Written for Hogwarts Online II Homework assigned by Professor Kayla.
Prompt: Afterlife
Fred stood watching everyone celebrate one holiday after the next. He was there too, wishing, longing for a cup of hot chocolate at Christmas, or an American hot dog Hermione introduced them to, but knew he couldn't eat or drink anymore. For Fred, he watched them as if he was living in a memory. He wasn't exactly a ghost, but he wasn't exactly dead. In the afterlife, Fred didn't know what he was. A memory of himself for only his eyes. A mere vapor standing next to someone. He knew when they cried over him. Hated it too, because he always tried reaching out to them.
One holiday season forced him to Hermione's room. It was a time where she was living with his brother. She sat staring at her engagement ring, watching it shine in the light like stars in the sky. Fred sat on her bed, staring into her grey eyes, which weren't shining like the ring. He knew she wasn't happy. Just once, he wished he could touch her, comfort her, let her know he was there. Scratch that, he wished more than once on many occasions. Especially when he saw women cry.
"Oh Fred. I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing. We were just getting to know each other, sending letters and all that every chance I got during the war. And then you had to go and get killed. I don't even know what you're up to, or how the afterlife is, but I wish you were the one who asked me instead of Ron." She said as her eyes swelled up with tears. She couldn't help but cry. He had become her secret lover.
She remembered the first time they exchanged personal feelings for each other. It was the summer after her sixth year when Hermione's letter accidentally went to Fred instead of Ron. Hermione had written Fred at the top, as he was walking past. He saw his name, and wrote her a note back not knowing what his name really was written for. He wrote back, asking what it meant, and the letters between them were born.
He scooted next to her on the bed, and placed his arms around her even though she couldn't feel him. He could have sworn she looked up, and shivered. When she did a second time, Fred knew she could feel his arms around her.
"I know you're there, next to me. I felt something around me. I wish I could see you. You need to tell me if I'm making the right decision. I don't know if marrying Ron is the right thing now. Sure I love him, but he isn't you Fred." Hermione said sadly. Fred stood up and kicked the air. He spoke softly, but knew she couldn't hear him.
"Hermione, you can marry my brother. He needs you now more than ever. Marry him, and maybe I can be at peace in the afterlife."
"OH FRED! I WISH I KNEW WHAT TO DO!" Hermione sobbed loudly as she fell into her pillow crying.
Hours later, he watched as his brother found her asleep with her day clothes on. He didn't know she spent hours crying, didn't see the tears fall. But Fred did. Ron was oblivious to that sort of thing, but Fred wasn't. Fred always knew what to do when she started crying. As his brother got into bed next to the woman he loved, Hermione turned around.
"I see you have the ring on." Ron said as he placed his arms around her.
"Yes, I'll marry you." Hermione finally gave her answer as she looked away from Ron. She felt as if she was being watched by Fred again and whispered under her breath towards the door.
"But I'll always love you more Fred." Hermione said quickly as she turned around so she wouldn't imagine he was there.
Fred knew she would be taken care of in more ways than he could ever have done so. He knew his brother would get happy again, it would just take time. Fred watched her sleep before disappearing into the afterlife forever.