Fred,
Angelina's pregnant. Can you believe it? I'm going to be a father… me.
I've no idea what it takes to be a father. I wish you were here, because you'd know what to do. I'm sure of it. You always had the best ideas for the shop. You knew what kids wanted, and I know if there was anyone out there that I could rely on to show me how to raise a child, it'd be you. Merlin, I'm so scared.
I know, I know. You'd say there's nothing to worry about. I mean, look at Ginny and Ronniekins. They're doing just fine with their kids. But Rose has Hermione as a mother, and I feel like there was nothing to really worry about in the first place for that beautiful little girl. Fred, you've never seen such a pretty little thing. James and Albus too. All of our nieces and nephews.
You know I never thought about just how many nieces and nephews we'd actually have. I suppose having six other siblings would do that.
Well, five other siblings now.
Sometimes I wonder what you'd look like. When I look in the mirror, all I see is that hole left behind where my ear used to be, and I realize that you couldn't look like this now even if you were alive. You'd be whole. Unlike me, this lonesome, earless man.
For years I tried avoiding mirrors, because it was too painful. Now I stare into them trying to find the resemblance of you in me. I guess that's partly why I'm writing you again. I know I stopped for a while there, but that's only because people thought it was getting out of hand.
I guess it was. I mean, I was writing you almost ten letters a day, eh Freddie? But I don't want to talk about that now. My therapist thought getting my words on paper would help. It did. For a while. Then I just became obsessed.
God, what am I doing? Mum was so worried last time. There were boxes, Fred. Boxes of letters all addressed to you. All my sadness and fears and anxieties written down just for you. You can't read them. She begged me to stop. Angelina, too. It wasn't until Harry sat me down that I realized just how far my obsession had gone.
I didn't mean to hit him for what he said, but boy was that a wake-up call. I had no idea my life was spiraling that far out of control until—
Well, that's beside the point. I'm writing you, Fred, to tell you that I'm going to be a father, and it's time for me to really stop. I love you. I will always love you. It's time for me to be fully there for my family.
So, I guess this is goodbye.
Forever your devoted brother,
George
A/N: This was written for the Daily Prophet challenge in conjunction with the QL FanFiction Competition. I do not own Harry Potter.
Word Count: 483