AN: there had been a 5 month time skip. It is now august.
"Come on B.!" George shouted as he ran down the completely dry and new painted stairs, which had been finished by Esbeth a few days back.
"George!" She whined as she wiped her eye out of fatigue, being forced down the stairs.
She looked around the shop, and saw that over the last few days, almost all of the shelves had been painted and filled, making the shop almost complete.
She trailed down the stairs, and saw a few red heads standing together in a bunch.
What was the date?
Shit. The Twenty Second.
She immediately woke up more, realizing that it was their 9 month anniversary, and she had meant to get a gift yesterday, but she had to finish painting the stairs, and forgot.
"Oh you guys!" Her cheeks turned red as she walked down the stairs, seeing Molly and Arthur holding a messy, carrot cupcake; Esbeth's favorite.
She quickly realized that George was probably excepting something too, or else he wouldn't have done this.
"Here you go." Molly said calmly, handing her the cupcake.
Esbeth took it from her with wary, knowing Molly could still be mad at her, for she had been passive aggressive since Esbeth dropped out.
She took a bite, and it was deliciously made, moist and dense on the Inside, with raisins and walnuts mixed into the batter.
She re wrapped it, and placed it on the counter next to the cash register.
"So, I was thinking we could go to the burrow for lunch, and then we could walk around hogsmeade till' nighttime, and you guys can get the flat to yourselves?" Fred asked.
Everyone nodded, and Ginny grabbed onto Harry's arm, asking him too.
"Arthur, can I have the floo powder?" Molly asked, contracting her hand violently.
"Hey, Ginny! Come over here!" Esbeth shouted from the stairs.
Ginny jogged over, and everyone made their way to the fireplace except for Ginny and Esbeth.
"Ginny, I forgot. I forgot to get him something." Esbeth said, worried and upset that she could've forgotten.
"Esbeth!" Ginny said, surprised that she would've forgotten.
"I know, but I can't go back to the burrow I have to get him something!" She said in a rush.
"Guys! We're staying for a bit, I want Esbeth to do my nails and makeup." Ginny shouted to her family.
Everyone nodded, in agreement and made their way to the burrow, as Ginny and Esbeth ran out of the shop, and through diagon alley.
"Flourish and blots? He's been wanting a fantastic beasts book for a awhile now?" Ginny said, obviously not upset anymore.
"Sure!" Esbeth rushed into the book store, and startled the few people there.
"Sir!" Esbeth shouted at the clerk who was calmly reading a book at the desk behind the register.
"Yes Ms.Carny? Come to give another excuse as to why you haven't returned your books from five years ago?" The bitter man, Mr. Pearlman who had been the clerk for a long time snarled.
"I need a fantastic beasts book. Please tell me you've got one." Esbeth ran up to the desk in the extravagant store, which had glass beads hanging from the ceiling, as well as billowing green curtains.
"There's one over there." The man pointed to the back of the store, and both girls ran over, searching through the Scamander collections, until they saw the book.
Esbeth pulled it out, and ran through the glass beads, in an insane rush, knowing someone would be back soon looking for her and Ginny.
"Threw galleons." He held out his hand, as he lifted his ankles onto the desk, relaxing as he read a book titled 'The mysteries of our ministry'
Esbeth tossed the few galleons she had into his hand, and ran out of the store, and through town holding Ginny's hand until they reached the shop.
"Ok, no ones inside." Ginny said, peeking through a window of the shop and dragging Esbeth in.
"Should I bring something else?" Esbeth said in a hurry, grabbing one of George's jackets from the coat rack near the door, and tucking the book under her arm.
"No, no I'll go first, I'll tell them you just needed to use the restroom."
Ginny grabbed a handful of flew powder, and erupted into a cloud of green flames and smoke that burned esbeth's eyes.
"Ok, ok." Esbeth muttered to herself.
She almost stepped into the fireplace, but felt her heart sink, and drop down to her stomach when she heard the flat door creak open, knowing only the twins had keys.
"Esbeth?" George asked, as he leaned on the railing next to the balcony of the flat.
"George..I was just about to leave-."
"You forgot, didn't you?" He sunk his back in.
"George-."
"You forgot. You forgot Esbeth." He started back into the flat, rubbing his forehead.
Esbeth turned up the stairs, and into the flat, where George was sitting on the couch, his head in his hands.
"George I'm sorry. I was so busy yesterday- I was- I was going to get you something."
"Stop making excuses! Dammit Esbeth!" He shot up out of his seat, and began pacing. "You never care! You know nothing about me, you've never cared, have you? You forgot our seventh too! And all you care about is my body! You even pulled Ginny into this, didn't you?"
"George wait!"
"No! You're ridiculous! I care about you so much, why can't you just care about me? Care
To take the time to get to know what I like? Jesus Christ Esbeth."
"I know that you prefer winter to summer, but say you like summer because the rest of your family does."
George stopped in his tracks, his back turned to her still.
"I know that you like when people say 'George and Fred' because it makes you feel important.
I know you prefer classical music."
"Esbeth- this is completely besides the point-."
"I know you prefer tea over coffee, and you also don't like milk in your tea. You prefer writing to reading. And I also know that you think I don't care about you, when in fact I care about you more than anything."
He turned again, looking at her, his eyes pooling with tears. Rage, sadness, or anxiety, he couldn't tell which were causing the tears.
"I'm standing here, George, and I see you in front of me. And even through we aren't doing our best, I'm still happy. You know why? Because you're here. And I love you. I love you, George."
He opened his mouth, as if he had something to say, but nothing came out, except for a whimper, and a harsh judgements breath.
"Let's just go. They don't need to know about this." Esbeth said, yanking him into the hallway,and down the stairs.
"Shop closed?" A familiar voice trailed from down the stairs.
Pansy.