The Missing Weasley
George Weasley was the fourth child of Molly and Arthur Weasley. He was funny and mischievous. He had a knack for making people laugh, and an even bigger knack for getting detention. He had a best friend, Lee Jordan, and a decently large friend group spanning the Gryffindor quidditch team, plus a few others from the various houses and years.
All houses, except one.
Not that it truly mattered. Not to him anyway.
George also had a rather large family. He had three older brothers, a single younger brother, and a little sister that was the resident baby of the family. His family wasn’t the wealthiest, but that didn’t matter. Afterall, it’s what the family does that counts. George had a great life. Some might even have called it a perfect life.
Yet he felt…empty.
Something was missing. But he didn’t have an idea of what. He’d asked his siblings before, his mom and dad seemingly too…distracted to quite understand. The answer varied from brother to brother. He hadn’t bothered to ask Ginny, maybe when she was older, but until then..
Bill and Charlie had acted strange and dismissive when a seven year old George had asked them. For a while during his childhood, the oldest weasley sons had stared at him curiously, something else he wasn’t quite sure of lingering in their eyes. They tended to avoid him when they could.
But he had cornered them.
And they had responded vaguely. Something involving finding a girlfriend, George realised years later. His dorky older brothers had told him, a tiny little six year old, to get a girlfriend.
The thought made him laugh sometimes.
Percy had been spared until George reached nine years old. The night before the three eldest would head off to Hogwarts, Percy's first year, George had snuck into his room. Percy was strange in some ways. He liked things a certain way, which led to him packing his trunk by himself, despite their parents' objections. He didn’t like chaos, and he certainly didn’t like George.
But George wanted answers. So he sucked in a breath and waited for his brother to notice him standing in the doorway. When he did the eleven year old had sucked in a tight break and scowled, demanding he get out.
“Percy…You’re really really smart, right?”
Percy frowned. His younger brother didn’t normally say things like that. Especially out of the blue.
“I am. Not as smart as Bill though. Probably not as smart as Charlie either.”
George nodded. Maybe that's what he needed. When asking before they had given an answer he didn’t understand. Maybe they were just…too smart. Percy stopped what he was doing when his response didn’t have the younger sprinting off to find one of the named Weasleys.
“Can you help me?”
“I-...” Percy bit his lip. George stared at him, brown eyes shining.
“I’ll try.”
George beamed. The boy quickly wandered inside and crawled on his older brothers bed. Percy sighed and sat down beside him.
“So..what's wrong?” Percy winced as he spoke. He wasn’t nearly as nurturing as his older brothers. He didn’t quite..understand how to be nice like them. Not like an older brother should be.
But George didn’t seem to mind.
“Somethings..Somethings missing.”
Percy frowned.
“You lost something?”
“Nonono!...Maybe? It's not a..toy..I dont think I've ever…seen it.” George frowned. He didn’t know how to explain the emptiness inside. He wondered how he had done it three years ago.
“Hmmm…Is it…a feeling?”
George frantically nodded. Perhaps Percy was the right person to go to after all! Why hadn’t he thought of this sooner?
“A feeling…one that makes you feel at a loss?”
Again George nodded.
“Well, what I think-”
George bit back a snort at his brother's rather pompous tone.
“-I think you just need a set goal.”
George looked at his brother in surprise.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Bills got one, he wants to be a curse breaker. Charlie already has his heart set on working in any field with dragons-”
“Do you have a goal?”
“I…” Percy's face flushed pink. “I wanna be like Bill. Prefect. Maybe headboy.”
“Then what?”
“I think…I think I might work in the ministry.”
“Like dad?”
“Like dad.”
George pondered his brother's words. A goal..when he fulfilled it, would the ache disappear? Maybe Percy understood because he wasn’t a prefect yet. Wasn’t a headboy. Did that mean Bill and Charlie felt empty inside? Maybe they had grown used to it. George shivered.
He’d pick a goal he could do quickly. So he’d never feel like this again.
He had thanked his brother and said goodnight, watching him leave on the train the next morning with a happy bittersweet wave. Then two years later he went on the train too.
He’d settled on his plan, to make Hogwarts a happy, laugh-filled world.
And by his second year, he had all but completed that goal.
So why. Why did his heart still ache? Why did that empty feeling still rest in his chest.
He was Thirteen when he swallowed his pride and went to ask Ron.
His eleven year old younger brother was sitting anxiously in the car, waiting while Percy and their mother gathered everything and everyone up. It was strange how the family felt so crowded.
There were only four of them now. And only three went to hogwarts at the time. Ginny had clung to Percy, desperately trying to get him to not leave, leaving George and Ron in the backseat. A muggle car. Not the type their father wanted, he wanted a Ford Anglia 105E Deluxe, but one that would get them to the train station.
Ron had waited for the teasing, the nerves to get to him as he fended on George's remarks and worrying statements. Instead George had asked him a rather strange uncertain question.
“Do you ever feel empty Ron? Like you’re missing something important?”
Ron blinked.
“I…I don’t think so. Sorry mate.”
George shrugged, smiling bitterly. It left a strange feeling in Rons mind, seeing his older jokester of a sibling look so…dejected.
But then the other three has gathered inside the vehicle, and he had slipped the loveable prankster mask back on effortlessly. George joked and cackled and brought laughs to the family, even Percy let out a few snickers, as much as he tried to hide it.
There was no denying his blessed life, not that George would ever hope to.
So again, why the emptiness?
“Molly..”
“Aurthor…is he?”
The male redhead choked as he nodded.
“Hes gone. Just…just like we planned.” his voice held no victorious joy.
“I’m so sorry my baby…” Molly sobbed into her hands. Regret could only take her so far from her own actions.
“Mom?” Both parents snapped to attention. Slowly they turned their heads, eyes red and wet, to find their little group of children, yawning and slouching in their various pyjamas.
The ones left.
It was Bill who had spoken. His eyes were sleepy, though that quickly faded when he caught his parents' gazes. The twelve year old could feel their sadness rolling off them. Behind him, his younger brother Charlie stood, the ten year old clutching a dragon plushie.
Percy and George, the weasleys ' youngest that properly moved on their own, stood on either side of Bill. George's eyes were watery. He knew why something was wrong.
“Where's Freddie?” the five year old sniffed.
Molly broke into sobs once more, only fuelling all the childrens unease and terror.
“Hes gone…” she choked out, not having the emotional range at the moment to elaborate. If she even thought about doing so.
Bill let out a suffering filled noise, while George let out a pained cry. Percy stared, eyes wide as tears began to run down his face. Charlie clutched his plushie until his knuckles were white, then stepped forward.
“What happened?” his voice came out pleading and weak. Molly and Aurthor looked at each other. Then the father of the weasley brood stepped forward.
“He got lost. Lost in the forest.”
“We’ll find him!” Bill and Charlie chorused immediately. Their faces were set in determination. Percy and George nodded, neither finding the strength to speak. They were simply doing their best to ignore their own water filled eyes.
The parents looked at eachother again. What would they do now? How to tell them they weren’t allowed? Molly narrowed her eyes at her hands. No. They couldn’t do this. Couldn’t truly go through with this.
“Alright..you can help us search. Only you and Charlie.”
“But!” George cried, but Molly shook her head and turned to Percy.
“Take your younger brother back to bed please.” She knew he would listen. He always did. Percy nodded and practically carried his little brother back up the stairs, wincing all the while as he screamed and begged.
“Alright boys.” Aurther turned to his oldest. “Let's find your brother.”
What horrible excuse of a father was he?
The weekend was proving to be the worst part of the school year. The weekend meant school was over for two days. Freedom to do whatever hearts desired, as long as homework was happily ignored. Azrael had expected to wake up late and spend a day or two being stupid with his brother and slytherin companions.
Instead he awoke to an empty dorm and a slip of parchment resting on his nightstand. A note from his brother. A note that made his mood grow sour as he read on. A note that Azrael tossed lazily in the common room fireplace as he strolled out.
“Az,
Since it's the weekend, sleeping late isn’t my problem, and thus I'll give you a pass. I’m heading to the library to play chess with my herbology partners (the ravenclaws I told you about). I figured you and I could meet up during lunch?
- Cain”
Azrael sighed. Lunch was a good three or four hours away. What was he supposed to do? With a dejected frown he exited the common room, watching the secret door arise then disappear with false interest. He walked through the frozen dungeons, for once mind too abuzz to feel cold.
Really what was he supposed to do with his stupidly long day?
Eventually he decided the answer was to trudge down to the lake. He wasn’t hungry for breakfast filled with fresh eggs and sausage, and he didn’t have anywhere to be. He had no homework he intended on doing, at least not until Cain and probably Theodore lectured him about it. And what's more, he had nothing really to do to entertain himself.
He frowned as he pondered. Was he really this dependent on there always being another person? Side-effect of being born a twin he supposed.
Az reached the water and stared into it thoughtfully. Truth be told, he hadn’t had any plans at the lake. He just…decided to come to it. If he was so desperate for companionship, then shouldn’t he have gone to the library? He smirked at the thought of crashing Cain's boring wizards chess game.
But he didn’t bother to move, his smirk slipping off his face once he imagined his younger brother's frustrated face. He softly shook his head and turned his attention back to the water, watching as it shimmered. It was mesmerising in a way.
Then it hissed at him.
He blinked, wondering for a moment if he’d just imagined the high pitched sound. But then it did it again. Then a third time. His brow furrowed. Water, even magic water, didn’t just..hiss like Aries did. It meant something in the water was making the noise. He reached for his wand, slowly inching away from the growling in volume animal noises.
Then the water rose up and slammed into him. He sputtered as it lowered back into the lake body silently, leaving him in drenched wet robes laying on soaked green grass. From the distance he could hear someone howling with laughter. Az glowered, though his brain was sparked with interest.
Someone had played a prank on him then. Managed to enchant the water once he was close enough. On top of that they manipulated the water, and didn’t lose a bit of control. What kind of mad man, or woman, managed all that skill for a joke?
Besides Azrael of course.
The laughter quieted itself down, and Az noticed his glare had disappeared, replaced by sparkling amusement. Carefully he pulled himself up, shrugging off the heavy wet clothing and leaving himself in his sweater. He wanted to meet this person. Maybe pick their brain and see what else they could do. Azrael stared along the grounds, scanning the few people there. To find his amusing attacker stifling their snickers.Across the lake against a tree he could make out a person doing just that.
One with ginger hair and brown eyes, covered in freckles. Azrael felt a lump in his throat. Maybe he wasn’t so curious afterall.
But the damage was done and both boys locked eyes. Immediately the ginger stood up and ran over to him, eyes sparking. Clearly he was confused by the malice disappearing from the aftermath.
Azrael quietly tried to calculate his odds of running and escaping, odds that he was realising were definitely not in his favour.
“Hey slither boy!”
Azrael stiffened, mind going blank. His body became rooted to the spot. Still, he took a deep breath and set himself back into his regular persona. He's a hate-ful pureblood, recently discovered heir to Salazar's legacy. He’s powerful and fearsome and takes crap from noone.
So why were his legs shaking?
“What.” Az winced as his voice came out less fearsome, and more voice cracky.
George Weasley stopped in front of him. His brow was furrowed and his mouth was thin. “...Do I know you from somewhere?”
Azrael blinked. Slowly he shook his head. George cocked his head to the side, clearly not believing him.
“Right…anyways. Did you like your free shower?” George’s face quickly split into a smirk. One that had it been any other Slytherin, would have received a quick hit to the face. Maybe a string of curses and threats. Az waited for the burning resentment and rage to fill his veins, just like it had with Ron. Waited for that serpent rage to drive him to hex the ginger in front of him.
It didn’t come. Only a burning question for the rather quick tonal shift.
“Sure I did. Though I have to say..I’ve seen better.” Az said instead. His snark was much less hostile than he would have liked. It was more…lighthearted. Something George apparently took in stride.
“Better!?” George cried out, expression mock offended. “I’m the pinnacle of comedy!”
Azrael rolled his eyes, ignoring the stomach churning and the fact that it was like something he would most likely say.
“Maybe in Gryffindor you are.” he ended up responding. He climbed his mouth shut and stared at the ground.
George huffed dramatically, tensing his shoulders. Only then his grin reappeared, and his body lost the false tension. He was studying Az again. As if to wonder where this Slytherin had come from. Where had this Slytherin who snarked back with no real bite been for his last two years of school.
Azrael studied him as well. His stomach simmered with nausea, yet it wasn’t exactly unwelcome. To his horror, he was quickly realising the grudge he had spent almost a decade culminating towards his former family had no hold on George.
On his twin.
The very thought petrified him.
The idea of betrayal terrified him.
George noticed his stiff posture and raised an eyebrow, giving him a poke to the arm.
“Are you broken?”
“Uhhh.”
“So…yes?” George cocked his head to the side and grinned. “If you’re broken that means I'm right.”
“I have to go.”
“Huh-? Hey!”
Azrael sped off without even glancing behind him. Faintly he could hear George chasing behind him, but the head start he had stolen proved to be an advantage as the boy couldn’t quite catch up.
So Az sped away, leaving a confused and disappointed weasley boy behind.
Hedwig swooped through the sky, the sun gleaming down upon her crisp white feathers. With a soft hoot she pushed through a cloud, wings cutting through the condensation. In her talons held a sealed black envelope, unlike the normalised white. A dark green crest kept the package shut, keeping its secrets protected.
Slowly a castle ascended into view, the castle. The one housing the owls young master. And the masters brother too. But that isn’t where she would be going.
Swooping down Hedwig made a sharp right, heading straight to the owlery. The masters father, the dreadful man with the red eyes, had ordered her not to give the parchment in sight of the other students.
If it had been anyone else the snowy owl would have simply huffed her displeasure and delivered normally. But the man was not normal. And he held all the power. Besides, from what little of the gestures the man made while discussing the contents of the note, not to her of course but to his associate with the blonde hair, this was going to help protect her master and his kin.
And Hedwig would protect her beloved owner and master. No matter the cost and no matter the strange orders. So Hedwig slipped through a window and roosted on her designated cubby, where she would patiently wait to deliver her note.
Because Cain Gaunt would not come to harm in this school if she had anything to say about it.
Cain hummed quietly as he crept down to the dungeons, bag swung over his shoulder lightly bumping his side as he moved. He had gone to the great hall just as he stated in his note to his brother. He’d waited for an hour. But Azrael hadn’t shown up.
Immediately he assumed his lazy brother was still asleep, and had even stated so to the other Slytherins sitting around him, being Draco and Theodore. But Theodore had piped up, saying he had seen Az out and about not even two hours ago.
That's when Cain got worried.
Slipping a few sweets into his bag, grabbing a goblet of pumpkin juice, and bidding his friends goodbye, Cain set off to the dormitories. To be honest, he didn’t know why he was going there first. If Az wasn’t asleep why would he be in the dorm? Or even just the common room. Azrael was an energetic creature, so confining himself to a single room seemed like the last thing he’d wanna do.
But the other Slytherins had pointedly assured him that despite them all moving around and about, none had seen the trouble making heir. So Cain decided to start his search at square one. He slank into the common room, eyes adjusting to the dim green glow, barely shining despite the burning sun in the sky above.
“Cain!”
The boy stiffened, eyes widening. His arrival had been noted and, dare he say, needed? Aric stormed towards him, eyes flashing with concern. He apparently had rounded the corner from the dormitories. A second later Drew poked his head out, reacting to Cain’s arrival as well.
It was only then Cain realised how quiet and empty the common room was, with Arics footsteps echoing in the chamber.
“You’re here for Azrael right?”
Cain froze, eyes widening. Immediately his body flooded with terror.
“Is he okay?” was the first question out of his mouth as he hurried to meet the boy half way. Aric began leading him to his dormitory. Cain frowned. If it was Az, why wasn’t he in the first years?
“Hes not hurt.” Aric answered nervously, glancing at him every now and then. Drew shook his head disapprovingly.
“Physically he aint.”
“Drew!”
“What? You want the kid to help or not.”
Cain glowered, pupils practically shrinking into Slits.
“Where's my brother?”
From behind him Cain could hear the common room slither open again, though he didn’t bother to see who it was.
“Hes in my dormitory.”
“Why.”
Aric shrugged, helplessly looking at Drew. The boy scoffed in response.
“Your brother came back from where ever he was a nervous, twitchy, unholy wreck.”
“Drew you can’t-”
“Shut UP Aric.” Drew turned his attention back to Cain whose eyes flashed impatiently. “The kid was trembling. Aric asked what happened, tried to question him-”
Drew paused, inhaling a sharp breath. A female voice that Cain couldn’t recognize cut it.
“The kid freaked. Had himself a little panic attack right here in the common room. We tried to calm him. Lotta good that did. Kiddo proceeded to try and run to his dorm, but-”
“It wouldn't let him in.” Drew cut the girl off, eyeing her distastefully.
Cain couldn’t find himself caring the reason.
“Why didn’t it?”
“Magic is…faulty sometimes.” Aric supplied vaguely, only for Drew to shake his head.
“Not like that it ain’t. We’ll figure that out later. But, point is, your brother got locked out, continued to spiral, and this bonehead-” Drew harshly elbowed Aric in the gut, sending him to his knees with a wheeze. “Opened his dormitory, which the kid proceeded to both run inside and somehow fu-..freaking lock.”
Cain blinked. Slowly his eyes turned to the door the boys alluded to. The gold plating meant to say fourth years was practically melted, with the lettering itself shifting into all seven phrases. The door itself didn’t seem to have a doorknob. Cautiously, Cain walked over to it.
“..Az?”
The door rattled, but it didn't open.
Cain pressed a hand against the trembling wood, a wave of terror and anxiety crashing over him, sending him to his knees. Softly he gasped, not quite aware of what he was feeling but somehow, maybe through some kind of twisted sixth sense, knew it was Az.
Silently he bit his tongue and forced himself back to his feet. The three older students watched anxiously in the background. If it had been anyone else Cain probably would’ve wondered why they, despite at least one of them being a prefect, weren’t trying to do anything or help.
Maybe get Snape? Heck even the headmaster at this point..
“Az..if you can hear me. I want you to know I’m coming in. Alright?”
“How you gonna do that pipsqueak? There ain't no doorknob. Else Ari would’da gone inside ages ago.” the girl asked from the back. Cain made a point to ignore her. Truth be told he didn’t have an idea either.
But he knew he had to get to his brother somehow.
Cain pressed a hand against the wood again, this time gritting his teeth at the negative feelings assaulting his very being. Then he traced a finger down the door until he reached where the knob was supposed to be. Shutting his eyes almost by habit, Cain imagined the golden handle from his own room.
“Father, why would we ever need this type of spell? You said wizards can’t make something out of nothing.”
“Because. Something can not be made of nothing does not mean something cant look like nothing. Now again.”
When he opened his eyes the doorknob had returned, surrounded by quickly fading green. He ignored the surprised gasps from behind and began trying to force the door open.
“Hold on I have to-” Aric’s voice forcibly cut off at the door opened with a booming slam.
Cain immediately spotted his shaking older brother's form. His head was buried in his knees and he was practically hiding behind one of the beds. The green lighting from the common room seemed to leak inside, only coming off as harsher and darker.
“Az..” Cain spoke softly, carefully alerting his brother that he was here. Here to help. Behind him the door slowly shut on its own, ignoring the cries of outrage on the other side. Whatever. They could be mad if they wanted. Azrael was the first priority.
The moment the door shut Az poked his head up. Cain noted tears had welled up in the corners of his eyes, but none had yet to fall. He looked miserable.
“Cain..” Az’s voice cracked. His brother moved closer in response.
“Azzy…what happened?”
“I saw him…I talked to him..” Azrael quietly mumbled. Cain could imagine who it was. Only one person that he could think of would cause this severe of a reaction.
“I’ll kill him..” Cain hissed darkly.
“That's not it!” Az practically yelled, hugging his knees against his chest. Cain saw his brothers knuckles had gone white.
“Whats up?” Cain sat down beside his older brother, leaning against him. Physical affection was Azrael's comfort language afterall.
“I’m not…I’m not mad.” The boy's voice came out in a broken confused whisper. “Why Cain…Why am I not mad..?”
“At him?”
“I should be…I’m mad at my birth parents…mad at every other sibling…why?”
Cain slung an arm around his brother.
“I don’t know Az. But.. do you want to be mad at him?”
“What?”
“Do you wanna be mad?”
“I..no..?”
“And why not?”
Azrael looked at him confusedly.
“Huh?”
“Just answer the question.”
“I just..don't actually wanna be mad at him..”
“That's why you can't be.”
The boys sat in silence for a few moments, bodies cuddled together as Az calmed his rapid breathing. Finally Azrael spoke again.
“This was..humiliating.”
“How so?”
“How many older brothers need to be coddled?”
“All human ones?”
“Disgusting.”
Cain tackled his brother into an exaggerated hug. With a dramatic hiss, Az began to shove him off.
“Accept my love!”
“What happened to being the mature one!” Az scrambled away.
Cain smiled to himself as his brother snickered. Only his precious older brother would come out of a mental health crisis seemingly completely fine.
His smile disappeared. On the inside his brother was still likely a conflicted mess. He was simply shoving it down for Cain's sake. With a sigh Cain crept up beside him, quietly locking their hands. Az stared at him, face poised in surprise.
Cain only smiled at him. Az returned it, squeezing his little brother's hand ever so slightly as he did.
Then the door opened.
“Are you ready to talk?”