Lost & Found ~ A George Weasley Love Story

15 ~ Big Days

Friday 28 August 1998
Diagon Alley, London

George straightened a magenta tie he had tied around his neck. He checked his composure on the mirror. A neatly pressed maroon suit still fit him perfectly. He had thought about buying a new suit for the reopening but it somehow felt right to wear his old uniform. He could not put a finger on why, but whatever made him feel better that day would do.

"George, are you ready?" Ginny's voice startled him from the other side of the door. 

George had asked his family not to come to the reopening since the Daily Prophet would be there to interview him. He did not want the reporter to think that he needed his whole family for support even though in the back of his head he knew that was what he actually would have needed. He would never admit it, but he was happy that Ginny and Charlie had convinced him to accept them to come over. If even half the number of people allured to Diagon Alley the weekend before the start of the new school year at Hogwarts visited the shop, George knew he and Verity would not be able to handle them all.

George glanced at his watch seeing it was only about half an hour before show time. Verity probably needed him downstairs to make sure everything was ready. He took a one last look at the mirror; almost sure he could see a shadow of someone too familiar.

George sniffed, a single tear rolling down his cheek. No matter how many of his siblings would come to support him, it would never be him.

George opened the door, wiping his face with the back of his hand. He did not look Ginny in the eye and rushed downstairs.

He built up his voice not wanting it to crack, "Is everything fine, Verity?"

"There's already a line behind the door", Verity arranged a set of puking pasties by the counter, not taking her eyes of what she was doing. They had locked the doors about an hour before since the first customers had already tried in.

Turning his head, George saw Charlie peeking out of the window not hiding his curiosity. George could not blame him; this was his first time seeing the shop open. Charlie could not manage to be there during their first opening due to work. If only he would have seen how long line was back then.

If being honest, George had been a bit nervous if the customers would find them again after all this time. Based on the people waiting outside it had all been pointless. Who would not grave fun things after the war? Even if George did not enjoy practical jokes anymore, it did not mean the others would think the same.

~

As soon as the shop was filled with chattering and laughing, George glued a wide smile on his face. He needed to maintain the image he and Fred had built for the place. He worked without thinking, showcasing all the products he had once been actually interested in. He let reporters take pictures of him while serving the customers, not paying attention to them. After what felt like forever, a tap on his shoulder made him stop a demonstration of basic blaze box. 

Turning around, George met a pair of too familiar brown eyes. 

"Alicia Spinnet from the Daily Prophet. Can I ask you a couple of questions?" the brunette offered her hand for him to shake, her lips pressed into a thin line.

George stopped in his tracks. He could not tell if it was good or bad that she pretended they didn't know each other. He was surprised to see her working as a reporter, but then again, George realized he didn't know her that well after all.

Without saying a word, George took the hand of the curly-haired witch and shook it firmly. He signaled them to head upstairs as if Alicia hadn't spent an indeterminate amount of time up there with him in the past. The memory of their last conversation lingered in his mind, making the moment even more awkward. As they climbed the stairs, George couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort, wondering if Alicia felt the same tension.