Disclaimer: Neither Harry Potter or any of the characters featured are my own, they belong to the great J K Rowling.
Hermione passed Teddy quickly over to Mrs Tonks and told her to apparate away. Within seconds of the elderly witch disappearing with the baby a jet of red light was fired at the space she had, just seconds ago, occupied. They all took cover behind the seats and sofa's. Harry and Ron were having a whispered conversation and signalled to Hermione that they were going to try and get a better look. She nodded and started to peep over the top of the sofa. She could see at least six or seven figures outside. Miming the number to her best friends they both began whispering again.
"Right, Hermione you, Ginny, Fred and George head to the left, Bill can you Charlie, Percy and Mr Weasley go to the right, me and Ron will head at them straight on. Mrs Weasley and Fleur can you stay here and try and get in touch with Kingsley via the floo, if you can't get in touch go to ministry but don't go separately, everyone stay in groups. Be safe everyone." Harry said with authority. At that moment spells started flying everywhere and everyone did as Harry said. Hermione and Ginny dove to the left with the twins on their tails, Hermione had to pull Ginny back quickly as a green flash was sent her way and threw a stunning spell at the man who'd cast it.
It turned out to be a lot more than six. They were dressed as death eaters, the last desperate ones still searching for the life they had been promised by their deceased master.
The auror training was clearly doing Ron and Harry the power of good, they were battling multiple death eaters at once with ease. Percy however, seemed to be struggling and althout Charlie and Bill were doing their best to try and cover him a wayward stunning spell hit him square in the chest and he fell to the ground unconscious. But there was nothing anyone could do about him at the time being. A death eater latched on to Ginny's hand and pointed his wand at her head, Hermione charged at him knocking him to the ground. He got up spluttering and leered at Hermione. "Well if it isn't the little, pretty, mudblood, I'm gonna enjoy this." His dirty grin was wiped from his face however as Ginny fired a spell at him and he fell into the snow.
Suddenly a red spell was sent at Bill. Without time to react it hit him straight on and his family watched as deep slash appeared on Bills chest and he fell to the floor, red staining pure white. This set off a chain reaction within the Weasley's, as if loosing all control they all started to fire random spells at the death eaters in pure anger. In this anger however, they had all forgotten to watch their own backs. It was then that it happened. Hermione was attempting to watch Ginny's back as she wildly flung spells at a persistent death eater when she saw it. The green light making its way straight towards Fred. She started to run towards him, it was then that her wand was blasted from her hand and she watched in horror as the spell got closer to her boyfriend. Now unarmed she raised her hands and screamed loudly, "FRED NO!" and it was as if time slowed down. She felt a surge of energy run through her and an incredible flash of blue light emanated from her hands. It surrounded the Weasley's stopping all spells in their tracks and then pulsated out violently knocking the death eaters off their feet as it moved along. Hermione sank to her knees as the distinctive sound of people apparating in could be heard in the garden, by their robes she assumed them to be auror's. She slowly fell backwards and was caught by a pair of strong arms. The last thing she saw was Fred's bright, blue eyes staring down at her looking very, very panicked.
"How's Bill?" A voice said.
"He's okay, still a bit sore but Fleurs looking after him. Lucky King's got there when he did or he'd have bled out."
"Ginerva what have I told you about calling him King's?"
"It's ok Molly I don't mind. How's the patient?" A deep South African drawl sounded.
"Still not woken up. The healers say she basically drained herself. No-ones produced magic like that in years."
"Trust Hermione to be even more amazing that we thought she was."
"Hermione rival's anyone."
"Got yourself a right tough one there Fred."
"Yeah, he has." Hermione croaked, opening her eyes.
"Hermione!" Fred leapt up from where he'd been sat by her bed and clutched at her hand, "How are you feeling."
"Like I've just ran a marathon."
"Ah Miss Granger nice of you to join us," A small, plump nurse entered the room holding a chart, she looked around the room frowning at everyone, "Why is it every time I kick you all out you come straight back in and seem to double in size, how many times do I need to tell you, four people to bed only!" And she pointed to the door, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Charlie, Percy, George and Kingsley all shuffled out of the room leaving Fred, Ginny, Harry and Ron to stay with Hermione, "Now Miss Granger, you gave us quite a shock there. I would not recommend doing that ever again, that much magic coursing through a person, well, it's enough to kill you, you were very lucky. You're clearly a very powerful witch Miss Granger, but please remember to exercise some caution. I'll get the healer to come in and check you over, but now you're awake I don't see why you can't go home." The small nurse said briskly and with a quick wave of her wand over Hermione she left the room.
"What exactly happened guys? All I remember is someone sending a killing curse at Fred and me wanting to stop it, I'd lost my wand and all I could think was that I needed to save him." Fred gave her hand a squeeze and gave her a tight smile.
"It was weird," Ron began, "It was like a patronus except more powerful, this band of light just came of you and knocked them all out."
"You made it really easy to arrest them all." Harry continued with a smile.
"Yeah, but after you just kind of sank to the floor and collapsed. You and Bill were rushed here straight away. Bill woke up about three days ago, he's okay by the way, got a new scar though." Ginny finished.
Fred stayed quiet during all of this and simply clung to her hand. The others looked at him and Harry nodded his head towards the door.
"We'll give you guys some privacy."
When they left the room Fred got up and started pacing.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked tentatively, "Fred? Fred look at me please! What's wrong?"
"Why'd you do it?" Hermione was astounded by the anger in his voice, "Why Hermione? You nearly died! For what?!"
"I was saving you!"
"Yeah and you nearly died! I nearly lost you! You nearly gave up your life for me!"
"And I'd do it again right now Fred! Why wouldn't I!? I love you!"
"And I love you!" His voice got softer, "Hermione, please don't ever do that again. I don't know what I'd do without you." He sat on her bed and clutched her hands tightly.
"I'm not promising anything Freddie, if I saw you in danger and I could do whatever happened to me again I would, I don't know what I'd do without you either. Freddie, you're the most important thing in my life." He reached forward and hugged her, holding her close to his chest and they stayed like that until the door opened. Kingsley poked his head around the door.
"Not interrupting am I?"
"Not at all Kingsley, you all right?" Answered Fred sitting back down in his seat next to Hermione's bed.
"Is it all right if I speak freely in front of Fred Hermione?"
"Yes, he'll only get it out of me afterwards." At this Fred winked and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Hermione I want to talk to you about what happened. You see what you did was incredibly powerful magic. The only other person I knew who could do that much magic without a wand was Dumbledore. There were rumours that Grindelwald had that kind of power to but it was never confirmed. Hermione you need to be careful. If anyone untoward was to discover that you were capable of that kind of power it would make you a target. We've wiped all the death eaters memories who saw you at the Burrow so they won't be a problem and we'll probably do the same to the staff here just to be on the safe side, but Hermione you need to exercise caution with this."
"Blimey Hermione, you don't do anything by half do you." Fred smiled admirably at his girlfriend.
"Now on a lighter note, on the subject of a job Hermione. I know you want to get your exams out of the way so I've arranged for you to sit the exams in January, don't look so panicked you'll be fine. The Department of Magical Law have contacted me and they loved you in your interview back in October. They want you start in February."
"Really!" Hermione squealed in a very un-Hermione type way.
"Now I'll leave you to it. Good to see you on the mend Hermione." And with that he exited the room.
Hermione was sat on the Weasely's couch with her feet up and a book perched on her lap as she revised for her Newt exams. She was dying for a drink but anytime she tried to get up either Mrs Weasley or Fleur would appear and insist she sat straight back down, she was desperate for some company, everyone was at work apart from Ginny who was still out at Diagon Alley picking up some quidditch supplies, bless her she had attempted to smuggle Hermione out with her but Mrs Weasley had caught them and had led Hermione straight back to the couch. It had been like this for the week Hermione had been out of hospital. Mrs Weasley had even insisted Hermione stay sitting on New Year's Eve. She looked at her watch, just a few more minutes, that's all she had to wait and then they'd all be home from work. At this thought the fire glowed green and out stepped Ginny, she looked at Hermione's desperate face and went into the kitchen appearing seconds later with a glass of pumpkin juice.
"You know if you just ask Mum she'd get you one."
"I know but I don't want to be cheeky."
"Mum we're home when's food?" Ron called from the garden.
"Yeah… because her kids are never cheeky right." Ginny winked at her.
"It's ready in a few minutes, can you boys go get changed, and Ginny can you help Hermione to the table?" Mrs Weasley called, Ginny laughed and reached down to help Hermione up.
"I can do it Gin." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I know but if Mum comes in and see's you up by yourself she'll kill me." Hermione nodded admittedly at this and allowed Ginny to take her arm and lead her to her seat at the table.
The fire glowed green again and out fell the twins, soon after Mr Weasley, Bill and Fleur appeared.
"Percy sends his apologies Molly but he's caught up in some paper work." Mr Weasley said as they all sat around the table.
"Before we eat Fleur and I, well we have an announcement," Bill stood up and took Fleur's hand, "We were going to tell you at Christmas but we erm were interrupted… we're going to have a baby."
Silence fell around the table as everyone stared wide eyed at the pair processing this new information. Mrs Weasley was the first to break the silence.
"OHHHH! MY FIRST GRANDCHILD! Oh Billy come here! Fleur this is such fantastic news!" The Weasley mother shrieked excitably running round to hug both Bill and Fleur. The rest of the Weasley's, Harry and Hermione all got up and formed a line to say congratulations.
"I'll have to start knitting," Mrs Wealsey continued crying with happiness, "I'll start on some hats and booties, it'll have to yellow until you find out what you're having. Oh Hermione dear sit back down! Ooo and some little jumpers and cardigans, oh my first grandbaby, this is so exciting!" Hermione obediently sat down in her chair and Fred came over and slung his arm around his shoulders.
"Want to stay over at the flat tonight?"
"Yes please Freddie."
"We'll have to tell her eventually you know, that your moving out, she's in a good mood now we could tell her?"
"Yeah I suppose we might as well I just don't want to hurt her feelings."
"We won't I promise."
"I suppose it's worth a try… Mrs Weasley can Fred and I talk to you in the kitchen?"
"Of course you can deary, here let me help you." Mrs Weasley took Hermione's arm and 'helped' her into the kitchen.
"Mum, we've got some news…"
"Oh gosh you're not pregnant too are you?!"
"What no! Mum I asked Hermione to move in with me on Christmas day, and she said yes. We're going to live together."
"But you're not married?" The matriarch replied her face set in a hard line.
"I know Mrs Weasley but I don't feel ready for marriage, but I am ready for this. I want to live with Fred. I love him, and if the war taught me anything it's that you have to take any chance at happiness you get." Fred looked at Hermione, talking about the war was a stroke of genius, he really did love this girl. Mrs Weasley's face softened.
"Oh well if you put it like that. I give you my permission. Thank you for telling me. But Fredrick, you better treat her right."
"Trust me Mum, I will." And Mrs Weasley watched as her son pulled his girlfriend to him and placed a delicate kiss on her forehead. Yes, she thought, these two would be just fine.
Hope you like! Next Chapter will be up at some point, hopefully tomorrow.