It was over. She couldn't believe it. She didn't know how to feel. The war was over. The war that had been raging for the past seven years was over. Her best friend was alive, he had just defeated the dark lord, he had fore filled the prophecy.
As he turned to face her and Ron who was just behind her she finally released a breath, a breath she didn't realise she had been holding. Her shoulders sagged with a release of tension and tears threatened to spill down her face. And suddenly the battle that at times had felt was between the three teenagers and the whole world came to a close, members of the order were attempting to capture death eaters before they escaped after their master fell and young students, students to young to have witnessed the nights losses were hollering and whooping and making there way over towards Harry, but not before he was enveloped in a crowd of red hair belonging to the Weasley family.
It was too much, too many people, too many people touching her, surrounding her she needed to move to get away. She couldn't breathe, she needed to escape the arms caging her it felt like she was being immobilised again the only difference from the night at Malfoy manor being the lack of shooting and agonising pain. She headed for furthest corner of the great hall away from the crowds congratulating Harry. Towards where her breakfast seat at the Gryffindor table once was automatically finding her place in the once breathtaking room. As she finally focused on what was happening around her she noticed a flash of red hair lying on the floor where her house table had once stood and a slim red headed figure leaning over the body.
Fred and George. Oh god she thought she was now finally registering what was in front of her. The two people who had managed to bring laughter and life to the darkening world around her. Slowly she slid herself to the ground next to Fred and across from George. As Hermione leaned across Fred's lifeless and oddly still body ( he had always been shuffling or moving she thought) towards George's hand that was on Fred's shoulder she felt smallest movement of air across her hand, not daring to get George's hopes up she rested her hand on Fred's other shoulder a mission in mind, find a pulse. She pressed her fingers firmly into the pulse point in Fred's neck and ... there it was his pulse faint and getting slower but it was there.
Immediately she sprung into action a quick glance around showed no sign of a healer or Madame Pomfrey, she pushed George off Fred, screamed at him "get a healer" as she began muggle CPR. George looked at her stunned as she began pounding on his twins chest "get help"she screamed at him "he's alive ... just barely, just get help" a stunned George was suddenly in motion, like someone had suddenly pressed play. Hermione continued counting her chest compressions and breathing for Fred for what Felt like an eternity when george finally returned with two healers ; a small elderly gentleman and tall broad woman who looked to be in her mid thirties. The two healers moved swiftly and carefully around hermione and in such synchronisation that it was evident they had worked together for a long time. The woman knelt on the cold flagstone floor next to hermione and Fred she placed her large strong hand on the side of Fred's neck and checked for a pulse she gave a barely noticeable nod and the smaller of the two healers, waved his wand, a spell immediately washed over Fred and his body began taking deep magically controlled breaths.
The female healer put her arm around Hermione and slowly moved her back from Fred who's hand hermione now grasped firmly. The healer whispered to her how well she had done and Hermione finally looked up into the eyes of the magical family that had cared for her since she was eleven. It was evident that Mr Weasley was barely holding a sobbing Mrs Weasley back from throwing herself over the small healer and onto the floor next to her son. The small man finally turned slightly so that he could address the family and Hermione who was still clutching on to Fred's hand.
"We need to get him to St Mungos immediately to assess his injuries, you may follow but will need to wait until we have him stable before you can see him"'
Percy standing behind Arthur heaved with a loud sob that he must have been trying to hold in as he followed his family towards the headteachers office where they were to Floo to St Mungos from. As the mediwitch stood she placed an arm on Hermione's shoulder
"come on love, you've done a great job but let's get him to the hospital"
as the healer began to levitate Fred hermione began to stand. She slowly began to make her way down the corridor from the great hall George in step with her the whole way. As they finally made it to the place where the statue that hid the headmasters office and quarters Hermione slowly began to feel drained, just adrenaline wearing off she thought to herself as she ascended the stairs. The Weasley family went first through the Floo followed by the female healer and Fred finally when it was just Hermione George and the small healer left the small man said "go on ahead I will need to bring more casualties with me". Hermione glanced at George who glanced back they both gave a small barely there smile and both stepped towards the Floo, more shuffled in Hermione's case. As George grabbed a handful of Floo powder Hermione felt a wave of pain go through her body and the world went black.