Unforgettable (Fred & Hermione)

XII

"Why are you so scared Hermione?" Fred asked her, squeezing her hand in his.

She avoided his gaze as she prepared herself.

"I'm just worried..." She admitted. "I'm worried that even if you see this memory you won't feel the way you did when you lived it"

Fred's frown marked his whole face. "There's only one way to find out 'Mione" He shrugged his shoulders pulling her gently towards the pensieve.

Taking a deep breath Hermione closed her eyes and raised her wand to her temple. Pulling that memory from her mind she let it fall into the stone basin and swirl around in the mix of her other memories.

"Just try and remember that if you don't... if you want to..." Hermione struggled to find the right words and for the first time in a very long time she was entirely speechless.

Fred held her head in his hands and reassured her "It's gonna be alright I promise. We're going to be fine. I mean unless I'm about to find out you're pregnant with George's baby things can't really be that bad"

Fred laughed, kissing her forehead and left Hermione waiting in Dumbledore's office for him.

Fred felt the familiar falling sensation for a moment as the world flew past him in a blur until he came to a stop, falling to his feet in a room he couldn't recognise. He looked around him as he realised he must be in Hogwarts with all of the students around him in uniforms. They looked rough and dishevelled but all were safe. Turning around he took in the faces he had been to school with for years. A chill ran down his spin when he saw Lavender Brown, her neck and face unmarred and beautiful, Colin Creevey alive and laughing. They had no idea what was coming.

The room was massive with high ceilings and doors off of it. Beds made from camp beds, hammocks and old couches were strewn about with bed clothes piled at the walls. A few trunks were opened with robes and clothes spilling out but most of the students seemed to only have the clothes they had on their backs. Banners and tapestry's hung against the walls easily recognisable by the scarlet and gold, yellow and blue colours of the three houses the room held. It was the Room of requirement and it was hiding so many of Hogwart's students from the tyrannical rule of the Death Eaters in Hogwarts.

Fred realised he was in Hermione's memory of before the Battle of Hogwarts had broken out. Seamus sat by the doorway that took you to Abeforth's kitchen in Hogsmeade as he kept watch in case of intruders. But when a knock came to the door and the password was relayed, the door swung open to reveal Neville climbing through yelling "I've brought you all a surprise".

Seamus piped up rubbing his stomach "Not any more of Abeforth's cooking I hope. I'll be surprised if we can digest it for Christ's sake" He missed his mother's cooking dearly.

When Harry stepped out from behind Neville, Seamus' mouth dropped open. Shouts of "He's back! Harry's back!" were relayed around the room as excitement could be felt in the air. His friends rushed to him, grabbing him in their arms and feeling safer than they had in weeks. They always knew they would come back to them to save them. Anyone who doubted Harry had left Hogwarts or the DA long ago. Neville ordered Michael Corner to send out word on Potter Watch that Harry was back and all members were to return to Hogwarts.

Fred craned his neck to watch Ron jump down from the doorway that was placed over a foot off the ground and he leaned back to help Hermione down. She smiled as she was reunited with old faces and even laughed when Seamus picked her up off the ground grinning "I knew you'd all come back!"

As they asked Harry what the plan was, he seemed lost for words. They had only come back to Hogwarts to find the horcrux but it seemed his friends were up for a fight. As Harry tried to explain their task with as little information as possible the portrait behind them opened again.