Hermione was crying. Ron was mumbling apologetically.

'I wanted to come back, I swear I did, but the snatchers…'

'Mmm.'

'I felt so frustrated with myself, obviously I wished that we were doing better and then it hurt when you said you would stay, I was jealous and confused, I didn't understand and I was out of my mind with worry. I couldn't stand not knowing what had happened to my family as well as being scared shitless for you and Harry. More than anything I felt useless and helpless and...well it was crazy, horrible…

Harry couldn't help but remember a conversation from two years earlier in which Hermione had accused a certain person of having the 'emotional range of a teaspoon'. That certain person was pouring his heart out on the other side of the door, sitting much closer to Hermione than he used to. It was a weird feeling.

He was reminded of the same talk when he peered around the door to see them locked in an embrace that Harry was sure Ron would prefer Mrs. Weasley not too see. Hermione was still crying, and Ron looked close to tears.

'Honestly,' Harry thought, 'You would think a bit of kissing would cheer them up' as he carefully turned around to make his way downstairs as quietly as possible.

At the foot of the stairs he saw Ginny who had just been talking to an exhausted Luna. Harry called out to her.

'Anything new?'

'Well, Madam Pomfrey has patched up Neville and a lot of others, there are only eight more of ours in the hospital wing and a death eater. Er…some more people were found last night; they're still searching the forest for more. Apparently Alicia says that Angelina was only found two hours ago, don't worry she was only stunned. I haven't heard anything about ministry plans, Kingsley just walked past and I don't think he saw me. I don't know anything more than that.'

'Mmm.' Ginny he could tell that he was upset but knew that he didn't want to talk there.

'Where are the idiot and the goldfish?'

Harry smiled. 'They'll come down when they're ready and hopefully dressed.'

'Too much information, stop right there! I don't want to hear about it for Merlin's sake!'

They were turning to go into the great hall to get a bite to eat when-

'Well, well, well. Who have we here? Harry, darling how do you feel? What do you have to tell our readers about yesterday's happenings? They are dying to know all about the emotions behind your little escapade! And you have already snatched up an admirer?'

A roll of parchment hovered behind her and Harry was angry to see that she was looking so well. Rita's eyes darted from Harry's hand on Ginny's waist, to her low V-neck before-

'OWWW!'

Spinning round she glared at Hermione furiously, who held a poisonous-looking acid-green quill in her hand and wore a satisfied smirk on her face. A garish red trickle of blood seeped down the back of Rita's neck.

'YOU!'

'You'd better leave her alone, leave my sister alone and leave Harry! You got that?!'

Taking a deep breath, she composed herself, slapping on her face, what she probably supposed to be a winning smile.

'Oh dear.'

Hermione rolled her eyes.

'Do I detect a hint of jealousy of the striking redhead, Hermione, darling, despite the comfort you get from your fine, ahem, friend? Tensions rising due to new-found affections just when we thought that everything had been solved? Are your relationships still so troubled? And you, Ronald, how does it feel to be joining the masses?'

'Fuck off!'

Rita wheeled around to face Ginny who was staring angrily at her.

'Hmm…tell me everything, dear, I want to know all about the tenderness behind your hero's troubled face, how do you feel, knowing that you don't quite have the same prettiness of his last girlfriend? Cho, I think? I think that the prophet would love an interview with you, the little lady who knows the real Harry!'

Rita turned to Hermione to try and grab the Quick Quotes Quill who grinning widely, snapped it in two.

'Stupid girl! Don't you know how expensive they are?! They can't be reparoed, you know!'

Harry had had enough.

'How can you stand there and look her in the face when you have done almost everything possible to make her life as difficult as possible, writing that crap about her, do you know how she might feel?! You've turned the Wizarding world against me and insulted my friends. You wrote for Voldemort's government! And worst of all how on earth could you do all that to Dumbledore?!'

'The public deserve the truth about him.'

At once all four friends growled, 'He was a hundred times the wizard you could ever be!' (A/N-I know she can't be a wizard but that's not important)

'What else was I supposed to do to earn a living, eh? I'm not about to waste the time I spent hiding my animagus skills! And I didn't do any harm passing on a juicy bit of gossip!'

Harry continued, 'And when you've quite finished spewing rubbish we would be extremely grateful if you get out of our sight.'

'I can't write without a Quick Quotes Quill! Did you see what that bitch just did?!'

'Certainly did.'

It was not Harry who had spoken and everyone turned to see an angry Percy Weasley with a roll of parchment and ink all over him, evidently because he had been writing so fast.

'I got every word of what you said. It's been so nice to finally meet you. Good day!'

…………………………………………………………………………………………

The Hall did not have many people in it but as the four passed by the tables, bereaved faces turned to stare until they reached the table on the far right and sat down. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley with Bill looked up as they sat down. None looked like they had slept well.

Ginny was about to ask where the others were when Charlie came through the double doors, spotted them and jogged over.

'George is just coming' he said sadly, hugging his mother whose eyes had tears welling up in them again.

She dried her face on a rather wet handkerchief so that when George shuffled into the hall she looked as composed as possible for a mother in her position. He nodded stiffly in greeting as he sat down, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. This was just as well because despite Mrs. Weasley's attempt at a stiff upper lip, her mouth quivered as she tried to stop the flood of emotions that could burst out at any moment.

George served himself some breakfast, not noticing that he preferred toast. How long they sat there pretending not to watch George pushing increasingly soggy 'Hodgin's Hungry Hippogriff Flakes' around his bowl.

Arthur wondered whether to say something but knew that the time for that would come. It made him feel so empty to think, that no matter how much he had tried he had failed. Failed as a father, failed as a husband. Not only had he let his little boy go but he had to watch his family's pain as punishment for pulling them into such a dangerous game, knowing that he could do nothing to help them. Molly, I'm so sorry.

His wife was torn apart as she looked around the hall. This was where she had known Arthur for the first time. They had been so happy here, so naïve to think that goodness alone could keep them safe. Everywhere she saw pain, and George hurt more than anyone. Children grew up so fast and she had learnt that the hard way. 19 years was so short but it was a lifetime.

Memories drifted to Hermione's mind. Admiring the twin's Headless Hats, Christmas at Grimmauld place, ear-related jokes, disapproving of Puking Pastilles, seeing the new shop, the twin's apparating to annoy people and saying things at the same time. Everyone had been saying that the twins would go far but now the future looked rather different.

Ron was dazed. He had just got Hermione, his family, his safety but lost Fred. Fred, the life and soul of everything that went on. Him and George, but looking across the table at a boy not eating cereal he couldn't recognise his own brother. That scared him.

Ginny loved her brothers more than anybody could imagine. She, as the youngest had a special bond with every one of them and of course she hadn't wanted to lose anyone but surely it wasn't Fred who had gone?

Losing Fred was making Harry feel numb. Since getting up he'd experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, was this how his life would be? Endless ups and downs, just as something gets better he gets another dull blow to the stomach. Too many people had to suffer, it was wrong but how on earth can you change it? Fred was dead and gone.

Bill was grim. He was newly married, this should be the happiest time of his life, and Fleur's too, but it wasn't. They wanted a child but they hadn't discussed that yet because it wasn't safe to bring a child into such dangerous times, with a jolt he remembered Remus and Tonks lying side by side and thought of little Teddy. Then he thought of Fred who would never have what Bill had with Fleur.

Charlie was burning inside, like a Chinese Fireball. Burning with resentment. His little Freddie was just a boy. He remembered showing Fred and George pictures of dragons when they were little. They had loved the flames, the danger that dragons offered but now he realised. The twins had looked at the pictures together, made explosions and flames together, loved to be reckless together. Fred was one half of the duo, and that half was gone. Forever. It burned but it was true. Fred had truly been a part of George, but how on earth do you recreate that part without replacing it?

George felt hollow. Not empty, not like there was a partmissing but hollow, and feelingless. He wanted to talk and to be told that everything would be alright but who to turn to? Not his family but…

More to come soon. Please review, I have a plot worked out but I am open to ideas! Thanks for reading.