occurremus iterum

George watched the spot where Zinnia and Ophelia had disapparated from, his gut tightened, wishing that they would pop back and change their mind.

He knew that this was the best plan for now. Ophelia had been walking a tightrope, her first husband had destroyed a Horcrux and her second had ratted out nearly 20 Death Eaters and was on the run from the Dark Lord. She had promised George that Zinnia would be as far away as possible and his uncle Hugo would be watching over her in Manhattan. After seeing his own father on the brink of a violent death, he would do whatever he could to spare Zinnia the same fate. The worst part of the plan was, they had no intention of Zinnia coming back to Hogwarts. The Order had a strong lead that a war was inevitable. George wished he could ship everyone he loved away from the storm that was brewing, send Ginny, his mum, his brothers and father. He wanted to run and never look back, keep his family and all his friends safe and in hiding. But he wouldn’t leave Harry behind. He had joined Dumbledore’s Army, unbeknownst to Zinnia, and had made a pledge to stand and fight. He would do anything in his power to stop the Dark Lord from harming anyone ever again.

George walked back into number 12 Grimmauld place, switching his focus onto his and Fred’s business plans.

“Hey mate, how’d it go?” Fred asked his brother.

“As well as it could have. Let’s just get these orders filled. I want to be able to pick up dad later from St. Mungos.”

“I finished them, Ron helped. George, are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?”

“I really just want to pretend nothing happened at all.”

“That seems like a healthy way to cope.”

“Fred, just for tonight, can we just not talk about the impending doom that is hanging over everyone’s heads?”

“George, I think you’re right. I say we begin planning our final prank at Hogwarts. I think we all deserve a break from the doom and gloom.”

“Freddie, let’s get to work.”

The twins spent the rest of their winter break building the most epic and (quite literally) explosive prank. They always knew their strengths lay outside the world of academic achievement and did not give two shits if this would (and it most certainly would) expel them from school entirely. They had so much cash coming in from their Skiving Snackbox sales, their investors Harry and Ophelia, and more products on the horizon. With Umbridge in charge, there was zero chance of them getting away with this prank and they were prepared to suffer the screaming fit their mother was sure to pull.

Fred and George went out that night just before the shops closed on Christmas Eve. They bought her the most expensive gift she had ever received, hopeful she would remember it when she heard they got expelled. A pair of diamond earrings, for her pair of trouble making twins. She cried when she opened the box the next morning, promising that she would never take them off.
***

On the train back to Hogwarts, Fred and his trunks were 10 times heavier, full of prank products to sell and demonstrate. George spent the entire ride back going from compartment to compartment, selling Snackboxes, new Reusable Hangman games and more. Any time he spent idle in his seat his mind was flooded with thoughts of Zinnia.

“Where’s your girlfriend Weaslebee?” Draco Malfoy asked when he approached the Slytherin compartment.

“Yeah, where is Z, she hasn’t returned my letters! I sent her a new lipstick for Christmas and I am dying to see it on her.” Lyla said.

“She is back in New York, she caught a bug and should be back later in the semester.” George lied. “Pimple Vanisher, Malfoy? Or have you been working on developing your third eye?” He held out their new product, ‘Ten-Second Pimple Vanisher’ and pointed it at the large zit on Draco’s forehead.

“Bugger off Weasley before I send you to Mungo’s. I’m sure your dad’s bed is still warm.” Draco threatened.

George’s fist connected with Draco’s nose in an instant. Miles pulled George off of him and shoved him out of their compartment, slamming the door shut.

“Let’s all just calm down.” Miles said behind the door.

“Open the door, I’m not done with that ferret!” George pounded on the door. It didn’t budge and he could hear whispers.

“I’ll show that blood traitor when we get back to the castle. Umbridge will take care of the rest.” Draco said before the others hushed him.

George stomped away, heading back to his seat and downed a sleeping potion.

***

Fred was waiting for him in the common room.

“Lines again?” He asked George. “Let me see.”

“It’s fine.” He said, pulling his hand away. His punishment for punching Malfoy on the train was to copy lines ‘I will obey rules’ with Umbridge’s special pen. It was actually a fucking torture device and she had started to use it on more and more students. The lines carved into the skin on the back of the writer's hand. “She can’t keep doing this. Hermione told me she was doing this for the first years before we left for break too. Harry isn't the only student getting special treatment.”

“Oh she will get what’s coming to her that’s for sure. Hey I waited up for you too because Hermione is planning a secret meeting. First outing to Hogsmeade, more details to come.”

“Sounds intriguing. Let’s get to bed, I want to count the cash from our sales on the train.”

George counting and recounting their earnings from earlier that day. He couldn’t focus, only thinking of how much he missed his girlfriend. He wanted to meet her at their spot. Tell her about his detention. Tell her about the earrings that made his mum cry. Tell her about their plan to quit school in a way that no other student had.

“How’d we do?” Fred asked from his bed.

“Not too shabby, covered the cost and then some.” George lied. He couldn’t count the money with the thoughts of Zinnia racing through his brain.

“Wicked.” Fred whispered, dozing off to sleep.

***

The remaining weeks of their final year dragged by. Dumbledore’s Army training sessions were a great distraction considering Umbridge had banned him from playing Quidditch. But George was counting down the days until they could pull their final prank and get out of that castle for good. He had planned that he would fly to New York and find Zinnia. She was radio silent, not returning his letters or calls. He only got a hold of his uncle Hugo one time after she arrived in Manhattan.

“Hello? Hello? Hugo, are you there?” George shouted into the telephone. There was one muggle telephone box in Hogsmeade. It was mainly used for muggle borns to call back home when their parents didn’t return their owls.

“I’m here George, you don't have to shout. I can hear you fine.” Hugo replied.

“Can I speak to her? Is she ok?” George asked.

“She is out with her muggle friends George, she is trying her hardest to stay distracted. I, I’m sorry I haven’t given her the letters you sent. She can’t handle it on her own. Without her mother here she is exceptionally sensitive.”

“Hugo, please. Please give her the letters. Or at least have her write to me. Or, I will be out of here soon. I will come meet you in America. Whatever it takes. Please, I have to hear her voice. See her writing. Something.” George pleaded.

“Two minutes remaining, please enter knuts for additional time.” The voice recording on the payphone interrupted.

“Hugo? Hello? Did you catch that? Do I add the knuts or do you? Hello?”

“George, please she is fine. Do not worry. She is finishing her school work here at her old muggle school. She is trying to make a normal life.”

“Good, no that’s really good. I just, please tell her I miss her.” George was fighting back tears. He had never in his life cried about a girl.

“I will, please take care of yourself and the family. I am sure we will all see each other very soon. Goodbye George.”

“Wait!”

CLICK. Hugo ended the call.

“Fuck!” George slammed the phone back on the receiver.

He attempted again twice and then every time they had a Hogsmeade visit. Hugo never answered the call.

***

It was the hardest George had laughed in a very long time when he saw the look on Umbridge’s face as he mounted his broom and left her in the dust. He and Fred were free from her, school, and all academic responsibilities. They disapparated back to London once they had flown off of school grounds, to their new shop at number 93 Diagon Alley.

“That was exhilarating wow! Let’s go out, get some drinks to celebrate!” Fred said.

“Let’s!” George agreed.

They were on their third bottle of firewhisky at the Leaky Cauldron. Laughing and telling anyone who would listen about their eventful day.

“Listen Fred, I got to go to New York. I don’t know how but I am going to the airport tomorrow and I will book a flight if I have to.” George slurred at his brother as they sat across from each other in a booth. “I will be back though, to help get the shop open. I have to go, I have to see her.”

“I know George, I know, mate.” Fred looked at him with a sad glance. This semester was hell for his brother as much as he tried to hide it. He refused to talk about Zinnia to anyone who would ask about her.

“I don’t know how to use muggle money, but I’ll figure it out, you know? I may be a drop out but I’ve got street smarts.”

“George, are you regretting us dropping out of school already?”

“Fuck no, she isn’t there. What was the point in staying? She isn’t even there. She isn’t even here. She never got my letters. Hugo, that fucking bastard, he told me he isn’t giving her my letters!” George exclaimed and Fred took the drink out of his brother’s hand.

“Mate, you didn’t tell me that.” Fred said.

“Fred, she’s all alone. Her mom is missing. It’s all my fault. I never should have agreed to this. This was supposed to keep her safe. How can she be safe if she is all alone? Cut off from me from all of us?” George had tears in his eyes. The drinks had taken over and the adrenaline had worn off.

“Let’s get back to the shop, we can set up the flat upstairs. Sleep this all off.”

Fred took George back to their new home and conjured up as much furniture as he could find. He sat George down on a bed and patted his back as he cried. George passed out and Fred let him sleep in until noon the next day.

***

“I cannot believe the two of you! A swamp? All of it its just too much! Are you drunk?! In all my days I never, ever thought my sons would drop out of school and become a couple of drunks!”
Molly Weasley was in their living room, face red with anger.

“Mum, please you don’t need to shout. It was bound to happen. And we’re not drunk, we’re hungover.” Fred told her, rubbing his eyes.

“Oh hungover are you?! Up partying all night celebrating? Celebrating what exactly? The last 7 years of your lives going down the toilet?”

“No, mum. Look around. This is our place. Our shop. We bought it with our money.” George interjected.

“Kind of like how we bought those beautiful earrings you have on.” Fred added.

Molly’s face flushed, this time from embarrassment, and her hands moved to her earlobes.

“Right, I see.” She smiled, ever so slightly. “After the stories you told me of Umbridge, I think you could have done worse.”

They laughed and told her all about their plans for the shop. She was finally listening as this was really their only option now, letting go of the idea that they would at least finish school.

“I am so proud. Really I am. It’s unconventional, yes. But you two have always been that way. I know you will make this a hit. I’m sorry for ever doubting you.”

“Sure, you just don’t want to return the earrings.” Fred joked with her.

“Mum, hey can I ask you, have you spoken with uncle Hugo?” George asked.

“George, I have. Everything is fine. He said that Zinnia asked for some space. I am so sorry dear.”

“No. No, she wouldn’t do that. Please, I need to talk to her.” George was desperate. What was she talking about ‘space?’ “Can we call him? Can you help me get to America?”

“George, I am so sorry my dear. The minister has made the decision to ban intercontinental travel. George, she is ok, she is safe. That is what is most important.” Molly held George’s hand and he pulled it away.

“I can take an airplane. I can just transfer my money to wizard money and get an airplane ticket.”

“George, he banned all travel. Not just by portkey. If a wizard is caught leaving the country, he will put them on trial. Now is not the time to draw more attention to yourself.”

“Why? Why did he take that precaution if he doesn’t even believe that Voldemort’s back?”

“Don’t say that name!” Molly demanded. “George, think it through. You get there and then what? Hugo has her under heavy protection. You won’t be able to find her. You will abandon your brother after you both have just taken a huge leap of faith. You will see her again, I promise you.”

George took a long walk. His mum was right, he wasn’t aware of the ban and now everything was ten times as complicated. He stopped at every single phone booth and called Hugo’s number with no answer. The sun was setting and he ducked into a muggle bar. He drank just enough so he could still apparate back home. Talking to Fred to go over all possible scenarios.

“Alright mate, I think it’s best to give it some time.” Fred told him.

“I know, I know, things are complicated but that doesn’t change the fact that I know Hugo is lying to me and to Mum. He told her that Zinnia asked for space. That is ludicrous, he hasn’t given her any of my letters! I still send them weekly. I can’t take this, if I can’t see her, why can’t I even talk to her on the phone or read my bloody letters!” He was getting frustrated again and there was no real solution. He agreed with Fred and did his best to stop fixating on it for as long as he could.

***

During the days and even through most evenings, he and Fred were putting together the shop, curating their products and interviewing for employees. Once they were in their separate rooms, George fought with himself to keep his walls up and the thoughts of Zinnia out. He was not used to sleeping alone, he doesn’t think he has ever had a room to himself. Their shop had a three bedroom flat above that was included with their purchase. Each taking a room, they used the spare for storage and office work. Being totally alone in the dead of night was torture. He normally left for walks and would try calling Hugo on the muggle phones.

One particular night he was truly defeated. They heard the news of Dumbledore’s Army fighting at the Ministry and he and Fred were both fuming that they weren’t there to fight along with their brother and sister and the rest of the group. He walked out of the flat after Fred was asleep and tried to call Hugo’s number.

“I’m sorry the number you have dialed has been disconnected. Please hang up and dial again.”

George slid down the glass wall of the phone booth, his face falling into his hands. Sirius was dead, his little brother and sister were almost killed, his girlfriend hadn’t reached out to him in months. He was starting to see no light at the end of the tunnel. There was a tap on the glass, looking up he saw his brother standing outside.

“Oye, you know people piss on the floor in these things? Bloody disgusting George, get up!” He shouted.

“Hugo, disconnected the number.” He told him as they walked back to Diagon Alley.

“What? Like the number doesn’t work?” Fred asked, not really sure how muggle phones worked.

“Yup. It’s over. There is no hope anymore. Let’s get a drink.” George suggested steering towards the Leaky Cauldron.

“Nah, mate. We got the summer holiday coming up in a few days. Not every student or witch even knows that Sirius was a good guy. I reckon we are going to have a bloody busy season on our hands. We’ve got to prepare.”