Another quick one-shot for Harry Potter similar to my 'Their Eyes' story. Boy, I've been doing a lot of these. Anyway, this was based on a dream I had a few days back. Fred and George were in it and, at one point, it became known that Fred had died in the Battle of Hogwarts. Only, when I went to see George, I saw Fred instead and Fred was actually dream had so much other weird stuff going on that I had to adapt it more properly lol (seriously, I think the dream took place at a local store or something ridiculous like that). I think I had this dream largely because of the Fred fanart going around on dA. In particular, viria13 has been doing some heartbreaking work.
So, anyway, I chose Hermione for this because according the Harry Potter wiki, she is almost like an older sibling to the twins and also because J.K. Rowling was considering pairing her with Fred originally. For the record, I haven't read Harry Potter in years so if there are inaccuracies, I apologize. Enjoy.
A Dream; A Nightmare
Although she didn't know why, Hermione found herself waking up with a start. Her heart was racing and for one reason or another she felt incredibly scared. It was as if there was a hole in her chest, an emptiness that could never be filled.
As she took in her surroundings, a sinking feeling settled in and she began to realize why there was an unbearable pain in her chest. For although she was in the comfort of the Weasley home, she knew that when she walked downstairs there would be one Weasley missing. One trouble making twin would no longer be there.
So Hermione cautiously climbed out of bed, preparing herself for what was surely downstairs. Or rather, what wasn't downstairs. Her feet lightly traced the floor as Ginny was still sleeping in the other bed. And as she traveled downstairs, Hermione began to realize it wasn't breakfast at all but instead very early in the morning. Yet, she still felt compelled to continue her journey towards the kitchen.
There was soft rustling in the kitchen as she approached closer. Someone was having a midnight snack no doubt. Or, an early morning snack, she should think.
It was very strange to see one twin without the other. And yet, this was what she was seeing. It nearly broke her heart at first. No longer could the twins be together, forever separated by death.
But then as she looked at him, she knew it wasn't George. Fred was just finishing hiding the evidence that he had been there in the night.
"Goodnight," Fred said as he was leaving to go back to bed, acting as though he hadn't been doing anything at all. For a moment, Hermione suspected he might be up to something bust she was too stunned to dwell on it. As he left her, she couldn't help but to feel herself swell with happiness.
It had only been a dream, a horrible nightmare. Fred wasn't dead; he didn't die at the Battle of Hogwarts. Fred was fine. Fred was alive.
Fred was alive.