Unforgettable (Fred & Hermione)

VIII

"Oi Fred! Wake up man"

Shaken awake by his shoulders Fred pulled himself back to consciousness only to realise he was lying on the damp grass in the Forbidden Forest. He felt slightly weak but physically alright. His twin brother crouched beside him examining him for any physical injuries.

"You alright?" George enquired, passing him a rectangular shape wrapped in brown paper. On opening it, it appeared to be a bar of chocolate.

Raising it to his mouth Fred paused

"This isn't something we made is it? Like marshmallow measles or something?"

His brother smiled and raised his eyebrows "No its not... although that's an excellent suggestion Freddy"

George helped his brother to his feet and offered him his arm to keep him upright but he declined. Taking another bite of the chocolate he
already seemed to be coming back to life.

Between bites George asked "Why couldn't you do a Patronus anymore?"

Fred looked away towards Hagrid's cottage and shrugged "I don't know... it just wouldn't work I mean... could I ever make a decent one?" He
smiled, trying to laugh it off as his magical incompetence.

But George wasn't laughing. He pushed his hands into his robe's pockets and asked "What memory did you use Fred?"

Fred told him the memory he used, that it was just a Christmas dinner at the Burrow. George shook his head.

"Nah Fred that won't cut it...It has to be something more powerful. Something that made you feel that your life would never be sad again because
of that moment"

They began climbing the front steps when George pulled his brother to a stop.

"You used to be able to create a patronus Fred... It came really easy to you..."

Fred looked back at his brother in confusion. "What are you talking about George?"

It was their seventh year at Hogwarts and the DA had been training for months in secret in the Room of Requirement. Harry finally believed they were ready to take on the spell that would keep all of them safe from Dementors and their evil powers.

It was their third night in row spent at it. George was getting more and more impatient as everybody else, including Ron and Fred, had gotten their Patronus charm to work. Fred's Patronus bounded around the room in the form of a hyena, its laugh echoed and making the chandelier shake. In the end George grabbed his twin's arm and pulled him to the side.

"How do you do it?" He whispered. "How can you do it and I cant?"

Fred looked around "I don't know George maybe you just haven't found the right memory yet" He shrugged.

George threw his hands up in defeat "Fine... what memory are you using? I'll try use it too"

Fred's eyes widened before his face broke into a grin "No can do brother" he laughed.

Rolling his eyes George pushed him again "Come on Fred just tell me what it is"

Fred wouldn't give it up though. George pushed him again, this time shoving his shoulder. Fred shook his head but gave it away easier than he
thought. When George begged him again Fred shook his head saying "I'm not gonna tell you George it's none of your business" but the person he
looked at gave it away. He was looking straight at Hermione. She was smiling at her patronus, an otter, as it scuttled around the room and back
towards her.

"You sap" George tutted giving his brother a slap around the back of the head to knock him out of his trance.

In truth, Fred Weasley had been thinking of a single memory but it was simpler than one would think. It was their third kiss, the one in the Boathouse. It was the look in Hermione's eyes right before she leaned in to kiss him again. That moment changed everything for Fred so that was
the moment he chose.