In which Hermione and Fred accidentally bonded their souls during the battle of Hogwarts, and are now forced to confront their hidden feelings for each other. AU because some people are alive who shouldn't be, slight OOC because Fred and Hermione have feelings for each other, will become more OOC as the story goes on. Don't read it if you don't like that sort of thing.
The brilliant colors of the setting sun, juxtaposed behind the helter-skelter architecture of the Burrow, reflected the jubilant feeling in the air. Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived, had become the-boy-who-defeated-voldemort with a minimal amount of casualties. A week before Harry, Ron, and Hermione ripped through Hogwarts looking for a horcrux and ended up initiating the final battle. The two sides battled through the night, and it was almost morning when Voldemort finally slumped to the floor, dead.
Everyone in the Burrow was currently singing the praises of one Hermione Granger. During the fight, a wall blasted apart, shoving a jagged piece of rock through the spinal column of Fred Weasley. In a daze Hermione quickly ran forward and pulled the rock out, immediately beginning a litany of healing spells, while yelling for Percy to get her bag and bring her the bottle of dittany. It took half an hour of spells and a miracle, but by the time she was done Fred Weasley was alive. Nobody knew how she did it and, as Madame Pomfrey kept reminding everyone, by all accounts, Fred should have died. Hermione couldn't remember all the spells she had used, some of them she had only read about and stored in the back of her mind when she used them on Fred, frantic to save his life. The family didn't care about should haves, and was just thankful that she was there, regardless of how it happened. Hermione however, knew something had gone awry, but since it saved Fred's life and they had so far experienced no adverse effects, she was not looking into it.
"Ronald Weasley, stop talking with your mouth full!" Hermione yelled from the other side of the table.
Ron looked around and reddened before swallowing his food and going back to arguing heatedly with his brother Charlie. "I don't care what you say Charlie, the Canons are going all the way this year!"
Hermione shook her head and laughed at her friend. It seemed like he would never change from the boy he was when they first met on the train to Hogwarts. Her other best friend, Harry Potter, was currently sitting next to his fiance Ginny Weasley in the living room, whispering in his ear. After the battle was won, the first thing Harry did was propose to Ginny. He said that after spending almost a year away from her while hunting horcruxes, he never wanted to be away from her again. Ginny agreed and they were planning on getting married before the summer was over.
"Hey Mione" a deep voice pierced Hermione's thoughts. She jumped and looked around wildly. Fred laughed as he dropped into the seat next to her. "So jumpy, I wonder why?"
Hermione gave him a scathing look, "It could have something to do with the year I spent on the run, or maybe the battle I fought in, or it could be something as innocuous as a history of pranks in this house."
Fred laughed again. "After saving my life, I don't think you ever have to worry about a prank again. George is so thankful, he's building a shrine in your honor."
Hermione's smile slipped as she imagined what life without Fred Weasley would be like. Incredibly boring probably, a Burrow with no laughter. She grimaced at the thought, and felt tears welling up.
"Please don't make light of that Fred." she mumbled.
"Hey, cheer up. I didn't come over to make you sad. In fact I had the opposite intention. Come away with me my dear lady and see what I have planned for our entertainment tonight" he said as he reached out for her hand to pull her out of her chair.
She laughed at his faux chivalry and reached up to grab his hand. As their skin touched, a shock went through them, jolting them. They both snatched their hand back and looked at each other questioningly.
Hermione laughed and said "Static electricity, how odd. I've never encountered that in a magical house before, or at Hogwarts. I guess there's a first time for everything." She stood up and took Fred's arm, being careful to touch his sleeve only, lest they shock each other again. "Let's go good sir".
"Right this way milady." he said as they skipped out of the room.
Fred led her outside to the Quidditch Pitch in the backyard and sat down on the grass at the edge. Hermione sat next to him uncertainly.
"Fred what are we doing out here?" she asked.
"Well, as you know, it is Friday night. And every Friday night the Weasleys play Quidditch after dinner. Mum said I'm not allowed to play because I'm still healing up a bit, but I thought we could watch together. Plus with you here they can't blame me for any, mishaps."
Hermione looked over at him sharply. "What do you mean mishaps?"
Fred wagged his eyebrows at her and grinned "You'll see"
The rest of the Weasleys trooped out with Harry and grabbed their brooms from the cupboard. The teams were split pretty evenly with Fred out. George, Percy, Fleur and Bill against Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Charlie. Hermione refereed from the ground as usual, which made the game pretty fair. About an hour into the game, Hermione heard a shrieking from above. Squinting against the bright light of the setting sun, she saw Ron at a complete stop in the air, pointing at something towards the wood behind the property and screaming at the top of his lungs. She jumped up, pulled her wand out, and looked over at Fred wordlessly, but relaxed a bit when she saw the grin on his face. Clearly this was the 'mishap' he was speaking of earlier she thought when she sat back down. Above them, Ron continued to scream while the rest of the family flew to him to see what was wrong. Before they got to his vantage point Ron turned and flew towards the ground. As he flew he passed a bludger, who sensed a new target and changed direction. It followed Ron as he unknowingly flew towards Hermione and Fred.
Hermione, meanwhile, was contemplating the boy sitting next to her. "His laugh is so nice, and the way he grins is so cute. I should say something witty to get his attention and make him laugh" she thought to herself.
"What on earth did you do to poor Ron? He sounds like Aragog is coming over the hill" Hermione asked Fred.
He laughed, loud and deep. "That's exactly what he thinks is happening. I charmed Ron's quidditch goggles so that when he sees a garden gnome, they look like acromantulas!"
Hermione joined in his laughter, reveling in the way his seemed to roll over her body. Suddenly she felt a sense of apprehension and fear.
"Hermione!" she heard Fred scream. She turned to look at him, the fear in his eyes the last thing she saw before the bludger hit her in the head and she blacked out.