Thank you everyone for reading. I really appreciate the reviews, likes, and follows. It means alot that people are out there reading what I write. I am taking it a little slower on these new chapters coming. I want to make sure I do the fandom justice. Anyway :)I hope yall enjoy and thank you again for reading.
Disclaimer-I do not own any rights to Harry Potter
As the group disbursed throughout the castle, Fred took his time. Once the panic of Hermione's absence passed, his mind settled. He knew where to find her. So he walked quietly through the halls, not paying much attention to his surroundings. This place no longer felt like his second home. After the pink reign of Umbridge and the great battle, this was the last place Fred wanted to be.
But she wanted to be here. She needed to feel whole again and he would do anything to help her feel that. So here he was, walking the refinished walls of a hall that had been completely destroyed. Fred quickly shook the thoughts of war from his head. Not now mate, he told himself, turning down the corridor which lead to the spot.
There she was, standing where she had saved his life. Quickly she turned to look at him. Then he saw it. A smile like the one he had given her what seemed like a lifetime ago. This time neither disappeared, as she made her way over to him.
"So has the search party been sent out?" She asked, coming to a stop a few feet in front of him.
"You did disappear again." Fred smirked back at her, not moving from his spot.
"Looks like you didn't have to search far." She smiled, relishing in how easy this was with him.
This time he stood straight, moving slightly closer to her. "You feel something here, don't you?" he stepped a foot closer, their fingertips grazing each other. Hermione felt the electricity run through her body. A thousand images pushing across her mind. Hold on to the light. She took a quick step away from Fred.
"Sorry, I didn't." Fred started but was interrupted.
"No, it's just." Hermione spoke fast. "I, um, I just saw this woman and she said some things. I don't really understand and being here. Here, just feels wrong and I." Fred wrapped her in his arms, pulling her tight to his chest, surprised she didn't pull away.
Hermione let his warmth engulf her. The silence between the two was comfortable. He knew what she needed and she was tired of fighting it. Every time she was around him, her magic intensified. Stop being afraid of him, her heart shouted. Hermione felt Fred's arms tighten around her, his head resting on top of hers. A wave of peace washed over her, letting her imagination take her to a place where she stayed with Fred this way. No more fear, no more fighting. Just the two of them together.
"Hermione, I have something for you." Fred's voice broke the quiet. He pulled away slightly, one hand reaching into his coat. He wrapped his fingers carefully around the wooden wand, bringing it out for its owner.
"How did you? I mean where did you? Oh." She paused. "Thank you Fred!" She smile, first taking the wand in her hand, then wrapping her arms around him.
"Potter is an easier target than I thought." Fred smirked, pulling her close to him.
"Oi! Everyones been looking for you two." Fred's twin shouted as he jogged towards them. "You were supposed to go back to the hospital wing after you found Granger."
"Just taking our time here Gred." Fred laughed, slapping his brother on the shoulder. George looked from Hermione, back to Fred. A smile broke out across his face. For so long he had wanted to see his other half so happy. It was finally Fred's time to get the girl.
"Well, if you two don't mind." George bowed, arms extending towards the direction he came.
"Yes, George we mustn't keep the others waiting." Hermione curtsied. The twins both stopped and stared. "What?" She questioned.
"Sarcastic Hermione, hmm I could get used to that." Fred smirked, wrapping his hand in hers.
"Oh, come on boys." She smiled, pulling Fred with her, George following along.
The waiting crew had grown to include Arthur, Neville, Kingsley and McGonagall. Words were flying among them. They went completely silent when the twins and their companion entered the ward.
"Hermione." Harry smiled, a look of relief covering his face.
"Looks like you sent the whole brigade after me." She said, looking around the room.
"Well, you did just up and disappear again. No telling where to." Ron replied, standing next to Harry. A look of annoyance crossed his face when his eyes landed on Hermione and Fred's intertwined fingers. "Guess he found you alright?" he nodded towards his brother.
"Ay now boys, relax." Kingsley's voiced boomed over Ron's snarking. "Ms. Granger, I believe we have some things to discuss."
Hermione looked at him curiously. Not exactly sure what she wanted to do. Go with them, move forward with her life. Tell the ministry and everyone about what happened?
"Ms. Granger, Kingsley, Mr. Potter, , and I need to discuss the circumstances surrounding your disappearance and what happened while you were gone." Professor McGonagall came to stand in front of her. "There is much you have missed dear."
Hermione instantly felt sick. The reminder that an entire year had surpassed her ran through her mind. A rush of panic began to consume her.
"My parents?" she asked, stepping closer to the professor.
"I would rather us not do this in front of a crowd." Kingsley answered.
Hermione looked to the people around the room, begging for some give in the emotions on their face. But they were all stoic. Then she felt something squeezed her hand. Completely forgetting Fred, she looked over to his face. Her eyes filled with tears.
"It's ok love." He said. There it is, she thought. Fred was comfort, the reassurance she needed. He was the light pushing through all this darkness. Reaching out for her.
"Ok." She replied, not taking her eyes off Fred.
"Let's head to my office then." McGonagall said to the others before heading out the door.
But Hermione didn't move, she stayed with Fred. Hands still locked together. "Will you wait for me?" she asked.
"In this spot right here? I mean my legs could start to get pretty tired. Ya know Kingsley could talk for hours." Hermione laughed out loud, looking down at Fred's wobbling legs. He motioned his hands in the form of a nonstop talking entity. "Hours and hours." Quietly he cupped Hermione's face in those hands. "I will be right here, love. No matter how long." Softly he kissed her forehead.
"Thank you." She said, looking into his eyes once more. Holding onto that incredible feeling he gave her. Smiling, she turned and headed out the door.
Fred stayed in his spot, watching her until she was no longer in sight. Turning back to the room, he noticed all eyes on him. "What?" he questioned.
"So no one else finds this to be bloody ridiculous?" Ron was reaching his boiling point.
"Ron, come off it mate." George warned from one of the empty beds.
"What? No one finds it strange that Hermione, who has been in love with ME for years, is all of a sudden mesmerized by Fred here." Ron said, pointing towards his brother.
"It's not all of a sudden Ron! You have just been too stupid to notice." Ginny replied, frustration lacing her voice.
"What? Are you telling me she liked Fred back in Hogwarts? When he was running amuck with all the girls." Ron scoffed.
"Oi, I was not running amuck." Fred said, winking at his twin.
"Do you find this funny mate? Hermione is special. She deserves someone good for her. Someone who isn't going to hurt her." Ron's face was getting red. "I'm sick of you walking around here like you know her. Like you really care about her. I think the only reason you care at all is because you feel guilty. She saved your life and lost hers!"
The only noise in the room came from Ron catching his breath. Ginny and George both looked to the older twin, waiting for his reaction. But the red head just stood there. His eyes fixated on some far off place or time. Of course he felt guilty for living when Hermione had lost so much. But that guilt had nothing to do with the feelings he had for her. Feelings that had shown themselves years before.
"Ron, how could you?" Ginny finally asked.
"Ginny." Fred spoke, raising a hand while shaking his head. "It's ok."
"It most certainly is not." George demanded, standing up from the bed.
"George." Fred sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He's right."
"Damn straight." Ron nodded.
"Fred?" Ginny questioned her older brother.
"He's right. I do feel incredibly guilty that Hermione saved my life. I mean who am I worth saving?" Fred shook his head, looking down to the ground. "She is Hermione Granger. The brightest witch of her time. A member of the golden trio. She saved my life and what did she get in return? She spent the last year away from everyone being tortured." Fred's voice cracked. He took a moment to breath, then looked to Ron. "But don't you ever, for one second, think that my feelings for her come from any other place besides love."
Ginny gasped slightly at her brother's confession. George just smiled, glad it was finally out in the open. Ron was a different story.
"Did you just say love? Love as in she is my family love or love as in you are in love with her?" Ron's face was as red as his hair. The two starred at each other.
"Ron." Fred started but didn't get a chance to finish, as Ron charged him.
"Flipendo" Ron was thrown back to his previous spot. "I'm not fighting you brother." Fred replied, lowering his wand.
Ron moved quickly to his feet. "Stupefy" he shouted, but Fred reflected the spell.
"Ron! Stop this." Ginny pleaded.
"Expelliar.." Ron tried, only to be thrown to the ground.
"Stupefy." George shouted, lowering his wand. "That's enough."
"Of course you side with Fred. You two have always been against me." Ron spat, as he stood up. "He can't have her. He can't love her. It doesn't make sense. It's not supposed to happen. Not like this." Ron's words began to run together, his thoughts becoming flustered.
"Ronnie?" a familiar voice came from the doorway. "Are you alright?" Lavender walked over to her rambling boyfriend. No one saying a word.
"Lavender, what are you doing here?" Ron said, finally taking his eyes off Fred.
"I had to pick up the rest of the decorations from the one year celebration. Neville told me you all were here looking for Hermione. Is that why you were shouting?" Lavender replied.
"Ha." George laughed out loud. Fred shaking his head at his twin.
"It's nothing. Can I help you with the decorations?" Ron's face becoming less red.
"Oh, thank you. See you all later." Lavender smiled, gripping Ron's hand leading him out the room.
"Bloody hell." George sighed, laying back down on the bed, closing his eyes. Fred took a seat in a chair next to his twin.
"So?" Ginny smiled from a bed across from her brothers. "You're in love with Hermione."
George smiled, not opening his eyes. Fred half smiled at his now very happy sister.
"Harry didn't tell you?" He asked, placing his hands behind his head.
"Of course Harry knew." Ginny laughed.
"Boy wonder knows how to keep a secret." George laughed along.
"Boy wonder? Don't tell me Harry here." The cool voice of Draco Malfoy said from the doorway.