Two Of A Kind - Discontinued

Chapter 32 - by xXMade2LoveXx

**Rae's POV**

"Easy, easy," Madame Pomfrey mutters, helping me in to a sitting position, "go slowly, for heaven's sake!"

I lean forward so she can tend to the wounds on my back. My muscles are slowly loosening and today I'm going to try walking. Madame Pomfrey has gotten two crutches for me to lean on, but I'm still nervous about falling. Fred and George are sitting on the bed opposite mine, waiting. Remus is standing close by, hovering nervously.

Once Madame Pomfrey has finished checking my back I swing my legs over the side of the bed and take the crutches. I stand up shakily, leaning on them heavily. My legs ache and burn already, but I grit my teeth and try to stand up straight.

"Easy does it," Madame Pomfrey says. Remus is hovering around me, his arms half out stretched. I lift my right leg slowly and put it in front of me. I lift my left leg and stumble. I feel Remus' arms catch me. I straighten up again.

"I'm fine, Dad," I say, "I can do this."

Although my muscles are screaming in protest, I try again, lifting my left leg, letting the crutches take my weight, putting one foot in front of the other. It takes a long time, but I reach Fred and George. They help me turn around and I sink on to the bed, out of breath and shaking.

"Not bad for a first try," Madame Pomfrey says, taking the crutches and setting them aside, "but, your knees seem stiffer than they should be."

She flexes and bends my knees, making me whimper. George takes my hand and holds it firmly. Madame Pomfrey tsks over my knees, pressing and prodding them.

"What's wrong?" Remus asks eventually. Madame Pomfrey straightens up and looks over at him.

"It might take longer than expected. The knees aren't moving like they should be," she looks at me, "you could be on crutches for a few weeks."

"As long as you don't have to cut them off," I say, stretching one out in front of me.

"Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that," she says, "let's get you back to your own bed."

George puts one arm behind me and one under my knees and lifts me up, carrying me the few feet to my bed. He puts me down and pulls the covers up.

"We'll let you rest," Remus says, motioning for the twins to leave.

"Can't they stay?" I ask, "Please? Just for a little while."

Remus exchanges a glance with Madame Pomfrey who shrugs.

"Just a little while," Remus conceeds. He gives me a kiss on the forehead and walks out. I lie back in the pillows and George sits at my feet while Fred sits beside the bed.

"Anything interesting happening?" I ask, rubbing my knees. George looks at Fred and Fred colours.

"What?" I demand, "What happened?"

"Elena kissed me," he says. I raise an eyebrow, surprised. Fred seems a little ticked off.

"And...?" I prompt.

"I don't know, it was a mistake," he says angrily, "I told her it'll take time to figure out how I feel. I just... I don't know. If things were like they were at the beginning of the term, maybe it would be different. As it is, I go between wanting to be friends with her and wanting to never see her again. But she just seems to act like nothing ever happened."

"It'll all figure itself out," I say comfortingly, "it'll get better someday."

Fred nods, but has a slight scowl on his face. I look at George for support.

"Yeah, it'll work out," he says. Fred rolls his eyes.

"Come on, George, you don't believe that," he snaps. George shoots him a warning look.

"Fred-" he starts.

"Just tell her," Fred spits, "I believe the wording was something like 'We'd be better off without them'."

I look at George. He's glaring at Fred.

"George, what is he talking about?" I ask, my voice shaking.

"It's nothing, I didn't mean it," he says, "it was just in the middle of all the drama."

"'I wish we'd never even met them'," Fred says, "that was it."

"You wish you'd never met me?" I ask quietly. My heart is racing and I can feel tears burning behind my eyes.

"No-"

"What did you mean then?" I sob, tears spilling over, my chest tight.

"I didn't mean anything by it, Rae!" George exclaims, "I was upset, everyone was. I just blurted it out."

"He's right," Fred says, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up like that."

"I-I can't..."

"Rae, seriously, he didn't mean it," Fred says. I shake my head, tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Calm down," George says softly, "I'm sorry, I'm so glad I met you."

"I can't... I-I c-can't..."

"Little bit of an over reaction," Fred mutters. I'm gripping the bed sheets, struggling to get air in to my lungs.

"Breathe," I rasp out, "can't... Breathe!"

George nearly falls off the bed, Fred is yelling for Madame Pomfrey. George helps me sit up and the tightness in my chest recedes a little. Madame Pomfrey appears and presses her wand to my chest. Air flows in to my lungs and I gulps it down.

"You two out!" Madame Pomfrey screeches, "NOW!"

Fred and George back out quickly. I feel my breathing start to slow and lie back slowly, feeling dizzy.

*                         *                         *

I wake the next morning to find Fred and George sitting beside the bed looking guilty.

"You nearly killed me," I say groggily.

"We're sorry," George says, "Fred especially, since it was actually all his fault."

"I am sorry," Fred says, "I was just trying to pick a fight."

"Wait until I'm better, then I'll show you a fight," I grumble. The boys exchange a glance.

"What?" I sigh.

"Elena wants to see you," Fred says, "She's waiting outside."

"No," I shake my head. George nods immediately.

"That's fine," he says moving to sit closer to me and running his fingers through my hair, "you don't need any more stress at the moment."

I look over at Fred who nods in agreement.

"We told her it was up to you," he says, "she thought if you woke up with just her here then you'd talk and fix everything, but after last night-"

"We didn't want you to get scared to death," George says bluntly. A tear trickles down my nose and he wipes it away.

"I just need time," I whisper.

"I know," he says soothingly, "don't worry about it."

"It makes me feel so guilty, though," I say.

"Don't think about it," Fred adds, "you just need to focus on getting better."

I nod and sniff.

"Can you do me a favour?" I ask them.

"Anything," George replies immediately.

"Can you go and see Hagrid and see how Snuffles is doing?" I ask, "I want to know that he's okay."

"Sure," George says, standing up and kissing me on the forehead, "we'll see you later."