After Fred died, a part of each Weasley died too. None of them could do anything but curl up into a fetal position, cry and shake. It was horrible. After almost a week without any of them changing their clothes, showering, brushing their hair, or eating anything, Hermione knew this would never get better. She was desperate for this family to be better, and she missed him too. Fred had always been like a brother to her, and sometimes she had talked to him about Ron. And now… She sighed, tears pouring down her face, her fist shaking as she was about to leave the bedroom she was sharing with Ginny (for a month) and go downstairs. She thought about the end of the war, all the deaths, and everything that Harry had told her about Snape.
"Snape," she muttered to herself, "Who'da thought he was in love with Harry's mum, and getting advice from a painting of Dumbledore?" Suddenly, she gasped. That was it! Dumbledore could still talk from his painting! If there was a painting of Fred, then-but her hopes crashed. Only three people in the wizard world (according to one of her books) had the powers to create magical paintings. Two were older wizard men, and one… Hermione snatched her book and began reading aloud softly, "Magical painters…Three in the world…The last is a muggle…Sixteen years of age…Lives in New York City…Has the name of Rachel Elizabeth Dare…GINNY! WAKE UP! Pack a bag-and hurry! We can use the Floo powder and-HURRY!" Ginny groaned and got out of bed. Her knotty, greasy, tangled red hair framed her pale, tear-stained face. She wore a rumpled white t-shirt under her wrinkled Gryffindor robes. "GET GOING! GO!" Ginny started throwing her essentials into a bag without a single question. The two girls finished packing in under four minutes, and ran to the fireplace. "NEW YORK CITY!" Hermione shouted, and they were off.
"Why are we here, exactly?" Ginny whispered. "Not now. Hold on." Hermione saw an empty cab and they got in. "Bella Binini's Finishing School for Girls," she instructed. The ride was silent, and finally the girls got out. Hermione led Ginny around campus, until they saw two girls in matching uniforms. They wore stiff white button-down shirts, knee-length navy skirts, navy bow ties, and brown loafers. One had wispy white-blond hair and glasses, while the other had thick, reddish-brown hair in a messy ponytail. "Do you know where I could find Rachel Elizabeth Dare?" Hermione asked them. "That's me," ponytail said. "I'm Rachel."
Hermione convinced Rachel that they were on a tour, and she took them to her room. Hermione took out a picture of Fred. "Rachel, can you paint-?" Rachel gasped. "That's him! He's in my dreams all the time, dancing and laughing. I've even painted him!" she pulled a canvas out from behind a thick cloth. "Why-do you know him?" Hermione nodded, and Ginny went pale. "No! Hermione, you can't seriously think-!" She was interrupted by a warm, friendly chuckle. "Calm down, Ginerva! Be a lady!" Fred chided in a mock-serious voice. Ginny wept… "Oh, Freddy! It worked! I-I-FREDDY!" Ignoring Hermione and Rachel, she used magic to leap into the picture and hug her brother.
"How-how are-?" Rachel stuttered. "Are you-demigods?" "Wizards, actually," Hermione confessed. It's a long story. Just forget us. But-may I have your painting?" Rachel nodded, and Hermione and Ginny left and returned Fred to his family.