It was as if it was all a dream.
I stared at the coffin before me.
It can't be real, I thought, closing my eyes, opening them again, as if hoping that he'd reappear, that mum would scold him for worrying her.
But he never did.
I guess some part of me always feared this. Some part of me was always afraid of losing him.
But never like this.
Beside me, Percy just stared blankly. He'd been in shock and denial since that terrible night - May 2, 1998 - after all that had happened to everyone.
I looked over beside me to see mum sobbing softly into dad's shoulder, tears silently spilling down his face.
Ron, to my left, was clearly at a loss for words. Silent tears cascaded down his face, rolling from his chin to his shirt. Beside him, I saw Hermione take his hand, tears glistening in her eyes as well.
Ginny wore a mask of utter horror. Tears poured down her face. I noticed Harry beside her take her hand as the music was played, tears leaking from his eyes as well.
Bill was gazing at the coffin, as if scared or worried of something else that may happen, Fleur crying beside him.
And then I realized that, normally, had this been anyone else, Fred would be beside me, comforting me, and we'd crack jokes afterwards at the reception.
But of course, we couldn't.
Charlie seemed to notice this, too. He looked over at me, cheeks glistening, and approached me.
"You okay, George?" He murmured, his voice shaky and higher than usual.
I couldn't manage words. All I could do was nod.
Charlie patted my shoulder, as if hoping he could do something to cheer me up, because the truth was, the two of us were now the ones without someone to comfort us. Charlie hadn't been in any sort of relationship apart from family and friendship. Neither had I. I'd had Fred to comfort me at events like this. Fred.
The people around us were all in complete shock. Professor McGonagall seemed to remember every time she'd scolded us. Professor Flitwick seemed to remember every joke we'd cracked. Each student's face was etched with grief. The majority of them had purchased from Fred and I. Third years and up seemed to remember the unforgettable escape-by-broom Fred and I had pulled off, using fireworks to annoy Umbridge. None of them, however, could remember how I remembered. Fred and I had never been apart...until now, when he was torn from me by force.
I glanced at his face, his eyes now closed, as if he were sleeping in the casket, and I stared down, wanting to breathe no more.
Don't worry, George. I'm fine. A clear voice seemed to speak into my mind, chilling me, constricting my internal organs as I realized whose it was. Fred? I thought, but there was no answer. I had been sure I'd heard him. Looking around at the others, none of them had. Pain washed over me like nothing I'd known ever before. Pain and only pain.
"Goodbye, Freddie." I murmured, tears still pouring from my eyes. "I'll never forget you."