His hands were shaking almost violently after he finished reading Angelina's note, and the parchment ripped down the one side when George put it down on the counter in front of him.
"Bad news, Mr. Weasley? The colour's all gone from your face," a boy around seventeen asked George, putting down the generous handful of fireworks to be purchased.
George shook his head, then cleared his throat. "No," he said hoarsely, then cleared his throat again. "Just...unexpected. I'm all right, Kevin." He then put on his best fake smile. "Think you've got enough there for your sister's birthday? Don't blow up the house now, yeah?"
The kid grinned, assured George that he wouldn't and paid for the fireworks. "You sure you okay Mr. Weasley?" he asked, pausing at the door.
George smiled again. "Fine, fine. Not get out of here and wish your sister a happy birthday from me."
When the shop was empty again, George locked the door and flipped the sign. Back in ten, or twenty...or whenever.
He then took a long, shuddering breath. Fred was back. It couldn't be real, but Angie wouldn't joke about something like that.
George sat heavily on the stool behind the counter and thrust his hands into his hair, his elbows resting on the counter as he murmured to himself in disbelief. "Can't be real...can't be happening..."
Nearly an hour later of just sitting there, George finally shook out of his state enough to send Angelina an owl back. No doubt, she'd be waiting - but he couldn't go to the school.
He was afraid.
Angie,
Keep me informed. I'll owl Dad.
I love you.
George
Then he penned a note to his father, closed the shop and left.