Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments)
Thanatology: Laid to Rest
Task #13: Write someone deciding how they would like to be laid to rest
Warning: Character death.
How would I like to be laid to rest?
This was a question that Fred Weasley never thought he would be asking himself yet here he was questioning just that.
Voldemort had reigned terror throughout the year while Snape ruled over Hogwarts with an iron fist. Death Eaters were waiting to invade Hogwarts, the Slytherin students were locked away, and many students were hidden for safety.
"You nervous, Fred?" George asked as the twins stood on top of one of the many towers in the castle.
"A little," Fred admitted. "Hey, George?" He peeked over at his younger twin.
"Yeah?"
Taking a shaky breath, the the older twin said, "In case anything happens, I want to share how I would want to be buried."
"Fred-"
"Just in case," Fred insisted. "We're Gred and Forge, we will never be separated."
Exhaling sharply at how serious his twin was being, George nodded to encourage him to go on.
"First, I would like to be buried under a spruce tree," the older twin instructed. "I would like an u-no-poo in my casket."
This caused George to chortle despite the seriousness on the conversation. Leave it to Fred to throw some humor in.
"I don't want any somber family in black," Fred continued. "Wear the brightest colors you can imagine, I would like to everyone be laughing instead of crying. None of that 'Now I lay me down to sleep' stuff." He laughed. "Merlin, mum would probably have to be put in a body-bind curse until the end." He watched the dome protecting the castle shimmer.
"Anything else?" George inquired.
"Instead of flowers, I would like boxing telescopes," Fred stated. "I don't want to be mourned because I'm gone, I want our family and friends to be happy for the life I had."
"That's deep," George commented.
Before George could share his plans, the barricade collapsed and Voldemort and his followers stormed in. The twins immediately sprang into action.
The battle was a blur. Before George knew it, there was no more Fred and George Weasley. Now there was only George Weasley.
The now solo twin collapsed in tears over his deceased twin's body. Ginny placed a gentle hand on his shoulder as tears dripped down her face.
"He-he told me what he wants," George choked out to his family. "Right before everything went down, he told me. I-I just never imagined."
"Neither did we," Molly whispered gently. "Even as a boggart, I never pictured you two apart."
A week later, Fred Weasley was laid to rest beneath the shade of a spruce tree with a u-no-poo nestled in his arms. A man of his word, George wore his brightest purple suit despite his parents protest and had the crowd roaring with laughter during the eulogy.
"Until we meet again," George whispered as he tossed the first boxing telescope in the freshly dug hole. "Mischief managed."
A/N: I wanted to dedicated this to my brother. Gone way too soon, I miss you.