Disclaimer: All characters found in J.K Rowling's Harry Potter series. All the characters you've never heard of before and the plot belong to me.
Author's Notes: Ah it's so nice to have time to work on this story and get the next chapter out as soon as possible. I honestly have dreams about this darned story. I really love this story even when it is a struggle to get the characters to cooperate. (They all have minds of their own.) I really enjoy knowing that there are a few people out there that like the story as well, it makes me feel even better about writing it. I just want to say thank you again to all my reviewers again and just quickly mention the new reviewers.
Ashliegh- Thank you, I feel sorry for George too, I love him to bits but he'll do alright for the most part ;D. Sadly, he couldn't run into Angelina at Diagon Alley (or else I wouldn't have a story… eep!) Thanks for the time you took to review and I hope you continue to read the story and I hope you like the way it goes.
Kyra- I'm glad you liked the chapter, I wasn't too sure about it for a while but I feel that I got it to a place that I liked. I'm glad you liked the description of the gang, I was worrying that it would become tedious; but I felt that it was necessary and tried to keep it as painless as possible :D
RK-Oh my I think I'm probably blushing to my roots. Thank you for your praise. I'm really glad that you like the plot and the story and I do plan to continue as quickly as I'm able. I'm honored that you felt my story was worthy of a review and hope you continue to enjoy the story in the future!
Thank you again everyone who reviewed, it makes me inexplicably joyful! Enjoy the next chapter and have a good day.
When you're gone chapter 6
Four weeks. Four weeks had passed since George had gone. Four weeks since there had been laughter in the Weasley household. Fred was going mad with worry. He had let himself get lulled into the dream his parents had created for themselves; the naïve fantasy that they would find George. That he would come home and they would all be happy. Fred had faced reality – George was never coming back. Fred knew that but he couldn't seem to force himself to accept that he would never see his brother again. George was never going to wake him up early to play a prank on Percy again. Fred didn't even know if George was alive – he liked to think that he was, because twins should know that sort of thing.
Three days ago his parent's dream world had shattered. The Minister of Magic, Fudge, had owled his mum stating that George was nowhere in the wizarding world, and aside form the charm that had been cast the night he went missing, George had not used any magic. Three days ago, Mrs. Weasley had spoken to Fred for the first time in three weeks. The silence had been punishment, a daily reminder to Fred that this situation was entirely his fault. A week after George had disappeared; Fred had finally told his parents what had been so horrible as to drive George away. Mr. Weasley had been enraged, and had left for the evening, saying he couldn't look at Fred. Mrs. Weasley had clamped her hands over her mouth and gasped. She hadn't spoken a word to him after that. Bill had looked at him in disbelief and Charlie had punched him. Fred still had the fading bruise on his face.
Fred had been forgiven three days ago when the hope of ever seeing George alive again was crushed. Mrs. Weasley has decided life was too precious, and in fear of losing her remaining middle son, had crushed Fred into a hug, weeping her apologies. Fred felt that he should still be receiving punishment. He didn't deserve kindness, George should be here yelling at him and telling him what a prick he was being.
Fred was pulled out of his recollections by Ron's knock on the door. He looked up from his place on George's bed; with an irritated glare he snapped, "What?"
"Mum says to come for breakfast, and no staying in your room," Ron replied dutifully.
"I'm not hungry." Fred grouched.
"You have to come or Dad will forcefully remove you from this room." Ron countered sternly.
Fred glared hatefully at his younger brother before extracting himself from the bed. Following Ron to the kitchen, Fred noticed an added tension in the house. "What's going on?" He demanded. Ron shrugged and hurriedly moved his eyes away from Fred.
When Fred reached the table, he could almost cut the tension with his wand. He looked over at Mr. Weasley who was actively avoiding his gaze. Mrs. Weasley looked guilty. Ron, Ginny and Percy were looking at him with expressions of regret and sympathy.
"What is going on?" Fred asked frustrated.
"Now Fred, don't be upset. Promise me you won't act rashly, rather you'll think this through and see the logic." Mr. Weasley began.
"Think what through? What's going to upset me?" Fred was cautious now, worry screaming through his veins.
"You're mother and I think it would be best if we moved George's bed and things from your room." Mr. Weasley looked at the table.
Fred sat up straight and stopped pushing the food on his plate around with his fork. He looked first at his mother, then at Mr. Weasley; dropping his fork, he shot out of his chair towards the stairs. Ron had anticipated his move and dived into Fred's legs, pulling him to the floor and preventing escape. Mr. Weasley came over and grabbed Fred's arms, pinning him against his chest while Fred struggled viciously.
"Now Fred, calm down. This is for the best." Mr. Weasley pleaded.
"He's not dead, he's coming home. I know he is." Fred screamed desperately; all Fred's early musings of facing reality flew out of his head. Concentrating on nothing but getting to his room and saving George's belongings, Fred thrashed violently. Bill and Charlie appeared in the fireplace and moved into the kitchen, causing Fred's struggles to increase.
"Are we all set?" Bill asked solemnly.
Mrs. Weasley nodded through her tears; Percy placed his hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "No, NO! You can't do this. George will be home soon and he'll hate this." Fred yelled savagely.
Charlie's eyes went misty and his voice cracked slightly when he began to speak. "No worries Fred, we're just putting his stuff in the cellar until he returns." The hitch in Charlie's voice fueled Fred's suspicion.
"Why bother moving it at all? You'll just have to move it back." Fred asked suspiciously.
Mrs. Weasley hurried over to Fred and enveloped him in an awkward hug. "Oh baby, Georgie isn't coming back. I know you miss him, I do too; but you heard Mr. Fudge – he's no where in the wizarding world."
"So? He's in the Muggle world then! How can you give up on him?" Fred screamed.
"Fred he wouldn't have survived the Muggle world this long. You know they don't tolerate different folk." Mrs. Weasley buried her face in Fred's robes.
"It's not that we've given up entirely son – but we've searched exhaustively; we just have to accept that George might be…" Mr. Weasley couldn't finish his sentence, his arms sagged, loosening his hold on Fred.
Fred pulled from his grasp and flung himself away from his family. Errol flew in the kitchen window and landed on the table. Fred eyed the stack of letters, noticing the official Hogwarts' seal on the top. Fred was struck with a thought and he raced towards the table.
"I can prove it to you! I can prove he's alive," Fred mumbled excitedly as he tore through the stack of letters, "They wouldn't send him a letter if he weren't still alive!" Fred leafed through the stack confidently. Ginny, Ron, Fred, George's would be next, and then they would believe him. To Mr. Arthur Weasley… 'Where's his letter? I must have skipped past it!' Fred frantically shuffled through the stack of letters; panic crept up his spine.
"It's here somewhere, I know it is! It has to be… I just – I can't. He's not… NO!" Fred fell to the floor clutching the three Hogwarts' envelopes, tears pouring from his eyes. Mrs. Weasley reached out to him, but he scurried out of the way.
"No. He's not dead – it's a mistake." Fred denied. Bill turned away from the sight of his younger brother, clenching his eyes tight against the painful display. Charlie dropped his head to his hands and slouched against the wall. Percy muttered an excuse about being late for work and fled past Ron and Ginny who stood frozen in their places. As Fred's sobs turned form angry gasps to helpless whimpers, Mr. Weasley motioned for Bill to go upstairs. Nodding in understanding, Bill placed his had on Charlie's shoulder; the two went upstairs to begin the painful task of moving their little brother's belongings into storage.
Fred had worn himself into a troubled sleep. Now, being rocked gently by Mrs. Weasley, he shifted restlessly, moaning out George's name.
"I'm scared Arthur, I just don't know how much more he can take." Mrs. Weasley whispered.
"I know Molly, I know. We'll all get through this somehow." Mr. Weasley sounded tired and haggard.
"I miss my twin babies. I want my son back." Mrs. Weasley choked.
"Me too luv."
When Fred awakened, his eyes felt raw and itchy. 'As though I've been crying...' The events of the morning slammed into his mind and Fred flew into a sitting position, eyes wildly scanning his surroundings. Fred knew he was in his room. The carpet was the same, the wall posters were the same, and the bedspread was the same. So Fred knew this was the room George had shared with him; the room where they had grown up. It didn't feel like it though. Fred's lone bed had been moved to the center of the room in an attempt to fill the emptiness that now clung everywhere. There was a large gap where George's dresser had been and Georges bedside table had been placed alongside the bed, opposite his own, to even out the area. Fred hated it there; Fred hated this new room. This cozy hell, that felt empty and stung Fred's heart.
Swinging himself off the bed, Fred wandered around; touching items that belonged to his brother. Snatching up George's favorite childhood teddy bear, Fred hugged it to his chest. Kneeling down on all fours, Fred rested his head against the thick carpet. For the twenty-ninth day in a row Fred, begged the higher powers to keep his brother safe, alive and healthy. Before getting up to start his day, Fred added in one more plea to the sky above him.
"Please bring him home."
TBC
