What if there was an option of Fred being brought back to life in exchange of another Weasley member?
The quote from the book.
Hello, Minister!" bellowed Percy, sending a neat jinx straight at Thicknesse, who dropped his wand and clawed at the front of his robes, apparently in awful discomfort. "Did I mention I'm resigning?"
"You're joking, Perce!" shouted Fred as the Death Eater he was battling collapsed under the weight of three separate Stunning Spells. Thicknesse had fallen to the ground with tiny spikes erupting all over him; he seemed to be turning into some form of sea urchin. Fred looked at Percy with glee.
"You actually are joking, Perce… . I don't think I've heard you joke since you were –"
The air exploded. They had been grouped together, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and Percy, the two Death Eaters at their feet, one Stunned, the other Transfigured; and in that fragment of a moment, when danger seemed temporarily at bay, the world was rent apart, Harry felt himself flying through the air, and all he could do was hold as tightly as possible to that thin stick of wood that was his one and only weapon, and shield his head in his arms: He heard the screams and yells of his companions without a hope of knowing what had happened to them –
And then the world resolved itself into pain and semidarkness: He was half buried in the wreckage of a corridor that had been subjected to a terrible attack. Cold air told him that the side of the castle had been blown away, and hot stickiness on his cheek told him that he was bleeding copiously. Then he heard a terrible cry that pulled at his insides, that expressed agony of a kind neither flame nor curse could cause, and he stood up, swaying, more frightened than he had been that day, more frightened, perhaps, than he had been in his life… .
And Hermione was struggling to her feet in the wreckage, and three redheaded men were grouped on the ground where the wall had blasted apart. Harry grabbed Hermione's hand as they staggered and stumbled over stone and wood.
"No – no – no!" someone was shouting. "No! Fred! No!"
And Percy was shaking his brother, and Ron was kneeling beside them, and Fred's eyes stared without seeing, the ghost of his last laugh still etched upon his face.
Fred is dead. The Battle of Hogwarts rages on, ultimately ending with Harry Potter defeating and killing the villain, Voldemort.
Chapter 1: The Aftermath.
Harry was awoken from the bright light shining on his eyes. He was sitting on the sofa and his right shoulder supported Ginny's head. Ginny had slept holding his hands which were covered around her.
With his left hand, Harry adjusted his glasses and saw at the other end of the room, Ron sleeping on the sofa and Hermione rubbing her eyes with her right hand as her left hand held Ron's right hand, as she woke up from a sofa pulled near Ron's. Apparently the two had spoken till late in the night, and had slept holding hands.
After the Battle of Hogwarts the previous day, the four of them had gone to the Gryffindor common room and while talking, had fallen asleep. Most of the students had been sent home regardless of whether they were of age or underage. The exams would be held directly in a month and the students were asked to study at home.
Harry remembered how badly Ron and Ginny were sobbing the previous night and how he and Hermione were consoling the two. Fred's death had hit everyone so hard. That afternoon, they were all to go back to the Burrow, so Harry decided to get ready.
Chapter 2: At the Burrow.
The Weasleys, Harry and Hermione sat in the living room, speechless. Harry saw the surviving members of the Order of The Phoenix such as Kingsley Shacklebolt come and pay their respects to Fred. Harry noticed that every visitor had tears in their eyes.
Mr Weasley had his head turned away facing down as he wept silently. Mrs Weasley was audible in her sobs. Bill and Fleur sat arm in arm trying to comfort each other. Charlie slept on his mothers lap as he wept with her. Percy sat with his hands on his head, looking down while George was crying hot tears and glancing furious looks, but Harry could not see where because half of George's face was not visible from his point of view. Angelina was there too, though Harry could only hear her sob.
Ron had his face covered in his hands while Hermione had her hands around him, comforting him.
Harry heard Ginny moan as she sat with her head on his shoulder, and Harry tried to comfort her by patting her softly at the head.
Ron decided to bring everyone out of his gloomy nature, so he told Hermione "Mione, your parents must still be in Australia." Hermione let out a sob, wiped her tears, and spoke while smiling weakly "Yes, I'm planning to go to Australia shortly. I've to bring back my parents after I obliviated their memories last year before going on the Horcrux hunt."
Percy got up at one point and Harry immediately saw why. Fred's photo was now kept at a dangerous angle and would fall so Percy went to re arrange it.
"Don't touch it!" bellowed George furiously. Everybody was taken aback by this sudden outburst. "You don't deserve.." and George broke down.
Percy decided to explain "George, please. Maybe we can talk later. Relax."
"Relax? Who are you to say that? Why does it bother you? You stayed away from our family for nearly three years! You fought with Dad, insulted Mom by closing the door on her face and even returned your Christmas presents without opening them! You thought only you were right, siding with the ministry! You thought we were wrong! Why did you return, then?"
"George!" Angelina tried to intervene. But George went on, "Percy, I can never forgive you! Fred died after you came back!"
"Yes, but I was helpless. The wall collapsed on him.." Percy started but George, now standing, interrupted him, "You know what, Percy? You should have died instead of Fred! You don't deserve any of this!" and angrily stormed away but not before Percy bent his head and said, "Yeah, I too wish I had died instead of Fred!". Percy too went away. Everything was so sudden that everybody was speechless. It happened so quickly that nobody could intervene either.
Kingsley tried to comfort Mr Weasley by asking him to stay strong, and left due to lack of words. All the guests had departed when there was a loud noise, something like a trumpet. George and Percy came back into the living room to investigate. The sound came from the direction of Fred's photo.
Chapter 3: The choice.
There was an apparition of a tall and slim figure which was silver and spoke in a child's voice. It stood between Fred's photo and Angelina. In a clear voice, as though reading a speech, it said, "Fred's death has made an impact on all of you and I can see that. I have an offer to make. Fred can be brought back to life!"
Everybody's faces lit. They were delighted but the silver figure spoke as though it had never stopped. "However, there is a condition. If Fred is to be brought back to life, one of those who have his blood must come with me. In other words, one of you die if Fred is brought back."
Everybody spoke at once. Mr Weasley said "Take me! I'm old and useless! But my son should live!" Mrs Weasley said, "Are you mad? You're the head of the family! Take me, instead! But let my son live!". "Molly, the children need you! I can die!" "Arthur, the children equally need you! Besides, you're a breadwinner while I..". "No, Molly! I will offer myself to death. But never let you die!". "Arthur, you think I'll let you die? I'd rather offer myself to death!"
Bill cried "Take me instead! I'm permanently scarred but Fred was handsome. Let my brother live!" but Fleur snapped, while Mr and Mrs shouted, all in unison "No! Bill, you have to stay alive!"
Fleur cried "I cannot live without you! If you die, you'll have to see my death first!"
Charlie had sat straight on his place by then, and immediately said, "I am single. Take me instead!" Mr and Mrs Weasley screamed "No!" at the top of their lungs, but then George said, "I'm ready to die. I've lost one ear and am not attractive. I think Fred should live instead of me so take me instead!" Mr and Mrs Weasley started shouting hysterically "What's wrong with you? Stop it!".
Percy calmly said, "I don't deserve to live, I don't deserve the love and affection. So, I should die. George was right, I should have died under that instead of Fred." There was a mini silence before Mr and Mrs Weasley cried in unison, "No, don't!". George told Percy, "Perce, I'm sorry. I was angry. But I really don't want you dead!"
Ron and Ginny cried in unison, "Take me!" and then Ron said, "Me, not Ginny!" while Ginny said, "Me, not Ron!" Hermione and Harry then joined Mr and Mrs Weasley scream out "No!" to both of them.
Harry said, "Ron, you're my best friend! I can't think of living if you're dead. Ginny, you're the love of my life and I can't bear to see you dead!". He heard Hermione tell Ron, "Ginny, you're my friend and the youngest member of the family. Ron, my love, I cannot see you die!" while Mr and Mrs Weasley shouted "None of you are going to die! Stop this! And you, take me! No, not you!"
All this havoc had happened within the first few seconds of the silver substance making the proclamation. Everybody, by now, were shouting at one another, arguing that the other person shouldn't die.
The silver apparition said, 'Stop!' at one point.
Chapter 4: The Conclusion.
The silver apparition said "It was touching to see how each one of you are willing to die so that Fred lives. I am so impressed, but do give this a thought. I cannot take one of you randomly. Besides, even if I bring Fred back to life, think about his reaction the instant he finds out that one of you died so that he lives. He will eventually know anyway as one of you would be dead."
"Fred will never like the idea of having to live at the cost of another family member's death. It is hard, but you'll have to swallow the bitter truth. Fred remains a memory."
Saying so, it disappeared while everyone burst into tears. Percy would never be able to forgive himself completely. George's life would never be the same, in fact none of their lives would ever be the same.