This is a new story I thought I'd write, just to give it a go. It was going to orginially be a one shot but I kind of kept writing and writing so it's far too long to be just a one shot.
Chapter 1 – A friend in need
George stood in his bedroom at the burrow holding the delicate gold necklace in his hand, staring at it as if he touched it, it would break into thousands of pieces. He couldn't believe that Hermione had been able to get her hands on a time turner but she did and he should not have doubted that the brightest witch of their age could get her hands on a time turner.
"Are you sure about this Hermione?" George asked, his voice shaking.
"Yes, you should be able to go back to right before it happened." Hermione answered.
"Can you not come with me?" George asked.
"I can't George as I was there when, when it happened. You weren't so that's why you have to go alone." Hermione answered, her voice quivering. "I wish I could come and help you but it's far too risky for me to be there as there would be two of me."
"I understand Hermione. Thank you for getting me this. I will repay you someday, if it works out that is." George said. "You can have whatever you want free from Wizard Wheezes when I get it open again."
"Now, do you know what to do?" Hermione asked. "And it's fine George."
"I think so. I'll apparate straight to Hogwarts and be near to where the wall collapsed. Then I turn the time turner 38 times an that should take me back until you guys found Fred and Percy." George stated.
"Yes, 38 times should be enough. Oh I do hope it will be enough." She shrieked. "It's been two days since it happened so..."
Hermione closed her eyes tight and began counting out loud, trying to work out how long the horrible Battle of Hogwarts was and how many times George would have to turn the time turner to get back to the correct time.
"I'd turn it 48 times just to be on the safe side. It's better that you're too early than too late." Hermione said.
"And you're very sure?" George asked.
"Yes very sure." Hermione answered. "You turn it once for every hour and by my calculation it should have been around 48 hours ago."
"I do hope so Hermione." George said, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat.
It had been the worst 48 hours of George Weasley's life. He had lost his best friend and twin brother in the battle and hadn't been there to help save him but now it was his chance to go back in time and save Fred's life. Heck he might be able to save Remus and Tonks too.
"Just remember to be very careful, George. Remember you're still in the middle of a huge battle so you could get hurt or worse and remember if you see your other self, hide." Hermione stated.
"What do I do with myself if I see him?" George questioned.
"You might have to curse him. I'd recommend a full body bind, nothing too serious and hide him. It's not going to be that easy, George." Hermione shrieked. "Oh I don't want you to hurt your other self either."
"Are you sure you can't come with me?" George asked. "You might be able to hunt me down and keep me away from where I'm going to be while I try and save Fred."
"Oh, why didn't I think about that before?" Hermione cried. "I'm sorry George, my head is all over the place at the moment."
"Honestly it's fine Hermione, I understand, we've all been through a lot so it's understandable that our heads are not where they should be." George answered, placing a hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"I'd also suggest putting on the clothes you wore during the battle, it would look less suspicious." Hermione said. "Give me a few moments so I can gather a few essentials for the trip. Oh and remember we're going to be gone for at least two days so pack an overnight bag and I'll put it in my beaded bag.
"Alright Hermione. I'll do that now." George answered. "Thank goodness for your brains."
Hermione blushed slightly at George's comments. George pulled out a plastic bag that was in his wardrobe and took the dirty, ripped trousers, jacket and shirt out of it. His face paled even more. It brought back those horrible memories of the night of the battle.
"I'll come with you George." Hermione stated. "It's the least I can do. I'll just go and get changed."
Hermione left George so both could get changed into the clothing they had wore during the battle and so they could pack a few essential items. Luckily for both, Molly hadn't thrown the clothing they wore during the battle out or decided to wash them. Hermione then got Harry's invisibility cloak and the Maurader's map off Harry as both items would be very beneficial to both of them.
****
"Are you all set?" George asked Hermione.
"Yes. I think I've got everything." Hermione answered. "I've brought Harry's cloak and the map too."
"Thank goodness for your brains Hermione. I don't know what we'd all do without you." George said with a small smile.
It was the first time anyone had seen George smile since Fred's death and that was understandable. Then again none of the Weasleys had really seen much of George at all as he had kept himself cooked up in his room, not even appearing for meals. It was Hermione who approached George earlier on that evening when he was sat by the huge oak tree in the garden, staring into space.
Flash back to earlier that evening She knew that George would probably want to be on his own and if that was the case, she'd let him. However her attentions wasn't to pester George on how he was feeling like the others did, she just wanted to be his friend and show her support to him. "Yes of course." George answered, moving over to let Hermione sit down beside him. Neither of them spoke for a short while. "How are you feeling George?" Hermione asked, breaking the silence. "I know you've been asked that 101 times but I mean, how are you really feeling?" George looked at the tears that were streaming down Hermione's pale face so he wrapped a supportive arm around her shoulder. "I don't blame any of you Hermione and I know you all would have done everything. I blame myself because we were always together and the one time Fred really did need me, I wasn't there." George said."I just wish I could turn back the clock and go and save him."
"Hello there Hermione." George spoke.
"Hello George, mind if I join you?" Hermione asked.
"Numb I think but I really don't know if I'm being honest. It just hasn't properly hit me that I'm never going to see Fred again." George confessed.
"You'll see him one day again George." Hermione said.
"I just wish I could have been with him and maybe did something to save him. I shouldn't have went off with Lee." George said. "I am so bloody stupid!"
"George, please don't be blaming yourself for what happened. We were there and none of us could have stopped it happening and we did try to help Fred." Hermione sniffed. "We all tried so hard."
"Well you might actually be able to do that." Hermione said.
"What? How?" George asked.
"Well so many things could go wrong of course but I just happen to have a time turner that I required during our time on the run. I didn't actually plan on using it but since your need is greater than mine, you can use it, if it works that is." Hermione answered.
"You have an actual time turner?" George asked, his blue eyes wide.
"Yes but no one knows. I could get in so much trouble for having it." Hermione answered.
"But how did you get it?" George asked.
"I got it from when we broke into the Ministry of Magic." Hermione admitted.
"You are bloody brilliant Hermione. Does it work?" George asked.
"It should hopefully work." Hermione answered.
"Do you think I could use it to go back to the night of the battle and save Fred?" George asked.
"You might be able too." Hermione answered. "But it could be too dangerous. Horrible things have happened to witches and wizards who meddle with time."
"Hermione at this moment in time I would do absolutely anything if I thought I'd get Fred back." George said. "And if worked for you when you saved Sirius Black."
"We had Dumbledore's guidance then." Hermione said.
"And I have the guidance of the brightest witch of our age." George answered.
"You have far too much faith in me George." Hermione said.
"I just hope that this works. It's been a while since I've used a time turner and so many things can do wrong." Hermione squeaked.
"I trust you Hermione." George answered. "We are going to go and get Fred back and maybe Remus and Tonks too."
"I can have a go at trying to save Tonks as I know she was with Bellatrix at that time but I'm not promising anything." Hermione answered. "As for Remus, I'm not so sure."
"He was with Kingsley for a while so as far as I know, he was maybe with him around that time." George spoke.
"I feel so unprepared." Hermione signed. "But we don't have time to sit and plan this all."
"I don't want to wait any longer Hermione, the longer we wait, the less chance of saving Fred we have." George said.
"We better get going then." Hermione said.
George popped the golden necklace deeply into his trouser pocket and made sure he also had his wand. Hermione made sure she had the invisibility cloak, her wand and the map. It was pitch black outside the burrow and eerily quiet for once. George and Hermione sneaked out of the front door and went beyond the protective wards.
George took Hermione's hand in his and they went spinning, landing just outside the large metal Hogwarts gates. George's heart was pounding loudly in his chest and nerves filled every inch of his already shaking body. Hermione still had the hold of his hand but he didn't let go as it was a little bit of comfort for both of them. Hermione pulled the invisibility cloak out of her beaded back and threw it over the two of them. Due to George being 6ft tall, it was far too short for him, so he had to bend over so it covered Hermione too.
"Maybe I should give you a piggy back up to the castle." George suggested.
"Yeah, you're much taller than me so it's not going to properly cover us both." Hermione answered.
She hopped on George's back and adjusted the cloak over the two of them. It was still too short however.
"Do you think an enlarging charm would work on it?" George wondered.
"We could try but I don't think it'll work." Hermione answered.
"Engorio." George stated, pointing his wand at the cloak.
The ends of the cloak got longer so it came right down to George's feet.
"Wow. It worked." Hermione gasped. "You're a lot smarter than people give you credit for, George."
"Thanks Hermione." George answered.