Chapter 18: How the Story Ends

There was too much commotion within the Hogwarts grounds to even worry about loved ones. Fred ran around with Percy who had arrived and begged forgiveness from his family.

"I never got to say congratulations on your engagement." Percy whispered to Fred behind a statue. "I always thought you two would be a great couple."

Fred hugged his brother tightly. "Thank you, it means so much."

"Let's go kick some ass."

The Weasley boys ran through the halls shooting off hex after hex until a misplaced spell hit the wall behind Fred's head causing the stone to come crumbling down on top of him. Percy, full of fury finished the duel incapacitating the two men.

"Fred, stay with me. Don't die."

"I will give you one hour to retrieve your dead and help your wounded. Harry Potter, I speak now to you and you alone. You have one hour to meet me in the Forbidden Forest." The voice rang through the grounds and the death eaters disapperated leaving only those who needed help.

"Fred!" The rest of the Weasley clan appeared at his side shocked. All except Ron and Hermione.

"Harry you can't go alone!" Ron's argument actually made sense to Hermione for once.

"Guys we just watched Snape, a man who devoted his life to protecting us die. I need to do this so that no one else has to die for no reason."

There was no arguing with Harry when he got this way. All Hermione could do was hug her best friend. Ron followed suit and then led her back into the Great Hall.

"Hermione." A tearful Ginny found her near the doors. Instantly she knew what happened. Ron had fallen to his brothers side.

She couldn't move. Frozen, staring at her fiancé and his family she suddenly didn't know what to do. The steps she took were robotic almost forced. The tears were streaming down her face uncontrollably but Hermione couldn't feel them, she could barely feel Mr. Weasley's hand holding onto her shoulder. Hermione picked up her hands to wipe away her tears but was caught off guard.

"The charm." Hermione murmured. "Guys, he's still alive!" Lifting up her wrist she showed the rest of the family how the heart charm was still glowing the brightest it had ever been. "It glows when he thinks about me, he's still alive!"

Present Day

"I remember that." George grabbed Hermione's hand comfortingly. "As soon as she said that there was a huge frenzy with healers in the area. So many healing spells thrown his way, tons of people pushing their way towards him. Then suddenly the color came back to his cheeks." Blaise smiled sadly at the two. "He was taken to St. Mungo's right away."

Flashback

"Hermione, I'm fine." Fred grabbed onto his fiance's hands. "I will be in perfect shape for our wedding."

Fred had been having this discussion with Hermione since the accident. "I just don't want you to be hurt or still fatigued."

"I know love, but I'll be fine. Mum is going to make sure that I have all the proper potions to keep any pain away and to make sure I'm awake and alright for the entire thing." Leaning down to give her a kiss, Fred smiled.

Fast-Forward

It was a summer wedding. Hermione wore a strapless white dress that hung right above her knees while the bridesmaids wore dresses in the same fashion but in Gryffindor gold with scarlet heels.

"Do you Fredrik Weasley, take Hermione Granger to be your wife from this day forward."

"I do."

"And do you Hermione Granger, take Fredrik Weasley to be your husband from this day forward."

"I do."
"Ladies and gentlemen, I now pronounce to you: Mr. and Mrs. Fredrik Weasley!"

The ceremony went off without a hitch, the reception lasted long into the night. Hermione was constantly on the dance floor with her friends from school.

Because she was so distracted by her friends Fred had the time to grab his mum and sneak off to the Burrow.

"How bad is it?"

Fred sat down at the dinner table and rested his head on his hands. "Bad enough. I'm not sure I could handle dancing anymore."

"Fred, if it hurts you need to see a professional healer instead of your mother."

"I know, and I will. I just didn't want to worry Hermione right before the wedding but now I'm realizing that was a mistake." Groaning Fred took the potion from his mothers hands and gulped it down. "I'm going tomorrow, I need to."

"I don't know why you wouldn't just tell me Fred." Hermione's soft voice reached Fred's ears. "I'm more worried about you rather than just having a good time."

Taking his new bride's hands Fred stood and kissed her. "Let's go finish our wedding. We can worry about this tomorrow."

Present-Day

"The pain was actually a left over amount of dark magic that was encased in his body when he was knocked unconscious at the Battle of Hogwarts. Since there really wasn't a whole lot we could do because it had been so long since the accident, the dark magic just ate away at him." Hermione's voice started shaking. "Over the next few years it got worse and the pain increased. Eventually it spread throughout his body and just got to bed too much."

Blaise sat at the table, years ago he never would have entertained the thought of sitting with a Weasley and Know-it-all Granger but here it was sitting with them in a muggle establishment. He didn't know what to think or how to act to the story so all he could bring himself to do was grab Hermione's petite hand and squeeze the fingers lightly.

Looking around the pub the lights were turned on and the rest of the staff was cleaning tables and putting up chairs. "Looks like it's about time to close up." The dark skinned man stood and threw down some money covering the entire tab.

"It's been an interesting night Blaise," George shook the old foes hand. "Thanks."

"My pleasure." Shaking George's hand and kissed Hermione on the cheek. "If you guys ever want to hang out again you know where to find me." Opening his arms to the pub and walking out, Hermione giggled at her old school foe.

"Time to get you home Mione."

Apparating to the Burrow George and Hermione walked into their home arm in arm, one of the most horrible nights in their lives seeming much better now.

For the first time in years, Hermione did not fall asleep crying on the anniversary of her fiance's death.

A/N: I know it's sad but this story is over. Fred and Hermione will be one of my favorite couples to write so maybe soon I'll start another story of theirs! Thanks for reading and sticking with the story all the way through!