This time when Hermione came around she knew for a fact she was alive, her head was pounding and the nausea had not settled. Yet saying this she didn't feel bad... If anything she felt warm and safe.

"I'm sorry Hermione." Came Fred's voice from behind her as a hand came into view holding what she knew was a pain reliever potion, taking it carefully Fred helped Hermione drink.

"It's ok Fred... But.. But can we just talk about something else for the moment?" She felt the man behind her nod as Hermione attempted to turn to look at him.

"Again I'm sorry.. When you said you felt sick and then fainted I didn't know what to do... And if you were sick whilst lying down.." Hermione could see the red blush on Fred's cheeks and felt a surge of affection towards him as she turned back forwards.

"Thank you Fred." And seeing the cute blush on the woman's face before him he felt happy Hermione was not pulling away from him.

"You know I expected all kind of questions from you and so far nothing! What's happened to the Gryffindor know it all if 4 years that makes her not so nosey." Hermione couldn't help but laugh at the teasing lilt in Fred's voice.

"Well honestly I have hundreds of questions... But well it just felt rude to be honest." Fred chuckled

"Well how about I give you express permission to ask any questions you like, but if I don't answer you allow me to keep my secrets." Hermione patted Fred's knee that was next to her.

"Deal." Fred's stomach flipped slightly and his smile widened.

"So go ahead I'm ready, give me your best." Her watched as Hermione thought for a moment before asking probably one of the most complex questions.

"What's it like to die? Did it hurt?" She wondered if perhaps this was too presumptuous for the first question when Fred stilled for a moment before answering.

"I don't actually know... I don't remember dying." This shocked Hermione a little.

"So what happened then? How did you feel when all of this happened?" She asked twisting slightly in her seat between Fred's legs, he smiled at her and answered as truthfully as he could.

"I just kinda woke up... One second I was with everyone one place and the next second I was there with everyone again. It was almost like I had always been there." Hermione could see some emotion in Fred's eyes and she couldn't place it.

"Did you notice anything different? Did it feel different... Like time had passed?" She asked softly she didn't know why she was asking so gently, but it just felt right for the moment.

"Honestly... No I didn't notice anything Madam Pomfrey says it's called Selective perception something about stimuli and me not accepting the differences in my head so basically not seeing them." That look was back in Fred's eyes as Hermione reached for Feeds hand and squeezed it, she saw him sigh.

"To be honest I just couldn't believe it to begin with I thought it was just one big joke." Fred continued unprompted when he didn't say anything else though Hermione decided to question Fred further what ever Fred was feeling, it made Hermione feel anxious.

"What made you change your mind?" Again her voice was soft.

"Well We were all together George was like a shadow, mom was crying and everyone was all quiet and well not Weasley like... I kept telling them to stop pulling my wand, which just seemed to make them all more upset.

The next thing I knew Bill grabbed me... It wasn't his normal your in trouble grab either... Nor the way he grabbed me when we first got our own shop... It was soft... Like the way you would grab a child." She could see the tears welling behind Fred's eyes as he continued.

The next thing I know we've apperated and standing in the graveyard at Hogsmeade... I never even knew Hogsmeade had a grave yard?! And there's all these graves! And the more names I read the more my heart hurt!" Tears were flowing down Fred's cheeks now as Hermione squeezed his hand.

"They were all there... Remus... Tonks... Colin... God even Snape! All decorated in flowers and small trinkets and then... And then there in the middle of it all was mine!" Hermione grabbed Fred tightly as Fred broke down before her, holding him close.

"My grave was there Hermione... Covered in flowers and one of every single prank item George has created since that day! Their all there miniaturised! Every single one.. Did you know he was doing that?!" Fred asked sounding almost fervid as Hermione nodded silently.

"Of course you knew about it! I'm guessing everyone does!" His voice lowered to an almost whisper after his fervent outcry only moments before.

"There was so many flowers and notes and..." Fred's voice broke as Hermione continued to comfort him as well as she could.

"I died Hermione... And it hurt so many people." Fred whispered and all Hermione could do was hold him tightly.

"I know Fred... And I'm sorry." After what seemed like an hour Fred finally calmed down.

"What have you got to be sorry for?" Fred asked in a watery voice as Hermione looked deep into those Blue eyes deciding what exactly she was sorry for.

"Mine was the book." And like that Fred went from tears of sorrow to tears of joy.

"Of cause it was! Who in the earth is Casper the friendly ghost?" He asked with a watery smile.

"It was a book I loved as a child." Hermione answered softly and Fred seeing that maybe Hermione was avoiding the question decided to leave it at that.

"Look at me crying like a Pygmy puff." Fred said as he wiped his eyes with his hands until smaller hands grabbed them tightly.

"It's ok to cry Fred and I'm sorry." Fred simply looked at her.

"What are you sorry for now?" He asked as Hermione again took Fred in her arms and hugged him tightly.

"I'm sorry I left you alone to deal with all of this on your own Fred, I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you." Slowly Fred wrapped his arms around Hermione and hugged her back.

"Thank you Hermione but please don't be sorry for that, never be sorry for what you did for me. Though maybe I should say I'm sorry, you've been unconscious 7 days because of me and... And you missed your wedding day to the man you wanted to wed." With those words Hermione sat bolt upright.

"Oh god! Ron!"

Selective perception refers to the process by which we select, categorize, and analyze stimuli from our environment to create meaningful experiences while blocking out stimuli that contradicts our beliefs or expectations. That is, we focus on certain aspects in our environment while excluding others.