Some Things A Muggle Should Know

First Christmas

The first Christmas after the war, George found a box of failed experiments from his Hogwarts years up in the top part of his closet. He went outside past the shed and stood at the edge of the forest. Dropping the box in the snow, he marched off in search of branches. He piled them on top of one another, and the larger ones he leaned in the shape of a triangular dome. The spell was simple and he spoke no words when he pointed his wand at the pile of wood.
He didn't dump the box into the flames all at once, instead he held each toy and piece candy close to his heart, whispered a prayer, then placed it in the flames. He didn't cry. No, he had cried too much that year.
When the box was empty, he tore an extendable ear to resemble his own and threw the piece into the flames. For the first time that day he smiled in spite of himself.
George leaned into the flames and whispered, "Take care of my ear Freddy."
The next morning Angelina found George sleeping next to a pile of wood, smiling and peaceful.