"Fred, why can't they just leave me alone? I'm not ill… there's nothing wrong with me, I'm just tired and grieving. Why can't they just let me do that?"
George had been like this for months, talking to his dead twin. He knew deep down that he wasn't there but George felt it was his only comfort. "Fred, please answer me," George pleaded. "Please, just give me a sign… open the window, turn the light on, anything…"
Nothing.
George gave up and the tears ran down his face. He slowly made his way out of the bed and to the bathroom, using the support of the banister. He sat himself on the toilet seat and ran his fingers through his dirty red locks. They, along with the other aspects of his personal hygiene, had been neglected for the past few months. He stood and faced the mirror above the sink, his breath fogging the mirror.
His hair was matted and unkempt, his eyes were dull without their usual mischievous sparkle, his face was tired, pale and gaunt and his teeth were slightly yellowing, his skin was covered in spots and sores. His collar bones were sticking out grotesquely, he could make out his ribs underneath his papery skin, his arms were ridiculously thin, the veins snaking their way down to his hands, his pelvic bone jutted out almost absurdly and his legs resembled matchsticks, his feet were bony and he could see the veins in them, like his arms and hands.
George Weasley was looking at himself clearly for the first time, it was asif someone had lifted the blindfold that had been there for just over six months. He felt repulsed at what he saw in the mirror, he couldn't believe what he had been putting his beloved family through all this time…
He took his wand from his pocket and jabbed it experimentally at his finger. A sharp intake of breath and a stinging pain in his left index finger told him that the spell had worked. "I'm sorry… I just miss you so much…" As he raised his wand again he heard "I miss you too, George…" He whipped around and, standing there wth a nervous grin on his face, was-
"F-Fred… you… it's… Fred!" Stammered George, gaping at Fred. "Course it's me you numpty! Who else would come to see you when you were about to top yourself you selfish bastard." George faltered for a split second. "B-but… you're dead!" Fred cocked an eyebrow. "Well, yeah, funnily enough, I'd figured that out for myself funnily enough but that's beside the point. What's happened to you George? You're a completely different person, a shadow of the man you used to be. I've been listening to you for months but for some reason I've never been able to get through to you until now." "Why is that?" Asked George. "Well, it's only when someone is so distraught, so traumatised that they contemplate taking their own life when you're able to get through. Anyway, listen to me. You can't keep blaming yourself or the family for what happened to me. Why won't you talk to them, eh?" George looked at his feet. "They won't understand," he replied sullenly. "They just don't understand how it feels-" "Because you won't let them." Finished Fred. "How can they understand how you feel if you won't tell them?"
George flared up at once. "Fred it feels like my heart's been ripped out! Like half of me has gone numb!" "George! I know how you feel because after tonight… I won't see you again…" For the first time that night a tear slipped down Fred's cheek. "For goodness sake George I love you and I know you love and miss me but you have to understand you have to try to move on. Get up, get some food down that scrawny neck of yours and open that damn joke shop! Let's face it, I think the family could do with a few laughs."
George smiled but found it hurt him a little. It had been six whole months since he last smiled and it was now he realised how much he missed it. "Well, that's a start." George stood and Fred followed suit. "Thank you Fred…" "Don't mention it… ever again! That's the first and last time you'll catch me being that soppy. You better not tell anyone about that." He warned jokingly, pointing at George. "I doubt they'd believe me if I did." Fred smiled. "Yeah, they'd probably cart you off to St. Mungo's. Can you imagine mums face? My baby's gone mad, I think he's possessed! The usual exaggeration." They both roared with laughter and once George started he found it hard to stop. "Fred, do you have to go?" "I'm afraid so George… my work here is done now. Now go and get that shop open." They both reached out to hug each other but Fred drifted straight through. "Well, we tried." Stated Fred as George shivered slightly. "Look after yourself. And don't you dare go pullin anymore stupid stunts like that. You scared me to death!" Fred winked at his grinning twin. "Goodbye Gred…" "Goodbye Forge…" George watched Fred drift away into nothingness with a heavy heart but a smile on his face.
