Disclaimer: I'm pulling my hair out praying they were mine…
(A/N: I'm delighted that you enjoy my story and that you have the time to review. Thanks loads and Have a happy new year.)
Chapter Ten
Some truth, Violence and lots of questions…
The pain was unbearable like I've been hit by a bludger. My head was throbbing frantically and I thought I was going crazy. I heard myself groaning in pain as I tried to move myself into a more comfortable position. It stung like a million pixies stabbing at my head. Then there was the heat coming from the body beside me. What the bloody hell? My eyes shot open and I was looking at the stretched out body beside mine.
He had his right arm covering his eyes and his left was place just beside where my head had laid. The figure was impossible not too identified as Fred. I doubt that Katie would have liked seeing George sleeping beside me and there was no way Ron would have shared a bed with me unless he was forced to because he'd be all embarrassed about it. Our bodies, as I stared along side his frame was not in comparison to that of what I thought it should be. His legs reached just about the edge of the bed as mine was just pass the middle of it. He was still fully clothed and lying on top of the blanket. So I was sure nothing happened without my knowledge. What if I don't remember? I panicked.
What were these trains of thoughts? My bloody head is hurting and all I can think about is him. I'm must be out of my mind? I felted the bandages around my head now feeling the dry blood. What the heck happened? Blood? Why was I bleeding? I rose slowly not to stir and wake my soon to be angry husband up. Looking around we were not in my room and yet it wasn't his room either. Definitely not home but it sure felt like it. Looking at the window I saw that the sunlight was just trying to poke through. What time was it? And where was I? Just get up slowly so you don't wake up the sleeping lion. This way you won't be eaten alive and you can keep the remaining blood in your body. I told myself trying so hard not to move so swiftly that I'd trigger something that would get that redhead yelling at me so soon. My head was damaged and I was sure that there was not enough power to argue back today. The stupid bed betrayed me by squeaking at my movement and I found that his left hand had moved over to grab my right wrist. His other arm was still covering his closed eyes.
"You forget we have a link." He said so quietly I thought I imagined hearing that. I sat there unsure of how to respond. Hermione Granger speechless that's unheard of. I could hear Ron saying that in my head. Stupid Ron. When I hadn't answered him he moved his right arm from his eyes and sat up. "Where are you going?" He asked.
"To get something to drink." I found my voice was sounding unusual. Like I had a cold or something stuck in my throat.
"Doctor's orders are for you to stay in bed and as for water, think mum should be up here soon anyways." He continued as his hand was still holding mine. We were back at the burrow. The family banquet. This was his old room I was guessing.
"If you just let me go I can get it myself." I told him testing if I could break his hold, it wasn't tight but I had a feeling that if I wanted to get out of it, there was no way I could get free without having to use my wand.
"You are to remain in bed." His tone was sharp now and back to his angry mode.
"Fred…" The pounding began again this time it was excruciating and I grabbed for my head. I found myself screaming in pain and feeling like I was going to die. I felt his hands now on top of mine and I was pulled in between his legs.
"Breathe, Hermione just take a deep breath." He whispered as I heard footsteps coming up the stairs and the door crashing open.
"Fred Weasley I swear if you…"Mrs. Weasley voice stopped mid sentence as she must have seen me trying to cope with my injury.
"What has happened did the wound reopen?" Mr. Weasley voiced filled the room now.
"Dad I think the thing to do is call a bloody doctor." Fred said in a low tone which was considered dangerous by anyone's standard if they heard it.
"Right then." Mr. Weasley answered and I heard his footstep disappearing out of the room.
"I'll get some water." Mrs. Weasley announced leaving the room as well.
"Make it stop…make it stop…" I pleaded unable to take it anymore. "Fred... make it stop." Tears were streaming down my eyes.
"A bludger to the head isn't something I can fix easily without using a great deal of magic and as tiny as you are it would be dangerous. We couldn't do anything after you were hurt because the doctor didn't want you to go into a coma as we heal your mind without the reality entwining with the fantasy. All we could do was numb the pain" He spoke to me as if he was hurting as well. That's what had happened? I was so preoccupied that I had even asked how I gotten this injury. Then I found my body was suddenly frozen and I fell against Fred not even realizing that the doctor had entered.
"We are going to put her to sleep." I heard the doctor say as I listened to the sound of Fred's heart beating. And once again I was out for the count.
"Oh look she's waking up." I heard the voice say as I rubbed my eyes. I opened them to be met with several pairs of eyes staring at me, sitting beside my bed.
"Welcome back Hermione." Ginny flung herself at me.
"We missed your nagging Hermione." I saw Ron standing behind Ginny grinning.
"Oh shut up." I replied as I found that there was no more pain. After Ginny had released me Harry had cut in front of Ron to embrace me next.
"It was terrible what happened." Harry shook his head.
"To me?" I questioned.
"That and to the poor blokes that hurled that thing your way." Harry answered.
"Understand that they didn't do it on propose Hermione. They were just fooling around and they were aiming for the guy behind you but he moved and you were nailed pretty hard." Ginny explained.
"Oh." I nodded.
"That's not the worse part Hermione."Ginny sat closer to me. "Yeah Fred nearly murdered them when you collapsed with blood dripping from you head. He was insane that day. Those guys did not have a chance in hell against Fred's rage. Oh they're alive, don't worry Hermione we stopped him but they're in the hospital now recovering."
"But I don't understand why he was so violent? He would have never done something like this before." I was getting a bit confused. Fred physically hurting someone for my sake, what was wrong with this picture?
"It wasn't Fred at all. Like Dad was saying that your mate carries this obsessive streak with them and they are overly protective so that no harm comes to those they are link with. He says that's why they create such a strong bond is because this connection binds them with a spell untouched by any muggles or those that don't know the craft." Ron was trying to explain it.
"Hermione Ron's just saying that it was basic instinct, like most animals needing to protect its mate." Harry added in.
"Comparing us to animals Harry really?" I laughed.
"If I must just to get the point across." He smiled brushing my messy brown hair away from my eyes.
"Oh your match Harry…" I remembered that I never fully congratulated him.
"That was last week Hermione." He continued to smile.
"I was out for a week….OH NO MY ENTRANCES IN TO ST.MUNGO'S." I threw myself up, tossing the blanket aside. Fours strong arms pinned me back into the bed.
"Everything's okay Hermione. They know what happened. Ironic isn't it? your studying to be a healer and yet you end up almost in a coma and unable to help even yourself." Ron laughed placing himself on the other side beside me.
"I know…" There was something odd going on seeing as everyone was in high spirits. Maybe because I was almost back to normal or they were trying desperately to hide something from me. "What's going on?" I asked looking from the two redheads to the dark hair one.
"It's nothing really Hermione. Never you mind ." Ginny squeezed my hand.
"You three tell me what's going on or I'll be forced to hex you all when I'm fully myself again." All three moved away from the bed just as I threw that in their lying faces.
"Hermione you're awake." I looked over towards the voice at the door. It was George. Poking her head out from behind his giant frame was the petite Katie Bell.
"Hello all." She smiled following George to my bedside.
"What's going on you with you lots?" George asked as he saw the three of them standing just at the edge of the bed. He embraced me quickly as Katie did the same.
"We just found out that with her temper, Hermione is definitely Fred's bride." Ginny laughed and ducked behind Harry as I threw the pillow her way.
"It's the truth isn't it Mrs. Weasley?" Ron joined in. "Wow that sound so strange to me still. Bet mom would be proud." I had thrown another pillow in his direction as well. Then at seeing Ginny's red hair shining in the sunlight I remembered after the tryouts.
"You two are…" I pointed pushing myself onto my elbows. Harry just nodded. "But how?" I didn't wait for an answer and stood up to embrace them.
"Hermione are you insane? Stay in the bed." Ron warned walking towards me now. Why? And I found my legs were numb from the lack of blood running to them and sunk to the ground. "Oh."
Ron reached down and lifted me back onto the bed so effortlessly that it made me seem like a rag doll. George and Katie had placed theirselves in an armchair and watched.
"Fred should be back soon anyways Hermione and believe me he won't like the idea of everyone harassing you as he puts it." Ginny laughed as she bounced onto the bed next to me. I was about to say something just as Bill walked in.
"Harry congratulation mate, you've made it onto the Ireland team. We all knew that you could do it." He grabbed Harry's hand shaking it roughly.
"Thanks, Bill." Harry returned the gesture. "And welcome to the family." I saw that Harry's face had turned red after Bill had said that.
"That's enough Bill you leave Harry alone." Ginny pushed her way to stand between them. She was quick that girl. I hadn't even seen her move.
"Awww… cute Ginny. Come here." Bill grabbed her in a hug.
"Let go Bill." She laughed trying to get out of his hold.
"Or what?" He teased. Hugging her tighter.
"Or I'll tell Fleur what you said about her in that blue dress." Ginny warned. After hearing this Bill released her and laughed. Then there was a pause.
"What blue dress?" He asked confused now.
"Oops… that was Charlie who said it." Ginny grinned winking at him. Bill smiled shaking his head.
"What's going on here?" We all looked up to see Fred leaning in the doorway. His clothes looked like they were torn of his body and there were many bruises. Blood was dripping from the back of his neck. He looked as if he had been attacked by a pack of wolves. Hungry ones at that. But it was odd that his lips looked swollen as well. His face was smeared with so much different colors it looked like paint.
"What the bloody hell happened to you and why do those look like lipstick marks on you?" Ron asked as I heard Katie and Ginny gasps. WHAT?
(A/N: Don't be angry this is how I wanted to end it. Yes it's another cliffhanger but I just want you to be hungry and coming back is all. Lol. So you'll find out what happened with Fred. There will be a banquet and there will be weddings. And you'll find out who Charlie marries. Not to worry my dears. And if I am late to update it's because you know that crazy thing called life gets in my way. So thanks loads guys)