Author's Note: Hi! Sorry, I'm going to try and speed up with the updates, I've got my other fic In Times Of Great Need in progress as well, so thanks for being patient with me. Please keep with this and let me know what you think!


Chapter 2

Hermione was struggling to face the Weasleys knowing what she knew. When she wasn't researching in Ginny's room, she kept going home to check on Fred to make sure he wasn't driving himself crazy. Because knowing him, he would do exactly that.

After the shock wore off of seeing him at her house, it began to sink in once again that he was dead. She had to forcibly push that thought out of her head every time it entered her mind so that she could focus and not be overcome with sadness.

She had to accept that she couldn't bring him back, and there was no point in trying to save him, because he was gone.

She was fairly sure that Harry realised something was up, but the Weasleys were too busy dealing with their grief to notice anything out of the ordinary.

Ron and her were even supposed to be 'together' now, whatever that meant. She did love Ron, she knew that, but it was almost like there was something holding her back. This wasn't a confusion she needed right now.

Two weeks had passed and Fred was still a ghost. Although he was now used to the idea, he was still frustrated and impatient, but Hermione always found that she was able to calm him down eventually.

One morning, he'd tried to lie down and have a nap, but after an hour of trying to sleep, he suddenly remembered he was dead and had no need for rest anymore.

Luckily, Hermione had arrived in time to distract him from getting too upset.

Desperately thinking of something to help the situation, a thought occurred to her and she clung to it to give him some sort of hope. And the more she thought about it, the more it seemed to make sense in her mind.

"There have been ghosts in the past that have just disappeared. I think it's only ever happened twice at Hogwarts so it's incredibly rare,"

"Right," he said impatiently, drawing out the 'i'.

"Well, that means they went somewhere," she said obviously. He raised his eyebrows.

"Wow. You really are the brightest witch of your age, aren't you?" he sneered.

That stung. Fred seemed to suddenly realise how harsh he'd been and went towards her with his arms open, but quickly lowered them again.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be-,"

"Don't worry, it's fine," there was an uncomfortable silence, but Hermione couldn't bring herself to stay annoyed with him for too long, he looked genuinely upset with himself for saying that.

"What I meant by it was," she continued, "that there's this common Muggle idea that ghosts are people who died with something left unfinished … unfinished business," she explained. Fred looked confused.

"I don't think I have any of that," he bit his lip.

"But it's the only explanation really, considering you didn't choose it,"

"I guess so," he said more certainly.

It was something. And the small spark of hope she saw in his eyes for the first time made her grasp it with both hands.

"So what do you think it might be?"

He laughed.

"I don't have a bloody clue."


"Harry says sorry,"

Fred just blinked at her.

"What?"

"He says he's sorry," she repeated. Fred paused, frowning at her. Then the realisation hit him like a train.

"He knows?"

"Well, he knew something was up," she explained quickly, as he was looking pretty angry, "and he cornered me this morning and refused to let me leave until I told him what it was,"

"so you told him?" Fred began to panic.

"He won't tell any of the others! He promised," she prayed that he would be okay with this. Fred looked at her, still cross, but calming down slightly. She decided to tread carefully, "I also thought it was a good idea to have someone to cover for me,"

Fred continued to just look at her. She could see him chewing the inside of his cheek as he considered what she'd told him.

"What's he sorry for?"

Hermione sighed. She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.

"He blames himself for what happened to you,"

"What! That's stupid!" he proclaimed.

"I know, but this is Harry we're talking about," he was so bloody noble and heroic, he felt guilty for every single person's death. No matter how hard Hermione tried to explain that it was not his fault, he refused to listen.

"True," Fred nodded, "well, tell him he has nothing to be sorry for. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into and it not his fault in any way,"

"I will,"

"Good," Fred paused. His expression changed and he picked at his fingers, "Is George blaming himself?" he asked quietly.

She gave a small nod. Yes, George was blaming himself, that much was clear. She'd heard him talking in his sleep most nights as he dreamed. The word she heard the most was 'sorry'.

"Of course he is," he smiled sadly, "I know him too well. Idiot," his jaw shook slightly as he tried to cover it up with a small laugh.

If only she could take his hand, to try and give him some small comfort. He was right next to her, yet he felt miles away.

They sat in silence for a bit.

Hermione had had an idea for a little while now, and she thought it was about time she brought it up. But she knew he wouldn't react well.

"Maybe you need to say goodbye?" she suggested tentatively. His forehead crinckled.

"To who?"

"To your family; to George?"

His expression hardened.

"No,"

"Why not?"

"Hermione, we've discussed this. If I do say goodbye and it turns out that isn't what my unfinished business is, then I effectively ruin their lives because they won't be able to let me go. I will not put them through that,"

"But what if it is-,"

"But nothing Hermione," he tried to pick up a cushion, but his hand met nothing. His teeth gritted, floating upright, he kicked thin air in frustration.

"Damn it! I hate not being able to do anything!" he yelled.

"Fred," she said with her voice full of hurt.

He stooped and looked at her. She just looked back. Eventually, he appeared to calm down, his expression softened and he dropped his head.

"Thank God I have you," he muttered. Hermione frowned.

"What?"

He shook his head.

"Nothing really, I just think I'd be going mad if you weren't here to sort me out," he looked back at her, "you don't have to, you know,"

"Have to what?" she said again. What was he going on about?

"You don't have to keep coming. It's clearly hard for you to get away if you need Harry to cover for you. And you have much better things to do than watch me be miserable,"

Hermione was aghast.

"Fred, that's never been an option for me. Not helping you has never even crossed my mind," she couldn't believe he'd even thoughtthat, "Surely you don't think I'd just leave you?"

He looked visibly relieved and shook his head.

"You're right. I was being stupid. I know you wouldn't leave me, I'm far too charming," he joked. Hermione chuckled and went closer to him; she looked up into his face to make sure he understood. So he could see it in her eyes.

"We're in this together, okay? I'm not going anywhere,"

Smiling sadly, he nodded.

"Good."