This was the first time that he was walking through the Hogwarts grounds alone. He was kicking a pebble as he walked across the wooden bridge. Gone, he thought, my twin brother, my other half, gone. Hit by the unforgivable curse. Gone, dead. He stopped, anger flooding through him, he roared and hit the board next to him, pulling back swollen knuckles. How could have Fred died without him being there? Why couldn't he have stayed with him and maybe dodge the curse with him? Tears swam through George's eyes, I am not crying. Not here anyway. He broke into a run, wishing he could just continue running, never have to turn back and never have to face the truth that was following close behind. He looked behind his shoulder alarmingly, was truth really right behind him? Was truth about to body slam into him, making him fall over with grief? George started sprinting faster, he wasn't ready for the truth yet, he knew he had to stop sometime, he couldn't run forever, but if he could get as far away as possible...
His thoughts were interrupted, George tripped over a tree stump, good thing too, I was about to run into Hagrid's hut, George looked up, how many times had he and Fred hidden here right before they were about to get caught for sneaking into the forest? No. I will not think about that. George shook his head hard, trying to get any thought that would make him start crying out. He wanted to feel the thoughts leak out of his ears, but he knew that that wouldn't happen. Not for a long time anyway. He got up and started walking again. His mother would say that he needed tea. In fact, she was probably sitting at one of the house tables, her trembling fingers stroking Ginny's hair, trying to calm her. George managed a small smile; his mother had just killed Bellatrix Lestrange. The crazy woman who almost killed another Weasly. Another Weasly, Fred swam into his eyes again, bringing along tears. He looked back behind him; he hadn't realized how far he had gone into the forest. He seemed far enough from the castle, no one would be able to hear of see him. The sun was up, but the forest's trees had gotten denser so it was dark. George took in a deep breath, and broke into sobs.
George had curled up into a ball. He didn't know if he had been out there for hours or maybe days. It didn't matter to him anymore. Lupin, Tonks, and Fred raced in his mind. At least the rest of his family were okay, Percy had came back, his parents okay, Ron alive. He had left the great hall shortly after he saw Ron, Hermione, (and he suspected) Harry leave. He of course, didn't blame Harry. How could he? Harry had brought down He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, if he hadn't, how many more would've died? He started playing with the little spots of mud his tears had left on the forest floor. His hand eventually traveled over to a small smooth stone. He wiped the remaining tears from his eyes to stare at his discovery. It was grey-ish, and he felt as though he should've instantly recognized it. He turned it over a couple of times, and realizing that it did nothing, threw it into the bush. He started to turn around and leave, but then he saw Fred's face.
"F-Fred?" George ran over to the bush he threw the stone in. He plunged his hands in and started frantically searching. Of course the bush had to have thorns, and soon he was pierced by millions of little daggers and bleeding from several of places. "Oh this is stupid. Lumos!" His wand illuminated the three feet radius around him. He pointed his wan in the bush, his eyes darting everywhere. At last he spotted it, it was under the thickest branch, the one connected to the main root. George reached in, broke the branch, (which lead to more thorns stabbing his wrist) and pulled out the stone. He turned it over, which was very difficult because his hot sticky blood made the smooth stone slippery. Finally he got it around three times, there was a swooshing sound, and George begged his heart to slow down.