"No..No..No..Wake up please!"
Hermione placed his head on her legs, desperately started to try enchantments to wake him up. His ginger hair was covering his eyes, she was holding his hand but he was not holding back.
Percy was standing in front of them to stop any possible attack since they were on the battlefield.
Hermione took his face in her shaking hands , cupped his cheeks and pressed her forehead to his. Placed a soft kiss on his lips.
"You can't leave me Fred Weasley."
She opened her eyes in her bed , feeling like a truck had run her over. She has been feeling like this recently. Well, she has been feeling like this for the past year.
She looked around and gathered her strength to get out of the bed.
She found her jeans and shirt , she got her coat and put on her shoes , took her keys and shut the door to her apartment.
She took her i-Pod from her bag and put in the earpieces.
I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Where a moment spent with you is a moment I treasure
A song to take her to a quick walk in her memories…
She was helping the twins with the shop on weekends since this summer since they were short on staff , and she could use the distraction.
"What is this song?"
Fred asked, frowning trying to figure out. Hermione laughed and turned around.
"It's a muggle band called Aerosmith.. I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing."
Fred stopped for a moment and started to listen to the song. Soon after he started moving his shoulders with the rhythm.
"Got quite the taste in music Granger."
"Thank you…" She responded , slightly blushing.
Fred walked towards her and took her hand spinning her around. She couldn't help but laugh.
"Fred.. What are you doing?" She asked as he carefully placed his other hand on her back positioning it slightly lower.
"Well Miss Brightest Witch Of Her Age.. This is called dancing.. I'm surprised you are not familiar with it honestly..If I-"
"Oh shut up Fred!" Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder and let the music determine their moves.
"How are you Hermione?" He asked, looking down at her. She lifted her head to meet his eyes.
Lately her name in his mouth made her feel..well…different.
"I am fine thank you are you?" They were still dancing.
"I will not talk to you if you are going to lie." He locked his eyes on hers. She looked away trying to fight the tears. But her efforts were not successful.
Her heart skipped a beat when Fred placed his hand on her cheek and wiped the tear away with his thumb.
"I am not my brother and I am not Harry. I can take it, you know. Seeing Ginny this summer after everything happened at the ministry… Got me worried about you." His voice was almost like a whisper.
Hermione stopped for a moment and looked at him with teary eyes.
"You were worried about me?" She asked as if she couldn't believe he would.
"Of course I was." He said as if it was natural. She knew that he meant it. This was not a lie. Not an effort to lift her spirits up as the twins would do usually.
"But..Why?" Fred let out a small laugh.
"Why?Really Hermione? For someone as smart and bright as you are this is a stupid question."
She shook her head slightly.
"I do not understand what you are saying Fred." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"For about 6 months you have been here helping us. We get to spend time with you. We get to know you more every single day. I get to know you more every single day… And as I learn..more about you… The more I think about how brilliant you are, how strong you are…How beautiful you are… I search for your face here even when I know you won't be coming that day.. I turn my head every single time the bell rings hoping maybe it is you. Because I've come to realize that everyday I spend without seeing you is not even worth the effort." His last words disappeared into his throat.
She was ripped away from her memory with a loud honk.
"Bloody hell.." She flung her bag around her shoulder and got up from her seat. Pushed the button on the handle and left the bus.
"Good morning Jean!" Timothy ran up to her as she entered the restaurant.
"Good morning Tim." She responded calmly.
"Everybody is ready in the kitchen." She nodded as she walked to the dressing room with him.
She took off her coat and put on her apron.
"Chef Whitmore" read on the left chest side.
She walked to the kitchen with Timothy.
"Good morning everyone. We are going to have a long day today as all of you know. But if we follow our rules and system it should all be fine. The wedding starts in 4 hours. We have to get to the snacks and Anette can I trust you with the cake?" Anette gave her a smile and nodded.
"We got this everyone, now let's get to work!" She said with a warm smile and a fake enthusiasm. She was getting pretty good at that which was a bit scary honestly.
"YES CHEF!"
This was her life now.
After the war.
Magic, taken - she still was not able to understand how they did that-.
Ripped from the magical world. Not able to visit, they were not able to visit.
Harry was captured by Voldemort. Merlin knows if he is still alive.
Her friends and second family… She could only hope that they were alright.