Okay, I know it's been terribly long and I feel really guilty. As you know, I needed to find a new job (which I did) and had a bit of stress with that in the last few months. But the good news is: I managed to write ahead a bit and have a few chapters almost finished. I'm trying to establish a steady publishing rhythm but I can't promise an exact day, it depends on my working schedule when I can update. But I will try to update every two weeks :)

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WHAT IF

Chapter 24 – Staying Behind

Hermione stared at the entrance door of Hogwarts with disbelief. She couldn't believe the twins had just left like that. Granted, it was a spectacular prank and would probably make them legends. Umbridge was fuming with anger. Hermione couldn't help and be proud of them. But she was also angry for being robbed of the little time she had had left with Fred. Their last year at Hogwarts together and he had the nerve to leave early. Hermione felt somehow betrayed.

Before anyone could intercept her to celebrate the prank of the century Hermione slipped away with the excuse that she wanted to study some more at the library. Since the O.W.L.s weren't far away the few people trying to talk to her believed the lie right away. But her actual destination was the hidden room behind the snobbish portrait. She needed to see it. Quickly she muttered the password, only to be taken by complete surprise when she stepped inside.

In front of one of the bookshelves stood Angelina, looking a bit lost. The older girl looked up when the door closed behind Hermione and stared at her with wide eyes, probably mirroring Hermione's own face perfectly.

"They gave you the password?" Angelina asked in an unusually cold voice. But the look in her eyes betrayed her. Angelina looked as hurt as Hermione felt.

"Yeah," Hermione answered shyly. It shouldn't have surprised her that Angelina knew about the room and the password. But she forced herself not to think about why. She didn't need more mental images about Angelina and Fred snogging in her head.

"Well, that's rather surprising," the Quidditch captain sank down on one of the couches, letting out a loud sigh. "And why are you here?"

"Probably the same reason you are," Hermione sat down beside Angelina. For a minute they just stared at the cold fireplace.

"I wanted to see if they had planned it," Angelina finally admitted. And it really was the same reason Hermione had stepped inside the room. "Looking at this, I would say it was."

Hermione nodded weakly. She let her eyes wander through the hidden room. The books were back in the shelves - neatly sorted - the couches were arranged in front of the fire again instead of pushed to walls, and the cauldrons and every other stuff the twins had stored here were gone. In short, it looked like the infamous Weasley twins had never set foot into the room. They must have planned their escape for a while.

"Yeah, they actually planned this whole thing, and for a long time apparently," Angelina's voice sounded as betrayed and angry as Hermione felt. "I'm so angry… just leaving like that. I had the hope that we would manage to talk... this out. And now," her voice broke. Hermione stayed silent, contemplating if she should tell Angelina that she knew the truth about her and Fred and George and the soul mark. But she wasn't sure if the older girl would appreciate knowing that Fred and George had let other people in on their secret. Maybe Angelina would be angry at them for it.

"You can always try when the school year is over," Hermione suggested. "Visit the shop they so proudly announced after you're graduation."

"Maybe," Angelina let out a watery giggle. "Merlin, only the two of them could pull off such an equally ridiculous as brilliant stunt. And using it as free advertisement."

"Yes, they are probably already swamped with owl orders," Hermione sighed. She was proud of Fred and George but loathed the idea of having even more of their products terrorising the castle. As long as Umbridge and her regime was the target everything was fair game to most of the prefects - even to Hermione - but she knew that it wouldn't stay that way. Sooner or later, she certainly hoped for sooner, the normal order of things had to be re-established and then the WWW products would annoy her to no end. She was dead sure of it.

"I'm not sure they would want to see me," Angelina whispered awkwardly after a few seconds. "I can't imagine either of them being very pleased with me casually strolling through their shop as if nothing has happened. Probably will throw me out."

"Why would they?"

"Well… look, Hermione, I really like you. You're a good person but I really can't talk about it. It's not... I fear what you might think of me." Hermione crinkled her brows in confusion. The twins had talked to her about what had happened without hesitation other than awkwardness and guilt.

"I don't want to pressure you, Angelina. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. But you seem like you need someone to talk to. I've seen how you avoided Fred and George during the last few months and you seemed very unhappy with that."

"I was," Angelina admitted, eyeing Hermione carefully. "They were my friends for most of our school time. Being in the same house, playing Quidditch together, we were a tightly knitted group together with Alicia and Lee. But after the break-up from Fred, things got awkward and… well, I think you're well aware that Fred and I didn't really have a friendly break-up. We had a fight and we didn't talk afterwards. And then he started to whore around and I had the strong urge to push him off some really high tower. That made it almost impossible for a while for us to be even slightly friendly with each other." She sighed again. "I can be a real bitch when I'm angry and Fred and George know that better than anyone else."

"Fred hurt you pretty bad, huh?" Hermione couldn't imagine how it had been for Angelina. Angelina only shrugged, looking utterly defeated.

"Yes, and no. Seeing him with other girls wasn't the worst. Hearing the gossip and mean whispers behind my back was bad. Seeing that I had meant very little to him and that he was intentionally embarrassing me like that was worse. But the worst was the loss of not only one but two of my closest friends."

"You know, I always wondered why you and George couldn't stay friends. He also didn't seem pleased with Fred during that time." Angelina blushed a bright pink at Hermione's question and for a few minutes just stared at the pattern of the sofa, tracing it with her fingers.

Hermine knew it was kind of unfair to fish for information like that since she very well knew what was going on. But Angelina's reluctance to talk about the real reason made Hermione think that it really was best not to reveal her knowledge.

"If I tell you something, do you promise not to tell anyone else? No one knows besides Fred, George and me. I couldn't even tell Alicia." Hermione furrowed her brows but nodded nonetheless. She didn't get why Angelina had such an issue about talking about it.

"You see, Fred and I broke up because I found my soulmate and… it really wasn't an option to stay together despite that." Angelina opened two or three buttons of her shirt and showed Hermione her bright, colourful soul mark. A deep pink rose in full flower. So remarkably similar to Hermione's own mark that it almost took her breath away even though she had already seen George's mark. Since then Hermione had often wondered what colour her rose would have one day. If she ever managed to show her mark to Fred without dying of shyness.

"But you can't tell anyone!" Angelina urged again. "It really is… unconventional and I fear what people would say."

"Oh well, maybe I should tell you that I saw this soul mark before, would that make it easier for you to talk about it?" Hermione finally decided that she needed to be honest with Angelina. The girl was so fixed on doing or saying something improper for no good reason that Hermione knew it would be best to play with open cards.

"During the Christmas Holidays Fred and George were miserable and a bit at odds with each other but somehow I got them to talk with me, completely by accident, really, and they told me what happened between you three."

"You know everything? Why Fred and I broke up?" Hermione nodded. "George and the mark?" She nodded again.

"I can't believe it." Angelina jumped up and began to walk through the room nervously. "I was torturing myself for months because I thought I couldn't talk about it to anyone and they told you. You of all people, I mean, don't take it personally but I didn't know you were so close."

"Well, we were always friends, we just became closer friends during the holidays," Hermione shrugged. She couldn't exactly tell Angelina more. No one could know about the attack on Mr Weasley which had emotionally affected the twins and changed their relationship with Hermione. And Hermione wasn't sure if telling Angelina about her own soul mark would be a good idea. And then there were the things the twins had told Hermione about Angelina and their individual relationships with her. Hermione strongly suspected that the twins wouldn't want her to tell Angelina about it.

"Angelina, why do you think people would think badly of you? It would have made everything so much easier for you if had confided in someone." Hermione tried to be gentle but Angelina's behaviour irritated her. She would have never guessed that someone as cool and strong and outspoken as Angelina would be embarrassed about something that wasn't her fault. That simply wasn't rational.

"I…" Small tears gathered in Angelina's dark eyes. "Hermione, I'm the slut who fell in love with her soulmate's twin. That's… there is... Soulmates might not be seen as the only option to have a fulfilling relationship but there are still certain expectations about it. Can you imagine what people will think of me being involved with twin brothers?"

"Involved?" Hermione echoed. Slowly she got a better idea of what was going on in Angelina's pretty head but she still thought it was ridiculous.

"You know what I mean. If I were to date George everyone would think I'm playing with the twins' hearts. Breaking up with one just to date the other? They will think I'm shallow and… But that's just hypothetically; I don't think it will ever happen either way." At this Hermione raised her eyebrow in interest.

"But you would want to date George?" She grinned while Angelina blushed a pretty pink. "Purely hypothetically, of course."

"Doesn't matter, George isn't interested in me," Angelina brushed a hand through her hair and Hermione's comment away. "The best outcome of this will be if I get them both back as friends and we'll never talk about it again. Merlin, I can't imagine what Mrs Weasley would do if she ever gets knowledge of this. Till now I think she rather liked me from the few times I saw her but she will surely hate me if she gets the impression that I'm hurting her precious sons."

Hermione wanted to protest and defend Mrs Weasley but found that she couldn't do so honestly. Mrs Weasley had some rather strong opinions about behaviour - even if most of her sons decided not to follow them. And she was quick with judging people without knowing everything if it involved protecting her family and the people she loved. The memory of Mrs Weasley's coldness towards Hermione during the fourth year when the Prophet had printed those lies about Hermione, Harry, and Victor were still vivid and proof that the woman was fiercely protective. Mrs Weasley might really think badly of Angelina but probably only for a while.

"Maybe, but she doesn't have to know, right? I doubt Fred told her about your relationship." Angelina just shrugged, unconvinced. "Plus, I think that George's opinion on the matter is a lot more important than his mother's isn't it? You should really talk to him." Hermione urged.

"Hermione, you don't get it. How could I ever start a relationship with George without having my past with Fred hanging over us like a Damocles sword? It feels like everything we could have is now poisoned before it even started. And no matter how Fred behaved with all these girls and everything, I can't imagine he would be pleased if I just go and hook up with his brother."

Hermione groaned and wished she could hex Fred and George to sprout some really painful boils right now. Those idiots and their inability to talk, first to each other, and now to Angelina. It made everything much more complicated.

"You should really, really talk to them. Both of them," Hermione stamped down the urge to tell Angelina everything about the twins own guilt and struggles. Telling could make things easier but what if it made everything worse? And it would mean more, so much more, if George would get his act together and tell Angelina about his own feelings himself. Hermione struggled to keep her thoughts to herself but she knew it was better not to meddle too much.

"You are soulmates, you can't just give up on that so easily without even trying. What if George wants to date you? What if Fred is okay with that? Angelina, you should at least try it instead of telling yourself it will never work. You usually are so brave and now you're behaving like it was your fault. Like you're feeling guilty. But it's not your fault, no ones, really. It just happened."

"But I am guilty," Angelina whispered angrily. "It's my fault because I was stupid enough to let myself fall for Fred while I was already half in love with George. George was always- we were always a bit closer, I think. I always felt more comfortable around George. Since we've known each other it always felt like I had a better connection with him. And then Fred asked me about the Yule Ball, as friends I thought. But he started flirting with me, kept asking me out. He was so- he was so damn - what's a good word - persistent. And charming. And I fell for him. Fred really managed to properly woo me and make me fall in love with him. But the feelings I had for George never really vanished and I already felt so terribly guilty the whole time I dated Fred. I think I can't forgive myself and my graceless heart for being so utterly stupid. So you see, I really am the slag who fell for her soulmate's twin even though I already had feelings for said soulmate."

"Angelina! Good gods, you've talked yourself into a right state, didn't you? Don't be so stupid" Hermione almost knocked Angelina over when she pulled her into a hug. "You're not a slag for falling in love with someone even if you had feelings for someone else. It happens."

"Maybe…" Angelina shrugged, obviously not convinced but not eager to start a discussion with Hermione. Hermione knew this kind of behaviour from Harry and Ron whenever those two wanted to avoid a lecture. And she wasn't going to let it go just like this.

"No, believe me. Things with these soul marks can be awfully complicated. Just- just talk to George. And Fred. I'm sure they don't hate you. They probably feel as miserable as you." They sat in silence together for another ten minutes as Angelina got her composure back before they headed back to the common room.

It was a strange feeling, walking through Hogwarts with the knowledge that no Fred and George would be at the common room. No pranks or stupid jokes awaiting them.

Instead, Gryffindor tower was buzzing with talks about the twins. About their prank, the flight, the shop. Everyone seemed to know different things and the most ridiculous rumours were flying around. Ron and Ginny were also in the middle of the limelight by proxy which Ron enjoyed visibly more than Ginny.

With a shy smile, Angelina bid Hermione goodbye and went to Alicia and Lee, who were celebrating with the other seventh and sixth years. With a frustrated groan, Ginny appeared at Hermione side and pulled her away from the common room, up to the girls' dormitory.

"How are you?" Ginny's question a mere whisper.

"Furious at him for leaving like that, but at the same time proud," Hermione admitted quietly as she pushed open the door to her dorm room. Ginny had surely planned to have a chat just between the two of them but her plans were quickly destroyed when they stepped inside the room.

Lavender was sitting on her bed, mascara smeared around her red eyes, clutching a handkerchief and sobbing loudly. Parvati was beside her, muttering soft words into Lavender's hair and hugging her best friend tightly.

"What's wrong?" Hermione sighed. She really wanted to be sympathetic towards Lavender but it felt like the girl was crying constantly in the last few weeks.

"Sea- Seamus," Lavender hiccupped miserably and went to the bathroom but said nothing more. Ginny left with an eye-roll, obviously not interested in spending time with a crying Lavender.

"What's going on with them, Parvati? Lavender hasn't cried about Seamus since the night they broke up. And now she's back at crying almost every night," Hermione asked while she sank on her bed.

"Well, it was better for a time…" Parvati mused. "You know, Seamus broke up with Lavender because of their different opinions about Harry. And Lavender was mostly okay with it because she.. Well, she was defending her point and it made her bit proud that she was strong enough not to change her mind because of Seamus. But then Seamus joined the DA…" Parvati shrugged. "I think Lavender is on one side angry that Seamus didn't even apologise to her about being wrong about Harry and she's also, well, she thought they could get back together now. But Seamus doesn't seem intere-" she stopped when Lavender came back, still with red, swollen eyes but obviously in an I-don't-want-to-talk-about-it-mood.

Hermione lay down on her bed and pretended to read a book. Instead, her thoughts wandered off to Fred. Where were the twins now? Back at the Burrow? Or in their shop? Did they really have a plan for their future or did they leave on a whim? A part of her was overjoyed for Fred fulfilling his dream and another, bigger part, was incredibly sad and angry that he had left without telling her how he felt about her. Did that mean he would break his promise?

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With a low thud, Fred landed on the stairs right in front of Grimmauld Place, a second later George followed. They both grinned broadly at each other before they knocked loudly on the old door. Instantly the cursing and yelling from Mrs Black's portrait could be heard and a minute later Sirius own voice got mixed in before the woman was silenced. A second later they stared at the tip of Sirius Black's wand.

"Why was Molly Weasley angry at me at the last Christmas party?"

"Because you smuggled firewhiskey inside-"

"-and got her poor innocent babies awfully drunk."

"What the hell are you two doing here?" Sirius asked astonished.

"Had a little disagreement with the pink dictator who fancies herself headmistress," George grinned widely. "Left behind a right mess."

"Thought we could take refuge with the most wanted man alive," Fred added. With an eye roll, Sirius let them in and led them straight to the large library, where Remus Lupin was waiting with a surprised expression and two glasses of some hard liquor.

"Cheers," Fred and George grabbed the glasses, clinked them, and downed the burning firewhiskey. It was by no way the first time for them to drink firewhiskey but never had it tasted so well-deserved.

"What the hell are you two doing here?" Remus asked equally astonished as Sirius but with something very teacherish in his voice. It reminded Fred a bit of Percy, who would have also been suspicious of them if he was still talking to his family.

"Enjoying a life of freedom and undying fame," Fred smirked and filled their glasses again with a little wave of his wand. Yes, being out of school was wonderful. Away from the toad. Away from all the rules containing their wicked genius. Finally being able to use magic whenever and wherever they wanted.

Merlin, they had awaited this moment for years. The moment they could finally leave school and let their creativity run wild. Create things. Be independent. Free from all rules and restrictions trying to rein their chaotic intelligence in. Granted, for years they had thought they would leave school like everyone else. After graduating, with a few N.E.W.T.s, and no reason for their mother to kill them. That's why there were now at Grimmauld Place and not in the Burrow. They had decided it might be better not to meet their mum right after leaving school.

Fred sank down on one of the plush, and probably ancient, sofas beside his twin and together they entertained Sirius and Remus with the tale of their prank and escape. The two seemed deeply impressed and Fred had a feeling that Sirius would have given everything to be back at school, playing pranks and hanging with his old friends.

When Sirius and Remus had revealed themselves as being Padfoot and Moony during the last summer holidays Fred and George had almost screamed of joy. They had always admired the map and the complicated charm works used to create it. Since then had often tried to spend as much time as possible with Sirius and Remus to ask them for their opinion on products and stories of their days as marauders. And the two, but Sirius especially, were always eager to help.

When George finished with the description of Umbridge's screeching after they had flown off with their brooms, Remus' face got a bit grave.

"We had wondered how Harry managed to make the floo-call today," Sirius smiled slightly. "That explains a lot. Thanks for helping him."

"But it also means that Harry is now alone with this woman," their former teacher said quietly, his thoughts probably already far away at Hogwarts. For a moment Fred was surprised that he and George had been counted on to protect Harry.

"He has Ron and Hermione," George answered with a worried frown. "Those three are more than capable to look out for each other. They never asked us for help or support or protection, not until today at least. Plus, there are plenty of Order members at Hogwarts, right? McGonagall, Hagrid, even Snape, the git."

While George started a discussion with Remus and Sirius about Harry's safety, Fred's heart constricted painfully at the mention of Hermione. The memory of her standing before him, baring her heart and soul to him, hit him like a blutcher. Guilt made his stomach sink and he regretted leaving without saying goodbye to her.

George and he had decided months ago that they would leave school early if it was necessary and the opportunity presented itself. They had always suspected that it would be only a matter of time until Umbridge would catch and try to punish them. No way in hell, they would let that happen. No, they would rather leave with a bang, with a prank worthy of the Weasley twins, then to let the toad punish them. Not because they were afraid but they had a reputation to lose. So they had started to plan countless possible ways to escape ever since Umbridge had been made headmistress. And everything had gone perfectly. They had pulled their best prank yet and even helped a friend meanwhile.

But Fred had never thought he would feel so torn after his big success by the mere mention of Hermione Granger. It had only been a few weeks since she had confessed her feelings to him. And Fred had thought almost every day about it. He even dreamt about it. About her. And still, he was no step closer to figuring out what the hell was going on between them. But something was going on between them. He just wasn't sure if he was ready for it, ready for the consequences.

Determined Fred pushed the thought aside and joined the conversation between George, Sirius, and Remus. He would make sense of this mess some other day. Today he wanted to celebrate by drinking and joking with his twin and their two childhood heroes.

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The next few chapters will give us more insight into Fred's mind and I hope you like it ;) Let's see what our cute redhead is thinking and feeling. Leave me some sugar, it keeps me going and helps with writing :D