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The rain poured down the castle windows as Luna made her way to through the corridors toward the Great Hall for dinner. She had some down time and desperately needed to process the thoughts in her head. She didn't know what to do. How is one to comfort a girl so broken? There was nothing she could say, it wasn't as if she had ever gone through anything similar or relatable. She resolved to just be there – be some sort of comfort to the girl who had just confided her darkest secret in her.
"Luna." She heard a voice calling her from behind. She turned slowly, and met Harry. "How are you today?" he stuttered.
"Very well, thank you. And, how about yourself, Harry?" she smiled.
"Good. Listen, I was wondering if…" His voice trailed off.
"Yes, I know. No, I won't tell." Luna answered his unasked questions.
"Thanks," he replied, as if a weight had been lifted off of his chest. "She was worried, that you might…"
"I wouldn't. I am deeply flattered that she would confide in me. My lips are sealed."
A large grin spread across Harry's face. "Shall we eat, then?" He extended his arm to her, which she took, and they walked together down the corridor.
"Blimey, Fred. I'm so confused." Lee stared at Fred, who was obviously lost in thought. Fred was looking intently at the chicken on his plate, but hadn't eaten a thing. Lee snapped in his face. "You there, Fred?"
Startled, Fred looked up at Lee. "Yeah, sorry. I was… just… Hang on, did you snap at me?"
Lee laughed out loud. "Yeah. I did."
Fred rolled his eyes and began to pick at his food. He wasn't hungry, and he hadn't seen Hermione since their conversation in the hall. He wasn't really worried about living with Hermione. They had spent the rest of the summer together, and George had moved up into Ron's room to give her some privacy. At first, she had slept in George's bed, but during the night, she'd wake him up to get into bed with him. She had this terrible fear of being alone, and couldn't get comfortable in the dark without him. He was more than happy to oblige, but his concerns were getting the best of him.
"Alright, out with it, mate," Lee said, after watching Fred piddle around for a minute. "Something's eating at you. You might as well just tell me." Fred shook his head. "Is it really something you can't let your best friend know?"
"It's not my place to tell. It's not my business, and I can't just go around spreading it. I may be involved, but it's not right to the persons involved. Please, I don't want to make you angry or offend you, but I really can't tell you, Lee. And, I am sorry. I wish I could."
Lee nodded in acceptance. Though he hated it, he knew Fred was a good friend. "Well, whoever it does concern, they're lucky bastards to have a friend as good as you." Fred smiled as Hermione walked down the aisle to sit next to Fred, Harry and Neville behind her. They seemed to be discussing something out of one of Neville's Herbology textbooks. The three sat down, Hermione next to Fred and the boys next to her. "Hermione! It's good to see you!" Lee said, enthusiastically. "How was your holiday?"
Fred's heart leaped into his throat at the mention of holiday, but all fears were vanquished when Hermione flawlessly answered Lee, "Good! How about yours? Do anything heroic?"
Lee laughed out loud. Fred was grateful he didn't notice how it truly was odd that Hermione was sitting with him, not Ron. The group seemed to be getting on great. Hermione was easily engaged into conversation with his friends, and they seemed to really enjoy her company at the table. Everyone in the group happened to be laughing hysterically as Ron passed, following Seamus and Dean. He shot dirty glances at him, Hermione and Harry, and stuck his tongue out at Neville. Angrily, Neville stuck his tongue back out, surprising Harry and Hermione.
"Neville! I've never seen you be mean to ANYONE. What on earth has gotten into you?" Hermione whispered.
"He yelled at me in the common room the other day about 'replacing him,' so I've assumed it's war."
"Neville, you've always been our friend," Harry said, confused at Ron's anger toward Neville.
"I'm not worried about it. I just find it somewhat interesting that he's worried about someone taking his place when he clearly left it of his own accord," Neville whispered.
Hermione nodded furiously in agreement. The three looked at each other and started to laugh. They looked down at Ron, who was clearly staring back at them. They all seemed to have the same idea. They grinned and waved at him, slyly. A look of disgust crossed his face and he raised his hand to flash some inappropriate sign, but was quickly distracted by Dean.
"Fred, I don't think Ron will ever forgive me," Hermione confessed. She was slowly walking down the corridor, not really headed in any particular direction.
"Let's talk about this when we get back to our room, shall we?" He smiled, taking her hand. They went up the stairs towards the Gryffindor common room, but turned passed the portrait, heading up the adjacent set of stairs. At the stop, there was another set of stairs that rounded the back of Gryffindor Tower. It was a long flight, but their new abode was at the very top. The portrait of Violet, the Fat Lady's closest friend, had been moved to accommodate as the door to the apartment. "Hello, Vi," Fred said warmly.
"Good evening, Mr. Weasley. Miss Granger. Password?"
"Canary Cream."
The portrait opened to a room the size of the common room. There was a giant, queen-sized, four poster bed on the middle of the back wall, two desks on the right and two large armoires on the wall with the door. To the left, there was a door. Hermione stepped inside, finding her truck at the foot of the bed. She walked to the door and opened it, revealing a rather large bathroom with a double vanity sink, a shower and a separate bath tub. She turned around to face Fred. "It's perfect!" She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. He nervously wrapped his arms around her small frame.
"I'm glad you like it," he whispered into her ear. They pulled away, and Hermione began to unpack her trunk into the armoire she claimed as hers, and putting books on the desk she also claimed. Fred sat on the bed, watching her run around, glad that she was actually happy. It had been the first time he had seen a genuine smile on her face in a long time.
Fred couldn't sleep. Hermione was in his arms, completely passed out. He laid uncomfortably on his side, but didn't wish to move for fear of waking her. "Fred," Hermione said quietly, in what Fred thought was sleep.
"Yes, dear?" he whispered, not expecting a response.
"Thank you."
Startled, Fred replied, "For what?"
"For putting up with me." Her eyes were still closed, and she hadn't moved. She was just talking, or rather, whispering to him. "You didn't have to."
"I know. I want to, though." Fred said, tucking a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. She rolled over, snuggling into his chest. "Hermione, can I ask you something?"
"Sure," she said, dreamily.
"Why do you feel safe with me?" It was odd, but he felt like he needed to know the answer.
"Why shouldn't I feel safe with you?" she asked back, not picking up his concern.
"It's nothing. Sorry. Sleep well, love." He kissed her forehead, and laid awake the rest of the night.
