She woke up, countless hours later, snuggled in between George and Harry. She didn't remember why she was between them at first, the wonderful confusion of waking slowing her pained mind down. She blinked her eyes clear, taking in the dark waiting room, and she remembers it all.
Tears filled her eyes again, but she pushes them back, glancing at George and Harry to see if they're awake. George's eyes were closed, but his breathing wasn't the even, peaceful breath of sleep. He's closed back in on himself again, just like he did the first time Fred went into a coma. A painful twinge went through her chest at that thought, but she pushed it away, knowing that wherever he had gone to, he was with Fred. He was helping his twin fight his way out of the coma. She had told the medi-witch that they were connected, but she had simply scoffed at him. The naïve witch clearly had no idea how deep their bond went.
She was a little scared that if the worse should happen to Fred, George would follow him. They were that connected. She didn't think she could bear to lose Fred, but losing George with him would be even worse. Keeping him though would be unthinkable.
She just prayed Fred would be alright.
Harry was leaning against the back walk, his eyes closed and his chest rising and falling in a peaceful rhythm that she recognized from all the long nights they'd spent together on the Horcrux hunt. She loved watching him sleep, it was the only time he really looked peaceful. He didn't have any worry lines, and his lips were always turned up slightly in a smile. His hair was just as wild as ever, refusing to stay flat.
She turned back towards the nurse station with a small sigh. All the Weasley's were still here, Percy and Mr. Weasley had shown up after the Ministry had closed, being unable to get away before.
Her eyes traveled to the clock on the wall, but she couldn't make out the time in the dark. She sighed again and reached into her pocket, feeling the worn t shirt hidden in it's depths.
She sat up slightly straighter, careful not to wake Harry, and pulled the shirt out, tracing it's design as she looked at the green fabric.
"Oh Fred." She whispered out, bringing the material to her chest. Tears once again began to fall down her face and she silently wept, knowing that no one would wake. She stroked the shirt reverently, finding an unspeakable comfort and pain in the worn cotton. If he woke up and didn't know her, she wasn't sure what she would do. Her love for him had changed everything about her, she couldn't pretend not to love him anymore. She wasn't physically capable of doing it, she couldn't stop looking at him, smiling when he was nearer and frowning when he wasn't.
If he did remember then the possibility of him hating her seemed so terribly real. What would she do then? Would she be able to ever earn his trust, and affection again? Would he be able to see she'd done it all for him?
George let out a long, shuddering gasp beside her and jerked violently, opening his eyes and standing, a wild look on his face.
"Hermione?" He spun towards her, bending at the waist and grabbing hold of her arm, jerking her up. She followed him without question, not caring when the others were startled awake by his harsh actions.
"Fred?" She questioned, her voice unrecognizable even to her.
"He's waking!" George yelped, jerking her towards him and down the hall. The other Weasley's were getting up, stumbling after him. Hermione's leg was beginning to throb again, and it was causing her to trip.
She fell flat to the floor, and George almost fell with her. He turned bodily towards her and lifted her up, carrying her bridal style as he continued to run down the hall. Hermione clung onto him, too worried to make any objection to being carried. Her leg was hurting more and more, almost as though the nearer she got to Fred the worse it was. Her mind faltered at that, seeming to think it was important, but she pushed the thought aside. She could think about it later.
George burst through double doors and into a long ward, running until he reached the end. He summoned a chair and lowered Hermione into, and for the first time she got to see Fred.
He was lying on the bed, barely breathing and so deathly pale that she was fearful he was already dead. Her hand reached out timidly to his arm, and she grasped it in her fingers, shuddering when she felt how cold it was. George reached beside her and grasped his other arm. The moment his hand touched Fred's skin a startling shock went through her entire body. George jerked as well, and looked at her in surprise, his eyes widening. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before looking down at Fred.
His eyes widened even more and he let out a strangled little cry, leaning down so that he was right next to Fred. Before Hermione could remark on his odd behavior the rest of the Weasleys piled into the room. Fred gave a long shuddering gasp and George tightened his grip on him as Fred began to shake. His skin was losing the ashen color, and his breathing was becoming less labored. He gave one last tremble, and then he grew still, his face growing peaceful. Hope began to rise in Hermione as she studied him.
His eyes fluttered, tilting towards his twin with an uncanny sense of where he would be.
"George?" Fred's voice was raspy, unnatural and unused, but it brought tears to every one's eyes as his blue ones blinked open. His twin gave a half-laugh that sounded more like a sob. "I'm glad you're here ," Fred managed as George moved closer, encasing him in arms that promised never to let go. Hermione couldn't stop the tears streaming down her face, though it did surprise her that she still had tears to shed.
Her leg was twitching in pain, but she was determinedly ignoring it.
"YOU'RE glad that I'M here?" George asked incredulously, lifting his head from where he had burrowed it in Fred's neck. "Freddie, I'm . . . I . . . you . . . you almost . . ." His voice was choked and it broke off at the end as tears streaked down her cheeks. He shook his head, clutching Fred even tighter. "You stupid nutter, I'm the one who's glad you're here."
Fred nodded, but his eyes were slowly shutting and it was clear he wasn't fully here any longer. "So tired," he whispered. His half lidded eyes drifted around, glancing at each member of his family until they came to rest on Hermione. His face was emotionless, but his eyes narrowed slightly, making Hermione's heart clench in fear.
"Go to sleep then, Freddie." George whispered, his voice tender and full of love. It was a tone that none but Fred ever got to hear. "We'll still be here- I'll still be here- when you awake." Fred gave his head a small nod before growing still again.
"Did he remember?" Mrs. Weasley asked, her voice small. Her eyes were full of tears and it was obvious that she was scared.
"I'm not sure." George said after a long moment. He kept looking at Hermione out of the corner of his eyes and it was beginning to unnerve her. She felt like she was missing something, or she'd done something wrong. She had most assuredly missed something though.
"Oh, Merlin." She cried, her voice breaking as she sank into a chair. "I can't take this!"
"It'll be alright, Molly." Mr. Weasley reassured, stepping up behind her and laying his arm on her shoulder. "He's strong, he'll make it."
"Yeah," George said, and he sounded surprisingly sure. His voice was strong and steady. Hermione looked over at him in surprise to find him staring straight at her. It was unnerving somehow, and she had to drop the gaze.
Her leg started to throb again and she jumped at the unexpected onslaught of pain.
"Are you alright, Hermione?" George asked, and she had to shake her head no. Harry was by her side in a second, his arm wrapped around her.
"What is it? Your leg again?" she nodded her head, biting her lip as pain flared up yet again. She jerked as her leg continued to pound her with pain, and her hand let go of Fred's arm. Faster than she could blink George moved. He caught her hand in his and pulled her back, forcing her hand to stay on Fred's arm.
"George?" She asked, her voice hoarse and pained, she needed to move, this position was killing her!
"You can't let go, not when he's asleep." George ordered, his voice firm and commanding.
"Geor-" Harry started, his eyes narrowed.
"No." George said simply, his eyes unyielding. "She can't move. I'm sorry, but you simply can't." She nodded her head, her heart pounding in her chest as the pain got even worse.
"Stay with me." He said, and he was suddenly beside her, holding her other hand in his, still clutching Fred's arm. She nodded her head and focused all her energy on breathing through the pain. Fred shuddered under her hand, and that startled her back to reality, giving her the strength to block the pain out.
"Fred?" Her and George called together. He shook under their hands, and then sat upright, a wild look in his eyes.
"Oh Godric." He moaned out, looking around frantically until he saw George. He relaxed slightly upon seeing his twin, but he tensed up immediately again when he saw Hermione.
"Why?" He blurted out, and the hurt in his voice tore at her heart. "Why did you all lie to me?"
It grew extremely quiet incredibly quick, Hermione didn't even think anyone was breathing any longer. "Fred," She started, wanting nothing more than to drop her gaze from him, but knowing she couldn't, and wouldn't do that to him. He deserved to know the truth, and he deserved to know how very much she loved him.
She had never lied about that, she did love him, and she wanted to marry him ever so much.
He didn't let her say anything more, his eyes piercing her. "You lied to me, Hermione. You all did." He said, looking at each person in turn. He looked back at George, and for a long moment they held each others gaze, speaking volumes in a silent conversation that Hermione would have given anything to understand even a word of.
"It was to protect you." Mrs. Weasley said after a few seconds, when it became clear that Fred and George weren't going to stop silently conversing for a while.
"What makes you think that makes it any better? My god, mum, do you realize what an arse you let me act like?" He accused, turning towards her with narrowed eyes. "How could you do that to me?" He asked, rounding back on Hermione. "I know you don't love me, but you have no idea how much I loved you. Why would you lead me on like that? Why would you let me believe I could actually have- why?"
She opened and closed her mouth a few times, unable to speak past the lump in her throat, or the guilt that had risen up in her.
"I do love you, Fre-"
"No, no more lies, Hermione. I'm done hearing them, I'm done with all of this."
She swallowed thickly, her heart breaking as she watched his eyes harden. He looked at her for a long moment, his eyes emotionless before he turned from her.
"Go." He said simply, and Hermione felt her world shatter.
"Wha-" She couldn't even say the whole word, it tore her heart.
"Go. I don't want to see you any more."
to write. I HATE unhappy couples, they make me cry and want to toss my computer.
So this is my reminder to each of my readers. I… am… a… fluff… addict… I don't write dark stories (not this type anyway, if they are dark it's usually about a character healing, take 'Broken' for example of that. Anyway, since this has nothing to do with this story, I'm going to end this particular ramble now.) So rest assured, this will all work out okay.
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