Day Thirty-Five
There seemed to be a rule when it came to panic attacks, once you've had one, you have another five in as many days. Hermione's triggers seemed to be getting less and less predictable, and she felt like she was going mad.
"I thought time was supposed to heal, not make things worse!" she sobbed to Harry after a particularly bad attack brought on by nothing more than a teacup, which had smashed on the floor.
"It hasn't been that long," Harry tried to comfort her.
"It's been a month, and I'm only getting worse!"
"You're not."
"Harry!"
"Maybe it's a little worse this week," he relented. "But it will get better."
"He's right, dear," Mrs. Weasley piped up from the kitchen. "You just need to hold on."
"I'm going to go lie down," Hermione huffed, ignoring their encouragement.
She had barely closed her eyes, when Fred came bounding in and dropped onto the bed beside her.
"Fred, I don't want to hear it," she groaned. "I just want to lie down and try to get my head back, alright."
"Would you like a daydream charm?" he offered, spooning her. "George and I have just finished a batch."
"When did you start working on products?"
"This morning. We figured people could do with a laugh these days, especially people in this house, so we're planning to open up again as soon as possible."
"Can I help?"
"Help...?" Fred sat up on his elbow so he could see her face.
"With the products," she expanded, rolling over. "I'd like to help- if you'll let me."
"Let you?!" he scoffed. "We'd love to have you! We're working in the shed, whenever you feel like joining us."
"Maybe this afternoon," she mused. "I think I'll just rest my eyes first."
"Alright, love." he leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I'm right outside if you need me, unless you want me to stay for a bit."
"I'll be alright," she shook her head. "Thank you."
"Alright," he got to his feet and pulled a blanket over her, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Sleep well."
- - PAGE BREAK - -
An unfortunate side effect of Hermione's panic attacks was the constant cloud of fear hanging over her head as she waited for the next one. This was what dashed her attempts at napping, as each time she closed her eyes she was hit by another wave of fear and anxiety. She gave up after less than an hour and made her way out to the shed in the hopes of finding a distraction.
"We're not doing anything!" George cried as she opened the door, quickly pulling a sheet across the back of the room. "Oh, it's just you."
He let out a relieved breath when he saw Hermione and moved the curtain back.
"You haven't told your Mum that you're using the shed, have you?" Hermione crossed her arms.
"We just haven't had time," he shrugged.
"Of course not," she rolled her eyes. "And you don't think shouting 'we're not doing anything!' makes you sound just a little guilty?"
"It may need a bit of adjusting," he allowed.
"Just a little. Where's Fred?"
"He ran out to get some more supplies, but he said you might come down later."
"Well, I'm here now. So, what are we working on?"
"I'm so very glad you asked," George gave her a wicked smile. "These, dear Herms, are our latest twist on Daydream Charms. Longer lasting, deeper dreams- all around better."
"Ambitious," Hermione leaned over the cauldron and started coughing. "Are you sure they're right, though?"
"Not at all," he shook his head. "Potion's in that book, have at it."
He waved to a large leather notebook covered in scratched out quill marks and ink splotches, the pages creased and stained by various substances that Hermione didn't care to try identifying.
"Where's the original potion?"
"Here," he passed her a stray page. "We've added a few things, but obviously we haven't gotten the mixture quite right yet."
"Obviously," Hermione wrinkled her nose. "You really need to do something about that smell, it's nauseating."
"Right," George nodded and flicked his wand, improving the air quality of the room immediately.
"Ah, that's better. Now, let's see here," she sat down at the work table they had designated for notes and started scribbling on a fresh piece of parchment.
- - PAGE BREAK - -
Two hours later, Fred had returned and he and Hermione were sure they had got the potion right.
"Alright, I'm 75% sure this won't explode," Fred said as he added the last ingredient.
"Well that's reassuring," she frowned.
"Welcome to the biz, Herms," George threw an arm around her neck, smiling brightly. "On you go, Forge."
A large explosion came from the cauldron as soon as Fred emptied his palm, sending them all backwards and filling the room with orange smoke.
"Well," George huffed. "That hasn't happened before."
"Mione?" Fred hurried to his girlfriend's side. "You alright?"
"Mmhmm," she gave a terse, breathing heavily.
"Come on, let's get you some air."
"I'll get this sorted," George nodded.
Fred gave him a grateful look and led Hermione outside, where they sat against the wall.
"You're alright," he assured her. "Take a couple breaths."
"I know," she took his hand. "It just... made me jump."
"Yeah, sorry about that... I did warn you though."
She gave a breathy laugh. "Yes, you did."
A few more minutes and her breathing returned to normal, much to Fred's relief.
"As much as I love having you in there to help," he frowned, "maybe this is a bad idea."
"No, I want to help."
"Hermione, I hate to tell you, but that kind of happens a lot and it obviously upsets you."
"I can't just stop my life because of this. I have to keep going."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure," she insisted. "Look, I'm not saying it's going to be easy and that I won't have attacks when things like that happen, and I understand if you don't want me in there because of it-"
Fred started to interrupt her, but she held up a hand to stop him.
"Let me finish. I don't know if these will ever go away, but I want to try and move past them and I know that if I'm with you, I'll be alright."
"My turn?" Fred asked, a goofy smile on his face.
"Your turn."
"If you want to stay, then I want you here. And if that means we have to stop after every explosion, lie on the floor and take deep breaths together, then that's what we'll do. But I don't want you to push yourself to do things you're not ready for."
"I need to push. I can't hide in the house anymore. I need something to focus on and this is the most fun I've had in months."
"Then it's settled. You're officially part of the team."
"Thank you," Hermione reached up and kissed him soundly.
Fred responded in kind, pulling her off the ground and into his lap, only to be interrupted by George.
"Well, that's a new coping mechanism," he leaned against the wall, hovering over them. "Never seen Potter fix her like that."
"Bugger off," Fred groaned.
"I thought it was a pretty good fix," Hermione gave him a devilish smirk, which made Fred love her even more.
"I think we should take a break, don't you?"
"We've had a break," she chuckled. "Come on, we have charms to perfect."
She climbed off his lap and skipped back into the shed, leaving Fred and George to stare after her- one of them shocked, the other thoroughly amused.
