I have no excuse for not updating. I am so sorry. Forgive me, loyal readers, for I have failed to update as often as I had hoped to. I hope to make it up to you with this chapter.
And as I am now in college but have no friends, maybe I'll be able to update more? Maybe not? We'll see.
Morning couldn't have come fast enough. Fred couldn't wait to get out of this hospital and go back home, back to the Burrow. See all his family again, have dinners at the table, go back to the shop and eventually get back to living above the shop with George. Just anything to get out of this sterile, cold room. To make the walking a little easier, the hospital would be sending Fred home with a wheelchair that was charmed to shrink down to pocket-sized when not in use and a walker that was charmed the same way. The walker had a seat attached to it as well. Molly and George were helping him get back into the house today, while Ginny stayed home with Ron and Percy. They were switching around the bedrooms, giving Fred and George Ginny's room while she took theirs. That way, there was only one staircase Fred would have to go up.
After an hour of physical therapy, thankfully done in bed this time, the discharge papers were signed and in order, and Fred was released. After yesterday's particularly hard physical therapy session, Fred had to use the walker. His back was still aching horribly, bad enough it was almost hard to breath. But he was determined to get home. They used floo powder, since that would be safer than apporating and easier than a port key. George went first, so he could help Fred get out of the fireplace afterwards and catch him if he had to. Fred stepped into the hospital's fireplace, said 'the burrow' loud and clear as he threw down the dust, and with a poof, he was no longer at the hospital. Instead, he was home. Well, the fireplace of the Burrow, but home nonetheless. George helped him maneuver the walker onto the ground, and then their mum came through. The transporting had caused a little extra pain in Fred's back, so he made his way to the couch and sat down, and looked around the house.
The whole place had been decorated. 'Welcome Home Fred!' floated above the fireplace, streamers hung from the ceiling, Christmas lights hung around door frames, and Fred could smell something sweet cooking in the kitchen. Percy, Ron, and Ginny came stampeding down the stairs at the sounds of the other three arriving.
"We finished!" Ginny announced. "The room is all set up. And Percy brought all the boxes to the shop, so they're up in your flat somewhere." She told the twins.
"Dinner is already in the oven too." Molly said, walking around the boys to get back to the kitchen. "It should be ready in a few more hours, by the time your dad will be home!"
"Sit, you look like you're in pain." Percy insisted, gesturing to the couch. Fred didn't protest that, stiffly making his way to the couch and slowly lowering himself down.
"I'm always in pain. Some days just less than others." He stated, closing his eyes at the relief of sitting. He felt Percy ruffle his hair, something his older brother rarely ever did. It was something all the Weasleys did to each other. They always rubbed each other's heads.
"That'll get better eventually." Ron stated, sitting down on one side of Fred while George took the other side. Percy sat on the recliner chair across from the couch and Ginny sat on the other side of George. They all started to fill him in on things he had missed out on since he woke up in the hospital.
According to George, the Screaming Ronalds would be ready for the shelf in just a few a days. The shop had been as busy as it was when it first opened, and George had been able to call in Angelina and Lee to help out since it was too much for just 2 people (one inexperienced) to handle. They had earned in that one day enough to pay 3/4s of the hospital bill. Fred was relieved to hear that, and though she would never admit, Fred was sure that his mom was relieved too. The excitement of being home made the physical therapy much easier, too. He walked around the house and in the yard, and he was never left alone for very long. Ginny said owls had come just this morning with the school lists for what she needed for the next year. Ron decided he would go back to finish his 7th year, along with Hermione and Harry. Percy was trying to get a new job in the Ministry, but promised he wouldn't let it get to his head this time.
Dinner came and George helped Fred to the table. He sat near the end this time, so he could get in and out easier. Arthur sat at the head closest to Fred, and Percy was right across from him, then Ron, Ginny, Mum at the other end, Billy, Charlie, and George. Fleur was visiting her family in France for the weekend.
The dinner was a rather large dinner, including ham, potatoes, corn, bread, peas, carrots, chicken, salad, green beans drenched in butter, and gravy.
"Are we feeding all of England?" George asked, raising an eye brow at the amount of food. His question went unanswered as everyone dug in. To Fred, his mother's cooking tasted much better at home than it had at the hospital. Fred ate as much of it as he could, before they all moved back into the living room and Fred sat back down on the couch. It felt like Christmas to Fred, sitting between George and Charlie, being able to see everyone else. With full stomachs, it didn't take long for people to start heading up to their bedrooms.
"It's good to have you home, Freddie." Bill said as he headed up, ruffling Fred's hair as he passed behind him. Fred ducked out of the way, swatting at his older brother. It wasn't often they called Fred 'Freddie', not since he had been a little boy, maybe around 7. Then he had very firmly, as firm as a 7 year old could, told them to stop calling him that because that was a baby name and he wasn't a baby anymore. They had all laughed a little at him for that, but had listened. Now they only called him 'Freddie' on "special occasions".
After a few more minutes, George yawned. "Ready to go up, Fred?" He asked. Fred nodded, and pushed himself to his feet. He was slow and stiff, still recovering from yesterdays session of physical therapy, plus the long day of being home finally. George got up after him and stayed behind him all the way up the stairs. The stairs were going to be a challenge. Fred was slow going up. Their bedroom was now where Ginny's used to be, so there would be less stairs to climb. Regardless how many, stairs were still hard for Fred. George watched his twin carefully as Fred made his way to his bed. He laid down and sighed in relief, finding that laying down was even more comfortable for his back than sitting had been.
"One of the best feelings in the world is being back in my own bed after so long in that hospital bed." He stated blissfully, closing his eyes.
"Things are gonna get back to normal soon, I hope." George said. "Maybe tomorrow we can go to Diagon Ally and you can get a new wand and visit the shop. Angelina said she can handle it for tomorrow. I talked to her earlier, she said her and Katie can hold it down for a day or two."
"I can't walk enough to get around Diagon ally, George." Fred pointed out, frowning. "It still hurts."
"We can bring your wheelchair or your walker." George said quietly. George pulled the little chair from his own pocket, and put it on the nightstand that was between their beds. "If you start to feel pain, we can take it out and I'll push you around for a while. But the healers said it would be good for you to get out of the house and walk around."
"Maybe. Go to sleep George. I'll let you know what I want to do in the morning." Fred sighed, and moved under the covers. He struggled to get the blanket out from under him, and George had to help him. As he helped, he could see the look of depression in Fred's eyes. Fred had never liked not being able to do things on his own, but now even some of the smallest things proved to be hard for him. He was determined to help his brother though in any way possible. He would do everything he could to keep Fred going and get him back to his old self. All the Weasley children had agreed the night before that no matter what it took, they would get Fred back on his feet and back to normal. They had to.
Again, I apologize for not updating, and for any grammar or spelling mistakes. Also, I'm pretty sure I read that Harry and Ron don't return to Hogwarts to finish their 7th year, but they will in this story just because. Please review, give me suggestions and ideas, and I'll try to update again as soon as possible!