Chapter two, and I still own nothing.
Eyes wide, Hermione stood in total silence as the man in front of her changed dramatically in appearance. He shot up several inches while his hair shrank back in his head. He raised his hands and stared at them in shock as his dark skin lightened, become pale. Reaching up he tugged his hair, which was now shorter, and a bright red. He was totally absorbed in his appearance until a shriek pulled him back to the present.
Glancing at the source of the cry, his bright, laughing blue eyes connected with her deep, shocked, chocolate brown ones as she drew a sharp intake of breath and shook her head.
"Fred? But… you can't be." Hermione's voice was little more than a whisper. Completely unaware of the large crowds watching the pair avidly, she reached up a trembling hand to touch his check. As her cold fingers made contact with his warm cheek she pulled her hand away and brought it back sharply, giving him a resounding slap. This was when the tears came. They poured down her face as she threw herself at Fred, beating his chest with her fists.
"Two years, Fred! How could you do that to your family? Do you realize what it's been like for them? You just disappeared, everyone thought you were dead! Nothing's been the same without you. None of us have been the same. Sometimes George can't even get up in the morning. Mrs Weasley still bursts into tears every time she looks at the family clock. If you thought she was emotional when Percy left the family, you should see her now! But what do you do? Nothing! What happened, Fred? Why did we hear nothing for TWO YEARS?"
Fred just stood there, not fighting, just accepting the blows.
"Did you not care about your family back then? Do you not care about them now? What other explanation is there?"
Fred moved suddenly, grabbing Hermione's wrists, stopping her in mid-blow.
"Hermione Jean Granger, I thought you knew me better than that. How could you even consider the possibility that I don't care about my family? I love them, you should know that. You've known me for years, do you really think I'd ever turn my back on those I love?"
Hermione seemed to deflate, and a fresh wave of tears arrived. "I'm sorry, Fred. It's just…two years. I didn't know what to think when you disappeared, none of us did. Every day since, it's been so hard, for everyone."
Fred, seeing her distress, pulled her close to him and rested his chin on the top of her head – she fitted against him perfectly, he couldn't help but notice. "It's ok, Hermione, it's ok." Lifting his head slightly, he glared at all the spectators, who were standing there, all shell shocked. "Would you mind shoving off?" He asked abruptly.
Some people moved off, but someone pushed through the crowd towards him. "We were watching a display. I don't care if you've suddenly changed your appearance, you won't get anything from me unless you finish your performance."
Fred looked him up and down, rolling his eyes. "If you hadn't noticed, sir, I'm slightly preoccupied at the moment." He glanced back down at Hermione, who was looking up at him. "Slytherin." he whispered quietly, so only she could her. This comment was rewarded by a slight laugh from Hermione, who seemed to be pulling herself together, and was wiping her eyes, and, unless Fred was very much mistaken, performing non-verbal, wandless magic to get rid of the redness.
"So, how are…my family?" Fred was hesitant. He had had no contact with them in two years, had forgotten they existed. In a way, he had known that he was missing some part of him, he hadn't been able to place his finger on quite what.
"They're ok…" Hermione wasn't meeting his gaze. He tilted her face so she had no choice but to look into his eyes. She quailed under his penetrating gaze. "They're ok," she repeated, then added, "barely. You heard what I said earlier. None of them are the same. Your mum, she can't help but burst into tears every time she looks at the clock or the dinner table when we're all sitting round it."
"And George?" Fred pressed.
"Well, it's hard to explain how your disappearance affected him. It'll be easier if I show you. Frederick Gideon Weasley, are you ready to go back to The Burrow?"
"Course I am? Did you really expect me to say otherwise?" Fred teased.
"Come on then!" Hermione was looking much happier now, Fred noted, as she grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the crowds, evidently looking for a quiet place to Apperate away. Bending down slightly, he whispered in her ear. "You'll have to Apperate me, I don't have my wand. I have no-"
Hermione smiled up at him, pressing a finger to his lips, silencing him.
"Don't you think I know that? Your wands at The Burrow, in your old room. It's in bits though, we managed to find all of it after the Battle, but there's no way to repair it.I'll have to warn you – your old room has turned into a bit of a shrine for you – there's tonnes of photos and other stuff, with your wand taking pride of place."
Fred nodded, looking sad at the idea of his family doing something like that. Didn't they know that, if he died, they'd want them to live their lives and be happy, remembering him of course, but only if they were going to laugh about the memories, not cry over them. He didn't have the chance to say any of this, however, because, at that moment, Hermione, apparently satisfied that no one could see them, had Side-Long-Apperated them both away.
Oh, Fred. You've come back to your family!
Next chapter: reuniting with the family, and we find a little bit out about what happened to Fred.
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