Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

Green Day "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"

"Dosenger's final court case is today." Fred remarked casually. He didn't fool George. He could see through his twin quite easily.

"I'm aware." He replied with a barely hidden smile as he wiped down the counter. Fred fumbled with a few papers, purposely keeping his back to George.

"Do you think you'll go?"

"Nope." George answered quickly. He'd thought about it for a long time but in the end, he didn't need to see it. He didn't really want to see it. He just needed to hear the results. Dosenger had ruled his life for long enough. George had already started to get over the prejudice pig the minute he'd been arrested. He couldn't keep healing as long as the man was in his life. No matter the form.

George paused in his cleaning and looked at Fred. He was hunched over, clutching the papers un-movingly. "Will you go?"

Fred swallowed and straightened very slowly. "Would you think less of me if I did?" George dropped the rag to the counter and slipped around the counter silently until he was directly behind Fred. He placed his hands on his twin's shoulders, noting how he tense he was with distaste, and turned him around. "Freddie," he started, trying to ignore the tears that filled the corner of his eyes. "I could never think less of you. Dosenger has affected your life just as much as mine. You have the right to see him sentenced." George squeezed Fred's shoulders and released them. "Though you may want a disguise. If they think you're me they'll swamp you." Fred nodded his head and fiddled with his robe him for a moment before looking up and finally meeting George's eyes. "Don't let him make you think it's evil to need to see things through."

Fred's head drew back a slight bit in surprise before a grin lifted his lips. "Would it be in terribly poor taste if I set fireworks off after the sentence?"

George smiled right back at his twin. "Freddie, I'd be disappointed if you didn't."

"You're going to the book release then?" Fred asked, going back to his papers. George glanced at the clock as he nodded his head. He needed to head down to Flourish and Blotts. There was only an hour till the release.

The bell over the front door rang out drawing both the twins' attention. Hermione rushed in pink cheeked and smiling. She was bundled up in a scarf George had bought her for Christmas and Rover preened at seeing his mate wrapped (and marked) in something he gave her.

"Are you ready?" She asked before pausing. She eyed George's robe and frowned. "That'll hardly do." She drew her wand out of her coat and flicked it at him. His robes transformed from their bright magenta to a more subdued hunter green.

She smiled at Fred and offered him a tiny wave. "Hello, Fred. You're going to the trial this evening, right?" Fred nodded his head and didn't bother asking how she knew that. He was learning.

"Yeah, I've got a few hours till it starts though." Hermione pulled her gloves off and stuffed them in her pocket along with her wand before unwinding her scarf.

"Harry, Ron, Percy, and Terry are going. Neville and Luna might be there was well." George went to the back cabinet and took out three butterbeers.

"Fun." Fred commented before shoving the last of the papers into a drawer and sliding it shut. "Lee is coming with me. We should all sit together."

"Well, Harry has to testify, but the others will be happy to join you." Fred nodded his head and locked the desk.

"Okay. I'm off to see my girl. I will trust the two of you not to shag on any of the flat surfaces in here." He waved and disappeared with a crack. Hermione shook her head, barely blushing. George was proud of her. He set the extra butterbeer bottle aside and handed one to Hermione.

"Ooh," she grinned, "are we toasting?"

"Uh," George looked at the bottle. "I hadn't planned on it. I was just thirsty."

"This is an important moment," Hermione chided. "We should toast or mark it somehow." George looked between his glass and Hermione before lifting it up.

"Here's to new beginnings." George offered. Hermione wrinkled her nose in distaste.

"I have never understood that. All beginnings are new."

George laughed and swallowed his butterbeer. "Well it was all I had." Hermione sniffed in disdain and lifted her nose haughtily.

"Then I'll toast. To making a difference."

George nodded his head and grinned. "Yeah," he chuckled, filled with warm fuzzies, "to making a difference."

-o-o-o-

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.

-o-o-o-

"I-uh-have something." Dennis admitted quietly before thrusting something at George and ducking his head. George nodded unceremoniously and tried to emit casualness. He had no idea what was inside the envelope but it was obviously important to the younger pack-mate.

Dennis handed George a thick envelope with a timid smile. George flipped it over to open it and instantly recognized the Hogwarts crest sealing it. He looked up to find Dennis biting his lip. He looked back down and pulled a piece of paper out. He scanned over it and looked back out with a large grin to find Dennis blushing.

"It's…uh… an invitation to Graduation. I was hoping you'd come as my… family." George was firmly British. He loved tea, carried the hell on, and he never hugged.

Until moments like this. George surged forward and wrapped Dennis in a hug, dousing him with his scent and inhaling Dennis scent at the same time.

"Dennis, it would be my genuine honor."

"Oh, Dennis!" Hannah gushed. She rushed to him from the back and wrapped him in another hug the moment George released him. "Congratulations!"

"This deserves a firewhiskey!" Fred declared as he got up from the couch. He went to the kitchen and rifled through the cabinets.

"Way to go, mate." Terry cheered. "You've accomplished an incredible feat."

"How many are allowed at the ceremony?" Hermione asked and took the invitation from George.

"I'm not sure. I'm allowed three family members but it doesn't list friends."

"We have magic." Michael stated. "We can tell them to expand the place and duplicate a few chairs." George nodded his head.

"Then we'll all attend." He glanced at the kitchen. "Fred, where's that drink? We need to toast."

Fred reentered the living room with a sheepish grin. "Alright." He said as he passed cups out. "We're going to need a rain check on that firewhiskey. We only have pumpkin juice. Well, we have that or a questionable gallon of milk." He poured the orange liquid into the glasses. "You'll have to get imaginarily wasted." He picked up his own glass and held it out. "Cheers!"

"To doing the impossible." George said simply and raised his own glass. "Congratulations, Dennis. You've made your pack, and family, very, very proud. Good on you, mate."

Dennis, blushing brilliantly, accepted the toast and downed his shot of pumpkin juice. Fred regarded the scene for a moment before slapping his leg. "Okay. Nothing against pumpkin juice or anything, but this needs a real celebration. How about we head to the Cauldron. George and I'll pay."

Dennis grinned and looked at all the pack members assembled. "You sure? It'll be expensive."

George looped his arm around Dennis' shoulders. "It would be our honor."

-o-o-o-

So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while

-o-o-o-

"I must say," Terry commented quietly, "She makes a lovely bride."

"Which one?" Terry huffed and looked at Michael in a very unimpressed way.

"Hermione! Honestly, remind me again why I'm dating you?"

"Because of my animal magnetism." Michael joked, adding a half smile and smolder for good measure. Terry chuckled and gave his head a little shake. "Seriously though, Angelina's nice and all, but Hermione is working that dress. I'd ask her out if I wasn't otherwise inclined."

Terry raised an eyebrow. "Should I be worried?"

Michael shook his head. "Nah. Picking someone up at a wedding is so passé."

"What are you two gits on about?" Ernie asked as he took the free seat on Terry's other side. He had three plates two of which he gave to the former Ravenclaws.

"Who the prettier bride is."

"Hermione, obviously." Ernie dismissed. "Angelina's lovely but Hermione is lovelier." He shrugged and picked up a fork. "I'm surprised they agreed to a joined wedding, but then, I guess we should never have really expected anything else."

"I've never seen George smile this much either." Terry observed as Hannah, Dennis, Lavender, Andrew and Susan joined their group.

"Isn't it adorable?" Lavender gushed. Su li joined her and gave her head a little shake.

"I'm surprised everyone is so calm. They're getting married on a full moon. I expected at least one freak out about werewolves attacking." Dennis said. Terry frowned and gave his head a little shake.

"No, we've taken care of that. I think every member of the Order and DA is here. We're not letting anyone who isn't close in. There won't be any protesters here. Not today." Dennis replying smile was only a little sad. It had been a year since Dosenger's sentence, but things weren't perfect yet. They were better though, and Terry could imagine a day when protesters would no longer be a problem.

It was a beautiful future.

-o-o-o-

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.

-o-o-o-

"That is the most unflattering image for a book cover." George sighed, setting the last book up in Hermione's corner. He'd set the section aside for her numerous books ages ago. WWW was the only shop to sell autographed copies of her books.

"I like it." Hermione said from the other side of the store."

"It's my back. You might as well have just taken a picture of my arse and put it on your biography."

"I think that your arse is quite admirable." Hermione stated, coming up by George's side and taking his hand in her own. "It'd probably earn quite a number of sales too." George grinned down at his plucky wife (mate) and leaned down to peck her cheek.

"Yours is killer. Seriously. Makes me howl every time." He winked outrageously and basked happily in the startled laugh his remark earned. Fred chuckled from the other side of the cash register and threw a furry ball at them. It bounced off George's head and into the bin of Pygmy Puffs who trilled happily at their new toy.

George was about to recover the article when the front door to the shop sprang open with a resounding 'ding.' A girl stepped into the shop, her eyes wide and unsure. She was skinny, ill-fed and scraggly haired. She looked uncared for and she had a deep cut on her neck that spoke of an all too familiar bite. George subtly sniffed the air and his lungs were filled with the pungent scent of wolf.

The girl's eyes darted between Fred and George before locking on George. She took a tiny, timid step forward and made to reach out a hand before drawing the trembling limb back. She swallowed. "Are-are you George Weasley?" George figured the tike had probably figured out who he was from the scar on his cheek. The only reminder that Greyback had ever fought him.

Hermione squeezed his hand in her own smaller one and he took it for the signal it was. He'd had her by his side for nigh-on sixty years. He should recognize a few signals.

George walked up to the young lady (she couldn't have been more than 16, and George was starting to feel every one of his eighty-some years.) "Yes, I'm George 's your name?" George asked calmly.

"Hallie… Hallie Paige."

"Nice to meet you, Hallie.

"Can you teach me? Can you show me how to tame her?" She pleaded. George stared at her blue eyes for a long moment before nodding his head.

"I can teach you. I can show you what I know, but I can't promise you anything but hope. It's not easy, and there will be terrible days. But you know what, Hallie?"

"What?" George put his hand on her thin shoulder and locked gazes.

"It's going to get better."

A/N: This entire thing started out as a piece to just get me back in writing. It was based off the idea of writing a werewolf that wasn't self-hating and ended up diving head first into prejudices and discrimination

Traditionally, a lot of books have Werewolves stand in place/represent disadvantaged people. Usually ones who have a disease like Aids/Hiv and can't get work or respect from anyone. They're looked down upon and hated for something that they can't fix. While that didn't start out as my intent, it certainly shifted to encompass that by the end. I found myself getting drawn into the world that I grew up with. Hate, as much as we ignorantly wish it didn't, still exist in many forms.

It isn't easy to deal with. It can't be changed overnight. It may not even be able to change in our life time. But it can, and will, change. Look at our history. Incredible changes have happened since we started writing it down, and change is still happening. At the end of the day, all any of us can do is work for a better tomorrow. It starts with deciding not to buy into prejudices and hate. We're all human, we're all equal. We can't ever stop fighting for a better, brighter future. Because change won't happen until we make it happen.

It can get better.

Mischief Managed,

Mya