Direct quotes from the book are in italics.
Chapter 5
Suddenly, the relative quiet was shattered by the cold, high voice of Lord Voldemort. "You have fought valiantly … I command my forces to retreat immediately … dispose of your dead with dignity … treat your injured …Harry Potter … I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest …one hour…"
Bill, Percy and George pulled apart and looked at each other. The distant bangs and screams had stopped abruptly as Voldemort spoke. Now they were replaced by a buzz of voices. Distantly, they heard Minerva McGonagall's voice raised in command: "Take the injured to the Great Hall. We'll see to them there. The dead too." Bill turned to Percy, aware of what the three of them now had to do. "Perce, where..?" He didn't need to say more. Percy pointed silently, and led Bill and George to the alcove where he and Harry had hidden Fred's body.
George broke down completely when he saw Fred. He pulled his twin into his arms, his whole body racked with sobs. Bill and Percy stood back, knowing that they could not help George right now, and that he needed these few minutes alone with Fred.
"Bill," Percy whispered, "We can't just walk into the Great Hall with him. I mean, if Mum and Dad are there… They won't know unless they've seen Ron and the other two, and I don't know where they went." Bill nodded slowly, realising that Percy was right. "Bloody hell, Percy, what are we going to say to them? How do we tell Mum?" His voice cracked again at the thought of his parents' reaction. "I'll do it," said Percy, unexpected determination in his voice, but Bill knew this was one task he could not ask his brother to undertake. He was the oldest: this was his job. He swallowed hard, rubbing the heels of his hands into his eyes to stop the tears. "No Perce, I have to do this. I have to. I'll go now and find them. And Ginny." The mention of his baby sister's name brought home to Bill, as nothing else had done, the enormity of their loss. Ginny had idolised the twins, been a willing follower of many of their schemes, the victim of many jokes, but always tagging along whenever they would have her. "I'll go now," he repeated, as firmly as he could manage. "You and George bring Fred."
Percy saw the look in his oldest brother's eyes, and knew from experience that this was one of those times when arguing with him would be fruitless. "Okay," he said, giving Bill a brief hug, before turning back to where George was huddled in the alcove, clinging to Fred's body as he himself had done earlier. Bill saw Percy crouch down and put a hand on George's shoulder, speaking quietly to him. Then, telling himself that he had a job to do, he turned and made his way as quickly as he could towards the Great Hall.
There were groups of people everywhere, some tending to the dead and injured, others just standing looking stunned and uncertain. Bill heard snatches of conversation as he passed: "Remus Lupin's dead. Dolohov got him" "What happened to Flitwick? Does anyone know?" "I saw Harry Potter – I'm sure it was him." "Oh no, not Tonks too? That poor baby…" "One of the Weasley twins, someone said, I don't know which one…" Bill hurried his pace, pushing his way unceremoniously through the crowds. He didn't want his parents to hear this from anyone but him.