Lost & Found ~ A George Weasley Love Story

8 ~ Disappointments

Friday, 17 July 1998
Diagon Alley, London

Stepping in the pub George and Lee saw several familiar faces but not the ones George had hoped for. Instead, they were greeted by Harry, Ron and Hermione. The golden trio asked them to sit with them. Lee and George grabbed beers and headed to their table. George felt his palms getting sweaty, he had not spoken with any of them since the family dinner two weeks before. He had not left the burrow on good terms and was a bit embarrassed of his behaviour.

"How's your Friday?" Harry asked politely. He tried his best to sound casual even though he found it really weird to see George in the Leaky Cauldron.

"We visited the shop", George simply stated not wanting to make up an excuse why they were in the Diagon Alley.

The eyes of the trio widened. Harry and Ron turned to look at each other's surprised.

"Oh... that's great", Hermione piped in not sure what else to say.

"Yeah Harry, you don't have to worry about investing your money on us", George continued avoiding their glances.

"I- I didn't-", Harry stuttered but the look Lee sent to his direction made him to shut his mouth.

"Well, what about you three? I haven't seen you in ages", Lee decided to change the subject. George was relieved even though he was the one leading the conversation on the wrong track n the beginning.

"Harry and I will start auror training next month", Ron answered enthusiastically and continued telling about the letter they had received earlier that week. The stiffness of the atmosphere started to loosen.

To become an auror had been Ron's dream as long as Lee remembered, "Wow, congrats!" Lee smiled at the two before turning to Hermione, "What about you, Hermione?"

The brunette witch looked down at her drink before saying, "I'm going back to Hogwarts."

"Do you know who else are returning?" Lee asked curiously. He had heard that the previous year's graduates were given an opportunity to complete their studies since many people's studies suffered because of the war.

Hermione shook her head and gave him a small smile, "But Ginny will take some of the same courses with me."

Just a mention of Ginny made Harry smile to himself. Seeing Harry's expression made George feel warm. He used to be so delighted for his little sister, however, lately he has not paid that much attention to their relationship. It was funny how fast he had gone from teasing his sister to not caring about her love life. He did not even know whether the two of them were officially back together though it was obvious that the feelings were still there.

"That's great to have someone close with you", Lee nodded at Hermione sympathetically.

Ron snaked his arm around Hermione, "We also rented a flat together. Right down the Diagon Alley", Ron started to talk about their new apartment enthusiastically. It turned out that Ron and Hermione had an empty room in their flat as Harry had rented one on his own. Also, after the summer was over and Hermione returned to the Hogwarts, Ron would be left alone paying the rent.

~

The evening passed on slowly. The conversations mostly circled around quittitch and school, but George did not bother to take a part in it. Two weeks ago, he felt like he could forget his life for a moment and the contrast to this night was colossal.

"George", Ron suddenly called him out, startling him. "You know we have a free room in our apartment and I was wondering if-"

"Are you suggesting that I would move in with you?" George emptied the pint in front of him.