Can't Let You Go
Hermione's seventh year at Hogwarts was not turning out as she had expected. Most of her classmates had chosen not to come back to school. They had accepted the Ministry's offer of receiving their NEWTS by sitting for an oral exam. Hermione, however, hadn't wanted to take what she considered 'the easy way out.' Instead, she had insisted on completing a full year at the wizarding educational institution. Her decision had led to a huge argument with Ron, which resulted in them agreeing to date other people during their year apart.
Despite most of her classes being with Ginny or Luna, Hermione felt lonelier than she had since first year. Being at Hogwarts without Harry and Ron was more difficult than she had ever imagined. Evenings spent studying in the library or the Gryffindor Common Room weren't the same without her friends to laugh with or nag. In her more morose moods, Hermione even missed the excitement of fighting, thwarting, and ruining Voldemort's plots.
Therefore, almost two months after school started, Hermione began wandering the halls after curfew just to bring some adventure back into her life. She was infuriated when her nightly jaunts did not bring her to the notice of any prefects. Clearly the current students were not taking their positions seriously. She considered writing an anonymous note to Headmistress McGonagall informing of her of their appalling ineffectiveness, but worried that might bring the Professors out on patrol.
In all of her excursions, however, Hermione was careful not to pass through that part of the castle in which Fred Weasley had been killed. The location held too many bad memories and she didn't like being reminded of the loss of that particular red-headed twin. Although Hermione had never thought of him as much more than Ron's older, prankster brother, she had mourned his passing alongside the entire Weasley family.
At the end of the first week of October, Hermione was almost caught by Filch as she roamed the halls. She'd had to take off running in the opposite direction of his approach. It wasn't until she had sprinted down two halls and rounded several corners that she realized that she was standing in the exact location where Fred had died. Out of breath and slightly nauseous, Hermione slid down next the wall until she was sitting on the ground her head buried in her arms.
"What's the problem, Granger?"
Hermione froze. The voice she never thought to hear again sent a shiver down her spine.
"Graaaaangeeeeer," the voice repeated teasingly.
She slowly lifted her eyes and saw Fred standing before her.
"Oh, Merlin," she whispered.
Fred smirked. "Is it my good looks or my charm that has managed to render you effectively mute?"
"What are you doing here?" she asked still stunned.
Fred frowned and sat down next to her against the wall. "That's a good question. I'm not quite sure." He shrugged as if it wasn't important.
Hermione swallowed loudly. "Are you a ghost?"
Fred laughed. "I would have to be dead to be ghost!"
"But you—" Hermione cut herself off before she could inform him that he was dead. She didn't want to do or say anything that might make him disappear.
"But I what?" he asked.
"You… you look healthy," she told him, now unable to drag her eyes away from him.
"Thank you," he preened. "I love getting compliments from beautiful women."
Hermione was too shocked to blush at his flattering remark. She wanted to race to the library and immediately begin exploring the different magical explanations for his appearance. At the same time, she refused to leave him in case he faded away. As a compromise, she questioned him about what he'd been doing and what he remembered. Fred, however, ignored her queries and instead told jokes until Hermione laughed.
After an hour, Fred stretched his arms above his head and stood. "I'm beat. I need to go get some rest."
"No!" Hermione screeched, jumping to her feet. "You can't go!"
Fred smiled down at her, cupping her face in his hand. "There is no reason to get so emotional, Granger. I'll be back tomorrow."
"You will?" she sniffed, her eyes suddenly filling with tears.
He nodded and leaned down to brush his lips against her's. "Not even death could keep me away."
