George was relieved when no more reporters found them after they left the Ministry. They used a Floo Network upstairs to avoid that, and went straight to St. Mungo's. Arthur said he was going to send word for someone to know they were coming, but what they did not expect was to see Madam Pomfrey walking down the hallway to meet them. The boys straightened up a little as she approached them.
She looked at Fred in astonishment. "They told me you were alive, but seeing it is something else." She smiled at the boys and shook her head. "I had to deal with you two coming in and out of my hospital wing for seven years, so I thought I should be the one to look you over now." She motioned for them to follow her.
Hogwarts was still being rebuilt, so the start of the school year got pushed back a few weeks. Madame Pomfrey worked at the hospital during the summer, so by good happenstance she was still there. Fred was glad too, because he felt more comfortable with her than some stranger poking and prodding at him. They went into a room and Fred sat down on the table, while George took a seat by the door.
Madame Pomfrey began looking Fred over before she started asking him questions. "What symptoms have you had since you got back?"
Fred looked down a moment before turning to his brother. George sat up a little and answered for him.
"He was really weak before, but he's been getting stronger. Shaky, but that's been getting better too. You've still been getting cold."
"Hmm…" Madame Pomfrey shined her wand in Fred's eyes. "You haven't been sleeping well either. I can give you some sleeping potions."
"No." Fred looked up quick.
"Yes." George retorted. "He's been having terrible nightmares."
"You have to sleep dear."
Fred stayed silent.
"He'll take the sleeping potion." George gave Fred a look not to argue.
"Any pain?"
Fred looked away, and Madame Pomfrey realized that maybe he had not told his brother everything that was going on.
"If you want we can talk alone."
Fred looked at her before shaking his head. "No, no." He looked at George before turning his attention back to Madame Pomfrey. "There has been some yeah. Random aches and soreness. Twinges. Headaches."
Madame Pomfrey nodded. "I can prescribe potions that can help with everything, and I can give you the recipes since they can get a bit expensive. You two were always good with potions, but don't go adding things you shouldn't into them. I know you two stole one of my books your fourth year." She gave him a stern look.
George and Fred's eyes went a little wide, with slight smirks across their faces.
George coughed. "I guess we should have realized you'd figure that out after some of our products starting gaining momentum at school."
"Just be glad I'm not asking for compensation for all the students you sent my way. Testing on first years." The boys thought they were in trouble after all these years, but the stifled smile on Madame Pomfrey's face said otherwise.
"Now, is there anything else I should know about?"
Fred thought about the whispers that seemed to be growing in his head, but they had not said anything since they got there. Seeing Madame Pomfrey made him feel a little normal, like he was back at school and had just gotten hurt by a prank gone wrong. He shook his head no, hoping the whispers were over with.
She put her hand on Fred's. "Alright then, take care of yourself dear, and please come see me if you need anything else. I'm glad to see you again."
Fred smiled a little and nodded. "Thank you."
After Madame Pomfrey went over all the potions with George, the two boys headed back to the Burrow. When they got there, Fred was exhausted. George could see the exhaustion in his brother's face, but instead of going upstairs, Fred went into the living room and sat down. He looked like he had no intentions of getting any sleep. George sighed a little and came over to sit down across from his brother.
"Fred."
Fred purposely would not meet his brother's eyes.
George took the sleeping potion Madame Pomfrey gave him out of his pocket.
Fred shook his head. "I don't want to sleep, especially not after today."
"You look like you are going to pass out because of how tired you are. You have to sleep Fred, I know you're scared, but there's nothing to be scared of."
Fred was thinking that might not be true. Ever since they left St. Mungo's he had developed a foreboding feeling, which was giving him increasing worry.
"Please Fred."
Fred stared at the potion in George's hands. He did have less nightmares when he took the sleeping potion, but he also had a harder time waking up. He reached out and took the vile, only drinking a little bit. He then got up and headed upstairs.
"Thank you Fred." George stayed downstairs while Fred went to get some rest. He knew Molly would want filled in on everything that had happened since they left earlier.
The sleeping potion Fred had taken was keeping his dreams in a fog, but through that fog the nightmares were starting to bleed through. He was running in darkness. He was alone. The air was cold. All he could hear was his own breathing. Fear clenched as his throat as he tried finding salvation. The more he ran, the darker his vision got, as if a large shadow was trying to swallow him whole. He was trapped running for what felt like hours, but when he finally awoke back in his room, he tried taking deep breathes to calm himself down. Fred realized almost as soon as he sat up that the darkness was not completely gone. Shadows crept in the corners of the room, slinking their way closer and closer to him. His breath hitched in his throat, his eyes darting for his brother, but George was not there. This was the first time since he had gotten back that was really alone. Every time he had woken up, George was there, and now there was no one. Fred scooted all the way back against the wall on his bed and pulled his knees up. He clenched his eyes shut hoping the shadows would go away. He was about to yell out when the sinking feeling growing inside him stopped. He opened his eyes to find his room just it was supposed to be. No shadows, no fear. Only the last rays of the sun spilling in from the window. Fred gave a sigh of relief as he climbed out of bed and made his way downstairs to find George.
George stood up from the table he was sitting at when he saw Fred. "Hey, get any sleep?"
Fred nodded a little as leaned against the counter.
"Still having nightmares." George was not surprised, especially after the day Fred had, but hoped they would lessen. "You hungry?"
Fred shrugged, but sat down at the table. Molly had already started making something when she heard Fred come down the stairs. She sat down with her two sons and talked about the Ministry and Fred's visit to the hospital.
"If them getting in your head has caused any damage, I swear they will have Hell to pay from me."
"I'm fine, Mum." Fred reassured his mother who kept reminding them they should have had her present when they went to the hospital.
"Mum, Madame Pomfrey knows more about our health and injuries than anyone else, if she says Fred is going to be okay, then he will be." George knew he needed to reassure his mother as well, but truly he was not sure if he trusted his own words. Fred had seemed to be going back and forth in wellness since his return.
That night when Fred and George went to bed, George decided to talk to Fred about what had been on his mind for most of the day. He turned over on his side to face his brother.
"How bad is the pain really?"
Fred, who was staring at the ceiling, turned his head towards George. "It comes and goes, but hurts more often than not. The potion Madame Pomfrey gave me seems to be helping."
"It'll pass in time. Things will feel normal again, it has to." George was not sure who he was trying to convince.
Fred said nothing, but turned his head back towards the ceiling.
The next day, Fred was tired, but feeling a little better. His mind seemed to be in an alright place except for when he would zone in and out. George was looking over the ingredient list Madame Pomfrey gave him to make Fred's potions with when Molly poked her head in from the doorway.
"Boys, there's someone here who'd like to see you."
Fred and George looked up to see Lee Jordan enter the room. When he walked in, his eyes landed on Fred. The boys got up, but before they could say anything Lee held up a newspaper.
"So this is how I find out then? Front page on the Daily Prophet…couldn't even tell me you were alive?"
Fred looked down while George defended them.
"We didn't mean for that to happen. As soon as we told our family the Ministry found out and then someone there must have noticed and alerted the press. It all happened really fast and we haven't even had the chance to talk to anyone. We are sorry though."
Lee glared for a moment before turning his attention back to Fred. "It's really you then?"
Fred looked back up. "While that's been the topic of popular debate, I am."
"Merlin…how the Hell did you manage that?"
"That's a bit more complicated answer I'd like to leave be."
Lee ran up to Fred and pulled him into a hug. "Thought I'd never see you again."
Fred was relieved that Lee was not mad at him for not telling him sooner. Getting back to his family was so important he really forgot all the friends he had left behind. There would be more people he needed to see.
Lee got a big smile on his face. "So what do you two have planned for this re-Fredding that has happened."
Fred smirked a little but shook his head. "Not sure I'm up for any extravagant antics just yet."
"Oh come on, Fred and George Weasley wouldn't back down from something like this."
"He is right Fred." George looked at his brother. "Maybe we shouldn't jump straight into another swamp situation, but I do think you could use a distraction. All we've done is sit around trying not to think about what happened while everyone else is trying to push you to tell them. That can only go on for so long."
Fred sighed. "What do you have in mind?"
A smile spread across George's face. "How would you feel about going home?"
It took Fred a few moments to realize what George was talking about. "I dunno, George."
Lee had caught on as well. "I think it'd be good for you, plus you already have someone to help you get things ready."
"What do ya say?"
Fred thought for a few minutes weighing his options. He tapped his fingers on his leg a few times before nodding and looking up and George and Lee. "What the Hell, let's do it."
"Yes." George nodded in excitement.
"The return of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Believe me the world is in need of a good laugh again. This will be great." Lee smiled.
Fred was nervous about opening up the shop again, but he knew they were right about him needing a distraction. Fred just hoped that was all he needed to feel normal again.
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AN: Thanks for reading!
