Hello everyone. Forgive my absence. I took a hiatus for writers block and recently had reawaken a desire to finish the stories I once started, including this one.
This idea is one I've had for a long time. As an alternative to most twin-fics I've read. I have thought a lot about this idea, but I am rusty, so please forgive the slow start. I hope to improve as I go.
Days and Nights of reading nonstop, hardly eating, hardly sleeping is what leads Hermione to return to Wizard Wheezes that Friday, where a dazed eyed George with bottle in hand found her knocking furiously at his doorstep, refusing to leave until he opened. The first thing she noticed was the bottles, bottles upon bottles that filled his apartment; appearing as though he was saving up for the apocalypse. The smell however was the worst, acid and rank, like a sewer, as if he had bathed in all the filth of London itself.
George looked worse than ever. He hadn't shaven, his eyes were blood stained from obvious tears, and it was a bigger mess than it had been the last time she'd come. For a moment, once again, Hermione was at a loss for words.
"I've found it," she stuttered as she found her voice, walking past George and taking her previous chair from before.
He growled, "Hermione I'm busy."
She ignored him. "I think you'll want to sit down."
He sighed, obviously not in the mood. "I doubt it… Please leave."
"No."
"Hermione… I told you to leave."
"I'm not leaving until I say what I came here to say."
"Hermione! Get to the point," he snapped, annoyed, but finally paying attention.
"I found a way to bring Fred back."
His expression changed from tired and annoyed to anger. "Get out."
"No. I found a way to bring him back."
He growled, grabbing her roughly by the arm and pulling her towards the door. "Don't test me Granger, not tonight."
"No! Not until you listen to me! I found a way to bring Fred back!"
"Then why isn't he here already?! Why didn't you bring him back? I'll tell you why- because it's impossible! You think I wouldn't know if there was? No spell can reawaken the dead, Hermione! And you're insane if you think I'll listen to your crap a moment…"
She slapped him at that. "Just listen to me! I can bring Fred back! And I need you to help me do it, so you can either sit around here, drink yourself into a stupor for the next few days, and mope some more or you can sit down, shut up and listen to what I have to say which for once in your life you might actually want to."
Despite all the hesitance, all the suspicion, and all the fear glowing in his eyes, deep down she saw a ray of something no one had seen in Fred for nearly a year, hope. He sat down and waited.
She breathed heavily, summoning up the courage to explain. "I found a spell, Vitus Aminas Concero. It's been centuries since it was used. It was created for Casper and Philius the famous wizard twins in Merlin's time. Legend has it that their father, Alastair Milan went to Merlin when Casper died, begging the great wizard to help him. He created the spell to bring him back. Don't you see it?"
"Hermione, it's just a legend. No spell exists…" She continued, despite his interruption, throwing him a book which he only caught by instinct, starring down at the title in anger. "Hermione. This book... Only Only heads of pureblood houses have it. Where did you get this?"
Hermione didn't reply, ignoring the question entirely. "Magical, identical twins, have a special bond unlike any other, comparable only to soul mates." She corrected herself. "It runs even deeper than that... Soul mates can bond and share their magic, but twins share a magical signature, they share lifespans which is why they're so rare. It's rarer still for them to die so young because of that bond. Casper and Philius were strongest together, which is why Casper was so easily killed when he was alone and why Fred was so easily killed during the battle. You were right. You did lose a part of yourself that night, and this spell is meant to make you whole again. To bring him back. He's still alive, in here." She dared to touch his heart, though he seemed unmoved all the same.
"And why hasn't this been done before?"
"Well firstly it's specific to male twins," something she would have to look into later, though that could wait. "It's meant to increase the chance at strong bloodlines as twins have a higher level of magic. It's also because for the ritual to be completed, the surviving twin must…" She hesitated.
"Tell me."
Her mouth went momentarily dry.
"Hermione, tell me!" He looked like a starving man, possessed by this point, as though his life depended on her next words.
"A bonding ritual. You must bond with a female pure in flesh and blood." She coughed. "It must be done his death date, upon his resting place."
"Within the year… That's two nights away Hermione."
"I know… But-"
He looked pensive, thinking furiously. "Who? Who could…" He shot up in his chair. "Angelina."
"What? No George…" He ignored her.
"She has to. She loved Fred, and she… She's been kind to me. I think she does it more than anything because I remind her of him, but still. Plus she's a pureblood, thank god, so it'll work out perfectly…"
"George, she has to be a virgin."
He stared. "What? How do you know that?"
"A virgin. That's what flesh and blood mean, not magic purity, but essence. The potion you have to take needs the blood of a virgin, your blood, and to be taken before consummation, along with a vow of eternity to bond you both to… Her."
He breathed heavily, "Who else?"
She gulped, having expected this. "I… I thought maybe I could… Help." She dared to meet his eyes for the first time that night, revealing her seriousness in the offer.
He stared back. "You? You're a virgin? Seriously? Hermione… Damn it… No, no way. I can't… I can't do that."
"George, it's the only way."
"No Hermione. I can't do that. You're… You're my youngest brother's best friend. I saw you in first year."
"We're only two years apart," she argued.
"That's not the point. Hermione, you don't want me. You never have. You couldn't stand us… Me, in school, and even if I'm not that George anymore, I'm still not someone you'd want to bind yourself to, let alone for eternity. I'm not the one you want, and you're certainly not who I want."
She tried to ignore the sting from that last comment. "Fred wasn't supposed to die. Surely this isn't so high a… Price to fix that… Is it?"
"Let's see marry a bossy swot, give up my freedom, my single status, my whole life to you for what? What's makes anything worth that?"
"Because it'll bring him back George. It'll bring Fred back." She smiled gently. "Isn't that what you want? I want him back just as much as you do! I'm willing to help. And we're running out of time. Now, what's your answer?"
"This is wrong. This is so wrong."
"Yes or no?"
She already knew the answer. She'd known it the moment she offered, but it surprised and hurt her all the same the moment he said, "Yes… I'll do it," the words coming out as though she had given him a death sentence, which is exactly how she felt in that moment.
S ˜s ˜S ˜s ˜S
The weekend passed quickly. Hermione readied all the ingredients they would need, as well as the rest of the supplies, while the rest of time the Weasleys' and many more in the Wizarding World were preparing for the memorial that would take place Sunday morning outside of Hogwarts. It was a somber event. Fred, Tonks, Remus, Scrimgeour, Snape and many more casualties were honored for their sacrifice in the Final Battle. Many were still confused about the exact details behind Snape's involvement in the war, save Hermione, Harry, and Ron, who after taking the memories given unto Harry from the man himself, were able to clear his name and the bad reputation surrounding it. After the service, Hermione was able to see many of her old school mates, including Oliver Wood, Katie Bell, Padma Patil, Ted and Andromeda Tonks were also there, Andromeda holding up Teddy who looked at Hermione with Tonk's bright, sleep eyes, and Remus' reddish-brown hair. It was seeing this that brought back tearful memories of their beloved teacher who had become so much more as both colleague and friend.
Minister of Magic Kinglsey Shakebolt gave the speech in remembrance of the members who had fought and died, while Minerva McGonagall said the names one by one of the students.
She took a break from the speech to stroll the graves, laying a single red rose upon Fred's, her heavy heart matching her thoughts in that instance. Of knowing what she would do… What she had to do. Just as she was beginning to return to the Weasley fold, she bumped into a strong burly figure, stumbling back and catching herself just in time on the front of their robes. "Oh Pardon me, I wasn't looking… Victor!" Hermione cried enthusiastically, jumping and wrapping tight arms around none other than Victor Krum who stood in his signature pelt lined cloak, returning her embrace as he smiled down at her.
"Hermy-own-ninny, you vook beautiful, as always."
Hermione blushed. "I didn't expect you here."
"No I vas a bit late to arrive, but I couldn't miss the chance…. You came back. I had not heard."
Hermione sighed, remembering how she was unable to write to anyone about her parents given the nature of the damage done, she couldn't risk more exposure. "Yes, I was in Australia, staying with family," There that was truthful enough.
He smiled. "I am please to zee you… You vill be at the ball?"
"Yes, actually I-" He didn't let her finish, continuing.
"I must go, but I will zee you there, you vill save me a dance?" At her nod, his smile deepened. "Until then." He took her hands and kissed her knuckles before walking off, followed by fans who seemed considerably brightened despite the setting as he walked off with whom she assumed to be his manager. Shaking her head she went back to meet Harry, unable to help as she looked around for the one Weasley she hadn't seen yet that day. He stood far away from everyone else, hugging Angelina Johnson, who looked lovely in her black dress, even as she was weeping into the shoulder of one George Weasley who looked onto the graves, somber as ever.
She wanted to go over to them, but was stopped by Ginny who suddenly had her elbow locked with hers as she guided her back towards them. "Was that Victor Krum?" She asked excitedly.
"Yes, it was. He flew in for the ball."
"He looked happy to see you," Ginny teased. "Things went well?"
"Yes, he asked me to save a dance for him later today. But that's not…" She was interrupted.
"He's looking rather well isn't he? He finally switched teams this year, everyone, even the Cannons wanted him, but they were outbid by the Wasps."
Hermione fought the urge to roll her eyes. Leave it to Ginny to make it all about Quidditch.
"It's a shame none of my other brothers fancied you. It would have been nice to have a sister."
"You mean other than Fleur?" She knew the spirited Weasley often clashed with Fleur due to their creative diferences.
Ginny scoffed and Hermione laughed, her first one that day.
S ˜s ˜S ˜s ˜S
A few hours before midnight, the ball was in full swing when Hermione exited for air. The feast had been lavish, the music moving, and the dancing… Hermione could hardly feel her feet. It really was an occasion that made most all Hogwarts celebrations Hermione had remembered pale in comparison. Almost, that is, until they remembered why they were celebrating in the first place. Voldemort may have been dead, but the cost still remained great for many.
Hermione herself had not wanted to join the festivities, but Ginny had practically dragged her. Once she saw Ron dancing with Padma Patil and Harry dancing with Ginny, she made sure to look nothing less than happy, not wishing to do anything to destroy that perfect evening for them. Among the dance even George had joined although serious as ever, he had taken the chance to dance with Angelina, though only at the beginning. Both had absented themselves afterwards.
The only thing that made her sober enough was seeing Minerva McGonagall, the only one incapable of celebrating as she was seated, watching the festivities from the seat of the late great Albus Dumbledore, only breaking her observing gaze every so now and again for polite conversation with the visiting ministers and professors.
Hermione strolled past the portraits of the fallen which were at the entrance of the gardens: Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Lavender Brown, Colin Creevey, Fred Wesley… Hermione nearly jumped as Fred's image winked at her, finding the weight of her decision tonight starting to sink in. What if she was making a mistake? What if it didn't work? What if George hated her all the more? What if she was wrong? Could she go through with this? Should she? What right did she have to dictate who deserved to live? What if this caused George to never speak to her or anyone again… What was the point?
It'll bring Fred back. The words echoed in her head and she sighed as the clock stuck 10, Hermione knew she had to leave. As easy as it would have to stay. She could never forgive herself if she didn't try.
I am working without a beta, so feedback and reviews are more than welcome. I hope you enjoy!
