Forever and always, until the end (Fred Weasley&Anertha Diggory) WattyAwards2013

10 years later..

Written 3/05/2013 HC 10 years later.

Christmas. A time of cheer and family. Almost 10 years had passed since the battle. George had come to terms with Fred's death. He had no choice, he was a father now, and he couldn't spend all day in bed. As he sat in his living room on Christmas Eve, staring at the tree, he couldn't help but miss his brother. It would never go away. 'George come to bed. If you stay up any longer you'll wake the kids.' His wife spoke softly to him. Wife. How Fred would have loved to have seen him get married. He turned to Angelina and simply shook his head. She frowned a little but left him to it. George reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of parchment. A spell. His father had given it to him 2 weeks ago; it had been confiscated from an old wizard in London. It was a spell that no one knew of, a spell to bring back the dead in ghost form for an hour. George had mixed feelings about using it, he wanted to see Fred so bad but he didn't want to disturb him from his resting place. As he sat here though, staring at Fred's face in the closest bauble, he knew he had to do this for himself, Fred would understand. He placed a candle on the table and brandished his wand, enchanting the spell with his eyes closed tight in hope. He felt a breeze pass over him; he opened his eyes to see the candle go out. 'Fred?' He called out tentatively. No response. He sat deflated on the floor, head in his hands, as a tear ran down his face. Why had he gotten his hopes up? 'George?' Came the voice he hadn't heard for almost a decade. His head shot up to find his twin standing before him. He had a soft glow around him; it lit the room ever so slightly. 'Fred.' He choked as more tears escaped his eyes. He wanted to throw his arms around him but he knew it wasn't possible. 'Georgie, stop crying for me, doesn't look good on you.' George chuckled. Fred looked at his brother, noticing how much older he was looking. 'George...How long...' He didn't finish. 'Almost 10 years.' George whispered. Fred looked around the room and smiled. 'You stayed in the flat then. Looks so different.' 'I moved out when you died Freddie. I couldn't stay here. Only moved back in 6 years ago.' He looked at the sadness that now filled Fred's eyes. He gave George an apologetic look. 'Where's Anertha? I assume she's with you up there?' he said hopeful, he wished them to find one another and he coped by telling himself that they had. 'She found me. You can see her if you want. She's here.' George thought about this and nodded. A second breeze filled the room and Anertha appeared, still dressed in what she had died in. George smiled at her. 'Hey Georgie.' She said as she took hold of Fred's hand. George beamed in relief. 'Dad?' Came a small voice behind him. It made all three of them jump. 'Dad?' Fred repeated in amazement. 'Yeah, come in Freddie, I want you to meet someone.' George turned to see his youngest enter the room. Fred II looked up at Fred and Anertha confused. 'He looks like you daddy.' George smiled. 'Fred...This is Fred II, your nephew. He has a sister too, older.' Fred I looked at his brother and a tear ran down his cheek. 'You have a new life. I'm proud of you Georgie. Hi Fred Jr.' He smiled at his little nephew. Fred II looked to Anertha, trying to work out who she was. 'That's your aunt Anertha. George and Cedric's mum.' Fred II smiled when he remembered who she was. He had been told so many stories about his uncle and his wife. He wished his parents could be like they were. George placed young Fred on the sofa until he fell asleep. He turned back to his twin and Anertha, who were watching him with pride. Their faces soon turned dark and confused. 'What is it?' George said worried. 'How could we forget?' Anertha said pained. Fred looked to the floor in shame. George suddenly realised why they were upset. 'They are good. They miss you, every day. They look a lot like the pair of you.' 'I want to see them George' Fred looked deep into brother's eyes. George nodded and left the room. Returning with two boys, one red-haired, one dark-haired. Anertha gasped and Fred surveyed them in amazement. 'Mum? Dad?' The dark-haired boy said astonished. He looked to his uncle for an explanation. George told them how he had summoned them, but only for an hour. The younger twins took in their parents; they had always wanted to see what they were like in person. 'Mum is pretty; you were right about that Uncle George.' George II spoke as he smiled at his mother. 'We don't have long left, look at you boys...I just want to say I love you. They were my last words to you back then and I meant them then as I do now.' Fred let more tears slip as he looked at his sons. 'So grown up, you look so much like your uncle Cedric, and you George, spitting image.' Anertha wanted to reach out and touch them but she knew she couldn't. 'Is he there with you? Uncle Cedric?' Anertha looked at them. They had been told about Cedric, she looked at George and mouthed 'Thank you.' 'Yes, he is up here too.' She grinned. Fred began to flicker. 'Freddie?' George ran towards him. 'It's time George, I love you. I love you all. Stay safe.' With that Fred's ghost disappeared. George let out a whimper. 'Carry on to look after them George, We are so proud. I love you boys.' She held back tears of her own. As she too began to fade, she whispered. 'Merry Christmas.' George looked at the clock that was now visible, midnight. 'Merry Christmas.' He whispered back as the room went dark.