Here comes the chapter, and Harry and Hermione see two of their favorite people after two long years. A good bit of emotional happenings here, but it's only normal after a situation like theirs.

I don't own Harry Potter.

Enjoy!

Lupin Home, two days later:

Hermione's P.O.V.:

We had arrived at Remus and Sev's house just two days ago, and right away things were beginning to look up for us. Harry and Arielle had grown attached to Teddy, and the little boy loved being with them; they played games, read books together, Harry even let Arielle sleep in Teddy's room during naptime.

Arielle slept with us in the guest room, she like being with Teddy but she wanted to stay close to us when the sun went down. Harry and I enjoyed being with Severus and Remus, we took up chores around the house and while Remus went to work at the Ministry Severus had his own little basement to brew potions for St. Mungo's. Harry and I assumed they'd go back and teach at Hogwarts, but Severus said after the war they wanted to settle down for a quiet life and so while he started his own business, Remus became a counselor for werewolf victims and it was actually successful under Kingsley's rule; that and he would occasionally join the aurors whenever werewolves were involved because their numbers increased even after Greyback was killed.

At least the peace was back; no one had to worry about Death Eaters knocking at their doors and kidnapping their families or innocent muggleborns going to Azkaban for false crimes. Thankfully after we cornered Umbridge she'd gone to Azkaban for life.

"Hermione, could you help me in the kitchen?" Remus called me, we had just had lunch and I took Teddy and Arielle out for a nap. Harry went outside to chop some firewood since it was now close to winter.

"Coming." I came from the den and started helping him stack clean dishes in the cupboards. "Where's Severus?"

"He's packaging an order right now, said he'd be up in a bit."

"Oh." I helped clean up the rest of the kitchen, and then Harry came back in with a pile of wood in his arms. "Need help?" he shook his head.

"I got it. Where's Arielle and Teddy?"

"Napping right now."

"Oh, ok then." He left and set the wood in a box near the fireplace, then came back. We were starting to regain our old selves, but now that we had a daughter we needed to be more responsible. "Remus, I can't tell you how much we appreciate this. I mean you letting us stay here and Arielle and Teddy…." Remus stopped him with a hug, and pulled me in to join.

"It's no trouble at all Harry, I love you both like my own kin and I'll do everything I can with Severus to help you get your lives back on track." I hugged him a little tighter, out of all the Marauders Remus was the nicest one, and the noblest.

"Thank you Remus, that means a lot." I kissed his cheek.

"Hello? Anyone up here?"

"In the kitchen Severus." Severus came in holding a large box ready to be shipped. "Going out?"

"I need to mail this, I'll be back soon." He came over and kissed Remus on the lips, and I had to smile. They were very much in love, I just wonder why it took so long.

"Be careful." Severus smiled and left through the front door, then disapparated. "Well, the kids are sleeping and the chores are done for now, what's say we relax with a cup of tea?" I nodded as did Harry. Remus conjured up a pot of tea and poured three cups, then handed them to us before we headed into the den.

"This is good tea Remus." Harry.

"It's an old family recipe, helps keep the nerves calm after a stressful morning." He sipped his own cup. "Now then, I've recalled that you two haven't asked much since you came back. I mean about the others, the Weasleys, Neville, all your friends basically."

"Well…we've been busy lately." I had wondered how everyone had been, though I knew about Ron I had hoped the others were alright. "How are the Weasleys?" Remus set his cup down.

"Well for one thing after you two disappeared, Ron and Ginny were more worried than anyone, not counting Molly of course. Those two set out search parties of their own looking high and low, but no one ever found anything."

"What did Molly do?"

"Everything she could, but after a few months everyone who volunteered quit. They gave up hope you two were ever coming back."

"Who all was it?"

"I don't know everyone's names, but I do know that ones like Luna and Neville never gave up hope. There wasn't much anyone could do though; the case is still open but…"

"We're not ready." Harry blurted out, but then looked at me. "Hermione?" I shook my head.

"We aren't ready just yet, but we will be." Remus smiled.

"It's alright; you two need as much time to cope as anyone else would. You can stay here as long as you like."

"Thank you Remus." Harry set his cup down and I stood to head into the kitchen. I poured myself another cup and heard someone come up behind me. "It's me Mione." I sighed, still edgy with myself. Harry's arms wrapped around my waist and I leaned back a little. "You alright?" I nodded.

"Just…deep in thought." He turned me around and held me to him. I felt so relaxed in his arms I could stand here forever if I wanted.

"We'll be alright, we don't have to rush just like Remus said." I nodded into his chest, and right before I could say anything I heard the floo go off.

"Oi Remus!" that sounded like…no it couldn't be.

"Mind if we…"

"Drop by for…"

"A bit?" oh no it was, Fred and George Weasley.

"Just a minute." Remus soon came into the kitchen. "You two better hide." I nodded and tried to go into another room but Harry stopped me.

"Hermione I think…"

"No Harry, I can't see them right now…" he held my hands in his. "Harry please."

"Hermione, we can trust Fred and George. I promise they'll be the last ones to know until we're ready, they love us remember?" I nodded, and come to think of it maybe we could trust the twins. Fred and George together were far more reliable than the other Weasleys.

"Ok…but what about Arielle?"

"We'll see." Harry turned to Remus. "Let them in." he nodded and left back into the den.

"Alright come on through." The sound of flames was heard and Harry and I stayed away from the door. "What can I do for you?"

"Well we just wanted to drop something off for Teddy, see we have these new toys coming in but we made sure they're safe for two year olds." That was them alright. "Very new line of products coming along, but it's one of the rare ones for little kids."

"I'm sure he'll like it, but he's napping right now."

"Oh…well we'll just leave it here then." I heard a clonking sound.

"Wait now….before you two leave I need to tell you, or more like I need to show you something."

"Well…"

"What…"

"Is it?"

"Before I say anything, you two need to promise that whatever you see and hear in this house does not leave this house. Do you promise?" a moment of silence.

"We sincerely promise not to repeat or speak of anything we see in this house." They said together.

"Good." I heard a slight pause. "Come on out." Harry took my hand and we slowly walked into the den, right in time to see Fred and George's mouths drop open with shock and disbelief.

"Harry…"

"Hermione…" Harry and I suddenly found ourselves wrapped up in the twins' arms. "You're alive…both of you."

"Yes…" I felt tears sting my eyes, and as I pulled away I wiped my eyes. I think it was George hugging me and Fred hugging Harry.

"How?" they turned to Remus who motioned towards the seats. We all sat down and I took a deep breath before looking directly at Harry.

"What happened to you two, it's been two years?"

"We know." Harry sighed. "We were abducted, by rogue death eaters while we were helping Ollivander rebuild his shop." Brief and to the point, better than drawling on like I had before.

"What?" the twins' jaws dropped again, and they looked at me.

"It's true, and when we came do we were in this weird dungeon. Our wands were gone and we didn't know where we were, and when they came down…" I felt myself tremble, but then I remembered we were among friends and I calmed myself.

"They tortured us." Harry held my hand again and pulled me to him. "We were tortured for two long years, for a while I didn't think we'd get out of there alive." Everything went silent for a long time, and then I heard the twins gasp.

"Do you know who it was?" I nodded.

"But we're not ready to say yet." Harry held me tighter to him. "They used the Cruciatus on Hermione, and they beat me to a pulp. They did all sorts of things to us, but…" his grip on my shoulder tightened. I touched his hand and I looked back up at the twins.

"They…" I took a deep breath. "They gave Harry a potion…called it, 'Liquid Imperius', since Harry could shake the real curse. They forced it down his throat…and then they…" I felt the tears returning. "They made him…" I felt my stomach lurching.

"Hermione you don't have to say it…" Remus tried to console me but I shook my head.

"They made Harry rape me." I felt more tears come but I wouldn't let out a sob, not this time. My eyes were closed and when I opened them I saw both twins with tears in their eyes as well.

"That's…"

"That's horrible…" they looked down.

"I tried to fight it, but the potion was strong." Harry held me again and started stroking my hair. "I didn't want to hurt Hermione…I tried…God I tried." He sounded as if he were close to crying, and I pulled his face to mine in a kiss.

"It wasn't your fault Harry." Remus stood up. "It's not anyone's fault but those death eaters, the point is that you're both alive and safe now."

"Yeah…" Fred and George came over to us.

"And we still…"

"Consider you our…"

"Little brother and sister…"

"Nothing will…"

"Ever change that." They hugged us again, and this was full of more love from anyone besides us and Remus.

"Mummy?" I broke away seeing Arielle in the doorway rubbing her eyes. "Daddy?"

"Arielle what're you doing up?" Harry ran to pick her up and carried her out of the room. Fred and George's shocked looks returned, and they looked at me.

"Did that kid just…"

"Call you mummy?"

"And Harry…"

"Daddy?" I nodded, no sense in hiding her from them now.

"She's ours." I fiddled with my fingers. "Born from what they made him do." I looked away, and I felt Remus touch my shoulder.

"She's your daughter? And Harry's?" they asked again and I nodded again. "Well then I guess we'll have to bring along more toys." I snapped my head back at them.

"What?"

"We have a little niece, we'll need to bring over some more toys if that's alright with you?" my eyes widened. They came over and hugged me on each side, and then Harry came over. "She's your daughter, no matter how she was conceived…"

"We still…"

"Love you both…"

"Very…"

"Very…"

"Very…"

"Very…"

"Very…"

"Much."

"We love you both…"

"Very much."

"Our brother and sister."

"Now and forever more." They hugged us all, and soon Remus joined in. Now this made my day, that Fred and George accepted Arielle despite how she came to be. Maybe Harry was right, people would eventually learn to accept us and Arielle, it would just be a long road for us.

But that wasn't going to happen for a while, not until I was sure we were all ready.

There will be another time skip in the next chapter, but not too far ahead. It'll be a little family moment chapter with Harry and Hermione with Arielle, kind of talking about what they'll do once they're ready to let everyone see them and their daughter.

Now Fred and George have accepted their daughter, but what about the other Weasleys?

R&R

Later!