A/N: I've been neglecting this story and I'm sorry. This chapter is a little longer and I really like it so I hope you do too.

I've changed my pen name btw. Recognize the spell? (;

-imperio-peeta

Downpour

Hermione never fell asleep. She could hear Ginny's steady breaths, Crookshanks' purring had faded a while ago and she sure she was the only one in the house left awake. She looked at the clock on the wall and rested her head back on the pillow when she saw that it was one o'clock in the morning. She didn't know why she couldn't fall asleep. She had a strange feeling nagging at her, and it was keeping her awake.

She heard rain spattering against the window pane, saw flashes of lightning in the dark clouds. Hermione pulled her covers up higher. An hour later, she still wasn't asleep. She quietly got out of bed, slipped on some shoes and crept downstairs, wand in hand. She didn't know exactly what she was doing, but her feet were moving with purpose. She ended up in front of the Weasley Family clock. George's hand was still at work.

Hermione Apparated to Diagon Alley without a second thought. When she was staring at the orange store front of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, her heart clenched. She wrapped her jumper around her tighter, cold and wet from the rain, and cautiously walked up the steps. She turned the knob, and the metal cold was against her skin.

When she opened the door, it was dark. She took out her wand and murmured Lumos Maxima. When there was light in the room, she gasped. The place was completely destroyed. Boxes were strewn all over the floor, things ripped out of their packages, shelves and displays were tipped over. She covered her mouth with her hand.

Hermione carefully made her way through the store until she reached the steps to go to the next level. Her heart broke more and more as she made her way around the store. It was all the same, and she couldn't find George anywhere.

Then, she saw that a window was open. It led out to the giant man at the front of the shop. Hermione slowly approached the window and saw that George was sitting out there. She felt a wave of relief and debated her next move.

She climbed out the window and sat down beside George, trying not to think of the possibility of falling off due to the wet surface. George was resting his chin on his hand, and was absolutely soaked. He didn't say anything to her as she sat there beside him in the downpour.

Finally the rain began to lighten up before it entirely stopped. Hermione's clothes were soaked through, and she was freezing, but she didn't move. The moon appeared from behind the clouds and Diagon Alley was lit below them. Finally, the silence was broken.

"Nice pyjamas." George said softly.

Hermione's lips curled into a smile. "Thanks."

Then he was quiet. She was concerned at the eerie state of calm he was in. The wind blew gently past them, and Hermione shivered. George didn't move. His hair was plastered to his forehead, but he didn't bother to push it out of the way. There were dark circles under his eyes.

"George, you're not okay." She said solemnly.

He continued to stare straight ahead but he let out a little ironic laugh. "Aren't you supposed to ask me if I'm okay?"

"No, because then you'd lie." Hermione said pointedly.

"Fair enough." George murmured. Hermione watched his eyes fill with tears. "You're right." He whispered with dread.

She reached out and rubbed his shoulder. He felt really cold. "It's going to be okay, George."

George shook his head. "I don't know, Hermione. I want it to be. I want to reopen the joke shop but it's so hard," his voice caught and he pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes. He rocked back and forth gently. "Everything reminds me of him. I can't do it. It tears me up inside. It feels like someone is squeezing my heart in their fist." He scrubbed his hands down his face and sniffled.

He stopped rocking, and spoke in a dull voice. "To produce the Patronus Charm, you must conjure a powerful, happy memory. You know that. So every time I think of a happy memory, Fred is there. And then I remember that he's not here anymore. I've lost him." Tears spilled down George's cheeks and Hermione's eyes started to water. "My Freddie's gone and I can't get him back. Not ever." He elicited a quiet sob that wrenched Hermione's heart.

She threw her arms around him and stroked his hair. He hugged her tightly and pressed his face into her shoulder, where he cried freely. "Shh, shh." She didn't say it was all right, because honestly, it wasn't. Fred Weasley was ripped away in the most awful manner. Hermione wished it had never happened, but it had, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

For a while Hermione simply held George, rubbed his back and stroked his hair, comforting him in anyway. When his body stopped quaking, his hands slowly released her, and she let him go. She took his face in her hands and gently wiped away his tears with her thumbs. His eyes were red and puffy from crying, but she offered him a small smile as she lowered her hands.

He wiped his nose on his sleeve. "Oh, I'm sorry. Merlin, I'm such a prat." He said, ashamed.

"Hush." Hermione said sternly. Then she spoke more gently. "You're allowed to have feelings."

George didn't say anything for a while. "Thanks, Hermione." He said sincerely.

"You're welcome." She replied tenderly. "I think it's time for some dry clothes and for you to get some sleep."

George nodded reluctantly and they went back into the building. George closed the window and looked over the railing at the mess of his shop. "I'm a wreck." He whispered.

"We can come back and clean it up another day. But right now, you need to go home and get some rest."

George nodded and Hermione grabbed his hand and led him back downstairs. George locked the front door and they Apparated back to the Burrow. She released his hand and they quietly entered the house and went upstairs. They stopped in the hallway before they parted ways.

"You're a really good person, Hermione, and you're a great friend. Thanks again." George said.

"I just want you to be okay." She said. She wrapped her arms around him once more and squeezed him lightly. Their clothes were still wet and clung to their bodies. "Good night, George."

He hugged her back and pressed a light, friendly kiss to the top of her head. "Good night, Hermione."

They let go of each other and Hermione went back to Ginny's room to change out of her wet clothes. She hung them over the desk and chair, and then put on another pair of pyjamas. She glanced over at Ginny, who was still sound asleep, and then left the room. She crept over to Ron's room and went inside. Harry was sprawled out on his bed with his arm flung over his eyes, but he was fast asleep.

She tiptoed over to Ron's bed and pulled back the covers. Ron woke with a gasp that sounded a lot like "Spiders!" but relaxed when he saw it was Hermione.

"Sorry. Can I stay with you tonight? I'm having trouble sleeping." She whispered.

Ron smiled softly and scooted over in his small bed. "Of course, Mione." She got in beside him and snuggled up against his side. "You know, if you're gonna make this a regular thing I'm going to need a bigger bed."

Hermione giggled. "You just can't move around too much, is all."

"I don't think I have much room to breathe let alone move." Ron stated.

"I can leave if you want me to." Hermione said.

"Definitely not." He pressed a kiss to her temple. "Did you take a shower?"

Her hair was still wet. "No, but I can explain in the morning, okay? I promise."

"Alright." Ron said sleepily. The next minute he was sleeping again and his warmth allowed Hermione to relax. She finally fell asleep.

Hermione woke up before Ron and slipped out of bed after pressing a kiss to his cheek. She tiptoed out of the room, careful not to wake Harry as she passed him.

George's room was up another small flight of stairs in the Weasley home. Hermione padded up the steps and stopped outside of George's door. She knocked softly but didn't hear an answer. She bit her lip and tried the knob, and it was unlocked. She opened it slowly, and peeked her head inside. The room was cleaned up, curtains back on the rod, posters and banners back on the wall, shelves back in place with their books and knick knacks in their proper place.

George was in bed, sleeping. His face was peaceful, the rise and fall of his chest was steady. Hermione smiled and closed the door.

"What, did you go to everyone's room last night?" came a voice from behind her.

Hermione jumped slightly and turned around. It was Ron, and his arms were crossed over his chest.

"No, I was just checking on George."

"He's home? Why would you be checking on him?" He raised an eyebrow. Hermione walked forwards and took his arm. She led him downstairs and they sat down on the couch.

"Remember how my hair was wet last night?"

"Yeah. You said you'd explain why so let's hear it." Ron didn't look too impressed.

"I went to the joke shop to look for George because I couldn't fall asleep because I was so worried about him. I found him and he was just sitting outside in the rain so I sat with him. He trashed the place, Ron. It looks like a mob of Death Eaters ran through."

Ron's face fell. "Really?"

"Yeah." Hermione bobbed her head. "We talked a little bit, and he's so miserable." Hermione decided not to bring up the crying and hugging and the kiss on her head, because she knew how easily Ron got jealous. It was all friendly stuff, but she didn't want to upset Ron. She loved him and didn't need him to worry about anything. She cleared her throat. "But he's okay now. Well, better. I shouldn't say okay. He's cleaned up his room and he wants to fix up the joke shop but he needed to sleep. I was just checking on him to make sure that he was still here. He's sleeping."

Ron rubbed his eyes. "You sure have taken to helping him, Hermione."

"Yes, because he's my friend. And he's my boyfriend's brother." She reached out and brushed some hair off his forehead. "You won't have a happy life if the people you love aren't happy as well."

Ron looked at her with some doubt in his eyes. "And you love me, right Hermione? It's been hard not to notice how close you've gotten with George."

Hermione became upset with what he was suggesting. It was a good thing she didn't mention everything, because he was jealous without even hearing it. "Do I have to prove something to you, Ron? If you haven't noticed, you're the one I spend the most time with, you're the one I've been kissing, telling them that I love them. It's your bed that I go into at night." She shook her head and let out a humorless laugh. "I can't believe you just asked me that." She got up from the couch and began walking away.

Ron reached out and took her arm. "Hermione-"

She pulled her arm out of his grasp. "Don't touch me." Her voice was cold.

She met Harry at the bottom of the stairs. He was looking at her sadly.

She rubbed her forehead. "Don't tell me you heard all that." There was a tremor in her voice.

Harry held out his arms and she hugged him.

"He'll come off it, Hermione. You know how he is. Don't let it bug you, he'll come apologizing to you in an hour, or two." He rubbed her back and let her go, giving her a reassuring smile.

Hermione smiled a little. "You're right. Thanks, Harry."

"You're welcome." He moved out of the way and Hermione went upstairs. She went back to Ginny's room and plopped down on her bed. Ginny yawned and looked at Hermione from across the room.

"Morning." She said.

Hermione pulled Crookshanks to her and set him on her lap. She rubbed his ears and he began purring. "Hey."

Ginny sat up. "Are you alright?"

Hermione sighed and explained what happened with George and then what Ron said to her a few minutes ago.

Ginny's eyes widened. "He said that to you?"

"Yeah."

Ginny snorted.

"I don't see what's so funny." Hermione muttered.

"He thinks you like George? Doesn't Ron see how you look at him?" Ginny shook her head. "Everyone knows you love Ron, Hermione. He's just being a prat." She hopped out of bed and went to sit with Hermione. "And what you're doing for George, it's really good." Ginny gave Hermione a hug. "Thank you."

Hermione closed her eyes and gave Ginny a squeeze. They let each other go and Ginny smiled before leaving to get some breakfast.

Hermione took a shower and changed into some comfortable clothes. She went downstairs and ate some breakfast alone. When Ron came to the kitchen, she was thankfully done. She went to the sink and washed her dishes without talking to him.

"Oh, Hermione you don't have to wash any dishes!" She looked over her shoulder and saw a very happy Mrs. Weasley.

"I don't mind." She said, drying her bowl.

"Well, if you happen to still be hungry I'm going to make some eggs and bacon."

"Oh, I think I'm okay. Thank you, though."

"No worries, dear. Did you know that George is home?" She beamed.

"Yes, I did, actually. I'm really glad that he is." Hermione smiled warmly.

"Me too." Mrs. Weasley kept grinning as she set to work on cooking breakfast.

Hermione felt Ron's eyes on her as she left, but she didn't acknowledge him.

She went upstairs and saw George coming down from his room. He was wearing pyjamas and it didn't look like he had combed his hair, but he looked much better than he had last night.

"Nice pyjamas." Hermione smirked.

He gave her a crooked smile. "Thanks."

"How are you?" Hermione smiled.

"Better." He stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Good. Your mum's making you breakfast, and Ron's sitting down there moping."

"Why's he moping?" George tilted his head.

"Don't worry about it. And if he acts weird to you, he's just being a prat. Don't give it a second thought."

George raised an eyebrow. "Okay. See you later." He walked past her and went downstairs.

Hermione went back to Ginny's room and sat on her bed. She didn't know that to do with herself. She had wanted to spend time with Ron but seeing as he was being an idiot, that wasn't going to happen. She folded her arms and lay back on her bed. Crookshanks came up behind her and curled himself around the top of her head. She giggled at her silly cat but didn't make him move. Hermione and her cat stayed on the bed like that and she tried to clear her head of all thoughts.

She heard a knock at the door. "Hermione?" Ron called softly.

She didn't move from where she was. "What is it, Ronald?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said. I love you so, so much. And I know that you love me. I don't know why I said that. I'm a jerk and I hope you can forgive me."

Hermione sighed and got out of bed. Crookshanks meowed grumpily but she ignored him. She walked over to Ron and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You should be sorry. I love you, Ron. You shouldn't ever question that, okay?" He nodded sheepishly. Hermione kissed him fiercely and then wrapped him up in a hug. "I forgive you."

"Thank you." He said.

Hermione looked at the wall. An hour had passed from their argument. She smirked and made a mental note to tell Harry later.