April First, 1999

April first, 1999

George blew the candles, encouraged by his family and friends. He didn't knew how long he would resist smiling. No, don't think like that, he nagged himself, they need this as much as you do. He just had to keep going, just a little more.

He decided to focus his attention on something other than the cake, like, Hermione and Ron. They remind me of Angelina and- nope. Harry, Harry who had also been-no. Percy, who should have- NO. Teddy, whose parents were-oh for Merlin's beard!-wait, what?.

Slowly but surely, the little Lupin was crawling in his onesie towards his puffy bludger , courtesy of Lee Jordan, probably to chew the wrapper with that toothless mouth of his.

The baby would be one year old in a few months and was already babbling, he couldn't help but chuckle. Then, he saw his chance, this was it! He ended his cake slice, picked up the baby and tickled him.

-It's quite late for you to be up, don't ya think, lil' fella? I'll take him to his crib-he told his father.

-Be careful-Arthur smiled softly. If he knew his intentions, he didn't said a word.

As soon as they were in the hallway, George exhaled as he leaned against the wall, and quietly, very quietly, he sobbed and shed a tear. No one mentioned him, but his twin's presence, or rather, absence, was felt all around the Burrow.

Teddy didn't liked seeing Georgie like this, he didn't liked it!. So he reached with his tiny baby hands to his cheeks, as if asking "Are you okay?". That seem to work when Uncle Harry touched his head.

He wasn't, but he played it cool for the kid-S'nothing, let's get you to your room

Teddy settled down on his chest with sleepy eyelids. Going up the stairs, he heard what he suspected when he saw the empty chair: he wasn't the only one that had stepped away from the party to mourn in peace.

-I-I miss you so much, my child, my Fred- Molly cried while looking at a picture of the Weasley twins laughing, maybe after one of many pranks they had pulled over the years.

The crib was just next to her mother's bed, as she would babysit Teddy for her admittedly large experience. He knocked, almost sorry to do so.

-Oh, George! I-I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were coming, I just-

-It's fine, mom. Don't worry about it.

-Did everyone ate already?

-Yup

Teddy looked at the old frame, frowning a little. Then he turned his hair red.

-Oh. Do you want me to hold you, darling?-asked the woman, cleaning her face and showing a sad smile.

-Fwed?

Fred. That was his first word. Fred.

The ghost grinned softly.