This fic is now dedicated to wvvampire for her 25th birthday which is today 16th july 2010. Enjoy your favorite pairing and happy birthday !

House : The marvellous Ravenclaw, GO GUYS!

Prompt : The word "mistake" used in at least two different ways

Pairing : Hermione/Fred, set in DH, AU

"I can't stand it anymore!" Hermione yelled at the two boys who had been sharing a tent with her for the last months. She had been assigned to wear the Horcrux around her neck yet another time and Ron had once again arbitrarily picked on her while she was burdened by the necklace.

"Yeah sorry, but we all have our responsibilities in here and we don't care if you can't stand it or not. We have no choice, that's it!" Ron screamed back at her, his freckled cheeks flushed crimson.

"Ron, don't yell at her." Harry interposed "She's right! You should stop bothering her whenever you feel like scraping your nerves on someone, even more so when she's wearing this bloody thing. You already piss us off enough when it's you who wears it."

"She is constantly bossing us around Harry, don't you see? She's getting in the way of our mission!"

"Maybe it was a mistake for me to come with you both after all." Hermione said, dejected.

"Yes, I would say so. It's a man's business." Ron snapped back.

"I should leave you guys to it, then." She answered, crestfallen.

"No, Hermione, don't! We need you, I swear." Harry was on the verge of breaking down, like Hermione.

"No, Harry. I think Ron is right. Maybe it's a task for boys after all. I don't think I'm strong enough anymore."

Hermione shook her arm, forcing Harry to let go of her and stormed out of the tent, wiping her tear-stained face with her sleeve. She held her wand high above her head and turned swiftly on the spot, visualizing the place she wanted to go to, the Burrow. She apparated at the desired position within the following minute. It was at a safe distance from the house, near the mountain side. She knew there had been protection charms set around the Weasley family home and that she could not apparate nearer than that.

She ran towards the domicile of the ''red-haired clan'' as fast as she could before she could make an undesired acquaintance with a Death Eater or such. She was a secret-keeper for the home's location, so she could enter without a problem. She directly opened the door, without knocking, and set foot into the disorganized kitchen.

She heard single footsteps echoing from the staircase and she looked up, waiting to see who the person was, her wand raised in anticipation.

"Hermione!" Fred Weasley was running in her direction and hugged her with bone-crushing force, like if they were the last survivors of the destruction of Earth.

"Fred." Hermione smiled between her tears. "I'm so happy it's you."

"And me it's you" Fred grinned back, overwhelmed with the joy of seeing the clever witch whom he had missed more than he was willing to betray.

"As much as I like you hugging me, you should check that it's really me before I explain why I'm here."

Hermione, as ever, kept a head on her shoulders at all times.

"Oh, yes you're right"

Fred found that Hermione's concern with safety was adorable. "Mmmm, what could I ask you… Well, tell me what was Ron's cover for leaving school with you and Harry?"

"We transfigured your attic's ghoul to look as much like Ron as possible and told everybody at school he had an illness that kept him home."

"That's right. Oh Hermione I'm so glad to see you after all those months. Tell me what happened."

"As you know, Dumbledore left us a task in the design to kill You-know-who. I can still not tell you what it is but the main thing is that I just left Harry and Ron to themselves after your brother had once again told me how useless I appear to him. I did not want to abandon them but I couldn't deal with the pressure anymore. I changed so much this year that I don't even remember who I really am. I'm so lost and now they tell me they don't need me. This pushed me over the top."

"I'm so sorry that happened, but at least you're safe here, I can't say the same thing about them. I wish they had quit this task too, but if Dumbledore assigned it to them…"

"Yes, we did not have a choice really. But tell me, why are you here all alone, Fred. Aren't the others with you?"

"They are all at Grimmauld's place. I was assigned to watch over the house while they are arranging what is coming next. Someone had to stay here permanently in case the Burrow is attacked or something unexpected comes up, like you coming back tonight." Fred smiled softly. "I'm happy it was me they left behind now"

"Thank you."

"I'm so sorry Hermione, I'm forgetting my manners. Go have a seat in the rest room, you must be drained and famished. I'll fix you something. What would you like?"

"Just very strong tea, please Fred. I don't remember the last time I had a hot beverage."

"Of course. You'll have it in a matter of seconds." He disappeared into the kitchen and came back ten seconds later with a cup of the delicious warm drink, as promised. He presented the mug to her.

"Be careful, pretty face, it burns."

Hermione smiled at him and made room for him to sit next to her on the puffy ruby coloured couch. He immediately did so. Hermione was cradling the tea in her frozen hands and sipping from it carefully.

"You flatter me. I must not be so attractive right now. I've spent innumerable days on the run and with minimal ways to bathe or take care of my looks."

Fred shrugged. "You would look gorgeous to me even if you were covered from head to toe in Dragon snot."

Hermione smiled, she was not used to being paid such compliments, especially not in the company of her two best friends. "Thanks for the tea. It's just what I needed."

"My pleasure."

Hermione shuddered imperceptibly.

"You're cold." Fred just stated. He put a comforting arm around her shoulders and held her close. She revelled in the warmth coming from his body. She was indeed freezing.

"Do you think I messed up by leaving the boys? I just feel so bad now. I should not have let Ron's temper affect me so deeply."

"It's normal it does, you love him. And to answer your question, I think you did the right thing."

"I'm relieved you think so. But I don't love Ron, what made you think that? He's just a close friend."

"Hermione, it's obvious you both have feelings for each other. In Ron's case I know it for a fact, he told me. As for you I'm sure I saw you always looking in his direction at suppers and meetings, when the Order was assembled."

"Oh, I thought you knew…"

"Knew what?"

"I was not looking at him when I kept staring. It was you I was looking at. I… always appreciated you very much Fred."

"Really? You're serious about that? You're not playing with me?"

"How could I be?" Hermione asked, her hazel eyes fixed into the blue, affectionate gaze of her companion.

Fred, even under the terrible circumstances they were in during those times, felt like it was the best day of his life. He could not believe his luck. He was loved back by this amazing woman, who had made his heart beat since fifth year.

Hermione was so close to him now. He could just… He would just have to lower his head to…

Suddenly the door was ripped open in a loud crashing noise, startling both young adults. Hermione leapt for her wand, but she quickly understood it was of no use.

The former marauder and DADA teacher at Hogwarts, Remus Lupin, came in in a hurry. He now wore almost completely grey hair. There was no doubt his fight against the Dark forces had aged him considerably.

"Hermione, what are you doing here?"

Remus could not believe the hazel-eyed brunette was actually there. He felt relieved for a brief instant, but then remembered the reason he was there.

"Ron and Harry have just been captured by a group of Death Eaters lead by Fenrir Greyback." He continued. "It seems there has been a taboo spell put on the real name of You-know-who and their hiding place has been discovered in mere minutes after one of them pronounced the name."

Fred and Hermione both gasped. This was the worst thing that could ever happen to the Order.

"They have been brought to Malfoy Manor, and we are deploying forces right away to save them. You both need to come with me to the headquarters without more ado."

As Hermione raced after Remus Lupin towards the apparition point of the Burrow, grasping Fred's hand tightly in her own, there was a single thought running again and again in her mind : "Why in the world did I leave them? It would never have happened if I hadn't. Why did I do this? I hate myself!"

She then saw Fred looking deep into her eyes while they turned on the spot, sending her reassuring waves with his warm gaze only. She thought that, at least, against all odds and even in those dark times, she could count on the people around her to help her correct her mistakes. She had never been alone in this and she never would.