Chapter 10: A Lost Cause

Fred watched his twin intently. The room was so quiet. If a pin fell he was sure it would echo. How long had they been staring at each other? How long had it been since either spoke? There was no going back now. He had said what he had wanted to say to George since it all started. He had told his brother what he wanted most.

George's mouth moved around awkwardly for a moment before he spoke. An airy chuckle left his lips.

"Hah, good one Fred. I almost believed you for a second."

Fred remained silent still staring at him. His twin's eyes seemed to study his as if searching for a hint of a joke.

George shook his head and grinned at his brother. "Come on, what is this? Why are you acting so serious, it's not like you Fred. You better start laughing soon or I might start thinking its –"George's smile faded as he watched his twin not change in expression one bit. George walked closer to his brother, his voice suddenly changed to pleading. "Start laughing, Freddie."

His best mate only shook his head and looked down. "I can't start laughing, mate. I don't find this funny at all. To tell you the truth I really hate this."

"Then take it back." George demanded

"I can't take it back, I already said it. It won't change anything."

"Well…well…pick something else I can't give you that!"

"I know that, you git!"

"Then why'd you ask for her?"

"I didn't ask for her, you asked what I wanted." Fred stated as if there was a clear difference.

"Well I didn't think you'd name a person! Let alone MY PERSON! I mean Girlfriend…and you…you just can't!" George was completely bewildered.

"Listen mush brain I know that! Don't you think I know how screwed up this is? I can't help it." Fred took a deep breathe. Knowing the next words he said would change everything. "I'm in love with her."

George's eye's widened twice their size. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water gasping for air.

Fred knew it wasn't right but he needed to tell him, even if it meant George would hate him forever, he needed to know "I…I love her. More than I ever thought I could love anyone. The very Idea of you two together makes me want to perform the Cruciatus Curse on myself just to feel anything else! I didn't mean for it to happen mate, you have to believe me. I'm the worst. I knew how much you liked her and I fell for her anyway. I didn't want to! But now I can't stop thinking about her. I kept trying to forget her but I couldn't. Just being next to her drives me crazy. I'm worthless. You have no idea how hard it is to try and be happy for my best mate when he's with the girl he loves. I can't do it anymore Georgey, and I won't keep you in the dark because you're the greatest person I've had the pleasure to meet. I would never do anything to hurt you. I promise George I won't go after her or touch her or shake her hand or anything. I promise! I just needed you to know because we share everything together. It just didn't feel right keeping this from you." Fred's voice faded off at the end.

He couldn't look George in the eye. His heart was racing faster than even. What now? What would George say now? Fred's face hadn't been smashed in yet so he figured George wasn't that upset or he understood him. That or he was so filled with rage he couldn't move or speak. Fred partly wished George would just pummel him. He figured he deserved that much.

"You can't have her." George said finally as if it were a fact. He walked past Fred with a blank expression and headed to the door.

Fred turned around not understanding him. "Wait, that's it?"

"What am I supposed to say?" George asked not facing him. "Hermione's the only girl I've ever cared this much about. I'm not going to give her up to you just because you suddenly learned how to have feelings." he glared at his brother with eyes Fred had never seen before. "Figure out how to deal with this on your own." With that he slammed the door behind him.

Fred sat down on a bed feeling worse than ever. He hadn't helped anything by telling George. "Figure out how to deal…?" Fred repeated to himself. "If I could don't you think I would have done it by now."

Fred avoided the hospital wing, although he constantly worried about Hermione, he knew that would be the worst and probably most likely place to run into George. It wasn't till a whole week had pasted and there was still no sign of Hermione returning to class that Fred couldn't stand not knowing what was going on. He decided he would face whatever was going to happen and go see her.

However his nerves got the best of him and he decided to skip his 1st period and go when everyone else was in class.

Slowly he opened the hospital wing giant wood doors. Peeking inside he saw no sign of Madam Pomfrey or George. With an air of relief he walked in and headed to Hermione's bed where he could see she was sleeping soundly. His heart gave a leap just from the sight of her. He had no idea he missed her so much. Damn his stupid heart.

He knew it was wrong to feel over joyed that he would have this time alone with her. And just as he was telling himself he shouldn't feel that way he noticed a tiny person sitting in a seat next to her bed.

"What are you doing here?" Fred asked him bewildered.

The little person turned their head to face him. "You again? Haven't you visited her enough?"

"I haven't visited her at all. Don't you have class?"

"Don't you? And where are her books you said you would bring?"

"What?"

"That's not George." Hermione said her eyes now open.

Sean grimaced looking Fred up and down. "Oh, you're the annoying one."

Fred gave Sean an evil glare before turning his attention on Hermione. "How are you feeling?"

"Like a complete idiot." Hermione said rolling her eyes and sitting up. "I planned to get ahead in class by doing extra work and instead have gotten myself a week behind everyone else."

Fred couldn't help but laugh at the irony. "Yeah, well maybe next time you'll listen to me. We Wesley's know when you've crossed the line from extremely fun to just being stupid."

"Please don't rub it in Fred. George has already given me a stern lecture on the subject" By the look on her face Fred could tell she was telling the truth.

"Alright. So when you getting out?" Fred asked taking a seat on her bed as there were no more chairs. Sean looked envious that he didn't think of sitting on Hermione's bed himself.

"Should be tomorrow. I could have gotten out sooner only Madam Pomfrey thought I looked over worked and tired so decided I should stay a few days more. I really am all better."

"That's good to hear." Fred smiled

"Well I suppose we won't be seeing much of you, since you'll be no doubt locking yourself in your room to finish all your home w –"

Fred paused as he noticed Hermione was studying his face very intensely. It reminded him of how she would sometimes stare at him in their old tutoring lessons.

"What's wrong Granger?" Sean finally said after a few moments.

His sudden interruption brought her back. "Sorry, it's just…I feel like I had a dream about you."

Fred looked surprised at her "Really? Are you sure it was me?" he chuckled.

Hermione nodded. "Yes, you…asked me to say your name."

Fred's eyes widened and his cheeks went red. Hermione to wouldn't look him in the eyes and blushed.

He stared blank faced at her. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. She remembered. Should he just let her believe it was a dream? That was really the best thing to do. Although…

"Am I missing something?" Sean's voice made Fred and Hermione jump having forgotten he was still in the room. "Is that some sort of sexual term I'm not getting?" He asked having been eyeing both of them for the past few minutes.

"What? Of course not." Hermione shook her head feverously still with red patches on her cheeks. Fred rubbed the back of his neck and looked away finally deciding it was time to leave.

"Well I'll see you later Granger." Fred said hopping off her bed and waving goodbye before turning to leave. "Glad you're feeling –"

"What are you doing here?"

Fred froze.

"George!" Hermione smiled.

"Hi cutie!" Fred's twin brushed past him as if he were a stone pillar. With giant lilies in one hand and books in the other he rushed over to Hermione dropping the flowers and books on her bed, he took her face in both his hands and kissed her passionately for the world and mostly Fred to see.

Even Sean blushed at the display of affection being presented right in front of him.

"George what's gotten into you?" Hermione said finally able to pull her face from his.

"I just missed you, that's all." George said innocently continuing to give her little pecks on her cheeks and forehead.

Hermione pulled away again. "But there's company here." She said silently looking at Fred and blushing.

"That's ok. I was just leaving." Sean said sliding off his seat and looking disgusted.

"See, now no one's here." George emphasized giving Fred the clear hint he didn't need.

Hermione looked curiously from George to Fred. He gave a small smile and wave before leaving.

"What am I going to do with you?" Fred could hear Hermione say.

"There are a lot of things you could do with me." George replied mischievously.

Fred heard Hermione gasp and giggle before the wood doors closed behind him. When he looked up from the floor he had been staring at he saw Sean watching him.

"What do you want?" Fred asked not slowing his pace as he passed him.

"You're giving up?"

Fred stopped and turned to face him "What?"

"You like her." Sean said matter of factly.

Fred stared at him for a moment. "Yeah, so what if I do? If you haven't noticed my exact double is dating her."

"So you have given up."

"So what?"

"I haven't." Sean replied plain and calmly.

"No offense to your brother but I love Hermione and I'm pretty sure she's my soul mate so I'm not giving up on going after her." Fred couldn't believe how serious this little first year was sounding.

"Uh, isn't she a little too old for you?" Fred pointed out.

"So? In a few years I'll be 20 and she'll be 24. Not a big difference at all."

"Yeah but she's not going to wait till your twenty. She's in love with my brother now. Why don't you find someone your own age?"

"Girl's my own age are childish. They don't understand me. They never will, not like Hermione."

"But she's muggle born. Doesn't that bother you?"

"Bother me?" Sean smirked. "What do I care about the old ways? I'm not an idiot who follows what others think for no reason. Hermione is clearly the most gifted witch at our school and the nicest. Therefore she's the best fit for me."

"Are you mad?" Fred gawked at the young Slytherin, though he was impressed by his way of thinking and confidence. He couldn't understand how he could be so sure of himself. "Hermione will never go for you, it's a lost cause. If you're so smart why can't you see how dumb your being? You're just a little kid. What chance do you have?"

Even as he said it, Fred realized what a jerk he was being. Stepping on a little boy's hopes and so easily.

"Look I –"

"You're right." Sean said with a straight face. Not looking fazed at all by Fred's words. "Maybe it is a lost cause. She only sees me as a child after all." Sean looked down and Fred could tell the words hurt him to say. "But what choice do I have? I'm in love with her after all!" Sean spat back "And I'm not like you. I can't just toss my feeling aside when they're too hard to handle."

Fred glared at him. "You think it's easy for me?"

"Easier. At least she likes you back."

Fred's eye's widened. "What?"

"If you haven't noticed then you're a bigger idiot then I thought."

"How…when…how?"

"It's so noticeable it sickens me." Sean cut him off, as Fred couldn't find his words. "Your only problem is you're too cowardly to fight for what you want."

"How am I supposed to go after her when she's dating George? That's practically stabbing him in the back." Fred fumed. It was so easy to talk big but to actually do it. And either way you looked at it Fred would come out the bad guy. The selfish brother. The greedy twin.

"Your feelings aren't fake, are they?" Sean suddenly asked "I mean, you love her don't you?"

Fred stared at him. What was with this kid? "Yes." he muttered.

"George knows doesn't he?"

Fred was taken back. "How did you…?"

"That show wasn't for me back there." Sean referred to George's kiss.

Fred smirked. This kid was smart. "Yeah, I told him."

"Then it seems like a fair fight to me."

Fred stared hard at him. "Why are you telling me this?"

Sean shrugged. "It's going to be a while before I can stand in front of Hermione and tell her I love her. Until then she should be in good hands. And although I have nothing against your brother, I feel your better suited for her. For now."

"How do you figure?"

"Because…The lessons she had with you were the best times she's had in her life. According to her."

"How did you know I was the one in the lessons?"

"Because I'm a genius haven't you figured it out?" Sean rolled his eyes and turned to walk away. "It's your choice. I'm just a dumb kid after all."

Fred watched him go, thoughts filling his head. One in particular was that…he didn't hate this kid.

The sound of the giant wooden doors opening came from behind him and Fred turned to be facing George once again.

"Your still here?" George asked, though it wasn't really a question as he didn't wait for the answer and walked pasted his brother without a second look back.

"George wait. Talk to me. " Fred followed him.

"Oh ok. Hey Fred, tell me. Why are you sneaking off during class hours to visit my girlfriend?" George continued his pace walking up moving stair cases.

"I knew if you saw me there you would be angry with me. I was only worried about her. I wasn't going to do anything." Fred struggled to keep up.

"Yeah right. Like I'm supposed to believe that. Dragon flies wings" George said reaching the Gryffindor common room. Fred grabbed his arm before he could go in.

"I'm sorry George! I didn't want to hurt you and now I've made you hate me more than ever."

His twin finally stopped moving and faced him.

"Can't you talk to me? You have no idea how bad I feel."

"Well you should feel bad." George wrenched his arm from Fred. His twin looked helplessly back at him.

George stared at him for a long while then let out a sigh. "Great git. Why did it have to be Hermione?"

"I don't know…" Fred said with his head down. George put his hand on his shoulder.

"Alright, I can't blame you for it, can't help who you fall for after all. I guess you've suffered enough. And you did promise not to do anything…" George sighed. "Come on, we can still catch the new quidditch try outs if we hurry."

George ran past Fred but his twin caught hold of him again. "Wait George" Fred looked seriously at him.

"What is it now?"

Fred hesitated. "I…I'm sorry I fell for your girl. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I'm sorry for all the wrong doing I've done. I'm sorry I've caused my best mate to hate me." Fred stared hard at his brother. "And I'm sorry George but…I'm going to have to take back that promise."

A/N: REVIEW PLEASE! OMGosh it's been sooo long! I've missed this story. And I hope I have given a satisfying chapter until next time which will hopefully be soon. thank you to everyone who favs/supports this story. I really do love reading your reviews. and If you guys notice any spelling mistakes let me know because I do write super fast when I'm on a roll and don't really double check xD. Thanks for reading!