Flashbacks are underlined, thoughts are in italics, my life is pathetic...here we go chapter 12 enjoy.
"Fred you cant be serious, we have been planning this for the last two years." George said with hurt evident in his tired voice as he watched his brother shrug in return.
"I know, but we can wait until tomorrow. What is the big deal?" Fred answered back trying not to notice his brother's saddened face.
"I spent all night perfecting the swamp charm because you said that we were going to do it tonight." George yelled at Fred in the middle of the narrow corridor making many students stare at them with interest.
"I know, and I am very sorry for pushing you like this but I can't do it tonight." Fred answered feeling a little guilty for making his brother suffer though a very long night of testing and retesting.
"Why not? What is your reasoning?" George yelled again with such anger that every student in that corridor darted away like frightened birds.
"Alicia wants to study tonight." Fred replied warily making George get madder.
"You are ditching the charm that we have been working on for two months and me for a girl?" George asked in shock.
"Not just any girl George. The sweetest girl there is." Fred replied looking at the note she gave him so he missed George's crushed expression.
"Goddamn that fucking girl." George whispered under his breath so Fred couldn't hear.
"We have a date with a potion book." Fred replied dreamily making George sigh.
"I'm sure you two will have plenty of fun." George replied grumpily as he started to walk back to the Gryffindor Tower.
"George, oh come on George where are you going?" Fred screamed confused with the turn of events. Why was George acting like this, he knew how important Alicia meant to Fred.
"I'm tired." George replied grumpily accidently bumping into Lee who was walking past him, knocking the darker boy to the ground, "Oh god I am so sorry Lee." George apologized as he helped Lee up.
"It's only ten in the morning." Fred screamed back not even looking at Lee.
"Again I spent all night working on the charm." George screamed back.
"You have school George. What am I supposed to tell the teachers when they ask about you?"
"Tell them to go and fuck themselves." George screamed back as he stormed off.
"Wow, did I miss something?" Lee asked Fred who was red in the face, either from anger or frustration.
"Mind your own business Lee." Fred yelled at Lee before storming off to Potions. Lee watched Fred go with surprise before shaking his head.
"Well someone is grumpy this morning." Lee screamed angrily to the disappearing Fred.
"Shut the hell up Lee." Fred yelled back at Lee. Lee sighed before debating if he should head off to his class or go back to the tower. The answer was easy. Ignoring the fat lady's lecture about the importance of school Lee walked to his dorm room and knocked on the door and waited patiently.
"Fred go and bother Alicia and Angelina." George screamed though the door.
"I'm not Fred." Lee said coolly.
"What do you want?" George said drowsily making Lee exhale noisily before snorting slightly. Lee felt anxious for some reason unknown to him and he couldn't stop his feet from tapping in provocation.
"Can I come in?" Lee asked timidly feeling really embarrassed for some reason and he couldn't help but be mad that he felt so self-conscious.
"Suit yourself, the door is unlocked." George answered crankily. Lee opened the door to spot George curled up on his little cozy bed. Lee sighed a little before sitting down next to him.
"Brotherly fight?" Lee asked stroking George's back soothingly.
"Lee, stop." George nearly whispered and Lee stopped rubbing his back with a sad grimace.
"I'm sorry, I forgot my place. I just wanted to see how you are doing; Fred and you seemed to get into it a little."
"It isn't fair. I mean he told me he wanted the swamp to go up tonight and that I need to make sure it was perfect. It took me all night, all fucking night, and now he told me that he wanted to spend the night with Alicia." George blurted out curling up into himself even more so he looked like a sleeping cat.
"That was what the fight was about, a girl?" Lee asked sluggishly putting a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.
"No…well yes…but it is more that he choose her over me, that was what the fight was really about. Instead of me he chose to hang out with her. I'm losing him Lee; I'm losing the one person who I always thought was going to be there for me." George whispered honestly.
"You are not losing him; you two are just growing up. This is completely normal George. Everybody, regardless of who you are, falls in love. It doesn't mean that you are losing him." Lee said desperately wanting to comfort George more than he was allowed.
"What if one of us is growing up faster than the other?" George asked again poking at his blanket.
"You will fall in love one day George, trust me." Lee said rubbing George's back again and this time George didn't say anything. George's mind was on fire with thoughts.
"That is the thing; everyone worshipped Fred, not me. I always see people looking at him longingly, but no one does that for me. He had been asked out a hundred times. How many times have I been asked out? Once and that person was you. You know how it feels to be in someone's shadow and the person doesn't even know? Fred still thinks we are equal but that isn't true, I can see our differences clearly, and that is both scary and comforting." George answered though shaky breaths making Lee rub his back even harder.
"What do you mean?"
"We have always been considered identical in both physical and mental experiences. That is not the case; we are completely different on the inside. He is more headstrong, braver, and more irrational. I am more of a thinker, more rational, more emotional, more of a follower than a leader. Even when we make tricks we have different jobs. He designs it, we make it, I finish it, I/ we/ other people try it, we sell it. It has always been that way. Even when I want to make something and I draw it and show it to Fred all proud of myself he says that it isn't good enough or go back and change some parts. Fred always tries to make me know that any idea I have for tricks isn't good enough for the Weasley twins." George finished with a sad gleam in his eyes.
"You two are different on the physical level too. You have a mole on your neck while Fred doesn't. You have a softer face than Fred too. Your eyes are more sparkling then his is. His face is more cold, more hardened, and unless he feels an extreme emotion no emotion registers on his face. Yours do George; your face is always full of emotion. He is slightly skinnier too, barely skinnier, but still skinnier. Don't worry I think you look better. Also, and I hate to say this, he is slightly taller than you. Again unless someone stares at you two all day they wouldn't notice. I noticed only earlier this year, its not even an inch either, it is like half an inch of a difference." Lee said not noticing George looking at him with an outlandish stare.
"You had been watching us that closely?" George asked with bewilderment in his voice.
"No, I have been watching you that closely, I only noticed him because you two were always together." Lee corrected George and immediately regretted it when he saw the caution pass across George's face.
"Why would you spend so much time watching me? I am so boring; you probably were bored to tears." George asked again, smiling at Lee uncertainty.
"Jokers are never boring. Anyways I couldn't help but watch you, your beauty entombed me." Lee responded as George sat up.
"No one ever called me beautiful before." George replied feeling flattered. He looked closely at Lee as his mind spun around and around. He is not my type but god…I feel so jealous every time I see couples kissing and now that Fred is spending more time with Alicia…maybe I could jut give in for one night.
"Why do you find me pretty?" George said after a long minute.
"Your eyes are gorgeous, your hands are perfect in length and width, your nose is so cute, and your lips," Lee responded as he gently pressed his lips upon George's chapped lips, "are to die for." Lee quickly ended the kiss when he felt George jerk slightly feeling slightly hurt.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to, I think I…"Lee started but George stopped him by pushing their lips together again. For George the kiss wasn't one of hunger or passion it was just one of desperation. For Lee, the kiss was divine; it felt like he was Eve biting the delicious apple from the forbidden tree. Lee quickly lowered George onto the bed as he climbed on top of him. Lee knew that George didn't like him, but he didn't care, he was going to use George's vulnerable state to get exactly what he wanted for three years. Lee smiled as he stumbled to unbutton George's shirt while passionately kissing George when they heard footsteps running up the stairs. Before the door could open Lee jumped off of George and ran to his bed as George with shaking hands tried to buckle his shirt again.
The door opened with Lee and George still breathing harshly.
"George," Fred said breathing hard as well, "Snape told me to tell you that you have a week of detention for skipping class. I told him you were sick but apparently he heard our little argu…are you two okay?" Fred asked looking between George and Lee who was still panting slightly.
"Yeah we are fine." George answered feeling disgusted with himself, he thanked god that Snape sent Fred to tell him about the detention when he did.
"Why is Lee panting?" Fred asked suspiciously, something was trying to click in his brain but somehow the images weren't popping up.
"I broke something of Filch and he chased me all the way back to the Gryffindor tower. Is he still outside the tower?" Lee asked with forced alarm.
"No I haven't even seen Filch at all today." Fred replied with interest, "oh well. I wish I could stay but Snape said if I am not back in his classroom in twenty than I will have detention too."
"No, please stay." George begged looking at his bed with disgrace.
"I will come back during lunch. Promise." Fred said to George as he looked at the clock in the room, "shit I have to run." Fred replied as he ran out of the room, as soon as Lee heard him go Lee smiled and turned back to George. He walked back to George and tried to kiss him but George turned his head.
"George?" Lee asked hurt and confusion in his dark eyes.
"I'm sorry I can't lead you on like this. I like you Lee; I really do, but only as a friend. I can't lead you to believe that I have romantic feelings for you when I don't." George replied feeling guilt. He played with Lee's feelings, he felt like such a scum.
"George, I know you have no romantic feelings for me. I know this isn't going to be a start to a relationship. This is just a one night stand. No feelings included. This is just out of sexual need, nothing more, nothing less." Lee told George who just wrapped his arms around his knees and rested his head on his knees.
"I can't do it, I'm sorry." George replied his throat dry with the feeling of guilt and humiliation. Lee was silent for a long time feeling anger spiking at the silent orange haired man. For a minute Lee wondered if it mattered what George wanted after all George did lead him on…but he couldn't do that to his friend.
"You are such a slut George." Lee hissed as he walked up and grabbed George by his arm, "why would you lead me on if you don't like me?"
"I'm sorry Lee. Please can we just stay friends?" George asked and Lee frowned. He had flashes of just ripping George's clothes off and raping him. Shaking he let go of George's arm as he backed away.
"Of course we can stay friends George. I'm sorry but I have to go to class now and you should try and get some sleep." Lee said as something in his mind whispered for Lee to hurt George, kill George.
"No, please Lee can you stay with me just for a little while. I just don't want to be alone." George begged and Lee sighed.
"Fine." Lee said as he relaxed in his own bed and looked up at the ceiling. Surprisingly he felt hands around him. Lee looked down to see pale hands wrapped around his stomach and shuddered when he realized who they belonged to. Lee looked over at George who was snoring slightly and smiled but the voices in his head were still taunting him to hurt George. His voices seemed to want him to make George his, to control George, to kill George. His mouth shivered as he promised himself, "I promise I will never hurt George."
Fred was very tired when he walked into St. Mugals. It had been two months since George and Hermione had been in the hospital. Two very long months. Everyday Fred had been going into St. Mugals hoping for George to wake up, hoping that he can finally sleep peacefully. He hasn't had a peaceful night sleep in a long time, way too long.
Walking into the building holding two bouquets of flowers, he said hello to the receptionist, Hannah. He walked into the elevator and called for the ICU floor. It was ironic that both George and Hermione were in the ICU ward and were in rooms next to each other. When the elevator opens he said hello to nurse Mandi and nurse Melissa, who were usually the nurses Fred sees when he walked into either George's or Hermione's room.
"Hello dear, a little early today?" Nurse Mandi said fixing her short brown hair back into a ponytail.
"I'm going to work on cleaning my shop and getting it ready to re-open." Fred said with a fake smile.
"Finally I been wanting to buy some …." Nurse Melissa said with a smile as she twisted her long blonde hair into a bun. Melissa and Mandi were sisters; born eighteen months apart, look nothing alike, and have completely separate lives. Fred was slightly jealous of the sisters, they were different, they were free to live their own life. Fred could never have his own life; it had always been Fred and George and always would be, for better or for worse.
"Melissa grow up, you are not a child anymore." Mandi told her sister which made Melissa stick out her tongue at her.
"Fred, George is in surgery again so you should probably see Hermione first." Melissa said glaring at Mandi.
"What time will he be out?" Fred asked quietly still surprised at the nurses' behavior. They had always been mean to each other but he can't blame the hospital attendant on hiring them, they were really good at nursing.
"About an hour top, it is just a small little surgery about recasting some bones in his right leg." Mandi said before Melissa could open her mouth again.
"Thanks guys." Fred said as he walked into Hermione's room. The room was thankfully a one bedded room, something that you barely see anymore. He smiled as he looked over at her, she looked so pale now. Putting the bouquet of flowers on a table he quickly pulled a chair up to her bed.
"Hello Hermione, how are you doing today?" Fred asked without expecting an answer although he wished for one.
"I brought you some roses, I remember you once saying that pink roses are your favorite. God, I can't believe you are brain-dead. I know we have this conversation thousands of time but still…I'm sorry I pulled you into that mess. I should have told you to stay home, I should have told Harry and Ron to stay home too. I blame all this on myself and now…now you are going to die and it isn't fair. Please forgive me Hermione; I never wanted you to get hurt." Fred said though teary eyes. Part of his new found insomnia was because of his guilt. He felt the guilt of hurting Hermione, guilt at leaving George, guilt of failing the mission. He felt livid too because he never expected Lee of kidnapping George, he didn't even know that Lee liked him. He also felt fear; fear that the ministry workers will know that he bailed on the mission. He felt fear that the ministry workers will track Draco and him down. What Fred didn't tell his family and friends, what Draco didn't tell his family either, where that they are still supposed to be in prison. One night though, Fred overheard a couple of inmates talking about killing Draco, and Fred knew he had to do something. Bribing an officer he made some calls to Charlie and Bill and told them what was going on. That night Charlie and Bill came down dressed up like ministry workers and got them out.
Another part of his insomnia is the repeating nightmare of the mission. Every time he closed his eyes he can hear villagers screaming or Draco crying. He could smell the sweat of the deatheaters or the rotting smell of the prisoners. He could taste the bitter taste of beer from the camp or the disgusting mush of the prison. He could see the deatheaters murdering the men, raping the women, making children into slaves or he could see the prisoners beating on some weakling or raping the bitch of the day. What he had to be to prove to the deatheaters that they could trust him…what Draco had to do…they made Draco rape a girl, probably only fourteen, and he cried for weeks after. Draco was never the same after that, he started to hate himself, he started to drink more just so he could forget her screams. The deatheaters made Fred, himself made up to be a cute little girl, torture the chief of the pack.
Even now when he was sitting beside Hermione he cold hear the chief begging in Spanish, could feel the blade shaking in his fingers. The deatheaters would throw out what to do, where to cut, how deep to cut. Fred had no choice but to do it, if he said no they would know something was fishy about him. So he did what they did, cutting the fingers off, the toes, the sexual organs, and the chief wouldn't stop begging. All Fred wanted was for the guy to shut up. Even now the chief is haunting him asking him how he could do such a thing, Fred wondered if the chief noticed how reluctant he was. Did the chief notice that he was crying while he cut him? Did the chief know that Fred felt so guilty that he couldn't sleep for months that every time he closed his eyes the chief will be there screaming?
Fred wished he could say that was the worst thing he did during that mission but that would be a lie, he doesn't like lying anymore, not after everything he went though. It got worse too, even with Fred and Draco participating in the ruthless killings the deatheaters doubted their relationship. So they had to have sex just to prove to everyone that they were a real couple, Fred still wished it didn't have to be in front of everyone…the only thing that got Fred though the mission was the thought that he went instead of George. Draco turned out to become a good friend, as they talked about women; Draco talked about Pansy and Fred would talk about Alicia. Although truth be told, Fred would confuse her sometimes with Hermione, Angelina, and Katie. Draco wouldn't point it out because both didn't have any true feelings for the girls; they were just something that was familiar. Women were a safe ground for them to talk about. Draco didn't want to talk about old teachers, especially Snape who he looked up too. Fred didn't want to talk about family; it was too painful to think about. Neither wanted to talk about Harry. Somehow down the line they talked about all those subjects. Draco would be pained when they talk about families; Fred would be pained when they talk about Hogwarts. Fred would get mad when Draco talked about Voldemort, Draco would be mad when they talk about Harry. Draco would get bored when Fred talked about his twin, honestly who talks about a family member for so long, and Fred would get frustrated when Draco talked about his family issues. Did they consider themselves friends? No, they still hated each other with a passion or at least that was what they said. The truth was they became dependent on each other, and it is a shock for Fred to not to see Draco anymore.
Fred sighed as he cupped Hermione's hand as he lowered his head on her bed, her messy hair tickling the top of his head. He gently pushed the hair away from him as he put a hand over her stomach.
"They are keeping you alive until you have the babies. The doctors said that the babies might be retarded or have other mental problems but you wouldn't care would you Hermione? You would want your children to be born regardless if they are special or not right? If it was my children I would want them born. Your parents still wanted to pull the plug saying that they would whither not have a grandchild than a retarded one. Don't be mad at them Hermione, they are just sad that they are losing their girl. Ron though, as the father got to chose to keep you alive or not, you should already know the answer. He decided to keep you alive and wait toward the twenty-eight week of pregnancy so your babies will be able survive outside your womb. So that means we have longer time together." Fred said brokenly as he wiped away his tears.
"I'm worried Hermione. I'm worried that George won't make it; he isn't doing much better than you but at least he wasn't brain-dead. He has to be on a life-support machine to breath. His heartbeat is irregular and low. I know you probably can't hear this Hermione but he lost his arm, his whole arm is gone. He also lost two fingers on his other hand. How is he going to write or hold a wand? How is he going to hold your baby? I'm at a lost here Hermione, if he lives how am I supposed to help him? I can barely support myself. If he dies than I don't think I will be able to live. I'm scared because the know-it-all who we always counted on before isn't going to be there to point us in the right direction with George." Fred said quietly looking out the window without interest.
"I'm tired Hermione, I never been more tired before, but I can't sleep. My mind refuses to leave me alone, my thoughts somehow all revolves around George and you. I can't go to bed anymore, food started to taste like sand, water begun to taste as sewage. I can't enjoy life anymore Hermione and I miss life desperately. I sometimes wish that you would die already, that George would die, just so I can live again. I sometimes wished that George will wake up but than I know that is only a minimal relief. Once he wakes up he will be probably suffering from traumatic stress and I can't deal with traumatized people. Trust me Hermione, if you don't believe me ask Draco. I watched him get raped by inmates and all I could think about was that I was happy that it wasn't me. Later he begged me for help, asked me to help him get cleaned up, asked me if I help him though it. You know what I did? I turned away from him because I couldn't deal with it. I turned away from Draco; let him deal with the pain by himself, because I didn't want to waste my time helping him. It was easy to deny Draco, he used to hate me, it was easy to fall back into those old times. I can't deny George help because I know I wouldn't be able to deny if he asks for help but still I have no idea how to deal with it and I have no one to rely on for help." Fred said before laughing bitterly.
"Draco told me one night after he found out that George was kidnapped, that God was getting even with me. He said that God was punishing me by letting my brother get kidnapped. I couldn't help but get angry at God, if there is a god, because who would do something like that? Who would get even with someone by harming a sibling? Draco asked me if I was going to run from George as well if he wakes up. I didn't have an answer for him I still don't. I don't think I am strong enough for this Hermione and you were the only person who I thought would help me get strong enough. You're gone though and I have no strength at all." Fred said pitifully.
"You haven't even asked how I am doing." Draco called from the doorway. Fred turned to see a skinnier Draco looking at him in disbelief.
"How do you know where I was?" Fred asked releasing Hermione's hand.
"I asked Harry he told me you will whither be at the Burrow or here. I decided to check here first." Draco responded walking inside the room and sitting down on the spare chair, looking at Hermione.
"She is really brain-dead?" Draco asked quietly staring at the girl with disbelief.
"Yeah." Fred answered in a whisper.
"Mudblood finally got it then."
"What do you want?"
"When I was eight I cut my goldfish in half with scissors, I had seven of them. I didn't even think twice about it. When I was nine I killed a pregnant dog, I didn't even care that she was pregnant. Yet when we were on the mission…I was braver when I was a child. I can't get over the screams and the horrible acts we had done." Draco said softy.
"When I was eight George and I found some butterflies drowning in our muddy yard, we tried to save their lives, did everything that we could. We dried them off, put them in the dry away of the grass and its tiny legs were starting to move. When the legs stopped moving George cried, I watched with fascination. When we were ten we found a cat crying in our driveway, a dog bite on the neck, George who was always a cat lover, immediately took the animal in his arms and ran into our house. It meowed and the meow was so full of pain that it shook us both down to our core. We called to our parents to save it but it was too late, it died in his arms. George didn't know the animal had died and it was only until dad told him that he screamed, I just watched with sad eyes. When we were fifteen we saw a dog trapped on a fence. We tried to help it, we couldn't. We always tried to help save the dying yet on that mission I couldn't seem to even try to save those villagers; I didn't even attempt to try."
"There was nothing we could have done Fred. We were stuck going though those crimes." Draco said but it sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
"I know Draco." Fred merely whispered as he held Hermione's hand again trying to find any since of life because she was dead regardless if she was physically alive. Draco sighed as he leaned back in the chair as they fell into an awkward silence that was intensified with the sound of beeping.
"Is your brother still hanging on?" Draco asked after a while, still choosing to stare at the white ceiling.
"So far, surprisingly. The doctors said that he was very lucky that we found him when we did. He said that in another day George would have been dead. You know how scary that was to hear? I nearly fainted when I heard the doctor say those words." Fred replied brokenly as he brushed his fingers down Hermione's hand.
"At least he is holding on. He is truly lucky to be so loved." Draco replied feeling sadness as he thought moodily, because no one would risk their own lives for me.
"He's hanging on. He is really hurt though. Doctors said he had been tortured." Fred said his anger raging again.
"I'm sure he will get though it." Draco responded with insecurity, he could already guess what George had been though and immediately pitied the older man.
"He lost his arm Draco, lost two fingers; he won't be able to hold anything to write anything. How is he supposed to eat Draco?" Fred cried out tears stinging his eyes.
"You guys will figure it out." Draco tried to comfort Fred but it didn't work and both knew it.
"I failed him Draco. I failed at protecting him." Fred screamed as he swallowed the shame that came with the anger.
"This stuff happens." Draco responded as he watched Fred wipe away a tear.
"Lee raped him." Fred said sulking.
"I know." Draco responded sadly, I pity George for what he must have gone though but I am still glad he was raped Fred. It's your payback for just standing there while those inmates raped me.
"Why him Draco?" Fred asked again sounding much too like a five years old.
"I don't know." Draco responds, because he let himself become vulnerable. He was stupid, he lost his head… choose your favorite.
"I am so angry that sometimes I want to kill the next living thing I see and I'm so depressed that sometimes I wish to end this misery. You know how that feels right? You know how it feels like you lived though something when you were supposed to die. I felt that way since Harry defeated Voldemort. While everyone was celebrating I couldn't help but feel a twitch of uncertainty that I was supposed to be alive. Sometimes I think I did die and all of this is just my hell."
"While I hate to say this but I'm kind of happy you didn't die. Honestly you helped me a lot back at the mission, without you I don't think I would have survived a day." Draco admitted with a blush making Fred smile a real smile.
"Thanks Draco." Fred honestly said and Draco smiled back resting his hand on top of Fred's.
"I just…I don't know what I am trying to say." Fred admitted as he touched Hermione's stomach again.
"She's pregnant man that got to suck. Ron must be dying right now." Draco said again as he looked over at Hermione, I always hated her, but then again she wasn't really all that bad. It was only because of my family that I really disliked her. My parents raised me to think that only purebloods were good. If I was raised by other parents would I have liked Hermione? Harry? Still to be brain-dead and pregnant, that must suck major ass.
"I was looking up some information; you know that if a pregnant woman is brain-dead there is a ninety percent chance her children will have mental problems. Then the doctors want to deliver the baby at seven months. You know how premature that is?" Fred asked darkly keeping his hand on the stomach.
"There is still a ten percent chance that her baby won't have mental problems though." Draco said feeling like an outcast. Fred smiled again.
"Her babies are going to be born and the babies will never know Hermione. They will never be held by Hermione, never get sung too by Hermione, never get to grow up with Hermione. The babies will never get to know their mother."
"But the baby will know its father, grandparents, uncles, and aunt. I'm sure with your large family that the baby will be smothered enough." Draco responded making Fred shake his head.
"Sure, but nothing can replace a mother." Fred responded taking his hand off Hermione's stomach. He wondered why she kept it a secret from Ron, from him, hell from everyone. She must have known so why keep it a secret. She was three months pregnant and she still went on the mission. Did she care at all for the babies, for herself, for everyone else? Fred groaned as he stared at his own hands as if they were foreign objects.
"Everything is going to be okay." Draco said again in a strange monotone as Fred sighed and got up.
"I have been trying back at the burrow to only use one hand while doing things. I have even taped two of my fingers down do I only have three fingers. I found it isn't as bad as I thought in the beginning. I could still pick up a wand but it is so frustrating to keep sill with only three fingers. The same goes for other small objects like TV controller, phones. I couldn't write like shit though and larger or heavier objects were nearly impossible. Even the Plates were too heavy, I must have broken ten, mom was furious with me. She told me to use both my arms when setting the table and when I refused she thought I went nuts."
"You wanted to see how George will deal?" Draco asked a little uncomfortable, he wasn't good with family business, never been and never will.
"Yeah pathetic huh?" Fred whispered wiping the tears that were forming in his eyes away. Draco looked away and acted like he didn't see anything.
"What have you been doing lately?" Draco asked after an embarrassing minute where Fred actually broke out in a pathetic sob.
"I'm either at the Burrow, at my closed down shop, or here. That has been my life for the last two months." Fred replied after calming down.
"At your shop?" Draco asked again looking at Hermione's stomach with disinterest.
"I want to reopen the shop again. I mean I need a job and I can't see me doing anything else. Anyways it gives me something to do, you know, something that can distract me a little." Fred said sounding guiltier than ever before. I can't keep spending all day here anymore, it's killing me.
"That's good."
"Yes…but the shop is awful though. I thought I would be able to open the shop in a week but I haven't even been able to clear out all the dust. Even with Mr. Jones's help the store is still disaster sight. I want it open within a month and I can't do it with the small amount of time I allowed myself so that is why I decided to cut my hours here down to only three hours."
"How long do you usually spend in the hospital?" Draco asked leisurely.
"Ten." Fred replied truthfully and without any ounce of embarrassment.
"Ten?" Draco asked surprisingly.
"Yeah, I visit Hermione for about two hours, usually just end up talking to her relatives or Ron. Then I spend an hour at lunch in the cafeteria, then the rest I hang with George." Fred admitted looking at the floor with tired eyes.
"What do you do?" Draco asked looking at Fred as if he was crazy.
"Read or sleep mostly." Fred admitted without emotion.
"How long would you spend at your shop?" Draco asked and Fred laughed.
"About half a night."
"Oh."
"It's going to be so weird running the shop without George. It almost killed me when I started cleaning, I kept expected George to say something witty or I expected to hear him laughing about how messy the place was. I was looking though the boxes in the back and all the tricks we made together and all I could think about was working by myself, lonely and gloomy. I still don't know if I can pull it off." Fred admitted looking painfully at Hermione.
"You don't have to work alone you know?" Draco said slyly.
"I can't hire someone; you know how much of an insult it would be to George?" Fred replied bitterly. He couldn't hire someone else. I can't do it on my own though. Maybe I could find help until George is ready to go back to work. I'm sure he probably hired help when I was away on the mission right? He will understand right?
"You can't do everything on your own." Draco said.
"Truth be told, I don't even want to go back to work so soon, but I am so poor that it isn't even funny. I have no money in my bank account, I have no money for food or rent, you know how it feels to be twenty-two and be stuck living with mom and dad?"
"I'm hitting it pretty hard too. My firm won't hire me again after we came back from the mission. I have been putting applications in everywhere." Draco said. I'm desperate Fred, the only reason I came looking for you is because I need a job and you need a coworker.
Fred was silent for a while as he looked at the floor before looking at Draco, "Draco would you like a job?" Draco smirked.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Draco asked snobby.
"I'll hire you but I want you to know three things." Fred said in complete seriousness. I hope this isn't going to come back and bite me in the ass.
"What?" Draco asked in concern.
"One, you are going to help me clean that store up." Fred said and Draco rolled his eyes.
"Okay."
"Two, you have to be nice to every costumer and not just the ones you think are superior." Fred said in all seriousness. Draco reluctantly nodded.
"Okay."
"Three, you cannot help me in making any new spells or charms. That is George and Mine's job." Fred ordered and Draco shrugged. Fred smiled, see George no one is replacing you.
"Okay."
"Also you cannot run the register, go near the register, or look at the register."
"I won't steal." Draco said feeling insulted.
"I don't care, agree or don't agree see if that matters to me." Fred said as he looked back at Draco.
"You will let me have a job even though I treated you and your family so badly?" Draco asked in amusement, if I was you I would tell me to go and fuck myself.
"I'm feeling generous today." Fred replied sounding tired. A knock on the door interrupted the two boys before Mandi walked into the room.
"You can see your brother now." She said kindly looking at Draco in confusion.
"Thanks." Fred said quickly.
"I guess you will be going now." Draco replied in a strange voice. He didn't want Fred to leave him.
"I got to go." Fred replied as he stood up and stretched, he can't wait to see George again.
"I got to go." Fred spat at his younger twin who was collapsed on the floor, one porcelain hand reaching out for him as tears ran down his shocked face. Fred watched his pathetic brother with disgust, god he never wanted to see George again. He didn't even want to be related to his identical self anymore.
"Please don't." George begged, his hand still in the air asking his brother for help. He wasn't thinking straight, if he was he would have realized that it was because of Fred that he was on the floor with blood dripping from his nose.
"Stop…don't speak to me. I never want to hear you speak to me again." Fred screamed so loud that his all the air in his body was squeezed out, his face a dark pink from anger and disbelief. George looked back with puppy eyes as he slowly realized that his brother wasn't going to help him up. His hand fell to his side as he shook his head in delusion, this isn't happening, this isn't happening.
"I'm sorry." George replied miserably not looking at Fred who was glaring dangerously at him or at Hermione who was looking at the scene with grim vigilant.
"Sorry? You should be sorry, you ruined our relationship." Fred said loudly as George shook with pain.
"Why did you tell him?" George screamed talking not to Fred but to Hermione who was shaking her head in somber disbelief.
"I didn't expect him to act like th…"
"You didn't think that I would like this? How would you like it if someone would tell you that your brother is immoral, wrong?"
"It's just a stage I'll get over it." George cried from the middle of the floor, while feeling feeling dirty, ashamed, wrong, how much as he felt those same emotions in the last month? There was too many times to count.
"I don't care; I can't even stand to look at you anymore. I wish you were never born." Fred said and then gasped when he realized what he said. Another gasp informed him how his brother took the news.
"How can you say that?" George asked, hurt obvious in his shattered voice, his self-confidence being rushed down the drain.
"I have to leave; I can't stay here any longer." Fred said ignoring his twin's last question.
"I'm sorry I'm not who you thought I was." George's confession made Fred stop, his hands holding the doorknobs tightly.
"I'm sorry too." Fred replied as he left.
"George?" Hermione asked running up to the older boy and helping him to his feet, "I'm sorry George."
"Why did you tell him?"
"He deserved to know." Hermione answered sure of herself. George wiped the blood off his nose and lips before coughing to cover a sob as he started to walk out of the room. Hermione cursed.
"I had to." She yelled as she tried to tell herself that she did the right thing. She couldn't convince herself though.
"I had to offer Draco a job. I mean I couldn't let that rich snob suffer." Fred whispered as he took his place beside George on the bed. Fred had been doing that a lot, whenever he visited George he would lay down with the younger twin. None of the nurses seemed to care and it was truly the only instance that Fred could actually snooze.
"You know I love you right?" Fred asked solemnly as he snaked an arm around his twin and kissed his forehead before picking up the book he brought with him. It was a horror book that was more boring and emotional than true horror book. He bought the book because it was supposed to be a haunted house book but it wasn't.
"I hate when you buy something expecting one and getting a entirely different thing. I swear this isn't a haunted house book, this is a boring romance book with spikes of intensity." Fred calmly told his twin as he turned the page.
"Oh and there are twins in this book, identical like us, I think they are even red hairs like us. Isn't that funny George?" Fred asked the silent boy as he put down the book.
"I'm starting to notice a thread in books with twins. Every book I have read with twins shows dysfunctional twins. Honestly in this book alone…well let's just say you would love this book. I'm so sick of reading books that shows twins as needy, clingy, and separated from normal society or reading about twins fucking each other. I'm also sick of reading novels that involve one of the twins to die, honestly how fair is that!" Fred asked his unconscious brother and laughed when no answer came.
"I know George. I know we are not norms in society either. Hell when was the last time I had a girlfriend…probably in our sixth year of Hogwarts. It didn't even last long, probably three months. You know I broke off with Alicia because of you right? Not that I wanted to be with you or anything, don't get your hope up, but I saw how hard it was for you to see me with her. So I broke it off with her, told her that we are not good for each other. She knew though the real reason I broke up with her, I could see the look in her eyes, she couldn't understand why I would chose you over her. When I told you that I broke up with her I said that I never loved her, I was just curious. I remember you asking me what that meant and I couldn't come up with an answer. I realized that she was just an experiment to me, that our love was shallow. I just wanted to lose my virginity; I didn't of course, because you became such a sourpuss that I was afraid to leave you alone. I thought you might do something stupid."
"I know that if they made a book about us we wouldn't be normal either. Nothing about us is norm. We didn't care to continue our education after Hogwarts, I never even seen you have interest in another person ever; we were always side by side. We spent almost every second together during our childhood, that isn't normal is it? The funny thing is that I miss that. I miss being a smart-ass around mom and dad, I miss us being mean to Ronnie, making fun at Harry, and being a jerk to Hermione. Still I guess being norms never interested you or me, why should it? Being norms is boring, pointless, and we never wanted to be like everyone else."
"You had to push it though Georgie. You had to push the boundaries between un-norm and wrong. Even today we are still suffering the effects. I still feel like I distanced myself from you and I don't know how to make it right. I don't know how to get us back to how we used to be during our early childhood. Even now I feel at a lost, how do I make it right Georgie?" Fred asked his brother who remained as silent as ever.
"Make it right Fred." Hermione yelled at Fred, her eyes one of disbelief and anger.
"What?"
"You really hurt your brother. Go up to your room and make it right." Hermione said again yelling at the stubborn older twin who just narrowed his eyes at her.
"How can I make it right? He was the one who has impure wants." Fred yelled disrupting some sleeping paintings who screamed in outrage at the harsh sounds.
"He is your brother Fred." Hermione said wanting to slap Fred, oh if she only got close enough.
"So what?" Fred asked grumpily before yelling at the pictures to shut up.
"He is your twin Fred." Hermione said quietly feeling sickened by Fred's harsh words from earlier.
"He fucking likes me Hermione, he fucking likes me." Fred screamed back, his voice rich in horror and disgust. Hermione flinched lightly
"I know Fred." Hermione said before adding, "but he is still your brother."
"Why did you tell me Hermione? Everything would have been fine if you didn't open your big mouth." Fred said sadly, his anger raising and falling like shooting stars.
Hermione was silent for a while as she let frustrated tears fall down her face, "I thought you should know."
"I didn't Hermione. What did you think will happen when you open your big mouth and blurted out that my brother, my twin, likes me? Did you expect me to declare my love back and then we will make sweet love all night long? Don't tell me you didn't expect me to act like this." Fred spat out as he glared at the wall behind Hermione with hatred.
"I didn't." Hermione stuttered.
"Bullshit. I know the only reason you told me was because you were disgusted at him and wanted him to suffer." Fred excused Hermione who looked at him in shock.
"Fuck you Fred Weasley." Hermione said before starting to walk away, "Do what you want. If you want to ruin your relationship with George then go ahead, see if I care."
"Fuck," Fred screamed as he punched a wall, "Hermione come back. I'm sorry." Hermione didn't even respond as she opened the door and walked out. Fred watched her leave for a minute before his eyes narrowed. He was suddenly running out of the room of requirement and walking up to the Gryffindor tower pushing his peers left and right. When he got to the portrait hole he barely pronounced to the fat lady the password and the fat lady didn't care to point it out, she sensed it would only cause her harm. He climbed though the hole and immediately knocked Ron to the ground, not even looking at his brother when Ron cussed at him. He walked past Alicia without even a care as she stared after him with pain. He walked over to his room and opened the door harshly letting the doorknob leave a crack in the wall. George looked up at Fred and Fred looked down at George, their expressions the opposite of each others. Fred was one of mad, George was one of fear. Fred's eyes narrowed more when he finally realized that Lee was sitting beside George.
"Lee, out." Fred yelled as both Lee and George flinched from the tone of his voice. Lee could easily feel George shaking beside him and putting an arm around the panicky boy he stared at Fred.
"No." Lee said defiantly.
"Get out." Fred mouthed again in irritation.
"No." Lee said again. Fred snarled at Lee as he paced into the room and in a second had yanked Lee away from George and started to drag him to the door.
"When I tell you to get out I mean get out." Fred yelled hurling the skinny boy out of the room before locking the door. When he turned around again George was standing awkwardly beside his own bed, with puffy red eyes, and a bruised nose.
"I'm…"
"Shut up." Fred squealed making George hopped backward and landed on his butt on the marble floorboards. George didn't have time to think about how his body ached in pain as his body was slammed against the wall behind him.
"I want you to tell me exactly what you told Hermione, and I want to hear the truth." Fred replied angrily as George felt his heart stop for a few seconds.
"Why does it matter?" George nearly whispered, looking at the stone floor below him.
"It matter a lot. Now say it to my face." Fred ordered his voice getting pitcher with every second.
"No." George screamed back in terror, he wouldn't say it.
"Say it!" Fred yelled back nearly pushing the side of George's face against the wall and bruising the cheek.
"Please don't make me." George begged feeling like a trapped beast.
"Say it or I will never talk to you again." Fred hissed again grabbing onto George's left arm so tightly that George whimpered in pain.
"It's just a stage I will get over it." George replied hoping that it would work, off course it doesn't.
"Say it." Fred screamed again, his voice now threatening. George whimpered in fear as he pleaded for help. He is going to kill me, somebody help me.
"No, please."
"You said it to Hermione just fine, you can say it to me."
"I can't." George whined, his face a mixture of blood and tears.
"Say it or I will walk out that door and never come back." Fred said and when George didn't answer he started to saunter to the door.
"No wait. Okay, I told Hermione that I liked you okay. It just blurted out, I didn't even know I said anything until she was dragged me to you and told you." George admitted looking down at his feet as he waited for his brother to say anything. George counted silently in his head, One, he will say something. Two, he will tell me that everything will be okay. Three, why isn't he replying? Four, I ruined everything. Five, why isn't he speaking? Six, come on Fred say something, anything. Seven, him yelling at me is better than his silence. Eight, come on Fred talk. Nine, this is ridiculous. Ten, I'm going to make him talk. George opened his eyes to an empty room. Shit!
"This is the end isn't it?" George asked himself as he collapsed on his bed and covered his face with the pillow. He didn't remember how it happened but he soon found himself screaming and crying as Lee held onto him in a comforting manner.
"Its okay, its okay." Lee hushed the other boy until the fit stopped. George collapsed against Lee and just held him for dear life.
"What did he say to make you so upset?" Lee asked the red haired boy who cackled.
"That's just it. He didn't respond." George whispered his voice hurting from screaming so much.
"What happened this time that made him so upset?" Lee asked again running his hands though George's soft locks.
"It was all my fault. I ruined my-I mean-our life. Now he won't even speak to me anymore. I don't know what to do if he never talks to me again." George admitted hugging the darker boy to him for extra comfort.
"I promise everything is going to be okay." Lee responded as he just held his worried friend to him in an innocent way. The only time that he held the boy without any sexual intentions.
"I promise everything is going to be okay. We'll get though this I promise." Fred called again as he gently hugged his brother before letting out a shaky breath.
"When you wake up everything is going to be better. We will have our shop back in order, we'll be uncles, and every thing is going to be fine. Just please wake up. I don't know what I'll do if you die. You are such a major part in my life that I will be lost without you. You have to be okay."
Just a question: Does anyone know the names of Hermione's parents?
May I ask kindly what is causing people not to review; it takes a minute, come on. It's a great way to see if people actually like your story or not. At least review to say the names of Hermione's parents because I don't want to write Hermione's mom or dad or parents every time I mention them which is a lot in the next chapter.
Oh well, this chapter was a bitch to make and I'm sure Draco is very OOC right now or maybe he is somehow in character but trust me if you spend a long time with a enemy you tend to became friends or at least act nicer to each other. Is everyone noticing what these not intense chapters are leading up to…that right more intense chapters. Finally I had enough breaks from intensity that I could write it again so next chapter wait for the nightmare that I wanted to write about since I started to write this story.
Okay it's eleven where I live and I haven't slept in twenty hours so I will stop my ramblings and upload this chapter now. REVIEW : REVIEW:
Thank you for everyone who put my story on author's alert, favorites, or on a C2, and for the one person who reviewed, give the people a round of applause to everyone.