Stuck in Place
by KemAjiana
A/n: OMG, guys! We have officially surpassed...all my other stats. 5k hit, 28 reviews, 70 alerts! You are all amazing! But, alas, we are nearing our end. Enjoy the last bit of this fanfiction - it's looking like there are only 2 more chapters, including this one. You have all been amazing.
I sincerely hope that this isn't as anticlimactic as I feel it may be to some of you. If you'd like a soundtrack to go along with this, might I suggest "Hey Brother" by Avicii. It doesn't really...go, per say, but it's the music I basically had in repeat the whole time I wrote this story.
Also: long chapter is long. I contemplated breaking it down into two, but I didn't want to run the risk of screwing something up, and a second chapter seemed pretty unnecessary at this point in the game.
Chapter Eleven
It was raining, Diagon Alley half flooded with water. The wind rattled the flat's windows, the normally-bustling shop below closed up for the day as George tended to his brother, who was currently laid up under the covers of his bed. George delicately wiped a damp towel over his brother's beaded forehead.
"Come on, Freddie. Up and at 'em."
His red haired twin groaned, rolling slightly and blinking open his hazy blue eyes. "Wha' -" Suddenly, he sat bolt upright, cringing as the blood rushed from his head. "Where's Hermwon..." he slurred, clutching his head in his hand, groaning. "Ah, my head."
"That's what you get for falling down the stairs, Feorge."
"Falling down the..." Fred's eyes widened a bit in understanding as George passed him a Pepper-Up Potion. "Bloody Pygmys. We need to stop selling those nuisances."
George quirked a brow. "Pygmy? What are you on about?"
His brother uncorked the Potion, tipping the contents down his throat and sighing as his headache faded. "The bloody thing got under my foot," he explained, passing the now empty bottle back to his brother. "Missed the step and fell."
Confusion contorted his brother's face and he narrowed his eyes in concern. "What exactly did you think happened, Georgie?"
"I...Hermione...she -"
"- George."
He stood suddenly, raking his hands over his face. "Shit," he cursed. "You're going to...bloody hell. You're gonna hate me." He slammed his palms on the dresser table, head hanging, and Fred gazed at him in the mirror. "She...it looked like she'd attacked you. I came up the stairs after you fell and she was...she was standing over your body, all foxed-out. Feral." He spun, tugging up his sleeve to show him his left forearm, heavily bandaged. "She bit me!"
"You've been responding to her like she's the enemy, you tosser!" Fred seethed, swinging his legs over the side of his bed and standing. "What else was she supposed to do?"
George shook his head in shame.
"I get it George, really, I do. You almost lost me in that war," he tugged on a pair of blue jeans and pulled a shirt over his head. "But I'm here. I'm alive. And right now, you're smothering me, and being a complete wanker with Hermione." He faced his brother then. "Now, where is she? I should...explain things."
If it were possible, George shrank even more. "I don't know..."
"...What?"
"I don't know, Fred! She took off yesterday, and I haven't seen her since." He turned then, grabbing his brother firmly by the shoulders and giving him a hard shake. "Don't you get it? She's never coming back! Pull your head out of your arse, and realize: she's not Hermione anymore! You're only going to hurt yourself in the end. Sooner than later she's not even going to remember -"
Thud.
George stared wide-eyed at his brother from where he sat sprawled on the floor, cupping his jaw. "Fred..?"
But his brother wasn't listening, instead pulling in his shoes and tugging on a thick jacket to ward off the rain.
"Where are -"
"- to find her."
The door slammed with finality, leaving George sitting there on the bedroom floor, tears in his eyes as he stared after his brother.
Fred wandered aimlessly. His head was starting to hurt again, his shoes were soaked through, and his back was stiff from his tumble the evening before. Hermione had been out here...alone...all night. He couldn't stop to whine about his miseries.
Stupid Pygmy Puffs.
"Hermione!" he called. "Hermione!"
There was a rustle from somewhere in the distance, and the bark of a dog, and Fred turned to the noise eagerly, hoping for it to be a purple-ish fox. But it was only a small crup dog. A child ran up a moment later, siezing the dog by the collar and hauling him back towards an apartment with a half smile and a wave.
"Sorry mister!"
Fred raked his fingers through his hair, turning down yet another alleyway, calling "Hermione!" as he went. She may not even be in Diagon Alley, he told himself, but he carried on.
As dusk settled around him, he heard a hard, metallic crash from somewhere off in the distance, and the sharp yowling of a cat, and he turned towards the noise expectantly. As he drew closer, the sound of a low, dark growl met his ears, and he picked up his pace until he was practically running down the dark alleyway.
"Hermione!" he called. "Is that you?"
There was a man standing there - short, round, pudgy-faced, and very familiar - with his wand drawn and pointed at a very angry looking fox. Around his feet lay smashed vials and a large, slightly smoking puddle. "You sneaky, rabid little -"
"Expelliarmus!"The man's wand shot from his hand to Fred's, who caught it midair with ease. "What are you doing Dung?"
"Gimme back my wand, you red haired -"
"I asked you a question, Mundungus Fletcher." Fred hissed, raising his wand higher. "Let me guess - she caught you with unlicensed potions? Even in that form, Hermione is a rule abiding citizen." He flicked his wand. "Get out of here, Dung, before I hex you, you git."
The small man sneered, taking back his wand and stalking away. Fred watched him go warily, before turning to kneel before a thoroughly soaked Hermione.
"'Mione? It's me. Fred."
She shrank smaller into her corner, her amber eyes aglow with fear. He set his wand on the ground - within reaching distance - and leaned over towards her, hand outstretched.
"Come on, 'Mione. It's just me."
She took a hesitant step forward, her fur bristling, and he stroked her fur back lovingly. "Aw, 'Mione. Come on. How's about we get out of here. Just you and me, huh?" He smiled. "Mum and dad won't be getting back to the Burrow till tomorrow evening. How's that sound?"
She pressed against him, and he saw that her eyes were not completely amber as he'd originally thought - but the brown was nearly crowded out with it. He lifted her gently, cradling her in his arms, and with a crack Apparated them to the field behind his family's home.
The rain had not touched the Burrow, it seemed, and he joyfully let Hermione jump from his arms into the grass. It came up to her chin, the feathery tips tickling her nose, and she let out a sneeze as she frolicking joyously for a minute before turning back to Fred.
"Hey! I...I have a surprise for you, if you want to see it," he grinned, setting down his wand and shrugging odd his jacket.
She watched, wide-eyed, as he stood before her suddenly, all red-brown fur, and long, gangly legs, and a smirk on his wolfish-face. A coyote, she surmised, was quite fitting for Fred the Trickster Twin.
He loved away, bushy tail wagging, and she cocked her head at him in curiosity before jumping after him. He took off running with a bark, his much longer legs carrying him across the grassy field beyond the house with ease and speed she did not possess. She hopped around him as he slowed, more animal now than human and eager to play, and he bowed on his forelegs. A play bow, she recognized.
Lunging forward, she caught his ear in her teeth, tugging and scratching in almost a mock-fight. He let her win, rolling onto his side, and she rolled along with him, letting out an oomph as the breath left her body. She wiggled away as he flopped on the ground, staring at her with his still-blue eyes.
For several hours - until the moon was high in the sky - he sat there with her, alternatively napping and playing, until he decided it was time to head back to the flat. George would likely be worried out of his wits.
She followed him willingly, eyes tired as they loved alongside one another, fur brushing in an almost intimate manner. When the had nearly reached the place where Fred had left his wand and jacket, however, the sharp, familiar sound of an Apparation startled them.
"Fred!"With a low rumble, Fred shifted back to his normal appearance, stalking forward and snatching up his wand. George caught sight of him and bolted towards them.
"Fred!" he cried. "Thank Merlin! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
"What, George?"
"I...you've been gone almost thirteen hours. I've been trying to track you -"
"What do you want?" Fred's tone was clipped. Angry. And Hermione brushed against him soothingly. He stroked her ear absent-mindedly, giving a sigh. "I've been busy...trying to...well. You know."
"Fred...I'm sorry for what I said. It was uncalled for," George whispered. "I know how...deep your feelings run. I shouldn't have...of course you won't give up. You wouldn't be Fred if you did." His blue eyes shone with unshed tears, and he turned to Hermione, dropping to his knees with his head bowed.
"Hermione...I'm so sorry. So, so sorry. My behavior was unacceptable. Fred holds you dear to his heart -" his twin stiffened "- but I was too concerned with the thought that...that you'd hurt him, I didn't even bother to try and help you." He gave her a small smile. "Ron's a right git, you know. He never deserved a single chance you gave him. But Fred, well...that's a whole different story. See here," he pointed to a faint purpling bruise on his chin. "he clocked me for even suggesting -"
"- you done, Georgie?" Fred interrupted, stepping forward. "Or are you gonna keep prattling on all night like an old ninny?"
They laughed together, embracing quickly, before George stepped away. "As long as you're okay, I'll be off then. I'll handle the shop tomorrow, so don't worry a bit about it. Have fun." And then with a twist and a crack, he Disapparated.
Fred sat unceremoniously in the grass, and laid back. "George means welk, but he can be a bit of a tosser."
Hermione grunted her agreement, settling beside him and resting her chin on his chest with a gleeful trill that sounded a bit like a whistle. Fred stroked her head.
"You know," he sad softly."I had the hardest time with becoming an animagus. Kept swallowing the damned Mandrake leaf - and that thing is bitter." She trilled in laughter. "But, you know...it was worth it. I figured, if you never got to change back - if you got stuck...well, at least you'd have a companion, now and again, to horse around with."
He sighed heavily. "I don't think I ever thanked you...for knocking me clear of the debris that night. I mean, I know it was an accident but...you saved my life, 'Mione, and I'm going to spend the rest of mine repaying you.
They sat in a thick blanket of silence for a long minute. "Hermione, it might sound...weird...since, you know, you're not fox and all...but..." he took a steadying breath. "I've always fancied you. I just thought Ron would pull his head out of his arse and you two would live a happily ever after life. So, I didn't...pry. And, if you ever go back to normal...I'd like to take you on a proper date."
the last bit was rushed, and a strange warmth filled Hermione's small body. She could practically feel her heart stitching itself together. Mending. And she blinked in realization.
All this time, she'd been so concerned with Ron, she'd never taken the time to look at him. Fred.
A strange tingling sensation filled her body, and she rose, shaking herself. it felt as if her body was filled with bees. Buzzing filled her ears, and she shook.
And then, suddenly, a very human - very naked - woman sat on the grass, blinking her cocoa eyes down at the man who was gazing with wide eyes and an open mouth.
There was a crack suddenly, and George was standing there with a plate in his hands - which he promptly dropped as his face flushed crimson.
"Oh my god, Angela is going to murder me if she knows I saw Hermione naked." He spun on his heel, marching a ways away, hands up. "I didn't see anything, I swear!"
Fred was laughing, peeling off his shirt and depositing it in Hermione's lap. She opened her mouth to speak, but her skin flushed in embarrassment as she pulled the shirt over her head.
"Thank you,"she whispered.
Fred pulled her her her feet, his blue eyes searching her cocoa ones, eyes gleaming with tears - and then his lips were on hers and he was kissing her. Thoroughly. Passionately. As if he was a starving man, and she a meal.
When he pulled away, he stroked her cheek lovingly, forehead pressing against hers. "I've wanted to do that for years," he whispered. "But I think, as far as first kisses go, that was pretty good." She laughed, gripping his biceps and pressing her lips against his once again.
He grinned boyishly. "So, Hermione Granger, the Brightest Witch of her Age. How's about that date?"
And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes the main story. Epilogue should be up tonight or tomorrow. Thank you all so very much for sticking with me. I love you all. Mwah.
