George was sure he was dreaming. For one thing he was standing in the middle of the quidditch pitch at Hogwarts, when he knew he had fallen asleep at The Burrow. The other thing was that standing in front of him, clear as day, was Fred.
In one long stride he closed the distance between them. The twins hugged, crying and laughing at the same time. They took a step back from each other. Keeping one hand entwined with the others.
"But. How?" George asked
"You'd be surprised how powerful Dumbledore is, even when he's dead" the corner of Fred's mouth twitched up in the beginnings of a smirk.
George began to smile, but reality hit. "You didn't stay. You could have become a ghost. You could have stayed with me. But you didn't" The tip of George's ear betraying how angry he really was.
"No, I didn't. It was my time to go. It's alright where I am though. Sirius is up here, along with Remus, Tonks and Cedric; he's not that bad you know." Fred smiled sadly at George. "He says hi, by the way. Everyone does, with the hope you'll pass it along."
"So what's going on exactly?"
"I've come to say goodbye George" Fred looked down at their entwined fingers."You've got to move on, and, with the hope that it would help, I've been allowed to come say goodbye"
George's eyes filled with tears. "But I don't want to. I can't"
"I know."
"No you don't know" roared George. "You have no idea how hard it is. How bad it is without you."
"George…….."
"No. You don't get a say. You have no clue how hard it is being around Mum. Being around everyone who thinks they have any idea what is going on. You have no idea how hard it is not to just pick up a knife and follow you."
Fred stood there in a stunned silence. "But you can't" he said quietly. "You can't leave Mum and Dad when they're already trying their best to get over one son. You can't cause them any more pain."
George's chin stuck out defiantly. "Says who"
Fred looked at him sadly. "Do you have any idea how hard it would be for them to lose you too"
George looked at the ground.
"George you have to make an effort to live" said Fred, squeezing George's hand within his own. "I don't have much time left. Mum's about to wake you up and I want to say goodbye before that happens" he choked out.
George looked at him. "What's it like up there?"
"Oh it's brilliant mate. And, one day you'll be there to."
The twins embraced. Holding tight to each other. Knowing that this would be the last time they would see each other for a very long time.
Fred pulled back, just a little. "In the top draw of my dresser are all my important things. My last will and testament, my favourite soft toy I kept from when we were little" George smiled at this part. "Everything I want you to keep is in there, oh and keep my dragon hide jacket, but chuck everything else. You don't need it and it's just going to gather dust."
They hugged each other again tightly, "I love you" Fred whispered in George's ear.
And then he was gone.
"George. George. GEORGE" Mrs Weasley shouted, shaking his shoulder.
George woke up with a start. His eyes snapping open. And. For the first time in weeks. He smiled.