A/N: Last chapter! Can't believe this is all over… anyway, I know you're all half excited, half dreading this chapter, so I won't keep you from it. But I just have to say one last massive, gigantic, enormous thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter: MaddyGervais, Dimcairien, SlyDevil. COOKIES, chocolateMnMs, midnightstar19, ncis-lady, Lamb, Aris1013, TeamGredAndForge, cutietrp, snitch-bewitch and sashafrazzle. You guys are just… truly amazing. The feedback I got was extremely touching, so thank you :D And I also have to say a special thanks to midnightstar19, MaddyGervais and chocolateMnMs who have followed this story from the very beginning. Thank you, you guys :) And thanks to everyone who had ever reviewed, really :)

Chapter 18

George was rummaging around in his backpack when he felt his leg heat up.

"What on earth?" He mumbled, reaching into his pocket where the heat was emanating from. His eyes widened as he pulled out the glowing fake gold galleon Hermione had given them way back in their seventh year when they were in the DA. The message across the galleon read 'Harry's back. We're fighting. Hogs Head now.'

"Fred!" George yelled, and the name had no sooner left his lips when Fred came dashing into the room.

"The DA," Fred panted, holding up his own glowing coin bearing the same message.

"I know." George replied, his eyes still wide.

"This is it George," Fred said, looking as shocked as George felt. "Harry's back. This is the final battle." They both stood still, staring at each other as they realised the full implications. The silence was broken as Lee came dashing into the room, clutching his own galleon.

"Guys! The DA…" his voice trailed off as he realised both Fred and George had already read the message.

"We need to let the Order know," George said, dragging his eyes away from Fred. "Lee, can you-"

"I'm on it," Lee replied and he rushed out of the room to their broadcasting area. George turned back to Fred who was still standing in the same spot, his eyes now fixated on the galleon, still glowing in his palm.

"Fred," George prompted and Fred slowly raised his head, his eyes dark.

"This is it, George," Fred repeated, voice slightly hoarse. George bit his lip as he approached Fred.

"We're going to be fine," he stated, knowing exactly what was lurking on Fred's mind. "Fred, listen to me. Everyone's going to be fine."

"Yeah," Fred replied, blinking a few times before his expression changed and he was back to his normal self, assertive and unafraid. "We need to get Ginny. She would have gotten the message too; we need to make sure she stays at home." George nodded in agreement, turning as Lee ran back into the room.

"Lee, we'll meet you at Hogs Head, alright? We have to go check on Ginny," George said hurriedly. Lee looked slightly startled at the turn of events but he nodded. Fred and George shot him a small smile before they disapparated together, appearing moments later outside Muriel's house. George stumbled immediately, his vision already growing blurry, but Fred caught him before he fell, gripping George tightly. George could feel Fred's heart racing against his chest, but Fred's face was passive, refusing to reveal the fear he was feeling. Taking a few deep breaths, drawing on Fred's strength, George eventually managed to stand on his own, ignoring the slight tremble in his legs. Nodding at Fred, the two headed towards the house.

"Ginny!" George yelled as they ran through the front door. A second later, they heard footsteps trampling down the staircase, and a red head burst into the room.

"Fred, George! The DA-" Ginny began.

"We know." Fred and George said together, holding out their DA coins which were still glowing.

"Harry's back, he's back at Hogwarts," Ginny rushed on.

"Ginny, we know. We got the message too," George said, slightly amused.

"Oh right, sorry. It's just…. I haven't seen Harry in such a long time." Ginny blushed slightly.

"Not to mention Ron or Hermione," Fred reminded her a little pointedly. Her cheeks flushed further.

"Of course, them as well. I haven't forgotten," Ginny said crossly, folding her arms.

"Well I should hope not, Ron's your brother after all," George replied, smirking sightly.

"Oh shut up. So are we going now?" Ginny asked enthusiastically.

"Ginny, you… you can't come with us," Fred said hesitantly, dreading Ginny's reaction.

"What do you mean? Of course I'm coming with you," Ginny replied dismissively.

"Ginny, mum will murder us if we take you along. You're underage-"

"Since when have either of you ever cared about being underage?" Ginny's nostrils flared, her hair seemed to crackle, and for an instant she looked so much like her mother that both Fred and George took a step back.

"You've both been thumbing the rules since before you could talk! Out of everyone in our family, I would think that I could at least count on you two!"

"It's not that Ginny-"

"I was in the DA too, remember? I still am. I can fight! I want to fight!"

It's going to be dangerous out there-"

"I don't care"

"We do! We don't want to lose you Ginny!"

"And I don't want to lose any of you," Ginny whispered, tears filling her eyes. "Please don't make me stay here alone. Please, I can't. Please."

Fred and George exchanged a glance before sighing simultaneously.

"Fine," Fred relented, and Ginny, now beaming, launched herself at her brothers.

"But you have to promise to do what we say and not put yourself into any positions of danger," George warned as Ginny released them, still grinning.

"Of course," she said without missing a beat. "Now let's go before we miss the whole thing!"

"Hang on, where are mum and dad?" Fred asked, noticing the house was completely empty.

"They went to visit Bill and Fleur. Muriel's asleep, before you ask," Ginny continued. "I've been bored out of my mind for days." Fred and George grinned as they left the house and stepped out into the field. Fred took Ginny's hand, seeing as she was unable to apparate yet, and George was hardly capable of apparating someone else with him. Nodding at George, Fred closed his eyes and the three apparated to Hogsmeade.

George doubled over as soon as his feet touched the ground, gasping. His body still wasn't used to apparating long distances in such a short time frame, and the nausea he had been fighting off since their first apparition before was threatening to make an appearance.

"George," he heard a voice say and suddenly a pair of arms were wrapping themselves around his chest, keeping him from sinking to his knees, and George felt a surge of gratefulness that Fred was with him. George bent his head forward, letting his forehead fall onto Fred's shoulder as he swallowed several times, forcing the nausea down.

"What's happening?" A female voice asked worriedly. Ginny.

"Nothing Ginny, it's fine," he heard Fred say, and George would have snorted if he hadn't been struggling to breathe. He needed to have a talk with Fred about coming up with convincing lies.

"Fred! George!" Someone hissed urgently from a nearby alley. George felt Fred stiffen as he looked up, before relaxing.

"Lee," Fred hissed back, and the sound of footsteps approaching reached George's ears. He made a move to stand upright on his own but regretted it immediately; pain flashed through his head, his vision swam and the nausea rose to his throat instantly. He immediately dropped to his knees, taking Fred with him.

"George!" He heard Ginny exclaim, followed by Lee who had just reached them.

"What happened?" Lee asked hurriedly, dropping to his own knees beside the twins.

"Just help me get him off the streets." Fred replied, determined to get George to safety before he explained anything. Ginny and Lee complied, Ginny slightly reluctantly, wanting to know what was wrong with George. Between the three of them they somehow managing to heave George, who didn't have the energy to help, into the side alley Lee had been hiding in.

George immediately slumped against the nearby wall, swallowing as he tried to fight off the nausea once more. Fred, who had never left George's side, moved to stand in front of George, still supporting him. George rested his heavy head on Fred's shoulder again, trying to even out his breathing which was still irregular. His hand automatically rose to grip Fred's shirt for comfort and support, fingers knotting themselves tightly into the fabric.

"Fred what the hell is going on?" Ginny asked, her voice wavering.

"It's George's ear. He's been getting better at apparating, but we've never had to apparate so far so many times before," Fred explained distractedly, tightening his hold as George whimpered softly into his shoulder.

"How long had this been happening?" Ginny demanded.

"A while," Fred replied, refusing to meet Ginny's eyes.

"And you never bothered to tell me? After swearing we wouldn't keep secrets from each other anymore? Fred, how could you-"

"Ginny, I don't think this is the best time," Fred hissed, his eyes dark with worry and frustration. Ginny bit her lip angrily but didn't reply. Suddenly, Lee's head shot up and his eyes widened.

"I can hear someone coming," he whispered and Fred and Ginny immediately sprung to action. Slinging George's arms around their shoulders, they stumbled to the end of the alley, reaching another street. They could hear heavy feet pounding behind them, angry voices approaching nearby. Fred quickly reached a hand into his pocket, pulling out several Decoy Detonators. He flung them behind him in several directions, ducking slightly as they exploded with a loud bang, releasing clouds of thick black smoke and effectively rendering the Death Eaters blind for a few moments.

"In here," Lee whispered urgently, holding open the door to the Hogs Head. Fred, George and Ginny rushed inside, Ginny releasing George the moment they were in to draw her wand and aim it at the door in case they were followed. Fred helped lower George into a chair, kneeling in front of his twin.

"Hey, how're you doing Georgie?" He asked quietly, hands resting on George's knees.

"Just… just give me a moment?" George responded weakly. Fred nodded immediately before standing, squeezing the back of George's neck gently to let George know he was still there. It took a few minutes, but eventually George rose to his feet, looking paler than normal, his hand still gripping the back of the chair tightly.

"You okay George?" Lee asked from where he was standing next to a large painting. Before George had a chance to reply, he was interrupted by another voice.

"You lot were meant to apparate straight into here, not alert the Death Eaters that there are more intruders," a furious voice grumbled. The four spun around to find an old man standing before them, with stringy grey hair, spectacles, and piercing blue eyes that immediately reminded George of Dumbledore.

"We got sidetracked Aberforth," Lee said apologetically. "There were Death Eaters after us-"

"Of course there were, they've cast a caterwauling charm around here, haven't they? They can detect whenever anyone's out on the streets after curfew." The old man looked irritated, but the harshness left his voice when he realised the harried state the occupants of the room were in. George was still incredibly pale and slightly shaky, Fred was almost beside himself with worry over George, Ginny was half furious at her brothers for hiding such a big secret while her other half desperately wanted to hug them, and Lee just looked incredibly stressed.

"How many more of you are coming?"Aberforth asked in a gruff voice. "I was planning on taking a kip, except you lot keep interrupting." Lee shrugged.

"No clue," he replied.

"Well I suppose you'll be wanting to get into Hogwarts then? You just missed a group who went in. Just step through that portrait there." Lee exchanged a look with Fred before hesitantly clambering onto the mantelpiece and approaching the portrait, which had swung open to reveal a large hole. Fred, George and Ginny approached the portrait too, each clambering in after Lee. Fred went last, helping his siblings over before climbing through himself. They headed down the dimly lit tunnel quickly, Fred still hovering close to George.

"George, are you okay?" Lee asked after a few minutes, looking at his friend in concern.

"Yeah," George replied with a weak smile.

"Is now the time to talk about it Fred?" Ginny interrupted angrily. She glared at Fred, unable to direct her ferocious look at George when he looked so peaky. Fred let out a wistful sigh before spreading his arms out.

"Do your worst," he replied. Ginny was only too happy to comply.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me! After we decided that we'd never keep important secrets from each other, I find out you've been hiding this from me? This kind of secret is considered important Fred! You're lucky I haven't hexed you yet, how could you hide this from me?"

"We know Ginny, but in our defence George had the problem before we made that promise." Fred pointed out.

"How does that make it any better?" Ginny asked shrilly. Lee, walking behind them, winced.

"Well the promise applied to-"

"Don't you dare try and worm your way out of this," Ginny said threateningly, wand clutched tightly in her hand.

"What Fred is trying to say Ginny," George interjected, elbowing his brother to make him shut up, "is that we're really sorry for not telling you. We didn't want you to worry about us, but we realise now that we should have just told you. And we promise to tell you everything from now on. Right Fred?"

"Right," Fred mumbled, rubbing his sore side. Ginny regarded her brothers for a moment before lowering her wand and flashing them a satisfied smile.

"Well good," she declared before turning around and resuming her brisk pace.

Not for the first time, George was exceptionally glad that Ginny's temper was similar to Fred's rather than his own. Fred and Ginny were quick to explode, but just as quick to forgive unlike George, who didn't get angry easily, but when he did it was a sight to behold. And then run away from as quickly as possible, according to his family members.

"I thought you were going to check on Ginny, not bring her along," Lee commented quietly with a raised eyebrow as he fell in line beside the twins once he was sure Ginny was not planning on hexing Fred. Ginny was now a few metres ahead, leading the way.

"Yeah, well you try saying no to her when she's all pouty and crying," Fred grumbled. Ginny turned and flashed him a grin. Lee shook his head.

"She's got you guys wrapped around her finger," he said, smirking.

"And she knows it too." George muttered, but he still grinned fondly. They continued walking in silence until they reached another door which swung open as they approached it, revealing a sea of faces staring back at them.

It seemed like minutes later, but in reality it was more like an hour when Fred and George found themselves assembled in the Great Hall with the rest of the school and the Order. Kingsley had just ordered students to assemble into groups, and Fred had volunteered himself and George to lead students who were to protect the passageways into the school.

George could feel his heart pounding within his chest from adrenaline. The Battle was about to begin, and the students and staff of Hogwarts were frantically arranging their defences. Younger students were being evacuated from the school while the older students prepared to fight.

"Fred and George, you take these students with you. Cover as many passages as you can," Kingsley ordered, gesturing to a bunch of sixth and seventh year students, as well as Lee, Oliver Wood, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell, their old Quidditch team mates.

"Got it. Alright guys, follow us," Fred said loudly, leading the way, George by his side. They made their way through the Entrance Hall and up the staircase, Fred and George discussing which passageways they needed to protect and delegating students to do so.

"Okay Angelina, you and Alicia take a few people and guard the one-eyed witch statue. I'm sure it won't take them long to find it." Fred instructed, recalling from memory the locations of each of the passageways leading out of- and into- the Castle.

"That's a secret passage?" Alicia asked, shocked. George grinned.

"Yeah."

Shaking their heads in disbelief, Angelina and Alicia left to find the statue, followed by several students, all of whom had their wands drawn in preparation.

"Ok, Whomping Willow is out," George said, counting the passageways on his fingers. "The passage behind the mirror on the fourth floor is out, unless they find a way to unblock it."

"Unlikely, but we should have it guarded just in case."

"What about the passageway behind the state of Gregory the Smarmy?" Lee asked.

"And the one on the seventh floor, behind that weird statue. Remember George?"

"Yeah. Okay, so Oliver, you and you three-" George pointed to three seventh year Ravenclaw's "-go guard the mirror on the fourth floor. You know the one?"

"Of course," Oliver replied, already heading that way. "Never knew it was a passageway though!"

"Well, there's a lot about Hogwarts that people don't know about," Fred replied with a grin.

"Alright, that leaves-"

"-Gregory the Smarmy-"

"-and the statue on the seventh floor." George finished.

Lee shook his head. "I will never get used to that," he informed them.

"Okay so who's going to take which statue?" Fred asked. George hesitated for a second before tugging Fred by the sleeve, leading him away from the rest of the crowd who were glancing around nervously.

"Fred, we should split up," George said regretfully. Fred looked at him in surprise.

"Why?" He asked, bewildered.

"Because both those passageways are extremely likely to get attacked. We're both good fighters; we need to be protecting both of them."

"No. George, no. If something happens-"

"I know. But we owe it to Hogwarts, Fred. When we decided we would fight, we both knew we would be putting our lives at risk."

"Yeah but we're meant to be fighting together George. Not separately," Fred argued.

"I don't want to split up Fred. But I think that we have to." George said quietly. Fred looked at him silently for a moment before moving back to the rest of the group.

"Okay, Katie, you're with George. You guys are guarding the statue on the seventh floor. Lee, you and me are guarding Gregory the Smarmy. The rest of you pick a group and go." Fred said loudly, and immediately the remaining students sorted into two groups and headed off in opposite directions. Lee and Katie remained behind, both staring at Fred and George, sensing a slight tension.

"Katie, I'll meet you up there, yeah?" George asked her quietly. She nodded, picking up the hint, and left. After a backward glance, Lee did the same, heading towards his post. George, biting his lip, approached Fred who had his back turned.

"Fred," George pressed.

"How am I supposed to look out for you if I'm not fighting with you?" Fred asked quietly, hands folded across his chest. George moved so he was facing Fred.

"I promise you I'll stay safe, Fred," he said encouragingly.

"It's a battle, George. People die," Fred replied harshly.

George winced, but didn't back down. "I won't." He said firmly.

"You can't know that," Fred shot back, his eyes hard.

"Fred," George pleaded. "You know I don't like this any more than you do."

Fred scoffed, but his expression grew softer. He unfolded his arms, letting George know that he wasn't going to argue anymore.

"How's your ear?" Fred asked, nodding his head towards the side of George's head.

"Manageable," George replied honestly. The loud explosions and constant shouting had started up the dull ringing in his head again, but he didn't think it would affect his fighting too much. A few students ran past them, wands drawn, apparently disregarding the rules and fighting despite their age.

"Who would have thought it would end like this?" George asked quietly, eyes following the students who couldn't have been more than fifteen.

"Don't say that," Fred murmured, bumping George's shoulder lightly. "It's not the end. Hopefully not, anyway. I mean really, our school of all places? After all the effort we put in to get out of here?" George grinned slightly, nodding. They both started as a loud shudder ran through the Castle, accompanied by yells from both inside and outside the walls of Hogwarts. From the sounds of things, the battle had already begun.

"We… we should go," Fred said quietly, his eyes darkening.

"Yeah," George agreed, but neither made a move to leave. Eventually George reluctantly took the initiative and turned to Fred with a feeble smile.

"I'll see you when it's all over?" He asked weakly. Fred stared at him for a moment before flinging his arms around George, fingers scrabbling to get a hold on George's jacket. George returned the embrace, resting his chin on Fred's shoulder, blinking back tears. He tightened his grip, trying to express him emotions through his embrace because everything he felt, every emotion coursing through his body, was too strong, too overwhelming to even attempt to describe through words. He felt Fred burrow his head into George's shoulder, trying to stop the choked sobs threatening to rise in his throat.

"George," Fred said quietly into George's ear, his voice wavering slightly. "I- you know I-"

"Yeah," George breathed, his own voice unsteady. "I know Fred. Of course I know. Me too."

"Good," Fred mumbled, the tip of his nose brushing against George's ear as he turned his head sideways, trying to hide his tears from the rest of the world.

They both clung to one another desperately, as though hoping that by doing so, they could somehow ensure they both made it out of the war alive. Eventually though they parted, George wiping his face with his sleeve, Fred sniffing. They stared at one another for a few moments wordlessly, knowing they had to part but both desperately wishing otherwise, and George was struck by how much things had changed in the past year. He and Fred would have run headfirst into a battle without any regard for their safety one year ago, but here they were, wishing beyond anything that they didn't have to fight, all too aware of what they had to lose.

"You be careful alright?" Fred finally said, furiously scrubbing at his face to hide any trace of his tears.

"Course I will," George replied dismissively, but Fred grabbed his arm.

"No, George I mean it. I-" Fred opened and closed his mouth several times, struggling to find the words before he sighed. "Just… just promise me you'll be careful out there," he said, his tone desperate.

George swallowed. "I will. I promise I will. You- you be careful too, yeah?" George asked, and Fred nodded solemnly. There was a pause, and suddenly George felt an overwhelming need to make Fred smile, because if his twin continued to look at him like that George wasn't sure he could remain in control of his emotions for much longer.

"Make sure you kick some Death Eater butt," George said, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"Oh I will. You know I will," Fred shot back, his smile lighting up his face momentarily, just as George had hoped. He turned to leave but hesitated, and George couldn't help but pull his twin into one last hug, pressing his lips chastely to the side of Fred's head for a moment as he clung desperately to Fred.

"Fine specimen of the male species we are," Fred joked lightly, voice drifting up from George's neck where his head was currently buried. George couldn't help but laugh as he released Fred, a hand still clutching Fred's shoulder. Another shudder echoed through the Castle, and there was a loud explosion from downstairs. George looked back at Fred, his heart pounding, and suddenly he didn't want Fred to go.

"I'll see you later George," Fred said, looking as reluctant to part as George felt. He gripped George's shoulder tightly for a second before flashing him a small grin and running down the corridor to find the rest of his group, leaving George to stare at his retreating back, hoping, wishing, praying that somehow he would see Fred again.

...The End

If you've made it this far, congratulations, you've reached the end of the story :) I thank you profusely for sticking with me through this, and I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

I hope you don't all want to kill me now for not revealing what happens to Fred in the end. All I can say is… your opinions were EXTREMELY divided as to whether you wanted to see if Fred lived or died, and in an attempt to avoid disappointing anyone, I just avoided it altogether. Yes, I'm a coward :P But if any of you are interested, I have written an epilogue of sorts for this. It's shorter than normal, and it's DH compliant (aka warning: character death) but if anyone wants to read it, I'm more than happy to put it up separately.

Once again thank you for reading, and remember, reviews are always appreciated! :)