Two Can Keep a Secret

Chapter 6- Stolen Moments

A/N: Sorry this has been reposted a couple of times, for some reason I am having trouble with the ordering of the chapters and I like to make sure those type of details are right. So sorry. Anyway, on to the chapter. Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

***

Hermione had been worried about Fred ever since she arrived to Grimmauld Place from her ski trip with her parents during the Christmas break. He hadn't taken the news about his father being in hospital well at all. He kept to himself in the corner of the room, or on the staircase. He had yelled at Sirius and Remus a few times, though she knew that he was just scared about Mr. Weasley being at St. Mungo's. She actually missed him though.

She saw him go upstairs without being excused at dinner, and she stood up to follow him. George looked up in surprise, though he immediately shook his head. "Hermione, I don't think it's a good idea to talk to him right now. He won't talk to us. He won't even talk to me," George said. He looked hurt, and Hermione looked toward the staircase.

"That's why I should talk to him," she said quietly. "He needs somebody. I have to try." George must've seen the look of determination in her eyes because he nodded a moment later.

She looked at Harry and Ron. "I'll see you guys later... hopefully," she muttered quietly when she excused herself. Harry nodded, and Ron narrowed his eyes at her slightly, but he didn't say anything.

Hermione walked up the stairs and knocked softly on the twin's bedroom door. She pressed her ear against it, but she didn't hear anything. She opened the door and saw that Fred was sitting on the corner of his bed with his head buried in his knees. Her heart sank, and she wished she wasn't witnessing this. It was too late to turn back now.

Fred looked up suddenly when she sat down next to him. He had tears coming out of his eyes, though he quickly tried to hide them as he sat up straighter. "Hermione?" He asked quietly. He shook his head and his face hardened. "I don't want to talk to anybody," he said harshly.

Hermione was taken aback by Fred's attitude. This wasn't the Fred she knew. The Fred she knew was kind and always smiling. He pulled pranks and made people laugh. She couldn't believe that she had ever hated him.

"Then we won't talk," she murmured quietly. Their eyes met, and Hermione slowly wrapped her arms around him and held him.

Fred stiffened for a moment but then he nodded and buried his head into her shoulder. Hermione ran her hands through his hair as she made soothing noises.

Fred pulled away after he sobbed quietly in her shoulder. "Wh- what if he dies?" he asked quietly, looking up at her.

Hermione remained quiet as she stared down into his eyes. She didn't want to give Fred false hope when they didn't know how Mr. Weasley really was. She didn't want to leave him in this state either.

She placed a kiss on his forehead and lightly ran a hand through his hair. "I'll be here for you," she promised him softly. "No matter what."

Hermione leaned her head against his shoulder. "I miss you," she admitted quietly.

Fred looked shocked when he heard that. "I haven't gone anywhere, Hermione."

"Yes you have," Hermione answered quickly. She held his hand and didn't let go of it. "Please come back. We need your jokes, your smile, your laughter, that look you get in your eyes when you prank somebody-" a sob escaped, so she turned away from him and placed her hands around her face to hide the tears that were coming out.