Getting the Wrong Answer

A longish drabble by Curious Forgotten Lore

AN: I'm not sure what the longest length of a drabble should be—this is 400 words. I'm not very good at drabbles and I have no idea what inspired this; it's sort of strange, but I thought I'd post it anyway and hear other's opinions. This is completely different from my first story and it's sort of an experiment, so reviews would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed my other story "Do You Believe in Magic". I received much more feedback than I expected, and I am very grateful.

Summary: In Fred's absence, George begins to question himself. He seeks insight from the sorting hat, and is given an answer he never expected. What happens when the answer is more confusing than the question?

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The battle in Hogsmeade had been brief, but had taken its toll nonetheless. George Weasley watched as his twin brother was carried past the doors of the Hogwarts Hospital Wing; where he couldn't help. Anxious, frustrated, and restless; George found himself walking to Dumbledore's office as he and his brother had done often as punishment for their pranks.

George couldn't help wondering, as he walked, what would happen to him if Fred didn't heal. His brother's injuries hadn't seemed too severe, but George worried anyway. Would he be able to run the joke shop alone? Would he even want to? Who was he, really, without his brother?

All of the Order of Phoenix knew the password to Dumbledore's office, so George said "Mars bars", and walked into the familiar room and waved to the portraits of old Headmasters. Casting his eyes around for something to take his mind off his troubles, George found the one thing that might just answer his questions. The Sorting Hat.

George felt a brief twinge of trepidation. The Sorting Hat was an ancient, powerful piece of magic. If he had learned anything from his years in the war and from his family's misadventures at Hogwarts, it was to be wary of magical objects. He pulled the ratty old hat onto his head and thought hesitantly, "Er...hello?"

"A Weasley" the hat said thoughtfully. "George Weasley. What is it you want?"

George gulped uneasily. "I was wondering... I was hoping you could tell me who I would be if I weren't a twin."

"If you weren't a twin?" the hat repeated.

"Yes. If...if Fred weren't around...I wondered...would I still be a Gryffindor? Would I still want to run a joke shop? Would I--" George didn't quite want to acknowledge his next question, but the hat finished the thought for him.

"Would you still be you."

George took a slow deep breath and asked. "Will you answer?"

"I will." The hat promised

If thoughts could be spoken in different tones, George's hesitance made his query almost a whisper "Would I? Please tell me."

"No"

The answer was no less than he expected, but somehow it almost hurt to hear it. George asked uncertainly. "What would I be then?"

The hat paused a moment to think, then replied slowly and deliberately "Without Fred, you would be...."

"Yes?" George urged

"You would be..."

"Yes? What?" George urged insistently

"Percy."