House: Ravenclaw
Category: Themed (Understanding)
Prompt: Writing
Word count: 2065
Dear George
"You don't understand!" George yelled as he ran out the room, tears streaming down his face. He froze in the doorway, a sight of utter dishevelment, breathing heavily. His clothes were crumpled and his hair was a mess. In one hand, he clutched a backpack. He looked like he would bolt at any second.
"George, don't do this," Molly begged. She too was crying, her hair sticking to her tear-stained face. "Of course we understand."
George shook his head slowly, breathing heavily. "Fred – Fred was my other half. I can't live without him. I – I need…" He pulled at his hair unconsciously. "I need to leave! Every time I look in the mirror…" He let out a strangled sob. "It should have been me. Why couldn't it have been me?"
With that, he turned on his heel and ran out the door, leaving the Weasleys standing there in shock.
Dear George,
Are you okay? That's a stupid question, I'm sorry. But mum has been so worried about you since you stormed out last night so I thought I'd check. We all thought you'd gone to Angelina's, but Percy went this morning and you weren't there. Perhaps you need some time away. If so, we'll understand, but please tell us where you are, if only to calm Mum down? We're all worried about you.
Bill.
.
The next few weeks went by slowly. No-one said it, but the absence of George made the loss of Fred slightly easier. Ginny spent most of her time thinking up elaborate stories about how Fred and George had gone on holiday to an exotic beach and were currently testing flavours for a new branch of skiving snackboxes, or were staying in the shop with Angelina and would be returning the following weekend. It was easier, without George, to pretend that there were two twins, and not only the one.
Of course, thoughts like this made Ginny feel incredibly bad and she hated herself for having them, but try as she might, she couldn't stop herself thinking, 'Maybe it would be easier if he doesn't come back'.
After a week, she decidedly regretted her previous thoughts, as the house seemed so… empty without the twins. The entire family were worried as George hadn't replied to Bill's letter - George always replied to their owls.
'He should be home by now,' her mind screamed constantly. 'Why isn't he home?'
Dear George,
It's been a week and we still haven't heard anything from you. We're beginning to think something's happened. Please come home.
Love, Ginny xx
It was a month later when Ginny shredded any hope that George was going to coming back soon. He hadn't replied to either hers or Bill's letters and hadn't given them any sign that he was okay.
"He'll be fine," she told herself over and over, though she wasn't sure she believed it.
Dear George,
You're not coming home, are you? We all understand what you're going through and we can be there for you if you'll let us. I know it seems hard, but it will get better.
Please write back.
Ginny xx
.
Percy blamed himself for the death of Fred. He knew it was completely irrational – after all, no-one could have stopped that wall from exploding, but there was a constant nagging voice in the back of his mind arguing otherwise.
"You were talking to him," the voice said, sounding suspiciously like George. It was stupid, Percy knew George didn't blame him, but - "Distracting him. He could have dodged it if it weren't for you. He wouldn't have died, but because of –"
"STOP IT!"
The only reply Percy got was the silence of his empty bedroom.
Sitting down at his desk and shaking his head at his sudden burst of insanity, he decided to compose a letter to his brother.
They all needed him to come back.
Dearest George,
Has life been treating you well? It's Ginevra's birthday next week. Please celebrate it with us, for her sake. She's suffering from the loss of Fred just as much as you are, and your absence has hit her harder than any of us thought it ever would.
Sincerely, Percy.
.
On the morning of Ginny's birthday, like every year, she woke up early. It was tradition for her, Fred and George to go for a picnic breakfast by the lake on the other side of the hill. She knew at least one of her brothers wouldn't be there this year, but she couldn't help but hope that George would make it, though somewhere deep in her heart, she knew this hope was futile.
Slipping on her cloak and scarf, she crept downstairs quietly, trying not to wake anybody up. It was a rather chilly August so she cast a heating charm over herself, before silently opening the door and shutting it softly as she left. Errol flew alongside her, and she appreciated the company, even though it wasn't the company which she so longed for. Once she reached the lake, she set down her blanket, and lay down, appreciating the silence of the morning. After a couple of minutes, she heard a crunching of footsteps and sat up abruptly.
"George?"
There was a shuffling of feet, and a head poked out from behind a tree, grinning sheepishly.
"Sorry, only me."
"Harry?" Ginny stared at him in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"I was told you might be here," said the boy, scratching the back of his head nervously. "I thought you could do with some company."
Ginny smiled widely. "Be my guest," she offered, sliding across the blanket quickly to make room for Harry, who looked relieved.
"Happy birthday, by the way," he said, holding out a parcel wrapped in silver paper.
"Thank you," she grinned, taking the gift. "What is it?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Well, you see, you have to open it to find out," he said, laughing. Ginny decided she liked his laugh, low, melodic and soft. It suited him.
Carefully, she tore open the wrapping to find a small, green box and an envelope.
"Which do I open first?"
"The envelope," Harry said, his eyes shining.
Ginny opened the envelope and pulled out two tickets.
"The Holyhead Harpies... She laughed. "And Puddlemere United. Five galleons says the Harpies have this one in the bag."
"I don't know. Maybe Puddlemere have a bit of a chance… But I know the Harpies will win all their games after this new member joins." He leaned in, and said in a half-whisper, "She's meant to be really good, you know."
Ginny frowned. "What new member? I haven't heard –"
"Look in the envelope."
Slowly, Ginny pulled out a piece of paper she had missed before. It was a letter, which read:
'To Ginny Weasley,
After having the pleasure of watching you play, we would like to formally invite you to become a permanent member of our team as a chaser. If you would like to accept the spot, please reply ASAP.
We will be awaiting your owl,
Gwenog Jones, Captain of the Holyhead Harpies.'
Ginny turned to Harry, beaming. "When they saw me play? That was the summer before seventh year! I didn't think…"
"Well, you are an amazing flier," Harry said, seeming almost as excited as she was.
"What? Oh, thanks, but you're obviously a lot better," Ginny said, blushing slightly. "Oh, If Fred and George could see me now, I knew something would come out of stealing their brooms…" She trailed off, blinking away the tears which had appeared at the thought of the twins.
She picked up the green box which, in all the excitement, she had almost forgotten about. "And what's in here?"
"Guess you'll have to wait and see."
Ginny undid the latch, and cautiously opened the lid. Inside, was a small charm bracelet with a silver heart. She turned it over and on the back in tiny letters was engraved,
To Ginny
Love Harry
Before she could think about what she was doing, she threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest, inhaling a scent which was purely… Harry.
"It's beautiful," she breathed, tilting her head up to look at him, finding herself startled at the look of adoration the boy was giving her. Slowly, she pressed her lips to his and he responded almost immediately, causing fireworks to explode in Ginny's mind so she could hardly think straight.
She almost forgot about George that day. Almost.
Dear George,
It's my birthday today. I waited for you at the lake by our house, like I always do. You didn't come. I understand why you couldn't, it was always something we did with Fred, and it hurt to be there without you two. Guess who did turn up though? Harry! He's such a sweetheart. And guess what? I made it onto the Holyhead Harpies! Where are you now? Charlie thinks you went to France, but Percy is convinced you're in Spain.
Love, Ginny x
Dear George,
Merry Christmas! Well, Merry Christmas Eve, anyway. We're having a Christmas party this year, with everyone from the Ministry. Enclosed is your formal invitation (Mum made me) and your Christmas present and card in case you can't make it. Harry and I started up your shop again by the way, ready for you when you get back.
From Ron.
P.S. We miss you.
To George,
Merry Christmas!
Lots and lots of love, from
Mum, Dad, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Ron and Ginny.
P.S. Visit for new year? – Bill.
P.P.S It's snowing here! – Ginny.
P.P.P.S Harry says hello – Ron.
Dear George
How was your new year? We watched a muggle fireworks display in London. It was pretty cool, but the display you and Fred did while escaping school on your broomsticks was much better, or so I've heard. I still can't believe that old hag Umbridge banned Harry from quidditch!
Send us a postcard,
Charlie.
Dear George,
How are you? None of us have heard from you since you left in May. Christmas was lonely without you and you missed Ginny's birthday. She cried that day – she did that a lot after… You know. She's holding up much better now, although she still gets sad occasionally. We all do. We all understand what you're going through but we all think it should be something we go through as a family. Let us be there for you?
It's my birthday next week. You don't have to come, but consider it okay?
From Ron
P.S. Be there or be square and all that. Get it? Because you're not a-round?
P.P.S. It's a muggle saying. Hermione's got to me.
Dear George,
I don't think any of us expected you to be away so long. We let you leave in the first place because we thought – no, we knew you needed space and time to heal.
It's the one-year anniversary of the battle tomorrow. We would like – we need you to be there. We know it'll be hard, but we can all get through this together.
Bill
.
It was hard, George thought, standing in front of the front door of the burrow. He hadn't been home in almost a year and he wasn't sure he could face his family. He had received their many letters of course, but until now, hadn't plucked up the courage to reply, let alone return. He knocked on the door hesitantly, and after a couple of seconds the door was opened. Standing in the doorway was Ginny, who previously, it seemed, had been brushing her hair, but now her brush hung limply at her side as she gaped at George.
"Hey," He began awkwardly. "Congratulations," he continued, "For getting on the team. Oh, and happy belated birthday, I do have a gift for you somewhere..."
Suddenly, he was being engulfed in a hug so tight he could barely breathe, and Ginny was crying, and he was crying, and soon all the rest of the Weasleys had joined the hug and there was laughing, and there was even more crying.
"Are you ready?" Bill asked, and George nodded. Bill pulled out a portkey, and the Weasley family, grabbed on, ready to go to the grounds of Hogwarts to mark a year since the battle that had changed their lives
They were finally ready to face the past.
