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CHAPTER 17.
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Molly Weasley and Arthur Weasley had returned from their much needed vacation and they were positively refreshed. Arthur looked much younger than his years and also appeared to have lost some weight since they had decided to walk and do everything the muggle way including the transport.
Molly was quite taken by muggle clothing and to her husband's utter delight she had started wearing them on a regular basis even after coming back. They hardly seemed like a couple married for over 30 years. Anyone would say they were newlyweds. Her children only hoped that they could set an example on their kids in the same manner that their parents did.
And so now that Mrs. Weasley was back, she was back in action. She had returned on Sunday morning but was so eager to meet all her children that putting all exhaustion aside, she had decided on having dinner at The Burrow. It would be too hectic for lunch, so dinner was decided. And she was very happy about it too. Percy and Audrey had just announced that they were going to have a baby and Mrs. Weasley squealed with joy as if Christmas had come early.
With Ron's engagement and the news of another grandchild, Molly Weasley was the happiest mother around.
Mrs. Weasley was so proud of Hermione for carrying on Sunday lunch in her absence. Hermione was as good as family. But it still broke her heart that her wish of having her as a daughter-in-law had not come true. 6 sons she had and yet here she was wishing she had more.
She really hated to meddle but sometimes kids needed to be pushed toward their own good. These new generation children thought they had it all planned and mapped out. Sure they did. But all they thought of was their careers. Getting settled was the last thing on their mind.
And this unwillingness to settle down had worried Mrs. Weasley to no end. In cases of both, Hermione and her son Charlie. Fred was single too but he at least showed interest in mingling. He often had dates and the occasional girlfriend. She wasn't that terribly worried about him. But Charlie was older and so immersed in his dragons. Sigh... Both Hermione and Charlie refused to give love a chance.
And so the idea of pushing Hermione and Charlie towards each other was born. It was perfect. Pure genius. Both were individualistic and hard working people and dedicated to what they thought was right. Hermione would be good for Charlie. Not too overbearing or demanding. And Charlie would just as much give Hermione her space. It all seemed perfect on paper. Now only to put the plan in action.
Sunday dinner had seemed the perfect plan. Charlie had portkeyed over at the Burrow. And Mrs. Weasley had made sure that Hermione sat in the extreme corner on the table with no one on the left and Charlie on the right. She herself sat on Charlie's right so that she could ignore him whenever she wanted and then he'd have no choice but to indulge in conversation with Hermione.
Fred was irritated at his mother. Granted she was excited at being back and cooking and meeting her kids. But they were all grown up now. They could bloody well seat themselves wherever they wanted. He was seething inwardly. Why did she have to make Hermione sit with Charlie? She barely knew the bloke. Their acquaintances were limited to these dinners and lunches and weddings. Okay. They weren't that distant but still!
Ginny was seated opposite Fred and she too was surprised at her mum's behaviour. It was subtle and was helped by the fact that Charlie arrived late, but Ginny recognised that her mother certainly had an ulterior motive behind placing Hermione and her second eldest brother next to each other. But what was truly amusing, was the myriad of expressions that played across Fred's face.
Confusion,disbelief,frustration,anger... Hurt? No that couldn't be! He seemed confused whether to delegate dirty looks towards his mother, who was responsible for Hermione sitting next to Charlie, or to glare at Charlie who came late and allowed himself to be seated by their meddlesome mother, or Hermione who actually sat down quietly where his mother ordered her to. She should've excused herself and come over where he... Her friends were sitting. At least she wouldn't be so lonely then. He stole a look toward her again, not knowing that his sharp red headed sister was constantly studying him all this while.
Hermione looked anything but lonely. She currently was enraptured by something Charlie was talking about. And looking at his gesticulations, Fred could only guess he was talking about his fire breathing buddies. That's all he talked about Fred thought inwardly and rolled his eyes. Just like how Ron always spoke about Quidditch, (and these days chess) Charlie was always talking about dragons. Maybe she would get bored of the monotonous talking and then he could save her. But they were only on their second course yet. This was going to be a long dinner. And didn't look like Hermione was going to lose interest any time soon.
Ginny had to curb her desire to laugh multiple times. It was like watching a silent movie. She was sure that Fred was having a long battling internal monologue and how she wished she had learned legilimency so that her movie wouldn't have been a silent one. Also it would save her the trouble of guessing what was going through Fred's mind.
That he was annoyed at Hermione sitting with Charlie was blatantly obvious. To those who were looking carefully at least. But she also sensed something else. His annoyance at not getting to sit next to her or maybe his annoyance at the fact that he was annoyed. Boy ! Fred was one confused soul today. She wouldn't want to be in his shoes. Chuckling to herself, she continued with her dinner.
She's not really my property. Fred thought. She can talk to or date whoever she wants. Just because we live together it doesn't mean we have to be constantly with each other. In fact that's all the more reason we should mingle with others. We have plenty of time for ourselves at home, he rationalised. It made sense. Then why did it sound like something he was forcing to convince himself?
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Hermione enjoyed working with the kids at the school. And she also enjoyed helping Fred with the shop. It had almost become a habit now to go over to the shop in the afternoon. She really looked forward to it. And so did Fred. He never admitted it but Hermione was great inspiration to be around with. She really showed interest in his and George's inventions and also helped about improving their products.
Hermione's visits were welcome now and had stopped surprising Fred and Lee both. And so today when it was past afternoon and she still hadn't showed, Fred started to wonder what had happened.
Usually, if she wasn't coming, she would stop by and say so or at least floo call and inform. But neither had happened and so Fred decided he'd go upstairs and check on her. She had seemed a bit low in the morning too. She had barely eaten and was slightly spaced out. Worried, he decided to climb the stairs up and not apparate, so as to not disturb her.
He reached and opened the door silently. It was silent except for the occasional sounds of violent sobs from across the room. Hurriedly, Fred crossed the hall and entered.
Hermione was sitting on the big armchair next to the fire place. She was wrapped in an old tattered blanket and looked a mess. Her eyes were red and swollen from what Fred could guess, hours of crying. The fire was blazing but she was still trembling violently, and sobbing. Not crying quietly but sobbing her insides out.
Fred's gut wrenched painfully at the sight of her in this state. He had never seen Hermione so emotionally fragile before. Ever. She was one of the strongest, smartest witches he had ever come across.
Of course she was sentimental. She wasn't heartless. But seeing her so labile, Fred thought he was seeing another side of her. And this side of her killed him. He was torn between running and comforting her and feeling guilty having encroached upon her hour of weakness.
There must've been a reason as to why no one had seen her like this. She wanted to be alone and deal with this on her own. If there was one thing that he learnt about her in these days, it was that Hermione Granger hated to be seen as someone weak. And she very well could take care of herself.
Bloody hell. With each and every tear that fell, Fred found it more difficult to breathe. His heart was in a tight knot and there was something he was experiencing that he couldn't explain. It was nothing of the same magnitude that Hermione felt right now. But the emotion was the same. Pain. Heart wrenching pain.
He saw her thus and it pained him. To hell with her privacy, he thought and walked toward her. Hermione didn't even see him come. He slid beside her in the big armchair and put his long arms around her, ready for a verbal combat. But none came. She slid closer and he wound his arms tighter, until she was completely in his arms, blanket and all.
She supported her face into his chest and continued crying. The intensity of the jerks slowed down little by little until she was no longer shaking but silently crying into Fred's now soaked T-shirt.
They lay there together for hours. Not speaking. Only Fred holding her as close as he could.
He had expected some answers when he had first seen her like this. But all he cared right now was to be close to her and keep holding her.
If her loud, jerky sobs had reduced to quiet crying while he held her, he was sure that if he held on for a little while longer, she would come out of this emotional breakdown sooner.
And if she didn't, he was going to be there for her.
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