Tyler Weasley quickly punched in the numbers and lifted the handset to his ear. An agonizingly long dialing tone ensued then short ringing. When George Weasley picked up the phone, Tyler nearly cried in relief.
"Dad-? Dad, are you okay?"
On the other side of the line, George frowned. "Son? Yes, I'm fine-what's wrong?"
"I just saw your ghost!"
Ok, now George was confused. "What do you mean, you saw my ghost?" Heaven's, it was only Tyler's first day. If he was cracking up already, he'd have to have serious words with Dumbledore.
Tyler huffed in exasperation. "I mean, I saw a ghost that looked like you, dressed like you and even talked like you! Are you sure you're not dead?"
"Yes, I'm quite sure. What was this ghost doing?"
George's sons' tiny forehead crinkled as he tried to remember, and he ran his hand through his flaming hair, a feature inherited from his father.
"He was sitting on the table with his butt in chocolate gateau at supper, talking to the older students about 'Wizard Wheezes' or something. Dad, he looked just like you!"
George's mouth opened slightly and a great sadness overcame him. "I gotta go," he said, softly but quickly.
"Dad-?" George cut him off by hanging up the phone.
A million memories raced through his head and George held onto the small table for support.
When he glanced up into the mirror, he didn't see his own, earless, middle aged reflection; he sawthe laughing, whole face of his twin brother, Fred.