When morning came, George waited until he smelled breakfast to wake Fred up and head downstairs. Fred was groggy from the potion, but seemed to have gotten some sleep, which pleased George. When the boys sat down at the table for breakfast, that awkward silence filled the room again. George could only assume they talked about Fred once they went to sleep, the looks on their faces told him that was the case anyway. Although silent, everyone was happy to see Fred eat quite a bit off of his plate. Once most of it was gone, Arthur decided it was time to say what was on his mind.

"I want you to stay here for as long as you like Fred, but you should begin to prepare yourself for what's to come."

Fred and George gave him a funny look, but George was the one who spoke. "What's to come?"

"When people catch on to this, it's going to be a circus of sorts. No one has ever come back from…what I mean to say is, people will be curious. A lot of questions will be asked. The Ministry will want to know details. I just want you to be ready." Arthur saw the terrified look on his son's face. "If we could hide it, we would, but people would find out eventually."

Fred gave a shaky nod. He had not thought about anything other than getting back. The world knowing about him was not something he looked forward to. He got up and headed outside for some air. George gave his family a nod before getting up to follow his brother. When he got outside, he found Fred leaning against the pig pen. He put a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"We'll handle whatever's to come. You won't have to do it on your own."

Fred nodded. "I know. I always liked getting attention, guess I'll be getting loads of it now."

George smiled. "I'd switch with you if we weren't so distinguished now."

Fred gave him a small smile before walking off towards the woods. George knew Fred wanted him to follow. He did not ask where they were going, and Fred said nothing as they walked. After a while George realized where they were headed. His stomach felt uneasy, and he almost ran into Fred who he had not realized stopped in front of him. They were at the family cemetery.

"Fred, why are we here?" George looked at the archway as they entered.

Fred stayed silent as he kept on. He looked around a little bit, but seemed to have a good sense as to where he was going. George still followed close behind, but did not like being there. He hated that place. He hated thinking about what was there.

Fred stopped when he found what he was looking for. He knelt down in front of the tombstone. His tombstone. He traced his fingers along the text. Really he just wanted to see it, wanted to know what George had to see. What it was like to look at his own grave. He felt a strange discomfort. He had cheated death, but had to go through Hell to do it. Now he was staring at the proof. His fingers fell to the bottom of the stone where there were traces of a rusty brown stain. He knew what it was. He looked at George who looked at his hand before clenching it shut.

"I-um." He could tell Fred knew exactly what he had done. "Not sure why I did that."

"Just felt like you had to." Fred looked at the grass. "I wouldn't be here if you hadn't."

Before George could ask why, Fred spoke again.

"What do you think is in there?" He still had not taken his eyes off of the grass in front of his tombstone.

George was taken back by that.

"I mean, I'm not sure how this works exactly. I came back at our flat, but I was in there right? Six months is a while to be…probably didn't look good. What if I'm also there still?"

This was the most Fred has said since he returned, and George was not happy that this was the topic he decided to rant about. "We aren't digging you up Fred."

"They'll want to, the Ministry."

"Then we let them do it, not us. Come on Fred, I hate this place."

Fred looked at his grave one more time before nodding and getting up. They walked back to the house to find Charlie, Harry and Ron talking out front.

"There you two are. Mum is having a cow about you. I'd better go and tell her you're back." Ron went inside.

Harry walked up to Fred. "Can I speak to you?"

Fred nodded and followed Harry to a bench in the garden. He made sure George was still in eyesight.

Charlie put a hand on George's shoulder and led him away a little. George too made sure Fred was still in his eye line.

"How's he doing?"

George shrugged. "Better than expected. He wanted to see his grave. I think everything is sinking in. Coming back was a shock, but living is something he will have to get used to. I think he was trying to understand it all, thought he wanted to dig himself up for a second."

"What?" That caught Charlie's attention.

"I think he was trying to figure out how is physically here." He noticed the look on his older brother's face. "Not you too."

Charlie shrugged. "I just wonder what's there. What did happen, George?"

"Why does it matter?" George sighed. "If his body is rotting underground or if it's gone…he's back, and that's all the matter."

Charlie knew he had to tread lightly on his next words. "It matters because if his body is still there, that could mean this person isn't our brother."

George gave Charlie a warning look.

"Look, I'm not saying I believe it, I'm just saying we need to be careful."

"I can't believe you're saying this."

"It's not just me George."

George shook his head. "I'm not hearing this. We aren't talking about this."

"Because you know I'm right."

George stormed off into the house.

While George was talking to Charlie, Fred sat down next to Harry on the bench.

"H-How are you?" Harry looked at the red head.

Fred shrugged. "Alright." He knew Harry did not want to make small talk, so he waited.

"I'm sorry you had to…you know."

"Wasn't for you mate. Sure you were the chosen one, but we knew what we were fighting for. What happened was no one's fault, except maybe the Death Eater that threw that spell."

Harry smiled a little. "We're all just glad you're back. That day was…we lost a lot of people."

Fred frowned. "What exactly did happen after I…I know we won, obviously, but how?"

"Oh, right." Harry was not sure where to start. "Well after you, and everyone…lot of people got killed because of him, he said he'd spare the rest if I met him alone. So I did and well, he…"

Fred was piecing everything together. "He killed you didn't he?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, he did."

"Were you the same place as me?"

"I dunno, there was no one else there, and it was really quiet."

"Was there a train?"

Harry shook his head. "It hadn't come yet, but it was supposed to. I was able to come back before then."

"I wouldn't get on it. It kept coming, but I couldn't do it." Fred was looking at a brown spot in the grass.

"When Voldemort killed me, he killed the piece he had accidentally left in me. I had to die for us to be able to kill him, but we did, and now he's gone."

"Good, would have been a waste to die for nothing. Even bigger waste to come back to him in control." Fred sighed. "I'd do it all again Harry. I think anyone would."

Just then he saw an angry George rushing into the house, so he gave Harry a pat on the shoulder before going inside to find his brother. When Fred walked into the room, he could sense the tenseness coming from the other side. He sat on his bed and waited for George, who was pacing, to speak.

"You won't believe what they are saying Freddie."

"They don't believe me."

George stopped pacing and looked at Fred in shock. "You knew?"

Fred nodded. "Harry just baited me to tell him about the afterlife. Something only he and I would know. I may not be all here Georgie, but I haven't completely lost it."

George plopped down on his own bed. "How are you so calm about this?"

"Can you blame them? When was the last time, save Harry, that a wizard came back form the dead. It just doesn't happen. Shouldn't happen. I'd be skeptical too."

George stared at his brother. "You're right, but I thought they would believe it over anyone else. They should know you Fred."

"Not the same I guess, but I'm back. Really back. They'll accept me in time."

"I do say dear brother o' mine, you have gotten wiser in your passing."

Fred smirked a little, but got a haunted look in his eyes. "Just had a lot of time in my own head is all."

While the boys were upstairs, Harry went inside and found Bill, Charlie, and Percy in the kitchen. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms.

"I talked to Fred. He described what I saw. He couldn't have guessed something like that. He has to be telling the truth."

Charlie looked relieved, but saw the look on Bill's face. "You still think he's lying?"

"It's just not right. People can't just come back. No consequences, no nothing. Something isn't adding up."

Percy looked agitated. "Why can't you just accept this and move on?"

Charlie put his hands up to relieve the situation a little. "It's okay Percy, just calm down."

Percy glared. "Hey, I don't believe it's logical either, but when have Fred or George ever been logical? Can the average witch or wizard come back to life? No, but if I had to bet anything on who could find a way, it'd be them."

"He's right you know." Charlie looked at his older brother. "Fred and George have always played by a separate set of rules than everyone else."

Bill crossed his arms. "Something still isn't right."

"Well even so, I'm going to enjoy his return for as long as I can." Percy left the room.

"I think you should just go talk to him Bill." Harry smiled a little before leaving the room as well.

After lunch Bill decided to take Harry's advice. He went outside to find Fred and George sitting under a tree. One all the Weasley children often played under in their youth when they were forced to go outside. The twins had created a lot of inventions under that tree. Bill sat down across from the boys.

"Hey Bill, come to question us as well?" George gave him a pointed look.

This was already off to a great start. "Well, yes actually I am."

George shook his head. "You don't believe him either?"

"It's not that I don't want to, it's just smart to be careful is all."

"So ask." Fred looked his oldest brother in the eyes.

It pained Bill to question his family, but he needed answers. "What would we find in your coffin?"

Fred did not break eye contact. "I don't know."

"Do you remember being dead?"

George hated this, but he knew he had to be quiet as the two hashed this out.

"Yes."

"Then how did you come back?"

Fred's eyes fell. "Not easily, and not without George."

Bill's silence told him he wanted to know more.

Fred shook his head. "I can't. Ask me anything else, please, just not what I had to do to get here."

Bill hesitated, but went on. "Are there going to be consequences to this?"

Fred closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I hope not." He looked at Bill again. "I paid a price to come back, but I don't know how this all works exactly. I swear to you it's me, you don't have to believe it, but it's true. I'm not here to trick anyone, I just couldn't leave George. Couldn't leave any of you."

"Satisfied?" George glared at his brother.

Bill nodded. "Yeah, suppose so." He got up leaving the two alone.

"Prat. He still doesn't believe you." George rolled his eyes.

"Give him time."

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AN: Thanks for reading!