AUTHOR'S NOTE: This idea has been done many times and well.. here's my take of it. I had imagined this only as a ONE-SHOT but it seems I got carried away, haha. This had to be chopped up into three parts.
Oh and PS, this has a happy ending. Don't stop reading halfway through the first chapter ;)
"I love you, we all love you. You know that, right?" Ron was cradling Hermione's face in the palm of his hands, wiping away the tears that were silently falling down her cheeks. It had only been a couple of hours since their escape from Malfoy Manor and Hermione couldn't stop her body from shaking; the aftershocks of the Cruciatus curse still vibrating through her veins. It was up to Ron and Harry, since they were the only ones allowed near her at the moment, to remind her that she was loved by many, safe, and everyone was there for her.
"I-I know." Hermione muttered, trying her hardest to stop the tears and the shaking of her limbs. "I-I'm trying m-my hardest, really I a-am."
"We know." Ron assured her. "You were tortured, Hermione, you don't have to make a comeback right away."
She nodded her head, completely ignoring Ron's attempt at comforting her. "I do! T-the war is h-here. I need t-to help Harry."
Ron feebly grinned at his tortured friend, her shaking vibrating the entire bed that they were sitting on. "We figured you'd say something along those lines so that's why we have a surprise for you."
"Surprise?"
"Yep. Although it can't be for long. Bill and Fleur will get suspicious." He winked.
Hermione didn't have time to ask what he was talking about, a far away CRACK! interrupting her thought process. Ron moved to the room's window that overlooked the beach, a real grin tilting up the corners of his mouth. The silence of the room started to unnerve Hermione, causing her to lay in the fetal position, holding her knees to her chest. Voices from downstairs floated into the room but Hermione's mind couldn't make out who the voices belonged to.
The voices suddenly stopped, two CRACKS! filling the air before footsteps were heard running up towards them. The door to the room flew open, Hermione flinching but slowly relaxing at the sight of a panting Harry.
"Bill and Fleur left to visit Molly real quick. We only have a few minutes." He breathed heavily.
Ron nodded, following Harry's retreating form from the room and in walked a worried, yet relieved looking Fred. He quickly rushed to the bedside, falling to his knees and reaching out to make sure she was really there.
"You're safe." He sighed. "I didn't know what to think when word got out that you were here." He moved to sit on the bed, bringing her body to sit up to sit with him so he could hold her in his arms. He felt her tense beneath his arms, regretting his bold movements but figured it needed to be done. He needed his Hermione back. He placed her head on his chest, wrapping his arms around her form to try and comfort her. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. When I found out what had happened to you, I lost it. George had to stun me before people wondered why I was so angry. I'm so sorry." He continued to plead. He didn't know he was crying until he felt the tears dripping off his chin.
Hermione's heart was pounding. She was ecstatic when Fred appeared in the room- he was her boyfriend after all- but it felt as if her limbs were frozen. She couldn't stop shaking and she couldn't make herself talk when Fred was trying to comfort her. She tensed when he had suddenly pulled her to him, all human contact seemed to make her do that recently but she slowly managed to snake her arms back around him.
They stayed in the comfort of the room, all five minutes that Bill and Fleur were gone, with just each other. Ron and Harry were their lookout since they didn't want word of their relationship getting out just yet. Their relationship was fairly new but with the war knocking on their front door, it pushed them one night to take things to an intimate level. They spent one night together, days before Hermione went on the run with her best friends and this was the first time they'd seen each other in a while.
Fred and Hermione never heard the CRACKS! that sounded downstairs but Harry and Ron had. They briefly knocked three times on the door, letting the couple inside know that their time was up.
Fred made a move to get off the bed but was halted when Hermione's hands clutched at his shirt. She pulled him into a brief chaste kiss, mumbling two words against his lips. "Stay safe."
"Aren't I always?" Fred lazily grinned before noisily smacking a kiss back to her lips.
The door opened and Harry walked in, clearing his throat. "Time's up. Ron's downstairs with Bill and Fleur letting them think that we're all in here having a group talk."
Fred nodded, hugging Hermione one last time before he disentangled himself from her hands and left the room. Harry took one look at his friend, noticing that she wasn't shaking nor were her eyes holding that dead look in them like they did before. You could tell that she had been through something bad but the spark in her eyes was slowly returning and a small smile adorned her lips. Yes, getting Fred to visit was a good thing. Even though it was only a matter of minutes, his visit did wonders and in no time, they'd have their Hermione back.
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It was only a few more hours later that the Battle of Hogwarts broke out. Hermione threw herself into the fight, desperate to get rid of the horcruxes so Harry could defeat Voldemort once and for all. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were all separated for the first half of the war, each holding their own against the Deatheaters that were determined to kill each of them.
When Voldemort called for a cease fire, Ron and Hermione met up and went on the hunt for Harry. They had caught him coming from the Headmaster's office, begging him not to face Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest but he went anyway. The remaining duo had yet made it to the Great Hall, Hermione making all sorts of stops in the corridors to help heal minor wounds on the students who were still in their Hogwart's uniform.
They heard the distant sound of marching feet moving closer towards the castle and made their way out into the courtyard where most of the remaining Light side had gathered. They could see Voldemort and his followers, Hagrid, and a limp form held in Hagrid's arms.
The tears instantly started to fall, Ron grabbing onto Hermione's hand and mumbling that it wasn't what it looked like. He couldn't be dead. Harry was their last hope.
A muffled heartfelt speech from Neville and a few flashes coming from wands later, Harry was running towards them and backing them into the castle. Smiles broke out, cheers erupted, and the war was back on.
It was later when everything had finally died down, Harry limping back into the castle to let them know that Voldemort was no longer when Hermione noticed it. Everyone was talking excitedly, telling their friends of the death eaters that they took down when Hermione noticed all the Weasley's huddled together towards the back.
Bill was holding a crying Fleur, Arthur was comforting Ginny, and Percy was trying to soothe a crying and shaking George. Something wasn't right.
Her eyes traveled down to where Molly and Ron were leaning over a body that she saw what had everyone in hysterics. The body that they were huddled around held the same hair color as them. Tears instantly filled her eyes and she stumbled forward only to be stopped by Ginny's heart clenching sob. "Hermione.."
Hermione saw the pitying look that Ginny shot to her, as well as George who managed to pick up his head from his brother's shoulder. She moved to step closer but was stopped by Ron who had appeared in front of her in a flash. He wrapped her in a hug, crying into her shoulder. "Don't. Don't look at him."
But Hermione didn't listen. She looked down to where she now got a clear view of Fred lying motionless on the ground, dirt and blood covering his face, neck, and hands.
Hermione let the tears fall, her body going limp, making Ron hold her upright. The sobs were trying their damnedest to be heard but she couldn't let them out. Not in front of his entire family without being asked questions as to why she was so torn over Fred.
Ron immediately steered her back away from Fred and the rest of his family, catching Harry halfway through the hall and leading him back out. They had just made it outside when the sobs wracked through her and she fell to the ground. Harry and Ron were beside her in an instant, wrapping her in sideways hugs and crying along with her.
Hermione lost her boyfriend, Ron his brother, and Harry his friend. They would get through this together.
They let Hermione cry, knowing her pain was the worst right now, and let her get it out before they faced the rest of the Weasley's again. She ended up with her head laying in Harry's lap as he brushed her bangs away from her forehead in a comforting manner.
After the tears were long gone and the sobs had died down, Ron spoke up. "I think we should go see everyone again."
"Yeah. We better get back now." Harry agreed.
The two boys stood up, each lending a hand to Hermione so she could stand as well. "You two go. I'll be along in just a moment."
"You sure?" Harry mumbled. Hermione didn't answer, just numbly nodded her answer. "Okay."
Ron and Harry went in, leaving their friend to have a moment of privacy to herself. When she was sure that they weren't lingering just behind the door, she wiped away all traces of her tears and gathered up her remaining encourage. Taking one last look at the castle that had become a home away from home for her, she set off for the opposite direction and walked away into the night.
She loved her friends dearly but Fred had snuck up on her and quickly became the most important thing in her life. With him gone, she had nothing holding her back anymore. Ron and Harry could take care of themselves and if not, Mrs. Weasley was sure to coddle them to death. She needed her own time to mourn the loss of Fred and she couldn't do that without having questions from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Fleur, or Percy.
Taking out her wand, Hermione apparated herself back to Shell Cottage to pick up the remaining of her belongings. She looked around the room where she and Fred had shared their last kiss in and fresh tears trekked down her face. "I miss you already." She whispered into the empty room. With one last look around, she disapparated out of Shell Cottage, leaving them all behind.
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Seven months later, Hermione found herself in a predicament that she never saw coming. She was the smartest witch of her age so how could it be that she had forgotten something simple so simple as a contraceptive charm? The newborn baby that slept peacefully in a bassinet in the corner of her room was all the proof she needed to know that she was indeed not the smartest witch of her age.
She wasn't as angry as she thought she would have been when she had found out she was pregnant. The life that had been growing inside of her was a piece of Fred that she'd be able to hold onto for forever. It was with the help of her parents- yes, her parents- that she was able to raise the baby boy.
After Hermione had left Shell Cottage, she traveled to Australia where she went on the hunt for her parents. With the help of magic, it didn't take her long to find her parents and restore their memory, turning them back into Robert and Jane Granger. They had been upset with her, not for sending them away but for fighting a dangerous war at such a young age, but they got over it when Hermione was resolved to tears and told them everything that had happened. Her parents settled her down in their home they had purchased there, her Mother doing everything to help her prepare bringing in a new life into the world.
Three years later, Everett Jacob was everything Hermione had hoped for in a baby. Almost a spitting image of Fred. Red hair, freckles, and her chocolate colored brown eyes.
The toddler walked everywhere and anywhere his little legs would take him and he seemed to know what to do and what not to do when someone told him yes or no. Hermione spent most of her time looking after her son, her parents letting her take as much time as she needed while she figured out what she was going to do with her life.
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Present day
Hermione sat on the porch of her parent's home, rocking back and forth in the rocking chair her Father was rather fond of. The usually scorching temperatures were gone for the day, a refreshing cool breeze steadily blowing. Everett was taking his nap in the back room, giving Hermione some time to enjoy the weather outside while Robert and Jane were out buying groceries.
The slight rumble of a car engine approached and Hermione turned her attention to the familiar rumble of her parent's car. Through the windshield, she could see her parent's silhouettes in the front seat but the silhouette of a third person in the back seat was what really caught her attention. The sun glinting off the windshield wouldn't let Hermione get a clear view of who was in the back seat but her parent's laughter assured her that they at least knew who was in the car with them. It wasn't some stranger that Hermione had to worry about.
Jane was the first out of the car, two brown paper bags of groceries in her arms as she fast-walked up the sidewalk and up towards Hermione. "Love, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for it to happen but it just slipped out and it was too late for me to take it back."
Hermione had stopped rocking in the chair, tensing up at her Mother's words. "Didn't mean for what to happen?" Her eyes shot towards the car that her Father was just getting out of, a dark haired man following suit. "What happened?" She reached for the special pocket that she had sewn into all of her jeans, a pocket specifically made for holding her wand.
"Oh, no," Jane nervously chuckled as her gaze traveled to where her daughter's hand was resting. "You won't be needing that."
Hermione relaxed, her gaze going back to her Father and their guest as they walked up the sidewalk towards her. The guest, whose head was pointing down, let Hermione know that it was a male with messy dark colored hair. As his face started to slowly inch upward, Hermione saw the sun glinting off the lens of his glasses, and she finally saw a smile gracing his lips.
"Harry.." Hermione breathed.
Harry sheepishly smiled at Hermione, Robert taking the bags that Harry had carried and followed his wife inside to give the two friends privacy.
"Sorry, dear. We blew our cover." Robert whispered as he passed his daughter.
The door shut behind Robert and Jane leaving Hermione alone with Harry on the front porch. They both shifted their weight from one foot to the other, not sure what to say to each other now that they were face to face.
"So," Hermione bit her bottom lip. "How did you know where to find us?"
"I didn't actually," He chuckled. "I mean, I went to the Ministry and found traces of your magic in this city but I didn't know where to actually start. Then I saw your parents at the market and followed them, thinking they were still Wendell and Monica, but imagine my surprise when they caught me staring and greeted me."
"They greeted you?" Hermione groaned as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I told them to pretend that their memories were still wiped if they ran into any familiar wizard faces."
"Yeah, they mentioned that after they realized their mistake." Harry dead-panned. "Why is it that you found your parents and you still haven't returned home yet?"
Hermione stared her friend in the eyes, glad to see that he wasn't angry at her but hurt. Hurt because after all this time they probably thought she was lonely and searching for her parents, when in actuality she was living it up in Australia with her parents and their returned memories. "I am home." She answered him lamely. "This is my home now."
"Why didn't you go back?"
"Because.. I.." Hermione hesitated, glancing back and forth between Harry and the front door. "Can we take this inside, please?"
Harry nodded, shuffling forward to open up the door for Hermione to step through first. Once the door was safely shut behind them, Harry took in the objects laying all around the living room. Hermione nervously made her way through the living room, picking up kids toys along the way and dumping the smaller ones into a wooden chest behind the sofa.
"Did your, uh, did your parents adopt a child?" Harry asked.
"Hmm? What was that?" Hermione mumbled as she dodged the question. She kept herself busy so Harry wouldn't ask her again, pushing the bigger toys to the far corner so no-one would trip over them. A tiny rocking horse sat next to a toddler play pen where more toys were scattered and colorful toy blocks were packed away in a clear plastic bag next to it as well.
Harry took a seat while Hermione finished setting things aside and summoned up two glasses of lemonade from the kitchen. "So, how've you been?" He asked.
"Good." Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as she plopped herself onto the sofa next to Harry. "Been busy."
"I can see." Harry replied. He sipped his lemonade before placing it down on the coffee table. "How does it feel to finally have a younger sibling?"
Hermione gulped, taking big gulps of her own lemonade to prolong answering Harry. When his gaze never wavered, she set her glass down and opened her mouth to answer. "It-"
"Mum?" a tiny voice sounded from behind them. Hermione froze while Harry turned towards the voice, his body going rigid as his eyes settled on the boy. "Mum?" Everett called out again.
"Is he.. He looks like.. Hermione?" Harry muttered as he swiveled back around to stare at his best friend with wide eyes. "What's going on?"
Hermione stood so her son could see her, his eyes lighting up when he finally saw her. "Mum!" He ran full speed and hugged Hermione's legs tightly. He rubbed his eyes and yawned, letting Hermione pull him up and hitch him on her hip.
"Spitting image, isn't he?" Hermione whispered so lowly that she wasn't sure if Harry heard her. "His name is Everett Jacob and he's my whole world, Harry. He's the main reason why I stayed here. I didn't want him thrown into the limelight back home and he'd just raise too many questions. I couldn't face that." Her voice cracked at the end.
Harry finally snapped out of his trance, his face lighting up brightly given the fact that his best friend didn't tell him about her life changing experience before today. "Hermione, you have to go back! We need to go back as soon as possible."
"No. I can't Harry." Hermione shook her head as Everett drifted back to sleep on her shoulder, his face snuggled into the crook of her neck. "Didn't you just hear what I said? Besides, there's nothing back there for me to go back to. Not anymore. No offense."
Harry waved off her apology. "Don't worry about it but you're wrong about nothing being back there for you." After a moment, it clicked in his mind on what Hermione meant by nothing being back there for her. She had left before they could collect her and tell her that Fred was okay, he was just knocked unconscious. "You have us back home. Everett has family back there."
Hermione's eyes filled with tears at the thought of keeping Everett from his other family but she couldn't find it in herself to make herself go back. "It's too hard, Har-"
"Dammit, Hermione," Harry cut her off as he leapt to his feet. "Fred's alive. He never died in the battle."
Uh, I'll see you next week? :) Sorry for any errors. Leave your thoughts, whether good or bad, in a review.