Fly

When Bill and his father get to Charlie's hospital room Mrs. Weasley is telling the twins about the year Bill left for his first year at Hogwarts, and leaving Charlie behind.

"Mum," he says quietly, "I don't think Charlie would want you telling that one. And didn't you say it was the worst year of your life, with Charlie running around screaming like a banshee?"

"Well now I think it was sweet the way the two of you never wanted to be apart," his mother replies.

"Yeah. Never. . . ." Bill trails off. His mind is on childhood and Charlie, his constant playmate and best friend. At school, Bill had made new friends, but no friendship was like the one he had with Charlie. Bill looks at his younger brother in his hospital bed, so still. It seemed odd: Charlie had always been incapable of stillness.

"Fred, George--why don't you take your mother down and get her something to eat? Bill and I will stay here," Mr. Weasley's voice interrupts Bill's musings.

"You'll tell us if there is any change?" his mother asks his father as she leaves the room.

"Of course Molly," Bill sits down and takes Charlie's hand in his. Behind him, Bill can hear his father talking to the Healers. . . .

"So you are sure there is no hope?" Mr. Weasley's voice is saddened with grief.

"You've made the right choice, keeping him alive is just trapping him here," A Healer attempts to sound reassuring.

Out of habit, Bill pulls out Charlie's shaving kit and starts to shave the stubble from Charlie's face. No one even asks why. One by one, the magical devices holding Charlie to this life are turned off. Bill doesn't want to do this, but the body in the bed stopped being his brother some time ago. Keeping the body going isn't going to make anyone feel better; it isn't going to make Charlie come back. Bill and Mr. Weasley watch as Charlie's chest rises and falls. Then one long ragged breath and he's still. Charlie's never been able to keep still. Charlie's not there. Bill touches his brother's face

"Goodbye, Chee," he says, using a nickname he hadn't used since Charlie was five. Then he looks at his father. "Dad? Do you think it's true that you can do anything after you--well--you know."

"I don't know, son," Mr. Weasley replies. Bill notices that his father looks ten years older than he did this morning.

"Because Charlie always wanted to fly," Bill finishes.

"He was an excellent flyer."

"No. Not on a broom. Just--you know--flying."

"No one knows what happens after you die, Bill." Mr. Weasley gives his second son one last look and then leads Bill out of the room. But Bill doesn't need the question answered anymore. In his mind he sees. He sees Charlie stand and stretch. He sees his brother launch into the sky, reaching for the sun like it was just one more snitch--like this was just one more game. And for a split second, he hears Charlie laughing.