'The Unbreakable Vow'

A Harry Potter Fan Fiction Story

Authors Note: I'd love some feedback. Any guesses on what is happening to Hermione?

Enjoy the Story I am only writing for fun. I own nothing, just my own spin on J.K. Rowling's story.

Chapter 7: Walk Away From the Sun

I stood behind the door to the bathroom, holding my burning red arm. I slowly sank to the floor. I could only hope Fred didn't get a good look at what was going on, and I can brush it off as embarrassment. I groaned, trying to control my breathing. What was going on with me?

I heard a knock at the door. Oh great that was probably Fred, trying to save the day and e my hero or something. I'm sure he wants an explanation. Maybe if I ignore him, he'll go away...

I sighed hearing it again.

"Go away Fred I don't want to talk!" I shouted, sure it was him.

"It's not Fred Hermione!" It was Ginny, and she sounded, well I couldn't tell if she was angry, amused, or worried. "Now open up before I apparate in there." It was getting harder to control my breathing, it felt like my arm was on fire. I felt like I was laying paralyzed on the floor, and I'd dropped my wand. "You know I will." I actually was hoping that she would come in, I needed help. "Hermione?" I let out a small cry for help, and she took that as a sign. She aparated in the bathroom seeing me laying there on the floor, unable to move, clinging to my arm, that was still glowing, but a brighter red.

"Oh my God!" She bent down next to me "What happened?"

I tried to breathe slower, fighting through the pain. I had a theory, but I wasn't one hundred percent sure. I had no choice I had to just try. I closed my eyes, and thought about Ron. I thought about our first kiss, and when I first had feelings for him. I let a tear fall from my eye, as I felt the pain slowly fade along with the red glow.

I sat up slowly, and Ginny was in tears too.

"Hermione, what was that? What happened to you?" I tried to regain my composure, feeling stronger by the minute. "You were glowing... your arm.."

"Gin.." I cleared my throat, saying quietly. "I need to tell you something, but you can't tell any one."

"I promise Hermione, what ever it is. You can trust me." I knew that I could, but I couldn't even imagine what she would say when I tell her everything. I instantly picked up my wand and put a powerful silencing charm around the bathroom. I couldn't risk any one walking by and hearing what I was going to say.

"Wow, a silencing charm, this has to be good."

"Ginny, What I am going to tell you might scare you, but I want your word no matter what you hear you wont do anything."

"But..."

"No... Gin, I have to tell someone, but you can't do anything about it." I felt the tears coming on again.

"Ok...ok... Just tell me, because you're scaring me."

"After the war, do you remember how happy I was when Ron kissed me and told me how he finally felt?" She nodded. "That feeling was … perfect, neither of us wanted to lose that, and we had all already lost so much. It was the night we were all gathered mourning the loss of our loved ones and we had just buried George..." I sniffed back my tears, and she just watched me intently waiting to hear what was coming. "Ron and I … err Ron wanted me to make an unbreakable vow with him that night, that we would always be together. He said it was the ultimate romantic sacrifice." I was full on crying now. I could see Ginny's eyes get wide. I had always known we'd end up together, and both of our emotions were heightened. At that point I didn't want to think I just wanted to do. So we did it. Except since we had made the Vow things changed. I felt more empty than I had ever felt. Ron let his anger get the best of him, and he would disappear, night after night, and he would always smell of fire whiskey, and flowery perfume. I didn't put it all together until recently." She raised an eyebrow at me. "One night when he would crawl into bed, and I was pretending to be a sleep... I could have sworn I saw a red glow. I thought I was hallucinating, or I don't know, but now I am sure. He was feeling the affects of the vow we made." I watched Ginny shake her head, slightly confused.

"I don't understand?" I ran my hands nervously through my hair, trying to explain it.

"We made an unbreakable vow to never leave each other, and be together forever, or we'd die. I think that is why he eventually brought up marriage, because it not only made sense it was a way that we could both stay faithful forever. I wasn't aware the spell had a side effect until I saw my arm glow red with excruciating pain. It was at Madam Malkin's the other day. You were right. I am falling for Fred, and every time I let my guard down and feel anything for anyone other than Ron The vow takes effect, and it is slowly killing me. The more I feel for Fred the more I die. It was worse this time Ginny."

She looked at me almost speechless, she looked like she was processing this. The first thing she did was pull me in for a hug ,and then back up whacking me upside the head.

"Ouch, what was that for?" I rubbed my head.

"An unbreakable vow? I thought you were smarter than that! I mean God Hermione, That was the dumbest thing I have ever heard you do, and you're the brightest witch of your age." I bowed my head in my hands.

"I know, I trusted him. I thought..." I sobbed harder, and she pulled me into her lap holding me, and running her hands through my hair to calm me down.

"I know you did Hermione. I never knew that about him... the kind of man he'd become. You could have told me."

"How could I have told you Gin? He's your brother, I didn't want you, any of you to think ill of him."

"You are so kind hearted, Ron doesn't deserve you. The worst part is you have no choice you have to stay with him, so the only logical step is to go through with the wedding. Oh Hermione..." She sighed, wanting to cry for me too. "My heart breaks for you. I want to help. There must me something, a loophole, or a counter spell?"

"I've already been looking, and I found nothing. It truly is Unbreakable." I sat up. "How did you know to come to the door?" I finally asked, wiping the tears from my eyes.

"Fred, he came and got me. He rushed up to my room, and said that there was something wrong with you. He told me that you two were talking about your wedding, and he was helping you relax, when you started to glow a scary red, and cry out in pain. You really scared him Hermione." I didn't mean to scare him. I never meant for him to see that. "I've seen it for a while, in both of you, but I didn't say anything. Hermione I can tell Fred is in love with you, and I think you love him too, especially after everything you said." I never admitted to myself let a lone aloud to anyone else.

"It doesn't matter Gin." I felt so numb, how could I feel something so wonderful, but have it ripped away?

"How can you say it doesn't matter?" she protested.

"I have fallen in love with Fred. He makes me feel things I have never felt before. He is kind, and he makes me smile, but I can not do anything about it, or I will die. I have to marry Ron."

"I'll find you a loop hole!"

"There isn't one!"

"I hate seeing you suffer like this"

"I know"

"What if you just tell Fred, Hermione you have to tell him!" I laughed but not because it was funny, but because the situation was just so laughable. If I was in my right mind I would have never done it in the first place."

"Oh yea. I can see it now. It is so romantic I confess my undying love for Fred, and I die on the spot."

"Are you sure you would die on the spot?" I shrugged

"Well, I'm not sure"

"The vow is to never leave each other right?" I nodded. "Well you aren't actually leaving him by acting on your feelings for Fred."

"No, I'm just cheating on him, and that is so beneath me. I despise people that do that. It is the worst form of..." I stopped myself. "Though I think you might be right because I have suspected Ron of such."

"I want to kill my brother for hurting you! I swear Hermione, if it wasn't for this stupid curse I'd kill him!"

"Well try to contain yourself. If you do find a loophole, or a way out let me know" She nodded.

"So what are you going to do about my other brother?" I laughed a bit under my breath, and shook my head,

"I don't know. I'll just take things one step at a time. I can't just come out and tell him, especially as I plan my wedding to Ron."

"Ok, I get your point, and I wont say anything, but I really hope things work out for you." I smiled hugging her again.

"Thank you for coming to my rescue Ginny."

"Anytime"

We exited the bathroom, and I needed air so I walked outside, and closed my eyes letting the cold night air hit my face. I had no idea what I was going to now, but at least now I have Ginny on my side, and it felt nice for her to know everything. I made my way up the hill side that Ron and I had made the vow that night, and just sat there, staring up into the sky.

"There you are, are you alright?" I didn't need to look over to know Fred was now laying beside me on the ground.

"Thank you for getting Ginny." I breathed in the night air. "I came out to get some air." He rolled over onto his side, looking directly at me.

"I was really worried about you 'Mione" I bit my lip. "You don't need to tell me what is going on if you don't want to, but know I am here if you need me." This was hard, ignoring my feelings, when he was being so... so... lovable.

"Thank you" I just said simply. We both lay there, enjoying each others company, staring at the stars. I felt Fred reach for my hand, and intertwine it in his. I couldn't fight the smile playing at my lips, as I held tighter to his hand. I never wanted him to let me go.

I felt the night air get colder. I let out a small shiver.

Fred saw it, and pulled me closer to him, putting his arm around me. This was a perfect moment and it felt so right. I hated that I ruined my life a year ago. I suspected Fred felt something for me too, but he was a gentleman and he would never hurt his brother, or me by extension. I sat up, and pulled my self away from Fred, and stood up. I should run , or go back inside, or go find Ron, but instead I just stood there unable to move.

"Hey..." He stood up next to me. "I didn't mean to over step my boundaries, I was only trying to comfort you."

"I am such an idiot" He chuckled.

"You are many things but an idiot isn't one of them."

"Will you stop..." I whispered. He raised an eyebrow at my comment.

"Stop what?" He stared down at me, and I refused to look at him.

"Being so..." Don't do it I repeated inside my mind. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Hermione, what am I being?" he was getting amusement out of my torment.

"You're pretty damn charming you know that?" I don't think he was expecting that but he tilted my chin up to look at him. I instantly felt my cheeks flush looking at him right now.

"Oh yea?" I felt my whole body tingle, and I was frozen in place, afraid to move, nor did I want to.

"Um... yea. I feel..."

"What do you feel 'Mione?" He was teasing me, or he just wanted me to say it. This was torture.

"I … Fred I can't" I tried to pull away, but he grabbed my wrist pulling me back to him. I looked up at him, and that was a mistake. I couldn't take my eyes off of his lips. I subconsciously licked my lips thinking about how he would taste with his lips on mine.

Fred continued to hold me close, as I tried to control my breathing. He didn't say anything, he just planted a kiss on the top of my head. Even just the sweetest gesture sent my body in a tizzy. I wanted so badly to just give in and kiss him like I so desperately want to. I wanted to push him down on the ground, get on top of him, and devour all of him. I wanted to take off his shirt and place sweet kisses all over his body. I wanted Fred Weasley.

However my morals were getting In the way of what I wanted, and I couldn't. No matter what he does to me, or how badly Ron hurts me I couldn't cheat on Ron. It was not right, and I do not believe in that. I made a mess a year ago, and now I have to live with the consequences.

I pulled away from Fred Quickly.

"I'm sorry, I should go"

"No, wait! Hermione!"

"I am so sorry Fred!" I ran back down toward the burrow, before I apparated back home. As soon as I got home, I knew the place was empty, just like my heart felt.

I fell to the floor and just cried myself to sleep, clinging to the memory of how being in Fred's arms felt.