Dis is JK's universe, I'm jes tha garbage man!

Chapter Notes: This is the first chapter I have written from scratch for a month or so. I hope my skills haven't atrophied LOL! For those of you that are having palpitations I have the first chapter of B.B.S. done but it's been in the works for a while now. This chapter just flowed, I guess I've been thinking of some of these concepts since we learned of Fred's death in DH. This wont be the last chapter there are two or three to go, so please don't speculate or ask...okay? Enjoy this as a Christmas present from me to you...

so Merry Christmas!

Bart

When we last left our story...

Suddenly the roar of power stopped. Harry and Ginny fell to the ground all wrung out for breath.

The beautiful Sorceress hissed when she saw the sword. She immediately smiled and became even more compelling. Ron found himself smiling at her. Percy was weaving on his feet, wavering.

"You can not destroy that book Percival Weasley. Think of your brother, of your family. It is, like you confided in me, impossible for them to go on without him. You destroy my book, I can not bring him back for you. Think of your family.

Percy smiled at her grimly. "I am."

He leaned and pressed the point home. There was a wave of power exploding from the book that hurtled Percy away. Morganna disappeared with a screech and the bubble that had been holding them back blew outward in a ring of amethyst energy knocking them all back.

Darkness...

Now, Somewhere in-between...

AfterMagic

Chapter6

Goodbye

Percy's P.O.V.

"Peeerrrrcy..."

"Go away George, I'm resting my eyes," Percy grumbled.

"No you're not. You're dying you dumb prat."

"So what! I'm tired, leave me alone," Percy shot back.

"So what? I've spent weeks trying to save your hide, you ungrateful git. You are not going to die now! Open your eyes and talk to me. Now Weatherby!"

Percy rolled away from the voice. "Save me? You've been curled up in a Firewhiskey bottle for weeks, George, I'm shocked you could even find your trainers in that mess!"

"Percy! Don't you even know your own brother? How can I drink? I'm kind of a bit dead..."

Percy's eyes shot open. All he saw was white. He was lying on something indescribably soft, he was wearing dress robes. He felt comfortable, and clean and suddenly joyous. He sat up slowly in this strange lethargy, and rubbed his eyes.

He looked at where the voice was emanating from. Sitting on a bench with an achingly familiar grin plastered on his face was...

"Fred!" Percy exclaimed. He crossed what was a couple of feet, but felt like miles. Percy was speechless as he grasped his lost brother's fore arms. The freckles where all there, the blue eyes sparkled with mirth and mischief as always. Fred nodded like he was reading Percy's mind. "Yes it's me." He indicated the empty spot on the bench beside him.

Percy settled into it rather heavily, well it didn't seem to be padded but it was soft under him.

Percy looked around him as shapes formed out of the nebulous mist. He recognized the incoming and outgoing Floo fireplaces. The tall massive columns, and a large fountain, but it was one with the old statues that were destroyed the night of the battle when Harry and his friends stormed the Department of Mysteries. It was a version of the Ministry Arboretum, but it was incredibly larger, but somehow more personable and intimate.

"We're at the Ministry?" Percy said with wonder.

Fred chuckled, "Is that where we are? Only you would view this as jumping off point for your life. Mine was the Orchard at home, Uncle Bilius says hi by the way. He seems a little less fun, though, not as likely to pull objects out of his..."

"Am I dead?" Percy interrupted. He needed to know, and well he didn't want to hear about that particular incident, even if he was beyond the veil.

"No, this is an in-between place, Perce. Your fate is still being decided." Fred said gravely.

Percy looked at him curiously. "By who?"

Fred suddenly looked more serious than he had ever looked in Percy's memory. "By you, of course."

Percy shook his head adamantly, "No. I want to come with you Fred. Go ahead and tell whomever is in charge that I'm ready."

Fred sighed wearily. "You just think you are Percy. I have somethings to show you first." He flourished his arms at the air and some images began appearing from the mist. Fred smirked, "I didn't really have to do that but that looked more impressive didn't it."

Percy gave his brother the look he deserved, then turned back and watched as the objects became more focused."

He watched as Harry, Hermione, Angelina, and his family organized and set out to rescue him. He watched the final climatic battle with Morganna, and saw the risk they took on his behalf. Then afterward he was a spectator as they stirred in the burned grass, and called to one another. Then watched as they realized that Percy hadn't replied. They all rushed to his side, calling his name and trying to get him to stir. George picked his brother up in his arms. "I'll apparate him to St. Mungos, I've been there more often than you lot.' He turned in place, and apparated. Harry nodded, "Ron, you and Hermione get that sword back, I don't want us to run afoul of anymore Arthurian legends today, thank you!" Ron nodded Hermione grabbed his hand. Harry and Ginny followed George, apparating with a crack. They all arrived in the waiting room of St. Mungos. Molly and Arthur had already had Healers standing by for Percy. She was white and being supported by Arthur as she watched her son, still unconscious being levitated back to the Healing Room. They stopped as a pretty little assistant healer asked them kindly, to let them do their best, to wait patiently. Percy saw his mom bristle a moment, but the little witch was not intimidated in the slightest, but nodded more firmly to the waiting area. Molly nodded and they joined the rest of the family. Suddenly Charlie burst out of the visitor's Floo shortly followed by an older, fastidious but formidable looking wizard who straightened his glasses back on his face gave the family a nod and made his way back with a confident familiarity. Charlie had to sat down, he was all in for breath as he collapsed into a chair. "That's Healer Rom Velasque," he gasped, "he's the best Dark Spell damage doctor in the world. At least that's what I'm told. Hard to find though. Tracked him down in Poland. He gets called in on the worse cases. He's known here at St. Mungos, as well." They all exchanged worried looks and settled in, huddled together. They were joined shortly by Ron and Hermione.

Fred flicked a hand and the scene changed. Fred never looked at the images he just watched Percy with an amused smile.

The new setting was of Healing Room. The walls were lined with potions pre-mixed and a full stock of ingredients and paraphernalia
to brew more if necessary. There were all sorts of amulets and artifacts on a table to the left. They had Percy's still form in a clean robe. He looked like he had been Scourgified skillfully, his hair was carefully combed by some kind hand. The Head Healer, a tall grave looking man with smile lines was waving an amulet over Percy and shook his head when he looked at the results. He turned to that same pretty little witch. "I don't know what this is, Audrey. This is beyond me. We've taken care of everything possible, but he is still dying." Suddenly the door opened and in walked that elder Wizard Charlie brought. "Healer Velasque?" the Head Healer exclaimed. Velasque nodded. He pulled out his own bag and rummaged. They all confirmed what Charlie said by backing away and giving him space with no challenge. He pulled out several objects made of bone, and a dark crystal which he laid on Percy's chest. It glowed a deep red. He grunted and nodded to himself. Then he pulled a flower out of his bag that looked freshly picked and placed it the same place on Percy's chest. It wilted and turned a brown shade. "This is a very subtle and clever entropy spell, I'm afraid." he informed quietly in a slight accent. His voice was softer that Percy would have thought. The Assistant Healer Audrey shot a look to the Head Healer who had paled and gasped. "I'm still in school, can I ask what that is exactly?" Velasque nodded. "It is a spell that absorbs energy. The energy that is being absorbed is the power of the will to live. It wouldn't be noticeable on a healthy person, they have a continuing supply of will to supplant the loss, but to someone vulnerable and depressed, it would be fatal. This young man is in grave danger." She nodded. "How do we treat it?" Velasque looked down on his patient kindly, "We don't, he has to decide to live. If he's a fighter, he'll succeed. There is some more Black Magic here that I can treat, but it's really up to him at this point." He leaned down and spoke into Percy's ear. "Your Brother searched all over Eastern Europe for me, young man, he told me that he would pay me any price to come here and help you. I told him devotion like that should be rewarded, he has real grit and determination that one. If you came from the same roots, you should beat this thing handily. If not, then you will disappoint me, so fight. I do not lightly lose to death." He stood back up straight and gave them some instructions for potion to mix, giving them a rare ingredient from his bag. He waved Audrey over, "Talk to him, hold his hand, let him feel the pull of humanity." She nodded and came over, she held his hand awkwardly but then she said, "I met your Mum and Dad, they love you very much. She nearly hexed our entire guard wizard staff until we took her seriously! I'd like to meet a young man who inspires that much love and effort. So live won't you?"

The image faded.

Percy and Fred sat in silence. Percy knew Fred was waiting for him to speak. Fred seemed to have infinite patience now.

"I had no idea," Percy finally remarked.

Fred sighed. "We left you out didn't we?"

Percy turned to stare at Fred. "What do you mean?"

Fred counted off fingers. "Bill had Charlie, George had me, Ron had Harry, but before that, he followed us around, and Ginny had mum. You were the book-smart, tattle-tale, you seemed so self-sufficient we never thought about how lonely you were."

Percy shook his head but realized he was crying. Fred put an arm around his shoulders. He whispered directly into Percy's ear. "You sat Twelve NEWT's, Percy. You rose to be an aid to the minister himself before you were twenty-two, all this, to prove you were a Weasley. You never had to prove anything, brother. It was our fault that you thought you had to."

Percy sat there for what might have been years, or a few seconds, he couldn't say a word. Finally he was able to choke out, "We miss you Freds, you know that, right?"

Fred nodded, "Yeah of course, I am irreplaceable after all." He cracked that Fred smile, the one nobody else in the family seemed to have. Not even George. Percy had to smile back.

Fred stood, and Percy stood with him. "I have to be going now. I have things I have been putting off while trying to get you lot straight. I think my work is done. You are going to live...right? I don't want to see you again too soon. I don't need someone quoting rules at me all eternity.

"Besides," he said elbowing Percy in the ribs lightly, "I think that pretty little healer has taken a liking to you, at least as long as you're still unconscious, you might have a chance before you wake up."

Percy nodded with a sad smile.

They embraced.

"Bye, Perce."

Percy hugged him even harder, "Bye, Fred."

Character Notes: Even among twins there are some characteristics that separate them. I have read so few fics that have Fred and George not being seperate entities with things different. The Weasley twins were two guys that looked alike, that doesn't mean that they were the same person. My take on Fred was that he was the schemer and initiate, and George was the brains and the talker that made it a reality, they worked and dovetailed together but they had two different skill sets. George is better equipped to settle down as a successful business owner, but I guess Fred is always going to be eternally young...I can see why JK made the choice she made. It still sucks though! LOL!