Unforgettable (Fred & Hermione)

IV

The clean up after the Final Battle happened slowly. Many families returned home trying to rebuild their lives. Hermione found Professor Slughorn and Professor Flitwick leading the clean up of the Great Hall when she returned from the funeral. She felt guilty for running from Fred but the reality that he was still Fred but not her Fred was too much. She missed him, she missed the way she is with him. Nobody had a plan to get him back.

When she found the Weasleys they were in the courtyard eating lunch. The elves had put out a spread after the funeral for everyone and people sat around on the benches eating and reminiscing. Hermione joined in and took a plate when Mrs Weasley offered her one. She watched as Fred smiled with George, he made a joke with Harry and even put his arm around Ginny. She watched as he was completely normal, completely himself and she felt like she could cry.

Mrs Weasley beamed as she grabbed Hermiones hand saying “Were so lucky dear. We have our Freddy". Hermione didn’t feel lucky. She felt completely alone. This was exactly how Alecto Carrow wanted her to feel. This was exactly what Alecto felt when her brother was murdered. This was exactly what Hermione deserved.

Hermione thought nobody noticed her slip out and go back into the castle but Harry and Ron followed her. They took seats beside her in the cloisters and it was surprisingly Ron who spoke first.

“He doesn’t mean it to be so horrible Hermione honestly...He just doesn’t remember how he felt about you"

Hermione bit her lip as she nodded trying to keep tears at bay. She felt pathetic, it was as if all she did since they won the war was cry.

“Its like I have no one Ron" She whispered “My parents cant be found until all the death eaters are in Azkaban... especially after what I did to Amycus Carrow"

Ron cut across her “Hermione you saved Cho and countless others! You were in a life or death situation. It was you or him" Harry grabbed Hermiones hand comfortingly.

“He could have gone on to kill any one of us... Ron, Ginny, me. Even Fred" Harry interjected. They were right of course. But to someone who had clutched to rules all her life Hermione struggled with such an ethical dilemma.

The clearing of someone’s throat broke the trio’s conversation. It was Fred, he stood a few feet away from them looking a little nervous.

“Could I borrow Hermione for a bit?” he asked, scratching the back of his neck like he always did when he was nervous.

Hermione nodded wiping away her tears and following Fred as they walked down towards the boat house together.

“I wanted to say sorry" he spoke first. Hermiones puzzled expression egged him on. I’m sorry for what you’re going through... this is weird for me but it must be so hard for you. I mean I don’t remember anything about us. I only know what George told me and from what he said, you meant a lot to me. Much more than just my little brothers friend"

Hermione smiled. At least George would testify to how they felt about each other.

“Its not easy... seeing you like this. You’re you but you’re not you. It’s like we’ve gone back in time but I’m stuck in the present" Hermione admitted pulling the sleeves of her jumper down over her hands which were eternally cold. When they reached the boat house they sat on the edge of the wooden pier.

“I’ve always loved it here" Fred admitted throwing a stone into the lake.

“I know... we used to come here all the time" Hermione added looking out on the lake as the giant squid bobbed around the shallows.

Fred looked over at her, squinting against the setting sun. In that light her hair looked almost caramel and her skin had a type of golden glow. She really was quite beautiful.

“Really? What did we do here? Fred enquired. Hermione I’m immediately looked away. The blush that stained her cheeks gave it away. “Oh!” Fred laughed “Damn I really wish I had my memories now".

Hermione shoved him with her elbow still trying to hide her embarrassment. “Shut up!” she laughed trying to stop him. It felt good. It felt so good to be laughing with him, in their secret spot. She had so many happy memories here. She would meet with Fred in the September of her fifth year and they would sit and talk for hours about their plans and their dreams. Or in the coldest days of Winter when she would wait in the boat house for him to finish Quidditch practice and they could have some half an hour together. With Umbridge constantly disciplining him Fred had scars covering the back of his hand permanently but Hermione managed to sneak some salves from the potions store room and make him a healing cream.

It wasn’t until she came back after Christmas at home that they kissed again. She hadn’t seen him since before Christmas and had been shocked to discover, she really missed him. She lost track of time unpacking her trunk and was forty five minutes late to meet him. As she sprinted down the pathway steps she kept thinking he would have left by now. But he was sitting there, waiting patiently.

His face lit up when she ran around the doorway and started gasping trying to apologise and explain. He simply rolled his eyes and pulled her in for an embrace. When she sat down next to him he added “I was just about to leave actually" with a smirk. She playfully shoved him “You better be joking Weasley" she tutted.

“I missed you Granger" he said with a smile but he was looking at her lips, not into her eyes.

“I missed you too Wea-" She tried to say but was interrupted with a kiss. It only lasted for a second and he pulled back to look at her. When her eyes lit up and her smile grew Fred leaned back in and kissed her again, this time wrapping his arms around her. They stayed in the boathouse until hours after dark that night talking and kissing until Hermione’s face hurt from smiling so much. Walking back to the castle hand in hand they agreed to keep things a secret for now. They wanted to keep their own little paradise separate from the madness as Umbridge got more and more strict, as Dumbledores power was drained and Harry became more concerned for their futures.