Chapter 6
When Hermione woke up the next morning from a nightmare it wasn't even light out yet. "Come on" she hissed into the dark as she silently got out of bed and walked towards her closet. She grabbed baggy sweatpants with the Hogwarts "H" on it and a huge sweatshirt that said Gryffindor. Once she was dressed she grabbed a pair of Chuck Taylor All Stars and slipped them on. She put her hair up in a messy bun then walked downstairs. When she got into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water she realized she wasn't alone. "Hey" said the voice from somewhere in the corner. "AHH" Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you" the voice said, Hermione could almost see the smirk. "Sure you didn't Fred" Hermione said her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Where were heading at this early morning Ms. Granger?" Fred asked impersonating McGonagall. "None of your business" Hermione said as she stared at her nails. "Didn't mean to intrude" Fred whispered in her ear from right behind her. "Well I let it slide this time… If you do it again I'll kick your ass" Hermione said as she danced out of his hold and out the door.
She didn't have a clue where she was going but she knew she had to get away. She realized that it was too hard to move on. She still loved Ron more than anything and still truly believed that she should have died with him. The more she thought about Ron the faster she went, before she knew it she was sprinting into the forest that surrounded the Weasley's back yard. When he got the feeling that her lungs were about to burst, she finally slowed down. She had no clue where she was. The thoughts of Ron came flooding back to her faster that ever. She felt her knees give out and she fell roughly to the ground violently sobbing. When the shaking stopped she looked up and saw something glittering about 3 meters away. Even though the tears were still freely streaming down her face, her curiosity got the better of her again and she started walking toward the glittering object. As she got closer it started to look familiar from somewhere like in a dream. She realized that it was the Resurrection Stone! She's read hundreds of books about it! It gave you the power to bring back anyone who was dead, and they would stay as long as you kept the stone in your hand. Before she realized what she was doing Hermione walked towards the stone and picked it up, she rolled it over in her hand 3 times to activate it not thinking about the bad things that could happen. All she could think about was getting to see Ron again!
Back With Fred…
"Did I just make a move on Hermione?" Fred asked himself as he walked towards the couch. "Yes, Fred I believe you did!" Harry said as he sat up from the couch. He has seen the whole thing. "What, I didn't say anything!" Fred said as he rushed towards the stairs. Harry was too quick and blocked his path. "Harry MOVE!" Fred said in a stern voice. "Wow, you're gonna have to try a LOT harder than that Fred!" Harry said as he pushed the older boy back. "Hey what the hell was that for?!" Fred exclaimed as Harry took another step towards him. "Listen I tried very hard to make Hermione realize she was beautiful and that people actually like her! You will not screw it up Fred!" Harry yelled as he pushed Fred back again. "Harry what makes you think I will screw that up?!" Fred yelled back. "Fred that isn't the point! She is still in love with Ron! She gave her whole heart to him and he did the same to her! She is still grieving for Christ's sake! What you're doing is WRONG!" Harry hollered as he pushed Fred out of the house.
"WHAT AM I DOING?!" Fred screamed at Harry. "You're falling for a girl that can't love you back!" Harry shouted again as he pushed Fred harder. Fred fell to the ground and immediately jumped back up. "What the HELL!" He screamed as he pushed Harry back. "The way you sound, it seems like you're in love with her!" Fred said as he pushed Harry again. "No I'm not in love with Hermione, but I do love her more than anything! She is the closest person I have to family and I care about her so much that I will do anything to protect her! Ron and I used to take care of her for everything and now he can't anymore so it is my job!" Harry said as his voice crack and he fell to the ground crying. Fred stood stock still as he watch Harry, the Boy who lived, the strongest person he ever met, fall to the ground sobbing terribly.
Back in the woods with Hermione
Hermione gasped as Ron reappeared right in front of her. "Is it really you?" Hermione asked breathlessly. "Yes, yes it is" Ron said as he smiled and stepped towards Hermione. "What happened?" Hermione asked as she fell into his awaiting arms. "I don't know, I was fighting Lucius and the next thing I knew I was hit by something and I fell to the ground." Ron said as he stroked Hermione's hair. "Did it hurt?" Hermione asked as she pulled her head up to look into his eyes. "No I couldn't feel a thing" he said as he smiled at her reassuringly. "Okay, I feel better" Hermione said as Ron wipe her tears away. "Hermione I think you should know that I can't stay the much longer" Ron said as Hermione looked up startled. "What, why I can keep you here as long as I hold onto the stone, I don't understand, why can't…" Ron cut her off as he kissed her passionately. "Hermione I know that you want me to stay with you forever but, if I do I will change. I won't be the Ron you know. I'll only be the shell of him, I won't talk or anything I'll just be there and I know you don't want that alright 'Mione?" Ron asked as she nodded against his neck. "That's my girl" he said as he smiled. "So how much longer do I have with you?" Hermione asked in a quiet voice. "Well I believe I can stay with you about another hour" Ron said as Hermione jumped on him ferociously hugging him. They started walking out of the forest, and froze when they saw…
Back With Fred and Harry
Harry was on the ground crying, when Fred just stood still above him trying to make sense of what just happened over the last 10 minutes. First he hit on Hermione, then Harry starting yelling, and now here he stood above a crying Harry. Wow his life is odd. "What the HELL?!" Hermione yelled as she ran to Harry. Ron just stood there waiting for somebody to notice; silently he was praying that everyone didn't. "Ron" Fred asked with a soft voice. Ron nodded silently and walked towards his older brother. 'Sometimes prayers aren't answered' Ron thought to himself as his feet carried him to his brother. "Hey, Fred" Ron said with a glowing smile. "Ron why, what, RON" Fred said as he threw his arms around his little brother and for the first time he cried for his brother. "I know I'm here for right now, you're okay" Ron said as he stroked his brothers back as he shook form sobs. "You, what happened?" Fred asked as the sobbing stopped but tears silently streamed down his face. "Ron, how are you" Harry said as Hermione wrapped her arms around him in fear he would fall again. "Hermione found the Resurrection Stone; I only can stay about another half an hour. I'm sorry but it's the rules, I need to see the rest of my family then I must go" Ron said as he sent a pleading look to them. Hermione let go of Harry and ran forward at Ron. "You, this isn't fair!" Hermione exclaimed as she fell into Ron. "I know but you have to be strong, for me 'Mione, please I know you can do this, do it for me" Ron said as he pulled Hermione's face up to his. Hermione nodded and Fred saw a look in her eyes that scared him, it was a look of pure love, adoration and respect. He never saw someone so sure and full of something before in his life. Then the words Harry yelled at him sunk in, he was in love with Hermione Granger and the truth was that she could never love him back.
As Fred snapped back to reality he noticed that Ron was looking at him, as they made eye contact it was like Ron was looking into his soul. Then Ron did what Fred would have never expected him to do: he let go of Hermione and walked away. Hermione stood still begging Ron to come back to her, Ron ignored the sobbing girl and walked past Fred giving him a slight nudge. "I understand, now go to her" Ron whispered so that only Fred would hear. Fred nodded as Ron grabbed Harry and dragged him with him towards the house. Hermione shook violently as she cried. She fell into Fred's arms and sobbed into his shoulder.