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Chapter 3

It was scary to Fred the way they had been so in sync with each other. He wasn't sure why he had run away, it seemed only a natural reaction to an unknown voice, but these were two voices that he was very familiar with. Both were voices that were heard so regularly in the Burrow that they had become part of the family. He remembered now the emptiness that seemed to surround Lupin soon after Sirius had died. He remembered that when Tonks was not in the room there was a sadness that crept into his eyes. He remembered the pain he had seen a little while ago in George's eyes and recognized it now as the same pain that could often be found in Lupin's.

He had only a few memories of Dumbledore's office. It was rare that he and George be sent there for punishment instead of to McGonagall. That day, somewhere in the third year, their offense had been greater. Fred couldn't even remember it though, there had been so many. What he did remember was something that Dumbledore said. The man was a lot calmer than McGonagall, but more frightening. George had tried to make a joke and Fred remembered stepping on his brother's foot in warning. It didn't seem right, to kid in the presence of Dumbledore, it seemed almost disrespectful. Fred was always the one with the boundaries, the one that stopped George when it was time. How would George do without him? Or rather, how would Fred do without George?

The thing that stuck out about that meeting with Dumbledore was its ending. George skipped straight out the door and Fred sauntered behind him, taking his time. It was because of this that Dumbledore's last words were only heard by F red. "You know, in all my years in Hogwarts I have seen many a pair of troublemakers, but none that functioned quite as smoothly. In fact, the two of you seem to blend into one person in the eyes of the teachers and even the other students. I have not seen such a bond since–" He did not complete the statement. Or perhaps he did and Fred simply could not remember. He no longer needed to remember however, he had seen it for himself. Lupin and Sirius, Moony and Padfoot; it was funny how Fred and George had functioned so like the Marauders they tried to copy.

There was something more though, more than just the brotherly bond he had seen, that was frightening Fred. It was the prospect of that which lay ahead. He was standing now behind George, amongst the crowd that moved slowly out of the castle to see the spectacle that walked towards them. Fred had not been given a proper explanation. In his place, George would have reached a point of great frustration, trying desperately to hold himself together. But Fred was the calmer twin, and he knew that the full story would only present itself to him when the time was right. For now the information Sirius and Lupin had given him would suffice.

There was a duty that Harry had to complete, and Fred understood that now. He understood that Harry hadn't gone into the forest to end his life; he had done it because it was his only option. He did not know why Harry had only one option, but he knew not to ask. At the front of Fred's mind now was the issue that presented itself to him.

"You remember how walking through a ghost always felt so cold? That's because they absorb the energy around them. It's the only way for them to maintain a visible form. You cannot be seen by the others because you are not a ghost. There is not enough energy from your fear to turn you into a ghost." Lupin had a way of explaining things that made them sound so obvious, that made Fred feel so stupid. He wasn't sure why Lupin was telling him all this or what it meant at all. Fred was still busy processing what Sirius had just revealed, that he in fact was Padfoot and Lupin was Moony. The origins of the names Fred didn't know, but once again he knew that he would find out in due time. But the question remained, why this sudden lesson in ghosts?

"So if I'm not a ghost, then what am I?"

"Well you're exactly what Remus is, what I am; you're a spirit."

"You're telling me then, that because I am not a ghost but am rather a spirit, I have to leave?"

"Well my boy that's certainly necessary – " said Sirius

"– But not yet, you can stick around for some time if you'd like. Take care of any unfinished business you might have." Lupin gave him a knowing smile

Fred nodded solemnly. He wasn't sure if he could be of any help in the battle itself. He could not touch anyone, could not affect them in any way, but he knew that he had to stick around. There were things left to say, bad decisions that needed to be corrected, and he would have to find a way to do it all while he had the chance.

The approaching figures were more pronounced now; Fred recognized Hagrid holding what looked like a baby in his hands. He knew it wasn't a baby though, he knew it would be Harry's limp and lifeless body. He searched around for Harry's spirit in the crowd. Was he still back in the forest? Were his parents hugging and holding him, trying to cling on to the child whose life they had missed out on?

A cry went out from somewhere at the front of the crowd, whispers carried the message of what they were seeing.

"It's Harry, I think he's injured"

"No it can't be,"

"It is…"

"NOOO"

In a sudden rush, a red streak swept through the crowd and out at the front towards the approaching group. A small group of boys rushed forward to hold her back, Fred amongst them. He hugged his sister, knowing that she could not feel it, knowing that he could not feel it either. He looked into her brown eyes, opened wide in horror, and he whispered to unhearing ears "It's going to be alright Ginny, don't you worry."

The crowd was crumbling. Some were hardly able to stand, others cried out in agony, and most stared. They stared as if watching a storm as it made its way to them, their faces horror-stricken and their throats dry. But Fred saw only one thing.

George was standing only a few meters away from him, turning and grabbing for his twin, forgetting momentarily that he would not find Fred there. Then he froze. He stared directly in the direction of Fred's spirit as it floated towards him. The world seemed to freeze. Fred wasn't sure if his brother could see him, but he knew that something was happening. George could feel his presence. The brothers, always inseparable, rarely ever leaving each other's sides, were now in two different worlds. But even then, George could feel a presence near him. He reached out his hand, not really expecting anything to happen, and felt in it a cold breeze. Fred was there, George was sure of it. But in that moment, the crowd exploded.

Cheers were coming from every direction and George turned to find that Harry was standing face to face with Voldemort, very much alive. The crowd surged forward and George was carried by the people around him who walked straight through Fred. There was fire in the air and George jumped into battle, passing off his encounter with his brother as a part of his imagination. This was war, there was no time for goodbyes.