How Could This Happen?
(A/N Sorry it took so long…Review please!)
The next day was filled with excitement and anticipation. It was the first day of Winter Vacation. Hermionie could not wait until the train left that evening. She was sitting in the Common Room trying to read to pass the time. It wasn't working. She couldn't keep her mind off Fred.
Ron was leaning on a table across the room watching Hermionie. He could not figure her out for the life of him. For almost four months there was not even a whisper about Fred, then suddenly that's all Ron heard. People everywhere were talking about him.
"Did you year about Hermionie Granger and Fred Weasley?"
"Fred and Hermionie is such a cute couple."
That was just about all Ron could take. He walked over to Hermionie and sat down next to her. "Hey Hermionie," Ron said.
"Hello Ronald…" she replied and trailed off.
"Hermionie, you seriously need to snap out of it. I know how you feel about my brother, but you're not acting like your normal self. Come back."
"You're probably right." She sighed. "So are you up to an old-fashioned snowball fight?" Hermionie said and laughed. They got up and went outside.
A few hours later, Ron and Hermionie tromped back inside. They went to the Great Hall where there were warm drinks.
"We best be getting our things, the train will be leaving soon," Ron said. They walked upstairs, talking and laughing the whole way. Ron, Hermionie, Harry, and Ginny boarded the train.
Hours later, they arrived at the train station. "I hope Fred is here," Hermionie thought to herself. Sure enough, he was waiting for her. As soon as the train stopped, she rushed off and ran into his arms.
"I missed you so much," Fred told her.
"It's only been a day," she told him with a smile.
"I miss you every second I'm not with you." With that, he leaned down and kissed her, but she pulled away. He looked at her in confusion.
"Your family," she whispered, but they were preoccupied with greeting everyone. They walked back over and rejoined the group.
They arrived back at the Burrow an hour later. Hermionie headed upstairs to put her things in Ron's room, but was surprised to find that she would be staying were Fred and George used to live.
"You didn't tell me you moved out," she said to Fred.
"I'll take you over and show it to you now, if you want." Hermionie nodded. They went to the fireplace, took a handful of Floo powder, and they were gone.
"Now it has to be a surprise," Fred told her as he put his hands over her eyes. He steered her towards the middle of the room. "Okay."
Hermionie opened her eyes and gasped. "It's beautiful," she breathed.
It was a good-sized apartment, three bedrooms. It was very open and spacious. The walls were painted green and white, and there was a hint of paint smell. Hermionie smiled. She walked back to Fred and slid her hand into his.
"I'll show you my room. It's this way," he said and pointed down a hall off the kitchen.
When she stepped in the room, Hermionie laughed. There was a Muggle television set sitting on his desk. Fred just smiled. She turned it on and set down next to him on his bed. Hermionie flipped through the channels and settled on the news.
"In recent news, a middle-aged couple has been killed in a tragic car accident. Over to Bob on the scene," a newswoman said.
"The Grangers were on a holiday drive when a drunk driver hit their car. They died immediately on contact."
Fred turned to Hermionie with worry in his eyes. She was in shock. Tears were running down her face. Suddenly she let out a high-pitched cream and started sobbing. Fred tried to comfort her, but she pushed him away.
"Hermionie, I'm sure there are hundreds of Grangers, don't overreact," Fred told her.
"That's our car! Get away from me!" she yelled at him.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry Hermionie," he said, but she didn't even react. "I'll be right back," he whispered to her. Fred walked over to the fireplace and with a whoosh, he was gone.
Hermionie opened her eyes and sat up. Mrs. Weasley was sitting by the bed, watching her. "Oh thank goodness," Hermionie said, "I had an awful dream my parents were killed in a car accident."
Mrs. Weasley looked at her sadly and touched her hand. "Honey, that wasn't a dream. It happened," she said. Hermionie started to silently cry in her hands.
Fred walked into the room. He looked at his mother and she got up. "I'll leave you two alone for a moment," she said quietly.
Fred lay down on the bed next to Hermionie without saying a word. He gently stroked her hair while he looked at her. She slowly looked up at him and said with the utmost sadness, "How could this happen?"
"She started crying harder. Fred pulled her in for a hug and she buried her face in his chest. "I don't know," he said sadly.