Hermione's world stopped. Chaos erupted around her, seemingly in slow motion, and all she could do was collapse in a nearby chair.
George? Gone? Impossible. Denials and excuses ran through her mind- 'it must be a sick joke of some sort'- but in her heart she knew it to be true.
The rest of the family planned out search parties and where each group would search. Hermione only heard bits and pieces of their plan, but stayed immobile. No one came to her; too caught up in their own grief, but determined to get him back.
Hermione was used to being the level-headed one between Harry and Ron. She came up with the plans and endless possibilities; she was the brain, the calm, collected one.
But not at this moment. She felt useless just sitting there, but she couldn't bring herself to join them. She felt too heavy to stand and her head ached, as did a spot somewhere in her chest that she couldn't, wouldn't, name.
"I'm sorry." The voice brought her out of her reverie and she realized the room had emptied out, leaving only her and...Angelina.
"Where did everyone go?" Hermione asked confused, not realizing how much time had passed.
Angelina placed herself delicately in the seat next to her. "They went out to look for George."
"And why aren't you out there with them? After all, it is your fault that he's gone." Hermione said none too nicely, hatred coursing through her veins.
Angelina flinched at her tone and words, and for a moment, Hermione felt sorry for saying them.
But then she remembered what was at stake here. George.
Brushing off the last few remnants of sympathy for the girl, Hermione stared into Angelina's dark eyes.
She looked deep into them, searching for any reason why she shouldn't hate the girl who had taken all of the happiness she had found in the past few weeks. The girl who had taken that happiness and left a gaping hole, similar to the one in her heart.
The girl who had taken George.
And just as she was about to reach for her wand, Hermione saw it.
She covered her mouth in shock. Angelina, with tears in her eyes, broke eye contact with Hermione.
Hermione finally found her voice. "How could you." It wasn't a question; it was an accusation.
Angelina shook her head in confusion. Hermione stood up and put her face inches from the other girl's soaked face.
"How could you think you could replace Fred with George."
A strangled, sob flew out of Angelina's mouth and she flew forward, wrapping her arms around the startled brunette. She began to spew out words but it sounded like a bunch of nonsense to Hermione.
"Hold on Angelina, I can't understand a word you're saying!" Hermione extracted herself from her before sitting down in her chair again.
Angelina noticeably calmed down and turned to face Hermione again. "I'm so sorry." She stumbled over her words, but her sincerity rang true.
Hermione tried her hardest to stay mad at the girl, but her kind heart got the better of her.
Hermione sighed, "Explain." And then Angelina told Hermione of how her life was after Fred's death and how she couldn't live without him.
"I was just hoping that George could change that for me." Angelina finished, a steady flow of tears running down her cheeks.
"That's a horrible thing to think," Hermione said bluntly.
"You don't know how desperate a person can get after, the person they love, dies."
"And was it everything you ever hoped for?" She couldn't hold back the bitterness in her words and face.
Angelina had a sorrowful smile on her face. "Not when he calls out for another."
Hermione remained stone faced. Angelina let out a watery laugh. "Oh please Hermione, as if you didn't know. Every time he kisses me, I know it's really not me he's kissing. He's just imagining it's you; I can see it in his eyes. He dreams about you too. Or at least that's what I can hear from my room since he refuses to sleep in the same bed with me."
Hermione continued to look on at Angelina in silence, not wanting to have the same conversation with her that she had with Harry. Angelina got a far off look in her eyes.
"I know what I did was wrong, and I regret it. We were just eating at my house when I slipped. I just couldn't help but call him it...they look so alike."
"You didn't!" Hermione nearly pulled out her hair in frustration.
Angelina looked down in shame. "I didn't mean to call him Fred."
Hermione stood up and began to pace the room as Angelina began to ramble on. "He ran off after that; I'm so sorry Hermione! I promise you that no one is as worried about him as I am!"
Hermione whipped around to face her again. "You see," She said softly. "That's where you're wrong."
Angelina read the desperation on Hermione's face. "So what are you going to do?"
Hermione mulled everything over in her mind. Was there anything she could do?
She thought back to when the search parties were being planned out. She tried her hardest to remember where they said where each party was going. She thought back to every conversation her and George had ever had, looking for any clue or inkling to where he could've gone.
Suddenly, Hermione ran to the front door and summoned her jacket and boots. Angelina ran after her. "Where are you going?" Angelina shouted over the wind as Hermione stepped out the door.
"I know where George is." were the last words she uttered before disappearing into the night.
A/N- 7/5/12 edited!