This / will indicate that someone is using sign language to talk. it's easier to do the then describing the actual motions. if I do this ' it means that lips are being read.

Chapter Seven: Someones always tryin' to start my baby cryin'.

It was gray outside, and Hermione was staring out the window at gathering storm clouds. It was growing cold, and she knew it was almost time for dinner. She just didn't particularly feel like participating. She didn't want to have to face the others. They'd look at her oddly. She couldn't explain what was wrong.

Hermione really didn't want to look at Fred either. She'd sign something and he'd get the pained expression that he was wearing more and more. It felt as though she was stabbing him, or kicking Archimedes in front of him. It had been three days since she'd gone out, three days since all those horrible things had been said.

She knew it wasn't true, but still, it hurt. She couldn't tell what she sounded like. Hermione hated the thought that he might be right.

A hand on her arm brought her out of her thoughts. She turned towards it to find George. Fred and Archimedes were a few feet behind him, looking anxious.

'Hermione? Dinners ready.'

'Yeah, mum wants to start before the storm hits. She wants Ron and Percy to patch the roof afterwards.' Fred spoke quickly, and started to worry his lip after he finished. He was clearly waiting for a response.

Hermione hesitated for a second, her lips already parted to say the words when the wizard's words from earlier came crashing back over her.

'So, not only are you a mud-blood, you're a dumb mud-blood. God, if I sounded like that I'd curse myself. Be grateful you're deaf and can't hear that horrible screeching you call a voice.

She closed her mouth and signed to George, hating the defeated feeling that washed over her. She felt like a first year again, being teased for her bushy hair and large teeth. It's no wonder she hasn't gotten any friends! Hermione had friends now, she couldn't go back to that. She couldn't lose them because she sounded terrible.

She would rather lose her voice. It was as simple as that.

She refused to think about how the wizard was winning. Hermione wouldn't talk.

She might never do it again. Not if she sounded terrible. She'd simply lose her voice. What was one more thing to lose? She'd already lost her hearing, she probably wouldn't even miss it.

No one would.

-o-o-o-

Fred was tired of the silence. He'd gone blind, not deaf. He had to deal with the darkness, but not the quiet.

He needed Hermione to talk again, he was missing her soft voice. She'd quit on him for some reason, and he'd had enough of it.

Because damn it, he trusts her, and he doesn't want her breaking their deal. If she's keeping something from him, well, he really will be alone.

And Fred has never been alone. His entire life he's had someone, usually George. He loves George, and he's still his closest friend, his confidant, his twin, but he can't understand. Hermione is the only one that really can.

Plus, Fred really just misses her. Even if she does tend to nag a bit.

"Fred, we're going to the Three Broomsticks, do you want to come with us?"

George sounded eager, hopeful. Fred had no doubt that he wanted Fred to come with him, but he would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. He hadn't been out to see his friends since the accident. He hadn't really been out all that much at all.

"Yeah, I'll come." Holy Merlin, what was he thinking? Did he really just say that?

"Brilliant! We'll leave in half an hour?"

"Uh, sure." George left the room, no doubt going to confirm the plans for the evening.

"Archimedes, what did I just do?"

His lab didn't answer, he just wagged his tail and drooled on Fred's shoe.

He hoped that wasn't a sign of how the evening would go.

-o-o-o-

George set Fred down at a corner bar. He took a seat on the outside edge and Archimedes sat next to him. He could feel eyes on him, and probably Archimedes. In hindsight, the dark glasses might have been a bit much, but he didn't want anyone staring at his eyes. Not that he would know if they were. Still, it made him uncomfortable. The restaurant was loud too, louder than any place he'd been to. It was a little overwhelming, just a rush of sounds and scents.

"Fred?" Lee, he recognized the voice. A grin lifted his lips before he could do anything else. "And who is this?"

"Hey, Lee. It's Archimedes." He felt the dog move next to him and he heard Lee sit down. It was silent for a moment, except for the sound of Archimedes sniffing, and then licking, Lee.

"Oh my god, he's so cute!" Angelina, no doubt about it.

"I assume you're talking about the dog since George is at the bar." Fred said with a grin. Angelina sat by Lee.

"Yes, I heard you got a… guide dog?" Fred nodded that he she had the term correct. "Does it, um, help?"

"Yeah, Archimedes does. I thought it would be difficult but he's always eager to help."

"Have you taught him any pranks yet?" Fred nearly jumped, he hadn't heard Oliver arrive.

"Not yet, but you should see the list of ideas he has." George set the food on the table and leaned over Fred to do so. It blocked out the hubbub from the left side of the restaurant. His hearing readjusted and focused on the right side, where one word leapt out.

Hermione.

George sat down and the restaurant grew uncomfortably loud again. Fred was curious now though, so he focused all his energies on blocking everything around him out except for the deep, rough voice that had said Hermione's name. It took him a moment, but then he heard it.

"So, the little bitch is just standing in the aisle, looking at the books having a grand ole time. I think to myself, 'Peters, that there is a fine bit of arse. Why don't you get acquainted with it.'"

Fred didn't like this wizard. He was gripping his fork so tightly that his knuckles were beginning to hurt.

"So I's go over to her, just to say hey, and she don't make a response. I says 'hey' again, but she just ignores me, real rude like. So, I go for her and she freezes up. I grabs her arm, and she panics. She tries to wrench free, but I don't let the wench go. Then, her friend, who's none other than Harry bleeding Potter, calls out for her. She don't make no response, but just goes on trying to free herself. That's when it hits me, you know? She can't hear. She speaks and her voice is horrible, all dead and stilted. Honestly, I never heard nothing like it. I told the bitch what I thought, and then left her. Mudblood had tears in her eyes and everythin'."

Fred didn't recall standing, nor did he recall stumbling across the restaurant towards that voice. He didn't really recall anything until he was swinging wildly at the bastard that had dared to insult Hermione. He missed, and the wizard swung back at him, hurling obscenities.

He hadn't thought any of this through. He didn't even register the fact that the wizard had friends. They all stood up, and Fred was suddenly be pushed at from all sides. He heard George shout something behind him right before a fist collided with his nose.

Archimedes was by his side in a second. His lab grabbed the wizard by the leg and held him in place, growling low in his throat so that Fred could identify where the man was. Fred ignored the pain in his nose and swung out again. This time his fist made contact with flesh. The man cried out in pain and shock, and then Fred was being wrapped up in long arms and jerked back.

He shouted out indignantly, struggling against George's arms while his twin said something to him. He felt Archimedes by his side, and then suddenly everything was compressed.

He'd forgotten how uncomfortable apparition was.

They landed at the Burrow, and George deposited him on the bed.

"What the hell, Fred?"

He couldn't explain what came over him, he just knew he'd been enraged to hear that filth talk about Hermione that way. Her voice was not 'dead' nor was she a bitch or mudblood. She was a strong, beautiful witch.

And he know knew why she'd gone silent on him. It made him fume.

"I think I need some help, Georgie."

He didn't need to see to know that he now had George's undivided attention. Even Archimedes sat down, ready to listen.

-o-o-o-

'I want you to read this to me.' Fred dropped a rather thick book in front of Hermione and then preceeded to stand in front of her expectantly.

Hermione's eyes darted around the room, searching for anybody else. They were alone in the room though, it was just her, Fred, and Archimedes.

She couldn't sign then. "No." God, that was harder than it had ever been. She'd nearly forgotten how to form the words. Her throat was hoarse from lack of use too. Apparantely it wouldn't take as long to lose her voice as she had anticipated.

It killed her that she still felt sad about the loss.

'Why not? You haven't spoken at all recently. You need to exercise your voice. Harry talked to a muggle and they said your speech shouldn't be affected by going deaf. Not talking though, he said you might forget the sounds.'

Then why the hell was it so hard for her to talk?

"Then I'll forget."

Fred lowered himself down so he was even with her, a very serious look on his face. 'Read it out loud, Hermione.'

"I won't." She said shortly, hating that he was making her talk. It was so difficult, and she knew it sounded terrible. She pushed the book into his hand and turned back to her NEWT manual. Fred frowned and shook his head.

'No, Granger, we had a deal, remember? I'm doing Braille-which has caused me to do more reading than I've managed in my entire life I'll have you know-and you're going to really talk. Before you would talk in a whisper, and in as few or short of words as possible. Recently, you won't talk at all. I say no more.' He dropped the book in front of her again. 'So, it's your turn. Read.'

He had to play the guilt card? She picked the book up, a grin quirking her lips at what it was. "Hogwarts: A History?" Fred grinned and nodded his head.

'Knew you couldn't say no to it.'

"Fine, I'll try." She flipped it open to the first page and studied the familiar text. She wet her lips and breathed the words out.

A hand covered the book. she looked up to see Fred frowning. "No, Hermione. Louder. Think of how many times you had to tell Harry and Ron about this book. All they had to do was read it. I want to know everything about it, but they don't make a Braille copy. You're my only hope. Don't let me leave without knowing what's in there, Hermione!' He made an exaggerated desperate face and Hermione couldn't fight a laugh. Fred grinned and plopped down in front of, propping his chin on his hand as he waited. He looked like a kid about to be told his favorite bed time story.

It warmed Hermione's heart more than she cared to admit. She lowered her eyes back to the book and tried to keep her smile in check as she read the extremely familiar words.

A/n: God, this chapter was a b**** to write. I don't know why, but it was!

Computer geek got the song correct, Northern Wind by Color and City. It's a beautiful love song *hearts*

Guess away at this chapter, it's a good one ;)

Also if you have a song request, send it my way! I'll see if i can fit it in.

Cool-girl, yes, I love glee ;)

Don't forget to leave a review, they make Archimedes smile!