This chapter is from Fred's pov
Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream?-Poe
It had been too long to keep track. Night after night he had kept a constant vigil, never leaving her side, never breaking the connection the two had formed, until last night. She'd collapsed on him, and he'd been pushed out. He'd tried to reestablish the connection, but it had all been in vain.
He'd finally succumbed to sleep. The five, long, sleepless days had finally caught up with him. Still, even in his sleep he was protecting her, his long, stocky form curled around her in an attempt to block anything from reaching her.
George had tried to comfort him, he'd been kicked out as well after all, but nothing had helped. His twin had ended up passing out from exhaustion a little while ago, nearly as exhausted as Fred. He was stretched out on the bed across from them, snoring annoyingly loud.
Even that couldn't keep him up any longer.
He was vaguely aware of something stirring by his side, but he pushed the thoughts away, focusing on the sweet relief of sleep.
"Fred?" A quiet, uncertain voice questioned. It was a voice he knew intimately well, and it made him feel happy, even in his half asleep state. He nuzzled closer to the woman he was lying with, his head buried in her soft neck.
"Mmmm? Hermione?" He mumbled into her, grinning when he felt her giggle from his breath tickling her sensitive neck. It took a moment for his sleep deprived brain to realize the significant part of that statement, and he suddenly found himself very much awake.
"Hermione!" He exclaimed suddenly, sitting up with wide eyes. "You're awake!" He turned towards her, hardly daring to hope it could be true. But she was sitting up and looking at him, a soft smile playing on her beautiful lips. She was up, she was with him.
"Oh Godric." He whispered out, hardly believing the luck he'd just gotten. His hand reached out of its own accord and cupped her cheek, stroking the soft skin there with a reverent touch. She smiled back at him, her eyes sparkling with love. She remembered, he could see it in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry." She replied, grasping his hand in her own.
"Don't be, I can't even understand why you would be." He said, his heart constricting as he heard her speak. He never thought he'd hear the real her talk again.
"I didn't know you." She said simply, as though that was enough reason for her to be sorry. His heart rose to his throat and a few tears spilled down his cheeks.
"You remember then?" He choked out, knowing there would never be words to describe the happiness he felt at the mere thought.
"Yes, how could I ever forget you-us?" Fred shook his head, not caring that tears were streaking down his cheeks. She was back, well and truly back.
"You forgot because you were attacked. You were hit by a spell that knocked you unconscious. The healer said that it had locked you in your mind."
"What?" Hermione asked, scrunching her face up in confusion. Fred frowned and tilted his head, trying to figure out how to explain what had happened.
"During the battle you were hit by an illegal curse. The spell locked you in your mind, you couldn't wake up, and it made it where you were dying while you were locked in your mind. It was a coma that you couldn't wake up from. Our healer, Miller, told us that we needed to form a link with you. Someone you loved and trusted had to infiltrate your mind and pull you out of whatever dream world the spell had made up."
"Miller?" She questioned, growing pale. Fred grew instantly worried.
"What is it?"
"That was my doctor in the dream world… He wasn't very professional."
"What did he do?" Fred instantly asked, his eyes narrowing. He was going to kill that doctor.
"He wasn't real, Fred. None of it was. How did I know that was my doctors name though?" She asked, gripping his hand more tightly and moving closer to him. He took her up in his arms and held her close.
"You could hear a few things going on in the real world, apparently it infiltrated your dream world."
"I see." Hermione said, but Fred could see she really didn't. He went on explaining, intending to clarify it for her. He was still clutching her hand, afraid that if he let it go he'd lose her.
"So, we had to send someone in to break the spells hold, if you will. Who better to send than your fiancé? That was our thought anyway. I figured I'd go in, bust up the illusion, and get you out." He snorted at that, shaking his head and frowning. That plan had not worked at all. He'd had nothing but trouble.
"I underestimated the strength of the spell though. I had a bugger of a time breaking through it just to get in your mind, and then it went and turned everyone in your mind against me, making them think I had gone mental." He laughed wryly, shaking his head. "Brilliant really, but I know better than to expect anything less from you."
She tightened her grip on his hand and leaned into his hold, her eyes wide and worried, she looked like she felt guilty. "It took me forever to figure out that you thought I was mental too. Every time I would come close to figuring out what was wrong with your dreamed up world I'd get kicked out of your mind, and then when I got back time had passed and I couldn't get anyone to tell me what had happened." His eyes sparkled mischievously as he looked at her, a grin quirking his lips before he continued.
"You also played quite dirty. You kept distracting me." She blushed, causing him to smile even wider. "Naughty little minx."
He shook his head and continued with his explanation. "When I finally did figure it out, I had to formulate a plan quickly. I knew if I could only get you to remember how much I love you, and what we'd been through together we could break the spell. It got hard though, your mind kept pushing me out or hurting you. That spell was nasty." He was frowning now. That had been a thoroughly horrible experience. He'd found himself forgetting the world wasn't real a few times, and he'd felt so alone!
The fact that Hermione kept suffering each time he tried to just straight up tell her the truth had crushed him as well. Even if it was just an illusion, it still hurt to see her in pain.
"Why were you so angry at me then?" She asked after a moment, her eyes slightly scared.
He blushed at that-it was his turn to feel guilty now. "I'm sorry, love. I hated doing it, but I was desperate. You see, I was switching tactics. Fawning over you clearly wasn't working. I was hoping I could shock you into remembering the truth."
"That part didn't work so well." She said wryly, lifting an amused eyebrow.
"No, it didn't." They grew quiet for a moment, studying each other almost apprehensively. "George told me I was a nutter for trying it. He knew you'd pack up and leave, and then I'd have to try and find you. I probably never would have freed you that way." He shook his head, feeling frightened by the thought. Hermione looked like she knew what he was thinking and she tightened her grip on him. He shook away the dark thoughts, bringing his mind to focus on her again. "Are you feeling alright?" He finally asked, searching her face for any sign of pain.
"My legs a little sore, not that I'm surprised." She said, glancing down at the offending limb. They were still covered up by her blanket so she couldn't see them, or feel them.
"You broke it when you fell so the curse gathered in it, using that already existing pain to help coerce you into doing what it wanted." Fred said, his eyes burning with ill hidden anger. He had never wanted to hurt something inanimate so much. "Any time you got close to me, or close to finding out the truth on your own, or I started to just up and tell you, it would flare up in pain." His blood was boiling now, and he wanted to hit something.
"Hey," She said softly, calling his attention back to her, "I'm fine. We're both fine." He nodded his head stiffly, but even he knew it was obvious he didn't really believe her. He felt like this was all his fault. He should have gotten in there sooner and broke the spell faster.
"Come here." She ordered, her voice still quiet. It also still had a hoarse quality to it that made his hear hurt. She shouldn't be having these problems. She shouldn't have been hit by that spell. He should have been there to protect her. He should have taken the hit-he gladly would have. "Fred." She said, calling him back to the present. He scooted towards her, still frowning as his eyes scanned her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down close to her. He let her, going down with her with no complaint. Once she was flat on her back, with him on top of her, she pressed a soft kiss to his lips before turning them so they were both on their sides.
He returned the kiss with a little worry, terrified of hurting her.
"Fred," She said, sounding weary, "Haven't we had this conversation a few times now? I'm not going to break. It's okay to hold me and kiss me."
"Technically, we never really had this conversation." Fred said pulling back from her, still feeling extremely worried. She shook her head and laughed, pulling him back down.
"Now Fred, just because it happened in my head doesn't mean it wasn't real."
"No, love, it only means your bonkers." He retorted, grinning softly.
"Well then, if I dreamed you were bonkers, but I really am the bonkers one, then what does that make you for wanting to kiss me?" She asked, smiling back at him, that sparkle he so loved back in her eyes.
"Confused." He replied, raising an amused eyebrow.
"how about adorable?" She questioned, snuggling into his arms as she pulled him even closer.
"How about dashing? Sounds more masculine."
"Then it wouldn't suit at all." She stated, keeping a straight face with obvious effort. He pushed himself up indignantly and narrowed his eyes.
"Are you doubting my masculinity?" She nodded her head, her eyes positively alight with life and joy. He never thought he'd seen her more beautiful than this.
"Yes."
"I think I'm close enough to you to prove I'm a man, with very masculine assets." He replied, leaning down next to her ear and talking into it. She shivered delightfully against him and tightened her hold on him.
"I can't wait for you to prove it later."
"Later?" He questioned, swallowing thickly. He'd only been kidding. Now though, he found himself extremely aware of her soft curves pressing into him, and how warm and supple she felt beneath him. Merlin, he wanted her bad.
"Yes, I intend on getting married June 28th, if I can't have you sooner." She answered, pulling him back down towards her.
He gulped, and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close as he could. She went to him eagerly, wrapping her own arms around him tightly and stretching for his lips. he shook his head, pressing a kiss to her temple gently before twisting them around so that she was on top of him. Her eyes widened in slight surprise before she smiled contentedly and snuggled into his arms, laying her head against his chest. Her eyes slowly shut, and he could tell the exact moment sleep once again claimed her. He tightened his grip around her and held her as close as he could, brushing his nose through her curls as he held her safe.
She was back where she belonged, and he couldn't have been more grateful.
A/N: I hope that helped explain everything, if not, you can continue to read my A/N, if you already understand everything, just hit that blue button and tell me what you think ;)
Okay, Hermione has spent the last few days (this entire story) in a coma. She has dreamed up a world while she was in it, and that world was affected by a dark curse cast on her. She had to forget the thing she loved most had happened, she forgot her life with Fred. Fred entered her mind/dream world, in hope of breaking that curse. he had no idea what had changed though. Any time he was about to find out, the spell kicked him out.
When he finally did figure it out, he called in George's assitance (George came into the dream world while they were at Fred's sick bed, right before Fred cut Hermione off.) The spell broke with Hermione remembering the wedding, and she woke up in the hospital. I hope that explains everything, but if not, let me know your questions and I'll answer them next chapter.
I hope you all enjoy this chapter, it was a lot of fun to write.
