Wow…I got more reviews for the last chapter than I have ever gotten before…I hope it contuse. I wanted to actually answer some questions that people have asked which could be important to this story.
The flashbacks thingy are not as random as they may seem, there is actually a pattern to the madness
"These memories build a vicious circle of violence, frustration and insecurity for all characters," hitachiin90 you hit the mark beautifully. That is exactly what I was aiming for which should give everyone a clue about what will eventually happen. Okay that is all the clues I am giving out, if I give more clues I meant of well as written the whole rest of the story out for you guys. Okay on to the chapter. In this chapter two months have passed since the last chapter.
Another note…thank you everyone who volunteered the information that Hermione's parents are nameless. I didn't remember reading any names for her parents in the books but I wanted to make sure…thanks, you guys rock.
Two months passed since the last chapter…
Today was going to be a wonderful day for Fred. It may have taken four long tiring months but the shop was finally ready to open again. George may have not made any progress in four months but it didn't matter, Fred was actually going to be working again. Fred had already had random people asking about the shop, when it will open and close, does he need any help? Fred was surprised at the support he already had been getting and he knew that today was going to be overwhelming event for Draco and him. Still he couldn't control his excitement anymore. Humming to himself, Fred ran down the stairs of the burrow in strides before rounding the corner and stopping with a wide smile in the burrow.
"Good morning everyone," Fred virtually sang as he threw his skinny self in his favorite spot at the table, bouncing with real excitement. Molly nudged Arthur in his arm and pointed to Fred, a smile on her face. Arthur smiled too as he nudged her back playfully. Molly and Arthur exchanged whispered words of relief as Arthur gripped her hands lovingly. Fred smiled; I guess this is a good day for everyone.
"Good morning dear, ready for today?" Molly asked politely as Ron and Draco headed down the stairs, they even had small smiles on their face, but when they glanced at each other they couldn't help but glare at each other. Arthur and Molly shared another happy glace as Fred looked around for the breakfast, man he was starved. He felt like a starving dog whimpering outside a restaurant door.
"Sit down dears." Molly told Ron and Draco who both sat down smiling at the plates in front of them.
"Ready for today son?" Arthur asked Fred sliding two pancakes onto his son's plate, the pancakes looking so thick and juicy that it made Fred's mouth's water in seconds.
"I have been ready for a week. Everything is going to be excellent. I feared at first that we would get no costumers because, you know?" Fred said softy pointing at the old clock in the kitchen, where it still showed George as under 'St. Mugals, ICU unit.'
"It's not though. There is a huge line already lined up outside." Draco added as Molly dropped two plump pancakes onto his plate.
"Can you believe it mom? You know how much money we are going to make just from today?" Fred asked jumping from excitement as he poured syrup on his fluffy pancakes, his mouth nearly drooling just from the sight.
"I'm so happy to see you happy dear." Molly replied with tears in her eyes as she kissed Fred on his side of his head happily.
"I know, it seemed like forever since I felt this happy." Fred replied raising his fork to take a bite of a pancake before stopping, his eyes glazing over, "I just wished George was reopening the shop with me." Molly sighed in depression and Arthur groaned. They were hoping to avoid that name as much as possible today.
"He would have wanted you to be happy." Arthur said patting his son's shoulder heavily making Fred twitch a little in pain.
"Don't talk as if he is dead. He wants me to be happy not wanted." Fred said darkly noticing how Arthur jerked slightly as if he was terrified of a rat and just saw one.
"I'm sorry you are right. Umm…when are you opening the shop?" Arthur tried again, forcing a smile on his face that was so fake that it didn't really resemble a smile. Fred noticed but didn't care to comment about it.
"At ten and I won't close until seven." Fred said with lack of emotions. This meant, as everyone knew, that Fred wouldn't be able to make it to the hospital today. It was a sad thing to notice but a comforting thing as well. It meant that he was trying to get on with his life and not get sucked into the depression that everyone feared about.
"Sounds good son." Molly said with a weary smile, her eyes secretly traveled to look at Arthur and when their eyes met they both frowned and nodded to the other.
"Can I ask you two a favor?" Fred asked his parents, not seeing their secret glances, with wide eyes. Both parents closed their eyes as they already know that their son was going to say.
"Can you tell George that I'm sorry that I'm not going to be coming today? Also can you tell him that I'm probably not going to be coming by for a while? Can you tell him?" Fred asked with begging eyes. Parents' eyes meet their son's eyes as they both tried to tell each other secret messages that neither was able to decipher.
"Of course baby." Molly said as she draped an arm around her son while giving Arthur a nod of her head. He nodded before tiptoeing out of the room leaving his child and wife by themselves as he covered his face with his hands.
"Dad, is everything okay?" Ron asked walking out of the kitchen and looking at his father with suspension. Fred may not have seen the secret glances of the parents but Ron sure did.
"Yeah, everything is okay." Arthur responded as he patted Ron on the back harsher than he meant too.
"What's wrong dad? You can tell me." Ron said turning to his dad with eagerness in his eyes. Arthur sighed.
"I'm just tired Ron, go and finish your breakfast." Arthur replied as he walked over to the fireplace.
"Where are you going dad?" Ron asked making Arthur pause, but just for a minute.
"To work, I have some unfinished work to attend to." Arthur said darkly making Ron look at him in surprise.
"Dad?"
"Go and eat." Arthur screamed and Ron ran off toward the kitchen. Arthur cursed lightly.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
"So here we are again." Kelly joked, trying to lighten the dire situation up for George who was staring at the scene in front of them with terrified eyes. The joke fall on deaf ears as it didn't calm George or her down but instead seemed to raise the suspense even more.
"I have never seen this place before." George replied sickly, his legs shaking like jell-o with no way of knowing if he was shaking from anxiety or just weakness.
"It's new then?" Kelly heard herself asking and then winced at the realization with George nodding weakly in agreement. Both shivered at the building already knowing this isn't going to end well.
"Cant we just go back?" George asked Kelly nervously and they both looked timidly behind them. A few feet away, Lee, Ryan, and forty faceless creatures were watching them like hawks. Kelly turned George around to attempt to turn around and walk back toward the strong army when the faceless creatures held out swords stopping them in their tracks.
"Go." Lee ordered roughly and smiled at the wrenched smell of fear and sickness from his victims. Sighing to herself Kelly started to move toward the hospital literary dragging George, who had no real strength to move on his own. As they moved on George looked back at Lee and the followers who were like giant statues in the decaying garden. The pair's feet were loud as they started across the yard, their feet crunching the leaves below them. Kelly tried not to look around, just keep looking at the red door that lies across the yard. She decided that if she doesn't look than nothing can harm her. It wasn't until she felt George jerk in her arms did she notice the hairs on her back of her neck trying to pull themselves away from her, like animals trapped in cement. Holding the shaking boy closer Kelly peeped around the left side of her.
Nothing looked out of the ordinary, just a creepy old yard, with large trees and small dead flowers. George must be delusional or seeing things. That happens when you get severely…what the hell? Something was moving, something that hung in the shadows, something that apparently had friends. Two more creatures started moving and George twisted in her arms desperately trying to run back to where Lee was. George wanted to go back; it was at least safer than here. Kelly just held him tighter.
"Calm down George, just calm down." Kelly whispered to the frightened boy as she started to move closer to the house. She was half-way there when she found out what those creatures were and she shivered. Manikins, hundreds of manikins, were making their way to the pair. The manikins bodies jerking as they walked, they heads twisting and turning, as they marched to a beat that only they could hear.
Kelly picked up her pace, the unison crunching of the Manikins' heads made both Kelly and George jerk. The sounds of the manikins' feet raising and falling, raising and falling, made Kelly start to run dragging George along with her. The squeaks of the manikins' arms bending and unbending, bending and unbending, it sounded too unreal to be real. The smile that lit Lee's face was more threatening then the manikins gaining on the pair, his smile relaxing and then tightening, relaxing and tightening, as he watched his prey trying to escape.
The manikins although moving slow was catching up to the pair and for a minute, a minute full of selfishness and the need of survival, Kelly thought of ditching George. She would have too if George hadn't grab her arm so tightly that she started to bleed. One look at the ginger holding on to her to dear life and she knew she wasn't going to be ditching him any time soon. Her only option for survival was making it to the hospital. Time was running out though.
Luck was on her side though. She dragged George to the front door and pushed the door open throwing George inside before running in herself and locking the door on the army of manikins and the sly smile of Lee. She glared at the locked door feeling afraid that something worse could be inside here. Not wanting to think about all the monsters that might lurk here she helped George to his feet as they looked around. Dragging George further into the hospital she noticed a nurse's station to her right. Dragging George over to it she quickly dropped him behind the station and leaned down to speak to him.
"George listen to me. I need you to stay here and don't move. Stay here do I make myself clear?" Kelly asked the frightened man who looked up at her shaking his head as he tried to make her stay.
"Please don't leave me. Take me with you if you must but don't leave me here alone." George begged grabbing onto her and shaking her shoulders. She shook him lose.
"You cant, you are too weak. If anything happens I need to be able to move fast. I promise I will come back for you. I promise." Kelly said as he reached out a hand for her to grab. She doesn't, he looked up at her feeling hurt as he let him hand slip and hit the ground roughly.
"Right back." She yelled and then she was gone leaving George alone in the dark, alone and helpless.
Kelly couldn't help but feel as is she would never see George again. She hated the fact that she left George behind in such an open place because she knew it was just a matter of time before those manikins break in. What choice did she have though? He was too slow, too injured, and too loud. He could get them both killed. Walking though a darkened hallway she counted her steps as she told herself there was nothing to fear, that she could wake up at any second, if she has too. Somehow that didn't comfort her any. It didn't help that she could feel someone walking behind her, breathing down her neck, as she hesitantly took a step only to notice that they was no floor. Crying out she jumped backwards only to feel something soft and warm on her back. Shaking she turned around only to see nothing, she moved a hand out and felt around feeling nothing, absolutely nothing. Shaking she walked a little before noticing a light in the distance, feeling a twinge of fear she started to make her way to the light.
George heard it again, a low humming of some sort from somewhere near him. Wiping frightened tears off his face he tried to squeeze himself further behind a chair as he tried to level his breathing. The humming stopped; he shook as he looked around at the darkness. He couldn't see a thing. Grabbing the chair tightly and pushing his head against the backrest he tried to calm himself.
Scrape. George jumped as he looked around again. Scrape. George whimpered as he listened to something being dragged on the floor from somewhere around him. Scrape, sounds of something rattling, a whisper in the vast darkness. Scrape. Make it stop!
Kelly wasn't looking where she was going, not anymore, she was like a moth, she was drawn to the light. She wasn't a fool though; she wasn't just going to run too close to the light. She was going to make sure she was hidden in case the person who has the light turned out to be a bad guy. When she got closer she could hear someone talking and she started to tiptoe, not wanting to be caught, not wanting to get herself killed.
Tapping, the sounds of fingers tapping. Someone was tapping now; someone was tapping way too close to him. George could hear the fingers tapping against the cement of the nurse's station top. He could hear the fake breathing of something that he refused to look up at. The tapping was moving now, tapping across the half-circle surface of the station. George took in a deep breath and the tapping stopped. He opened his eyes half-expecting to see some monster but instead all he saw was darkness. Even when he saw nothing it wasn't a relief, he could still clearly hear it moving away from him. He shivered as he took a shaky breath. The fake breathing further died and then George was alone again, alone in a dark hell, alone with no way of escaping.
Kelly kneeled below a window and peered though it. Someone was inside a room, someone was talking, but yet when she peered inside she saw nothing. She didn't even see a glance of someone. Feeling confused, Kelly fell back onto the ground, she felt sick. She looked though the window again to see two children, probably not more than thirteen, standing there watching her with glassy eyes.
"Hello." She called to the kids who blinked at her, their faces unemotional. She frowned at the kids as she tried again.
"Hello, I need some help." She yelled at them and slowly the boy started to turn and head to the door, the girl following in an eerie trance. Kelly stood up as she watched the door knob turning. The door open slowly and bit by bit the kids started to appear. The boy blinked at Kelly as he turned around to his sister who silently looked behind her. Kelly too looked around seeing another figure moving behind the kids, its whole body straight black. The kids moved their eyes from the figure back to Kelly before slowly looking back at the figure. The kids slowly turned around and headed back into the middle of the room, the boy shutting the door on Kelly and locking the door. Kelly screamed at the kids as she tried to open the door but no matter how much she kicked the door it wouldn't bulge. Kelly, cursing, ran to the window and peered inside again. She sighed in disgust at the sight she saw. The adult was naked, tied to a bed, its testicles exposed for everyone to see. Slowly the boy lowered his head to the member and took it in his mouth while the girl stuffed a sock into the guy's throat. She said something to the adult and suddenly he was making noises, whimpering as he tried to pull off his handcuffs. The boy started to suck the member slightly. Kelly looked away with revulsion before she heard a scream. Looking back into the room she suddenly saw the adult screaming in pain as blood sprayed across his lower stomach. The boy was smiling, blood and flesh in his mouth. The girl laughed as she grabbed a knife smiling at the adult.
Kelly gasped as she covered her eyes with her hands as she began to crawl away. She had to get out of here, had to get out…the door opened. She whimpered and started to crawl faster. Little feet moved behind her, children's laughter could be heard; the dying wail of the adult making her shake and tremble. She collapsed on the floor when she noticed that she hit a dead end. Kelly turned around the find that the demented children standing before her, their laughter mental.
"Look Gene we have a new playmate." The boy told the girl.
"What should we do with her Donald?" Gene asked Donald and the boy smiled.
"Let's see her insides." Both kids started to laugh as he jumped on Kelly. Screaming Kelly tried to throw the kids off her but it was a losing battle. Somehow the girl had her pinned down with the boy circling her chest with the knife.
"Death is our favorite part of our game." Donald said with a snare and Kelly screamed when the boy brought the knife down but then two gunshots went off and both kids flew into the wall behind Kelly and slopped to the ground. Kelly screamed as the children's blood sprayed all over her. She looked up to see a Fat Spanish old guy probably in his late fifties, a shotgun in his hands.
"Damn kids." He spoke, his accent one of thick Spanish, "you okay lady?" She looked at him with dismay.
"You shot them." She said with shock. He laughed.
"Its okay, it barely even hurts them." The old guy said flashing his flashlight toward the wall behind Kelly. Kelly turned around and saw the kids standing behind her silently holding hands. Then after a long minute the kids turned around and walk away heading back inside the room and shutting the door loudly.
"Come on miss, let's get out of this place, it isn't safe." The old man said before leading her to a small room. A noise alerted her attention to look behind her and when she did she noticed the kids, standing three feet behind her. The boy's expression was empty; the girl's expression was terrified. She pushed her brother's hands away and began to shake her hands wildly, her mouth moving in slow motion, "don't go in there. It's a trick."
The boy just grabbed his sister again and started to drag her away, the girl hysterical, the boy dead. The old man gripped Kelly in a painful squeeze and before Kelly even knew what was happening she was thrown into the room. Kelly screamed and started to twist away from the oversized man in front of her, walking confidently, as she stumbles about trying to find a way to escape.
"Where are you going sweetie?" The bald fat man joked dragging a sword toward him from a bloody table. Kelly whimpered as the guy smiled at her, his eyes a fiery red, as he licked the blood off the sword passionately. Kelly tried to crawl but was stopped by something. Turning around she saw the children from before, gutted on the ground, their blood mixing together. Then the lights went off and she screamed as she felt someone dragging her in the suffocating darkness…
…Darkness, the sound of something scraping, the sounds of fake screaming, the sound of his own harsh breathing. George covered his ears with his hands again as the scraping continued, what was the scraping anyways? There was another sound now, a new sound, a sigh of delight…a couple of books started to fall on him, hitting his head and back leaving indents that was both deep and painful as he forced himself not to look up. Books fall off desks all the time, right? No reason to freak. Something wet fell on his forehead and drooped down his face, something that smelt awful and was burning hot. Whimpering to himself he wiped the substance off his face, salvia? Starting to cry again he looked up. There was a face nearly pushed into his, the eyes drawn, the mouth one of crazed madness. He whimpered again as the face lowered itself even closer to his head, its eyes watching him with intensity. Its mouth opened and licked its lip as George continued to crawl backwards leaving the nurses' station and into the open. Suddenly the lights came on and George shook before turning his head. Surrounding him were the manikins, smiling at him callously.
He heard the scraping again and George turned to the right seeing Lee dragging a heavy silver axe, the axe so sharp that it left marks in the stone ground. George whimpered again as Lee started to drag the object closer to George, shaking his head at George's feeble state.
"Man, you are pathetic, a complete waste of human space." Lee said swinging the axe close to George before swinging it backwards. With every swing the axe got closer and closer to George as Lee walked around him in a predatory circle. Lee laughed when George had to duck to avoid the axe slicing though his lovely neck.
"The axe swings once," Lee said in a sing-song voice as he swung the axe once more which barely missed George by a millisecond. Lee laughed; George started to scoot backwards, the manikins organized into a circle surrounding George and Lee.
"The axe swings twice." Lee joked and once again the axe barely missed George. George scooted backwards until he was stopped by the manikins who kept him still, held him down so he couldn't move anymore. George knew he was bawling, but who can blame him?
"Oh," Lee said bending down so George and him were face to face, "can't move now can you? More fun for me." Lee replied standing up and spinning the axe again. George whimpered as the axe scratched the side of his face, leaving an artificial cut, that made George scream in surprise and made Lee smile with hunger.
"Kelly!" George screamed so loud that his voice gave out but he didn't care, he needed help.
"Kelly, help me." George tried again after waiting three seconds. George whimpered as the axe was swinging again.
"The axe swings fourth." Lee said as the axe caught George in the leg, cutting him deeply, making dark blood spill out of the leg. George screamed in pain and shock and somebody joined in. Turning to his side he saw a dark figure dragging someone into the room, it was Kelly.
Kelly was barely conscious, her hands trying desperately to grab a hold of a door or a mental pole trying to stop the guy dragging her. Blood was dripping out of her nose as it lay flattened across her face. She finally grabbed a hold of a crack in the flooring. The guy laughed as he let her try her pathetic attempts at freeing herself. He started to pull again really soon and Kelly dug her nails in the deep fracture of the flooring as she tried to drag herself away. The guy pulled her back harder and she felt her fingers giving away and. The third time he pulled, Kelly screamed as three of her fingernails completely broke off. She screamed, Lee laughed, George cried, the manikins smiled.
The guy dropped Kelly and immediately more manikins came out of nowhere and surrounded her. Kelly searched for George as the manikins blocked her sight. It was her scream-or maybe George's-that really made Lee start laughing hysterical.
"Kelly, shut your eyes." George immediately screamed at Kelly who was fighting against the manikins to stand up.
"What about you?" Kelly screamed as the manikins held her to the ground.
"It doesn't matter." George yelled backed as Lee started to sway the axe back and forward.
"Try it." Kelly screamed as the guy with the sword came at her.
"I won't work." George responded.
"Close your eyes George close your eyes." Kelly screamed and she was forced to shut her eyes as the guy brought the sword down. The man groaned as Kelly disappeared and Lee laughed.
George looked around at the manikins feeling ill. One manikin picked up a hammer and stood beside Lee who both smiled wildly at him.
"And the axe swings sixth." Lee called as he swung the axe and the manikin began to drop the hammer down. George whimpered as he shut his eyes praying that for once we can wake up in the other reality. It was a feeble wish because after four months he pretty much gave up on ever seeing the other reality again. Flashes of his life flashed as he remembered the good and the bad times in his life.
He opened his eyes and screamed
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
From the minute that the joke store opened Draco began to regret ever asking Fred for a job. Fred had been barking orders at him nonstop and it was really wearing his patience down.
Draco, we need more Skiving Snackboxes." Fred barked at Draco who was already filling a shelf full of Patented Daydream Charms. After getting no reply Fred tapped his feet in irritation and Draco muttering to himself threw the box full of the charms down. All of the sudden hands came out of nowhere grabbing the daydreams out of the box in seconds, grabbing him sometimes by accident.
"Draco we need some now," Fred ordered before turning back to a costumer, "it will just be a few minutes. After stocking the rest of the Skiving Snackboxes on three shelves Draco watched in surprise as hundreds of Hogwarts students were grabbing as much snackboxes as possible. Draco shook his head in surprise.
"Draco we need more shield charms." Fred yelled making Draco sigh again as he prepared to pull the heavy box off the shelves in the storage room, "Oh and Draco we need more Darkness Powder." Draco groaned as he sulked off to retrieve the items. He was stressed out and the shop hasn't even been open for more than two hours. Geez how did Fred and George do this all by themselves?
"Honestly Draco, we had help, she just disappeared." Fred replied with a shrug.
"I spoke out loud?"
"No I just read minds." Fred said sarcastically before turning to a costumer who was poking at his shoulder, "Can I help you Miss?"
"What happened to the fake wands that sparked fire?" The young lady asked and Fred smiled.
"Why is it not Verity?" Fred said dully before hugging the lady. She laughed.
"I thought I should see how the shop is holding up." Verity said with a queasy smile.
"No you came to beg for a job didn't you?" Fred teased, crossing his arms, and smirking impatiently at the woman.
"No not at all, what made you think that?" Verity said as she rubbed her neck nervously. Fred cocked an eyebrow, Verity smiled.
"Okay you caught me. Can I please have my job back?" Verity asked kindly. Fred acted as though he was thinking about it for a minute before smiling.
"Why of course, anyways Draco needs some extra-help." Fred said with a smirk as he ran off to help some more costumers.
"Is it always this busy?" Draco asked with surprise making Verity laugh.
"Just wait."
Draco couldn't believe how right she was. By lunchtime the store was as busier than Draco could have remembered. He was forced to re-stock the shelves every ten minutes and by one Draco was stressed to the bones. It was worse with all the questions. "Is working with Fred cool?" "Would you give him my number?" "Are you single?" "Are you two lovers?" "How is George?" "Oh my god, Draco please you have to go out with me." "No, he's mine." "No, mine." Draco watched them with tired eyes feeling overwhelmed. Just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, it did. The reporters came.
The reporters really tested Fred's temper. The reporters blurted out questions that he wasn't ready to hear, questions that he never wanted to hear again. "Does it feel weird to reopen the shop when George is not here? "Do you miss him?" "What are the chances of him waking up?" "How did it feel when the healers told you he was raped?" "What will you do if you ever see Lee again?" "Why did you disappear for a whole year?" "Do you blame yourself for what happened?" "Are you going to continue making new charms and stuff without your twin?" "What are you going to do once he wakes up?" A short reporter asked him, "Do you feel at fault for what happened to your brother?" Fred was so shocked and upset by that question that he literary froze and stared at the short reporter with hateful eyes.
"Go to hell." Fred replied before going back to helping costumers.
"Fred, is it true that your brother is going to be taken off of life support?" Rita Skeeter asked and the whole store died down as Fred felt his heart beat painfully.
"No…where did you hear that from?" Fred yelled back at the reporter who kept a straight face. Fred could feel his breathing became hallow as he remembered his parents' strange behavior earlier. No, they wouldn't pull the plug on him, would they?
"It's not true." Fred growled at the group of reporters, "ITS NOT TRUE." He screamed to the whole store. The reporters also bothered Draco and Verity about Fred and George but got nowhere with it so the reporters eventually left. Fred was in the process of wrapping up a fairytale charm when the door slammed open. Fred as well as everyone else looked up to see Ginny standing there her face pale.
"Mom sent me; she wants you to go to the hospital immediately." Ginny said. Fred looked at Ginny with fear.
"Why Gin?" Fred asked, fear tracing his shaking voice. They wouldn't right?
"Just go." Ginny replied in a broken voice. It couldn't be, it is probably just Ron freaking out about Hermione, it's too earlier for her to have babies right?
"I will be taking my break in thirty, can it wait." Fred prayed she would say yes because then he would know it wouldn't be serious.
"No." Damn he hates when he was wrong.
"Why?" Fred asked, please let it be Hermonie.
"It's George." Ginny replied and suddenly a glass broke. Fred looked down at the dropped charm while his face lost all its color. Ginny started to speak again but Fred couldn't hear. Without a glance at anyone else in the store, including the costumer who paid for the charm which now lies broken and forgotten on the counter, he ran out the door going as fast as he could.
Fred ran though the halls of St. Mugals without even thinking, pushing people out of his way, as his tennis shoes slapped on the marble floor. Nurses were screaming to him to slow down, doctors were following him trying to figure out why an adult was running though halls looking and acting so sick. Fred was breathing harshly as he started to climb the staircase, not wasting any time to wait for an elevator.
By the time he was on the third floor he was out of breath and wheezing badly getting the attentions of passing nurses. They wanted to check him over but he didn't stop, he had only one destination in mind. He passed nurse Mandi, he passed by Ron and harry, he passed by a couple of doctors, he dodged his parents who were rushing to hold him back. He opened the door to reveal George lying still on the hospital bed perfectly okay. Blinking a couple of times he turned back to his parents.
"Ginny said that something was wrong with George." Fred said with confusion as he turned back to his brother, still alive, and getting stronger each day. They aren't going to pull the plug right?
"She misheard dear." Molly said with cheerful tears in her eyes before she hugged Fred again, relief unmistakable on her face.
"Mom?"
"He's awake dear." Molly nearly whispered and Fred tensed up looking at his mom's face with shock.
"He's awake." Fred whispered back, his body shaking from shock and excitement.
"Go honey, go talk to him." Molly said again making Fred nod in happiness. It was only then did Fred realize that he didn't hear the noises of the breathing tube. Releasing himself from his mother's grasp he opened the door again and peered inside. Looking at the nurses smiling and talking when they saw him they stopped and smiled stepping away from the bed but not leaving the room. They were there to answer the questions they knew he would ask. Collapsing on a chair next to the bed he smiled as he touched George's arm. Fred looked at George's face and saw a bandage that he never saw before. Frowning at the bandage he decided that it wasn't as important as the fact that George was awake.
"How do you know he is awake?" Fred asked the pretty nurses in the corner as he stroked the arm soothingly.
"Ask him to make a fist for you." One of the nurses said and shakily Fred opened his mouth, the words shaky and mumbled together.
"George, it's me Fred. Can you make a fist for me?" Fred whispered and was surprised to see the hand slowly making a fist. Fred couldn't stop the sobs that escaped his mouth as he lowered his hand to George's and held that hand so tightly that he could have stopped both hands' circulation.
Fred looked behind him at the two nurses who nodded nicely as him waiting for the endless questions to begin. They weren't surprise when they did.
"Does he remember me?" Fred asked looking at the two buttons over his eyes still. The nurses were silent for a while before answering.
"We believe he does." One answered while the other shook her head
"He may not though. Most coma victims forget to do simple stuff like eat, drink, talk, remember memories, walk, use the restroom…."
"Most do make full recoveries though." The first one said again and the second nurse interrupted.
"It can take anywhere from two weeks to five years to make a complete recovery."
"Yeah but for only being in a coma for four months and from doing countless cat-scans it shouldn't take more than a couple of months, and that is way out there. I believe that with rehabilitation it should only take two to three weeks." The first nurse said confidently but the second nurse rolled her eyes.
"Oh please, it would be a miracle if he makes a full recovery in two weeks." The second nurse said again, Fred watched the nurses with aggregated eyes as he felt a fist close around his. Smiling he whispered back to his brother ignoring the arguing nurses.
"You can get better in two weeks, huh?" Fred kissed George's forehead as he brushed a hand though the hair.
"Two weeks." The first nurse screamed.
"At the least four months." The second one argued.
"You're awake. You are awake; everything is going to be okay now. I promise you." Fred whispered again as he breathed in his brother's hair.
"Two weeks."
"Four months."
"Shut up. Why does it matter?" Fred screamed at the nurses who immediately turned red from embarrassment.
"Sorry, you are right it doesn't matter." Both nurses whispered looking like five years olds being caught stealing from a cookie jar. Fred was about to say something when the door was slammed open and Ron ran inside looking frightened.
"Fred, Hermione went into cardiac arrest." Ron screamed with tears in his eyes. Fred rubbed George's hand one last time before standing up.
"What about the twins?" Fred immediately asked feeling sick.
"They are doing an emergency c-section right now." Ron screamed back looking sick. Fred's face darkened as he touched George's face again.
"Be right back okay."
Not looking back he ran along side of Ron to the surgery overlook room and nearly died from what he saw. Blood, a lot of blood, tools holding the uterus's skin open, hands deep within her cutting and pulling, a little finger sticking out of Hermione as the doctors pulled the first baby out. The baby was silent, way too silent. The doctor went back in to get the other one as a nurse worked on the baby, cleaning out the airways, rubbing its wrinkled skin. The other baby was now beside the first one, a nurse desperately trying to save the baby. Ron had his face pressed against the window as the tears fall, his mouth moving as he whispered over and over again, "breathe, come on breathe."
Fred found himself whispering with Ron, their words twisting together and making it sound like a really deformed chant. Fred too had his face pressed against the window, allowing the cool texture to lower his feverous head. The brothers closed their eyes as they waited, hanging onto the hope that they would hear a cry.
Finally they hear it, it wasn't a cry really, it was how of a chirp, but it definitely came from one of the babies. The other baby made a chirp too and the doctor gave Ron and Fred a thumb's up as he started to sew Hermione up again and the nurses rushed the babies to the NICU ward. Ron slumped down on the ground as he watched the doctor working on Hermione.
She went into cardiac arrest again, Ron knew it, Fred knew it, the heart machine definitely knew it. The flat tone was loud even in the surgery overlook room. It was taunting Ron, letting it know that the person who he loved, the person who he dreamt of every night, was gone. This time though a stupid love poem or a lengthy apology won't bring her back, she was gone, and he wouldn't see her until he was on a hospital bed flat toned and died to the world. The doctors didn't try to revive her; they saved the babies that were who the doctors really cared about. Ron nearly passed out when the doctors threw the white blanket over her head, Ron always wondered why white?
Ron didn't even know he was crying until he felt Fred's arms around him, their tears mixing together before falling to the ground between them. The salty drops would bounce before exploding on the ground, like a person belly flopping into a pool from a high dive. He could feel Fred saying something into his ear, could feel the hot breaths tickling his ear hair, and that only made Ron cry more and Ron couldn't remember ever crying so much in his whole life.
The doctors left the surgery room, left Hermione in there by herself, in the bloody operating room. Ron couldn't help but feel mad about that, she shouldn't be alone. He was trying to get down there, had to go into the surgery room, had to hold Hermione again, but Fred held him back foolishly. Ron was cursing and pleading as he tried to get to the door but Fred wouldn't let him.
"We can't." Fred was whispering and it was only after thinking about it later that Ron realized that Fred had been saying those two words for close to ten minutes.
"She's my girlfriend." Ron screamed again as he started to get sick. Please Fred, I don't ask you for much, just let me be with her for a while. Please?
"Ron you can't. You have to wait until the doctors give you permission." Fred whispered impatiently as he looked at the clock on the wall, he was away from his twin for too long already. It wasn't like Hermione wasn't important to Fred, because she was; it was just that she's dead and George wasn't. The alive has a little more importance over the dead at the moment. The only thing really keeping him in the surgery room was Ron who looked about ready to collapse.
"It's not fair; she had so much to live for. Why her? She was the kindest, most beautiful person that ever existed and now she is just lying on a bloody hospitalbed forgotten." Ron muttered to himself looking at his late girlfriend in disbelief and shock.
"Ron, I'm sorry." Fred said awkwardly, not really knowing what to say, he can't imagine going though what Ron was going though, he doesn't even want to pretend.
"I know. I'm sorry too, if I was only thinking straight I would have told her to stay home like Louis told Kelly. I should have known when he told Kelly to stay that something awful was going to be lurking in that factory. I should have been looking out for her. But I wasn't, all I could think about was saving George, and in return I lost my girlfriend." Ron said moodily grabbing onto the railings of the windows and leaning against the glass, tears running down his face. Fred acted like he didn't see the tears.
"Not all is a total loss though. Your babies are alive." Fred said thoughtfully trying to cheer Ron up.
"Born two months premature and to a brain-dead mom, I'm sure the babies will be absolutely normal."
"They might be." Fred replied again making Ron laugh.
"Just being born premature could cause mental and physical problems and you know it Fred." Ron said almost screaming at Fred who just blinked in return.
"But they are alive." Fred added feeling like he was being cornered by a hungry animal.
"Yes without a mom and to a family who has been falling apart for years."
"That's not true Ron." Fred replied feeling a sense of hurt.
"Our family is as dysfunctional as they can get. Mom's been a zombie lately doing nothing more than crying on the couch or found hanging with the ghost in our attic. Dad can't seem to stand being home anymore. We have one brother who it seems like every year finds a reason to ban himself from the family. We have another brother who barely shows up for Christmas because he likes his job better. We have another brother who mom can't stand his wife and is always getting Fleur upset with her. Ginny was basically a slut all though out Hogwarts, I mean how many boyfriends did she have during school? We have you who ditched our family for almost a whole year. We have me who can't stand the sight of you because even though I know it wasn't your fault I still blame you for everything that happened. Then we have George who…" Ron stopped in midsentence as he tried to cover a sob before punching the wall beside him.
"First of all never call our sister a slut again. She wasn't a slut! I swear to god if I hear you calling her that one more time I will strangle you. Another thing Charlie always shows up on Christmas, he couldn't in the last two years because some dragons escaped. He even pleaded mom to forgive him, you know how much he hates to do that! Percy is Percy; he is the epiphany of dysfunction. Mom is warming up to Fleur still, just watch, in another two to three years they will be as close. I was on a mission and you know it so don't act like I wanted to leave. Mom and dad are just having some emotional problems right now which are completely normal for parents whose kid had been kidnapped. You are just mad and will get over your anger and will be embarrassed when you remember your embarrassing fit. We are not a dysfunctional family Ron we are just a family who had fallen on a lot of hard times." Fred said calmly as he tried to make Ron understand.
"Hard times? Our whole lives had been one long hard time." Ron screamed again smiling when Fred shook his head.
"We had it better than some people Ron." Fred whispered and Ron shook his head.
"Did we Fred?" Ron replied losing his anger as he faced his brother who was looking down at his feet.
"I'm sure we must have Ron. I'm… we didn't have it as bad as you believe."
"I'm not that sure." Ron admitted and Fred closed his eyes.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Arthur was sitting at his office staring off in space as his hands trembled. All around the room was letters and notes flying about some business matter. On his desk were hundreds of reports that he had to do, some dating back to ten months. He didn't care about work anymore, didn't care about anything anymore, just wanted to find Louis and force him to tell him where Lee was. Arthur was going to find out where that freak was and rip him into shreds, he was going to wrap his hands around Lee's neck and squeeze until that asshole was dead.
Then again death would be too good for that villain. Maybe Arthur could tie him up at some old factory and cut his arm off. Arthur would bring a camera and take pictures of Lee slowly dying, watching the rats start eating the disabled man. Of course Arthur knew if given the opportunity he wouldn't do that. He wasn't a killer nor was he a torturer; he was just Arthur Weasley, a kind hearted man with the need of revenge.
Maybe he could hire someone to do it, after all he couldn't actually kill the boy, so maybe he could hire a hitman. It couldn't be that hard to find one and if he found himself a good one than the murder couldn't be traced back to him. Then again hitmen are expensive and he probably had to use every last coin he has in order to pay the hitman. So if he can't kill Lee and he can't hire someone to kill Lee, how was Lee going to pay? Jail? No, to easy to escape from. Maybe he could receive a letter in the mail that will make his house explode? No, the police could easily track that back. His house filling up with Carbon Dioxide, maybe, but that will take some serious magic. Maybe he can cut himself by accident, maybe slipping and falling on a knife. Maybe I could get some help, I'm sure Alicia's parents will want to get revenge for her murder. Maybe I can even get Hermione's parents to help; they probably want him dead too.
He wouldn't do it though, revenge never solved anything right? God, though, he would have dreams of just stabbing Lee over and over again until Lee screamed for mercy. He would have daydreams of sawing off Lee's arms and legs and throwing the body parts into a river or a lake. He would even have dreams of paying some men to rape Lee so that bastard will know how it feels, watched as the men gut Lee and spill all his lovely guts all over the cement floor.
He blinked as he realized that someone had been knocking on his door. Shaking away his dark thoughts he told the person to come inside as he looked around the office. Better not be my manager. It wasn't, it was just Percy.
"Mr. Weasley." Percy said as a greeting. Arthur looked down again as he closed his eyes. It's dad, Perce, its dad.
"What do you want Perce?" Arthur asked grumpily as he watched his son's eyes travel across his office.
"This place needs some help." Percy replied with an edge to his face that Arthur hadn't remembered since Percy was ten.
"What's wrong Percy?" Arthur immediately said standing up and accidently knocking all of the files and reports off the desk and onto the floor.
"I saw him today." Percy said with angry eyes.
"Saw who today?" Arthur asked, Fred, George, Ron, who Percy? Come on Percy talk to me.
"I know that I said I didn't want to be apart of this family but…" Percy trailed off looking at his feet nervously before continuing, "it doesn't mean I don't care about everyone." Percy added feeling embarrassed and Arthur just nodded his head waiting for his son to continue.
Percy took the hint, "I was on my way to see George, just so he can't say that I never came. Anyways when I got close I heard two people arguing and than someone screaming. Feeling scared I peered around the corner to see a nurse lying on the floor unmoving and a guy putting some type of weapon away and started to drag the nurse toward a supply closet. Another twenty minutes later the guy walked out of the supply closest and putting something in a backpack. I followed him for a while, wanting to see where he was heading. He saw me though and smiled, keeping a baseball cap on his head so I couldn't see his face but I know it was him. He had dark hands and everything." Percy said barely taking any breathes in between his words as he watched his father's face paling.
"What did he say to you?" Arthur suddenly screamed looking at his son in horror. Percy looked uncomfortable again as he shuffled his feet.
"He said 'I just wanted to see how he is doing. He's awake in case you are wondering' and he said that he will see us all later" Percy recalled before blushing slightly.
"That's what he said?" Arthur asked his blood pressure raising.
"I told the healers and they got a security guard to check the closet but no nurses were in there." Percy replied making Arthur look at him in a strange way.
"She had to be there, in St. Mugals you aren't allowed to use magic so if he stuck her in the closet she should still be there." Arthur replied feeling dizzy, something very wrong was going on.
"That's what the security guard said. He thought I was making the whole thing up." Percy replied before shrugging, "but the security guard said that just to be safe they will send a guard to watch over George's room, just to be on the safe side."
"Well thank god for that." Arthur replied already half way out the door.
"Dad." Percy called making Arthur turn around and look at Percy.
"Yeah son?"
"He's awake." Percy said with a smile and Arthur really smiled for the first time in months. Arthur could see the eager look in Percy's smile.
"Want to come with me Percy?" Arthur responded.
"Okay, but tell mom you dragged me out of my office."
"Kicking and screaming, and cursing our family." Arthur added making Percy smile.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
"Ron, the doctor's here." Fred whispered to Ron who was just sitting in a chair glaring at everyone and anything that passed by.
"Hi, I'm Sara," The doctor said putting a hand out for Ron to shake, Ron does not. Sighing she dropped her hand.
"Will it be okay if I sit down?" Sara said kindly and Ron nodded moodily allowing Sara to sit down.
"Well, I know that losing your wife was hard…"
"Girlfriend." Richard, Hermione's father corrected her.
"Right, sorry. I know that it is hard losing your girlfriend but I need to talk about the babies with you for a minute."
"Go ahead." Ron said raising his head to see her better.
"Both babies are inside the NICU which is the infant ICU ward. The boy was three pounds and the girl was twenty eight pounds which is considered low birth weight. They are doing fine, we have both of them in incubators which helps protects against diseases and keeps them warm." Sara said kindly as Ron looked at Hermione's parents to see their reactions. They were shaking at the information.
"How are they doing? How does the prognosis look?" Ron asked grabbing onto Fred's arm and squeezing tightly.
"They are not doing so well but all newborns don't do that well when they first go into NICU. The prognosis is always unsure but let me tell you the most we lose a year is maybe one or two babies. It is very rare that we lose a life in the NICU." Sara said again still smiling at Ron.
"How long will they stay inside the NICU?" Ron asked carefully.
"It depends on how soon their organs develop as well as their feeding habits." Sara added before putting a hand on Ron's and smiling encouragingly.
"Now as the father there is one thing I need you to do," Sara said kindly making Ron look closely at her, "I need you to name them."
"Ron? No we should name the babies, they are our grandkids." Richard yelled angrily making both Fred and Ron glare at them. Ron was silent for a while before smiling.
"When we were talking about babies she told me the names she would love if we decide to have babies. She said that if she has a boy she wants to name it Cedric and if it was a girl she wants to name her Alicia. So I guess the names will be Cedric and Alicia." Ron decided smiling at Sara who nodded in return.
"Good names. I will tell the nurses." Sara smiled as Hermione's parents shook their heads in disapproval.
"When can I see them?" Ron asked.
"You can see them right now if you want." Sara kindly said again and Ron smiled a little.
"Unfortunately only three people can see them at this time." Sara told the four people who immediately all frowned. Fred watched Ron look down and watched Hermione's parents looked at him pleadingly.
"Ron, you three should go." Fred said weakly making Ron smile shortly.
"Are you sure?" Nancy, Hermione's mom asked. Fred smiled.
"Yeah, I should probably get back to George anyways." Fred said with a smile on his face making Ron nod.
"Yeah, I know. Still…" Ron said sadly remembering his visit when George woke up. George couldn't talk, he didn't even try. He was just twitching his fingers.
"Go Ron, I can see them later." Fred said sadly as he pushed hair out of his face.
"Okay, after I'm done I'm going to go see George." Ron told Fred who just nodded with a smile.
"I know." Fred answered before heading back to George feeling at a strange peace. George was alive, his nephew and niece was alive, what more could he ask for? We lost Hermione, because I was a fucking idiot. I should have made them stay home. I wonder if Ron hates me. I wouldn't be surprised if he did. I hate myself right now. Fred could feel his smile dying and rotting as he leaned against a wall, before shaking his head. Its not the time to feel sorry for myself, I have to see George, go back to the shop before Draco loses his head, I have to manage enough time to eat something…damn there is too much to do and not enough time to accomplish everything. Fred, stop thinking about everything you need to do, right now just think of making it back to George's room. I have to make sure…stop it, just stop those thoughts, focus on what you need to do right now. Just get to George; he is the most important at the minute.
When Fred reached George's hospital room he nearly sighed out of relief as he opened the door forcing the widest smile that he could in hopes that George actually remember him. Sometimes people in a coma will forget about friends and relatives for a while. What he saw made him frown. George had an oxygen mask over his mouth; it probably wouldn't have bothered Fred so much if he knew the air machine wasn't turned on. Running over to George he threw the mask off and checked his pulse nervously expecting not to find one but was lucky enough to find one. Sighing he looked at the mask carefully before picking up George's chart trying to see if anyone ordered a oxygen mask, no one did. Frowning he pushed a button on George's heart machine which will call a nurse. Fred was going to have a long talk with the hospital staff.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Ron smiled at the sight of his babies, they were gorgeous. He smiled at them as he wished he had permission to hold them. Instead he just tapped gently on the glass that surrounds his two babies.
"Hello kids, I'm your daddy." Ron said with complete happiness. These were his kids, his, no one else's. The babies were weakly crying making Ron laugh in happiness. They may be pretty bad off but they were alive. It was a relief to hear them crying, a relief to see the babies moving their arms and legs which were full of tubes and wires. Ron couldn't help but smile at his twins. Behind him though, Hermione's parents didn't look nearly as happy.
"They are so gray and wrinkly." Nancy whispered to her husband who nodded in reply as he held her in her arms.
"It's because they were born so prematurely." Sara added looking at the three of them with honest interest.
"So will they grow out of it?" Richard asked making Ron nearly laugh.
"Of course, it probably won't take more than a couple of weeks." Sara responded again.
"How long can we stay here?"
"The father could stay overnight but everyone else must come during the visiting hours." Sara said again as she looked over at the family.
"Okay then."
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
"This is where you chose to work?" Lucius asked Draco with disgust. Draco watched Lucius with tired eyes as he let his dad look around the store.
"This place is a degrading even for you." Lucius said again, his voice a mixture of hate.
"What do you want dad?" Draco asked as he looked at the clock. The store had been closed for thirty minutes already and he really just wanted to go home.
"I wanted to tell you that we are having some guests over who will be staying for a long time." Lucius said as he picked up a potion and looked at it in hate.
"Okay, why tell me?" Draco asked taking the love potion out of his father's hands and putting it carefully back on a shelf.
"There are a lot of them. We need your room." Lucius said picking up a fake deatheater mark candy and turning it over in disgust.
"Where am I going to live?" Draco yelled to his father taking the candy. Lucius shrugged..
"I don't know, find someplace." Lucius said menacingly before leaving the joke shop. Draco dropped to the floor, I'm homeless, what am I supposed to do now?
It was just then that Fred walked into the store, a smile on his face despite all the ill events that happened at he hospital today. Fred looked at the state of his shop, seeing all of the damage that was caused from the costumers. It wasn't as bad as Fred thought it would be. Honestly Draco kept it pretty nice. He didn't really notice Draco until he tripped over the smaller boy.
"Oww…Draco what are you doing on the floor?" Fred asked while rubbing his bruised elbow.
"Dad kicked me out." Draco whispered looking at the ground in shock.
"What, when?" Fred asked and Draco shook his shoulders.
"Five minutes before you showed up."
"What are you going to do?" Fred asked and Draco shrugged again. Both were silent for a long time before Fred got an idea.
"Come home with me." Fred offered and Draco looked at him in shock.
"What?"
"Yeah, you need a place to stay, clash at my place for a while until you have enough money to buy your own apartment." Fred offered again.
"Are you sure…weren't your mom be mad?"
"Nah, I don't think so." Fred replied, what the hell did I just do? Oh shit!
"Thanks."
"Why did you go to the hospital? Did mudblood die?" Draco asked as Fred helped him up.
"Sadly yes." Fred replied moodily as he let Draco and him out of the shop before locking the store up.
"Oh shit, I didn't…"
"It's okay. It was only a matter of time before she was going to die anyways. Anyways I have wonderful news. Ron has welcomed Alicia and Cedric Weasley into the world and George is awake again." Fred replied still feeling high.
"That's…having two of you again…its good for you anyways." Draco answered, oh god the tricksters are going to be brought together again. Good to know that George is going to live though.
"Lets go home Draco, I'm exhausted." Fred replied smiling at the shop as he left the nights on for Mr. Jones, knowing that Mr. Jones will be restocking the store at nighttime.
"Will you actually be at the shop tomorrow or are you going to abandon us again?" Draco asked as they started to walk, heading to a local bakery before heading to the Burrow.
"Sure for half the day."
"What you going to do for the other half of the day?" Draco asked teasingly.
"The hospital, of course. Where else would I be?"
The ending isn't how I wanted it to end. I think the ending is kind of weak but oh well. I wanted this chapter to end with Draco moving into the burrow and I had this cool plan for it but it would take ten pages so instead I switched to this one.
Like it, hate it, don't know yet? Review and tell me. This chapter was frustrating from start to finish and I'm not 100 happy with how this chapter turned out. I redid this chapter twenty times and it is still not where I want it to be.
Thank you everyone to reviewed so far. I really appreciate it. I would love by the end of this story to get one hundred reviews. Its like my goals for this and if i begin adding latin words in the story as it progresses I'm sorry in advice, blame it on all the terminology I have to learn for my Vet classes.
Since the next two chapters are already written and all I really need to do is look for mistakes and redo parts I dislike, the chapters should be out pretty quick.