1st A/N: GUESS WHOSE BIRTHDAY IT IS?? –points to self- I'm 16 tomorrow, everyone! Isn't that fantastic?

Dedication: To my lovely and beautiful, one­_eight, to whom encouraged me every day until I got this chapter out.

2nd A/N: I redid the ending of the last chapter. I felt that because of all the pressure of getting it out and the rush made it sound kinda sudden. So, I rewrote it to my satisfaction. The outcome is still the same; it's just in a bit more detail.


Last time:

"What it looks like?" he finished for her, his eyes tightening on the pair. "Because it kinda looked like that you were kissing my brother. If you two weren't just lip locking, then I would love to hear what you were doing." Hermione bit her lip and the two accused fumbled trying to get the truth out. When neither of the two could provide Fred a reasonable answer, he hissed bitterly, "I thought so. Well… I hope you two have a happy life together." He turned and quickly stormed away before either of the two could say anything.

"Fred!" she called after him, but he obviously couldn't hear her. "Shit."


X -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- X

Filling in the Gap

Chapter 29

X -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- X

George was talking to a customer, on the verge of convincing a mother that the Beginner Prankster's Kit was the perfect gift for her seven year old son. She had been a tough customer to crack, she wasn't even one-tenth of a fan of their store as her son was – in fact, the first thing she had told him was that she thought that their shop was pointless and reckless.

It had been a rough hour, trying to persuade her that their products were not a waste of time and money. But he finally achieved what seemed to be an impossible task, and he felt rather proud and satisfied within the moment. Naturally, that emotion went straight out that window when Fred came storming back into the store.

Fred, blinded by his anger, pretty much ran straight into the female customer. He continued to stalk off with no apology, his knuckles cracking as he curled them into fists. "Well I never," the woman sniffed at George. "I don't see why my son idolises you and your brother so much. I will not tolerate it if my son grows up to be that rude." And with that, and a flick of her robes, the customer walked straight out of the store.

George fumed. There went an hour of his life. His gaze went straight to the staircase where Fred was stomping up to the loft. He raced after his copy and grabbed his arm. "What the bloody hell is your problem!?"

Fred turned around and gave his twin a dark glare and muttered bitterly, "leave me alone."

"No way," George challenged. "You just lost us a valuable customer. I want to know what's got your wand in a knot."

The younger twin just scowled. "I don't really want to talk about it." He attempted to leave again but his brother grabbed his arm once more.

"Fred, what's going on?" When Fred didn't answer, George pushed on. "Did something happen when you went to see Hermione?"

Fred exhaled a breath, "she's moved on."

"Moved on?" George echoed.

"She was with Ron" he told him.

"Wh-wh... what do you mean "she was with Ron"?"

"She was with Ron," Fred repeated. "He was at her parent's house. They were kissing. She's moved on... she's gone back to him."

George looked flabbergasted as he attempted to reason with his frustrated brother. "Maybe it isn't what it looked like... maybe..."

"Maybe she was giving him mouth-to-mouth standing up?" Fred shot back. "Or that she had to suck some venom from his lips? I'm telling you, they were snogging on that porch like there was no tomorrow." Okay, that was a little exaggerated Fred admitted to himself but he wasn't going to let George know that. He was the victim of a cruel heartbreak.

"Look, maybe we should talk about this," George said. "There has to be some logical explanation for this. Maybe we should--"

"Mr. Weasley," Verity called out from around the corner. "We've run out of Biting Biscuits, and we need help with the register – it's jammed once again."

George groaned and looked his copy in the eye. "I have to go deal with this. But we'll talk later, alright?"

Fred leaned against the wall as he watched his brother cross the room and enter the storage room. George must have gone mental if he thought that he could get Fred to talk...

Talking was the last thing Fred wanted to do...

X -- X

Harry Potter came home from work early that day for one reason: to comfort his best friend in her time of need. He hadn't spoken to Hermione since the wedding, for he understood that she needed her space, she needed to be alone. But it had been ten days and his concern for her was ever growing, especially when he tried to talk to her straight after the horrific event, only to have her shut him out.

But today was supposed to be different. Today he was going to go over to her parent's house and not take 'no' for an answer. He needed to make sure that she was alright, that she was going to be alright. Hermione was very good at hiding emotion, but after years of being in her presence, he learnt some hidden qualities that viewed her true feelings.

For instance, the twirling of her curls with her finger when she was worried or nervous. Something he noticed as she studied the night before her NEWT exams. Or the way she bit her lip when she hadn't quite said the full truth – a fact he learnt when he questioned her for the real reason why Ginny was sick every morning. Or how she would avoid eye contact after she had cried... but only in times in great sorrow.

He was not prepared, however, for her scared and guilty expression she presented him when she showed up on his doorstep, wearing a trench coat over her pyjamas. She was absolutely hysterical when Harry pulled her into a hug. He instantly knew that she must have seen Fred, and something terrible must have happened with them... but not for the reasons he thought...

"Harry!" Hermione clicked her fingers in front of his face. He snapped out of his thoughts and stared straight into the brown eyes that were boring into him. "Were you even paying attention?"

He heaved a sigh, "Hermione... I don't really see a reason for us to go after him."

"Did you not hear me say all that stuff about Candice?" she said with an agitated look.

"He still lied to you. He didn't handle the situation at all and..."

Hermione grabbed his hands desperately. "I know he isn't your favourite person at the moment, but I need to find him. I need to talk to him. Please, I need your help."

Harry groaned. She had to say those four words. Those always got to him – damn his reputation. He ran a hand over his face, "I can't promise I won't punch him again when I see him but..." He was cut off as Hermione graciously kissed the side of his head. He sighed as he cupped her face with one hand and stared at tear streaks that had stained her pale cheeks. How he hated seeing her like this. "Where do we start?" he asked her.

X -- X

An hour and a half later, and after much frustration later, Hermione collapsed on the Potter's couch. "I don't know where else he could be," she admitted sadly.

Harry sat next to her and took her hand, "we'll find him, 'Mione. I promise."

She leaned her head against his shoulder. "We've looked virtually everywhere. Where else could he be?" Harry had a few ideas, but he didn't want to strain Hermione any more. She looked exhausted, but also alert at the same time. He stroked her hair contently as he heard his wife come through the front door.

Ginny was startled to find Harry home early from work, also with Hermione whom she hadn't spoken to since before the wedding itself. She put down the infant in her arms in the near by playpen and approached her husband and her best friend. "Hey, what's going on?"

"Hermione's trying to find Fred," Harry stated simply. Ginny blinked at him. She had no idea what was going on, or why on earth Hermione was searching for one of her brothers, but she had no obligation to withhold information from her.

"Fred?" Ginny said bemused. Hermione's head shot up at the mention of his name. "I saw him enter the store a little over an hour ago. He looked pretty angry, now that I think about it."

"The... store?" Hermione echoed. Of course he would have gone straight to his brother for guidance after such an ordeal. How could it have been so obvious and yet so right?* She had ideally believed that if Fred wanted to hide, he wouldn't hide in a place so open... and he also wouldn't have gone to the first place a rational person would have gone looking for him.

It was so logical... and very clever. Who would go looking for someone who was hiding in an open space?

Hermione shot out of her seat and before anyone could ask her, she was out the door and apparating for the Weasley Wizarding Wheezes.

X –- X

Hermione raced into the store, sending herself flying into a display of Skiving Snack boxes. She drew alot of attention to her: her hair was untamed and bushier than ever, she still only wore her pyjamas with a thin coat thrown on top and now she was knocking over displays in a very crowded store. Eyes watched her carefully, murmers reached her ears. She had known that the wedding, or lack there of, had made news earlier in the week, so she didn't know why she was so surprised hearing people muttering about how she had gone insane through grief.

"Miss Granger," a familiar and helpful voice came in her ear. "What are you doing here? Are you alright?" Verity's strong hands helped her up from the mess of boxes. "Are you alright" she asked again.

Hermione nodded, the blood was rushing through her. "Are you looking for Mr. Weasley?" Verity questioned slowly.

"Yes! Do you know where he is?"

"Last I saw he was heading upstairs but--" Verity was cut off as a flurry of brown hair went past her in a hurry. Hermione had raced upstairs and flung herself into the loft. The place was still and eerily quiet.

Hermione searched the place desperately. "Fred!" she cried out. "Fred!"

"In here," she heard a deep voice call out to her from the bedroom. Hermione approached the bedroom with agility and enthusiasm. Reaching the room she noticed immediate changes....

The room was totally bare, drawers and closet doors were flung open to reveal an empty space. A redheaded figure sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes glued onto the floor. Hermione's eyes found his ear and felt her heart drop when she discovered the dark hole that replaced it.

"You're too late," George said in a strangled, hollow voice. His eyes left the floor and stared straight at Hermione, tears evident in his eyes. "He's gone"


A/N: Oh my… drama…

Hi everyone! Long time no see. Well, school and work has me locked away from my computer. But lucky me was presented with a laptop, now I can write anywhere I go. Huzzah.

Also: MY BIRTHDAY!! Remember roughly around this time last year, I was still updating... can't believe its taken me over a year. But I'll be sixteen so yay!

Okay, moment of confession: I was originally going to make this chapter long and make Fred and Hermione make up. Originally, that is. Then to me, it didn't make much sense to do that so quickly. So I had to drag it out.

Hmm… also, I wonder if people realized the subtle hints I put in the past few chapters of Hermione's pregnancy. The unexplainable tiredness in Ch. 24, Ginny noticing her lack of drinking and surprise over the nausea that came in the morning and Mrs. Weasley's sly wink in Ch. 26…? No one connected the dots? (Besides one­_eight­­­ I me­an)

Anyways, what did you think of this chapter? Even with that unexpected cliffie at the end?

Review please. I got such a lovely response last time, would love to see the same kind this time around.

Lots of Love,

Creative Touch

P.S. For a random note: I haven't made up my mind if Hermione's previous pregnancy with Ron, that was mentioned last chapter, will have any affect on this story at all.

P.P.S. Apologises for a lame chapter. After rereading it, I think it was lame.

**this line came from a quirky TV show known as Spicks and Specks. I had to use it.