Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Written for;
The Months of the Year Competition - May. Extra Prompts used - Content, The Forbidden Forest.
Valentine Making Station - Ribbon - Orange.
50 Characters in 50 Days - Fred Weasley.
On The Wind
"I thought you might come here."
George spun around, his eyes taking in the familiar landscape around him. As a man, one identical to himself in almost every way, stepped out from behind a tree, everything else left George's mind.
"Fred?"
"In the flesh... sort of."
"But you're..."
"Dead. I know. But you need me, so I'm here."
"Where is here? I mean, I recognise it, but..."
Fred chuckled. "We're in the Forbidden Forest."
"Um... Okay. Why?"
Shrugging, Fred pointed at George. "You brought us here, so it's on you. Not that I'm complaining. I always loved it here."
George smiled. "I know. We had some fun times here, huh?"
"Totally worth the detentions involved."
George sat down with his back against a tree, not taking his eyes off Fred. It seemed like it had been years since he'd seen his twin, rather than the few months it had actually been. Fred sat down facing him, his legs stretched out in front of him, a content smile on his face.
"So, you're struggling, huh?" Fred asked. George could see the concern, but he didn't want to think about reality right now. Right now, all was finally right with the world again.
"George, talk to me," Fred pressed. "You've never had trouble before."
"I don't want to talk about it, because you're here now, and everything is fine again," George argued, averting his eyes for the first time since he'd seen his twin.
"George... I know you miss me. I miss you too, I really do, but... you gotta live, mate. Right now, you're asleep by my gravestone. You spend every waking minute there. It's not healthy."
Rolling his eyes, George sighed. "Since when have you been the advocate for doing the sensible thing?"
"Since I had to watch my twin destroying himself over me," Fred replied, closing his eyes briefly. "George, I'm dead, and that isn't going to change. You're not though. Why are you acting like you are?"
"Because without you, I don't know who I am," George snapped. "I've never been an 'I'. It's always been 'we' or 'us'. I don't know how to live without having you by my side, Fred, and I don't want to."
"We knew it was a possibility," Fred sighed. "We all knew when the war kicked off properly that we might not make it out alive. It's not goodbye, George. We'll see each other again."
"I don't want to leave you, Fred. I don't... I want... I can't."
"You have too. Mum and Dad need you. Bill and Charlie and Ron and Ginny. Even Percy needs you, git that he is. I'll be watching, George, and I'll be waiting for you when your time comes, but you gotta live first. Don't mourn me any more, George. Live enough for both of us."
George stood up, and Fred followed suit, each stepping forward simultaneously to embrace.
"I miss you so much," George sobbed, tears falling into Fred's shirt.
"Don't be soft. I'm still with you, George. I always will be."
"I don't want to go," George whimpered.
"I'm always with you. I love you, George..."
George's eyes flickered, the echo of Fred's last words still ringing in his ears. He sat up slowly, realising he'd fallen asleep against his twin's grave. Raising a hand to his face, he wasn't surprised to find it wet with tears.
It had all been a dream.
"Doesn't mean it wasn't real, George."
The words floated by on the wind, but he heard them clearly enough to make him smile. His brother was still here, albeit not in person. Standing up, George let his hand rest on the top of the granite gravestone for a moment.
"I love you too, Fred."
