Gray Arisen
Prompt: Hermione tells George she is pregnant with Fred’s child.
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It was Sunday morning and the Burrow was full of food as well as family. Hermione was running late and by the time she arrived; George was leaned up against an oak tree out in the front yard.
Hermione swallowed nervously as she approached him. Ever since Fred's funeral everyone noticed how reclusive George had become.
"Mum is crying," He said casually, because this had become the new normal for the Weasley family. Hermione's brows furrowed together but she bit her tongue because she didn't want to push him. "Um she accidentally called me Fred," he explained and Hermione felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.
"I'm late," She confessed to him unable to look him in the eyes when she said it.
"Well," He said as his pale skin reflected brightly from the sun. "I don't think brunch will be ready any time soon." He gave her a soft squeeze on her shoulder as reassurance that it was going to be okay. Molly would not be mad at her.
"No," She said as she bit her bottom lip nervously. "George, I am late."
His eyes widen when she repeated it again for him but slower this time.
"Wow," He said speechless. "Um congrats?" he sounded unsure if she was happy about the news or not. "But why are you telling me this?" the question she knew she would have to answer.
"Because," She paused as she reached for his hands and placed them in her's. "He is not here and I know you are not him…but besides this baby-you're all I have left of him,"
He surprised her when he laughed out loud as he let go of her hands. It was a deep belly laugh too. She thought he would have reacted differently especially after finding out she was carrying the child of his dead brother. His twin.
"Blimey Freddie," George said softly. "you're not even here anymore and yet you still win our wagers,"
Hermione normally would have been furious to learn she was a bet between The Twins, but now with Fred gone it felt like he was still there with them. He was probably laughing his arse off knowing George lost the bet, because it would mean the younger twin would have to pay up and usually there was a consequence for losing the bet.
"They're worried about you," Hermione said gently. Everyone was concerned about George's wellbeing and even though they all were grieving…it was different for him.
"Yeah I know," He said as he pulled some grass out of the ground. "but I wish they wouldn't treat me like I'm a glass vase…" he paused for a moment taking a deep breath. "like I'm going to break at any moment," he paused again waiting for her to take in the words. He needed someone to understand how it felt. "like today when mum called me, Fred. For a second it was if nothing had changed…that he was still here, but then she started crying and I felt guilty for being a constant reminder of the son she lost." His voice now wavered, but he didn't cry.
"I'm sorry," she said as she reached out for his hand and gave it a little squeeze.
"So you and Freddie," He winked at her and gave her a little nudge. "Uh when did that happen?"
Hermione felt her cheeks burn as she blushed thinking back to the night she spent with Fred. "Bill and Fleur's wedding," she confessed. "when your mum sent me to the joke shop to get Fred,"
George laughed again. "I should've known," he said cryptically which caused Hermione to raise an eyebrow at him so he could explain. "uh Fred had volunteered me to help with decorating and I never understood why until now-"
Hermione interrupted him, "He knew your mum would send me to get him," she said putting the pieces together. "Because I was the most responsible one out of all the other kids, but I never knew he concocted a plan-"
George interrupted her, "Like I said he was fond of you," he smiled at her as he remembered how he used to tease his twin about his crush on the curly haired witch. "And I suppose he knew that might have been the last chance he would get to make a move,"
"I never knew he fancied me," she let out a sigh, because she wished she had known how much she meant to him.
"Ever since your fourth year," He explained. "and he would have made a move sooner, but he saw how Ron looked at you and he couldn't hurt his younger brother."
Fred teased Ron a lot but everyone knew he cared a lot about his younger siblings. He would have done anything to make his younger siblings happy even if it meant missing a chance with a girl he loved, because he never wanted to hurt his brother.
This time it was her who laughed. "Oh Ron would have been hurt if he knew all the things-"
"Oi, that was my brother!" He interrupted her as he playfully hit her arm. "I don't want to hear about his sex life,"
"Sorry," she said flushed from embarrassment.
"You made him so happy," He said as his mind remembered the memory of watching Fred and Hermione run into the wedding late, and how his brother had the biggest grin on his face. "and I know he would've been over the moon to hear the news of you carrying his child-"
She interrupted him, "He would have been the best father,"
He nodded his head in agreement, because they both knew how caring and loving Fred was. He would be the doting father who would do anything for their child. He would also get into a lot of trouble for helping their child pull pranks on an unexpected Hermione.
She often dreamt about scenarios on how they would have worked as parents. She would have been the disciplinarian of course, because Fred wouldn't have been able to keep himself being serious without laughing now and then. She pictured him doting on their "daughter" with love filled in his blue eyes. She pictured him teaching their "son" how to play Quidditch at a young age in hopes someday he would play on the Gryffindor team. It was wonderful to dream about him as if he were still alive, because life without him had become so gray.
"Yeah he would have," said George breaking the silence. "But he would have been awful at naming your child," his lips curved up in a smile and they both laughed.
"Yes, I imagine he would've wanted Bob for a girl," She shot him a raised eyebrow to see if she was right and he confirmed she was by laughing.
They both laughed for a few more minutes at the thought of Fred arguing how great a name Bob would be for a girl. Happy tears trailed down their faces.
"I haven't laughed like this in so long," George said as he reached out for hand again seeking comfort. "Thank you, Hermione."
"Thank you," She said as she gave his hand a light squeeze. "Because for a brief moment it was like he was alive again, and you gave me hope that I can do this. I can raise this miracle baby all on my own-"
He interrupted her, "I want to help you," he said. "with raising your child, because I may have lost half of myself when Fred died…but this is a chance to have a small part of him back,"
Tears filled her eyes, "Of course," she said smiling at him. "I would love for you to help." She said because she knew if Fred was still alive that George would be around them, always. He would be the best uncle helping their child get into trouble but also the best friend to Hermione for keeping her sane.
"Do you know if you are having a boy or a girl?" He asked her curious if she had casted a spell to learn the sex of the baby.
"No," She confessed to him.
"Do you want to find out?" He said as he took his wand out of his back pocket.
She nodded her head yes and with a flick of his wand pointed directly at her stomach they both eagerly waited to find out the sex. Blue smoke swirled around her tummy.
"Looks like Freddie left you with one more gift," he said to her as tears fell down his face. He had a feeling the baby would be a boy, because of how many brothers they had in their family. A part of his twin would live on not only through himself, but through a baby boy. This also felt like a gift for him, because he wouldn't be alone.
They sat in silence for a moment before George asked the age of question, "Have you thought of a name yet?"
She shook her head no.
"Still got time I suppose," George said.
Fred had given her a son. His last parting gift to her. The world around her had become so gray when the war ended and his death was final when they buried him in the ground. Now she was carrying his son inside of her and for the first time the world didn't feel so dark. A spark of hope had been ignited inside of her.
"Breakfast is ready!" A shrill voice rang through the air.
"We should go in," said George as he stood up and offered his hand to Hermione. "Don't want her to come out here and hex us for being late." He winked at her.
Hermione took his hand and he pulled her up to her feet.
"Grayson," She said to him as they walked towards the home.
"Pardon?" He asked confused.
"His name," She quickly explained. "I have decided to name him, Grayson because through all the grayness of war, he had given me a son."
George smiled at her, "I quite like the name," He confessed because he felt the same way about the unborn child.
Life without Fred would always be gray, but a small sliver of hope of sunshine was on the arisen because soon a baby boy would be born. He would no longer be the only piece of his twin left.
"I guess I should pay up," He said with a mischievous look on his face. Hermione's brows furrowed together confused. "The bet," He said reminding her of the wager he had with Fred.
"Oh yes," She said with a smile on her face. She had missed this side of George.
As they stepped into the house everyone sat with mouths hung open. Hermione turned to look at George whose hair had turned a lime green. It clashed horribly with his pale freckled skin. Suddenly the room burst out into laughter. Hermione and George made their way to table and sat down next to each other.
"What happened to you?" Bill asked curiously as he pointed to George's hair.
"Lost a bet," He said with a shrug.
"What bet?" Ron asked with his mouth full of food.
"You wouldn't want to know," He said as he nudged Hermione slightly. "Ronniekins,"
It was the best Sunday breakfast they had in a long time. They all were laughing and carrying on conversations as if nothing had changed.
The only reminder was an empty seat on the other side of George.
