Hermione was exhausted. It had been hard to accept Ron back when he suddenly showed up to save the day. It stung that he had left them like he did. It meant a lot though that he had saved Harry, the sword of Gryffindor and destroyed that damned Horcrux locket. She held a grudge for as long as she could, but eventually she forgave him. Although, she did still treat him a bit harsher than normal; just as a reminder that although she forgave him it was not forgotten.

They were currently removing all trace of their camp in preparation of their trip to see Xenophilius Lovegood. Hermione was desperate for answers. What had Dumbledore expected me to discover? Every day that passed, it seemed they were getting closer and closer to death. The destruction of the locket had given them renewed hope but it was now dwindling again. They were starting to get on each other's nerves more and more. She looked up from where she was fixing the flattened grass to hide the evidence of their tent. "Harry? Where's Ron?"

"Dunno." Harry didn't even look up from his task.

"Ron!" Hermione hollered and received no answer. "Ron!" Still she listened to no response. "I'm going to have a look in the woods." Harry grunted that he heard her. She held her wand tightly at her side, prepared to use it if need be. She had walked for several minutes before calling out somewhat timidly for him again. Leaves crunched and a bush rattled off to her left. Silently she approached it, wand held in out front of her. There sat Ron, completely uninjured and apparently doing nothing. "What are you doing out here?"

"Oh! I was, er, that is, I was trying to-" he stammered.

"You haven't done anything, have you?" she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.

"No. I mean yes! I was…looking...for berries. Couldn't find any. Guess I'll head back now." Ron jumped to his feet and sprinted off in the direction of the camp.

"Lazy sod." They finished clearing their area and held each other's hands to make the apparation to the Lovegood's.

They arrived at their new camp destination and set up the usual wards and protective spells along with the tent. Hermione felt terrible for leaving Mr. Lovegood like that but it had to be done. She just hoped Luna would be alright. They relaxed about the camp a couple of days later in the normal fashion. While Harry poured over his new found obsession, Hermione was plagued with doubts. Ron fiddled with the radio as it had become his newest fixation. He was determined to find Potterwatch, desperate to hear the familiar voices of friends and possibly family. She heard him sigh and step outside.

Feeling bad for her friend, she went out to console him and help him think of new words to try. When she stepped out she didn't immediately see him, "Ron?"

"Over here," he called from the side near a large tree.

She walked over to him as he kept his back turned towards her. Reaching him, she placed a hand on his shoulder and opened her mouth to comfort him when she heard the distinct sound of a zipper. Unable to stop herself she looked towards the sound to discover Ron pulling his length from inside his pants and he began to urinate on the tree. "What-why would you-I'm right here for Merlin's sake!" she screeched jumping back from him.

He infuriated her by chuckling. "What'd you think I was doing over here?"

"I thought you were upset," she answered, her face red as she fought the urge to turn back and take a second look. It was the first time she had ever seen a man unclothed, aside from pictures in medical books, and she suddenly wished she had gotten a better look. Not because she, in any way, wanted to see Ron like that but because she was curious and wanted a bit more of an idea of what she was facing when she did see Fred again.

"I'm fine," his voice still held humor in it, "I'll be back in just a minute."

"Fine." She went back in the tent and picked up his search for the broadcast. When he came back, she moved to give him plenty of space. She soon discovered it was suddenly a little hard to look him in the eye. At least Harry was too preoccupied to notice anything as he moved outside to start the nightly guard duty. Hermione absently grabbed up the sword of Gryffindor and began to polish it while letting her mind wander a bit. Ron's whoop of excitement brought her attention back to the tent and to the radio that was now playing Potterwatch.

She listened quietly while Lee, Kingsley, and Lupin spoke. But when 'Rapier' began her heart thundered in her chest; it was Fred. It felt so good to hear his voice that she wasn't even aware of the tears that trickled down her face as she smiled and laughed at his lighthearted comments.

"And finally," Fred's voice suddenly took on a heavy handed quality, "I would like to tell that certain someone if she's listening, that I love her and miss her terribly and look forward to meeting her under our oak tree again." She could hear the sigh as he moved away from the magical microphone.

She closed her eyes and fingered her beloved locket.

"Hermione," Harry began.

"I know, Harry." She wiped her cheeks as the boys started discussing everything they heard.

A stone dropped in her stomach when Harry said the name 'Voldemort' despite Ron's protests. Panic seized her and she did the first thing she could think of and aimed a hex at Harry face, to disguise his features. She trembled when the snatchers tied them up, though she was somewhat relieved to see Dean Thomas. She wanted to cry when they recognized her from the Prophet article, which also gave away Harry.

What felt like seconds later, they were before the Malfoy's and Bellatrix LeStrange. She could feel Harry shaking beside her and the way he seemed to be slipping in and out of focus. Bellatrix was terrifying, even more so when she grabbed Hermione by the hair and separated her from her friends. She watched as the others were taken away by Greyback while Draco's parents and aunt stared at her hungrily.

The first jolt of pain threw her to her knees, the second and she found herself lying on the floor. She tried desperately to keep her wits about her despite the agony her body was in. She refused to allow the truth past her lips. A voice in her head kept telling her that if she told them the verity of the sword the torture would cease and she would be allowed to rest. However a deeper voice of reason knew the only rest they would give her, would be in death. Given the first opportunity, she declared the sword a fake and collapsed in a heap when Bellatrix lifted her wand away from the girl.

Fred apparated straight into his living room from the secret location of the radio broadcast. He looked about the flat to make sure George was there before he allowed himself to relax. His brother's clothes were strewn across the couch along with a shirt and bra of Verity's. Fred couldn't help but grin; although he missed Hermione dreadfully, he wouldn't begrudge his twin a bit of fun. Plus, he liked Verity, she was a great worker when the store had actually been open and she treated his brother well.

He made his way to the kitchen and opened the fridge more out of boredom than hunger. Not seeing much he grabbed a leftover slightly soggy sandwich. He sat on the couch when a groan came from George's bedroom, he must have neglected the silencing charm. Grinning like an idiot, Fred made his way to the door and placed his ear on it. He could hear his brother say something indistinct followed by a muffled response by Verity. What are they doing? Fred being out of the company of his girlfriend for far too long already, found himself too curious to pass up the opportunity. He waited until he heard George's encouraging moans before he silently pushed the door open a crack.

He poked his head in to see his brother reclined in a large chair, head resting against the back of it. Most of his view was cut off by the bed, but he could see that the girl was on her knees in front of the chair. He raised his wand intending to scare the both of them, when George opened his eyes and looked directly at his twin. Fred froze, smirk and all, as George glared at him. He laughed silently and raised his sandwich and an eyebrow. George grinned and shook his head, "Don't stop, love," he whispered lowering a hand out of Fred's view.

Thoroughly entertained, Fred conjured a cauldron and a few empty flasks and mimed brewing a potion. Then he pointed to first George then himself followed by a finger at the floor in the direction of their potion's room. George snorted a bit, causing Verity to mumble something unintelligible, and he shook his head. George raised a hand pointed at himself then made a slashing motion across his neck, and then pointed to Fred with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. Fred hunched over in effort to control his desire to laugh out loud.

Fred stood up and moved the rest of the way into the room, closing the door most of the way behind him, he wanted to be able to make a quick exit if necessary. He pointed to himself, then George and Verity, followed by the bed and made a few shagging motions. George sent him a rude hand gesture and started to point again when a knock came on his bedroom door.

"Yeah?" they said together. Verity shrieked and looked up to see Fred grinning back at her.

"This is ridiculous," she hastily grabbed one of George's shirts off the floor and threw it over her head.

"George? Is Fred-" Bill opened the door, "Fred! You have to come with me now." Bill grabbed his little brother's arm and tugged him out of the room.

All thoughts of humor and modesty aside, Fred allowed himself to be pulled from the room followed closely by a naked George and a second later by Verity, tugging on the hem of the shirt that barely covered her bum. Bill drug him over to the fireplace. "Wait, Bill, what's going on?"

"Your girlfriend's at my house," he grabbed a fist full of floo powder and turned to the group trailing behind him. "She'll be alright, but... George for Merlin's sake put some clothes on. My place is pretty packed, if you want to see them, wait at least an hour. They're not really up for much right now anyways."

Panicked, Fred grabbed some floo powder and preceded Bill into the fireplace. George grabbed a pair of blue glow-in-the-dark boxers off a nearby chair and watched his brother leave. He spun out of the hearth in Bill's small cottage. Fleur was there to greet him with a shaky hug. "She eez over 'ere." She led him to a small bedroom just off the kitchen.

Hermione lay on the bed, arms lying limply beside her. "Is she okay?" He touched her cheek softly and she didn't stir. Her brow was furrowed and her fists were clenched as she slept.

"It was the crutiatus curse." Ron was huddled in a chair staring blankly at the sleeping girl. "Dobby didn't make it," his voice cracked. Fred placed a hand on his brother's bowed head. "I'm going to help Harry now that you're here." He got up and left the room without another word.

"Hermione?" Fred whispered beside her ear. "Can you hear me, love?"

"Fred," the girl murmured, her brow and hands relaxing.

"That's right, I'm here. You're safe now." He stroked the hair off of her forehead and kissed it lightly.