Author's Note: ….Yeah that last chapter was pure and utter crap. But it had to be done. Plus now we get to the juicy stuff!
Disclaimer: If I were even remotely related to J.K. Rowling I wouldn't be here writing. I would be there…begging for money. So I don't own squat!
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Fred couldn't go back to the Burrow. So he found himself at a pub in Diagon Alley, trying to drown the nightmares and thoughts of Her. Her. Even mentioning Her name was too much. Not that Fred ever called her by her name. Minnie. That was Fred's pet name for her. She always smiled when he called her that. Fred took another swig of Firewhiskey and shook his head trying to empty it of all thoughts. But not even the strongest Firewhiskey could make him forget.
Fred emptied the bottle in front of him and waved at the bartender, who quickly brought him another. Normally the tender limited how much his customers consumed, but Fred Weasley was different. He wasn't a wild drunk and didn't try to feel up the waitresses. Fred wasn't a violent drunk either. He just drank as if he was trying to drown himself in Firewhiskey. And he always paid up front. Most would try to get one "on the house" or create a tab that never got paid. But not Fred. As soon as the tender brought him another Fred slapped some gold down on the counter.
Fred began to lose count of how many bottles he'd had. The room got fuzzy and Fred found himself a lot closer to the floor…..
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After Lily and her mother had left Molly Weasley had to be carried to her room, because she was so distraught. Charlie then gave her, despite her protests, a dreamless sleep potion. Once he was sure she was asleep Charlie headed back down to the kitchen to the rest of the clan.
The clan was sitting at the table trying to decide what to do. "We need to tell him." Ron stated. Ginny rolled her eyes. "What? We should. Fred has a right to know."
Ginny scoffed. "Yeah, I can see how that conversation would go. 'Hey Fred, we found the love of your life. You know Hermione. She's alive, but she says she's dead and doesn't want to talk to any of us. And oh yeah, she has a three year old daughter." Ginny glared at Ron. "You want to be the one to tell Fred?"
"Oh."
Harry sat running his fingers through his hair. "We need to find her. Find out why she disappeared and why she is acting this way. Before we even think about telling Fred." Harry paused. "Where is Fred anyway?…."
The entire kitchen simultaneously realized that Fred still hadn't shown up for dinner, and it was now close to midnight. George stood. "I think I know where to find him." Using his twin instincts George knew Fred was somewhere getting smashed. "I will bring him home."
Bill stood as well. "Speaking of home, we should be leaving." He put his arm around Fleur. "Tomorrow I will find out what I can. See if Hermione has been to any wizarding communities lately."
"Me too. I'll track where she has been." Stated Charlie.
Ginny yawned. "Good. Tomorrow, Harry, Ron and I will go down to the village and look for her."
With silent nods the clan agreed that starting tomorrow they would being the hunt for Hermione.
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The next morning Harry, Ron and Ginny woke up and went down to the muggle village. They had decided that they would split up to search for anything that would help them find her. Ron started on the left side of the street and Harry on the Right. Ginny, being the smartest of the three headed straight for the Pub.
The Pub of course, was more than just a pub. It also served as a popular bed and breakfast. This was where the woman last night had said the mother was. So it seemed only natural to start in the last place she was seen.
Ginny opened the door and was greeted by the smell of coffee and sausage. Ginny sighed remembering the burnt toast she had for breakfast. But quickly shook the thought of food from her head, remembering why she was there. Ginny walked over to the buffet table and asked the server. "Excuse me. Have you seen the woman who lost her daughter last night?"
"You mean Jane?"
Ginny spun around to the sound of the voice. It came from a woman about her age sitting in a booth table. Ginny stared. "You know her?…" The woman nodded.
"The name's Crystal. Why don't you grab yourself a plate and join me?" Ginny was starving so had no problem obeying the woman's request. Ginny filled a plate with scrumptious food and walked to the booth table. "I'm Ginny."
Crystal motioned for Ginny to sit. "Well Ginny, Why do you want to know about Jane?" Ginny took a bite of her pancakes. "I live at the house where they found her daughter."
"Ah. You folk ain't very social." Ginny gulped. "I didn't even know there was a house there 'til last night."
Ginny shrugged. "We keep to ourselves mostly. How do you know 'Jane'?"
"It was odd actually.. I haven't seen Jane in, what, fourteen years. Then yesterday she just shows up out of the blue wanting to catch up."
"So you knew her before…."
"Yup. Jane and I where in primary school together. " Crystal sipped on her coffee. "Course Jane isn't her first name. Her first name was….Well something hard to remember and even harder to pronounce. We where just kids, so we called her Jane. Course when it came time to go to secondary school, she went somewhere else. Got accepted to some school for the gifted. And I haven't seen her since. Until yesterday that is."
Ginny put down her silverware, "Is she still here?"
"Nope. She left last night. I think the fact that she almost lost her daughter…Well it scared her. I mean, she already lost the father."
Ginny choked on her coffee. "She lost the father?…" Ginny whispered.
Crystal nodded sadly. "'Bout four years ago. She wouldn't say much about it. I think she is still hurting. Seems like she really loved him. Now all she has is their daughter."
Ginny shook her head. "Poor Jane…."
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'Jane' was currently back at her flat. Her eyes all puffy and red from crying all night. She knew she shouldn't have gone. It brought back too many memories. It was at the Burrow where Fred professed his undying love for her. And now he's gone…
Jane leaned her head against her bed frame. After that night she had planned to return. She just wanted Lily to be safe first. So when Lily was one, Jane went to the Leaky Cauldron hoping she would pick up some good news….
FlashbackJane entered and ordered a Butterbeer, across the way two witches where conversing about the Final Battle. One was complaining that she lost a brother. The other woman scoffed at her.
"Everybody lost someone that night." The woman shook her head. "Even the Weasley's." Jane found herself listening more intently.
"Poor Fred." Jane gasped and ran back into London with teary eyes. It was true. He was gone. She had no reason to go back now.
End Flashback
Jane wiped the tears from her eyes. After returning Jane decided she would look for some of her old muggle mates. Crystal had been her best friend, but avoided going to see her for another two years, because Jane found out she lived by the Burrow. But she went. And broke her heart again.
She almost lost Lily. Jane had panicked when she couldn't find her. Lily was all she had left. They had sent out a search party and an hour later someone came back saying that she had been found at some house up the hill. Jane's heart skipped a beat. The Burrow. Jane and the others went up to meet them. And sure enough Lily came bounding out of the house past the people on the porch. Jane had hugged her like she would never let go.
Then someone had grabbed her arm. Ginny! She asked if Jane wanted to come in. Jane shook her head, she couldn't it was too painful. But then she saw Him. Standing on the porch, He was standing there looking at her. Didn't he recognize her? So Jane let Ginny take her inside the house. But once inside Jane realized. That's not Fred. It's George. Everyone but Fred is here. Oh God! It's true! He's gone!
The rest of the night was a teary blur. Jane tried not to cry hard until Lily was asleep. The moment Jane was alone she burst into endless tears. He never knew I loved him. We have a baby. He's a daddy. Jane's heart broke again, realizing that she was truly alone.
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hands out tissues
Ah, the miscommunication. Don'tcha love it.
Once again thanks to my reviewers! Love it, Hate it? Let me know!