a/n: first ever attempt of writing Fred/Hermione

disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor any of the characters.

The war was officially over. A lot of people were mourning over the lives lost. Hermione Granger was one of those people in mourning. She saw her classmates die in front of her, but her downfall was learning he had died.

Fred Weasley, one half of the Weasley twins was gone forever. Her heart shattered when she saw him on the ground in the Great Hall, but she knew she had to keep fighting for him. Otherwise his sacrifice wouldn't have mattered. They needed to win. To defeat Voldemort once and for all.

When Hagrid carried Harry's body back to the grounds of Hogwarts, she truly thought they had lost. All the hope she had, was suddenly gone. Then a miracle happened and Harry jumped out of Hagrid's arms and faced off with the Dark Wizard for the last time.

Death Eaters fled when they realized The Boy Who Lived was going to defeat their Lord. She was relieved Harry had survived and killed Voldemort, but grief quickly sank in.

Two weeks after the war, she was back at the Burrow for Fred's funeral. The laughter and fun had been sucked out of the house and now it was replaced with sadness and grief.

Hermione stayed inside the house while everyone was outside at his service. She didn't want to see him being lowered into the ground. His death would be so final then. She wasn't ready to say goodbye.

Hermione carefully crept into his old room he had once shared with George. Two twin size beds were made neatly only separated by a nightstand. The twins hadn't lived in this room after they dropped out of their seventh year at Hogwarts to open up their joke shop.

She walked over the wooden dresser and began riffling through the drawers. She pulled out a blue sweater with the letter F displayed across the chest. She walked over to the twin size bed on the left and sat down with the sweater held tightly in her hands. Bringing the sweater up to her nostrils she breathed in the scent. Tears began running down her face as the scent of mint mixed with lemongrass consumed her senses.

"I thought I might find you here," a voice said disturbing her silence. She looked up to see George standing in the doorway. "Uh you know he was rather fond of you," he walked over and sat down next to her. Hermione nodded her head before she laid her head onto his shoulder. "And I know you were rather fond of him." He said softly.

Of course he knew. They were identical twins of course. They were often mistaken for the other, but Hermione could always spot the difference. Long before George's ear was sainted holy. Even know leaned up against George for comfort, she knew he was not Fred.

"I feel foolish," she fiddled with the sweater in her hands nervously.

"Why?"

"Here I am crying over him…" she paused wondering if she should being telling George this. "When it was only a one time thing and I don't even know if I ever meant more to him-"

George interrupted her, "I used to tease him about my ear falling off because he wouldn't shut up about you,"

Hermione's eyes widen in surprise to this information. She had meant more to him like how he always meant more to her as well.

"I wish I told him how I felt," she confided her biggest regret to George. "Because now it's too late and I don't know how to move on with my life without him here,"

"I know the feeling," George admitted, because he too didn't know what he was going to do next. Should he keep the shop? Or should he sell it? It wouldn't feel the same without his brother by his side to run it. George felt like all the humor and he fun he had inside of him was now dead along with his twin.

The two of them sat there on Fred's bed for a few more minutes until Molly's voice rung through the house announcing supper was ready.

Hermione didn't know it then, but this would be the last supper she had at The Burrow. She wouldn't see the Weasley's or Harry for a year after the anniversary of The Battle of Hogwarts.

One year later:

Hermione was nervous, this was the first time she had been back to The Burrow since Fred's funeral. She tried to keep in touch with Harry and Ron through letters, but her other priorities kept getting in the way. The only person she kept in touch with really was George. He was her source of information on the others.

She knew Harry and Ginny were engaged to be married. She was so happy for both of them. As for Ron, he had found love with Luna LoveGood. They seemed like an odd pair at first to Hermione, but she was happy for Ron.

Hermione nervously knocked on the door of the house. It felt odd. She never used to knock before, but she had become so distant to the Weasley family all except George.

"You made it," George greeted her with a smile on his face. "Do you need any help?"

"I think I can manage," she said nodding her head for reassurance. "Do you think they will be upset with me?" she asked suddenly worried if Molly would hex her out of the house.

"I don't know," George told her the truth. "But I won't let them harm you or Grayson," he looked at the small boy balanced on Hermione's hip.

Grayson looked so much like his father; red hair, blue eyes, and a cheeky smile. George could already tell the almost one year old would be wreaking havoc in a few years. Grayson had brought a lot of joy back into his life.

"Who's at the door?" they heard Molly's voice yell from the kitchen.

"It's Hermione," George answered as he gestured Hermione to come in. "And I think it is best if you all are sitting down for this,"

The pair walked over to the kitchen and a shared gasp came from everyone in the kitchen. Harry and Ginny were the first ones up to hug Hermione and coo at the baby she was holding. Ron and Luna were next in line. Followed by Bill and Fleur then Percy and Arthur.

Molly however stood by the sink unmoved. Hermione carefully walked over to her with Grayson in her arms.

"Would you like to hold him?" she asked holding her son out to the older woman.

Molly swallowed hard as she reached her hands out and took the baby from Hermione's arms. The tears fell freely as she kissed the crown of the baby's head.

"I never thought I would hold him again," she sobbed. Hermione placed her hand on Molly's shoulder offering her comfort.

"I'm sorry it has taken me so long to come back here," Hermione turned to everyone and began explaining herself. "Uh when I found out I was pregnant it felt like the world was playing a cruel joke on me…" she paused as she fought back tears. "Because I knew this baby was Fred's…he was the only man I slept with and-" she wiped away a few tears that had fallen. "I knew all of you were grieving him and I didn't want to-"

Molly interrupted her, "What's his name, dear?"

"Grayson Fredrick Weasley," she looked at the witch she thought as a second mother with a big smile on her face.

"My little Grayson," Molly cooed at her grandson. "You and I have a lot of catching up to do,"

Hermione smiled as she watched everyone take turns with her baby boy. She was thrilled they loved him with open arms. The house was still full of so much love.

Taking this as an opportunity to have some alone time, Hermione snuck out of the house. She sat down in her front of his grave. It was the first time she had visited his final resting place. She took out her wand and conjured up a beautiful wreath.

"I miss you," she found herself talking to his headstone. "And I would give anything to have seen you hold your son-" the thought of Fred holding Gray often filled her imagination. "You would have been a terrific father…" the warm wind brushed up against her cheek and for a moment it was like he was there with her. "And I'm sorry we didn't have time to figure out our feelings until it was too late…"

She sobbed thinking of how he never knew she did fancy him. Ever since they first meet she thought he was handsome. She never thought she would have a chance with him. He was older and so much cooler than her.

A strong pair of arms pulled her into a warm hug. She closed her eyes and for a moment pretended she was back in his arms. Her head pressed against his chest ruining his shirt with her hot tears.

"We'll be okay," he whispered in her ear. She nodded her head in agreement. Because someday they would be.

She would be strong for their son. Fred would forever be alive in their memories, and Grayson will always know his father died as a hero. Hermione and George will bond over the young boy and maybe someday they will find love again. But right now Grayson was all they needed.

I'll bury your secrets, all except one.

fin.

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