"What happened?" Was the first questioned asked after everyone had stopped hugging us. My lungs were on fire and I could barely see through the haze that the pain in my side had caused to rise up. I forced myself to take shallow breaths and let Fred answer. We had been moved to the living room couch, and everyone was sitting around us, staring at us as though they were scared we might disappear. I was sitting next to Fred, as close as I could. I wanted to be near him as long as possible. I hadn't stopped crying since we'd arrived. I was crying from happiness, and a little bit of sorrow. It was officially over, my trek and closeness with Fred was finished. Things would return to the way they had been, and I would never get to hold him the way I had for the last week.
Fred managed to explain our two month adventure fairly quickly, and then he asked them what they had thought happened. George told us that he had come back to the shop and found it in shambles from our battle. Both our wands had been left behind and they thought the worse. There hadn't been any contact from our kidnappers, and they hadn't been able to figure out who had taken us, or where. He gave us both back our wands, and holding the simple piece of wood in my hands brought tears to my eyes.
They had looked for us everywhere, they'd even told the muggle police to look out for us. That made both Fred and myself laugh. We could have been home so much faster if we had only known! It was clever really, that way they could cover far more ground. They just hadn't counted on us trying to not get caught.
Harry told us that he had no idea who or what the Keyfinder could be, but that he'd check in on it for us. Once everyone quieted down Fred told Mrs. Weasley about our many, many, injuries and she proceeded to heal us. Finally, for the first time in nearly a week I could breath.
We stayed up late, everyone talking and asking us questions. Mrs. Weasley didn't want to let either of us leave, insisting we stay at the Burrow for the night. We both agreed, mainly because we didn't want to upset her anymore. Plus, the Burrow had an extremely safe and comforting feel that neither of us wanted to leave. So, I was staying in Ginny's old room, and Fred (and George, because no way the two of them were separating again) would be staying in their old room. They also didn't want either of us to go to our own apartments or the shop yet. Since we were the only ones that had been attacked they didn't want to risk whoever it was coming back for us.
I took a long shower, reveling in the feel of the warm water against my sore, but fully healed body. I washed away all the filth of the last few days, and tried to wash away my sadness with it. All hope for Fred and I may not be lost. He said he would like to date me, maybe he would still want to spend time together.
I left the shower a few minutes later and went to my bedroom, changing into my pajamas and then climbing into my bed. I read for a while, trying to calm myself down and get immersed in the story, but I couldn't. Finally, after an hour, I just gave it up for naught and set the book down before laying back in my bed. I lay there for a few minutes, my eyes closed and the covers pulled up around my shoulders before I opened my eyes again and let out an agitated sigh.
I couldn't fall asleep by myself. I had spent the last two months sleeping with Fred, and now I couldn't sleep alone. I lay still for a moment, trying to decide what to do before I finally got up. I grabbed my pillow and wand, and then headed out of the room and upstairs towards the twins room.
I stopped in front of the door and knocked softly, praying that he would let me in and not reject me.
"It's open." Fred's voice called from the bedroom. I took a deep breath, marveling that it didn't cause me any pain, and opened the door. Fred had the bed against the far wall, and he was sitting up in it, the covers over his legs and turned so that he was facing me. The lights were off, but the blinds were up so that the window over his bed let in the moon light. It was just enough light for me to see him.
"Hermione," he said, a smile lifting his lips. My eyes drifted to the other bed and I saw that George was fast asleep with a big grin on his face. I looked back to Fred and gave him a timid smile. "Whatcha doing in here?" He asked.
"I-I couldn't sleep by myself." I stuttered, blushing as I told him the truth.
"Really? I'm so glad to hear that, I was about to go climb in with George." He said, letting out a quiet laugh as he gave his sleeping twin an affectionate smile.
"Do you mind if I climb in with you instead?" I asked, fingering my pillow uncomfortably.
"I'd love that." He said softly, scooting over in his bed so that there was enough room for me.
Love, I so wanted to hear him whisper that word to me, I so wanted to whisper that word to him. I took a timid step forward and smiled at him, fighting down the blush that had risen to my cheeks. He didn't love me, he liked me, that was clear from his kisses, but he didn't love me. He probably never would now. We'd return to our old lives, and neither of us were a part of the others old lives. Tonight would be the last night we'd be able to pretend it wasn't going to be like that. Tonight would be the last night he'd hold me till I fell asleep. The last night I'd fall asleep looking into his beautiful blue eyes.
I needed a cheering charm.
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I woke up rather late the next morning; the soft bed was so much easier to sleep on than the hard dirt. Plus, Fred and I were both exhausted. Imagine, walking across England half dead made you exhausted. No one woke us up, letting us sleep until noon. I woke up warm, but alone. I moved my hand around the bed sheets, searching for Fred's body before I opened my eyes in disappointment to find he was gone.
I got out of the bed and grabbed my pillow and wand before heading towards the door. Right before I could open it the door opened and George burst into the room. For a heartbeat I thought it was Fred, and a huge smile burst across my face, then I realized it was George and my smile faded away.
"Gee 'Mione, someone would think you weren't happy to see me. Or were you hoping I was someone else?" He asked, a big grin breaking across his face. I shook my head adamantly, blushing furiously as he smirked at me and laughed.
"You did!" He accused, letting out a light laugh. "You thought, or hoped, I was Fred." He was standing right in front of me now, and it was making me uncomfortable and nervous.
"N-no." I stuttered, taking a step back.
"You are a rubbish liar Hermione." He said quietly, still smiling.
"Where is Fred?" I asked softly, deciding to stop acting like I didn't want to know.
"He's out with Ange." George said nonchalantly. My chest constricted and my heart dropped to my stomach. He was out with Angelina, the beautiful, athletic, Angelina, his ex girlfriend. I took a deep breath and found myself sinking down onto Fred's bed, hyperventilating again.
"What's wrong?" George asked, sitting down beside me and looking worried. My entire body had tensed up and I couldn't stop shaking. I shook my head, forcing myself to take shallow breaths and calm down. I had known it was coming, Fred and I weren't going to be together when we returned. I just hadn't expected it to happen so soon. "Hermione, talk to me, you've grown pale." He said, gripping my arm gently in his hand. I shook my head again and stood, shaking my arm out of his loose hold. I turned my head back towards him and forced myself to smile.
"I'm fine." I said, and then I apparated away. I reappeared back at my flat, and let out a heartbroken sob before running towards my bed. I buried my head in my own pillows and wept.
An hour later I was sitting in the living room with a bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream listening to the Beetles. I heard someone knock on my door and I almost ignored it.
"Hermione?" Harry's voice called out, knocking on the door again, and louder. I sat still, hoping if I was quiet enough he would just go away.
"Hermione, I know you're in there." He called out louder, still knocking. "I'll use alohmora."
"Fine." I snapped, standing up and vanishing my ice cream. I wiped my eyes angrily as I walked towards the door. I jerked it open and glared at Harry. He was wearing his auror robes and looked like he had just apparated over here from his work. He stared at me for a moment, his eyes absorbing me and my still pajama clad self. My hair was a mess and I had tear stains on my cheeks.
"Can I come in?" He asked quietly. I let out a sigh and my shoulders slumped.
"Yes." He walked past me and towards my couch, sitting down and watching me as I joined him.
"First, I wanted to let you know that we got one of the bastards who kidnapped you and Fred." Relief flooded my stomach and I closed my eyes, letting out a deep breath before opening my eyes again and giving Harry a watery smile. "Trust me, he's not going to be seeing the light of day again."
He took a breath "Second, I want to know what they did to you 'MIone?" He asked softly. "I know you had two fractured ribs, a lacerated arm, a sprained ankle, and a bruised jaw, but did they do something else?" He asked, a faint blush lighting his cheeks. His green eyes held my own, piercing me and making me want to tell him everything.
"No, he didn't do anything like that." I said quickly, pushing my hair out of my face before looking at him. "That's not the reason I'm over here." I said quietly.
"Thank God." Harry said, closing his eyes and leaning against the couch cushion.
"What made you think that?" I asked, curiously. I didn't think I'd done anything to make them think that.
"George." Harry answered, opening his eyes and staring at me again. "He said that you snuck back into his and Fred's room last night, that you were all fidgety until you were back with Fred. He also said that you acted extremely uncomfortable, even scared, when he stepped close to you. You started to shake and hyperventilate, and then disappeared. That got me thinking back to last night, you didn't hug any of us guys to long, and you stayed next to Fred the entire time. You didn't smiled too much, and you kept crossing your arms like you were trying to protect yourself."
"Wow," I said, my eyes wide and my mouth opened. "Was I really that bad?"
"I didn't notice it until George came to me." He replied quickly. "So what was going on? You've been gone for two months, we all thought you were dead, please tell me. Don't shut me out."
"It's Fred." I answered, tears filling my eyes.
"What did he do?" Harry asked quickly, sitting up straighter and looking mad. It almost made me giggle.
"Nothing," I took a breath before confessing. "I fell in love with him." Harry's eyes grew wide and he looked shocked, his mouth even fell open. "It's not that hard to believe, he's really funny and sweet. Plus, he was my only companion for two months. I've gotten to know him extremely well."
"So you've been locked up here because you fell in love with Fred?" Harry asked, I nodded my head. "So why are you crying?"
"Because it's unrequited." I whispered, tears filling my eyes. Harry reached over and grabbed me in a hug, holding me tight and letting me cry out my broken heart.
A/N: Hope you all liked this chapter, I'll explain more about why they were taken later. I hope you feel better Katesmom2 I wrote this chapter with you in mind… Everyone be sure and send her soup, she has the flu.
Thanks also to Sarah0406 for pointing out that I forgot Charlie last chapter!
Ps, don't worry, Hermione and Fred will get together! (I'm writing this story, you can guarantee it will end happily and fluffily!)