In the aftermath, he stands forgotten. Grief piles around him like dirty socks, and nobody remembers that he's hurting too.

Alicia found him when it was all over and told him softly, gently, because of course everyone was too busy to think straight when they were fighting and how could he have known when he wasn't there?

He didn't cry because crying is only for when you're sad and he isn't sad but awfully, terribly, irrevocably broken. Because even though Alicia's eyes are red from crying and even though he can see all the Weasleys holding each other up he can't quite believe that this is real.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Winning was supposed to be happiness and cheering and heart-breakingly joyous and all this feels like is losing. And no, it doesn't feel like dying because dying right now would be easy and wonderful and so very comfortable. But he can't die.

They never planned for this. After the Potter Watch broadcasts, when they were filled with buzz of rebellion and the tingling of fear, they often talked about 'after-the-war'. But they never planned for it to be like this.

They'd only mentioned death once, when the fear had outweighed their rebellion. And they knew that they'd all go down together, the three of them; side by side. They never planned for it to be like this.

He looks at her and tries to find hope in her eyes but all he sees is despair and broken promises and a terrifying blank space where the future once was. Because she loved Fred most and while the rest of the world saw him as one half of the Weasley twins, to her he was complete.

She grabs his hand and squeezes tight, and they both know that no matter how hard she tries to hold on, everything has already slipped away. But because she is Alicia she just whispers his name, and says, "We're still alive", even though he knows they aren't. He died the moment Fred did and everything that happens now is just drawing the moment out.

He can't bear to look at George because all he will see is what is missing. And he know this is unfair and cruel but he convinces himself that George wouldn't want him anyway, and he has his family there, and he'll just be in the way. So instead he and Alicia find an empty classroom that doesn't echo with the cries of fighting and curl up in a corner, and just sit.

He knows he is meant to be strong and brave and that he should be out there helping clean up or take care of the younger students or be a shoulder to lean on. But all that he can think of is Fred and Fred and Fred. And he knows he won't be a help to anyone and really who wants to see him without his trademark grin.

"I thought if we won, it would be different", she says softly, "It would feel good."

"We're alive", he says. But he knows what she means. All he can feel is an ache in his chest, and nobody seems to remember he exists.

But he'll keep living. Because life is all he has left.