A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Writing Club April

Showtime: 8 Simon Zealotes/Poor Jerusalem: (word) understand

Amber's Attic: 24 - "All I know is that she warms my heart and knows what all my imperfections are."- "Brightest" by Copeland

Scamander's Case: 7- (setting) the Burrow

Warning: self harm

Word Count: 725

Fred wasn't surprised to see her sitting on the porch staring into space. Slowly, he reached down and touched her shoulder.

"Hey, there's some pie left, if you're hungry," he said, sitting down next to her. He thought he saw her eyes move. The rest of her stayed motionless.

"I know, it's hard, getting harder. I wish I could figure out what to say, what I can do to make you feel better."

Slowly, Hermione tilted her head slightly. If Fred hadn't been watching, he would have missed the movement.

"Want me to keep talking?" he asked, knowing when she shut down like this, she wouldn't answer.

"Ron's being an idiot again, I know. I don't know what he did this time, but I'm sure it's part of the reason you're out here alone. Believe it or not, I used to spend a lot of time out here too, sitting alone, trying to understand why it felt like I was trapped."

Hermione moved her eyes slightly, looking at Fred out of the corner of her vision without moving her head. Her lip twitched slightly.

"It does get loud in there doesn't it, with all of us home. Want me to go back inside? Want me to send Ron out? I don't even think he's realized you're out here."

"He wouldn't," Hermione's voice answered. She was still sitting fairly still, but Fred could see her start to tremble slightly. He could see the way her mouth twitched, the way her fingers curled and straightened.

"Trying to keep yourself from digging the nails into your palms?" he asked, nodding down to her hands. She finally turned and looked at him.

"How do you know about that?" she asked. "Ron tell you, like he tells everyone everything?" she asked, snorting a little.

"No. Ron didn't tell me anything about that. Other things... yes, but I don't put much stock in what my brother says. I know because," Fred paused, held out his hand palm up, "I've been there, done that," he finished. Hermione looked down at his palm. She could see the life line, the love line, and little half circle scars.

"You left those?" she asked.

"I did, before I spiraled out a bit," Fred answered, rolling up the sleeves on his jumper. Hermione scooted a little closer to get a better look. She traced a finger over the long jagged scar running up Fred's wrist.

"Up the river, never across the stream," she muttered. Fred nodded, pulling his sleeve back down.

"No one knows about it. Well, George knows but other than him... no one."

"Why are you showing me then?"

"Because, you need to know you can survive battle. I'm fighting the same one and I know you can fight just as well, if not better than me."

"I can't. I can't fight, Fred. You've got George and your family. I have... Ron."

"You don't have to have Ron, if you don't want him."

"Really? He seems pretty convinced... your mum even asked when we were getting married. Imagine that, we win the war and all she can worry about is Ron and me getting married."

"Do you want to marry him?"

"No. He doesn't understand. He's never there when I need him, and if he is there, he just... he doesn't understand. Not like you do apparently."

"Then dump him. Mum will get over it."

"I think she wants me to be part of the family."

"No one said you had to marry Ron to be part of the family."

"Officially."

"Doesn't have to be Ron," Fred stated. Hermione blinked, staring at him.

"So I should dump Ron and date you?"

"Or we could skip the dating part and straight to marriage?" Fred joked. Hermione let out a little bark of a laugh, her entire body relaxing.

"Don't joke, or I might actually hold you to it," she laughed. "We should head back inside before someone gets the wrong idea."

"Would it really be the wrong idea?"

"It is before I have chance to actually break up with Ron. Tomorrow it won't be," she added, giving him a half smile before standing. She reached down and pulled Fred up.

"Go first, get them distracted while I slip back inside."

"Sounds good. Until tomorrow then."

"Tomorrow," Hermione whispered, watching Fred walk back into the Burrow.