Thank everyone for their patience and the kind reviews they are much appreciated. Unbetated so forgive any typos. So without further ado….
A Mythical Engagement.
Chapter 9.
She had apparated to the woods surrounding the Burrow so she wasn't worried about being seen. She took a deep breathe and then another trying to pull herself together, it would not do for Molly to see her like this. She didn't really feel up to answering any questions at this point and George would not be back so he could not answer them for her from the details he had managed to extract from Kaylee the night before.
She knew she really should change her appearance back to that of Hermione but she still didn't have the energy to actually do something about it. Transfiguration after all required as much concentration as skill and right now it was an unrealistic feat. Normally she would actually care about that but right now she was using everything she had left to stave off her tears and place one foot in front of the other until she reached home.
She felt she had walked for an age when she finally saw the front stoop of the Burrow. Somehow in her preoccupation she missed the chicken that somehow found its way under her feet, and so landed on the floor with a solid and loud thump.
That was it! She'd had enough." Stupid Chicken!" she muttered before bursting into uncontrollable tears. After everything that had happened and all she had been through she was neither prepared for nor in the mood for further humiliation.
She barely noticed when strong hands lifted her up onto her feet and into a firm embrace. "There now, Hermione. It's alright; it was just a silly fall." She burrowed deeper into the Harry's arms and said, "It's not the stupid chicken. My life sucks!"
"What did he do Mione?" Asked Harry realising she spoke of the man Ginny refused to name, had actually told him she did not know the name.
"Boyfriend" mouthed Fred over her head and between them. "Don't ask" Harry mouthed back. Neither man had truly seen her so upset over a relationship so they realised the gravity of the situation. Fred reiterated Harry's question, "What did he do?" Though his words carried more force then the quiet tone Harry had asked with. She chose not to answer and cried on into Harry's t-shirt.
"Turn around Hermione," Ordered Fred. "Come on look at me. What happened? We can't help if you don't give us something to work with." After a brief pause he continued. "How can we help?"
Then she moved turning towards both men and attempting a smile. "You already are. I just need a minute. I'll be ok in a minute."
"Take what time you need Mione," Said Harry. "We're here for you."
Neither man had the heart or even knew how to tell her she looked like a mess and would have to change back into herself when they got inside in case they had company. They led her towards the house and headed straight to the kitchen as surely Molly would know what to do and if not a cup of tea would certainly help.
Meanwhile:
Lee was pissed but Charlie was furious. He swore to himself he would not hurt her when he went to check on her. Even he could see the state he had left her in was his fault. This whole damn saga was pointless and thus he had lost the one good thing the universe had seen fit to grant him in the years he had been back form Romania. He was a mess. Bill was right this would serve to make him fall apart.
He needed some help to get through the day. Everyone in his family knew what he looked like as Lee and so they would recognise him as no threat. He needed a soothing cup of tea and so he apparated straight to the kitchen, never suspecting that the room would be full at this hour. He was shocked when he landed in a tangle of arms and legs amidst swearing and a fresh wave of sobs accompanied by a soft familiar voice. He stood quickly and looked straight at her standing between his brother and his mother.
"Mia." He whispered in disbelief just as his mother turned and snapped, "Charles Weasley! What were you thinking?"
He watched as she turned chalk white mouthing "Charlie?" then continuing weakly, "That's Charlie?
"Course it's him Mione," answered Bill quietly unsure as to why she was so pale surely she had seen Charlie's cover before, he never changed back before coming home. "This is his latest cover; I thought you knew what he looked like."
She lost all colour then and he started as she lost consciousness in front of their eyes and was nearly dropped by a shocked Fred who lowered her to the floor gently. They all heard him say "Mia, Mia come on honey wake up?"
Fred and Bill worked out what must have happened then and reacted accordingly. That is to say Fred glared at Charlie and told him to "leave as you have caused enough damage for the day"; Bill pulled him from the room forcefully when he made a move towards her stating "There is nothing you can do right now. Let them help her."
Poor Molly had no idea what was going on except that her surrogate daughter obviously needed attention and she was going to see to it that she received it.
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