A/N: I leave for University next week, so there will be no new chapter update until the weekend. (Hopefully!)


Fred spent four hours outside her room as the healers went straight to work. Despite the fact that their souls were bound, Fred wasn't allowed in the room. Never in his life had he been a shaky person. He had never shook from nerves or anger. The immunity to that was how he was waiting to see her. To know she was okay was what was killing him. His foot was shaking austerely; he knew deep in his heart the bond was only intensifying this. He assumed this was because

He had sent owls out to everyone but had informed them not to come, which surprisingly they all obeyed. He really just couldn't deal with everyone asking him questions and he not knowing the answer to any of them. Also, he just didn't want to deal with other people. His concern was on that damn bookworm.

"Mr. Weasley?"

Fred hadn't even heard the door open or the other healers leave the room. With shock he bolted up and tried to peer into the now visible room.

"We have put Miss. Granger to rest. Seems that she accidentally mixed some wrong potions together, it caused her body to become paralyzed. The cut on her head was probably just from her falling," the female healer explained to Fred with a warmed smile.

He recognized her barely. The red head could dimly remember her changing the bandages on his head. He could still remember the always-lingering headache he had for the longest time because of the wall crashing into him. He could recall how it hurt to even breathe from his bones being crushed. She was always kind to him though, letting George coming in after visiting hours and what not.

"When will we be able to leave?" Fred asked, finally making eye contact with the woman.

He was met with a disappointed expression from the healer and he could only raise an eyebrow in question.

"Well… you can leave whenever Miss. Granger wakes up-"

"But?" Fred had caught on precipitously. She was trying to deliver the good news first, then the bad. He gave the woman props for that; she just needed a better poker face for giving such news.

"We have never actually seen those two potions mixed together, it took forever for us to even catch on that she was paralyzed because of that," she enlightened.

"So you don't know when she will get mobility back?" It was the prankster's turn to make a dissatisfied face. His attention was back to the room, where he could make out the petite lump on the cot. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the woman nod, and he sighed informally.

"Am I at least allowed in there now?" Fred asked with annoyance. He stayed here enough with his own injuries. He really just wanted to pick up the brunette and flee back to the flat.

"Of course!" The healer stepped out of the way and held her chart close to her chest. Fred smiled, nodded, and headed into the room.

"I'll call to a healer if she wakes up," Fred notified with conclusiveness, shutting the door as soon as figured the woman heard it all.

Fred's head falling forward caused him to awaken. He whipped his face and looked around, frowning when the sights confirmed they were still stuck in the hospital. The red head stood up; letting his muscles stretch from the dreadful position he fell asleep in, and walked around the small room.

The wizard went over to the only window, frowning when he noticed the sun was setting. It would almost be an entire day since he last spoke to Hermione. He was honestly aching to talk to her at this point. He felt the bond wearing out his body and while it annoyed him, it made him sadder than anything. Despite his words, he really felt connected to her now. It had only been a day and he felt the spell increasing more.

He figured it was because of the bond that this was happening. The ministry doing everything in their power to make sure the couples can in some way be pushed together. He just had no idea it would be this strong.

His biggest fear now was it would be a repeat of Angelina. From the thought of her, his face twisted with disgust and pain. He knew now he wasn't in love with her. He did care for her though, even if he doubted it lately. Fred figured this to be the reason he was such an arse lately. If Angelina hadn't gone off with Oliver, he would have figured out sooner or later that he wasn't in love with her. Though… it did still suck the way she left him.

Maybe it was just the bond, a magical spell making him think and feel this, but every time he compared Hermione and Angelina, he just felt so different between the girls. While he cares about both, he was amazed at how distinctive those feelings were for the girls.

With Angelina it was fun, and Fred hardly ever took anything seriously. After his accident though he became cold to her, and most every one. The wizard hardly even spoke to her.

It wasn't the same for Hermione. Sure, Fred would goof off, but he was amazed now that he looked back on it; how he took some of the things she said so seriously. He was amazed himself, about how well he listened to her. Even with his accident, he wasn't as warm as he once was with her. But between her, his mum and George, they were the only people who he would bother giving him a smile.

At first he wanted to believe the soul bond was making his memories diluted and wrong, it just wasn't the case though. If anything, things he couldn't remember before involving Hermione, he could remember like it had just happened.

It was really confusing him. More than that, he was worried. What if the soul bond wasn't working for Hermione? What if by some reason he did happen to fall in love with her, but she fled like Angelina. He was recovering dreadfully now. He hated to imagine what it would be like then.

A knock at the door stirred him out of his thoughts, he turned his body slightly, immediate shock running through him at the entering figure.

Pale as ever, and looking quite underweight, Malfoy entered the room. Fred opened his mouth to automatically accuse him. The last he knew, the Malfoy's were in Azkaban. But Fred identified the healer's cloak and saw he had a chart. He knew of the unspoken peace between Harry and Draco, but it was hard to say if Fred could have that. Especially when his first thought was that he snuck in to harm her.

"I thought you were in Azkaban, Malfoy?" Fred asked harshly, his body moving and turning seemingly on its own. He moved closer to Hermione's bed, having most of his body in front of her.

"I struck a deal. I've decided that being a healer is in my calling. "

Silence overcame the white room. Fred surprised by how not hostile Malfoy had been with him. It was quite different from any usual conversation they would have. Not to mention that Fred and George spent a majority of their time pranking Slytherin and Malfoy's little gang.

Draco stepped a bit closer and naturally Fred tensed. He held to the front of Hermione's bed and narrowed his eyes.

"I'm just here to check on her head," Malfoy explained and then flaunted his usual arrogant smirk. "It seems Granger here bumped it pretty hard."

Fred's eyes narrowed more and he took a larger step forward. Anger overwhelming him and he felt a confrontation coming. The feelings departed however when Draco held up his hands and his smirk became lost to a serious face.

"I'm just here to check on her. I'm not looking for any sorts of trouble," Malfoy explained calmly.

The freckled wizard stood his ground some time before believing in him. A little voice telling him that Harry, Ron, and Hermione would all do the same. He sighed and retreated back to his chair, moving it a bit closer to the bed. For his own peace of mind.

"Taking watch while Ron is out?" It was small talk, a surprisingly big step for Malfoy, as he checked the sleeping witch's head.

Fred snorted and shook her head. "Actually, I was the lucky Weasley to get the honor of marrying that outlandish bookworm."

Draco turned to make eye contact with the other, his eyebrow raised slightly. The look caused an annoyance within Fred and his expression dropped even more.

"What?" he accused venomously.

The pale healer shook his head directly and laughed. "No, nothing bad. Just surprised really. I don't think anyone could have thought of you two together since she was always with Ron and Harry."

"It really was a surprise to everyone," Fred mumbled, his thoughts trailing off.

"Her swelling has gone down immensely. She will probably wake up soon."

"Then we can leave?" Fred asked with a bit too much hope.

"I would assume, they have no other reason to keep her here. Though you probably want to check her back in when she gets mobility. Just so we can make sure everything is alright with her body," Draco explained, gathering his things up to leave.

"Thanks," Fred murmured. It was a weird feeling trying to show gratitude to him, but he felt that Malfoy deserved it.

"Any time," Draco replied, heading out the room.

"By the way, whom did you get bonded to?" Fred asked the question right before Draco shut the door.

The pale blonde peaked his head back in, his expression bleak. "Susan Bones."

Fred held in the laughter that threatened so hardly to escape. "Wasn't she the one who lost her leg during the apparition test?"

Malfoy's expression dropped even further, and Fred knew that the question was testing the others patience, but he honestly couldn't help himself.

"The very one," Malfoy stated, his voice filled with annoyance.

Without another word he shut the door on Fred, and the wizard was unable to keep in his laughter, he erupted in his seat for quite some time. Enjoying the misery Malfoy probably was going through. He might have changed some of his ways, but Fred hardly doubted that he was already accepting of muggle-borns and half bloods.

The freckled wizard was up at the front, sending out owls to family and friends on Hermione's status. He made the letters pretty quick and short, though explaining everything he needed to so no one would need to come up and figure out all the details. Fred was really enjoying himself in the silent company of Hermione.

He chatted with the front desk receptionist, a Ravenclaw that was in his year. He knew her by name, but that was really it. There was no real meaning to the conversation, really just to pass his time.

After finally getting bored with the conversation, he went back to the room, plopping on the chair and stretching his legs. Fred didn't know what time it was, only that the sun was nearly gone. Letting out a sigh, he made himself comfortable, readying for a night at St. Mungos.

"I can't move," a voice murmured.

Fred jumped out of the chair and practically flew to the bed. His worried azure eyes met with alarmed brown ones.

"You're awake!" Fred exclaimed, a smile broadening on his face.

Hermione eyed Fred, making him feel like a mad man a bit. Fred still was unable to rid himself of the grin; he simply shook his head and continued smiling down to her.

After calling in the nearest Healer to get Hermione checked out, the wizard sat the witch up, letting her relax and become more awake and aware of her situation in the hospital rather than rushing her straight to the flat.

"What were you thinking mixing those potions together?" Fred asked finally, a small frown on his face. He hadn't been able to figure that part out.

"I was thinking that I could make a prank to wow you," Hermione replied bitterly, causing Fred to chuckle.

"You really should invest in correctly labeling your potions," the bookworm added, a small smile on her face finally.

"I know, I know." He rolled his eyes; she was the one who foolishly messed with his potions, yet he was getting scolded.

Then the horrible memory hit him. His awful words to and about her. They were the real reason she was here. His face and mood dropped, his head hanging in shame.

"Hermione… what I said-"

"Was rude and very hurtful, but I accept your apology." Hermione smiled more now to him, giving him a reason to not feel as guilty. "And what I did-"

"Was daft and incredibly irresponsible," Fred interrupted, extremely playful with his tone. He felt so relaxed, at ease now that she was awake and talking.

"Incredibly," the brunette replied, as equally playful with his antics.

They sat in their first comfortable silence. Fred felt so normal, like his accident and Angelina never happened. He just felt good, mostly, he felt happy. His first thought was it was the soul bond's doing, but he just couldn't believe it was all it's fault. It was all her, just her being Hermione. Being loving and forgiving, just being great.

"Well, since I am immobile for the time being, get a wheel chair or something, and Lets go back to the flat!" Hermione ordered, a smile still plastered on her face.

Fred stood up and shook his head. "Too much effort, I'll carry you myself," the prankster explained as he picked up the protesting girl. He was grateful she couldn't move. It made this much easier.

"Home, here we come." His mood was high, and he didn't feel like it was coming down for quite some time. With a loud cheer he disapparated back to the flat.