Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews! I read each and every one! It's nice to know so many people are reading and enjoying the fic! We're about half way there now, and this is the turning point. So yes, I'm sure most will be relieved after this chapter lol. (It's, not a cliffhanger if you think over what's happening)
Summary: Cursed by a dark spell, Hermione has to race against time to find a cure. When things begin to look bleak, the Weasley twins make an offer that turns her world upside down. Fred/Hermione/George fic, Rated M for smut.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters written in this story. I don't make any profit off this story, it all belongs to the wonderful J. K Rowling. I'm just playing in her sandbox.
I have Tumblr that I use for messages, updates, etc… mrsmarauders . tumblr . c o m
Beta'd by the wonderful chiseplushie
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The party carried on downstairs, most of the Weasleys were too drunk to notice the absence of Hermione and the twins.
Hermione felt exhausted; she couldn't face any more fighting, not when she had such little time left, and the rest of the family deserved to know. Hermione wanted to prepare them for a goodbye; she had to set things in motion for her final few weeks.
"I'm going to tell them this Sunday," Hermione announced, lifting her head from George's shoulder. They still sat on Fred's old bed at the Burrow, the twins sitting either side of Hermione. She felt them both stiffen at her words. They knew what her words meant. "They deserve to know the truth, I thought I could fix this, but now, I think it's time they know. I should have told them a while ago."
"Hermione-" George said but paused. "I- please don't tell me you're giving up."
"I have to tell them," Hermione said softly, lifting her chin to look at George. "They need to know. I've been thinking about it for a while, but I haven't been able to admit it to myself. After speaking with Charlie, seeing the way he reacted, I think it's time."
"You think that's why we're upset?" Fred asked, his voice a little harder than normal. "I don't care who you tell, but Hermione, you can't give up like that. There's still time."
"I haven't any time left, I've been studying the curse, and from all my calculations, it might already be too late for me to come back from this. It's already affecting my organs, there might not be a way to reverse the curse anymore," Hermione explained. "We did our best, you two gave me my best shot, but perhaps it's time to think about celebrating the time I have left. I'm tired. I'm so tired of fighting. I've been in battles most of my life; this is just one I can't win."
"This doesn't sound like Hermione Granger," George pointed out. "You're a fighter, strong and ready to overcome this. What's changed? Why now?"
"What's changed is I'm throwing up my insides each morning, I can barely stand up straight in the mornings because I'm so tired and drained. I'm sick of holding out hope for something that's not working. I can't do it anymore. I don't want to die. I'm so afraid, but I'm always expected to be strong and hold everything together. I'm the one they come to for answers because I always solve things. I can't even solve this. I can't figure out a way to keep myself alive. Letting this happen doesn't mean I'm weak, it means I'm finally brave enough to face my future."
George wrapped an arm around Hermione's shoulders, pulling her in close to his chest. "I know love, I know. Time might not be on our side, but for a little while longer, we'll keep trying. Just a few more weeks, please. Give us a bit more time to help you. After that, if it hasn't worked by then, we will admit we've done everything we could. But right now, it's too raw for us just to give up and accept defeat. Let us help fight for you."
"One more month," Fred encouraged. "At least one more month, then we'll see where we are."
Hermione wasn't sure she had another month in her. She wanted to live, but the curse was working its way so quickly through her body. It was probably no use and already too late. She couldn't say no to the twins, not when they wanted to fight so strongly on her behalf. Hermione didn't want to do another month; she just wanted a last goodbye with the twins.
Fred's hand went into her hair, and he turned her face to his. They kissed, with a gentle brush of their lips. George moved as well, pressing his lips to Hermione's shoulder.
The sad thing was, that maybe if things had been differently, they could have had a future together. Hermione cared for the twins, and sometimes she suspected they cared for her just as much. She could see it in their eyes, during the times they forgot about the curse, and they acted like friends, like lovers.
George's fingers brushed the strap of Hermione's dress down, and he pressed kisses to the patch of skin it had been covering. Fred pulled back from their kiss and Hermione placed her arm around his neck and pulled him back down, raising herself up enough to deepen the kiss. Her legs folded underneath her on the bed.
With Hermione raised slightly and turned away, George moved a hand to her waist and pulled the zip of her dress down. It was a long zip, ending just above her bum. George slipped one of Hermione's arms through the dress, until it pooled at her waist on the bed. Hermione lifted herself up, helping George tug the dress from her legs and he threw it across the room. With the dress gone, Hermione was bare to them in her strapless bra and nude knickers.
"We can't, not here," Hermione protested, pulling back from Fred's lips. "They're all downstairs, Molly's like a mother, I can't do this in her house."
"Do you think this is the first time this bed has seen-" Fred stopped mid-sentence, catching his twins warning glance. "Let's go home, Hermione."
Hermione didn't get the chance to protest as Fred grabbed her waist and apparated them both to the twins' flat. They landed on the bed with a thump and George appeared next to the bed seconds later, holding her dress. He dropped it on the floor and made his way to the bed.
"Much better," George agreed, moving behind Hermione.
Fred's lips met Hermione's once again, the kiss deep and full of meaning. They cared for her, so much more than she had realised. With her hands-free, Hermione started to undo Fred's shirt as George continued to undress her.
George made quick work of her bra and threw it behind him on the floor. With it gone, George leaned against Hermione's back and reached his hands around to cup both of her breasts. Her nipples were already peaked, from the chill of the room as well as the desire the boys lit up inside her. George rolled the nipples between his thumb and forefinger.
Hermione squeaked against Fred's mouth at the contact, surprised at the action and attention George was giving her. Fred pressed kisses along her jaw and down her throat as one of his hands wandered down her body and slipped inside her knickers.
Hermione heard the groan of arousal from Fred as he felt her wetness, her excitement about what was going to happen tonight. Fred used her wetness to coat his fingers, and then he pushed two inside her. Hermione moaned, the pleasure filling her. Both boys felt so good; they knew her body so well.
"Our witch always feels so good," George spoke, his lips against Hermione's ear as he pressed up against her back. He was still holding her breasts, tweaking her nipples to encourage a moan from Hermione.
"Yes, she does, George," Fred agreed. His fingers were still moving inside Hermione, curling to find that sweet spot that made her insides flutter. He knew how to get the desired reaction out of her now. They both knew her body so well after all the sex they had shared. It had never been the three of them before, though. Hermione had never felt comfortable enough to be with the twins at the same time. She had been so nervous about being with both boys before, but tonight it felt right. It felt like the perfect way to say goodbye.
With both the boys touching her body, it wasn't long before heat began to build in the bottom of Hermione's stomach. It flared up, making her toes curl as she begged them both not to stop. After a few whispered words from the twins, she came with a mumble against Fred's lips. George pulled her from Fred and gave her a kiss that was just as deep as his twin had.
Fred made quick work of his clothes, pulling them off and throwing them across the room, not caring where they landed. Hermione turned back to him with a blush as George followed suit.
"We don't have to Hermione," Fred offered, sitting further back on the bed, against the headboard.
"I want this," Hermione replied, moving forward to straddle Fred's lap. She hovered over him, lining herself up as George shuffled behind to help steady her, with his hands on her hips. With ease, Hermione lowered herself onto Fred, sinking her body onto his. She felt so deliciously full.
George had his hands on Hermione's breasts, squeezing them as he whispered sweet words into her ear. He told her how beautiful she was, her wonderful she was.
Hermione moved on top of Fred, with his help. She started a slow pace that built up until they were both reaching their peaks together. George's skilled hand helped Hermione, teasing her clit as she reached her orgasm.
Exhausted, Hermione fell in a tangled heap with the twins. George was behind, with his hand on Hermione's hip.
Hermione pressed a kiss to Fred's lips before turning to face George, her back to Fred. Hermione placed a hand on George's cheek, her thumb running over his jaw as she watched his bright eyes. "You didn't get anything out of that, I'm sorry," Hermione said, concern in her gaze.
"Hermione," George crooned. "The three of us being together isn't about which of us gets off first. It's just about being there in the moment, together at the same time. It's the intimacy, being there with you, touching you and holding you afterward."
"Plus, there's plenty of positions we can try if you're worried about getting the both of us off at the same time," Fred smirked. He grunted a moment later when Hermione kicked her foot back into his thigh.
"I want to, please," Hermione pressed. She moved up to trail her lips along his jaw, pressing small kisses up the side of his face until she reached his ear lobe, which she gave a playful nibble. "Let me help you out."
"How could I turn an offer like that down?" George smiled. He stroked a hand down Hermione's hair, pulling her up for a kiss on the lips before drawing back. His eyes flickered over her face, taking in her exhausted expression. "You look exhausted. How about we make this easy? I'll show you what I mean about being there together. Turn back to Fred."
With a frown, Hermione turned back around to face Fred. He pulled her closer, spreading her over his chest as George turned onto his side and shuffled closer. Fred grabbed Hermione's left leg, tugging it up and over his own. It pushed her bum out and towards George.
"We have plenty of ways to get off together, but sometimes it's better just being there, in the moment together," Fred told Hermione, stroking a hand down her hair.
George moved up to Hermione's back, pressing kisses to her neck as he lined himself up behind her. Carefully, he pushed himself inside her sensitive pussy. Hermione hadn't tried it this way before, on her side in bed. George couldn't get as deep, but it was so much tighter and filling for them both.
They moved together in unison. Fred stroked Hermione's clit and teased her nipples as George found his rhythm. They worked together, intimately. George's pace got faster as they got closer, chasing their orgasm. Hermione was sobbing by the time she found her release. It felt too much, her body was already so overwhelmed, she sobbed at the oncoming orgasm, but the boys got her there. She shook in the aftermath as George came inside her
It wasn't anything like Hermione expected. She didn't know what to expect being with both the twins at the same time, but it hadn't been this. The way they had done it was intimate. They hadn't made her feel like she needed to be some gymnast to accommodate them both. They knew she was nervous and had eased her gently into the idea of being with them both.
"What did you think, Love?" Fred asked moments later, stroking a hand down Hermione's hair as she tried to recover. Her body was sensitive, even when George had pulled out of her. "It isn't so bad being with the both of us, is it?"
"We get a lot more naughty and playful than that," George pointed out. "We wanted to ease you into the idea. There's so much more we can explore Hermione, take your mind off your goal and then, perhaps the pregnancy will happen without all the worry."
"Let us show you what we can be like together," Fred encouraged. "There's still a good chance this could work. Give us another month, please."
"Let's rest," Hermione insisted, snuggling close to the twins.
"Hermione-"
"We'll talk about in the morning," George promised, reaching over Hermione to give his twins shoulder a squeeze. "Remember what Hermione taught you about the dreams, go through your exercises and let's get some sleep."
Together, for a short while, they slept in a tangled heap, until Hermione awoke during the night. She felt sick from the curse and sore from her activities with the twins. Her scarred arm was throbbing painfully. Carefully moving from the twin's bed and got dressed.
She couldn't spend the whole night with them. Hermione got dressed, left a note on their table to tell them she was heading back to her home for the evening. Then, she slipped out the flat, heading to her bed, alone.
0o0o0o0o0
Two weeks passed after the Gemini party, and Hermione had been getting everything in place for her future. She made out a Will, left detailed instructions for her department, hoping to help whoever took over after her. She still had time, but she wanted to spend the remaining time saying goodbye to her family.
The twins had tried to visit, but Hermione had blocked their access to the floo. It was too hard to see them; she knew they would just end up changing her mind. Her time was gone now; it was too late to get pregnant. Despite fighting so hard, there was finally a battle Hermione couldn't win. So, today was the day she told her family, the people she had loved and cared the last few years.
It was Sunday, and everyone was gathering at the Burrow for another dinner. Hermione had arrived very late, just to avoid the twins before she made her announcement. She hadn't sent a reply to Mrs. Weasley's invitation; she didn't want the twins knowing she was coming over. The dinner was just being served when Hermione arrived.
"Take a seat," Mrs. Weasley smiled, moving to the table with a giant chicken on a plate. "I didn't know you were coming! There's plenty of food, move up George."
Hermione made her way around the table, taking a seat between George and Harry. Fleur was there with her tiny baby bump and a rather jubilant Bill. It made Hermione's heart clench with jealousy. It had seemed so natural for them, but then again, no one really knew what another couple had been through to have a baby.
Hermione avoided the twins' gaze, but she could feel their eyes on her. They knew what she was up to.
"I'm sorry I arrived late, I've been trying to work up the courage to come. I need to make an announcement," Hermione spoke up. The room quietened, and everyone's eyes turned to her. She felt George stiffen at her side, but Hermione couldn't look his way, not yet, she knew she'd break down if she looked at him. "I found out some bad news a couple of months ago, A couple of you know what Bellatrix did to me." Hermione rolled up her sleeve to reveal the engraved 'mudblood' on her arm. The letters were black now, and the skin around it was turning dark from the cursing spreading. Hermione heard Bill's gasp across the table; he knew what the curse meant from his years as a curse breaker.
"Hermione, don't give up," George tried, but Hermione needed to get this out. She had to tell them now. She wanted to prepare them all; they were a family.
"The blade Bellatrix used held a curse, and it's been spreading through my body for a year and a half now. It's a curse for muggleborns, and it's only ever had one ending," Hermione explained. She felt herself breaking, the tears building. "I've tried so hard the last few months to find a way to stop it, but I've run out of time. I've got nothing left in me to fight anymore; there aren't any other options."
"Hermione!" Mrs. Weasley called, rushing around the table and throwing her arms around Hermione. She hugged Hermione, and both witches battled tears as they sought each other's comfort.
"This is real?" Ron asked, shocked. His mouth was gaping at the news, his eyes flicking around his brothers like expecting someone to announce the big punch line of the joke.
Hermione couldn't say any more; her eyes were filled with tears. She pulled back from Mrs. Weasley and hugged Ron. He stroked her back, comforting her as the news sank in. The whole family was rocked by it. They hadn't been expecting such grave news.
"We can still fight this," Harry spoke up, looking at the twins for support. "There's still time, options to consider."
"There's no time left Harry," Hermione murmured, wiping the tears. "I need to treat each day like it's my…"
"Don't say it," Harry refused. He stood from the table, walking out of the room in anger at the thought of losing one of his best friends.
"He's just angry he can't do anything," Ginny offered. She stood and walked to Hermione, tears in her eyes. "There's nothing we can do?"
"No," Hermione replied. She hugged Ginny; no one seemed to notice the twins standing and leaving the room, together.
Everyone pressed for more, but Hermione gave vague enough answers to satisfy them. They were all in shock, all seeking her comfort, despite it being Hermione with the painful news. They loved her, they all shed tears for her. Fleur was the most affected, surprising Hermione. She spoke softly in French, hugging Hermione with such a tight grip.
"I'll do everything I can," Bill promised, a hand on his wife's shoulder. "I've got contacts from Egypt; I'll reach out to them and try everything."
Hermione agreed and left the room, searching the twins. She wandered upstairs and found them in their room, sat in the silence on Fred's bed. There were still murmurs coming from downstairs, no doubt the Weasleys trying to figure out a way to help fix things. They couldn't do anything anymore.
"I'm sorry," Hermione whispered, her eyes full of tears. "Please don't let us end like this, I can't have you both mad at me."
Fred reached out his hand, and when Hermione grabbed it, he pulled her close. She sat between them, crying as both twins hugged her side.
"We would have been so good together," Fred whispered, reaching up to wipe a tear from his eye. "I think I could have loved you."
"Me too," George agreed, pressing a kiss to Hermione's cheek.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Three weeks Hermione was feeling even worse. Her magic was gone. No matter the spell Hermione just couldn't do it. She had to do everything the muggle way. Her magic was so weak she couldn't even risk using the floo. Hermione couldn't make it into work very often, and she spent most of her time at home in bed. The Weasleys all took turns in visiting, but Hermione spent most of her time asleep in their company.
Today was a particularly bad day. No matter how hard she tried, Hermione couldn't keep anything down, and she just felt drained and wiped out. Despite feeling at her worst, she had dragged herself into work to sign some forms. Some of the laws they were trying to get through the ministry were coming up to their deadline.
Charlie was helping; he'd taken well to the department and was a great help. Slowly, he was taking on more and more responsibility to give Hermione more time to rest.
After breaking for lunch, Hermione had returned to her office for a meeting with a big donor. She was halfway through her speech when she swayed on her feet, pausing in front of her presentation material. Everything was spinning; she couldn't see straight. Her head was pounding, and her legs wobbled. With no strength left in her body, she toppled to the floor, her hands not quick enough to break her fall.
Hermione heard the screech of the chair against the floor in the office, then the sound of the client moving. Everything went blank as her eyes closed.
I know, I know. However, this is not a cliffhanger. I've left plenty of clues ;) Read the last few paragraphs again and you'll see.
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