A big gaping hole. That's all there was after his death. Everything just went right into that hole afterwards; his relationships, his store, his life.

Everyone thought they knew what he was going through, but no. They lost a son, a brother, a friend.

They didn't lose their other half.

HPHPHPHPHP

Hermione stood in front of the door uncertainly. Why her of all people? Arriving here merely two days ago, she hadn't seen anything of him.

At all. Clutching the tray, she took a deep breath and raised a hand to knock on the door. "George? I have your breakfast..."

Silence.

She debated on leaving it there, but then thought better of it. Mustering up as much courage as she could, she opened the door and slipped inside.

The lights were off and the blinds were closed. The sun shown through the cracks of the blinds and landed on a form on the bed. On Fred's bed.

She took a look at the balled up figure that gave off a dark aura, and almost flinched at the sight.

Wearing sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt, he clearly lost a lot of weight. His face, that laid on the pillow and stared morosely ahead, was gaunt and had a full grown beard.

"George, don't you want your breakfast?"

His eyes slowly turned to lock on hers and all she saw there was a dark pool filled with sorrow and remorse. Nothing like the laughing eyes that twinkled no matter his mood; that twinkled with life.

Going over to the small table that separated the two beds, she set the tray down silently.

Giving him one last look, she walked out of the room and shut the door behind her. Going up the stairs to the room she shared with Ginny, she grabbed her book off her bed.

'What the hell am I doing?'

Every part of her being was screaming that this was a bad idea.

But she ignored them and walked back to his room and entered it without a second thought. Closing it softly behind her, she felt his eyes on her.

She didn't meet his dead eyes and simply walked over to his old bed and made herself comfortable on it.

Pulling out her book, she read by the light of her wand.

They stayed like that all day long. Never speaking, but not feeling the need to fill that silence.

After Mrs. Weasley walked in on them and realized that Hermione was planning on staying there, she came in a few times to give them lunch and whatnot.

She gave Hermione looks of gratitude, but that only confused Hermione.

All she was doing was what anyone from the family should've been doing: being there for George.

George didn't eat any of the food that was brought to him, so neither did Hermione.

At half past 7 though, the sweet aroma of Mrs. Weasley's cooking reached her nose, and her poor deprived stomach grumbled in protest. She sat there and thought about what she should to do.

But does she dare?

Suddenly standing up, she made her decision. Using her wand, she turned on the lights and opened the blinds. "George, get up."

Without waiting for an answer, she strode to his closet and pulled a simple pair of jeans, t-shirt, and boxers from it.

She turned and saw that George was sitting up; the same dead look on his face. Swallowing her fear, she tossed the clothes at him.

"You stink. Go take a shower; you're going to dinner." She saw something spark in those deep eyes of his, but it could've been wishful thinking.

"Go. Now." She said a little more forcefully. He stood slowly and walked on shaking legs out of the room towards the bathroom down the hall.

Hermione returned to her book and waited impatiently. Five minutes later, George walked back in, freshly showered and shaven. With his beard gone, his face seemed even more vulnerable, like a child's.

What didn't change was the haunted look to him and the slump of his shoulders.

"These were Fred's clothes." His voice was cracked and weak. He walked over to where she was standing and threw his arms around her in an embrace.

It shocked her, but dropping her book, she quickly returned it. Rubbing soothing circles on his bony back, she felt her eyes start to prick.

She pulled back from him and grabbed his hand in her own.

She looked him straight in the eyes, "I'm not going to tell you I understand what you're going through, because I don't. But I am going to tell you that I'm here for you. No matter what."

She saw something flash in those eyes-gratitude?-but it was gone in a flash. His stoic mask remained as she led him downstairs to the dining room.

To say that the family (plus Harry) was surprised, would be the understatement of the century.

They all plastered on fake smiles after recovering from their shock. "Hey George, how are you bud?"

"Hunny, I'm so glad you could make it tonight!"

Shouts from all around the table were directed to him, but he kept his head down and tightened his hold on Hermione's hand.

She sat down next to Ron, only to be followed by George. Extracting her hand from his, she filled up both of their plates.

She placed the heavy plate in front of him and nudged him in his bony side. "Eat." She said with the same forceful voice she used earlier.

To everyone's shock, he picked up a fork and started to cautiously eat. Hermione gave everyone a look that said to leave him be, and everyone returned to how they were before the duo arrived.

Ron leaned down to her ear and whispered, "What the hell did you do to get him down here? You even got him to take a shower! Mum's been trying to get him to leave that room for months now."

She snuck a peak over at George, who was slowly working his way through the pile of food on his plate. She turned back to Ron.

"All I did was tell him to come downstairs and eat. Same goes for the shower."

He was appalled. "You ordered him down here? No one's done that..."

"Well why not?"

He gave her a puzzling look, "He's a little fragile at the moment if you haven't noticed. We thought it would be rude to do that."

"Well, I think a person that doesn't try to tiptoe around him in fear of his feelings is just what he needs."

Not my best, but please review with thoughts and tips:)

A/N- 7/4/12 edited!