quietly enough, but George had heard it.