A/N: Another depressing one about the twins, sorry. :D
Do not own

"Expecto Patronum!"

"Expecto Patronum!"

The twins cast the spell simultaneously, and a coyote and an hyena spring from the ends of their wands. The Dementors turn from the glowing protectors of happiness, and the twins turn to grin at each other as they have done so many times when a prank or a trick has gone well, or even one of those spontaneous moments where two people who are so in sync with each other will turn at the same time and grin, perfectly content and happy with their lot in life.

Even though they had never discussed what memories they used to cast the Patronus charm, Fred's memory was the same as George's. The first successful prank they had managed to play on their mother.
It was at the age of 6, and the mischievous twins had just set up their third prank of that day – and it was only 1 in the afternoon. The first two had failed miserably, but they were sure this one would go well.

Garden gnomes are particularly fiddly to pick up, apparently. They have managed to get a rather large pile of them though, and they are currently lugging the basket through the garden, to where their mother had left their baby brother.
When they get to near the toddler, they drop the basket on the floor and open the basket, each grabbing one by the leg and turning to each other, chubby faces alive with grins. Fred starts swinging his gnome first, George following shortly afterwards. They wait until the gnomes have got up to a proper speed, and then let go, gnomes flying towards Ron with alarming speed and some rather strange noises. Their poor brother is blissfully aware of the small evil creatures flying towards him, at least, he is until they hit him. He falls down on his bottom, looking vaguely surprised for a second, before screwing his face up and starting to cry in earnest.

"FRED! GEORGE!" the voice of the irate Mrs. Weasley comes soaring through the air to the ears of the twins. They glance at each other, drop the second gnomes and run as fast as their little legs will carry them. Unfortunately, this isn't quite fast enough, and they are soon stood in front of their mother, looking down and pretending to look sorry.
"I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU TWO MESSING ABOUT! YOUR FATHER AND I ARE SICK OF CLEANING UP THE MESS FROM YOUR PRANKS! NORMALLY, I CAN TOLORATE IT, BUT NOW YOU HAVE DELIBERATELY HURT YOUR LITTLE BROTHER!"
"Sorry mum." Fred and George say at the same time, not looking sorry at all.
"Why do I not believe you?"
"It wasn't my idea." they say at the same time, pointing to each other.
"You are grounded. BOTH of you. And you will be going straight to bed without dinner tonight."
"Oh but muuu-"
"Don't 'oh but mum' me. "

Later, when the twins are in bed, stomachs comfortably filled with their secret stash of sweets, they start to giggle.
"That was brilliant!" Fred whispers.
"I know! His face when the gnome hit him!" George replies with a massive grin.
"He is such a baby!"

"Fred..." George murmurs almost silently, feeling tears start to flow freely down his face, cutting through the grime and blood of battle.
12 years later, at the Battle of Hogwarts, the twins are ripped apart. Fred is cut down with a curse and a falling wall, leaving George alone to cope with the loss of his partner in crime.

"Expecto patron-" George swallows and tries again, tries to dredge up a happy memory that somehow doesn't involve Fred. "Expecto pat-" it doesn't work, and he tries again and again, but every time the memory involves Fred.
He finally manages to get the smallest wisp of silver smoke from his wand, but only by pretending the impossible had never happened – by pretending that Fred was still alive.