George could feel heat rising in his face, not out of embarrassment but out of anger. He wanted revenge, revenge on the man who had killed his brother. Rookwood was laughing, not even bothering to fight, his wand held loosely at his side.
With a quick wave of his wand, George managed to disarm Rookwood. The Death Eater's jeering smile widened.
"Go on, then, kill me! You said you wanted to – you said 'you killed my brother, I'm going to kill you!'" Rookwood sneered.
"That's right" George snarled, raising his wand. Suddenly, he heard a faint voice in his head – "Stop."
He shook his head. He must be imagining it. "Don't move" he told Rookwood.
"I'm not" Rookwood sneered. "Going to kill me now, are you? Or are you going to chicken out and wait 'til Mummy comes to do it for you?"
"I'm going to kill you now" George said, tightening his grip on his wand.
Don't do it the voice inside his head whispered, now slightly louder.
I will he told himself. He killed my brother. He killed Fred.
"Well, hurry up, I haven't got all day" Rookwood drawled.
He could see lights flickering in a nearby house and footsteps approaching. He didn't have much time.
NO the voice told him, louder and firmer, and he suddenly recognised it – it was Fred's.
George swallowed. He flicked his wand and Rookwood was soon tied up and hung from the wall.
"I thought you were going to kill me, not tie me up!" Rookwood cackled. "Gutless" he added.
Don't do it, George. You're not a killer.
"Avada―" George began, but the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. He couldn't do it.
Put your wand down, George. Just give up. You know you can't do it…
YES I CAN George told Fred's voice.
"Chicken" Rookwood sniggered.
The footsteps were growing louder. He needed to do it, now or never.
PUT THE WAND DOWN Fred's voice thundered inside his head.
I WON'T George told the voice. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
NO! GEORGE, DON'T! NO!
YES!
George Disapparated. He found himself in the Burrow's garden.
What did you do? Fred's voice said angrily.
"What did I do? I avenged your death, stupid!" George told it.