Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe. Duh.
A/N: Sorry it's been so long. I don't actually have internet at home so I'm posting this at the ,agnificent library in my neighbourhood. All praise to library. Hazzah.
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Weeks passed into months and all seemed fairly quiet at the Burrow. The twins were talking about moving back into the apartment above the shop, but Mrs. Weasley insisted that they stayed for a few more weeks. Fred and George were pointing out that, with Harry and Hermione in the house, there was hardly any room and that it would be better, and less claustrophobic if they left.
Fred knew that his mother was scared of losing more of her children, and that she didn't want to see them go, but he also knew that sooner or later, they would have to leave, instead of just want to leave. As George had apparently started phase one of the so-called 'Find Her, Keep Her Plan', Fred assumed that it was either going to get very steamy or very awkward around the place, and it was already awkward and steamy enough with Harry and Ginny. Not that Fred was watching.
Fred had initially thought that George would let him in on the plan, but George remained adamant that Fred should not know anything, and that it should come naturally. Fred thought George was a was one sunny afternoon after the shop had closed for the day that Fred found Hermione chatting with George outside. He walked over to them, hands in his pockets, knowing this wouldn't be good.
"But I thought that your mum didn't even want you guys to leave?" Hermione was saying. Fred bit back a groan, knowing George was saying something stupid.
"True, but we can convince her that it's best for the immediate health of everyone in the nearby vicinity that we move."
"George! You wouldn't!" Fred had to stifle a smile, amused that Hermione still objected to their pranks even though she helped them make them.
"I would. But that's not the point. You didn't answer my question,"
"Because I don't think it's a serious question. I mean, have you even asked Fred about this?"
"Asked me what about what?" Fred asked, sitting down on the ground between the two. George frowned down at him, and Fred could tell he was trying to send him a message via twin-speak, but it wasn't working.
"George thinks it's a good idea for me to move into your spare room above the shop," Hermione told him without missing a beat. Fred widened his eyes and leant his head back against the seat they were both sitting on. They both looked funny upside down.
"Does he now?" Fred asked, working on sounding amused. Now, he could get the twin-speak. It was something along the lines of 'just agree with me'. "And why does he think that?"
Hermione started to speak, but George interrupted her.
"Three reasons. One, you and I cannot cook, but she can. Two, I figured it would be nice for her not to have to apparate all the time, and three, in case she or you and I get any grand ideas, we need not travel that far to notify said people." Fred was literally this close to strangling his most beloved twin brother.
"Well, it's fine with me," Fred told Hermione, though his mind was spinning and he felt nauseated. "But it's up to you, 'Mione." There was a count of silence, before she answered.
"I'll think about it," She said simply, then she stood up and walked back into the house, obviously limping and trying to downplay it. Fred frowned as he took the now vacant seat next to his brother. Then he understood.
"I see." Fred said, as though enlightened.
"See what?"
"I see that while you may say it's for convenience, you can see it too. Hermione's... not... well." Fred was hardly surprised to feel tears spring to his eyes. George laid a comforting hand on his shoulder, letting Fred know he was there.
"You've got time, Gred. It's going to work out." Fred's mouth quirked up in a dreamy half smile.
"Let me guess: You've got a plan?"
"You insult me, brother mine. Of course, I've got a plan."
Every time Hermione closed her eyes, she saw him. Red hair, blue eyes, long nose, cute smile. Ron always came to her mind, keeping her in a constant state of grief. It wasn't that hard to figure out why; she loved him still. She probably always would, so in a way, it was kind of Fate to let her die. Not that she would be doing so as soon as she had initially hoped, but still, it was happening.
However, there were times when Ron's face became cloudy, blurry around the edges, and she thought she was losing him. She chose not to sleep now, keeping herself up with memories of words spoken, promises that were never able to come through, embraces and holds that never happened. If she died now, she would go to him happy, knowing in her heart that she would love him into the next life and beyond, knowing it would be easy and effortless.
There were times, though, when Hermione thought about the possibility of starting a new relationship. Would Ron really blame her for trying to be happy with someone else before she kicked the bucket? Would he really not want her to enjoy the tiny piece of life she had left, even if it didn't include him? But then, she would dismiss the thoughts as silly and stupid. What was the point of starting a new relationship, unless she was just looking to hurt someone else even more than Harry or the Weasley's?
It was while she was considering this, walking through the Burrow, that she noticed Fred sitting alone outside, looking down at his notebook. She would have thought nothing of it, had it not been for the tell tale shaking of his shoulders. She rushed outside and sat beside him.
"Hey, Fred, what's wrong?" She asked, concerned, not used to seeing him like this.
He hurriedly wiped his eyes on his sleeve and sniffed away his tears, looking at her with a breakable smile. It broke her heart.
"I'm just frustrated," He replied, his voice cracking on every word. "I've been working on this thing for ages and I just can't-" His voice broke off on a sob, and he buried his face in his hands. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She reached forward and enfolded him in a hug, squeezing his shoulders and resting her cheek on his chest. She felt his notebook digging into her stomach, but ignored it.
"Hey, hey, come on now, none of that," She murmured to him, trying to calm him. "What's got you in such a tizzy, hmm? Come on now, tell me. Tell me what's wrong." She rocked him slowly, letting him calm down on his own.
When he was calmer, she drew back but kept one arm around his shoulders. He gave her his notebook and she opened it to the page he'd marked.
The title read, quite simply: Remembering Ron.
"Oh, Fred," Hermione couldn't keep tears springing to her eyes.
"I was trying to use the Pensieve idea, but I wanted to make it so that it would come up so every one in a room could see it, every one share the memories. But I haven't been able to incorporate it so that many people can watch it at once, and I don't know how to change it so I can't do it. I need to research how the Pensieve works, but all the books are destroyed, and the only one I know of was at Hogwarts and now I can't get there and I just- I need- I don't-" He was breaking down again, and Hermione held him close, letting him be comforted. She stroked his back in soothing motions as he cried, not saying a word.
She was shocked at how strongly he felt this. She had known that he must have felt something, but he had never cried. At the funeral, every one had, Mr and Mrs. Weasley, Harry, Bill, Charlie, Percy, George, and especially her, but not Fred. He had stood stony faced and silent, and left half way through. She had thought it was because he just wanted to forget and move on, leave behind the memory of his dead baby brother, but maybe he had left because he couldn't stand it. Maybe because, like her, he had seen his tears as a sign of weakness.
After a while, Fred stopped crying, so he sat up and wiped his eyes, looking at her as though ashamed.
"Sorry about that," He said hurriedly, turning away so that she couldn't see his face.
"It's alright. I think I have an idea, though." Hermione replied, running a hand through her hair and taking the notebook from him.
"Really?" He turned back to her and looked at her eagerly, clearly excited.
"You've got heaps of photos of him, yes?"
"Well, yeah, but that's not the same thing," Fred added huffily.
"I know that. But I was thinking that if you took the photos, and then enchanted them with the memories... everyone would be able to watch the photo, but also what happened before and after the photo. With the Pensieve, you sort of pull out your memories and store them in there, then you can watch them. If we can store the memories in the photos... maybe that would work." By the time she finished, Fred was smiling, nodding slowly as if he could see it too.
"Of course, we'd have to enlarge the photo, and make sure that there came a certain point that it stops. Also, that people can stop watching if they want. Hmm..."
Hermione watched him for a second, trying to decide if this was a good idea. Biting the bullet, she made her choice.
"Hey, while we're working on this, how about I take that room?"
A/N: So, what do you think? Let me know. Review! Love you all.
