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Percy doesn't understand why he is standing in front of the audience to give an eulogy.
He doesn't understand why he has to speak.
But George insisted and who is he to deny the man who lost his twin.
His family is seated in the front and they're all looking at him expectantly and he can't afford to disappoint them.
He looks at George and he sees George. George is not Fred.
He closes his eyes and thinks of Fred.
He had planned of something to say but he realises all those words are empty promises and lies.
So he looks at the audience and he speaks.
"First of all we should get rid of the black and white boring formal wear."
And with his wand Percy changes everyone who is wearing clothes coloured in black and white to pop and funky colours.
(He thinks he sees his father smile)
"Fred well Fred he wasn't a saint. He was cruel. He was reckless. He was immature."
Percy pauses and stares at the horrified looks from the audience.
"But he was charming. He was humorous. He was lionhearted. Literally. More importantly he's my brother.
He's not flawless. He's not a saint. He's not Merlin. He's just my little brother and he had his faults but that made him real. It made him vulnerable. It made him someone. And when you call him a saint or pure or good hearted. You are entirely wrong. You are then ignoring his legacy. Because he was none of thos things."
Percy stops talking. He can't go ahead with what he has to say without offending people but today is about Fred so he doesn't give a crap.
"How many of you remember Fred as Fred and not as 'the twins' or 'FredandGeorge'?"
Everyone looks even more horrified than they did before wondering what Percy was trying to imply but Percy's only interested in his family's opinion.
Most of them just stare at him. Only George looks at him with his eyes gleaming.
"Let me enlighten you all on who Fred is.
Fred's an actor. He's overdramatic."
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"Okay Perce. You be the the Dark Evil Villain and I'll be the hero."
"Alright Freddie"
Percy's glad that Bill left his wooden toys here. Now he and Freddie are playing with the swords Bill made.
"Accept death, you evil person", Fred says with determination on his small face
"Never", Percy replies as they both begin to swordfight.
And they play until both of them are exhausted amd their parents find them sleeping with Fred on top of Percy.
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"Fred's really good at dancing. Ginny can tell you all about that."
Ginny's already smirking.
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"But I have to know how to dance if I ever dance with Harry Potter."
A 7 year old Ginny puffs at him.
"I'm not an expert on dancing Gin", Percy replied annoyed at being interrupted while he was reading a book.
"DID SOMEONE SAY DANCE?", Fred screams from above.
"Oh brother", Percy mutters.
"Here Ginny, let the expert show you", Fred says emphasizing on expert as he boasts the waltz ( very badly)
"Fred you're stepping on my foot. Ouch. OUCH", Ginny cries.
"Look I'm not that bad", Fred replies a bit hurt.
"Here Fred let me show you", Percy says standing up.
"You'll need it incase you require a dancing partner at something and we don't want to end up causing pain do we expert?", Percy tries to make light of the situation, smiling slightly.
It works. Because Fred grins at him.
"Hey! What about me?", Ginny cries.
"I'll show you too."
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"Fred is, he's many things really. And instead of talking, I'll show you."
Percy planned the best for last. Somehow he had combined memories of Fred from people who knew him. It was a vigorous spell. Really difficult but it was worth it in the end.
He pointed his wand in the sky and everyone could see Fred.
And it was Fred and not George.
It was Fred.
It is Fred
(Percy can't wrap around the fact that he has to use a past tense. He just can't. )
Percy looks at everyone. They're all looking at Fred. The memories of Fred. Everyone is crying. They're all immersed in seeing Fred.
Even his family is crying.
And he realises he is too.
Fred meant a lot to a lot of people. He always will.
(Literally and figuratively.)
Percy looks at his brother up in the sky.
"I'm so sorry Fred. I wish I could have saved you. I love you so much"
Percy is so immersed in his self hatred he doesn't realise George is next to him.
"Thank you for honoring his memory and only his", George tells him and proceeds to hug him for the first time after the war.
Percy melts into the hug.
He couldn't save Fred.
But he could save George.
He would die trying.