A Surprising Idea
An old picture sat on the top of a wooden drawer. It described the features of a once living man, a fun, helpful kid. Him turning towards the camera and smiling repeated ever since the picture was taken and that childish grin haunted George forever.
The man gave out a long sigh, picking it up from it's place. He missed him, truly. George remembered everything, clearly. He recalled every single detail. The corpse lying on the floor. His kind, selfless brother dead, his features failing to show life. A sight that burned into his vision. A ghost haunting him forever.
But what could a grieving man like him do? He couldn't even face the mirror without seeing the misty shadow behind him. It lurks and creeps, and suddenly attacks at the worst times. He feels like he's being followed by a Dementor every moment of his life. Life used to be so simple and fun with Fred but by then, every single shred of happiness disappeared from his life. Everything at once.
A tear rolled down his cheek followed by another. Then another. He stared outside his window, watching the tree's crowns get danced by the hot breeze of summer wind. The colors of outside were so vivid and bright yet none could uplift George from the grey of his own mind. Was he too far gone? Could he still be saved?
'George?' a soft voice came followed by a knock, 'George dear, are you in there?' the boy turned towards his door and blinked a few times before processing what was happening.
'Yes mum, I'm here,' he answered slowly and was surprised that his voice didn't crack.
'Alright dear, that's good,' ever since the war, random knocks on people's doors became normal in the family. Molly needed to make sure all her children were safe and sound after all. George felt slight pity for the woman but didn't voice his opinions. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he put on a normal conversation with anyone. Anyone other than... No, he'd rather not think about that, 'George, sweetheart come down to the dinning table, we need to talk,' talk? Talk about what? Are they finally discussing what actually happened? Is Percy finally willing to talk?
Since you see, ever since the war happened they never really sat down and discuss what happened even tho it could have been the solution to a lot of problems. Yet everyone seemed to avoid the subject in the house and that made George furious. They all still looked so scared. But of what? It was absolutely pitiful.
'Of course mum, I'm coming,' he got up from his bed and stretched, then picked up the sweater from his bed. Going to his door, he took a deep breath. He's been afraid of leaving his room, the fear of breaking down in front of everyone has crept itself into his brain, leaving an ugly and painful memory.
'Shut up,' George whispered, holding his head, 'Shut up, shut up please just shut up!' the last part came out as an angry shout and he seemed like he was about to throw a tantrum. Ginny backed away, feeling scared and confused at the same time.
'Georgie... Georgie it's alright,' she tried to say in comfort, but it came out more like a beg. A request for him to stop acting like that. George loathed the nickname. He didn't like it. It stung. Memories flashed by, and his legs gave up beneath him.
'I hate you, I HATE YOU!' Ginny tried to get close, but his brother began to scream. Shout like he was about to get murdered. He held his body and rocked himself back and forth, looking like a toddler who didn't get the toy they wanted. Except, this was about a lot more than a toy.
'George, I'm just trying to help!' now she was making her sister panicked. He felt like such a burden.
'Please, just leave!' he cried out, trying crawl even further back, his back eventually hitting the wall. Ginny bit her lip and took a step forward.
'I'm not going to leave until I make sure you're alright, you hear me?' her voice was suddenly stiff, and George didn't even recognize her for a moment. She seemed so mature and grown up, nothing like what she used to be. George began to take notice of his surroundings and eventually, his breathing slowed down. Ginny took the chance to risk going up to him. She sat down, her back facing the wall and took George's hand. 'I'm not going to force you to talk you know but you can cry. I promise it'll stay between us,' the boy let his tears fall once again and even when he tried to stop, something didn't let him. Even tho Ginny said that she wouldn't tell anyone, by the look on his siblings faces whenever he walked by was enough for him to tell that she clearly didn't keep that promise.
He didn't want anyone to see him in that state even again.
George opened the door, and it was noticeably cooler outside. When was the last time he opened his window again? He went down to the kitchen and found the whole family already waiting for him. Damn, why was he always the last?
His father looked up from his lap and smiled.
'Ah George, I'm glad you could make it!' the way he said it made George's stomach turn. It was like, they didn't even except him to come. But still, the boy nodded then took a seat. Then he looked around and noticed that one of them was still missing.
Between Bill and his dad was an empty space, the one that belonged to his older brother, Percy.
'Where's Perce?' he asked out loud surprising his environment, heck, even himself! Molly shot a glare at Ron who looked back at her with a weird look. A moment of silence passed, then Ron finally spoke up.
'I called him before! It's not my fault he's not here!' he growled, his face reddening. Molly sighed then stood up to probably get the absent person, but just then they heard a creak.
'Sorry, I had some trouble with the chair, it's legs didn't seem to be working too efficiently' he muttered, looking away, clearly embarrassed. Percy was never late to anything. For a moment, George wanted to laugh but he didn't.
'I'll take a look at it later,' Arthur smiled reassuringly then stood up to help Percy get to his seat.
'Thank you,' after everyone was finally in place, silence took over once again begging to be broken. The rest of the family seemed to know something, and it looked like Percy was unsure too. What's going on? George sighed and decided to speak out both of their problems:
'Okay this is getting weird, now spit it out! What's happening?' the sentence came out harsher than he excepted for it to come and the people around him slightly flinched. Molly sighed and decided to do the talking bit.
'Well, dears we have been quite busy in the past week... That's because we have an interesting offer to you and Percy,' oh Merlin, that didn't start off well. From the corner of his eyes he saw his brother's eyes widen a little bit. Then silence followed, again.
'What may that be Mother?' Percy was the one who broke the silence this time, seeming to tense himself. Molly took a deep breath.
'We chose a nice flat in the city and... We want you guys to move in together,' the shock was clear.
'WHAT?!' both exclaimed at the same time, one louder than the other.
'But... But.... But...' George shook his head, trying to look for excuses.
'I know it's hard, and I understand that it sounds crazy but you have to try!' Ginny cried out, practically begging for them to go along with it. Percy sat in his seat, slightly blinking every ten seconds or so. Then after a long minute he shrugged.
'Sure, I'm in' he replied quietly, still a little bit unsure. Molly's mood suddenly change by hearing those words and she clapped.
'Great! What about you George, dear?' the twin seemed to be loss for words, since he just sat and stared. After a moment or two he looked up and saw the expressions on everyone's face then sighed.
'Do I even have a choice?' he raised his eyebrows and saw Ginny grin devilishly.
'Nope,' George groaned.
'Fine. But under one condition. If it sucks, I'm free to move away from him,' his sister rolled her eyes.
'Of course, of course, do whatever you please,' Molly stood up almost knocking her chair onto the ground.
'I'll get the papers ready! You two should pack, after all you're leaving this week!'
'ALREADY?!'