A/N: Finally. IF YOU DONT LIKE RON BASHING OR DARK!RON PLEASE SKIP THIS. There needed to be a confrontation to move this story toward completion and this isn't at all what I thought would happen but this is what flowed from my fingers so this is what you get. Apparently, the bond can also manifest similar to that of a veela with its mate. Huh, who knew.

As it seemed the Ministry had backed off, and the healers couldn't find anything wrong with the young couple, they had finally been discharged. They were currently at the Burrow, where they'd been for several weeks, wrapped up together on the couch and talking softly.

"Mione?"

"Yes, Fred?"

"Do you think... If it wasn't for the bond, would we have ended up together?"

Hermione mulled it over for a second. As much as she was overjoyed that they were together now, she couldn't help but think things might not have been so clear cut had the bond not pushed them to admit their feelings for one another. Everyone had expected her and Ron to end up together - and although she couldn't have seen them lasting, on a certain level she'd felt the same way.

"I don't know, honestly, but I'm glad we did."

Fred sighed. He loved how logical Hermione could be but sometimes he rather wished she would tell a little fib just to make him feel better. He wouldn't dwell on it though. After all, she was with him now and that was all that mattered.

Ron was sitting in his bedroom in the Burrow, a disgruntled sneer on his face. Hermione should be his, how dare his brother take that away? Never mind that he had Lavender, he'd always assumed Hermione would be with him, a calming presence to come home to after a long day at work. She'd be in the kitchen making dinner with their children at her ankles and he'd be the keeper for the Cannons.

Fred had ruined all of that, and he was sick of his older brothers taking what belonged to him.

It was time to have a little chat.

The Burrow was packed as per usual on a Sunday, with everyone gathered in the garden before lunch. Hermione sat basking in the sun, reveling in the happiness that surrounded her. The war was finally over and nearly everyone she loved was safe (a/n: I couldn't kill anyone off. I'm sorry). As she watched Teddy running round the grass with Harry close behind she couldn't help but think of the future. She'd always been ambitious but the war had mellowed her out and she was tired.

Fred and George were rebuilding their business and she'd agreed to help for the foreseeable future, creating new products was far more rewarding than she'd ever imagined. She couldn't help but think of them starting their own little family. A smile formed at the thought of little Fremiones running around wreaking havoc. With such intelligent parents who had both been in their fair share of scrapes over the years, she could imagine Headmistress Mcgonagall would be having palpitations when they started Hogwarts.

She giggled at the thought and Fred looked over at her curiously, walking over and plopping down next to her on the ground. He could feel her contentment through the bond mixed through with something else...

"Whatcha thinking Granger?" He said with a wink.

She blushed and wondered if it was too soon to bring it up. Everything with their relationship was on warp speed, it seemed.

"Er, children actually."

Fred gaped at her.

"Are you?.."

"Oh Gods no, Fred. I was just thinking... The shop is starting to take off again. I love working there and there's no one else I'd ever want to be with. I guess I was just wondering if you felt the same and whether they were a possibility?" She looked up at him hopefully.

Fred was slightly in shock.

"Well yeah. I mean. Yeah."

Hermione laughed. He loved the sound.

"Not right now you prat." She said affectionately, placing a kiss on his cheek and leaning over to whisper in his ear. "But maybe soon."

Fred gulped.

Molly looked out at the group before her with happiness. She couldn't help but notice how happy everyone was (or the sparks flying between her son and Hermione). Harry and Ginny were playing together with Teddy and she could safely say those two would be together before the year was out. Things were going so well that she almost didn't notice her youngest son walk in with that annoying girl trailing behind him.

She almost didn't notice the look of anger on his face either.

Almost.

"Hermione can I talk to you?" Ron said abruptly, ignoring Fred completely.

"Sure." She said slowly, having known this moment would come but dreading it all the same.

Fred looked worried as she dropped a swift kiss on his cheek before standing and following Ron.

"Why hello there." Said Lavender in a flirtatious tone.

He was going to kill his brother.

"What is it Ron?" Hermione said cautiously, unhappy with the malicious gleam in his eyes. They were standing down the side of the house out of view of the rest.

"Shut up." He hissed, pushing her against the wall. Her hand flew to her wand but he knocked it to the ground and she froze, pinned in place by his hands. His hot breath was against her neck and it felt wrong, so wrong that anyone other than Fred was that close. She squirmed and opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out. He'd silenced her with a spell and her terror was complete.

"Now Hermione, all you have to do is be with me, where you belong. It's not so hard is it?"

Fred felt terror through the bond and stiffened. He pushed Lavender out of his way and ran full pelt toward where he'd seen Hermione and Ron walking. His pulsed spiked and he had to clamp down on the rage he felt at the scene before him.

Hermione was trapped against the wall and Ron towered over her, reminding him how small she really was. Tears were rolling down her face as she choked on silent screams. He could hear Ron talking, trying to convince Hermione they were meant to be together and the bond hummed in anger.

Blinded by anger he took out his wand, turning it on his brother.

"Sectumsempra!"

Blood pumped from shallow cuts across Ron's chest and he stumbled back, releasing Hermione. Fred turned to go to her but it seemed the bond wasn't done with Ron just yet. Some sort of silent curse flew from his wand and had his brother writhing on the floor in agony, screaming.

The rest of the family had come running and looked on in shock as they saw Fred, eyes black, holding a trembling Hermione in his arms as he carried her away from his now-unconscious brother. He didn't spare a glance for his confused and terrified family as he took her inside and tenderly placed her on the couch.

"Are you okay love?"

She just cuddled closer to him as silent tears fell from her eyes.