A/N: Here's a drabble-y ficlet about the aftermath of Fred's death. Just a head's up, I'm not saying George is happy or anything. He's just taking the "celebrate his life" instead of "mourn his death" route. Anyway, please vote in the poll on my profile. Enjoy! R&R! Thanks! –Mac

Disclaimer: I don't own HP.

Lone Smile

Mum has stopped smiling. She puts on the act for everyone but I can see right through it. The light in her eyes has flickered out.

Ginny won't speak to anyone but Harry, and she rarely even does that. She'll get over it though, eventually. Maybe after this week is done, maybe after all the dead are buried, maybe after the pain begins to fade.

Ron can't look at me. When we're in the same room together, he keeps his eyes locked on something or someone else, anything but me. Even when he talks to me he diverts his eyes. He might never get over that. I don't know which hurts more: that it's true or that I understand.

Percy locked himself in his room. Mum started bringing him meals to his door. He feels guilty—he shouldn't, no more than anyone else, but he does. I don't think he'll come out until the funeral. Even then the odds don't look good.

Bill is busy looking after Fleur and making arrangements for everything. I don't think he's taken the time to let the grief hit him yet. He's staying occupied, but when it finally hits, I'm pretty sure it's going to cripple him.

Charlie is trying to take care of mum and Dad, while still looking out for the rest of us. He's exhausted and it shows.

And it's not just our family.

Harry is trying to cope with heavy losses while simultaneously dealing with press and people worshipping him. He doesn't know what to do with himself.

Even Hermione laughs less. The endless books she pores over don't even bring a smile to her face like they used to.

I sit and watch them all day, and all I can think is, Fred wouldn't want it to be like this.

The day of the funeral defying everyone else's moods it is sunny, bright and clear—the perfect day. I alone found it suitable. Fred would have loved it. Everyone else hates it.

Everyone is crying. You can feel the grief thick in the air. It's a sea of black and gloom. The ceremony is long and all wrong. It's everything Fred hated about death.

But amidst it all, I smile. Because it's what Fred would have wanted.