Day 164

It had been four days since Hermione's breakdown and with each day that passed, Fred got more worried. He knew that she was getting up in the night to use the bathroom, but she never said a word or gave any sort of indication that she heard him when he tried to talk to her.

During the day, he read to her. He had started with 'Peter Pan', hoping it would remind her of some happy memories. When they finished that, he moved on to 'Hogwarts: A History' and then 'Mary Poppins'. Through each book, Hermione stared at the wall, barely moving and only drinking water when forced. On the second day, Fred had started mixing a nutrition potion into the glass.

Ginny was still over early every morning and after practice she came back and gave Hermione a play by play of her day. She had just sat down Wednesday night and started to tell her about the huge argument the team's beaters had gotten into when the front door opened.

"Hey, Gin!" George called. "Someone here for you!"

"I'm sitting with Hermione, can't it wait?" she called back, rolling her eyes at Hermione dramatically.

"I guess," Harry responded moodily, leaning against the door. "But I was kind of hoping to see my girls."

"Harry!" Ginny gasped and ran at him. "Harry, you're back!"

"Hey," he laughed and caught her as she jumped into his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist and her face buried in his neck.

"Merlin I've missed you," she muttered.

"I missed you too," Harry assured her. "You have no idea how much I missed you."

"Alright, well, if you two are done?" George interrupted their moment.

"Not quite yet," Ginny shook her head. "Go sit with Hermione."

"Let's all remember that this is my flat," he said as she led Harry into the other room. "Please keep your filthiness off any and all flat surfaces."

"Piss off," Ginny laughed.

"Did you hear that?" George turned to Hermione. "Here I'm doing something nice bringing Boy Wonder back for the two of you, and she's cursing at me. The nerve! You'd never do that, would you Herms?"

As he expected, she didn't answer.

"That's what I thought. So, what were you and Fred reading today?" he picked up the book Fred had left on the bed stand and scanned the cover. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. Sounds interesting. Think we can get any new inventions from this one?"

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While George carried on his one-sided conversation with Hermione, Ginny filled Harry in on what he had missed.

"Four days?" he asked, a worried look on his face. "She hasn't moved or said a word in four days?"

Ginny shook her head. "She just stares at the wall. Even if we get right in her line of sight, it's like she doesn't know we're there."

"I never should have left," Harry wrung his hands. "I knew you two didn't want me to go, I knew it was making her upset."

"Harry, none of this is your fault," Ginny took his hands. "You couldn't have known they were going to call and say they didn't know where her parents were, but they were pretty sure they're dead. You're not a Seer."

"That's not the point. I knew she didn't want me to go, neither of you did, and I did it anyways. Now Hermione's had some sort of breakdown and you haven't slept properly since I left-"

"Who said that?" Ginny demanded. "I'm fine."

"George said you would say that."

"Rat!" she shouted towards the bedroom.

"Don't be mad at him. I would have found out eventually."

"I was just worried about you," she promised. "It's not a big deal."

"I don't want you to worry about me."

Ginny let out a sharp laugh at this and rested her head on Harry's shoulder.

"You stupid git," she sighed. "I've been worrying about you for years. You have a terrible habit of getting yourself into trouble."

"So do you," he pointed out.

"Not nearly as much as you do. The point is, none of this is your fault. I'm just glad you're back," she kissed him soundly. "I'm glad you're back for both of us. If anyone can get through to Hermione, it'll be you."

"I'm not magic," Harry pointed out, then frowned. "You know what I mean. It's not like I'm going to walk through the door and heal her."

"No, I know," Ginny nodded. "But you're her best friend."

"She's in love with Fred."

"It's not the same," she shook her head. "You understand her in ways that Fred will never be able to- not for lack of trying, but because of all the things you two went through. You two are like Fred and George, one without the other just seems wrong."

"I think I'll go sit with her then."

"I think she'd really like that," Ginny kissed him again. "I'm going to run out and get dinner for everyone."

"Where is Fred, by the way?" Harry asked, looking around the flat. "I didn't see him downstairs."

"He's sleeping in George's room," Ginny pointed. "We put a silencing charm around it. He's hasn't slept much lately, he wakes up whenever he thinks he hears Hermione. He's been sleeping for a while, though so he'll probably get up again soon. He'll be happy to see you. Go see Hermione."

"Right," he nodded and got to his feet. "See you in a bit."

"George," Ginny stuck her head around the corner. "I'm getting food, what do you want?"

"Whatever," her brother shrugged. "Take some money from the kitchen."

"Sure," she nodded, then turned to Harry and rolled her eyes as she skipped out of the house.

"She didn't take the money, did she?"

"No," Harry shook his head. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Today's book," George held up the volume. "Fred's been reading to her, he figures it helps. Today was 'Alice in Wonderland'."

Harry nodded approvingly.

"You want to sit with her?" George offered his seat.

"If you don't mind."

"She's all yours," he clapped him on the back and headed for the door. "But Hermione, please know that if you start blabbering away to this sod, Freddy and I will be very put out."

He closed the door to give them some time alone as Harry sat in his abandoned chair.

"Hey, Mione," he smiled brightly and took her hand. "I'm back. Did you miss me?"

Her only response was to blink.

"Well I'm very missable," he nodded. "Ginny told me what happened, I'm so sorry. But you've got to snap out of this, it's not healthy."

She continued to stare and Harry brushed the hair out of her face and sighed.

"I haven't seen Fred yet, but if he's as worried about you as George and Ginny are, he must be in pretty bad shape. Whatever it is that's going through your head right now, you need to let it out. We can take it, but it's eating you alive. We can't help you unless you tell us how."

"I've tried that," Fred appeared in the doorway. "Didn't do anything."

"I didn't expect it to," Harry shrugged. "How you doing?"

"Been better," he admitted. "Has she moved?"

"I've only been here for a few minutes, but no."

"I thought you were sleeping," George huffed, joining his brother in the doorway.

"I woke up."

"You shouldn't have. You haven't slept in days."

"Sure I have," Fred rolled his eyes. "When did Boy Wonder get here?"

"Half an hour ago," Harry answered. "Ginny filled me in."

"Any big ideas on how to snap her out of this?"

"Not yet," he shook his head. "But I'm trying."

"We all are," Fred sighed.