Peter Pan

It was just after the Battle of Hogwarts. George lay curled up in a ball on his bed, knees drawn up to his chest, in his own personal safety bubble. He never wanted to move again, he wanted just to lie here and sleep forever, just like Fred was doing.

"George?" Someone knocked on the door.

"Leave me alone." He said in a voice thick with tears.

The door opened anyway and Ginny walked in. She sat next to George on the bed and said quietly, "He was my brother, too."

He was my TWIN! George thought. But he didn't say it out loud.

"Fred reminds me of Peter Pan." Said Ginny suddenly.

"What?" said George, unable to see what a Muggle fairytale had to do with anything.

"Hermione told me that Peter Pan was inspired by the author's brother falling through ice on a frozen pond and drowning. Their mum apparently took comfort in knowing he'll forever be a young, mischievous boy frozen in time. And even before this, you and Fred reminded me of Peter Pan. A couple of immature redheads who loved playing pranks and never wanted to grow up."

George sighed. "Can I just get some time alone, Ginny?" "Fine." Ginny sighed, suddenly looking a bit embarrassed.

But the second she closed the door. George thought about what she had said. She was right, really. Fred would never grow up and would always be nineteen, frozen in time. Then again, he supposed Fred would sort of like it. And the thought of Fred living in Neverland was kind of comforting. An image suddenly came to George's head, of Fred in a green Peter Pan costume, and George almost laughed. Fred looked so ridiculous in the outfit.

Thinking of Fred as Peter Pan did actually make him feel a bit better, and he dozed off. Still, he would never truly get over it. And as he dozed off he couldn't help wishing Fred would fly down and take him to Neverland with him.