This is the second chapter where we see this story from Fred's point of view.
The last thing Fred could remember was a green light. He knew what it meant the moment he saw it coming. It meant it was all over, there would be nothing more for him to see. He concentrated and made some last thoughts. He wished the Order won the battle, he wished his brother survived. He wished Hermione survived, he wished she was happy with his younger brother.
Then everything became black.
A few moments later, Fred was able to open his eyes. He wasn't sure how much time had passed. It could be a moment, a day, a month or a year. He wasn't even sure if time was something he could worry about again.
He wasn't even sure if he could worry again.
The first thing he saw was a bright white light. A few moments later it faded and Fred was able to see a few people approaching him. He was sure he had sown them before. He looked more carefully.
"Uncle Fabian? Uncle Gideon? Remus? Tonks? Sirius? Is it you?" Fred could say he wasn't very surprised to see them, since they were the closest people to him who had passed away. However, it was quite weird seeing people who had died twenty years ago.
Fabian Weasley was the first to speak.
"You're right Fred. It's us. You were very brave, my boy. Come here. You can join us"
Fred had still a few questions. "Where are we? Is this Heaven? It looks like… Hogwarts! Is Heaven Hogwarts?" Remus answered this time. "Yes Fred. This is Heaven. It's also Hogwarts." Sirius was the next one to speak. "Could you imagine a better place than Hogwarts to be Heaven? It was a paradise for all of us during our school years, it was the place that felt like home." Everyone nodded, including Fred.
Fred looked at a couple he hadn't seen before. The man was tall, and he was around his age. He had messy black hair and he wore glasses. He was exactly like Harry, except he had brown eyes. Fred looked at the woman next to him. She was also around his age. She had long, ginger hair and green eyes. They were the very same eyes Harry had.
"Are you James and Lily? Harry's parents?" he asked them. "We are." Lily told him.
"Now, Fred, would you like to come with us? There's a lot of things for you to see here and a war is going on down there as well" Gideon Weasley said. Fred had still one question though. "Where is George? Is he still alive? Is he okay? Has anything bad happened to him?" This was more than one question, but it was all about the same person. His brother.
"Yes, he's alive. Don't worry Fred, George is okay. He's still fighting. We can go and see him if you want." Tonks assured him. Then it was James Potter who spoke and gave Fred the most valuable advice Fred ever received. "Don't worry about him, Fred. He's still alive and he has the chance to live his life. It might be awkward, even disturbing, being without him at first, but I'm sure you'll soon get used to it. That's what we all did." Fred was sure James was right. He had died when he was only twenty one and he had left Harry behind. However, deep inside, Fred was sure it would be harder than it seemed. He couldn't remember many times when he and George were apart. Actually, he could only remember three cases: When they were pretending to be Harry in the battle of the seven Potters, when they were dating girls and when they were in detention. Hogwarts teachers had soon realized that if they put them together they would cause more trouble, so they separated them.
But now, all this belonged to the past.
Fred nodded and decided to let them give him a tour. "I'd like to see the place. It's my home, I suppose." All the people around him smiled and started showing him the place.
Fred witnessed the battle coming to an end. Okay, he didn't exactly witness it, as he was dead. However he wanted to see what would happen and he wasn't the only one. Harry seemed to have died, but they didn't see him wandering around, so they were sure it couldn't be true. They weren't surprised when he turned out to be alive, but they couldn't explain it. Fred decided to ask professor Dumbledore later. When they saw Voldemort dying by his own spell, Belllatrix being defeated by Molly and the battle ending with the Order's victory, they could do nothing but celebrate it. They weren't the only ones. Thousands of people around them were dancing and yelling and singing. Fred saw many familiar faces around. He was feeling calm and safe. Nevertheless, he could not help worrying about his family, especially about George. He was sure it would be too hard for him. He just didn't know how hard. He could only wait and see.
He was right. George was nothing like his old self. He was crying for days and nights and after the funeral (his funeral, Fred reminded himself) he didn't leave their room for two weeks. He expected that. He wanted George to live, George had the chance to live while he didn't. For a whole month, George didn't leave the house. On June the second, everyone was out celebrating while George was still crying. Ron persuaded him to go out with them, but it wasn't a very successful try. Everyone was dancing, singing and laughing and George was just sitting alone, thinking probably about him.
What hurt Fred the most was the fact that George was writing letters to him. He was writing about the family's news, but he made it clear how much he missed him. Fred was missing him too. At the same time he could do nothing but feel guilty. It was his fault that George was like that, alive, but dead inside. If he hadn't died they would be together, living their lives to the full during a period of peace. But he had died, he wasn't even able to keep himself alive. It was all his fault.
Of course, he was happy about the rest of the family. His young brother Ron and his "adopted brother" Harry were training to become Aurors. His sister, Ginny, was in her seventh year. And then there was Hermione.
Fred had always liked Hermione, since her very first year in Hogwarts. She was very clever and cute. She definitely deserved better than Ron was treating her in the first year. At least Harry had understood early her value. While they were in Hogwarts, he was always trying to get close to her. However, the super clever girl who was top of the class would never consider going out with him, the lazy prankster who barely managed to get three O.W.L.S. At least that's what he thought. Then, one day, he realized she was in love with someone else. Ron. He was so jealous, as his brother who didn't really care about her, had her, while he would never be able to make her see him in a romantic way. It was unfair, but he only wanted the best of her. As the years passed, Ron finally started caring and the two were a beautiful couple. Fred was proud.
In one of his letters, George mentioned Teddy Lupin. The poor boy would never be able to meet his parents, two fantastic people who had given up their lives for him and for the good of the wizarding world. At least he had a caring family; his grandmother, Andromeda Tonks and his godfather, Harry. Immediately, Fred decided he should talk to Remus. There were so many things he was worried abou and he was feeling alone. Maybe he should find someone else who miss their life.
Fred found Remus sitting near a quidditch pitch, watching his friends playing. He sat next to him.
"Hey Fred", Remus greeted him.
"Hi. How are things going?"
"As good as they can be for someone who's dead" Remus joked, but Fred noticed he was looking sad.
"Do you miss life? Your son?"
"I think. I'm finally able to be with my best friends, but I wanted to be there for my son. I miss him and so does Tonks. I'm afraid we can do nothing about it. We can just watch him grow up."
"He'll be fine. He's with Harry."
"Yes, I'm not worried. But I can see you are worried Fred. Is it about George?"
"Yes. We had never been apart. It's too hard for him, but it's also hard for me. He has lost interest for everything. I have never seen him like that."
"I'm sure he'll manage to go over it, sooner or later"
"He's writing to me. Letters. He's written six so far. He tells me about the family and all. He misses me so much, I can see that."
"Maybe he's coming to terms with what happened by writing."
"I hope so. He also told me it was you who created the Marauders Map"
"How do you know about it?"
"Come on! How could we know so much about the school? We found it in Flitch's office in our first year. It was very helpful. Then we gave it to Harry, when he was in his third year and we were in our fifth."
"And then I found it"
"Yes. So you're Moony?"
"I am. James is Prongs and Sirius is Padfoot. Peter Pettigrew was the fourth Marauder, Wormtail. He's not a Marauder anymore."
"I understand"
"Well, I think we should find a fourth person. It would be an honour if it was you"
"Me?"
"Nobody would be better than you. I'll talk to the others"
"Thanks. For everything"
~~~~~
Remus turned up to be quite right. George soon became his old self. Fred was not very surprised when he learnt he was dating Angelina, but he definitely was when he learnt the big news. George would become a father. It happened very soon, only six years after they left Hogwarts and four years after the battle. Fred couldn't be more proud, especially when George named his son after him.
The rest of the family seemed to do pretty well. George was right, there were many babies. The best thing was the reputation the Weasleys had gained. They were the new high society, having replaced the old pureblood families. Ron and Harry were Aurors, Percy and his dad were in high positions in the ministry and Ginny was one of the best cheasers around. Fred knew she learnt how to fly using his broom, and he was very proud about it.
Fred was very happy about his siblings. They had all gotten married and had children. Harry and Ginny named their first son James Sirius. James I and Sirius I were more than proud that day. Their second son was named Albus Severus and Fred could do nothing but agree with George that it was a very bad name.
Ron married Hermione. Having witnessed almost every moment of their relationship, Fred was sure she would be happy with him and that was what made him happy as well. They had a daughter, Rose Nymphadora, the same year Albus Severus was born. Tonks pretended to be mad about it (Really, Nymhadora? It's such an awful name, why did they make this to her, they know how much I hate the name), but she was secretly very proud.
Everything seemed to be great, till George started being worried again. He was seeing Freddie II growing up and becoming best friends with his cousin, Dominique Weasly and he started missing Fred once more. He wanted him to have a family too and he mentioned in one of his letters that he was worried Freddie and Dominique would have the same fate as they had. His second child, Roxanne, was born, but George was nothing but happy.
Everything took a turn for the worst. George had given up everything; the shop, his wife, his children, his life. Everyone could see it, but George didn't care. All he wanted was to have Fred back, something everyone knew was impossible.
Fred was feeling so guilty about his brother's condition. If only he hadn't died. That's the only thing he could think about. But it would never be true. He was unable to do something for his brother and this hurt him the most. All he could do was see his brother suffer and suffer. He suffered even more.
His friends (James, Sirius, Remus, Lily and Tonks were his friends now that he was the fourth Marauder) could see him suffer. They had all tried to talk to him, but Fred wouldn't listen to anyone. He spent hours and hours sitting in quiet corners, crying and thinking of what he could've done better. He wasn't able to think of a single thing and this made him feel even worse.
That was until Christmas 2008.
Lily always felt sorry for Fred and George. She had spent years in Heaven watching over Harry and she soon noticed Fred and George. The twins had perfect chemistry; they were doing everything together and it felt like nothing could ever tear them apart. She really liked them, since they reminded her of the Marauders. So, she was very upset when she saw Fred dying and George being left behind.
George took his time till he managed to overcome Fred's loss. Lily was very happy when he seemed to be over it and made a family. Now, six years later he had given up life once again. She knew she had to do something, but she was dead, so there wasn't anything she could do for George at all. Fred however was one of her best friends and she had to do something for him. She could see him suffer and not talk to anyone about it. She had tried to talk to him several times, but he wouldn't let her. Lily, of course didn't give up.
That night, she found him watching over his family. All of the Weasleys were having a Christmas dinner at the Burrow. Lily had once visited the place, as Fabian's and Gideon's guest in 1979, her last Christmas before going into hiding. She sat next to him.
"Are you alright Fred?" she asked him politely, despite her already knowing the answer.
"I think I am. Look at them. My family's happy and I am also happy for them. My siblings have lovely families. Even Percy is married. Even mum is smiling."
"Fred, I can see you're far from alright."
"I might be. One of them isn't and so am I"
"I know you miss George. You were perfect together. We used to watch you pulling pranks, joking… James always said he'd love to have lived during the same period with you. He said he believed you'd be great friends" Lily didn't know if that would help, but she had to try.
"I can say it's an honor. It would be an honor for George as well."
"Fred…"
"Look at him Lily. He's so depressed. I could never imagine him like that. He has a lovely family but he can't even care about them. He doesn't even have the courage to live. This is not the George I used to know. And do you know why? Because I died. I left him alone. He had never been alone before. It's my fault. He needed me, but I didn't even manage to stay alive."
"Please don't say that" Lily said in a quite angry voice.
"It's the truth."
"It isn't. You died so that he and his family and your family can be free. You gave up your life so that everyone can have a better life. It was a very brave thing, Fred. Many people wouldn't even consider doing that, but you did. I'm sure George is proud of you."
"Yeah, but even if that's true, I can do nothing for him. He will always be like that and I can't stand it."
"You're not the only one who's concerned about him, Fred. He has a wife, two children, two parents, many siblings and even more friends. They will help him"
"I'd be grateful if they did for him what you just did for me." Fred truly meant that. He gently hugged her.
"Thank you so much Lily"
Lily turned to be right. The very same night, Ginny talked to George. She told him to become who he used to be. She told him that she was sure Fred would like him to live his life. She was so right. George did understand. The next morning, he wrote Fred one more letter. He told Fred he was sorry for wasting his life, he told him he would try to become his old self. Fred started hoping again. He waited; he knew there was nothing else to do.
September the first 2009 was a very important day both for alive and dead. It was the day Teddy Lupin went to Hogwarts for his first year. Fred, James, Lily, Sirius and most importantly Remus and Tonks couldn't wait. They saw Harry and Andromeda taking him to the station and recalled memories from their first time at King's Cross. In the train, Teddy met two boys, Simon Davis and Liam Anderson. They spent the trip together, wondering about the house they would get in. Teddy wanted either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. Remus and Tonks were making bets about the house he would get in, while pretending they were arguing (Of course he'll be Hufflepuff Remus! Dear Nymphadora, you know he'll be Gryffindor! DON'T CALL ME NYMPHADORA!). Fred was almost sure he'd be Hufflepuff, but didn't say a thing. When the sorting hat sent him into Hufflepuff, he couldn't help laughing at Remus's surprised face. One of his friends, Simon, went with him, but the other one, Liam, went to Ravenclaw.
They soon decided they would witness every sorting ceremony from then and on, since they would all have at least one Weasly. So, over the next years, they saw Victoire and Luis getting sorted into Ravenclaw and Dominique, Freddie and James Sirius getting sorted into Gryffindor.
The best thing that had happened was that George managed to do as Ginny had told him. Three years after that day in Burrow, George managed to create a patronus once again. Fred was proud for his brother. He had finally accepted Fred would never return and he had become his old self. Fred took a breath and went to find his friends. It was September 1st once again and they wouldn't miss this year's sorting. Albus and Rose were ready to start Hogwarts and Fred was sure that nothing could possibly go wrong. All was well.
Please review, so that I know what you're thinking of this! I'm currently working on another story, which is in the same universe with this one, so I'll update this as soon as I publish the other.