Chapter 53 – Hermione's Misery
A week had passed since the group had visited the Ministry of Magic and had found the Slytherin necklace. They hadn't had any new leads on finding another Horcrux as none of them knew where to go next. Hermione was very frustrated at this and felt useless at not being able to find any information. She'd spend hours reading through all the books she had brought with her, searching for anything that may prove useful. She even took to checking through Sirius and Regulus' old rooms to see if they had any old books.
"You'd think there would be something in this house," Fred stated one evening. "Especially when you think of the witches and wizards that have lived here."
It was no use. None of the books Hermione found in the house were helpful.
"Why can't I find anything?" she snapped, slamming a dusty old book down on the bed.
"We're running out of time Fred."
"I know love, and I wish I could be of more help but I wouldn't know where to begin," Fred answered.
They hadn't heard anything more from Lupin or Sirius either which didn't help.
"You'd think Lupin would know something," Fred said.
"Maybe he doesn't Fred. You-Know-Who is much older than Lupin so it was probably long before Lupin's time," Hermione replied.
Hermione felt like they were going around and round in circles without getting anywhere.
"I don't know what else to do Fred. Everyone looks to me for information but I haven't got any. I feel like I'm letting everyone down," Hermione cried.
"You're not letting anyone down Mione. You've done more than enough and you've tried your best" Fred spoke, hugging her tightly.
This wasn't the only issue that was getting Hermione down. She was missing her parents greatly. She longed for her Mum to tuck her in at night, reassure her and tell her everything would be ok. She knew her parents were probably living an amazing life in Australia now without knowing they had a daughter. Not only did Hermione miss her parents but she missed having some female company. It wasn't easy living in a house with four teenage boys. It wasn't that she wasn't used to being around boys because she had been friends with Harry and Ron for years but she missed having Ginny around. She missed having that female friend to talk to about woman troubles and when the boys were getting too loud and annoying.
She was also missing Hogwarts, her classes and some of her old professors such as McGonagall, Hagrid and Flitwick. She missed sitting in her favourite armchair in the Gryffindor common room in front of the blazing fire while reading a good book. She missed the feasts in the Great Hall under the enchanted ceiling. She missed the visits to Hagrid's hut where she'd laugh at Ron being covered in dog drool from Fang. She missed her visits to the library when she needed to find out some information which is what she needed more than ever at that moment in time. She knew the library might have a book on Horcurxes somewhere. She also missed her old school friends, even Luna. She worried about her friends at Hogwarts constantly.
"What if Snape is making Neville's life hell?" she shrieked one evening.
Wearing the Slytherin necklace seemed to heighten Hermione's emotions. It often caused her to burst into tears easily. Sometimes she'd just sit in a little world of her own. She and Ron seemed to be constantly at each other's throats too. The only person who seemed to be able to get through to Hermione was Fred.
*****
It was just after dinner time and Kretcher had cooked them some toad in the hole. Hermione was wearing the necklace and had been very quiet since she had put it on that morning. She left the dining room quickly after dinner and escaped to her room.
"What has gotten into her?" Ron wondered.
"She's a girl Ron, girls tend to get hormonal once a month," Fred stated.
"She needs to catch a grip!" Ron snapped.
"Maybe you shouldn't be such a git to her Ron. She's trying her best but you constantly question her and put her down," Fred stated.
"Why don't you go and help look for information on Horcruxes for once rather than expecting Hermione to do it all," George said.
Fred left the living room and went to see if Hermione was ok. He approached the bedroom door but didn't knock straight away as he heard sobbing coming from the room. Hearing Hermione cry like that broke his heart. Fred didn't bother knocking on the door, he carefully opened it to find Hermione lying face down on the bed.
"Hermione are you alright?" Fred asked.
Hermione sat up, wiping her eyes on a tissue.
"Oh Hermione, love what's wrong?" Fred asked, pulling her into a hug.
"I don't know Fred," she sniffed. "Everything is really getting to me at the moment."
"It's the necklace isn't it?" Fred asked.
"I don't know Fred. Sometimes I think it is then sometimes I think it isn't," Hermione cried.
"Take it off sweetie and I'll wear it," Fred urged.
Hermione removed the necklace and put it around Fred's neck.
"Feel better?" Fred asked.
"Not really Fred. I'm just feeling really down at the moment. I'm missing my friends and Hogwarts and my parents," Hermione admitted, letting more tears roll down her pale face.
"Oh Hermione love. I had no idea you were feeling this way," Fred answered.
"I've been feeling like this for a few days now. I'm missing Gin too. I could really do with some female company," Hermione spoke.
"I don't think Ron's attitude is really helping matters," Fred said.
"He just wants us to get a move on with finding Horcruxes so he's getting annoyed that we're not making any more plans," Hermione answered.
"He needs to lay off you Hermione. You're trying your best, we all are. I don't see him making any effort," Fred said. "He can't expect you to do everything."
"I just feel like we've hit a brick wall. We really need to get planning again but none of us know what to do or where to go," Hermione sniffed.
"Do you want me to be honest Hermione?" Fred asked.
"Yes Fred," Hermione said.
"I think we'd be better off without Ron at times. All he does is sulk around and complain without trying to help," Fred admitted.
Part of Hermione thought Fred was right but she didn't want to admit it to herself or Fred. She had to keep the peace with Ron because of Harry. They all had to stick together and couldn't afford to argue but Ron's attitude towards her was really upsetting her.
"Will you stay with me tonight again Fred?" Hermione asked.
"Of course I will Mione," Fred answered.
Once Fred had calmed Hermione down, the two of them began looking through some books again but they didn't have any luck.
"Do you think one of us should sneak into Diagon Alley and check the book shops?" Fred wondered.
"No. I checked the book shops before we came here and got everything I thought would be useful," Hermione answered. "I even borrowed some books from Dumbledore's office but they didn't have anything either."
Hermione and Fred then went down to join the others.
"What's up with you Hermione?" Ron asked.
"I'm just tired Ron. I've not been sleeping very well," Hermione answered.
"Take a sleeping potion then," Ron stated in an unsympathetic tone.
Fred had to bite his tongue to stop himself from snapping at Ron. Ron was really pushing his patience. Fred found himself getting easily annoyed at Ron even more when he was wearing the necklace.
"Would you like me to make you a sleeping potion Mione?" Fred asked.
"No it's ok Fred. I think I'll be fine with having you with me tonight," Hermione answered.
"He's staying with you?" Ron questioned.
"Yes Fred is staying with me tonight. Have you got a problem with that Ronald?" Hermione asked.
"Yes I have actually. Mum wouldn't be too impressed to hear that you two are sleeping together!" Ron answered.
"Catch a grip Ron! We're only sleeping in same bed and I'm staying with Hermione to keep her company," Fred snapped.
"George, are you alright with this?" Ron then asked.
"Of course I am. I don't have any reason to be annoyed at Fred spending precious time with Hermione," George answered.
"Come on Mione, let's go to bed so we don't have to listen to my little brother lecturing us," Fred spoke.
Fred and Hermione then left the living room and headed to bed.
"I honestly can't believe him!" Fred snapped, slamming the bedroom door behind him. "What age does he think we are? 12?"
"Just try and ignore him Fred," Hermione spoke.
"How can I Mione when he's constantly having a go at you?" Fred answered. "I wanted to hex him back there."
"That wouldn't do any good Fred. We all need to stick together, no matter how much he's driving us insane," Hermione spoke.
"I can't help it Mione, it's my job to look after you and protect you," Fred said.
"I know Fred and I really do appreciate it but I can handle Ron myself," Hermione answered.
"He may be my brother but sometimes he's an insensitive git who needs a good hexing," Fred said.
Hermione rushed into the bathroom to get herself ready for bed, returning in her pyjamas. Fred was already changed into a pair of black shorts and a white t-shirt which clung to his abs. Hermione looked him up and down, a small grin appearing on her face.
"I'm just going to brush my teeth, will be back in a jiffy," Fred stated.
Hermione sat herself down on the bed, wondering why her face was blazing all of a sudden. Yes she always found Fred handsome and yes she did always fancy him but something just clicked in her head. Had it been what Ron had said about her sleeping with Fred? Was it because of what she'd read in one of her Muggle story books about a young couple who slept together because they were both moving away to University and didn't know when they'd see each other again?
Hermione looked at the situation that she was currently in; she was hiding away with three of her male friends and her boyfriend whom she loved dearly. They could be caught and killed at any moment. Fate could intervene and separate them all. Hermione's mind was buzzing by the time Fred returned from the bathroom, his white t-shirt soaking.
"Turned the water tap on and soaked myself," Fred laughed.
Hermione moved from the bed and over to Fred. She tugged on the hem of Fred's wet t-shirt and pulled it over Fred's head.
"Much better," She commented, checking out Fred's toned abs which had a dusting of ginger hair over them.
She then stood up on her tip toes and kissed Fred passionately. Fred kissed her back, lifting her off her feet and setting her on the bed. Fred pulled away first.
"We can't do this Hermione," He gasped.
"Do what? We're allowed to kiss Fred," Hermione questioned.
"I don't want to push you into sleeping with me," Fred answered.
"You aren't pushing me into doing anything Fred," Hermione said.
Fred moved onto his side, propping his head up on his arm. Hermione mirrored Fred's actions, doing the same.
"Is this because of what Ron said?" Fred asked.
"No definitely not Fred. When have I ever listened to Ron when he's tried giving me relationship advice?" Hermione answered. "I'm a big girl Fred who is quite capable of making her own decisions."
"Look Hermione, you are my first serious girlfriend. Yes I briefly dated Alicia and she was regrettably my first. I want our first time to be special, not to be rushed or in the heat of the moment," Fred admitted.
"It won't be Fred but everything is so uncertain in our lives at the moment, isn't it? Maybe we should just live for the moment," Hermione spoke.
"Hermione what has gotten into you?" Fred said with a slight laugh.
"I was reading in one of my novels about this young couple who reminded me of us. They were due to be separated at any time so made the most of the time they had together before they were," Hermione answered.
"Hermione, I want you to trust me but we're not about to be separated any time soon," Fred spoke.
"How do you know that Fred? We all just assume that we are perfectly safe here but the death eaters are smart, they could find a way to get to us. They could torture some of our friends or your family for information on us," Hermione stated.
"Hermione please stop worrying. We are perfectly safe here. When we lived here with the Order Dad said that no one can get in here unless they know how to," Fred answered. "They can only get in if they know how to use the Fidelius charm."
Fred's words seemed to calm Hermione down again.
"We should probably try and get some sleep," Fred spoke.
