This one-shot was based on a prompt by ArlieAshryver.
I hope everyone likes it!
*I do not own any of the characters in this story*
Fred,
I know it's a bit weird for me to be writing to you like this, but there's a few things I'd like to share with you, and this seemed like the best way to do that.
Do you remember the first time we talked?
Hermione sat on the couch in the common room, looking around the empty space. It was her first night at Hogwarts and she couldn't sleep. Instead, she sat on the sofa in front of the fire and read. An hour later, a noise caught her attention and she looked up to see one of the Weasley twins standing on the bottom step. She started when she noticed he was staring at her.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. I didn't think anyone else was down here." He said as he came closer.
"That's okay." She replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Mind?" He asked, motioning to the armchair next to her. She shook her head and as he sat down, he noticed the book in her hands. "Ah, can't sleep?"
Hermione blushed and looked away.
"Don't worry. I had trouble sleeping my first year here too. Took me a while to get used to it. I still can't sleep on the first night back." He admitted as he pulled a book from the pocket of his robes and waved it at her slightly.
"Really?" She asked timidly.
"Sure. It's not easy being away from home. It sounds different. And smells different." He told her, wriggling his nose.
Hermione laughed at the face he made, and he winked at her before opening his book.
"I'm Fred, by the way." He told her, holding his hand out.
"Hermione. Nice to meet you." She said, grasping his hand briefly.
"Likewise." He replied with a smile before turning his attention to his book. They quietly read together for hours that night, only stopping when the sun came up and they had to get dressed for the day. It became an unspoken tradition. The first night back from any of the holidays, they spent in the common room, reading together.
I was so scared that night. I was away from my parents and in a brand-new world filled with people and things that I had no clue about. You made me feel normal and safe. I'll never be able to thank you enough for that.
Out of all of the Weasleys, you're the one I most wish to spend time with. You bring out this part of me that I hide from everyone else. You make me feel like I'm fun and worthy. You make me the best version of myself. You're the only one who makes me feel that way. There's just something about you. You're more intuitive and compassionate while George tends to be impulsive and overzealous. (Don't tell him I said that.) With one look at someone, you know how they're feeling and what's going through their minds. There's a side of you that others don't see.
I've always been able to tell you and George apart, you know. You have this quality about you that makes it easy for me to see the difference. I only wish everyone else could see you as I do. To them, you're a prankster who enjoys teasing people. To me, you're a tender and caring man who just wants to make the world smile. The night of the Yule Ball is a perfect example of that.
Hermione threw her shoes into the armchair before sitting down on the sofa. She leaned on the arm, resting her head as tears fell down her face. It had been such a lovely evening before Ron opened his mouth. He said such mean things all because she agreed to go with Viktor to the ball. Now, she wished she had never said yes and had followed through on her plans to spend the night at the library.
She heard the portrait open and kept her head down, as she waited for them to pass. Instead, she felt them move closer. She watched out of the corner of her eye as her shoes were dropped on the floor.
"I don't want to talk, Harry." She said sharply, without looking.
"How about reading?" Fred asked.
Hermione looked up quickly to see Fred holding two books.
"Sorry, Fred. I- "
"You don't have to apologize. It's obviously been a bad night. Figured you could use a book." He explained, holding one out to her.
Hermione took it and checked the cover.
"Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts?" She read before looking at him questioningly.
"I found it in the library. I know you've been trying to help Harry and I thought it might be useful. If not, it's at least a fun read." He said with a smile.
"Thank you. That's very thoughtful."
"Well, I am the cleverest twin." He told her with a wink. She laughed and opened the book. She was about to begin reading when he spoke again. "Don't let Ron get to you, Hermione. You deserve better than what he was willing to give."
Hermione grinned at him before turning back to the book. They read together until George came back and dragged Fred up to their room.
At the time, that night seemed like the worst night I'd ever have until you came along. You sure know how to make someone laugh, Fred. And you didn't even need all those tricks to do it either.
You and George never ceased to amaze me in the depth of planning and research that you put into those practical jokes. I used to think it was silly and immature. It wasn't until the night you left Hogwarts that I realized how much your jokes helped everyone, myself included. It was so much quieter after that. It felt empty...or maybe it was just me. I never realized how much I looked forward to catching your eye in the halls or swapping books with you or just seeing your smile until you were gone.
Starting the next year was hard without you there that first night. You seemed to guess that though.
Hermione sat down on the couch with a book in her lap. She had found it sitting on top of her clothes in her trunk and had been waiting for hours for the others to leave her alone so she could read it. The start-of-term feast had ended and everyone else was asleep now.
She looked down at the book and read the title: Curses and Counter-Curses: Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss; Jelly Legs; Tongue-Tying and Much, Much More.
Based on the title, she had guessed it was from Fred and she let out a laugh as she opened the book. A small piece of parchment was placed between the cover and front page. She set the book down before unfolding the letter.
Hermione,
I'm sorry the most handsome and charming Weasley twin isn't there to keep you company tonight, however I hope you accept this book in his place. Without us there, I imagine it's dreadfully dull. Try and liven the place up, will you?
Fred.
She smiled when she finished the letter and grabbed her own piece of parchment to write back to him.
Fred,
I'm a prefect this year. I simply can't go around playing jokes on people.
Hermione.
P.s. I'm sure I'll survive without George's company, it's yours I'll be missing.
When she finished, she agonized about whether it was too forward to send. Finally, she summoned up her Gryffindor courage and used Harry's invisibility cloak to sneak down to the owlery and send it off. The next morning at breakfast she received a small bit of parchment with one sentence on it.
I'm hurt and flattered at the same time.
As soon as she finished reading the parchment, it floated up in the air and exploded into bits of confetti over the center of the table. Hermione chuckled at Fred's trick before clearing the confetti from her plate and finishing breakfast with a smile on her face.
You made me feel loads better with that book. I know I said I wouldn't, but I did as you asked. I used that ridiculous book to play jokes on some of the more deserving students. (And Ron occasionally.) They never even suspected me, and it was glorious. I wish I had the chance to tell you that.
There's a lot of things I wish I had told you, Fred. I wish I had told you how grateful I was that you were there for me that first night. I wish I had told you how much I enjoyed your pranks. I wish I had told you how you're the one I wanted to go to the ball with. I wish I had told you how much I missed you while we were on the run. I wish I had told you how much I needed you there after Bellatrix tortured me. I wish I had told you how so vehemently in love with you I am. I love you, Fred and I never told you.
I'm sitting here staring at this piece of marble with your name on it and I'm so angry. I'm angry because of all the things we missed out on. I'm angry because I'm a coward and had I just had the courage to tell you how I felt, we could've had some time. I could've saved you. I'm angry because you were taken from me. Most of all, I'm angry because you were never mine.
People keep telling me that this is just another chapter of our lives that we say goodbye to. Sure, there are some goodbyes that feel like closed chapters, but yours didn't, Fred. It felt like the pages were ripped out in the middle of the story and I'm left here alone wondering how it would have ended.
It's September 1st and you're supposed to be here with me. I need you. I need you to come sit with me and tell me how everything's going to be okay. I need you to tell me you loved me too. I need to know if it was real, Fred. Because I can't go on without you. I can't do this without knowing if you felt it too-
"Hermione." A voice called, startling her. She quickly wiped her eyes before looking up. George was walking through the field towards her. She folded the letter and tucked it in her pocket just before he came to stand in front of her.
"I was just checking on-" She started, suddenly very nervous.
"It's okay, Hermione. You don't need to explain anything. I just found something that belongs to you."
She looked at him curiously as he pulled a small book and a letter from his pocket.
"I was going through Fred's things and I came across this. I think you should read it." He explained as he handed them to her. He kissed her cheek before walking away. Hermione watched as he walked back through the meadow and into the Burrow before she looked down at the items he handed her.
With trembling hands, she opened the letter first. Pulling out the parchment, she realized it was two separate letters. Setting the other aside, she started with the first one.
Hermione,
Tonight, as I watched you disappear with Ron and Harry all I could think of was the nights we spent reading together and how I hoped we'd get another one. I went through great pains to plan our next reading night although now, it seems like it might not happen. I suppose I'll have to do this a bit differently.
I know you have so many plans for your future and things you'd like to accomplish, but there's something you should know first. I'm in love with someone and there's no cure. I've tried everything but I can't seem to get her out of my mind. She's stubborn, and clever, and bossy, and Merlin, she's gorgeous. She's everything I never knew I wanted and everything I need. She's you.
I know it probably isn't the best time to be telling you this, but I need you to know in case one of us doesn't make it. I haven't told anyone, not even George because I'm terrified I'll manage to muck it all up. I'm not exactly what most people would choose for you. I'm an average jokester who can't be taken seriously, and you're a beautiful bookworm who deserves the world and I can only hope you're willing to let me try and give it to you.
I know I can't send this right now, but I promise I'll keep trying to get it to you.
Fred
Hermione squeezed her eyes shut as she finished the first letter. Her head was reeling, and she couldn't seem to grasp that this was real. Fred had loved her. He loved her and she loved him but now, they'd never be together. She wiped her eyes as she set the first letter down and started on the second.
Hermione,
Bill's just told us about what happened at Malfoy Manor and I'm so sorry. I should've been there to protect you. Maybe if I had told you how I felt sooner, I could've gone with you.
I can't begin to imagine what you must be feeling but know that I'm always thinking of you. I'm thinking about how you smell of honeysuckle and green apples. I'm thinking of how you let out a huff whenever you finish a book. I'm thinking of how your eyes flash with fire whenever someone dares to fight you. I'm thinking about how much I love you and how badly I want to have a life with you.
Time seems shorter now and I'm getting worried. Especially now that you've already been hurt. I was thinking again of the nights we spent reading and the many stories we finished, and I wondered if we'd get to finish our story.
In case something happens to either of us, I want to know how it'll end. So, I took the liberty of finishing it for us. I don't know if it's what you want, or what you'd choose, but it's how I imagine it.
I hope you like it and I hope someday soon I get to tell you how much I love you.
Fred.
Hermione silently cried as she put the letter down and picked up the book. She managed a small smile as she read the title: Our Story.
She flipped it open to the first page and read. It started with how they met and went through each time they had spoken afterwards. He had written down each of their reading nights and went all the way up to Bill's wedding when he watched her leave. Fred had explained how he had planned to tell her that very night and how heartbroken he was when she left. The story detailed his worry through the months she had been gone and continued past that to the final battle with Voldemort. As if he knew they would win, he told how the Golden Trio were heroes and they had completed the tasks necessary to ensure Voldemort's downfall. He wrote how after Voldemort was dead, he and Hermione found each other and declared their love. The story then followed their lives as Hermione finished school, after which Fred proposed to her. It detailed their wedding and of course, their honeymoon. Finally, their story ended with the birth of their child a year after the wedding.
When she finished the story and closed the book, Hermione could barely see through the tears that clouded her vision. She wiped at her eyes before noticing a sentence written on the back cover. After she read it, she let out a sob and ran her fingers over the final words Fred had written: Our story will carry on in our hearts long after it's finished.