I found George sobbing by Fred's grave.

"George," I said, my voice coming out in a strangled whisper.

"Sorry," He said, wiping his face. "I just couldn't listen to him use F-Fred's death like that to get one over on Malfoy."

"You've got nothing to be sorry for," I murmured, crouching down next to him and tenderly brushed my fingertips across the lettering on our brother's gravestone. "Harry's a conceited prat. I've always said that."

"I won't argue with that," he muttered wryly. "Yet, somehow, Mum and Ginny seem to think the sun shines out of his arse."

"Would you hate me if I went away, George?" I asked, suddenly needing his blessing, "I just can't stand being here anymore. Everything hurts and everyone keeps disappointing me."

"You need to do what makes you happy, Ronnie." He said sadly, silent tears still rolling down his cheeks. "You only get one life, after all."

We both looked sadly at the all too short life date under Fred's name. It felt so fucking unfair; he had so much life to give to this world and yet it was cruelly taken away.

"Come with me," I said, the thought suddenly occurring to me. "As soon as I've finished this damn wedding gig, why don't you come and travel the world with me?"

He looked up at me, startled by my completely out of the blue invitation. "I- I don't know... I just can't imagine leaving..."

"It's okay," I said quickly, understanding the enormity of what I was asking him to do. "You don't have to decide now - I'm not leaving for another month. But please, just think about it."

"I will," he said, his eyes shining thoughtfully. And to my joy, a flicker of his former self crossed his features.

I looked at him, my heart warming, and I realised that George was someone I could trust and confide in.

"There's something I need to tell you," I said swallowing nervously, "something you should know before making your decision whether to join me or not."

"What is it?" George asked, furrowing his brow at the gravity of my tone.

And so, sitting by Fred's grave, I told him my secret.

*****

"Oh, wasn't it just beautiful?!"

I rolled my eyes as my mother gushed, dabbing at her eyes. "Harry is so special. I'm so glad you brought him into our lives, Veronica!"

We were back at Potter Palace, all gathered in the ballroom where large round tables were made up for the christening feast.

I couldn't help but glance over to where Draco and Bambi were sat, five tables along - amazingly enough Harry hadn't thought to ruin this day further by forcing me to sit with them. I'm sure that was an oversight on his part, though.

Draco looked utterly fed up, his face set in a serious scowl, obviously forgetting he was supposed to be acting loved up. And Bambi was chatting animatedly to the rest of her table, no doubt gushing about finally being invited to Potter Palace.

"Here," Ginny said, thrusting James onto my lap, drawing my attention back to our table. "He misses his auntie Ronnie, why don't you visit more often?"

"Because every time I'm in the same room as Harry I find myself hating him that little bit more!" I spat, as my five month old nephew started painfully grabbing and pulling my carefully styled hair.

Sighing irritably, I tried to reclaim my hair, which was gripped furiously in his fist as he attempted to cram it in his mouth. But every time I managed to prise it back he would angrily grab at another clump and crossly shove it back in his slobbering gob.

"Bloody hell!" I seethed, causing everyone within earshot to look up at me in alarm. "Will someone get this baby a fucking biscuit?!"

"VERONICA BILIUS WEASLEY!" My mother bellowed, her face utterly thunderous as she snatched the baby off of me. "WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT USING YOUR LOATHSOME LANGUAGE IN FRONT OF OUR LITTLE JAMES?!"

The whole room had gone silent and I felt hundreds of pairs of judging eyes upon me.

"Seriously, Ronnie!" Ginny joined in, as she scowled across the table at me. "You're going to stay single forever with that mouth of yours. Men don't want to marry women who swear like sailors. Harry says it puts them off wanting to impregnate them."

I felt a wave of irritation at the mention of that fucktard's name.

"OH WELL IF SAINT FUCKING POTTER SAYS THAT THEN IT MUST BE FUCKING TRUE!" I roared, jumping to my feet so fiercely that my chair tipped backwards. "I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HERE AND AWAY FROM ALL YOU FUCKING HATEFUL CUNTS!"

"Hey-" Harry cried, hurtfully.

"What are you talking about, darling?" My father asked, his eyes flickering in sudden concern. "Are you going somewhere?"

"I'm sorry, Dad," I said regretfully, lowering my voice as I tentatively touched his shoulder. "But I'm selling the business and I'm leaving the country. I don't know for how long, I just need to take time out for myself."

I saw my dad's face fall in hurt and I felt horrible for causing him yet more grief.

"YOU SELFISH BITCH!" My mother bellowed. "HOW DARE YOU RUIN THIS SPECIAL DAY FOR HARRY AND GINNY! IT'S JUST SO TYPICALLY VERONICA!"

"IT WAS NOT THEIR FUCKING DAY TO HAVE!" I screamed. "IT'S GEORGE'S..." I took a deep shaky breath before I continued, "...and Fred's."

My mother yelped, bringing a horrified hand up to her mouth at the mention of his name.

"GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" She cried, tears falling down her cheeks. "JUST GO BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING I MIGHT REGRET!"

I felt hot angry tears prick behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Instead, I turned my back on the table where my family sat, but another voice halted me in my tracks.

"NO MUM!" George yelled, standing up. "Ronnie's right! We're all just expected to go along with these ridiculous plans of Harry's and smile, but not one person had even bothered to ask me how I felt about doing this on today of all days. I know you lost a son, Mum, and it kills me knowing what you and Dad are going through; but I lost him too, I lost my twin. And yes, Harry may have saved the world and we all owe him one, but as far as I'm concerned the war was never won, not for me, anyway. It's destroyed our family because no one has been allowed to grieve properly just so as not to upset Harry. And I'm sick of it! So if Ronnie's selfish, then I am too... because I'm going with her."

I felt my heart soar as I looked at my brother, grateful for his words.

"Take me home Arthur," my mother trembled, her voice timid and wobbly. "I can't bear to be here amongst my treacherous children."

"Mum-" I started, suddenly feeling bad.

"Just don't Veronica!" She spat, looking at me with an ugly hatred. "I'll never forgive you for taking away another child of mine! NEVER! You have ruined this day like you've ruined everything else in your life! It's your own fault you are single, and your own fault you can't see out your own failing career. Maybe it's best you never have children of your own because you have already demonstrated what a cold and disappointing person you are." She paused to take a deep shuddering breath, her eyes still fixed furiously on me. "And when I look at you now, I find myself asking, why did it have to be Fred?"

I was wrong when I thought nobody could hurt me like Draco could. It turns out that hearing your own mother tell you that she wishes you had died in place of your brother was the most hurtful and destroying thing in the world.

I ran blindly out, ignoring the protests of my father and the collective startled gasps of the room full of horrified guests.

The emotion in me was roaring so strong that I didn't hear the footsteps pounding behind me as I stumbled and tripped down the stone steps out the front of the palace. And I didn't see the face of the owner of the arms that had flung around me, catching me just as I was about to go hurtling.

And even though I had no awareness of who they were, I surrendered to them as they held me fiercely into their embrace whilst I shuddered and sobbed against them.

"Ronnie,"

But I knew that voice though. Oh, how I knew that voice.

*****