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Disclaimer: Everything goes to Joanne Rowling.

George awoke to the sound of running footsteps. His eyes snapped open. What he saw in front of him made his stomach lurch.

Fred was in the bed directly across from him. His skin was coloured red and peeling off very quickly. Madam Pomfrey was bent over the bed, muttering incantations under her breath, her wand in one hand, six bottles of different coloured potions in her other hand. George gathered all his strength and limped over to Fred's bed, panic racing through him.

"Mr. Weasley, get back to bed! You need rest!" Madam Pomfrey scolded. "He will be fine once I've sorted him out."

"What happened to him?" George asked, disobeying her.

"The dragon's fire burned him. Every time the tasks get more dangerous, I don't understand why they let you two compete!"

George couldn't believe his ears. He looked down at Fred, the tears in his eyes threatening to spill over. So many thoughts were crammed into his head, but he willed himself to focus on one.

Come on, Fred, breathe...

An hour later, he was sitting in a chair by Fred's bed, his head in his hands. Fred hadn't moved at all, despite Madam Pomfrey's endless attempts.

"He'll need to be transferred to St. Mungo's," she declared. "He's been unconscious for far too long now. I don't know if they'll be able to help him much, but maybe they can get him to regain consciousness."

"When will he be going to St. Mungo's?" Fred asked, finally lifting his head.

"Today. Some Healers are on their way. Professor Dumbledore has confirmed that you may go as well, if you like."

"Yeah... Yeah, I'll go," George said. He tried to tell himself that it wasn't a big deal, that Fred would wake up and everything would be fine, but somehow, even he knew that there was a very small chance Fred would live.

"It's been two days," George said to no one in particular. Him, his parents and siblings were sitting around a bed at St. Mungo's, in which Fred was still unconscious. Ron had a comforting arm draped around Ginny's shoulders, staring at Fred's motionless body; Mr. Weasley was stroking his wife's hair and whispering to her that everything would turn out alright; Bill and Charlie had been silent the entire time; and Percy, who had ultimately decided to turn up, looked anxious.

"D'you think he'll die, George?" Ginny asked, her voice shaky. She wasn't crying, but her jaw was clenched. Mrs. Weasley burst into tears.

George felt his heart break into a million pieces. How would we, how could he, live without Fred? His twin, the love of his life? He knew it wasn't possible.

"I... I dunno, Ginny," he replied truthfully.

Ginny willed herself to look at Fred's body, a single tear escaping her right eye.

At that moment, a Healer entered, a large bottle in her hand.

"This will help him to wake up," she announced. "He should arise within the hour." She poured the contents of the bottle into Fred's slightly parted lips and left the room.

The minutes ticked by. George didn't take his eyes off Fred once. Fifty-nine minutes passed.

"He's dead," Percy whispered.

"No, he's not!" George yelled. He got up sloppily from his chair and quickly approached Percy, who had risen from his chair as well.

"George... I wish it wasn't true either, but we must not lie to ourselves."

George was fuming at this point. He pushed Percy, sending him toppling backwards. Percy got up, looking George fiercely in the eyes. Mr. Weasley tried to separate them, but failed.

"Why are you even here, Perce?" George asked, still yelling. "You turned your back on us!"

"You're my brother, George," Percy said calmly. "Fred is my brother, Ron is my brother, Bill is my brother, Charlie is my brother, and Ginny is my sister!"

"Obviously! But you haven't acknowledged any of us in months!"

"Boys, that's enough!" Mr. Weasley yelled, standing in the space between them. George looked away from Percy; his anger wasn't fading.

In the midst of the argument, no one had noticed that Fred's eyes were wide open. He coughed lightly, and they all turned to face his bed.

"Fred!" George cried. He thrust his arms around Fred's shoulders, hugging him as tightly as he could.

"Careful, you're suffocating me," Fred whispered. He sounded weak, but there was a hint of amusement to his tone.

George loosened his grip and kissed Fred's cheek. Behind him, Percy looked bemused.

"Freddie!" Mrs. Weasley squealed. She enveloped her arms around both Fred and George.

"Hi, Mum," Fred coughed. He gave her a pained smile.

"Oh, I was so afraid you were... Fred... Oh, Freddie... I'm so relieved..." Mrs. Weasley weeped. She and George stood up, beaming down at Fred.

"I know," he said defeatedly. He looked around, and his eyes fell on Percy. "Fancy seeing you here, isn't it, Perce?"

Percy gulped, and his face twisted into an expression that greatly resembled a constipated mountain troll. He didn't answer; a short awkward silence followed.

"How are you feeling?" Mr. Weasley asked hastily.

"Somewhat terrible," Fred answered, adjusting his position. He grimaced.

The Healer from before entered the room, walking briskly.

"Ah, you're awake, I see," she said to Fred. "Feeling all right?"

"No," he responded.

"Here, drink this." She handed him a small bottle of clear, thick liquid. He swallowed it immediately. "Better?"

"Yeah, much better."

She looked around at the group of Weasleys. "I'm sorry, but visiting hours are over. Only one family member may stay as of now."

"I'll stay," George said before anyone else could respond. Mrs. Weasley looked like she was about to protest, but George refused to leave. "Mum, please?"

She clamped her mouth shut, kissed Fred once on the cheek, and hurried after the rest of the Weasleys. As soon as the door closed behind her, George's lips were pressed onto Fred's. They kissed passionately for the next thirty seconds, then paused to breathe.

"I missed you," George said under his breath.

"D'you even know how hard those ten minutes were? Merlin, it took all my control not to grab you and kiss you," Fred panted.

George cupped the back of Fred's neck in his hand and kissed him again, his nerves tingling. How he had missed that feeling.

No cliffhanger this time!

I always say I'll get my chapters up sooner but I never do... Well, this time I mean it! Review, review, review! If I get at least five reviews within three days, Chapter Five will be up three days later.