A/N: There you go... I updated... you know why? Because of you guys! I was so shocked when the stats said "14 reviews" oO that was so.. wow... THANK YOU SO MUCH! (Thanks to Niniel23 (Whoa... my story... a bedtime story! that's soo cool -gg- hope you had a great night!), Ivory Black aka Torri-Chiobie, WasthataLION (whoa, 6 reviews from you... thank you so much! where to start? About your guess that Draco or Lucius are plotting these events... well, I first thought about that, yeah I really wanted to make Draco do so... but I decided against it... because it's tough enough to focus on characters such as Fred, Hermione, George and so one... so, sorry but there will be no Malfoy in this story... and on: I already read Just A Harmless Joke and I just loved that story... that was so amazing... so again thank you so much for your reviews, I'm so happy right now that people actually like what I'm writing... hihi...), HiddenOperaAngel (Yeah, poor Hermione -gg- but she will be going through even worse things I promise), So this is love (I tried to put your thoughts into the story... well, I will be writing about that more intense, well anyways: Thank you... so great to hear you like it!) and thanks to moony2002 (here's the update... hehe))
I also thank everyone who actually read this story... I'm so glad you guys like it... -smile-
So here is the next chapter... I actually wrote a very long one and thought about posting it just like it was.. but I decided against it and split it up into two chapters... so here go chapter 7 and chapter 8... enjoy! (You know that I don't own Harry Potter right? Yeah I do NOT, just a shame but anyways... )
Chapter 7: Girl gone mental
They had found the clearing soon after and decided to just fly up to the treetops instead of walking out of the forest again for they didn't want to experience what they (and especially Hermione) had gone through before. So Fred mounted the broom, Hermione sitting silently in front of him, still as if in trance and seemingly far away. He pulled one arm around her, afraid that she might fall over – for he kind of knew that she didn't have the strength to hold onto the broom all by herself; she was still as pale as Death.
He then kicked off the ground, the trunk hovering underneath him. Pulling the broom in an almost vertical position, he shot into the air, heading to the far and nearly invisible end of the dark treetops. It seemed that they flew up quite a long time before the broom finally reached the very top of the forest. Twigs were scratching against their clothes, almost making the trunk fall down to the ground – when Fred hadn't amplified the spell on it so it merely bounced off when a twig tried to grab it.
They finally broke through the surface of treetops, flying into a rather dark yet seemingly nicer sky. Hermione was still silent in front of him, the hand (that kept her body from sinking elsewhere) feeling her heart pound rather slowly. She seemed to calm down, her eyes closed and her breath straightening again. He sighed in relief, directing the broom towards the Burrow. Feeling the cold night wind caress his skin, he made a mental note on never stepping into a dark forest again!
Hermione felt as if hovering above the ground, not able to fly away, not able to fall down either. She couldn't move. Her heart pounded in her ears, her head seemed to be bursting any second. She knew opening her eyes meant to go onto an even faster ride that would never end, making her turn and flip and fall and fly at the same time. She just felt that there was something inside that wanted to go out, that wanted to run, that wanted to –
Before she knew it she hit ground again, her feet stumbling, her body coming to a stuttering hold. She felt as if she was jerked to the ground, falling sideways onto something wet. She felt grass between her fingers and then there were hands that lifted her up. She heard a voice talk to her yet she couldn't understand a single word. She tried to open her eyes but they seemed to be sewed together – just like her lips for she wanted to speak out how she felt (but no words came out) and tell anyone who was around that she really had to –
Her wish came true and she felt her body itching and twisting before she vomited right onto the doorstep of the Burrow.
Fred took a deep breath when he knelt down next to the vomiting Hermione, trying to help her by holding her hair and by patting her back softly. He must have felt miserable and he was glad that she didn't spit out her guts when they were flying. She was coughing badly as if choking up fur balls. He still patted her back when the front door opened, making Fred almost jump. He then looked around to see –
"George", he whispered, nodding to Hermione. "Will you help me, bro?"
George threw a rather disgusted look at what Hermione did on their doorstep before he shook his head and bent down to help his twin to pull Hermione up again.
"I assume she was impressed by your flying skills", George said, grinning, looking from the small, still coughing girl to the broom next to them.
Fred just gave him a short stare, joisting Hermione against his chest to keep her in a standing position. She looked even paler now, turning slightly green around the nose. He felt so sorry for her. She stopped coughing, breathing hard. Her hands wandered seemingly unknowing across his body, finally gripping his shirt tightly. He frowned at the sight of this, yet pulling one arm around her before touching her face gently.
She winced but soon opened her eyes to stare right into Fred's.
He smiled at her. "Hey", he said.
She continued staring at him, suddenly realizing how she clutched his clothes. Yet she didn't do anything against it. She wanted to open her mouth but he interrupted her.
"You feel better?", he asked, looking at her. "Let's go inside then, shall we? It's getting cold and I think some sleep might be good after –", he paused. "After what we… after what happened, right?"
He waited for some response from her side but she just locked eyes with him. He could see something spark inside her hazel ones but as soon as it had appeared it was gone again. He then turned to enter the house, realizing that George was still standing in the door, looking at them. Behind him Fred could see some movement.
Hermione still felt as if she was dreaming a very bad dream, yet she knew she was awake. She leaned against Fred's chest, feeling his heart beat against it. She saw George standing next to them and suddenly there were two girls; a tall black girl with a concerned look on her pretty face and an even taller girl with long brown hair and a furrowed forehead. They were all staring at Hermione as if she just said something very stupid. Which she didn't… she at least thought. To be certain she couldn't remember anything except the throbbing pain in her head.
She looked around in confusion, feeling that Fred pulled her inside the house. She then was sitting on the Weasley's kitchen table, Fred beside her, George and the two girls opposite them. The next moment someone was lying her down onto the couch by the fire that felt warm and caressing. She stared at the person, taking in blue eyes and a rather concerned look on a really handsome face. She suddenly felt the urge to reach up and touch these high and lean cheekbones when she unexpectedly felt any kind of power leave her body.
She felt like a balloon being hit by a cactus. All air seemed to rush out of her and she felt as if her head was about to explode. The room was getting darker with every second. She heard someone tell her to get some rest and then there was silence. But before she could pass out for once she heard another voice laughing evilly, telling her that she was stupid and worthless. Then a face popped up in the darkness. It was the face of one of the girls she had seen before.
"Is she alright?", asked a rather pale looking Alicia Spinnet when Fred returned to sit at the kitchen table.
"I hope so", he replied, sounding exhausted.
"What happened anyways?", Angelina Johnson, sitting next to Alicia, asked, looking concerned.
"Long story…", Fred told her with a yawn.
"Well, we have time, bro", George pointed out. "Tell us. You're acting strange lately…"
"Really?", Fred asked, frowning.
"Yeah, you're putting your nose way too deep in someone else's business."
"If you mean Hermione", Fred replied, staring at his brother. "Actually she's acting strange lately and I'm just concerned. And I think that she really needs someone to put their nose in her business!"
"Why is she here at all?", Alicia asked, looking around at George and Fred.
"Let's say she popped out of her parents' house –"
"Because?", George asked, looking unnerved to pull every single word out of his brother's freckled nose.
"Because she… had a bad argument with her parents and –"
"What happened to her arm? I saw dried blood on the sleeve of her jumper", Angelina pointed out, frowning.
"She –", Fred began before stopping himself. "Guys, ask me later. I'm tired!"
He then stood up, turning to look into the living room where Hermione was supposed to lie. He took some steps forward only to see that she was not lying on the couch anymore. He looked around in shock – to see her standing in the shadows next to wall.
"Oh my -, Hermione, you scared me!", he said, walking towards her.
He then noticed a rather strange look on her face that made the hairs of his neck stand up in horror.
Hermione leaned against the wall, hidden in the shadows. She couldn't remember standing up from the couch but it didn't matter anyway. The only thing she could see were the two girls staring at her in shock. This shock quickly turned into something else. Something she hadn't expected. They suddenly grinned at her, not in the funny way, but rather evil and grim looking. Their faces became horrid masks of purely evil, their eyes turning to black holes. Hermione felt her heart sink. Her breath got stuck in her throat. She wanted to scream, she wanted to fight these terrible things that were in front of her eyes.
But she merely stood there (wherever it was) and watched these horrid masks come closer, sweeping nearer in front of her. Laughter were ringing in her ears; voices of disapproval hitting her head. She felt herself collapsing against the wall, unable to stand. Before she could, however, fall to the ground, a wave of determination hit her body. The next thing she remembered was running from the spot she stood – heading towards the girls. She heard someone scream and others yell and then she saw some frightened brown eyes in a pretty yet concerned black face.
Fred thought he might be dreaming, dreaming a most disturbing dream. He watched Hermione move towards Angelina and suddenly the both of them were lying on the ground, Angelina screaming in shock and pain, Hermione's hands around her throat. George leapt forwards to keep Hermione from killing Angelina; Alicia knelt down to help Angelina fight against the girl gone mental. Unable to help at all, Fred just stood there, staring down at the scene. Before he knew it, Hermione let go of Angelina and focused on her next victim.
Him.
At the same time as George helped Angelina stand up again and Alicia patting her back gently, Hermione walked towards Fred, suddenly hitting him hard in the chest. What the hell was going on? What was wrong with Hermione? Has she just gone mental or had she actually a reason to do like she did?
He backed up, covering his chest to prevent her from hitting him again. She then stopped in the middle of another punch aiming at his head, staring at him out of confused eyes. He frowned in shock, watching her closely. She suddenly seemed to have transformed into the old Hermione again, her face pale, her lips trembling, her eyes focused on him. There was no strange look and no angry spark inside her eyes anymore.
She tumbled slightly, still locking eyes with him. She then opened her mouth and Fred had difficulties in understanding what she said, but as soon as the words left her mouth, a jerk went through her body and she fell to the ground.
"Something's happening to me…", he recalled what she had said, a cold shiver running down his spine.
He then knelt down, only to feel her hands around his throat now. There was this strange look again along with the angry spark in her hazel eyes. He grabbed her hands, trying to pull them away from him. She suddenly leapt forwards, pinning him to the ground. With Hermione sitting on top of him, he threw a shocked look at his twin and the two girls, who stared at him with both fear and confusion. George was the first to break free from their silent stare.
He then grabbed Hermione's shoulders, trying to pull her back, but her hands now held Fred's throat with an amount of strength that no one had thought would slumber inside this small girl. She squeezed Fred's throat, making him gasp in shock, coughing heavily. George finally managed to pull her away from his twin, Angelina and Alicia trying to help as well (yet Angelina was still shaking because of her own being attacked by Hermione). They soon made Hermione sit down on of the kitchen chairs, George holding her hands firmly together. As soon as she had been pulled away from Fred, she seemed to have lost all her remaining strength, apparently shrinking into an even smaller form than she had been before her transforming into someone else.
Fred got up weakly, rubbing his throat, still looking pale. He threw a look at Hermione, unable to feel either sorry or angry for her. What happened to her? Why was she attacking first Angelina and then him, Fred? As soon as he was on his feet again, Angelina walked towards him, looking really frightened. George and Alicia still watched Hermione with cautious eyes.
"You alright, Fred?", Angelina asked, touching his arm gently. "What is wrong with that girl!", she added, rather angry, nodding to Hermione.
"I'm fine. And she –", he began, before a shriek echoed through the kitchen.
Hermione was on her feet again, her eyes something like a dancing fire in the dimly lit room. George tried to grab her again but she merely bounced off his touch, running straight towards the stairs. Alicia and Angelina's eyes followed her, their foreheads furrowed. Fred was the first to move.
"Where are you going?", George called after him, but Fred had just finished half the steps. "Leave her, she's better on her own!"
With his twin running after Hermione, George turned to their guests, looking sorry. Alicia patted his arm; Angelina sat down on a kitchen chair.
"What is it with her?", Angelina muttered.
George shrugged. "I have no idea…"
"Maybe she was kind of… jealous…", Alicia said weakly.
"Jealous!", both George and Angelina replied, rather taken aback.
"Why's that?"
"Well she attacked Angelina first, right? Whatever lurks on her mind, seemed to be certain about who she attacked. And…er… well, maybe she didn't want to share Fred with you to be clear", Alicia added to Angelina.
"But we are just friends, there's no reason to be jealous!"
"Tell her", George said, sitting down as well. "But… maybe Alicia's right. She has been acting strange since she arrived and Fred almost did the same. There's definitely something wrong with them…"
"I wonder what that might be", they heard a voice from the stairs.
They all turned to look at Fred who stood rather pale on the last steps, slowly walking downstairs. They exchanged gazes and shifted nervously on their seats.
"Well?"
"Oh come, Fred", George was the first to speak. "You know bloody well what we mean!"
"Well, tell me, I'm not that bright, you know?", Fred replied, seemingly annoyed. "But you don't seem to be either for you think that I might overhear what you're saying behind my back!"
"Calm down, Fred! We didn't say anything!", Angelina pointed out, looking confused.
"Are you already imagining things –", George began.
"Like Hermione you mean?", Fred ended.
George, Alicia and Angelina exchanged gazes again.
"Well, yeah", George said, shrugging. "But you have to admit that she is acting weird!"
"So what?"
"So what!", George blurted out. "Excuse me? She just attacked first Angelina and then you, idiot!"
"So?"
"SO!", George yelled, standing up, staring at his twin as if he was following Hermione into the land of the mental people. "What are you! Blind? Deaf? Stupid? She almost killed you! And you're still protecting her!"
Fred just stared at his brother, his lips a narrow line in his pale face. He then turned away, heading towards the stairs again.
"Where are you going? Meeting your mental friend?", George yelled after him.
It was Fred's turn to yell but he didn't even turn around as he pulled out his wand and muttered something under his breath. His fingers clasped the wand tightly, but he didn't point it at anything. Shaking his head, he finally turned around to meet his brother's gaze, his wand still clutched in his hand.
If looks could kill, he would have been the only twin left in this house.
"I can go wherever I want, alright?", Fred began in an ice cold voice. "Meeting whoever I want to meet." He paused, staring at his twin. "And remember: don't call me idiot", he said, turning around. "Idiot!"
He then climbed up the stairs and was out of sight again.
"What was this all about!", Alicia muttered, looking rather confused at Angelina, who just shrugged.
George stood next to them, still staring at the spot where Fred had left. He was as pale as everyone else, yet his ears had the colour of deepest crimson. His fists were twitching at the sides of his body.
"George?", Alicia asked, stepping next to him. "I… we think we'd better leave now… is it –"
"Alright", he muttered, not looking at them.
The both girls turned to leave through the kitchen door when George broke free from his silent stare.
"Wait, I'll bring you. I don't want to be in the same house with that prat…"
So they left the Burrow, hoping to forget what they had just witnessed.