Hi, this is the second chapter of my new George and Hermione story. I really enjoyed writing this chapter although I'm sorry it took ages for me to update. Hope you enjoy it, let me know what you think!

DISCLAIMER: (Because I forgot in the last chapter) I do not own Harry Potter.

Enjoy!

~ CHAPTER TWO ~

THE QUIDDITCH PITCH

Hermione and George walked quietly towards the Quidditch Pitch, ignoring students milling around outside and coming up to them to congratulate them, they were in no mood to celebrate; they just wanted to be alone. The giant hoops of the Quidditch Pitch rose on the horizon providing a slightly comforting sight for George, who had always felt safe here. The sun was just setting, bathing the Quidditch Pitch in a dark orange glow as George and Hermione walked to the centre of it, and sat down together, both lost in their own thoughts.

"Thank you for staying with me Hermione," said George sadly "I miss him so much"

"Me too," said Hermione, just as sadly "he asked me to look after you if anything ever happened to him."

"He did?" asked George.

"Yeah," said Hermione hesitating slightly, as she was quite aware that what she was about to tell George would upset him "he asked me again just before he died as well."

George looked at Hermione with the saddest eyes she had ever seen, and it broke her heart all over again as she realised just how much George missed Fred and also how much she missed Fred as well. She missed Fred's laugh and his caring nature most of all, and she didn't know when she would ever get over it.

"You were with him before he died?" asked George quietly, jolting Hermione out of her thoughts.

"Yeah," said Hermione, her voice quivering slightly "sorry I didn't tell you before. I was fighting some Death Eaters, I'm not sure who, I can't remember, and they put the C-Cruciatus curse on me. All I remember was the curse stopping and seeing Fred kneeling next to me, he said something but I don't know what it was and the next thing I know there was a curse shot just above my head crumbling the wall and I felt Fred pushing me out the way. I tried to pull him with me but the rubble fell on him. He was in so much pain, I've never seen him cry before but he cried so much, he was so scared, he told me to look after you, he knew he was going to die and wanted someone to look after you. I promised him I would and then he went quiet and that's when the life left his eyes. I cried and cried and cried, didn't even move. The Death Eaters had left in the explosion and I sat with Fred for ages until Kingsley came and found us, then the next thing I remember is seeing your family all running in, including you, running past me to Fred, no one else knows I was with him when he died, I couldn't bring myself to tell them, I thought you would all blame me."

Hermione was now openly sobbing and had drawn her knees up to her chest, making her as small as possible. George sat next to her, unable to talk, with tears in his eyes as he observed the girl in front of him.

"Hermione?" he questioned gently, as his voice shook with tears.

"I'm sorry George," said Hermione, tears pouring down her cheeks "I should have come to find you I know, but Fred begged me not to go! He was so scared I couldn't bear to leave him alone!"

Hermione looked at George through tear stained eyes, glinting chocolate orbs that bore deep into his soul. Hermione could not see a trace of anger in George's expression like she thought she would have, instead she could just see sadness, dejection, true loneliness that she knew no one else could understand, even herself. George meanwhile was regarding Hermione with sad eyes as he realised she had been affected by his brother's death almost as much as he had. George felt no anger towards Hermione as she feared, instead he found himself feeling some form of what could only be described as admiration. Admiration for the fact that she had managed to stay strong for Fred when he needed someone the most, admiration that she had stayed with him despite the potential dangers that were around them at that point. With that in mind George moved closer to Hermione and gently placed his hand over hers, interlacing their fingers. George was surprised when Hermione leaned closer to him resting her head on his shoulder.

"Sorry," she mumbled, when she realised George was watching her.

"Don't be," said George in a voice thick with tears "it's nice to be this close to someone again, nice to have someone next to me."

"Are you angry?" asked Hermione quietly "that I didn't come and get you I mean, when Fred died."

"No," answered George truthfully, although he couldn't keep the sadness out of his voice that seemed to always be present and he noticed a stray tear crawling down his cheek as well "you did the right thing, I couldn't bear the thought of him dying alone, I'm so relieved someone was with him when I wasn't and I hope you understand what I mean when I say I'm glad it was you. I know you would have stayed calm even while he wasn't, I know you would have stayed with him; I know you would have helped him as much as possible. Thank you Hermione."

"For what?" asked Hermione, bewildered.

"For staying with him while he died," said George sadly, looking at the floor so Hermione wouldn't see the tears threatening to fall.

"It's OK," said Hermione sadly "I was never going to leave him, not after everything he's done for me."

"I know you two were great friends," said George, looking up at Hermione and wiping his tears away before doing something that surprised both of them and wrapping his arm around Hermione's shoulders "you were the one person apart from me that probably knew the real Fred."

"Knew that he still slept with a teddy bear called Barney?" said Hermione, a small smile forming on her lips as she remembered these fond memories "knew that when Ginny got taken into the Chamber of Secrets he threw himself into finding out how to get down there? Knew that his favourite colour is green, that his favourite food is spaghetti Bolognese, knew that the one thing you could say to upset him was about your mum? Knew that his absolute deepest darkest fear was leaving you alone or being left alone? Yeah I knew him."

"He was my brother, my best friend, my twin, my other half," said George in a broken voice "and now he's not here. I don't feel right Hermione, I don't feel whole, I feel empty."

"I know George," said Hermione soothingly "I can't even imagine how you're feeling right now, and I know it doesn't seem like it at the moment but you will heal over time. It will take time, I'm not going to deny that, but eventually you will be all right again."

"I feel like I died too Hermione," whispered George "how can that be fixed?"

"Someone needs to show you how to live again," answered Hermione "and I promise you every step of the way, every tear, every hug, every moment of sorrow, happiness and anger I will be here to help you if you want me to."

"I couldn't think of anyone better," said George honestly "as long as you don't mind?"

"Of course I don't," said Hermione "we can look after each other."

This earned a small, watery smile from George, which shocked Hermione but heartened her at the same time. She had always been good friends with George and in some way she was glad to have someone to share her grief with, being with someone, and especially someone she knew so well made the pain she was feeling just a tiny bit easier, and Hermione thought that maybe George felt the same.

Hermione and George spent the next hour or so reminiscing about Fred. Hermione made a rule that it had to be happy memories, which George thought was a good idea as he hoped it would help him forget his grief for a little while. George told Hermione about getting the first product right for Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes. The memory made George smile as he remembered trying the Skiving Snackboxes and them working for the first time. He remembered Fred's look of glee as George's nose poured with blood and then stopped immediately, as soon as the purple end of the sweet was forced into his mouth. George remembered how both he and Fred had finally believed that their shop could finally happen for real and told Hermione about all the plans they had made for it, and how they had accomplished them all, how they were so happy to finally make their parents proud and how they had planned to expand at some point.

Hermione was glad to see George happy again, somehow George being upset made her hurt even more. He had always seemed like such a jovial and happy person that seeing him cry was as hard as seeing Fred cry, it was like some permanent happiness had left the world when Fred or George cried, so Hermione was glad George was smiling, even if it would only be for a short time.

"So what's your happy memory Hermione?" asked George curiously.

"I don't know, there are so many," said Hermione truthfully "it's difficult to pick just one."

"I know," said George wistfully.

"Oh I know!" said Hermione happily "there was the time in my fifth year, so your seventh that me and Fred went on a picnic."

"You and Fred went on a picnic?" asked George, surprised he hadn't heard this story before.

"Yeah," said Hermione, smiling at the memory "it was before Umbridge had banned Quidditch and Gryffindor had just won a match against Slytherin. There was a massive party that night and as you know I'm not really a fan of big parties, so because the library had closed by this point I ended up sat outside the Common Room reading, anyway I was there reading and Fred came out of the Common Room looking fed up so I asked him what was wrong. He told me he wasn't a fan of parties and that he was worried about your mum and dad because they hadn't sent a letter yet that week. I tried to reassure him but it was difficult, I know how much your parents mean to you, so I suggested we go for a walk to get away from everything. Fred agreed and somehow we ended up by the lake, having miraculously avoided all of Umbridge's security. Fred had brightened up at that point and told me the only way he wanted to celebrate the victory was with me, so we should have a picnic, and before I could even agree or disagree there was a picnic basket filled with all my favourite foods. We talked for hours and hours until the sun came up and then we somehow got back to the Common Room and our dormitories without any trouble. It was just fantastic, it made me so happy."

"I never knew that happened," said George, smiling "thank you for this Hermione."

"For what?" asked Hermione.

"For making me smile," said George simply "it still hurts so much, but somehow when you're around I know I'll be all right eventually."

"It will take time George," said Hermione gently "for everyone to heal, for both of us to heal, but you and I can do this together, I know that."

George let his hand rest on Hermione's and interlaced their fingers gently, a sign of strength and unity for both of them while they were still hurting inside.

"It's not fair," sighed George, to no one in particular.

"I know," whispered Hermione, giving George's hand a gentle squeeze "the only thing we can hold onto is that Fred is up there watching us and looking out for us."

Hermione and George both glanced up at the sky each lost in their own memories of Fred, and the hole that his absence created in both of their lives. They were so lost in their own worlds that neither of them noticed a dark, solitary figure walk onto the Quidditch Pitch, smirking nastily. The solitary figure approached Hermione and George stopping just behind them and saying in a voice laced with a threatening undertone,

"Well this is cosy."

At the sound of Ron's voice Hermione stiffened slightly, nerves overtaking her, a fact which did not go unnoticed by George. He thought it was strange for Hermione to react in this way to a man who was supposedly one of her best friends, but he thought that there must be an explanation for it, so thought he would see how the situation played out.

"So Hermione," said Ron, in a sneering voice George had never heard him use before "you're here, I'm here, what are we going to do now?"

Ron touched Hermione's shoulder and wound a lock of her hair around his finger in a threatening way, and once again Hermione flinched, but this time she moved closer to George, and this meant George was now fully alert regarding Ron's behaviour, and felt a desire to protect Hermione.

"Well Hermione," whispered Ron, bringing his face down so it was level with hers "I bet you thought you were safe, but your little protector isn't here anymore is he? He's in the Great Hall, he can't protect you now Hermione. What's wrong? Are you scared?"

"L-leave me alone Ron," said Hermione, her voice visibly trembling.

"Oh we're trying to stand up for ourselves are we?" sneered Ron nastily "you know what happened last time you did that, do you want the same again?"

"N-No," whispered Hermione fearfully "I'm sorry Ron."

"You should be," said Ron in a threatening voice "now Fred isn't here to protect you I can get away with whatever I want."

George listened to Ron and was confused, he never knew that Fred had protected Hermione, he had never had any idea that Hermione even needed protecting from Ron, he had always thought they were going to end up together forever.

"Hermione?" he asked gently "what's going on?"

"Nothing George," said Hermione quietly, trying to maintain a strong voice and demeanour but failing miserably "Ron was just leaving."

"I'm not going anywhere," said Ron in a threatening tone "and you are going to pay for your insolence now your little protector isn't here."

The next few seconds felt to George, like they passed in another horrific blur. He saw the look of genuine fear cross Hermione's face at Ron's last words, and then he saw Ron raise his hand and start bringing it down towards Hermione's face at almost inhuman speed. George saw Hermione flinch back and in that split second he knew what he had to do, and he was on his feet between Ron and Hermione before any of them even knew what had happened.

"What do you think you are doing Ron?" he growled.

"Teaching the little Mudblood here a lesson," said Ron casually, while smirking "I tried to do it in the past but Fred always got in my way; he knew what I wanted and he knew she didn't want it, so he took it upon himself to protect her."

"If I ever here you use language like that again when referring to anyone, but especially Hermione, you will pay," said George in a dangerous voice "and you don't even deserve to mention Fred's name, he died a hero, in more ways than one, as for you little brother? Well, you're a coward Ron."
"I fought in the war," retorted Ron "what did you do?"

"I fought in the war as well," said George "what I meant was that you are a coward for threatening girls, for threatening to hit them, for making Hermione feel intimidated and for using your own brother's name as a weapon against her."

"She deserves every bit of pain she's going to get in life," said Ron nastily "and the fact that she's a Mudblood has been permanently carved into her skin to remind her that she is worthless and no one will ever love her."

It took all of George's self control not to punch Ron square in the nose at that moment in time; he knew Fred would have done exactly what he was trying not to do, as well as far more; no one upset Hermione when Fred was around, and everyone knew it. Instead George stood in front of Ron with his hands balled into fists at his sides as he took a deep breath, composed himself and then said in a deadly calm voice,

"I think you'd better leave Ron, and just so you know for future reference, Fred might not be here to protect Hermione anymore, but I am, and I swear, just like Fred did, that I will not let you hurt her."

Ron opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then seemed to think better of it and simply stormed away, leaving George and Hermione alone again. George took another deep breath and unclenched his fists as he turned around to check on Hermione, only to find that she had pulled her knees up to her chest in fear and was sobbing uncontrollably. The sight of her in front of him made George want to cry all over again, he hated that his younger brother had made Hermione feel like this, but he also knew she was crying because she missed Fred dearly, perhaps almost as much as George himself did.

George couldn't leave Hermione in this state, he knew that, so he sat down next to her and gently put his arm around her shoulders, watching her body tense at first, but then visibly relax when George spoke to confirm who he was. George pulled Hermione into a tight protective hug, and lifted her into his lap, before rocking her gently backwards and forward and stroking her hair, while Hermione sobbed into his chest. Neither George nor Hermione said anything for a while, although neither of them knew how long it had been before Hermione frantic sobbing subsided to a quiet whimper. During this time George had shed some silent tears, for both his fallen twin and the girl in his lap, so as he looked at Hermione and she gazed back at him, both of their eyes were puffy and glistening with unshed tears.

"Tell me everything," said George in a hoarse voice "about you and Ron and why Fred was protecting you from him. I'm not going to pressure you but I really would like to know, Fred never told me he was protecting you from Ron."

"It started in my fourth year, so your sixth," said Hermione in a voice barely above a whisper "Fred and I were already really close friends and he was already really protective, but Ron had started hinting that he liked me and making…advances towards me. I made it clear to him I didn't like him in that way and saw him only as a brother, but he wouldn't accept it. Things started to get creepy because he would just stare at me for ages or make suggestive comments so I started trying to avoid him. Fred saw what was going on and tried to spend as much time with me as possible, but there were still always times when I was alone with him. Anyway, one night I was walking back from the library after going to pick a book up that Madame Pince had reserved for me and I saw Ron, I tried to avoid him but he wouldn't let me past and he pushed me into an empty classroom and kissed me. I tried to fight him but he was too strong and I could feel his hand going up my blouse. I bit his lip and screamed but he just slapped me and started kissing me again. But then suddenly the weight was taken off me and I slumped onto the floor, and as I looked up I saw Fred punching Ron and shouting, telling him he was never allowed to do anything like that again. Then I remember Fred came to me, picked me up and carried me back to the Common Room, he sat with me for hours while I cried then stayed with me when I fell asleep, and from that day onwards Fred never stopped protecting me from Ron."

"What about the holidays, or when we left Hogwarts?" asked George, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Holidays were never really a problem because there were too many people around for Ron to try anything," said Hermione "but if he did and I was upset then Fred would sit with me again for hours; he even climbed into bed with me once when I had a nightmare in Percy's old room until I fell asleep. He was nervous about leaving Hogwarts and me going to find horcruxes with Harry and Ron because of Ron and what he would do, so we looked into spells that would allow us both to know where the other one was and how they were feeling; like a kind of telepathy, and we used that, first when you left Hogwarts and through my sixth year and then next when I went with Harry and Ron. It meant that Fred knew anything that had happened in my day, and I his, we trusted each other completely with it and if I did have a difficult day while still at Hogwarts Fred would Apparate to Hogsmeade, go through the secret passageway in Honeydukes and meet me in the Room of Requirement to cheer me up. As for when me, Harry and Ron went away, of course he was unable to come and 'visit' but we found a way to send messages to each other in our heads, kind of like telepathic letters to keep us both strong, and it helped us both I think. That's it anyway, and now he's gone Ron gets to do whatever he wants to me."

"No he doesn't," said George strongly "like I said to Ron, Fred might not be here to protect you but I am, Fred would never forgive me if I didn't keep you safe, and I can't let you go through everything alone, as well as I can't go through everything alone too, so what do you say Hermione, we help each other?"

"I'd like that," said Hermione, giving George a small watery smile "we'll get through it together."

"I miss him Hermione," said George sadly, after a short pause as his eyes brimmed with tears "I feel like I'm not whole anymore."

"I can't even imagine how you're feeling George," said Hermione gently "but I will be there I promise, every step of the way we'll be there for each other."

With that George and Hermione hugged each other tightly, both feeling renewed tears enter their eyes as they did so. Sure enough when the friends pulled away from the warm embrace their eyes were shining with tears, which they both knew they were still to shed at another time.

"Shall we go back inside then?" asked Hermione "I'm not sure what's going to happen now but I kind of feel like we should be there."

"I.." started George nervously "I don't want to go into the Great Hall."

"It's all right, we don't have to, we'll go to the Common Room if you want," said Hermione gently "I know there will still be memories there but it might be a bit easier than the Great Hall, what do you think?"

"All right," said George hesitating slightly, scared of his own memories "I think I'll regret it if I don't go back there one last time."

"Me too," said Hermione quietly "shall we go then?"

George nodded slowly and determinedly before standing up and helping Hermione to her feet. They were both still very shaky as their emotions still coursed through their veins but George and Hermione kept a tight hold on each other's hands as they walked towards Hogwarts for one last time.

So what did you think? Let me know I love reading reviews. By the way I'm also working on a FredxHermione story called 'Heartbreak Turns to Love' so check it out if you want to. I'll try and update quicker next time. Thanks for reading!