TITLE: The Ghost of the Last Laugh Etched Upon His Face

RATING: PG

DATE WRITTEN: 08.15.2011

WARNINGS: Character Death.

SPOILERS: The entirety of the series.

DISCLAIMER: All characters, storylines, and quotes (within italics) belong to JK Rowling. This is my take on the aftermath of Fred's death, not necessarily how Jo intended it or described it.

SUMMARY: My take on the aftermath of Fred's death.

"You're joking, Perce! You actually are joking…I don't think I've heard you joke since-"

And that was it. There was an explosion, Percy looked around desperately and what he saw broke his heart.

"Fred," he shook his brother, "Freddie!" Percy inwardly panicked. Why wasn't Fred answering? He knew, deep in his heart, why but he didn't want to believe it. "Please Fred." Tears streamed down his dirt-speckled face.

It was too late. He was too late. And, as far as he was concerned, the wrong Weasley died.

Everything happened quickly and in slow motion all at once. Molly came running and embraced Percy tightly. She began to ask where Fred was when she saw. Her mouth felt shut along with her eyes and she inhaled sharply. Her arms hung limply around Percy as she sobbed into his chest. Her son…her precious son. Happy-go-lucky-always-there-frequently-annoying son would never utter another word. He would never enter the joke shop, he would never confuse her by pretending to be George, he would never so much as breathe ever again. And it was more than she could handle.

She was soon joined by the rest of the family other than Ron who took notice more quickly than Mrs. Weasley had. But the one whose heart was most broken was George's and it was seen it in his face. He began to cry hopelessly, desperately, mercilessly and all they could do was watch. George fell to the floor, wrapping his arms around his lifeless twin. He lifted Fred's head into his lap and cried over it, each tear trickling down Fred's faced. Fred's clothes were littered with dirt and soaked in blood and they covered his twin as well as George's fists pounded against Fred's chest. "Wake up!" he commanded. "Wake up!" he begged. His eyes hollowed out. When Fred died, he died.

He turned to Percy. "How could you? How could you let him die?"

Molly finally looked up. "George, that's not fair."

"I'm sorry," Percy choked out.

"It's not your fault, Percy, there's nothing you could have done and shame on you George. We're all hurting. Including Percy!" Molly tried to sound dominating, but her voice came out weak.

"I'm sorry," George replied.

Soon, a stretcher was brought out and they lifted Fred's body on to it, his arms dangling limply over the edges. George took his arms and set them firmly on the cloth so that they weren't hanging out.l

As they entered the corridor, they noticed the bodies of Lupin and Tonks as well.

Molly's hand flew to cover her mouth. "Oh dear."

Just as they had gotten settled, Ron, Harry, and Hermione entered the great hall looking livid.

Ron's eyes widened and ears went red when he saw Fred and George raced over to hug him. Molly instinctively tucked Ron's hair behind his ear as the entire family cried together.

Harry had never felt out of place with the Weasleys but, this time, he did. It was his fault that a son, a brother, and a friend was dead. If he had just died like Voldemort wanted. If he had just turned himself in. If he had tried harder to make sure no one would risk their life for him…

Hermione seemed to read his mind and rested a hand on his shoulder, tears pouring from her eyes as well.

This was the end.

Fred's eyes stared without seeing, the ghost of his last laugh still etched upon his face.