Fred got up off the floor but fell down as his legs couldn’t support him. He didn’t want to be here right now. The death aura hung in the air like fog and he hated it. He stood up when he was sure he wouldn’t fall back down. He walked the length of the hall to the door and pulled it open with the strength he didn’t know he had.

His mother, father, Ron, Ginny and Harry were still waiting for him. He walked out and they stared at him and Mrs Weasley’s tears stopped and turned into long breaths. His mother pulled him in for a hug and muttered something incomprehensible as Mr Weasley patted him on his back and just stared at his son, holding back tears. Fred looked around for Hermione but didn’t find Hermione anywhere.

‘Where is she?’ asked Fred and they knew that he meant Hermione.

‘She took off crying,’ muttered Ginny when no one spoke.

‘Where?’ asked Fred, pulling away from his mother.

Ginny shrugged and tears sprouted out of her already red eyes. She hugged Fred, who was surprised at his sister. Usually Ginny was very strong and never cried and now it was surprising o see her all emotional and upset. Nonetheless, Fred hugged his sister and patted her red hair. He felt his own tears threatening to spill out of his eyes. He pulled back and Ginny sighed.

‘I'm so sorry, Fred... I’m going to miss him so much,’ whispered Ginny, rubbing away the tears.

‘So am I,’ muttered Fred. He hated seeing his sister so upset.

He turned to Harry, who seemed to be avoiding Fred altogether. His eyes were downcast like his shoes were the most interesting thing to watch. Fred sighed and shook his head.

‘Harry, mate-’ started Fred.

‘It’s all my fault. He died because of me! So blame me!’ yelled Harry and Mrs Weasley sobbed and shook her head.

‘I won’t blame you.  George... died because he was protecting everyone. At least he tried so it isn’t your fault and I won’t blame you,’ said Fred and then he ran a shaky hand through his hair before looking to Ron for a second then back to looking no where in particular, ‘I’m going to go and find Hermione...’

Fred gulped and left. He had no idea where Hermione could be so he took off in a random direction. Thoughts of George swirled in his mind and now Hermione was getting a place in his mind too.

----

Hermione sat in the lonely corridor, right in front of the stairs. Her fingers shook as she tried to wipe away the tears although there was no point. The tears continued through her cheeks easily and she gave up altogether. She wasn’t crying of Fred... or maybe she was? She cried for George, Lupin, Tonks, Mad eye... everyone. Everyone she knew or didn’t know. She didn’t care who she cried for. She wanted to mourn and this seemed to be the best way to mourn. 

Hermione gathered her knees up to her chest and laid her head down onto her knees. The tears fell relentlessly and she was glad. She thought of her parents and how wonderful their life is at the moment. They’re probably on a beach, soaking up sun, reading a book, having a swim and Hermione was happy for them. She wouldn’t go find them. They would be happy and she would live on. Get a job... a family... be happy?

A family? This made the tears stop for a second but she let them go on falling onto the ruined castle grounds as she thought. Who would she start a family with? Ron? She loved Ron but would he want to live with her? Maybe he needed time. Hermione wasn’t sure but it made her head hurt. She had so many issues to deal with but all she wanted to do was lie in bed all day and drink some butter beer. She could feel it as she imagined gulping it down. It would make her insides hot and she loved the taste.

Hermione let out a shaky laugh and she wiped the tears from under her eyes with a quivering hand.

‘Can I hear the joke too?’ asked a soothing and calm voice. Hermione looked up and saw Fred. She quickly got to her feet and rubbed away the make up form under her eyes, ‘Why were you laughing?’

‘I was.. uh... just thinking about... butter beer?’ the statement came out as a question and before the words left her mouth she knew what he would think.

Fred would probably think she was crazy. In the midst of all the death and tears and of course George’s death... Hermione was thinking of a hot glass of butter beer? Really? Hermione waited for him to speak. Fred sighed and leaned against the wall. He dramatically sighed again and looked to her. Hermione loved the soft, baby blue of his eyes. It was like staring into a deep blue pool of secrets.

‘Butter beer?’ asked Fred and even his tone screamed “WHAT?”

‘Yeah, I'm sorry, Fred. I shouldn’t have-’ Hermione wringed her hand together and stopped talking as Fred laughed out loud.

‘Butter beer? I could do with some fire whiskey. After George died... He would...’ Fred trailed off and sank to the floor.

‘Fred,’ muttered Hermione, sinking to the floor beside him.

A tear escaped her eyes as Fred’s body shook as he cried. Hermione without thinking took his hand away from his face and made him look at her.

‘I cant even say his name without... crying... so.... weak... I need to...’ He was barely able to speak as tears flowed from his baby blue eyes but Hermione understood and she quickly wiped away her tears and took his face in her hands.

‘Fred Weasley, you are not weak. Whoever says that you are... they’re being stupid because... you lost so much, Fred. Everyone did. No one is going to judge you because of crying for your dead brother,’ Hermione said and Fred sniffed.

To some people the idea of Hermione Granger comforting Fred Weasley may seem almost comical but to Hermione? She was more than happy to comfort him and Fred wanted to be comforted. Fred nodded and looked down. Hermione let a tear slip as he looked away. She couldn’t keep it in. He was just so upset that it made her cry too. Fred looked up and before Hermione could wipe the tear away, Fred took his thumb and caught the falling tear.

‘Thanks, Hermione,’ he muttered.

Hermione sniffed and gave him a small smile. She got up and pulled Fred up, nearly falling as he took her hand. They walked in a random direction in silence, observing the scene around them. Half of the all of Hogwarts was broken and crumbled beneath their feet like large bread crumbs. There was a cold draught coming in from the broken walls and the windows were smashed but the glass had been picked up. Hermione turned to Fred and he turned to her.

‘I'm going home tomorrow... If you ever need anyone to talk to. I want you to come and see me. No matter what time it is, okay?’ asked Hermione and Fred nodded.

‘I will,’ he said as they approached the Great Hall.

Mrs Weasley let out a relieved sigh as she took Hermione in her arms and whispered, ‘thank you, dear.’ Hermione nodded and pulled back. She took Ron’s hand and Harry nodded at her in a ‘good-job’ sort of way. She nodded back.

‘I'm going to be leaving for home tomorrow,’ she stated, ‘I cant stay here anymore.’

‘We understand, dear, but you can come and stay with us, if you wanted,’ Mrs Weasley offered but Hermione shook her head.

‘No thanks. I need to be getting home,’ she said and smiled at Mrs Weasley.

‘Hermione, I was wondering if I could stay with you for a while? I promise just for a few days-’ Harry asked and Hermione nodded.

‘As long as you need to,’ said Hermione.

‘Thank you,’ muttered Harry.

‘We are going to get ready to go home tomorrow as well. You kids... just take it easy, okay?’ asked Mr Weasley and they nodded.

Mr and Mrs Weasley went up the stairs and Hermione couldn’t help but think of them as her second parents. Mr Weasley had called them kids but Hermione, Ron and Harry were nineteen and Fred was twenty one. She guessed to Mr Weasley they were all still kids.

‘We’re going to grab something to eat,’ muttered Ron and pecked her cheek.

Harry nodded and himself, Ron and Ginny went down the corridor and into the kitchens. Hermione turned to Fred and expected him to go to but he took Hermione’s hand and lead her out of the castle and into the dark night.

‘Where are we going?’ asked Hermione, chuckling as he pushed her along.

‘Hogsmeade to get you a butter beer,’ Fred said and they walked to Hogsmeade.

It was about a five minute walk and it was cold out but Hermione didn’t mind as she thought of a huge glass full to the brim of butter beer. Fred never let go of her hand but she also didn’t mind this. They walked into Hogsmeade and Fred walked straight past the joke shop, not looking at anything but the Three Broomsticks. They entered it and he got them two butter beers. Hermione noticed how empty it was. There was only two other people besides them. An old man who seemed to be drowning sorrow in a fire whiskey glass and a young girl who was drinking butter beer alone and staring into the glass like it held all her answers.

‘One for you, Hermione and one for me!’ muttered Fred as he put down the glass in front of her.

Hermione stared at the glass watching as the bubbles foam up and the drink just looks so perfect. Fred watched her and chuckled.

‘You should try fire whiskey,’ said Fred, ‘We used to sneak some in and drink it with some friends in the dormitory. Good times...’

‘I heard it burns your throat the first time,’ said Hermione and she took a long drink of butter beer and felt the liquid rush down her throat to settle into her stomach and make it warm. She felt a little better.

‘Yeah, but it’s good stuff. We should try it sometime,’ said Fred and winked at her, ‘I’ll bring a bottle over to yours and we could drink it. Have some dinner maybe. Talk. Eat and drink.’

‘Sounds good. We should do that sometime,’ said Hermione smiling as Fred’s face lit up.

‘Yes, we should... So what are you going to do when we get back? You know... for work?’ asked Fred, taking a swig of butter beer.

‘I’ll add that to my lost of problems,’ muttered Hermione.

She had totally forgotten about work but she knew that she wanted to wok in the ministry. Not yet. She wanted some relaxing time and then work. But she also needed money to help pay for bills and her house.

‘I have no idea. I want to work at the ministry but not yet. I guess I could get a job and the  after a year apply for the ministry?’ mused Hermione.

‘I could give you some work in my shop,’ shrugged Fred and Hermione raised her eyebrow, ‘I mean I need someone to work there with me now that Geo... So I’ll work there a year and then maybe find myself a new job. Would you like to work with me?’

‘Are you sure? I mean...’ Hermione asked.

‘I'm positive. You’ll do great. So what do you say?’ asked Fred and then he put on a British posh accent and held out hand, ‘Miss Granger, do we have a deal?’

Fred wiggled his eyebrows and Hermione nodded and shook his hand.

‘Yes, Mr Weasley, I believe we do,’ said Hermione, laughing as he smiled.

Fred nodded and took another drink at the same time as Hermione. He wiped his mouth and continued, ‘Today is...?’

‘Thursday,’ reminded Hermione and Fred nodded.

‘Thursday. Okay, how about you start on Monday?’ asked Fred.

‘Sounds good. Thank you so much, Fred,’ said Hermione.

‘That’s Mr Weasley to you,’ joked Fred and Hermione laughed.

They finished off their drinks and talked about jobs and houses and general talk. Fred paid for the drinks and they left the shop. They walked back to Hogwarts and Hermione hated seeing it now. It seemed so weak and broken up and she just despised the sight of the rubble. Fred avoided the great hall and they went up to the Gryffindor common room. Ron and Harry were sitting on the sofa in front of the fire and Ginny was leaned against Harry’s leg. Other people were in there too, just talking and hanging out. Ron stood up as soon as she walked in and hugged her.

‘I was worried for you,’ muttered Ron, ‘Please tell me when you go off  like that.’

‘Sorry, Ron, we just went for a drink,’ muttered Hermione as Ron kissed her.

‘It’s okay, love,’ muttered Ron, ‘I was just worried.’

Hermione nodded and they went over to the sofa. Ron sat down onto it and Fred took the one seater as Hermione sat on the ground next to Ginny.

‘You alright?’ asked Hermione and Ginny sniffed.

‘I’ll be fine,’ she muttered but Hermione could tell that the death had hit her hard.

‘I'm going to bed, okay?’ Hermione said and got up.

‘I need to talk to you,’ muttered Fred and he took her hand and lead her away from the group to stand at the girls dorm stairs, ‘What time are you leaving tomorrow?’

‘About eleven, why?’ asked Hermione.

‘Please don’t leave without saying good bye,’ muttered Fred.

‘I won’t, Fred,’ said Hermione.

Fred pulled her I for a hug and Hermione felt at peace in his arms. The hug was long and Ron had an eye on her at all times but Hermione didn’t notice as she pulled back.

‘See you,’ he muttered and looked at her about to say something else but he didn’t and Hermione nodded.

She went up the stairs and into her dormitory. She closed the door behind her and a smile illuminated her face without her knowing. She got ready for bed and climbed into her sheets., feeling the bed sink in and making it more comfortable. It felt like she would get good sleep tonight. Her mind wasn’t on Ron or George or her parents. She thought of Fred and if he would get to sleep tonight.

---

‘No, PLEASE! St...St.... STOP!!!’

Hermione woke up to the frantic screaming of Ginny form the next bed. She forgot her sleepiness and quickly got to Ginny’s bed.

‘Ginny?’ muttered Hermione.

Ginny was lying still and Hermione frowned. One second she was screaming and now she was sleeping? Hermione waited for a few minutes but Ginny only turned over in her sleep. Hermione was aware of the time. It was 3am. She sighed and sat on her bed.

The moonlight flickered into the room and she could help but admire how pretty the light flowing through the window, and illuminating the room, looked. She sighed and got up, deciding to go downstairs to the common room. She slowly opened the door and went down the stairs. Hermione didn’t know that Fred was in the room as he turned around to look at her. She smiled and sat next to him, watching the fire.

‘Cant sleep?’ asked Fred, his blue eyes stayed o the fire.

‘No... I can’t...’ muttered Hermione, ‘Ginny was screaming but now she’s fine and I cant go back to sleep.’

‘Ginny has been through too much... so have you,’ muttered Fred and Hermione sighed.

‘Yes. We’ve all been through way too much,’ said Hermione.

Fred didn’t say anything and only stared into the fire like he was hypnotized. Without thinking, Hermione took his arm and leaned her head onto his shoulder. Fred didn’t move, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Hermione stared into the fire and it seemed to be putting her to sleep. Slowly her eyes closed and before she knew it, she was asleep.

Fred, on the other hand, was wide awake. He couldn’t sleep. He realised that Hermione was asleep and that her neck would hurt if she slept like this all night. Fred got up and lay Hermione down onto the sofa, he grabbed the cover and covered her with it so she wouldn’t get cold. Her curls were over her face so Fred pushed them back and stared at the beautiful sleeping girl. Ever so slowly, he leaned down and was about to kiss her but he pulled back.

‘Not yet,’ he whispered and took her hand.

He went back to staring into the fire as Hermione slept on.