Love and War
Chapter 24

The New Dawn

It was morning when Hermione awoke. The sun had not risen yet, but the early morning smell filled the infirmary. There was a relief in the air, swirling in wisps through Hermione's mind; tonight she would finally sleep in a room without a booming echo. Bringing up her hand, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes; the dark circles around them highlighted that she was far from rested. That was not news. In truth, Hermione had not slept soundly for more than a few hours at a time. Her mind was frazzled with a thousand thoughts on everything. How to fine-tune the parchment, how to aide the war, how terrified she is to face those demons that plagued her, and how her love for George Weasley may deteriorate the rest of his world.

Hermione shifted, turning onto her side to look at the wizard who was dozing in the chair next to her bed. George Weasley truly was a remarkable man. All he did for her. Hermione was mesmerised by how lucky she was, and she was so grateful for all of it, but Hermione was starting to realise that she could not let him give up his family. How could she be the one responsible for putting a rift in the Weasley clan? No, she would have to fix whatever damage was done between Ron and him before they would feel right.

Easing out of bed, Hermione slipped into her slippers and pulled George's old Quidditch sweater, her new favourite sweater, over her head. She was just reaching for the handle to the infirmary when the very person she was looking for walked in.

"What are you doing walking?" Ron said with wide eyes that dripped with concern.

"Never you mind, Ronald." She started, holding up her hand to stop whatever he tried to respond with; he was not going to get a word in. "Look, George is your brother, and just because I love him doesn't mean you can just walk out of his life. I made a choice, and I need you to be happy with it because, well, I love him and he's your brother."

"Her-" Ron started again only to be cut off abruptly.

"And don't you dare say that you don't care, because I know you do. Be happy for him. For me. For us."

"Are you done now?" He asked after a moment of silence, and she nodded with a glare. "Because what I was going to say before you started ranting is that George and I already sorted things out."

"Y-You did?" Hermione said with surprise. "Oh."

"Yes, well I don't expect you to remember, but we talked about it last night, and I'm happy for you, Hermione. Both of you."

"You did. You are." She said with surprised hesitation, "You are. Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Oh, thank goodness, because I couldn't bear it if you weren't," She said with elation and immediately gave him a hug. "I am so sorry."

"For loving my brother?" He said with a laugh, "Yeah, I'd be too."

A bang sounded from the other side of the study and Hermione jumped. Harry's face tarnished with ash; he must have lost the game of Exploding Snap he and Ron were playing. The laughter bubbling out of Ron's mouth was a dead giveaway. She smiled. Carefree moments were rare in this war, and Hermione wished she could live in it forever.

It had been two days since her final treatment, and she was doing rather well for the time being. Truth be told she was quite anxious. Twelve hours ago, she and George pitched the idea to Fred, Ron, and Harry. The latter two were all for performing the blood bond, Fred, on the other hand, did not say a word. All he did was gather up the pages which Hermione stacked in front of him and left to locked himself in his office. George explained that he had done this before. It was Fred's way of processing schemes apparently. Who knew Fred Weasley needed complete solitude to go through all the aspects of a plan? Still, it was very unnerving.

Hermione glanced up from her book. Across her sat the most caring man she had ever met. He was reading as well, the book drawn into his lap as he scribbled notes on a parchment. She was supposed to be doing the same but was far too distracted. It was an entirely new feeling for her. Hermione Granger was too distracted to read, but there was something about the way his brow was furrowed in concentration. She had been set ablaze. His determination was quite attractive really. His blue eyes hardened into ice as he focused, his ginger hair looked shaggier as it fell forward, his jaw tensing as he set himself into gear. Merlin, help her. Her hair fell before her eyes, and she brushed the strands back, her breath coming out in a steady and calming rhythm as she tried to steady herself. Hermione was thoroughly distracted.

With a sigh, Hermione closed her book and set it on the table next to the others she had discarded. George met her gaze, silently offering support as they waited for Fred's return. She nodded, hoping he did not notice the blush that was spreading across her body, before grabbing a new novel. But, she had not gotten far into it when the door to the study slammed open.

"Insane!" Fred's voice boomed off the ceiling. Harry and Ron were startled as they watched Fred march over to the armchairs that George and Hermione sat in. "You're both bloody insane." Fred dumped the stack of papers on the table in front of Hermione. "You're making me question whether my potion has side effects. Maybe instead of curing insanity, it makes it you crazier." Hermione was dumbfounded, staring up into Fred's eyes with an evident terror.

"Fred," George said in warning but was cut off by a cold glare from his twin. It seemed to scare him straight, but something was off. George quieted instead of defending her, and Hermione's terror intensified. Oh boy, Fred must have been quite angry with them to get that kind of reaction.

"Was this your brilliant idea?" Hermione could not respond; she just stared up into the blue eyes that pierced through her with an intimidating intensity. "I'm talking to you, Granger. This reeks of your brilliance."

"Y-yes," she murmured, looking down at the notes before her, suddenly taking in the new set of opinions scribbled along side hers. Her eyes snapped back to Fred's, wide and shocked, but not with fear this time. She realised he was serious. He actually thought this plan was brilliant.

"The brightest witch of our age, gentleman," he shouted, clapping his hands together as if he was introducing her into society. "Stand up now, take a bow." Hermione was completely elated. This was going to happen; they were going to make this work crazy idea work, and she could help end the war. Hermione was so happy; she actually did get up and take a bow.

Please review!