WRITTEN FOR QLFC, Prompt Bingo
Prompt: Phoenix
"Fred, no!" Hermione's agonised screams reverberated through the castle as she fell onto her knees beside the rubble. She dropped her wand on the ground and started clawing at the cement, trying to get Fred out from underneath the wall. Her fingernails broke, blood streamed down her palm from the cuts on her fingers, but she ignored the pain. Tears streamed down her face, blinding her in her attempt to save the man she had secretly loved for more than four years.
"Hermione, he's gone," Percy choked out through his own tears, but Hermione refused to believe it.
"No! No, he's not!" She screamed and dragged the heavy rubble to the side, panting in exertion but refusing to give up. And then, she saw him.
His pale wrist hung limply, and his long fingers were gently curled. Hermione fumbled in her attempt to check his pulse. There was none, but he was still warm. Her mind refused to accept that he was gone. Fred Weasley could not be dead. She refused to live in a world without him. Not when she hadn't even told him how she felt about him.
Hermione sobbed and cried as she kicked the cracked stones off him, pain lancing through her foot. Finally, finally, his face came into view.
There was a cut on his face, blood trickling down his temple, and his beautiful reddish-orange hair was dirty and mussed up. It was the small smile still playing on his face that shattered Hermione's soul.
"No!" Hermione screamed, her throat, lungs and eyes burning as magic ripped right through her and burst out into a forcefield around them.
Time stopped inside the little bubble. Hermione's heartbeat slowed, her tears fell slower, but the pain of losing Fred was just as strong. Clasping Fred's hand in hers, she held it up to her lips and pressed a soft kiss to his fingertips. Her tears fell on the back of his hand, glistening like diamonds.
"I love you," she breathed out brokenly. "Please, come back to us. Please, Fred…"
She closed her eyes and let herself feel. What use was magic for if it couldn't help anyone? What use did she have if she couldn't even save Fred?
Fred, the man she had fallen in love with when she was just fourteen.
Fred, whose smile was enough to make her day go from bad to wonderful within seconds.
Fred, who had teased her relentlessly but never pranked her once since they had met.
Fred, whom she could pick out in a crowd with her eyes closed.
Fred, who had always taken the time out of his busy schedule of planning prank products with George to talk to her if she looked the least bit frazzled.
Hermione's shoulders shook as she sobbed out once more, "Please, Fred, I'll give anything…anything to see you smile again."
Unbeknownst to her, her magic rippled in the dome-like bubble, trying to get free. It began to spark around them like little flashes. And where there were sparks, there was always…fire.
Fire erupted inside the dome, and a spark landed on Fred's chest. Hermione cried out and tried to smother it with her hand, but to no avail. The burn on her hand was still not as painful as the thought of losing Fred forever. And her magic reacted to her emotions even more.
The fire blazed brighter and brighter, and Fawkes appeared through the flames. Hermione was too scared of what was happening that she didn't question his presence.
Fawkes blinked lazily while Hermione screamed as the fire engulfed Fred first and then her.
It's going to be okay. I'll take care of you. An unfamiliar masculine voice echoed in her head.
Hermione's hair went up in flames, and a huge blanket of smoke rolled over her, blinding her from what was happening to Fred. She started choking and coughing; she waved her arms out in front of her and cried, "Help!"
But despite the fact that some students and even Death Eaters had gathered to watch Fred and Hermione go up in flames—literally—none of them could do anything. Percy tried to cast a few Extinguishing spells on the fire, but the dome reflected them away. One of the younger students attempted to reach out to Hermione physically, but sparks flew off the bubble and almost burnt the boy's hand.
The fire spread through the entire dome within moments. Fawkes' warm, tear-filled gaze followed Hermione into deep oblivion.
Sleep, child, everything will be better soon.
When she opened her eyes, Fawkes was gazing down at her from up above. Hermione was startled by their height difference, but her feet were rooted to the ground.
Your anguish called to Hogwarts, my children and it always sends help to those who ask for it. You were therefore reborn in my flames and tears. Take the second chance at life, for not everyone is given this great opportunity.
Fawkes then spread his wings and flew off into the distance.
Hermione shook her head, bewildered by what had happened. She turned around and found herself staring into a pair of brown eyes—eyes she recognised as Fred's instantly. But it was a phoenix as big as her that stood in Fred's place. It blinked and cocked its head to the side.
Granger?
She blinked, confused, and looked around to see where the voice had come from. They were still inside the bubble, but everything seemed huge. And so hazy.
Percy, now a giant, was mouthing something to her, his whole demeanour screaming that he was freaking out. His arms flailed and gesticulated erratically, but Hermione couldn't hear his voice.
Colours she had never seen before popped out at her, making her dizzy, and she clenched her eyes shut, overwhelmed by everything. Something soft covered her head; Hermione slowly peeked her eyes open and found the phoenix covering her head with its wing.
I've got you, Granger.
Fred? Hermione blinked, beyond surprised by the revelation that this was Fred Weasley. A phoenix. Right in front of her. Alive…sort of.
Yeah, it's me. Are you okay? What happened? Why're you a phoenix?
I don't know! And you're the phoenix, not me!
No, you are. The last thing I remember was…the wall falling on me. Fred cocked his head before looking around him. Why's everything so big?
Hermione suddenly had a sinking feeling in her stomach. Or are we small?
Although Fred was now a phoenix (and so was she), it seemed as if he were frowning. He shook his head and opened his beak to speak, but only a squawk came out. His brown eyes widened and he repeated the action just to squawk once again.
Did I do that?
Yes… Hermione tried to walk over to him, but she tripped. Fred's wing shot out to steady her, and her eyes widened when she saw her own sharp talons. They were curved at the bottom and that's why it had been difficult for her to walk normally. She shook her head and thought, This is just a dream, I'm sure of it.
Do you always dream of us as phoenixes? Or would we be phoenices because the plural of matrix is matrices?
Stunned that Fred, a pureblood wizard, knew what the plural of a matrix was (never mind the fact that she had thought of this being a dream and he had heard her thoughts), Hermione lifted her head. She found herself staring at his broad fluffy chest right in front of her face.
Looks so soft… Hermione thought and immediately glanced at Fred's face. His eyes glinted with amusement; he had most likely heard her.
Want to touch me and see if I'm as soft as you think I am? he asked.
Hermione shook her head, embarrassed beyond belief, and stepped back. She stumbled over something and began to fall backwards. Fred caught her once again; this time, he swept her into his wings and clutched her close.
Merlin's beard, you feel wonderful, Fred's voice echoed in her head.
It was Hermione's turn to squawk like a parrot, and she clamped her beak shut at the horrible sound.
It's not horrible, you sound wonderful, Fred said and pecked her beak with his.
Is this the equivalent of a kiss in phoenix form? Hermione wondered to herself, but she should have known better than to think anything in front of Fred, who seemed to have developed the ability to read her mind now that he was a phoenix (It must have been Fawkes' work. After all, who else could bring someone back from the dead except for a magical phoenix who could help the students of Hogwarts from time to time?).
I can't believe you'd think that little peck was a kiss! Merlin, I can't even give you a proper kiss now! My life is over!
Fred was being dramatic as usual, and Hermione told him. But he glared at her and said, Woman—bird, leave me alone. I've been trying to find the right time to kiss you for the past four years and now I definitely can't do that.
Hermione's mind short-circuited.
It didn't matter that they were still inside the magic bubble. It didn't matter that a huge battle was raging outside. It didn't matter that Percy was trying to fight the Death Eaters with the younger students and keeping them away from the bubble. It didn't matter that so many dead bodies littered the ground near them.
Fred Weasley had wanted to kiss her. For the past four years. Her. Hermione Granger!
Yes, you. Fred grumbled as he clutched her tighter to his chest, his soft, fluffy down brushing against her own. You're blinder than a bat, aren't you, Granger? Can't even see what's right in front of you.
It was only sort of true. Everything was blurry around the edges, but Fred's face was clearest of them all. The warm undertones of red and orange in his fluffy down complemented his beautiful brown eyes and dark beak. Hermione missed his human face, but at least he was somehow still alive.
I'm not talking about your actual vision—but now that you mention it, I can't see things clearly either…Anyway, what I was saying was that you're blind if you can't see how long I've been in love with you.
In love with me? Hermione mentally screamed, her beak shut tight. Merlin's beard, I'm dreaming! Someone's going to wake me up and you'll still be dead and—
Fred smacked his wing across her face and her head whipped to the side. See? Not dreaming.
Wow, you confess your love for me and then slap me right after. Nice, Fred, Hermione deadpanned and rolled her eyes.
Fred patted her face with his wing, this time gently, and said, I was just trying to show you you're not dreaming. I'm really in love with you, and I'm sorry we're stuck in this form because I really wanted to hold you in my arms and show you how deeply I feel for you.
Hermione had wanted to hear those words for a very long time. She remembered the time Fred had consoled her while she was crying on the stairs after fighting with Ron during the Yule Ball. He had taken her into his arms without a word, kissed her head, and held her close until her cries had turned into soft sniffles. Then, he had pulled back, gazed deep into her still teary eyes, and murmured, "You deserve the world, Granger."
She had fallen head over heels for him right then and there. No one had ever made her feel so cherished and cared for before.
I wasn't lying. You do deserve the world, Granger, Fred said, his voice just as soft as it had been then. I want to give you the world…that is, if you'll let me.
Tears welled in Hermione's eyes and she nodded fiercely. I love you too, Fred. I've loved you since fourth year.
I've loved you for even longer than that. Fred smiled as much as he could with his beak before he ducked his head and pressed the tip of his beak to hers. Hermione's heart melted at the strange kiss.
She didn't know what they had done to deserve a second chance at life, but she wouldn't give Fred up this time.
