This may be the first time in history I've ever wished for Fred Weasley to be dumber…

Not just that he was smart, he was funny, caring, and loyal and and the brother of her husband…

The day had been so nice, they'd had lunch then went to the joke shop, Fred convincing her, Hermione Granger, nerd extraordinaire, to play hooky, and watch George in full swing demonstrating and selling products.

"Instant baldness shampoo! Lasts for up to 72 hours!"

After that they shopped and talked, which wasn't unusual, but still Hermione felt unlike she'd ever felt. It was like shed had a chemical peel of her entire body, every casual touch, smile and tease made her feel giddy and she found herself trying not to think of having to go home, to face the living, breathing monster that her husband had become.

But eventually time went on and it couldn't be avoided any longer, with shaky legs and a heavy heart she bid Fred goodbye. She stepped out into Diagon alley and couldn't resist taking one look back. He had already turned around and was engaged in conversation with his twin. She sighed, and carried on down the street, assuming the second she left his presence she also left his thoughts.

George Weasley was so pissed.

"Have you completely lost your mind, is that it? I saw the way you looked at her! Your bothers wife!" the shop had closed, there were only the two pranksters left, one of whom was so angry it was unlikely humor could be derived from anything lately.

"I haven't done anything! Jeez George, just leave it, alright?" with a violent push at the door Fred bounded the stairs into the small but well-kept flat they shared. He didn't want to talk to George, didn't want George to accuse him of things he knew himself were true.

Ever persistent, George wasn't more than a few seconds behind him, his lips pursed into a grim line. He hated fighting with Fred, but this had to be talked about.

"Fred… FRED WEASLEY!" the shout came out angrier than intended, but it stopped Fred in his tracks, barely a foot from the sanctuary of his bedroom door. Fred didn't turn his back, and the way his voice, famous for being carefree, sounded broken and choked. It tore at Georges heart, he wished to god they could be back in the burrow, playing in the back yard as kids. They were men now, and his twin was hurting so badly.

"What do you want from me georgie? To tell you I don't want her, that I haven't always wanted her? That I don't want to shake Ron every time I see how… how fucking destroyed she looks? That I can't shake her from my mind?"

George went instinctively to the other half of him, wrapping muscled arms around well-defined shoulder. When the dam broke and he felt Fred hug him back he felt like crying, Fred was right in his opinion of their younger sibling. But still, there was no way any happiness could come from this.

"I know Freddy, I know. It sucks, but still, he's still your brother Fred, they're married…"

The rest of his sentence was blown out by Fred fighting his way out of the embrace, his hurt and anger and aggression etched into his face.

George inadvertently sucked in a breath of apprehension. Fred was angry, and angry Fred could be juvenile, stupid and hurtful. Not that different from Ron.

"That SHAM of a marriage she goes home to, you have respect for that?" he turned around and was then shouting at his twin, all pretence lost. It was like he just wanted someone else to hurt.

"How DARE you lecture me on respect for marriage, George. Tell me, is Oliver wood still going straight home to his wife after fucking you, convincing himself and the world he's straight? Still creeping out of this flat before sunrise? And you… you just allow it. So DON'T FUCKING TELL ME TO RESPECT MARRIAGE WHEN I LOVE HER!"

The silence echoed in the room, both horrified. It was the secret that they'd never spoken about, not even the mornings Fred would hear him leave and he'd just know how used and cheap and dirty George felt. Now Fred had thrown it in Georges face like a cheap comeback. He would do anything to take it back. He'd rather die than hurt George.

"ge-george?" it was a plea, a plea for him to be okay, to forgive him.

George didn't look at him in the eye.

"I'm going for a shower. When I come out, this conversation will never have happened. We will NEVER discuss this again. Understood?" his voice dripped with hurt and shame. Harsh as it was, his brother was right and he knew it.

He went for a shower, Fred made dinner. Within an hour they were whole again, the conversation aborted but still playing around both men's heads.

meanwhile, they had no idea how awful the things that were happening at hermione's house, that this night would be the night everything changed.