Another chapter - sorry there's so long in between them but I'm so busy and also Word on my laptop isn't letting me type for some reason so I need to find a way to work out how to update it !

xXMizz Alec VolturiXx - hope your question is answered now!

Red Garden Gnome - here you go!

SeaWitch225 - hope you enjoy this chapter !

- HermionesPolyjuice xoxo

Chapter 12

Hermione's eyes burst open. Her whole body was trembling. Her breathing was fast and shallow and she could feel beads of sweat trickling down her forehead. She cast her eyes around the darkened room and was just able to make out Ginny's shape under a heap of blankets. Hermione closed her eyes and tried to control her breathing and focus on positive thoughts. But nothing was helping the terror that was flooding through her veins. She gave up and swung her legs over the side of her bed and stood up feeling the soft carpet between her toes. She grabbed the hoody at the end of her bed and crept outside of Ginny's room, quietly closed the door behind her. There was a cool draft coming through the window on the stairs and Hermione gulped in fresh air, which made her feel suddenly better. Taking in another deep breath, she plodded up the stairs carefully so the creaking steps wouldn't wake any of the Weasleys. It was still very dark so she reckoned she hadn't been asleep for long at all. Reaching the second floor she headed down the corridor and reached the bedroom she was looking for. Taking another deep breath she raised her shaking hand and knocked quietly on the door. She heard a mumble from inside and a few seconds later footsteps heading towards the door. It opened and a tousle-haired Charlie Weasley popped his head through the door.

"Hermione?" Charlie croaked, "what are you doing up?"

"Charlie," Hermione exclaimed and threw herself into his arms and tears fell freely onto his bare chest. His strong arms wrapped around her and drew her closer into a tight hug.

"Shhh, it's ok," Charlie soothed running a comforting hard through her hair. Once Hermione's breathing returned to a more regular rate Charlie let go of her slightly and pulled his head away. He looked down at her concerned.

"What's the matter Mione?" he asked worried. Hermione just shook her head unable to form any words.

"It's ok. How about you come in and we'll have a chat?" Charlie grabbed Hermione's hand and led her towards his bed pushing the door closed with his other. He flung back the covers and climbed in pulling a t-shirt on before beckoning Hermione to get into his bed. Hesitantly, Hermione clambered onto his bed and Charlie brought the blanket over the two of them.

"What is it Mione?" Charlie asked placing an arm around her shoulders.

"I…I…was…I was there," Hermione stuttered.

"You were where?" Charlie asked. Hermione sensed worry and confusion in his question.

"The other side of the door."

"What door?"

"Just now. I think it must have been a dream. You…you were with two Death Eaters. And…and they tortured you…and told you…told you I was…I was going…going to die," Hermione tried to explain. She looked over at Charlie and in the moonlight filling his open window saw terror cross his face.

"What? But you couldn't have been. There were neither doors nor any windows. How's that even possible? You can't have been there,"

"I was Charlie. I heard everything. I heard how he cast the spell on me, how he ensured I would save Fred and the wall would collapse on me, how the Death Eaters were told when I was at Hogwarts, how they failed and now want you to take me to them, how there are consequences and how…how I'm going to die soon," Hermione said staring intently into Charlie's eyes. She felt more tears fill her eyes and was even surprised to see a few spill down Charlie's cheeks.

"It's alright Mione, honestly it's fine. Everything will be OK – I promise," Charlie said soothingly. Hermione leant her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. How could he be saying everything would be OK? Everything was not OK. Charlie would be tortured or Hermione would be turned on to the dark side or she would die. How was it alright?

"It's not fine Charlie," Hermione sniffed into his shoulder. Charlie placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.

"We'll figure it out," Charlie whispered into her hair.

"But how? If you tell anyone, they'll basically kill you and if we don't do anything I'll die from this made-up curse," Hermione said her voice cracking with fear.

"We'll find a way, I promise. If it means telling people where we'll be and they can help us so be it. But Mione please don't worry yourself because everything will be fine. I don't make promises lightly and I am promising you right now that we will get through this," Charlie said quietly. Hermione nodded but didn't say anything. They sat there in silence for what felt like hours, mulling over what they had heard and the possible outcomes and what they could do, until Charlie broke the silence.

"What I don't understand is how you were there?" Hermione sat up and looked into Charlie's eyes.

"Neither do I. Maybe it was a dream? Or it may be something similar to how Harry was able to see Voldemort and the snake."

"Hmm…it may be. I guess it might even be on the consequences he was talking about," Charlie suggested.

"I guess it could be that too." Hermione rested her head onto Charlie's shoulder again, "Charlie?"

"Hmmm?"

"Are you OK?"

"What makes you ask that?"

"Isn't it fairly obvious?"

"I guess." Charlie looked over at Hermione, who didn't look up.

"He tortured you, Charlie. There should be no reason for anyone to be tortured. We have to do something." Charlie felt something wet on his neck and new Hermione was crying again.

"We will do something, Mione. I promise. But for now it's 2:30 in the morning, let's sleep and think about it at a reasonable hour," Charlie planted a kiss on Hermione's forehead and gave her another squeeze.

"Charlie, would it…would it be OK if I stayed here?" Hermione asked tentatively.

"Of course it would be OK." Charlie slid down the bed and pulled Hermione into him. Charlie wrapped his arms around Hermione as she rested her head on his chest. She could feel his chest move up and down in regular, deep breaths and heard his heart beating strongly.

"Goodnight Charlie," Hermione whispered softly into his chest.

"Goodnight Mione," Charlie replied giving her a kiss on her forehead and resting his chin on her head.

{-/-} [-\-] {-/-}

"Oh…um…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to interrupt…um…breakfast is ready," Ron stuttered in the doorway to Charlie's room seeing Hermione and Charlie cuddle up tightly in each others arms.

"Thanks Ron," Charlie said and Ron quickly backed out of the room. Charlie gave a snigger and planted a kiss on Hermione's cheek.

"Morning." Hermione turned her head and looked up at Charlie, she was quite a dark shade of red.

"Don't worry about Ron, he's just being a prick," Charlie said smoothing a stray curl off of Hermione's face. Hermione smiled up at Charlie.

"We should probably get to breakfast before people start thinking the wrong thing," Hermione said sitting up. Charlie laughed.

"I'll see you in a minute." Hermione smiled over her shoulder as she left Charlie's room and headed downstairs.

"Morning," Hermione greeted the kitchen of Weasleys and Harry.

"Morning, Hermione. This came for you – looks like it's from the Ministry," Mrs Weasley smiled back nodding to a letter sitting on the kitchen table.

"Thanks, Molly." Hermione sat down at the table and pulled a cup of coffee and her letter towards her slightly worried by the Ministry logo printed on the front. With somewhat trembling fingers, Hermione peeled open the envelope and pulled out the piece of parchment and cast an eye down it before letting out a sigh of relief.

Dear Miss Granger,

We ask you not to worry about this letter. It is nothing other than a reminder of the new Marriage Law that was issue back in May. We are reminding you that you have one month left to find your future husband or else you shall be assigned a wizard of the Ministry's choosing. We also take this opportunity to express the importance of you telling us this man before the month is up and that he must come from a pureblood family – there shall be no exceptions.

A request has come from the Minister of Magic to speak to you, Mr Harry Potter and Mr Ronald Weasley later today. He is expecting you at three o'clock sharp; please do pass the message on to Mr Potter and Mr Weasley.

With best wishes,

Desmond Starky

Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic

"What's that about Hermione?" Harry asked looking over at Hermione as he folded up the letter and took a gulp of coffee.

"Oh just reminding me of the marriage law – as if I would forget that. And Kingsley wants to see you, me and Ron this afternoon at three."

"Why does he want to see us?" Harry asked confused.

"No idea, they didn't mention anything about it."

"I'm busy at three, I can't make it," Ron said from the other end of the table.

"Well whatever you're doing can't be as important as seeing Kingsley so you're going to have to change it," Hermione said tartly not looking down the table towards Ron.

"Not going to happen."

"Ronald, you are not, and I repeat, not, doing whatever you plan on doing. You shall be accompanying Harry and Hermione to London to see Kingsley. End of topic," Mrs Weasley said sternly. Ron didn't even try to argue with his mother.

"Harry, you up for some Charms this morning? I was thinking of going into Mr Weasley's shed as there's a bit more space out there and up in Bill's room," Hermione said a few minutes later when she set down her empty coffee cup. She had purposely only addressed Harry after her argument with Ron the previous day, Charlie had told her the night before not to make any effort with Ron and that he would come round by himself.

"Sounds good to me Mione. Can we start in about 15 minutes?"

"Not a problem, I do need to go and have shower. I'll meet you there in quarter of an hour." With that Hermione hurried out of the kitchen upstairs to the shared bathroom. She stood under the steaming water for almost a good ten minutes. Once she had overheated enough she stepped out wrapped a towel around her body, brushed her teeth and tried to tame her wild hair before heading back to Ginny's room to put some clothes on. As she unlocked the door and stepped onto the steps she walked straight into Charlie. She stumbled backwards but Charlie caught her arm and stopped her from falling down the stairs in nothing but a towel. Hermione blushed a deep scarlet before looking up at Charlie and smiling.

"Sorry, didn't see you there."

"I figured," Charlie teased and gave her a wink. "Everything alright?"

"Yes, thanks for saving me from a rather embarrassing situation of indecency," Hermione reddened even darker.

"Don't worry about it," Charlie grinned before taking the stair two at a time up to his room. Still blushing, Hermione took the few stairs down to Ginny's room and put on a pair of white shorts and a pink polo shirt before heading up to Bill's room to pick up her Charms' textbooks. With a few books under her arm and her wand in her back pocket Hermione began down the stair to meet Harry at Mr Weasley's shed. However, as she past Ginny's room on the first floor, about ten steps from the bottom floor the pain came back. But it wasn't just an intense pain it was a lot worse, worse even than when Bellatrix had tortured her. Hermione shouted out in pain and fell to the floor. But being in the middle of the staircase she tumbled down the stairs hitting her head on a frequent number of steps. She heard a snap but was in too much pain to acknowledge the new searing pain in her wrist. She reached the bottom of the stairway and with a loud thud she landed in the living room and began writhing on the floor unable to bear the pain. She wasn't able to comprehend any thoughts and wasn't aware of the footsteps thundering down the stairs. She stopped writhing but was still in so much pain that her eyes closed even tighter and she knew no more of what was going on at The Burrow.

Charlie had taken the stairs three at a time as he ran down to the living room after hearing Hermione's scream and knowing exactly what had happened. He reached the bottom step and launched himself over Hermione to sit down behind her. He picked her up in to his arms and sat there cradling her closely and stroking her hair. She stopped writhing in pain but there was no change. Having hit her head a number of times on her fall down the stairs Charlie wasn't surprised that she no longer remained conscious.

"Charlie dear, what happened? I heard Hermione shout and came as soon as I could from the garden," Mrs Weasley said kneeling down next to her second eldest son.

"Oh my, her hair is covered in blood," Mrs Weasley exclaimed catching a look of the pile of blood dripping down Hermione's hair onto Charlie's lap and the floor, "and her wrist, it must be broken. Charlie what happened?"

"She had one of her attacks and must have fallen down a lot of stairs and hit her head," Charlie mumbled holding Hermione close to his body. "I'm going to take her to St Mungo's now. She needs proper treatment." Charlie picked Hermione off the floor and stood up. Cradling her next to his chest he disapparated with a pop. He knew he should have taken Floo Powder but disapparating was a lot quicker and Hermione needed help immediately.

Charlie appeared in the lobby of the hospital and still carrying Hermione tightly walked towards the queue in front of the reception desk. The witches and wizards already in a queue saw Charlie noticed how bad a state Hermione was in, Charlie assumed they also recognised her, and let him queue barge. He reached the front of the queue and made the few short steps to the desk. He didn't need to say anything before the old lady behind the desk spoke to him in a monotonous voice,

"Fourth Floor: Spell Damage. Take a left, carry down the corridor before taking a right at the end of the hall and go along the corridor until you reach Andreas Tonnishin's office – he will know what to do." Thanking the lady, Charlie hurried to the stairs and ran up them all the way to the Fourth Floor, he should have taken the lift but didn't care. He took the left and the right and continued down the corridor until he reached a glass door with a sign hanging on it telling him he had reached Healer A Tonnishin's office. Charlie didn't even need to knock before Healer Tonnishin appeared from his office and smiled at Charlie.

"You must be Charlie Weasley, I received word from the Reception you were looking for me. Please bring Miss Granger and follow me," he said in a loud, deep voice. Charlie didn't question how he knew who he or Hermione were but hurried after the short, stout man who could reach a rather quick pace. They walked in silence twisting and turning down many corridors that Charlie knew he would never be able to get out of for a few minutes until Andreas pushed open a door on his left into a large, private ward.

"I've tried to give you one of the most hidden wards, we don't want the press to know where she is or else we'll never be able to get them out of here. They shouldn't be able to find anyone here. Now Mr Weasley, if I may ask you to leave Miss Granger on the bed over here and step outside as I give her an examination? I suggest you head upstairs to the tearoom and wait for us there; someone will come to find you once we're done. You may also find other members of your family waiting for you up there," Healer Tonnishin said calmly nodding towards the bed and then to the ceiling. Charlie could distinctively hear people conversing upstairs but had to focus on it to know people were there. Charlie hesitated for a moment but under Healer Tonnishin's persistent look he walked over to the bed and carefully laid the unconscious Hermione. He kissed her forehead before slowing walking out of the room. He didn't know how to get to the tearoom and it took him a long 15 minutes to navigate himself out of the maze of the floor and reach the stairs to take him up to the waiting area.

Red-haired family members, and a black-haired boy bombarded Charlie, the second he entered the tea room the floor above. Everyone was questioning Charlie all at once he was unable to comprehend who was saying what. He didn't even understand half of the queries that were being asked. Charlie decided to ignore them and walked to the far corner of the room. He sat himself down on the chair, brought his knees up to his chest and looked away from his family. He didn't want to talk to anyone. He was worried that if he did he would spill what had happened to him and what was going to happen to Hermione. He felt a few tears fall down his cheek and didn't do anything to wipe them away. He slowly let them fall down his cheeks dreading what could happen. Realising that Charlie wanted time to himself, the rest of the Weasleys and Harry left him alone and took seats on the other side of the room. They occupied the silence with calming conversation trying to keep the mood light.

Various other witches and wizards entered and exited the tearoom, some tried to make conversation with the Weasleys and others left them to it but no one went near Charlie in the far corner, during the next painfully long two hours. Each minute that came and went without any news, Charlie got more and more tense. He dreaded the worst. He didn't know what to expect when the Healer did come but he did know he was terrified. Terrified that Hermione's time had come to the end five days too early. Terrified he would spill what had happened and be tortured again, if not something worse. Terrified he would lose Hermione without telling her his true feelings.

At 2 o'clock after five long and incredibly painful hours, Healer Tonnishin reappeared in the tearoom's doorway. Casting a look around the room he spotted Charlie in the far corner and made his way over. Charlie didn't say anything, just watched the elderly Healer make his way through the tables and chairs towards him, trying to read the expression etched across his face. Upon realising the Healer was bringing news of Hermione, the other Weasleys and Harry slowly stood up and followed him to where Charlie was sitting keeping a distance so as not to intrude.

"Is she OK?" Charlie muttered quietly as Healer Tonnishin approached. His eyes were dry now; he had no more tears to cry.

"Mr Weasley –"

"Please, call me Charlie," Charlie interrupted.

"Alright then Charlie, Miss Granger is doing fine. She is currently sleeping. She had a bad knock to her head, which resulted in a brain bleed but we were able to fix it but that is why it has been so long. We wanted to wait to make sure there were no side effects from the accident but it seems she should be fine. Her wrist was very badly broken and she broke a few ribs. Everything has been fixed for now. She will need rest for a few days but there is no reason to say she won't make a full recovery." Healer Tonnishin smiled kindly to Charlie, who was able to return one back to the older man. "You may go and see her now but please let her rest." With that Healer Tonnishin turned his back and weaved among the tables and chairs to leave the room.

"Oh thank Merlin, she's OK," Mrs Weasley exclaimed collapsing into a chair. Everyone seemed to let out a collective sigh of relief. Charlie, however, stood up and started to walk towards the exit in an attempt to find Hermione's room. Bill watched his brother for a second before catching up with him.

"I'll let you have some time with her, we'll come and visit in half an hour or so," Bill whispered into Charlie's ear. Charlie then did something very uncharacteristic of him. He turned around and hugged his elder brother.

"Thank you," he said before letting go and leaving the stunned Weasleys to find Hermione. Charlie found the stairs easily and headed downstairs to the floor below. As he was making his way down the staircase it was then that he noticed the blood caked on his shirt in dried on his hands. He muttered a quick spell and the blood disappeared making him look a little less of a mess. Charlie had no idea where Hermione's ward was so he headed to Healer Tonnishin's office. When he reached the door he knocked twice before it swung open and he caught sight of the Healer sitting behind a very large pile of paperwork on his desk.

"Charlie, what may I do for you?" he asked brightly.

"Um…could you tell me how to get to Hermione's room? I'm not entirely sure how to get there." To Charlie's surprise, Healer Tonnishin let out a laugh. A laugh so high and squeaky Charlie couldn't help but let a smile creep across his face.

"Don't worry, fortunately she has been moved so a ward much closer and easier to find. Just follow this corridor and take the fourth door on the left that will lead you down a walkway. She's in the third room on the right." Charlie thanked the man before following his instructions and found himself stood outside of a room that was named Miss H Granger. Charlie took a deep breath and carefully pushed the door open. The room he stood inside was relatively small. In the far corner was a desk covered in bottles of various shapes and sizes. The other side of the room housed a wardrobe and a door, which Charlie assumed led to a bathroom. Directly in front of him was a bed cast in bright sunlight. He saw Hermione's slight figure moving slightly with deep and regular breaths under the covers. Charlie conjured a chair next to the bed and moved to sit down next to Hermione. Her head was surrounded in a large bandage and her left wrist was also tightly bandaged. Charlie took ahold of Hermione's right hand in both of his and gently planted a kiss.

"We're going to be OK, Mione. I promise we're going to find a way out of this. You and me both," Charlie whispered quietly. He kissed Hermione's forehead before returning to his chair and watching Hermione sleep, her chest rising and lowering in a slow, rhythmical way wanting nothing more than for everything to be fine when she woke up.

(A/N: reviews = love !)