A/N: Hello readers! So I love the idea of Hermione with one of the twins, and this idea came to me and I have been spending a lot of time writing it. Honestly, when I wrote this chapter, I cried through the entire thing. This will be the only story I write that actually follows J.K.'s story line of Fred dying. I don't agree with it, but it was kind of essential for this story, so bear with me. Now, on to the story!

This story is dedicated to the memory of my dear friend Joe Jolly. RIP Joe. You will always be in my heart and you will never be forgotten.

I do NOT own Harry Potter characters...only the plot belongs to me. The incredible world of Harry Potter belongs to the lovely J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 1:

The weather outside was hazy, gray, and rainy. The steady rain soaked the group of people gathered around a hole in the ground.

No one made a move to put the casket in the ground. No one wanted to say their final goodbye. Gone forever was their son, brother, and friend. Gone forever was the boy who brought mischief, joy and laughter to everyone with his genius products and jokes. Gone forever was the red head, who fought and died for his family and friends; for a better world. Gone forever was the second half to a pair that were never meant to be separated.

Tears fell down everyone's faces, except one. George couldn't cry. He just couldn't. He had cried when he saw Fred lying in the Great Hall, unmoving, not breathing. He cried when he was told that he was gone. But he just couldn't cry now; now that his Freddie was going to be laid to rest forever. He'd never again see him smile, or hear him laugh. He'd have no one to finish his sentences with. He'd have no one to make new products and pull pranks with. His entire world was turned upside down, and he was lost. He'd be lost forever without Fred, and he knew it. There was nothing and no one who would be able to help him move on.

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts, he never saw the others look at him with sorrow and pity. He never saw them leave to leave him alone with his brother. He didn't notice her grab his hand for comfort, giving it a slight squeeze, before leaving with the others. After a few moments, he knew he had to say goodbye.

"Freddie, I know you're gone, but there's so much I want to say to you. I-I don't know if I c-can do this. How am I supposed t-to go on w-without you? There's no one who understands me l-like you did. W-why did you have t-to leave m-me?" Falling to his knees in front of the casket holding his twin, he let it go. He let the hurt, sorrow, grief, pain, and rage all go through his tears. He pleaded and begged for Fred to come back. He knew he'd never see him again, and it tore through him, breaking him.

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"Is he going to be alright?" Hermione asked. She was looking out the window of the Burrow, to the broken man standing by the casket of his dead twin. She was heartbroken when Fred was killed, and it tore her up to see George so broken.

"He'll be fine. It-it will take him time to adjust. But he's strong," Molly assured her. Hermione thought she was trying to assure herself as the same time. She knew Molly was worried about George, as everyone was. He not only lost his brother, but he lost his twin, his other half. They had never been apart from each other, and now, it would forever be only George.

Turning away from the heartbreaking sight, she sat at the table. "Mrs. Weasley, I know it's not the best time, but I've been thinking about going to look for my parents."

Molly set a cup of tea down in front of Hermione and sat herself down across from her, drinking her own tea. "Oh my dear, I know you must miss them. Do you know where you will start to look for them?"

"Well, I sent them to Australia, so I will start somewhere, anywhere there. I just need…..I need to find them. I hate to leave you all, especially so soon after-"

"No, my dear, it's quite alright. We all understand," Molly reassured her. "When do you plan on leaving?"

"Tomorrow. The sooner I leave, the sooner I can find them."

"Leave? Where are you going?" Harry asked, walking into the kitchen with Ginny and Ron.

"I'm going to go find my parents."

"Alone? Are you mental? There are still Death Eaters out there. You can't go alone!" Ron exclaimed.

"I'm not going to ask anyone to go with me. You just lost a brother, and you need time to-"

"Yeah, we just lost Fred! We don't want to lose you too!" Ron shouted.

"I'll be fine Ronald! I know how to take care of myself, and I wish you would have a little more faith in me and my abilities!"

"Hermione, we don't doubt your abilities. We just don't want to see you get hurt," Harry said.

"I know, but trust me. I'll be fine. I'll be back before you know it."

"You don't know that! Anything could happen to you!" Ron argued.

Sighing, Hermione stood up slowly to face him. "Listen Ronald! You have no say as to what I can or cannot do. You never did. This is my choice, and I refuse to keep my parents in the dark and have them live their life as a lie. Why can't you see that I need to do this?"

"Why can't you see that you can leave us…me?"

"Is that what this is about? You? Ronald, not everything is about you! This is my family! You are lucky enough to have yours, but I don't!" With everyone being busy preparing for funerals after the battle, she and Ron had not had time to discuss what had happened in the battle; the brief kiss they had shared. Hermione herself felt like it was in the heat of moment, and she hadn't really felt anything towards Ron but friendship. She didn't know how he himself felt about the kiss or her, but from what he was saying, he expected her to stay with him. She knew that if she talked to him about it now, when he was in this state and grieving over Fred, that it would just end up in another argument.

"I have my family? You're wrong! I don't have my family! I lost my family when Fred was killed! This isn't a family! Everyone walking around afraid to say anything! I thought I'd at least have you-"

"Ron, you will always have me. You're my best friend, but I need to do this. I miss my family. And you're wrong; you do have your family. They just need to adjust to the fact that Fred is gone."

"Ron, she's right. She needs to find her family. She'll come back to us," Ginny said, laying a hand on her brother's arm to calm him down, before he said something he'd regret. She knew her brother had a temper, and when he and Hermione got into a row, he always ended up putting his foot in his mouth.

Sighing, Harry said, "Alright I know there's no stopping you. Just come home as soon as you can. We need you here."

"I will. As soon as I find my parents, I'll be back. I promise," she said, giving him a small smile. She hadn't been able to smile since before the final battle, and it felt foreign on her face. She knew she had to move on and not mourn her dead friends, because there was no bringing them back. She had to be strong for her friends, and herself.

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"Now you take care of yourself, and let us know when you reach Australia. Keep us updated on your search, and stay safe sweetheart," Molly said, hugging Hermione.

"I will Mrs. Weasley," she replied.

Hugging Harry, he whispered, "Please be safe. If you need anything, let me know."

"I will Harry. And thank you."

"Always. Love you Hermione."

"Love you too Harry. And take care of Ginny."

Moving on to Ginny, she hugged the girl who had become one of her best friends. "Ginny, I'll be back soon. Try to keep the boys in line for me."

"Oh don't worry. I'll keep them in line till you get back. Good luck, I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too."

Walking over to Ron, she smiled before hugging him. "Ron, I promise I'll be back as soon as I can. I hope you come to realize why I have to go."

"I understand 'Mione. It's just hard seeing you go off by yourself after everything we've been through. Just come back soon."

"I will. Take care of yourself."

After hugging everyone, she walked to the door with her beaded bag holding all of her belongings. Not knowing how long her search would take, she packed everything. Looking around the room, she realized someone was missing. Walking into the living room, she saw George sitting on the couch, looking into the fire.

Walking over to him, she sat beside him. He made no acknowledgement that she was there. "George, I'm leaving, and I wanted to say goodbye. I don't know when I'll be back, but I hope it'll be soon." He said nothing, and she wasn't sure he had even blinked. Grabbing his hand that was laying on his leg, she squeezed it and said, "I know it hurts George, and I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything." When he didn't reply, she sighed and said, "I'll miss you, George, and I promise when I get back, I will do my best to help you in any way that I can. You mean so much to me, and I hate seeing you in so much hurt." He still didn't react to her words, so she gave him a small hug, and with one last look at him, she left the Burrow.

She walked to the apparition point alone. With one last look at the Burrow, the place she had come to call home, she fixated on it; engraining it in her memory so she'd forever remember it and the people who lived there. The last thing she saw before she apparated away, was a lone figure looking out the window at her. Even from a distance, there was no mistaking his height, his fiery red hair and piercing blue eyes, with grief and confusion displayed on his once joy-filled face.