Blair was back on her feet quicker than Fred and George expected. The day after Jasper's death, they closed the shop just to be sure that Fletcher didn't come back to finish the job. They then opened the day after to find that he had little interest in coming into the shop. Fred suggested that maybe he didn't want any witnesses and blatantly walking into one of the only populated shops in Diagon Alley to murder someone wasn't the best way to go. Never the less, George made Blair stay upstairs in the flat for a couple more days to be sure that she wouldn't be in danger when working. Verity had been worried and insisted to be let upstairs to talk to her. But George denied her access and said that she would come down when she's ready.

And she was ready by the end of the week. George had gotten ready into his work suit and was in the kitchen, 'making' breakfast for him and Fred. He poured cereal into two bowls and went to grab the milk from the fridge, only to freeze when Blair walked out of the hallway. She was dressed in her purple shirt with her orange badge that stated her name and the label 'employee' over the top. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail and it swayed behind her back as she moved into the kitchen, barely acknowledging her boyfriend who was continuously blinking at her.

"We're out of bread," Blair stated as she peered into the fridge that George was holding open unconsciously. Her normal and calm voice broke him out of his trance and he glanced at the shelf that usually held the bread in the fridge.

"Y-You're working today?" he stuttered and grabbed the carton of milk, letting the fridge door slam shut.

Blair hummed in reply and poured herself a bowl of cereal before waiting for George to get his ass into gear and start pouring the milk instead of standing there with it like a lemon. She leaned her hand against the kitchen counter and heard footsteps from the hallway, Fred soon appearing while fiddling with his bow-tie. He also froze when he saw Blair standing in the kitchen and exchanged a look with George. They didn't want to make Blair feel like they were walking on eggshells around her, but they couldn't help but refrain from mentioning her staying in the flat for another day. They didn't want her to cry for the duration of the work day instead, but they also didn't want her to be stressing out down in the shop when she still hasn't gotten over Jasper's death.

"You don't have to work today, Blair," Fred decided to say when the silence had gone on for over a minute. He saw that George wasn't going to speak, so he pulled the older brother card and took some initiative.

"I know. But I want to," she shrugged and took her bowl of cereal, eating it with the milk that George had been able to pour through his surprise. "He was just a cat. I need to get over it."

Fred and George simultaneously widened their eyes as if they were in a circus act. They hadn't expected Blair to come out so bluntly about the pet she had been crying over for days (although they assumed she had been crying all this time) so casually. She ate her cereal without changing expressions and flicked her wand for the bowl and spoon to wash and dry itself in the sink. The twins stared at her and ached to say something, but couldn't work out what to come out with. They had been so scared to see her burst into tears again, but she didn't seem to flinch when speaking.

"W-Well I'm going to go open up," Fred inched out the door and was relieved to be out the room. He wasn't the best at emotional situations and usually left that part of life up to George. Especially if it was to do with Blair.

"Blair. You don't have to... pretend-

"I'm not pretending," she cut George off and made sure to stare at him right in the eyes. "I realised that I was being an unnecessary mess. Life goes on and I know the shop's still busy. I want to work."

"But life doesn't have to go on all of the time," he fought back, feeling his heart ache at the Blair's words. "You can take time. I know you loved Jasper and its okay to be sad about it."

For the first time this morning, Blair's eyes wavered from their strong glaze. As if George had pulled out the last brick holding the building together, water gathered in her eyes and her bottom lip began to wobble. He hadn't wanted her to cry, but he didn't like seeing her so nonchalant about something that she obviously cared about and was grieving over.

"Blair..." George trailed off and walked forward, putting a hand against the small of her back and letting her forehead lean against his shoulder. He expected to feel his suit jacket become wet or even a little damp, but he felt dry on the inside and out. She didn't wrap her arms around his middle like she did every night in their bed, put she did take a moment of silence.

George was prepared to stand there all day and have her sob into his chest, but she pulled away after two minutes. Her eyes were red and George made sure to wait for some tears to leak down her face. But she blinked three times and grabbed the bottle of water she had placed on the counter. Turning on her heel, she made her way towards the door of the flat and opened it wide, revealing the staircase that led downstairs.

"Wait," George called out and she turned around once more, looking at George with a blank look. She wasn't surprised at being stopped and waited like he had asked. He stared at her with sad eyes and wanted to wrap her in a blanket and sit her in front of the fireplace for eternity.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he made sure.

"Yes. I'm sure."

George nodded and walked over, taking her free hand into his. She gave him a grateful look before pulling him out of the flat, the click of the lock sounding when George pointed his wand over his shoulder. Customers had already started to litter into the shop on the early morning rush. Verity stood behind the counter and looked up at the two who descended down the stairs, double taking at the sight and rushing around to meet them at the end of the staircase.

"Blair! How are you feeling?! It's so good to see you!" she rambled and threw her arms around Blair's shoulders, hugging her for a second before pulling away and staring at her.

"I'm alright, Verity," she let out and George gave his employee a look, which Verity caught and quietened immediately.

"I can restock for today," Verity stated and gestured her hand towards the counter, leaving it open and ready for her. Blair nodded and felt George press his lips against her temple, whispering some encouragement into her ear.

"I believe in you. If you need me, come find me, okay?"

George walked away and gave her another warm look, before heading towards the backroom to make sure the new deliveries had come in. Blair headed for the cash register and served the woman who was standing there with a Punching Telescope in her hands. Verity stood nearby and watched over her, ensuring that she wasn't being stressed out and was comfortable behind the counter.

The work day veered into another customer-filled shop and the twins and their employees were kept busy. Blair stayed behind the cash register all day and was able to be polite, collected and helpful to every customer. She received many compliments and even pocketed some tips for her service. Even though it was busy, George found the time to see how Blair was doing. But he hadn't needed to worry at all. Every time he walked over and stood by her, he only saw her pristine service and friendliness to his customers.

"You have an excellent employee here, Mr Weasley," a middle-aged man chimed as Blair put his purchases into a bag. "I suggest you give her a raise!"

"Well she's already free from rent," George joked and chuckled when he got a playful glare over her shoulder. "But we wouldn't have any meals and would be living in a mess without her. She deserves much more than a raise."

"Ah you young people," the man shook his head before taking the bag from Blair and bidding the two goodbye with a joyful smile.

Once the day was over and the sign on the door was turned to 'Closed', Verity went home and the rest of the workers went up to the flat. Fred pulled out some leftovers from previous nights out of the fridge for them to have instead of Blair having to cook. He and George silently agreed that she shouldn't have to cook for them as if she was their mother. Not when she had just witnessed the death of a practical family member anyway.

They ate their meals and decided to play of a game of Exploding Snap while they had their dessert. The twins had undressed from their suits and were sporting some sweatpants and one of their many sweaters that Molly had knitted for them. George had been able to find another from at least his third year and gave it to Blair, who snuggled up into it in content with the large 'G' on the front instead of her usual 'B'. The sleeves were long and hung over her hands, but the scent of The Burrow's washing powder and George's personal aroma made it like bundling into a mild summer's day.

"That's cheating, Fred!" Blair cried as she saw Fred put down his cards slowly to buy himself time.

"How is this cheating?!" he fought back and gestured a stern hand down to the stack of cards. "I'm merely taking my time!"

"You're doing it to see if it'll explode or not!"

George chuckled as the two bickered and put down his next card, making the stack explode into a puff of smoke. Fred and Blair barely noticed as they continued to go over the rules of the game to try and convince each other that they were in the right. George sat back against the sofa with his arm around the back cushions, lazily grinning at his family next to him. Blair eventually gave up in reasoning with an unreasonable psycho and huffed, sitting back against the back cushions. Fred grinned in triumph and said that he deserved more dessert for winning the argument. As he got up to head for the kitchen, George sunk his arm down to hang around Blair's shoulders, pulling her against the curve of his side.

"How're you feeling?" he asked lightly.

"Getting through it, I suppose," she answered, pulling her legs up beside her and leaning against his right breast. "I just miss him..."

"I know. But he lived a good life right up until the end, right?" George said. "He was eventually loved by all; even Freddie. I'm sure he's happy up in cat heaven."

"I'm sure he is."

Blair stared at the place where his bowls of water and food used to be kept. The twins had moved all hints of Jasper into the spare room in a box in order to maybe settle some of the grief of the cat's absence. But remembering the two dishes that used to sit on the floor next to the kitchen counter only brought the hint of a sad smile to her face. She had done her mourning and now it was time to remember Jasper for what he was; a loyal pet who had been there for her. He was intelligent and had a painless death. Although his passing was unexpected and too early for Blair's liking, she could deal with remembering him in fondness. She vowed that if she ever saw Fletcher Potts again, she would be sure to show him all of the pain that he had caused her. He hadn't been sent to kill Jasper and the feline was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. Potts would pay for what he did and Blair was sure that the twins would help her with her deep revenge.