St. Mungos

"What kind of problem?" Demanded Mrs. Weasley.

"She woke up and she was looking for Fred. We told her he was being looked over. She demanded to see him. We did everything we could to get her to calm down, but she wouldn't. We had to finally put her in the same bed as him. As soon as they were in the same bed, they both seemed better. He was fine, but when she joined him it was like he relaxed. It was really amazing to see."

"What about the baby?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"She's still carrying it. She will have to take it easy for a while. She had a broken arm and two broken ribs. We couldn't give her the potions we would normally give someone because of the baby, but we have her resting comfortably for now."

"What about Fred?"

"He was tortured more than she was. He hasn't regained consciousness yet. He had a broken leg, several broken ribs, and cuts all over his body. We've mended the broken bones and cuts, but he hasn't regained consciousness yet."

"Can we see them?"

"Yes, but only two or three at a time. You will need to talk to them in a quiet voice. We don't want them startled, but we think hearing the voices of the people who love them will help."

George and his parents went in first. Looking at Hermione and Fred it looked as if they were just sleeping. You could not tell they had just been tortured.

"Fred, Hermione. This is Mum. We're waiting for you to wake up. I hear congratulations are in order. You're going to be parents. I know you'll do wonderful. How could you not? This baby will be the most spoiled child in the world. Hermione, we haven't told your parents you're here yet. We think we will wait until you are in a little better shape. Maybe in a day or two we'll be able to bring them by."

Mr. Weasley joined in then. "Son, we need you to be strong. You need to wake up. Hermione and the baby need you. We aren't going to leave this hospital until you are both up and about. They are going to get tired of seeing so many red heads around here. Hermione, you need to be strong for the baby. I would warn you about this crazy family, but you knew what you were getting into when you got with Fred. We love you like a daughter, and I know you'll fit in with this family. We couldn't have asked for a better girl for our son."

George would not leave but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley left so two others could come in. Two by two everyone came in and encouraged Fred and Hermione to wake up. George stayed with them. He wouldn't leave. Charlie arrived later that night and he came and sat with George. They talked quietly. George told Charlie that if he would have stayed then they may not have been attacked.

"Listen to me George. This was not your fault. You Know Who's followers are bad people. They don't care who they hurt. If you would have been with them maybe you would be here in the same shape."

"I know you're right, but I keep thinking maybe I could have prevented it."

"Well stop thinking that." Charlie said.

"You couldn't have stopped it." They heard a small voice from the bed. They both got up and went over to the bedside.

"Hermione, thank Merlin." George said crying. "You have to be careful. The healers couldn't fix you up like they wanted because some of the potions could hurt the baby."

"The baby? Is she ok? How's Fred?"

"He hasn't woken up yet, but he's right next to you. I'll go let the Healer know you're awake." Charlie said.

Charlie got the healer and he went to let the family know she was awake. George stayed in the room with Fred and Hermione.

Hermione told the Healer how much pain she was in and the healer told her that the baby was preventing some of the stronger pain potions, but they would make her as comfortable as they could.

Ginny, Ron, and Harry were allowed to come in and see her before they had to go back to Hogwarts, but they all promised to come back as soon as they were allowed.

On the third day Fred woke up. He saw Hermione next to him and he looked around and saw George asleep in a chair. He patted Hermione's head and he started crying for the baby they lost. Hermione felt the bed shaking and she opened her eyes.

"Fred, it's going to be ok. Do you hurt?"

"Hermione, I'm so sorry. I couldn't get them to leave you alone. The baby."

"Is going to be fine."

"What?"

"The baby is going to be fine."

"But you told me you were bleeding."

"The healers were able to stop it and the baby is fine. You were so brave. You protected us from the majority of the torture. They didn't start on me until after you couldn't stand anymore. I don't know how I will ever be able to repay you. I owe my life and our baby's life to you."

"Love, what kind of talk is this? You would never owe me anything and neither will our baby."

"Fred, I love you. Always remember that."

"And I love you." He answered, "How long has George been in here?"

"I'm not sure how long we've been here, but every time I wake up he's in that chair. He doesn't leave the room. They have to feed him in here. Your parents, Bill, Charlie, and Sirius are staying here too. Your parents brought my parents by yesterday and they are going to bring them today too. Everyone knows about the baby and everyone is happy about it."

She noticed he was having trouble keeping his eyes open so she told him to go back to sleep and they would talk later. After he fell asleep, she laid there thinking. She was still in so much pain, but just knowing he woke up took a load off her mind. She settled in closer to him and had her first good night's sleep since the attack.

Hermione woke up to the whispering voices of Fred and George talking. They were both going over what they could have done differently. She spoke up and said, "Listen, you guys. We can go over what we did right or wrong and make different scenarios over and over, but this was not our fault. If I hadn't come to see you this would not have happened either. We were just going about our own business. It was them monsters that did this, and instead of trying to place the blame on ourselves we should be planning on how we will pay them back."

"You don't have to worry about that. When He Who Must Not Be Named found out his Death Eaters did this he killed them because he didn't give them the order to do this." George told them.

"Right now, all I care about is that you and the baby are going to be ok." Fred said as he gazed into Hermione's eyes.

"I feel the same way." She replied.

"Ok, I can see you two want to be alone, so I'll go tell everyone you're both awake." George said as he got up to leave.

"George, thank-you for everything. You need to go home and get some rest. I know you've been here the entire time and you didn't need to be." Hermione told him sincerely.

"Maybe I'll go home tonight. I could not leave until Fred woke up."

"Thanks Bro." Fred said then he addressed Hermione. "Love, close your ears because I don't want to embarrass George." He then turned back to George and said, "I love you, man."

"I love you too." George replied grinning. "Hermione, you didn't need to close your ears. I'm man enough to say I love my brother."

"Oh, you boys!"

The next day there was a patient admitted to St. Mungo's. Two healers were talking about the patient while checking over Hermione and Fred. They did not see she had been awake while they were talking. They were saying they didn't know what kind of curse the patient was hit with. Hermione asked them what kind of mark the patient had, and the color of the skin where the curse hit the patient. When she got her answer, she asked about the symptoms. When they told her the symptoms, she thought she knew what the spell was, but she wasn't sure. She asked George if he could get Sirius to come see her. When he arrived, she asked him if he could get the big green book from his library. The one with Dark spells. It was on the second shelf towards the left side when she read it.

In no time at all he was back with the book. She was right in her thoughts and she was able to tell the healers the curse and what potions to take to reverse it. Everyone praised her for her quick thinking and Fred was so proud of her.

In no time at all Fred and Hermione were released from St. Mungo's.

Fred and George talked to Bill about setting up extra precautions at the shop. Hermione was going to spend a week at the Burrow before going back to school. Professor McGonagall was going to gather the work she'd missed and bring it over for her. Naturally hearing this Fred and George decided they would work the shop during the day and spend the nights at the Burrow.

Fred was surprised when his mother informed him that Hermione needed to take it easy and would be sleeping alone in Ginny's room. He didn't want to argue with her in front of the family so he sought her out later that evening. "Mum, about the sleeping arrangements. I'm not planning on doing anything inappropriate with Hermione."

"That's because you've already done that Fred Weasley."

"There was nothing inappropriate in what we've done, but anyway, about the sleeping arrangements. I need to sleep with her. I can't explain it Mum, but she makes me feel better. I feel safer with her. Maybe that is the wrong word, but that is how I feel. Now I would rather have it be ok with you and Dad, but I will stand my ground on this. If you insist on this we will go stay at our flat. I would rather stay here, but I can only stay if I can be with her."

"Fred, honey, when did you grow up? I want you to stay here also, but that girl needs to rest. She can't over exert herself right now."

"I know that Mum. I'm only asking to sleep with her. It's where I belong."

"Oh alright, but I am warning you Fred Weasley. No funny business." She told him while shaking her finger at him.

"Thanks, Mum. I love you." He kissed her on the cheek and walked away with a smile.

Hermione was happy at the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley took the 'take it easy' orders very seriously. Hermione felt bad that Mrs. Weasley waited on her when she could be doing things for herself. When she mentioned this to Fred he told her he would take care of it and he would be a little late that evening and not to worry.

"George, care to go with me to see Dobby?"

"Sure, why?"

"Well, Mum works to hard and I thought we could get her a house elf."

"Dobby won't leave Harry."

"I know, but he may know of a house elf that needs a family. I don't know anywhere to look for one."

"You know Fred, you are a genius."

"I've been telling you that for years." He grinned. "I'll send Serious an owl letting him know we are coming over after we close up tonight. I've already told Hermione we would be late, so they don't worry."

"Master George and Master Fred, what is you wanting to see Dobby for?" Dobby asked when Sirius explained they wanted to see him.

"We were wondering if you knew any house elf's that were looking for employment."

"They would be free and paid, just like you."

"I knows my friend Trixie does not have a family to serve. She is alone. Her mistress died and did not have any family to leave Trixie with. Maybe she wants a family."

"Can you contact her and see if she is willing to talk to us?"

"Dobby will do this. You is good boys. You played snowballs with Dobby." Dobby said to the twins. "I will find Trixie tomorrow."

"Thank-you Dobby."

"We will be at our shop during the day and back at home in the evening."

The twins invited Serious to come with them to the Burrow for dinner and he graciously accepted.

The next day Dobby arrived at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes with a little house elf. She looked younger than Dobby. She was wearing a pillowcase like a dress but it was real clean, like if she took real good care of herself. Dobby introduced her as Trixie. He told the boys that he had explained to her that they were looking for a house elf.

"Actually Trixie, we are looking for a house elf for our Mum."

"If you would like to become part of our family we would love to have you."

"We would pay you and you could get days off for yourself."

"Trixie would love a family, but Trixie can't be paid and get days off from working." Trixie replied.

"I is doing it and I is happy." Dobby told her. "I gets to play snowballs."

"What would everyone say if I gets paid?"

"They would say you are a smart elf." George told her.

"You could take what you get paid any buy anything you want just for yourself."

"Trixie could get pretty clothes?" She asked with longing in her voice.

"Yes, if that's what you want." Fred said.

"How about this Trixie, how about you come home with us and you try it out for a while and if you don't like the arrangement you can leave and we won't have any hard feelings?" George said.

"Trixie will do that."

"Thank-you Trixie and thank-you Dobby for bringing her."

"Our store doesn't close for another hour, but we have a flat upstairs if you want to go relax until then and we'll go home then?"

"You doesn't want me to clean it?"

"Naw, it's alright, why don't you visit with Dobby until we're done down here."

When Fred and George arrived with Trixie and explained to their Mum that Trixie was her house elf, Mrs. Weasley went hysterical. She was so happy and excited. Dinner was late that evening because Mrs. Weasley had to get Trixie settled in. Trixie was given her own room and Mrs. Weasley shrunk down a dress of Ginny's for Trixie. From the looks of things everything would be alright with Trixie and Mum would get help around the house.

On Thursday morning when Mrs. Weasley came in to check on Hermione as she did each morning, Hermione told her she had pains in her lower back.

"Let's get you to St. Mungos to be checked, Dear." Mrs. Weasley told her.

"It's probably nothing. I've probably been taking it too easy and I'm getting sore from not moving around as usual." Hermione told her. "But it wouldn't hurt to go be checked anyway."

It was a couple of hours later that one of the Healers came out of the room they had taken Hermione in to and said to Mrs. Weasley, "I'm sorry. We've done all we could."