I'm Gonna Love You Through It
Chapter One: Scares and Admissions

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or the world in which the story unfolds. I only own any and all original characters. No monetary gain was obtained by myself or any other person or entity for the publication / posting of this story. All rights belong to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury (UK publisher of HP related books) and Scholastic (US publisher of HP related books).
Summary: George Weasley lost it all - his brother during the war, his wife and kids, his beloved joke shop. The only light in the darkness that was his world was a woman with previously bushy hair, and a soon to be ex husband who just so happened to be his brother. When she reaches out to George for help, she unknowingly pulls him out of his downward spiral of drinking himself to sleep every night and shows him that love does give second chances.
Warnings: Language / sexual content / drama / addiction (alcohol). **M**

Hermione sat by the open window, anxiously awaiting George's reply. She had penned a letter to Oliver, although she had folded it as small as she could and tucked it into the pocket of her well-worn jeans. 'The same jeans I wore during the final battle,' she thought with a shudder. 'Fred's blood was on these jeans. I wonder if George would remember? Merlin, I hope not.'

Suddenly, George's eagle owl came swooping into the window and landed on her knee.

"Hullo, Freddie," she said, stroking the owl's soft head. George had named the beautiful owl in honor of his late brother and his son.

As she took the letter, Freddie poked his head into the pocket of her jacket, where she kept owl treats during the day. Laughing, she said, "Just one, Freddie."

After the owl took the treat, and she had removed the letter, she watched him fly back home.

A smile crept on her face as she read his reply. She stood, and with a few quick spells, her things were in several boxes. She stepped over to the Floo, grabbed a pinch of powder, and said "George Weasley".

George was getting impatient. After he had sent off Hermione's letter, he had chucked the rest of the firewhiskey down the drain, and taken a sobering and Pepper Up potion.

Freddie swooped back into the window and landed on his perch. Now all George had to do was wait on Hermione.

He didn't notice the green glow, or the owl hooting indignantly, until a feminine voice called out.

"George? Georgie? Merlin...you better be decent, I'm coming through!"

He turned in time to see Hermione walk through the Floo and towards him. He felt his equilibrium shift and the last thing he remembered hearing was "Georgie!"

He woke to the feel of a cool cloth on his forehead and a soothing hand caressing his cheek.

"George Weasley! What were you thinking, taking a Pepper-Up on an empty stomach? And combining it with a sobering potion? Didn't you learn anything from Snape?" Yes, same old Hermione.

"I...erm...was drunk. The sobering potion only makes you sober up, you still feel queasy. The Pepper-Up takes care of that."

"Georgie, the main ingredient of the Pepper-Up counteracts the sobering potion. It puts you in limbo - half drunk, half nauseous, half dead! If I hadn't come when I did, you'd have been dead within the hour!"

"So...what did you do?"

"Emptied your stomach, took the potions out. It had to been done the Muggle way, the potions had coagulated. Be careful, the incision isn't completely closed yet."

"Thank Merlin for you, Mione," he said, reaching up to cup her face. "I've got Dittany in the cabinet in the loo."

"I'll be back," she said, caressing his cheek, then kissing where her hand had been.

As she walked to the loo, all she could think about was how tender his eyes were. She took a calming breath and re-entered the living room with the Dittany.

As she applied two drops to the quarter-inch long incision, he flinched and groaned.

"Sorry Georgie, Ron didn't take Dittany well either. Although he did need a lot more."

"Why did he need Dittany, Mione?" he asked.

"I never told you? Well, after we infiltrated the Ministry, Yaxley had a hold of me when we Flooed out. We got to Grimmauld Place and I had to change destinations. He let go out side of Grimmauld. I took the guys to a forest and Ron got splinched pretty badly. I had to use half a bottle of Dittany on his arm and side...it was horrific. He still has the scars."

He placed a comforting hand on her leg and smiled. "You saved his life, Mione."

"I know, it still scares me to think about it," she said.

"Mione, a lot of things scare me, every day...not seeing my kids, not being able to start over, not loving anyone again..." he trailed off.

"Georgie, you know you've got me," she whispered.

"I know I do, luv. I love you, Hermione."

"Oh, George! I love you too!"