The only family I have Left.

Back at Hogwarts

The air around Hogwarts felt different this time. As the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry made their way down the familiar corridors, an eerie sense of nostalgia gripped them. Every corner, every painting, held memories—both joyful and painful. But today, the past felt closer than ever, a mere breath away.

George led the group, his face determined but haunted. Ever since Fred's death, he had carried the weight of grief like an unshakable shadow. And now, there was a flicker of hope—one so fragile that he barely let himself acknowledge it. But the thought of his twin, alive again, was something he couldn't let go of. No matter the risks, he needed to know.

The group arrived at the Room of Requirement, where McGonagall had arranged for their research to take place. The magical room, as always, adjusted itself to their needs. Bookshelves stacked high with tomes on temporal magic, ancient scrolls, and arcane objects filled the space. At the center stood a large, round table illuminated by flickering candles, casting shadows on the worn stone floor.

Hermione was the first to speak. "We need to be methodical about this. Temporal magic isn't something to mess around with. Even the smallest misstep could lead to catastrophic consequences."

Ginny, arms crossed and clearly on edge, replied, "We get it, Hermione. But we have to try. If there's even the smallest chance that we can bring Fred back—"

"It's not just about bringing him back," Hermione interrupted, her voice firm but not unkind. "We don't know what effect this will have on the timeline, on the world as we know it. Messing with time... it's not just risky. It could be deadly."

Ron, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, spoke up. "So what do we do? Just sit here and read books while the chance to bring Fred back slips away?"

Harry, who had been staring into the distance, added, "We have to trust the process. But we also need to prepare ourselves for the possibility that... it might not be what we hope for."

The words hung heavy in the air, but George didn't flinch. "We'll figure it out," he said, his voice soft but filled with conviction. "We have to."

Professor McGonagall appeared in the doorway, her face a mask of both strength and weariness. "I trust you've all settled in," she said, glancing around at the group. "There are a few things we've discovered since we last spoke."

Everyone turned toward her, the tension in the room thickening.

"First, we believe the magic you are dealing with is an ancient form of temporal manipulation. This particular spell—if it exists in full—was used centuries ago, during a time of great unrest in the wizarding world. But the records are sparse, and much of it has been lost to time. However," she added, her voice tinged with caution, "what we do know is that attempting such a spell comes with a price."

"A price?" George repeated, his eyes narrowing. "What kind of price?"

McGonagall hesitated, and the room seemed to grow colder. "The spell doesn't just bend time—it rewrites it. In order to bring someone back from the past, something or someone must be sacrificed in return. The scales of time demand balance."

A sharp intake of breath echoed from Ginny. "Sacrificed? What do you mean?"

"The spell requires a trade," McGonagall explained, her voice grim. "It could be a loss of memory, a loss of magical ability, or..." She let the silence fill in the blank, the unsaid possibility too horrifying to voice.

George's face darkened, the flicker of hope that had kept him going now tinged with fear. "You're saying if we bring Fred back... we might lose someone else?"

McGonagall's gaze softened. "That is the most likely outcome. Temporal magic has rules, and breaking them doesn't come without consequences. We must be prepared for whatever the spell demands."

A heavy silence fell over the room. For the first time, the reality of what they were trying to do hit home. It wasn't just about bringing Fred back—it was about what they might lose in the process.

"We have to find another way," Hermione said, her voice barely a whisper. "There has to be some other solution. Maybe we can modify the spell or—"

"There isn't another way," George interrupted, his voice hardening. "If this is what it takes, then I'll do it. Whatever it costs. I can't live like this anymore."

Ron placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, his expression pained. "George... mate, you can't just throw yourself into this. Fred wouldn't want that."

George shrugged off his hand, standing taller now, his eyes blazing. "You don't understand. None of you do. Fred wasn't just my brother—he was a part of me. And if there's even the slightest chance I can bring him back, I'm going to take it."

"Even if it means losing someone else?" Harry asked quietly, his voice laced with sorrow. "Even if it means changing everything?"

George's gaze flickered for a moment, but then he nodded. "Yes."

The words sent a chill through the group. They knew George's pain ran deep, but the idea of making such a sacrifice—of losing someone else to bring Fred back—was too much to bear.

Hermione turned to McGonagall. "We need more time. We need to find every possible detail about this spell before we even consider attempting it."

"I agree," McGonagall said. "But time is not something we have in abundance. The Ministry is already watching closely. We must make our decision soon."

As the group huddled around the table, the weight of their decision pressing down on them, George's voice broke through the heavy silence. "I've already made mine."