THC/The Houses Competition
House:Gryffindor
Category: Standard
Class: Potions
Prompt(s): [Restriction] First person (For the whole story)
[Action] Writing a letter
Words: 1211
Warning: Mention of suicidal thoughts.
Summary: Hermione writes a letter to Fred to help with her grief. (Fremione)
Title: Dear Fred, Love Hermione.
Dear Fred,
I feel so silly writing to you but I thought maybe, just maybe, writing to you would make this all feel better, if only just a little. It's been almost a year since your death. We've all managed to cope, just about. Sometimes, I feel like I can't anymore. I still expect to see you at the kitchen table with George in the mornings, working on one of your newest inventions, smiling and laughing as Mrs. Weasley yells at the two of you to get your crap off her table.
That's what I miss most about you. All you had to do was smile and all of my pain went away, as if it wasn't even there to begin with. I could surely use one of your smiles right now.
You remember fourth year, don't you? It was right after the Yule Ball and Ron had got me crying. I sat at the bottom of the stairs, my hair was a mess and I had mascara running down my face. Everyone paid me no mind as they walked past, everyone except for you. I don't quite remember what you said Ron was, but I think it was along the lines of "He's an idiotic, good-for-nothing prat". Although I think it was a different four-letter-word. Whatever it was, it made me laugh.
I miss that. It's not the same anymore. Don't get me wrong. I have laughed since you've been gone but it's not the same without you here to share it with. The joy I once felt with each burst of laughter is now gone.
For a while, the house was so quiet, it was so unlike the Burrow. No one did anything, no one wanted to. We all just wanted you back into our lives again. But we knew what you'd have said. You'd tell us to buckle up and stop acting like some sentimental freaks before telling one of your stupid jokes that would make all of us laugh.
Georgie's much better now. He was a mess before. We were so scared he was going to hurt himself for a while but as I said, he's happier now. He cracks jokes all the time and he reopened the joke shop, saying that you would have wanted it. I do believe that you would have hated if George got some boring, old desk job. You would have come down here and smacked some sense into him.
I've even started to help at the shop! I've realized it can be a real laugh at times. I went back to Hogwarts to finish my seventh year, I used one of your puking pastilles to get out of Potions. It was on April first. I thought you might get a kick out of it. The girl who never breaks any rules using a Weasley product to get out of class. It really is extraordinary magic.
Ginny misses you so much. For the first few weeks, I slept in her bed. Every night she wakes up, asking for you, asking for her big brother. The one who taught her Quidditch. The one who always teased her. The one who used to promise her sweets every time she got the Quaffle…the one who gave her a worm instead. You'd be happy to know that she and Harry are finally together and don't worry, your brothers made sure to let Harry know that if he ever broke Ginny's heart, they would never find his body.
And Ron…he was the one who told everyone it was going to be okay. He was the strongest. He helped us all through our pain. I was so used to him looking after us, I wasn't sure what to do when I saw him lying on the sofa one night, crying. He was so focused on looking after us, he forgot about himself. It was George, the one who helped him. We all saw the pain in his eyes as he told Ron he'd turn the lamp into a spider and for a moment we all laughed. We knew that if you were there with us, you'd be laughing with us before turning the lamp into a spider yourself. Ron would've probably wet himself, you know how terrified he is of spiders.
It hurts…it hurts to know that you're no longer here and are no longer able to share those moments with us. I still look around the room, trying to find you, laughing along with us. But as I said, we're doing better, we're all healing in our own way.
Mrs. Weasley still knits you sweaters, scarves and gloves and she didn't forget about your birthday, she made sure there was a gift for you at the table, all wrapped up and ready for you to open. Fleur has been learning how to knit and helping Mrs. Weasley. Although, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want pink flowers on them…or maybe you would. Knowing you, you'd probably wear it proudly, strutting around the house as if you were a model.
I think back, back to fourth year after that joke, you told me I looked beautiful. You said I always looked beautiful. You told me that I looked beautiful before, with my mane of bushy hair that could never be tamed and my crooked teeth. You said that shouldn't change who I was for someone else, even if that someone was Viktor Krum.
Then, you kissed me. I didn't know what to do, it came as a shock to me that you would kiss me, so I pushed away and watched as you blushed and looked away. I still remember my heart pounding in my chest as I made the choice to lean back in, gently pressing my lips to yours. That was our first kiss and I remember feeling as if I was walking on air for days after.
I still laugh at the memory. We tried to tell everyone that we were together after a few months of dating but no one believed us. Everyone thought we were pulling a joke on them but then you grabbed me, pulling me close and kissing me in front of everyone. Of course, your mother started planning our wedding. Although…we never got around to it. I'm sure I don't have to tell you why.
Do you think we would have gotten married? Would we have children? Imagine, two little babies with crazy curly red hair, a streak of defiance and a love for books. Obsessed with rules, yet with a passion to break them. I'd probably have insisted on some name with meaning and history like Alexander or Andreas. You'd probably have named them Bob. Yes, both of them and don't even try to deny it.
It was after Dumbledore's funeral when you first told me that you loved me. It was perfect- romantic, sweet…except for the fact I got goosebumps and those goosebumps got goosebumps. I realized I never got to say that I loved you back but you knew, right? That I loved you?
You were my first love, you were the first person I ever loved. The person I will always love. I love you and you will always be in my heart, Fred Weasley.
Love, Hermione.