Felix felicis was a tricky thing, Hermione thought, because one's luck was another's misfortune. Still, with as many curses that had missed her instead of landing, she was glad to have it.
She was staring at Bill. She thought Ron might've been sitting next to her. Maybe he was talking. People were moving around the Hospital Wing. Lots of people. Order Members. Lupin. Tonks. McGonagall. Mrs. Weasley.
She couldn't look away from Bill's hand, clasped in Fleur's. Their knuckles were white. Fleur's hand was shaking. Wrath or fear or sorrow. It didn't matter. It shook.
Someone said her name. Was she lucky? Fred had not been able to answer the summons. He and George had been with Mrs. Weasley, and she had expressly forbade it. Hermione wished George was there to make her laugh. She wished Fred was there to hold her hand. They had been left in the Burrow. They must be going mad, not knowing.
Harry had gone. She knew not where. It mattered, an inkling that drove her to her feet.
"Where's Harry?" Her voice broke. Her back ached. She'd tackled Ginny to keep a wall from exploding on her. The stone had not been forgiving. She was lucky. She was alive.
"He's speaking with Professor McGonagall," Lupin said. He was holding Tonk's hand. Strange. He touched her shoulder and gestured to someone beyond her. "He's safe. Can you focus on me?"
"Fred and George don't know what's happening," she clutched the front of Lupin's robes. "He needs to know, I need to see him."
It occurred to her, as Lupin made her drink a potion of some sort, that it had been totally silent when she made her proclamation and no one had spoken since. The anxiety clawing at her mind fell away and was replaced with the acute awareness that everyone was watching her like she'd gone mad.
Hermione straightened her spine and fled the room before anyone could ask. She found a broom closet nearby and ducked inside, taking a moment to collect herself.
"Expecto patronum," she said. Her otter appeared before her. She told it all she needed to and stumbled back toward the Hospital Wing before anyone was sent to find her.
Ron was standing outside the Hospital Wing with his arms crossed over his chest. Hermione stopped short, gripping her elbow. There was a hole in her sweater. He asked, "What was that about?"
"What?" Even to her own ears, her confusion sounded fake.
"You acted like Fred'd die if you didn't see him," Ron said shortly.
"They had your mum and Bill's fiancé rush over like he would die. We never sent word about whether or not you and Ginny were okay. Don't you think he and George would be worried?" Hermione asked honestly. They would've been out of their minds, even if she and Fred weren't involved.
"That has nothing to do with you," Ron persisted. Hermione tried not to flinch.
"Well," Hermione shifted on her feet awkwardly. "Fred and I have—erm—seen each other before. It hasn't worked out. I still care about him and George though."
"Do you-"
"Ron, there's a reason they made me drink a Calming Draught. I wasn't in my right mind. I barely remember what I said," Hermione lied coolly. "It doesn't concern you regardless."
"Why not? You're my friend and Fred is my brother," Ron pointed to his chest. "Sounds like it concerns me!"
They hadn't fought like this in a while.
"Can we do this later?" Hermione said weakly. Tears were already welling behind her eyes. She couldn't build an argument or support one like this. She'd be on the defensive the whole time and as selfish as it was, she knew she was right. She couldn't let Ron do this to her now. "It's been a long night."
"Fine," Ron nodded. After a moment, he added, "You should get some sleep."
"I'll try," Hermione said weakly. She didn't have much hope for it.
~m~
Dumbledore is dead. Bill had a run-in with Greyback, but he wasn't bit on the full moon. He'll live. The rest of us are all right. I don't think I'll be going back to Hogwarts next year. Dumbledore left work for us to do. I'm so sorry. I love you so much.
George gripped Fred's hand tighter. "Dumbledore can't be dead."
Fred said softly, "She was supposed to be safe at Hogwarts. It was supposed to be safe."
Dumbledore made Hogwarts the safest place on earth. Dumbledore couldn't . . . How could he be dead? He was old, yes, even for a wizard, but that didn't mean he could just die. It didn't sound like Voldemort had even been there; it couldn't have been just a regular Death Eater that had done it.
George didn't understand the bit about Bill either. He'll live. Bloody Lockhart was alive, wasn't he? Was Fleur still with them? She'd been allowed to leave with their mother, not that she could've stopped Fleur if she'd tried. For as much as they made fun of Fleur, George thought she really did love Bill. What would happen to the wedding now? Was he going to heal enough to go through with it?
She said 'the rest of us' but George wasn't sure who that meant. Was Ginny okay? What of Ron and the Order Members? Why wasn't she going back to Hogwarts? What did Dumbledore even want from them?
"Georgie," Fred gripped his shoulder. "Breathe."
"I am," he tried to say, but all that came out was a wheezing sound. His eyes widened in panic. He wasn't breathing right. It was too fast. It needed to slow down. He couldn't make himself slow down, what was wrong? What was wrong, whatwaswrong—
"Georgie, look at me," Fred ordered. He shook him slightly. George watched him carefully. "Breathe in. Hold. Now out." George did, his breath shaking. Fred talked him through it. Slowly, George felt more in control of himself. If it had been anyone other than Fred, he would've been embarrassed. Fred messed up his hair and sat on the table next to him. "We're all going to be all right."
"Last time there was a war, Mum lost her brothers," George whispered. "Harry lost his parents. They wiped the entire McKinnon family from the face of the earth. Sirius is already—and Dumbledore. What are we supposed to do?"
"Fight. Survive," Fred said gently. "Keep doing what we always have."
"I hate this," George said, leaning his head on Fred's shoulder. Fred rested his head on George's.
"We'll get through this," Fred promised. "We're going to put Voldemort in his place and live as heroes for the rest of our lives."
"That should give us a nice business boost," George muttered. "We should make the hangman sets Death Eaters."
"See? That's the spirit," Fred nudged him lightly. "The bigger target on our back, the less the others get hurt."
"We could take more than five Death Eaters together," George smiled.
"I reckon so. We've had lessons from the bloody Chosen One, after all."
"Mum'll kill us."
"'Mione and Angelina will kill us."
"Only if we get hurt.""That's not very likely though, is it?"
.o0O0o.
Ooooh, boy we 'bout done. I'm gonna write a scene for Dumbledore's funeral or something like that. I'm doing my best.
WriterNMomma: Thank you!
Guest: I did call Angelina 'Angela' once or twice because my brain and/or auto-correct was dumb.
terminalxwanderlust: Awww thanks! I really don't understand how you could read so much, even when I go back and try I'm just like bleeehch what is this shit?
Annabethjc23: I am trying my best to not abandon it, I promise.
Fandomqueen104: I cannot lie, I'm grinning even though I'm gonna apologize for the cliffhanger-ing. I always think I'm going to update sooner than I do.
kittkat95: Thank you very much!
Fandomwizard26: I didn't realize Fremione was such a niche ship because I always disregarded the dates on stories until about three months in and I was like . . . something ain't right here . . .
Hollowg1rl: I never mean to make you guys wait so long, but I always love hearing from y'all, you guys warm my freaking robot heart.
Guest (2): Thank you! There do need to be more Fremione fics! If I wasn't working on so many others, I'd definitely look into it!
Shipslover: Honestly, same bro. I always have to read the entire year 6 story every time I want to update cos I have no idea what I did.
Infernalbooks: Eyyyy, I live after all! Def didn't mean to abandon this boy for so long . . . hehehe . . . Don't hurt me, I'm sorry.
Catrowline: Thanks so much! Ahh, y'all always make me blush.
EJDimera'sGirl: Listen, I have written George punching Ron about twenty times in twenty different places. This is sooner than usual, but I felt like indulging myself (and you guys, I suppose).
Thank you all so much! You guys are the fuel that keeps reminding me that I should probably update . . . soon . . . I guess.
