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Fred didn't know how to tell him. They had always been a pair, the two of them. So similar that even their mother switched them up sometimes. They'd switch places so often that everybody always referred to them as just "the twins" because nobody knew who they were talking to.
Fred and George. George and Fred. Gred and Forge. But lately, something was different when they switched. Sometimes even when they didn't.
The other twin noticed too. He saw the flinching any time either of their names were called, the grimace when someone talked about them singularly. They didn't switch places as much anymore. The fun of it ended when he saw his twin hurting.
Fred walked up to their dorm, glad nobody else was there. This was going to be a tough thing to say and more people would only make it worse.
"Georgie, sit down. I need to tell you something." began Fred, quietly locking the door.
"Oh, is this about McLaggen's new hair? Because I have a whole bunch of ideas."
"No, shut up and listen for a minute."
Inhaling deeply, Fred walked over to the bed George was sitting on and continued. "I don't think I'm a boy anymore, George. I've been thinking about this a long time. I don't think I'm a girl, either. I hate it when people call me "he" but I don't think "she" would fit right either."
They paused to look at the twin's reaction. Surprisingly, it wasn't one of betrayal or disappointment, but of gentle understanding.
"So, what exactly would you like to be called then?" asked George with a small smile.
"Well, I'm non binary. They/them pronouns. Gender neutral things, not brother or son, just sibling or child," The non-binary twin replied. "Also, I'm sorry, I don't think we can switch places anymore."
The last statement brought a look of betrayal onto George's face, before morphing quickly into one of slight sadness. He had known his twin disliked it much before they let on, but he didn't want to stop. It was one of the first pranks they had played on their family, and he hoped it would also be one of the last.
"I'm sorry, I know, it just hurts so much to be seen as a boy and I don't think I can take people mixing us up like that for much longer." Fred spoke quickly, trying not to let tears well up in their eyes.
The boy reached over for a hug. "It's okay Freddie. This is who you are and you can't change that. It would be stupid to deny that for some silly prank. If it hurts you, we won't do it." He could see the anxiety - but also relief - in his twin's eyes as the tears finally fell.
After what felt like an hour (really it was about 5 minutes), the pair detached from their hug, Fred only sniffling at this point.
"Now come on, Freddie, I'm sure we can come up with a fun way to re-introduce you to the world, if that's what you would like."
With a slight smile on their face and a small nod, Fred got up from their bed, unlocked the dormitory and followed their twin to the secret nook used to plan pranks the both of them had found in their second year.