Chapter 7 – Hold On – KT Tunstall

Hold On/

Cause the world will turn if you're ready or not

Fred's POV

"Fred, George. FRED. FRED WAKE UP. GEORGE" Fred opened one eye blearily. George's body shifted in the bed beside his. Ron stood in between the twins, flailing his arms and jumping up and down. Had Fred not been tired and confused, it would have been quite funny.

"WHAT RON?" Fred yelled in mock excitement.

"Fred! It's Dad, he's been attacked… Harry saw him." Fred jumped out of bed. George sat up and looked at Ron.

"What did you just say, Ron?"

"DAD'S BEEN ATTACKED, FRED"

Fred sprinted down the spiral stairs, trailed by Ron and George. The boys were joined by Ginny and Hermione at the bottom of the stairs and the group ran, dishevelled into the hallway and to Dumbledore's office.

The Gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office coughed groggily and asked them for the password. Ron started screaming about his father being attacked, and the Gargoyle, obviously not in the mood, let the group in to the office without another word. Harry was sitting in the seat across from Dumbledore himself, who had his head in his hands.

Fred looked to Harry for answers. Harry stayed stock still and frighteningly white.

"You Weasleys are going home." Dumbledore sighed. "I know there's still time in our term, but I must let you go. Hermione, Harry, you're going too. Pack up. Come back when you are all ready." And with that vague instruction, the 6 students made their way back to the common room. Fred tried again to catch Harry's attention, but Harry wasn't ready to talk.

Hermione's POV

Hermione opened one eye and immediately closed it again.

She was at Grimmauld Place.

After the attack, Mr. Weasley had been placed in intensive care at St Mungos. Fortunately, Harry had somehow seen the attack and everyone was safe and sound at the hideout. Hermione rolled over and buried her head into her flat pillow and felt the winter light fall across her face. She felt like a mess; her mouth was sour, her eyes were crusty and her head was pounding. These things happen, she thought rationally.

She was panicked, about what, she wasn't sure. However she KNEW something was wrong. Fred. Her thoughts went wild. Draco. What was she doing? Draco was a jerk. Fred, he was Fred, her beautiful red headed Fred who no one could know about at all. George. George had seen her in the Owlery, with Draco.

What if he told?

"'Mione. You awake yet? It's nearly noon!" Hermione jumped, her nerves slightly shaken. She felt Ginny stand over her, blocking the white winter sun.

"I'm getting there, Gin." Hermione tried to sit up. "God, my head is throbbing. Ginny, can you get me water, please." She slumped back down and opened her eyes. 2 pairs of eyes looked down on her. Ginny nodded and left.

"Hullo 'Mione" Fred looked down at her.

"Fred, I'm a mess. Leave." Hermione inched further under her blanket.

"Since when do you care how you look?" Fred sat down on the bed beside her.

"Since… since I first kissed you." Hermione smiled.

"Don't. Listen, We're staying here until the end of the Christmas Holidays. Dad's in a stable condition… you fainted last night. I was walking you up to your room and Gin was in the bathroom. You just fell. I carried you to your bed." Fred stroked her forehead lovingly.

"Really? But, but, I don't remember that! I don't remember anything!" Hermione panicked. She had supposed that she'd just fallen asleep and was too tired to remember getting ready. That explained her sore head and gross breath.

"Yes, but don't worry. No one knows."

He leaned forward to kiss her, but she put her finger up to his lips instead. "You do NOT want to kiss me right now Fred. Trust me. You'll never want to kiss me again. I'll go take a shower and we'll talk about this later." Hermione sat up again and held Fred's hand tightly.

"- alright Mum! I'm just taking her a water!-" Ginny was heard yelling down the stairs to her mother.'

"Fred, off the bed now." Hermione practically pushed him off of her quilted cover. Ginny walked in as Fred composed himself and smiled. "Thank you Gin! You're a lifesaver" Hermione grinned and took the water from her. She surveyed the younger girl and announced, "I need to be off, to the shower. Tell your Mum I'll be down in a bit. Thank you for the company Fred, and thanks again for the water Gin." Hermione jumped up and raced to the bathroom, picking up something green haphazardly shoved into her drawers.