Hermione was the first one to collect herself surprisingly. "We don't know for certain that Fred's memory returning will cause him to die... We don't know anything for certain when we reach Hogwarts I will research it over again. Check to see if we have missed anything. "
George nodded and Hermione put a hand on his shoulder,"I already lost him, I won't let you lose him too. I promise George." George could only nod. If only Fred knew how good of a witch he had. He would have made her very happy. He did make her very happy. Funny how the things that cause us our most joy are the same things that cause us the most pain.
Hermione took George silence as a clue he wanted to be alone. She wiped her eyes and straitened her robes then with a wave of her wand she looked as if nothing was ever wrong with her. She did it so smoothly it made him wonder how many times she had to use that spell. Just as she was about to leave he said," I wish I could help you Herms... I know how much you loved him he felt it too he even told me he was never gonna let you slip. You were his once in a lifetime."
She turned around and smiled a little probably reminiscing in an old memory, "What do you mean by loved? I still do, I always will. What happened was horrific, but Fred's the only one who forgot it. I still have my memories and that's enough for me to pretend to be happy. George, I loved and still love your twin very much and I will do anything for him to stay here. Have I not proved my loyalty to you?"
"No I'm just trying to give you something else to smile about. Herms...Fred wouldn't want you to be alone for so long he'd want you to be happy have kids be happy."
"I know, I want that too, but only with him. I can't fathom the thought of someone taking his place. You won't be able to convince me George." She said before adding,"If you need me I'll always be around okay? For now I should get back to the others you should find Fred."
George gave Hermione a smile and nodded as she left. here he was again. A weasley twin crying pathetically. A weasley twin feeling guilty. A weasley twin feeling sorrowful for someone. A weasley twin pitying someone... All the things they never did. All the things they swore to each other they'd never do, George was breaking all of the promises. He was just so grateful to Hermione he felt as though he could never repay her. Not only did she save his twins life, but she sacrificed his memory of their entire relationship for him to stay. George was the only one who knew about their relationship funny enough maybe if other people had known then things would be easier on Hermione... Maybe it were that way everyone would pity her and if there is one thing that witch hated it was being pitied.
George stood up and went to find his twin now that he was calm and collected once more.
He found Fred sitting down in the middle of the hallway running a hand through his hair nervously as he breathed heavily.
"Freddie?"George asked unsure on what to do.
"I think I screwed up Georgie."
"What did you do fred?" George asked sitting next to him.
"You see I was walking with Hermione and I figured if I wanted to win the bet I might as well try flirting with her. We were talking about how boring people were. Then she asked how I knew she wasn't boring and instead of turning on my charm it was like something overcame me and spoke. It was this sappy ol' bloke who was speaking as well. Then Her eyes they were glistening and shining all I wanted to do was snog her senseless. For a moment I thought she was mine... I called her this name I don't know where any of it came from. Then she ran away crying. I felt like she tore my heart out as she ran away. It feels like something is missing from me now... Every time I'm alone or with Her it feels like I'm not complete like something is empty inside me... Here is the sappy bloke again... Georgie what's wrong with me? Have I gone mental?"
"No of course not Freddie, Now tell me what name did you call Hermione, was it Herms? Hermy?"
"No It was My Own. My Own. It sounds so... I'm not sure but it sounds right to call her it I have no clue as to why."
"Fred... I can't help you I'm not good in this type of situation I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say."
"Georgie I just don't know what I'm feeling I'm so confused and I'm tired of being confused." Fred said in a loud sigh.
George was about to speak when Fred let out a laugh that sounded nothing short of forced then he spoke,"Bloody hell! I wanted to snog Hermione senseless... HERMIONE GRANGER! I have gone bloody mental! Oi! What spell did that bird put on me? All I get now a days is confused. I'm tired of it! I'm also tired of this feeling I get like everyone is hiding something from me... And you know what? I think you know what it is. All of you know and for some reason you won't bloody tell me!"
Fred stood up fast shoving George away from him hard. George stared up at his twin and for the first time as far as he can remember he saw betrayal and hurt, anger and aggression and the worst part of it was that these emotions his twin was emitting were all towards him.
"Freddie.." He started but was cut off by Fred's piercing gaze.
After a moment of silence fred spoke in a low malicious voice,"Georgie, I don't know what on earth you would want to keep secret from me, but you are acting so bloody strange lately I barely know who you are anymore. So until you are ready to be my twin again... I'll see you in class." Then he stalked away down the hallway.
George sat there awestruck. He wanted nothing more than to tell him since it happened. If he could he would. If he tell Fred the curse, might reverse. If he doesn't Fred will hate him and never speak with him again... He loses him no matter what he does. The only thing that saved his life is the thing that is going to make him lose his twin.
George stood up and walked back to Hermione and the others not quite comprehending what just happened entirely his mind was already spinning he just needed some quiet so he could think on what to do he also needed Hermione he found that he needed her a lot more often lately just her presence alone would make it all easier to handle.
He opened the door to find Ron standing his face almost as red as his hair and his nostrils flaring.
"Well, excuse me for caring about what is wrong with you Hermione. Excuse me for taking notice of your actions and actually PAYING BLOODY ATTENTION TO YOU" He yelled at a very pale-faced Hermione. Her hand was shaking and clutching her wand so tightly sparks were omitting from the end. George stood a slight smile growing on his face. He knew Ron was about to get the hexing of a life time with all the built up emotion that witch had right now. It would a truly amusing sight.
"Since when Ronald? Since when have you ever taken any notice in me? If you did you would have noticed YEARS ago about... Something and then you would have realized what exactly is wrong with me. Maybe if you wanted me to be with you if we are as perfect and meant to be as you said you would know I AM NOT YOURS! I never was. I never will be. I belong to someone else and I always will. So I apologize for your little 'Inconvenience' Ronald but I have better things to do then argue with you pointlessly!"
"WAIT NOT SO FAST HERMIONE!" Ron yelled as he grabbed Hermione's elbow when she tried to storm past him.
"Who in the name of Godric Gryffindor would try taking you from me?"
"I was not yours. Get over yourself Ronald. Also I was his Years before you started 'taking notice' in me. Dont worry about him anymore... He barely remembers my name these days." She said as a tear slipped out of her eye she jerked her arm away and ran out again.
"Hermione..." Ron sighed in a very faint voice. His shoulders were now hunched and his eyes glued to the floor.
"Nice going you prat." Ginny said as she rushed up. She tried running after Hermione but George stopped her,"No gin, this one's on me..."
"You know since when were you and My Herms so close?" Ron asked accusingly to George.
"SInce a few years ago when I noticed how bloody happy she and... someone were unlike you so called 'friends' of hers."
"I think you are a filthy liar! You took her from me! My own brother!"
"No Ron, you drove her away and into someone else's arms and let me tell you she is probably the best witch and if she was mine You'ld have known by now. You have no idea how bloody brilliant that girl is Ron, you blew it, but he knew how good she was he wanted her forever and she was torn away from him. You just... You have not the slightest clue Ron so quit trying to understand things your small undeveloped brain has no potential to even attempt it!" George said calmly before walking out to find Hermione.
He found her in the same cart and he chuckled slightly,"It seems like we just left this cart and we are back if this is any inclination of how the rest of the year is going to be it should be an interesting one at the least."
"Do you know who I miss most at the moment? Dumbledore he'd know what to do. He'd have had a better way to save him. I knew I shouldn't have trusted that wretched wench!" Hermione said more to herself then to Fred.
"Shhh... Mione shhhhhh... IT's not your fault. You are smart, beautiful, and bloody brilliant! I mean it. You did everything right and I would have done the same thing...You are brave beyond belief now come on the train's just about to star we can go to the library as soon as the feast ends will that bring you some peace at mind?"
"George if I didn't have you I'd have already gone mental."
"No problem love. If it weren't for you, well you already know what a miracle you are to me." He said a warm smile on his face as he looked at the heartbroken gryffindor before him.
She was broken. Shattered. Crushed. He never thought it would be this bad. It's not like Fred had died, she prevented that... But it was. He didn't remember her at all, what they had, what they shared. Their love is gone. Years of secrets are now lost, to all but her. The memories she still has to live with and not just that but she sees Fred everyday and has to pretend like nothing happened like she was never his. If he didn't have all the respect in the world for her already this realization would have put it there.
She stood up for the second time today dusted her robes wiped her eyes and waved her wand. Once again she looked like nothing mattered.
Again he said nothing but wondered once more how many times a day this witch used that same spell. She was now smiling and radiant. The only thing off were her brown sparkling eyes. They had a cloud of depression masking them. You could see it clearly if one would only pay attention her true feelings were buried in the depths of her eyes.
Fred sat in an empty cart. He shut his eyes tightly to force his pounding head to silence.
What happened instead was her face flashed in his mind once more. his eyes sprang open and his breathing sped up.
He was tired of this. He couldn't sleep at night because whenever he shut his eyes her face appeared, but when he did sleep she filled his dreams. They were so life-like so real. He woke up wishing he could just stay with her forever in his sub-conscience. -NO- she was Hermione Granger... Not Angelina or Katie. Hermione...
A voice in his head that came around a lot lately argued him, 'No, she's not Angie, or Katie, but that's why you love her.'
"Love? What in the name of Merlin are you talking about?"
'You really don't remember do you? I never thought you would forget this long. You're so close, but each time you almost do you run away. Stop running open your mind. You were not always this hard and cold you know what happened?'
"Remember what? What do you mean Hard and cold? Im a fun lively prankster extraordinaire!"
'Correction you WERE not anymore. You lost your muse. You lost the thing that made you and george start getting serious about pranking... You lost your girl, your prize.'
"What are you going on about?"
'Close your eyes Fred Remember her...Remember My Own.'
With the mention of the nickname he closed his eyes lightly. Visions flashed in a cluttered mess as the voice in his head kept repeating, 'Remember My Own. Remember My Own. Remember My Own. Remember My Own. Remember My Own. Remember My Own. Remember My Own.'
He opened his eyes slowly buried his head in his knees and said,"I'm sorry I can't. I'm so confused why can't you just tell me?"
'If you can't remember on your own then maybe its better left untouched.'
"Just Bloody Tell me!" He sighed as he knew the voice was not going to come back at this moment.
"Talking to yourself now Weasley. Maybe you truly are Mad." Said the snobby rat-like figure in the doorway.
Fred looked up and saw the blonde haired devil himself,"They still let you back here Malfoy?"
"Let? More like force. I didn't want to come back believe me my abilities are better left outside this bloody school as I'm sure you are aware of by now."
"Yes being a deatheater and almost killing Dumbledore is quite an honor." fred snapped at him.
He didn't know it was possible but Draco indeed paled considerably before saying,"Dont judge me. You don't know what I've been through."
"Well the same applies to me."
"Not exactly My dear, dear Weasley because You don't even know what you've been through. Only three people on this train do and you are defiantly not one of them." He said with an evil smirk. The train came to a halt and draco picked up his luggage and said," Good day Weasley I have more people to reward with my presence."
"Wait! What do you know about it? You know? Why can't I remember."
"At what cost do you wish to know? Are you willing to give up your life?" Draco waited for an answer but once it was evident he would not reply he said,"I thought so." Then walked away silently.
A/N: Your thoughts? Reviews? Please.
I have a challenge for you. I would love to hear your thoughts on this... Here is a question for you What does Draco Malfoy have to do with Fred remembering? Why does he know about it as well? Answer the question in a review please?