Hello everyone, sorry for the long update. I've been working loads over the passed few weeks, joys of working in retail at christmas time. I've been shattered and the last thing I've wanted to do after I finish work is type up my story (I have 6 pages written to get written up). All ive wanted to do is sleep :(
Anyway here is some more for you all to enjoy (hopefully)
Chapter 37 – Hermione's Surprise visit.
Being apart from Hermione was driving Fred mad and they had only been apart for a few days. Fred was driving George mad with his constant worrying.
"I need to see her George before I loose my mind." Fred stated.
George looked up from his newspaper and rolled his eyes at his irritated twin.
"Would you calm down mate. Hermione will be fine so please stop your worrying, you'll wear a hole in the carpet and Mum will go mental." George said.
"She claims she's fine but what if she isn't? What if she's just saying that to stop me from worrying?" Fred whined.
"Well it hasn't stopped you from bloody worrying!" George stated.
"Are you not at all worried about Katie?" Fred asked, getting annoyed at his twin's lack of worry.
"Of course I am. I'm worried about all our friends, including Harry and Hermione. There's not much we can do here." George answered. "Mum has said we aren't allowed to go and collect Harry until the 31st."
"They didn't say when we can go and get Hermione. Her name was never mentioned last night at dinner!" Fred snapped. "She's at just as much risk as the rest of us because she's muggle born with the added bonus that she's Harry's best friend."
"Go and see her then!" George stated.
"Do you know what? I will do just that. Will you hold the fort for me for a while?" Fred asked his twin.
"Yes I will. I'll tell Mum you've gone to headquarters to get some stuff. Just be careful mate." George said.
Fred closed his eyes tightly, spun on the spot then disappeared with a massive crack.
*****
Hermione was sat in her bedroom flicking through a book she had found in Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore had informed the trio that they were welcome to borrow anything in his office, should they need it. Hermione took full advantage of this and spent a good two hours exploring the huge office for books and instruments that she thought would be useful.
Hermione was engrossed in the book about protective spells, jotting down useless information in a notebook, while some of her favourite muggle music played in the background. Hermione had spent hours planning and packing for the hunt for horcruxes since she had returned back home.
She had already a large selection of useful books, potions, clothes and items packed in a small beaded bag that she had cast an undetectable extension charm on.
Hermione's return home hadn't been too bad. She had told her parents all about what had been happening at Hogwarts, including the death of Dumbledore. Her parents were adamant that she wouldn't be returning in September. Hermione knew she wasn't either though she knew the adventure she was going on was going to be much more dangerous than another year at Hogwarts. She didn't have the guts to tell them that she wasn't returning and that she was going away for a while. All she told them so far was that she was visiting the Weasley family for a few weeks.
Hermione's reading was rudely interrupted by a small knock at her bedroom window which caused her to jump slightly. She was home alone as her parents were at the theatre. She jumped off her bed, feeling someone warm up in her jeans pocked. She pulled out the large fake galleon coin which had the message
"I'm outside your window – Fred." written on it.
Hermione moved towards the window, pulling back the lilac curtains to reveal a grinning red head, perched on the window sill.
"What on earth?" Hermione gasped, spotting Fred.
Even though Fred had sent Hermione a message via their Dumbledore's Army coins, Hermione was still unsure that it really was Fred, especially in the current state of things.
"What item do we use to communicate?" Hermione asked Fred when she opened the window, pointing her wand at him.
"Our two way notebook!" Fred answered confidently.
Hermione opened her window fully so Fred could come inside.
"I'm sorry Fred, I had to ask you just to make sure you weren't some death eater." Hermione stated.
"That's understandable Hermione. I would have been more worried if you had just let me inside without asking me." Fred replied. "Especially with you being such a bright witch and all."
"Even I slip up sometimes Fred." Hermione admitted. "Anyway what are you doing here?"
"To see you of course. I had to see that you were alright. Being apart from you was driving me mad." Fred admitted. "So what have you been doing?"
"Well my parents took me out for dinner the other day and I've been having a good catch up with them." Hermione replied. "Plus I've been doing a lot of planning for our trip. I've got a lot of essential items packed already."
Hermione shuffled over and picked up the small purple, beaded bag. Fred's eyes widened when he spotted it.
"You've got everything in there? How on earth?" Fred gasped.
"I've used an undetectable extension charm on it so I can put everything I need without anyone noticing. I've also cast a charm on it to make it easy to carry." Hermione explained. "It'll make life much easier if we have to go on the run or make a quick escape from somewhere."
"I think George and I should probably do the same with our rucksacks." Fred said.
"Yes that would probably be a good idea. Have you two started your planning yet?" Hermione wondered.
"Yes we had started planning after you told me. We've a lot of stuff packed already like some of our products, some potions and even books." Fred answered. "Unfortunately we haven't been back to headquarters to get the rest of our stuff."
"I bet Ron and Harry aren't as well organised as we all our. Will you make sure and tell Ron to get packing." Hermione asked.
"Yes I'll ask him when I get back." Fred replied. "So how about we spend some time together without worrying about anything."
Hermione led Fred over to her bed where she laid down. Fred laid down beside her, wrapping an arm around Hermione's shoulder, pulling her closely to him.
"Sounds good to me Fred. I could do with some time with you, just us without any drama." Hermione said with a sigh.
"Do you think you could come back with me to the burrow tonight?" Fred wondered.
"I would love to come back with you tonight Fred but I can't leave my parents just yet. I have some stuff to do before I leave them." Hermione answered.
"What do you have to do sweet heart? Can I help you with anything?" Fred asked.
"Not really Fred if I'm being honest. It's something I have to do on my own." Hermione replied.
"What is it?" Fred asked again.
Hermione took a deep breath. She didn't really want to tell Fred what she had to do. She was scared about what Fred would think of her.
"Please don't think bad of me Fred but I have to do this and I hope you'll understand why. I'm going to modify my parents memories so they don't know they have a daughter. It's my only way of protecting them from the war. They might be targeted when we go on the run and I couldn't bare to see something bad happen to them because of me. I want them to live a happy life without worrying about me." Hermione admitted.
"Oh Hermione love, do you really have to do that? Is there not an easier way?" Fred wondered, his heart aching at the thought of Hermione modifying her parents memories.
"Not really Fred. I've tried to think of an easier way like sending them away to America or somewhere far away from all of this but the death eaters won't stop at nothing to track them down and torture them for information. This way they'll have new identities and won't even know they used to have a daughter." Hermione replied. "If I happen to survive our hunt then I'll try and find them again and return their memories."
"Hermione are you really sure about this all? It's a massive sacrifice to make." Fred said in a worried tone.
"I know that Fred but I have to do it. It's best for us all. It'll keep them safe and they can be happy without worrying about me." Hermione answered.
"Well if that's what you've got to do Hermione then I will support you all the way and if you want to find your parents after all this is over then I shall help you with that too." Fred answered.
"Thank you Fred, that really does mean a lot as does your support." Hermione said as tears began to trickle down her face.
Fred felt his heart shatter at how vulnerable Hermione was at that moment in time. He couldn't believe the extreme measures Hermione was going to, to protect her parents. Fred had never thought about how he'd protect his family, well he would protect them to his death but he hadn't thought about modifying their memories. Then again his family were all pure blood wizards who although were at risk, maybe weren't at as much risk as Hermione and her parents. At least his family could protect themselves and easily go into hiding at a safe house but Hermione's parents couldn't. Fred had gotten completely lost in his thoughts.
"Fred can we just not worry about everything just for a short while? I just want to lie here with you and enjoy some alone time with you." Hermione pleaded.
Fred laid back down beside Hermione again, pulling her close to him so she could rest her head on his chest.
"I wish you could stay with me tonight." She said quietly.
"I wish I could too Mione but I have to go back at some point and your parents would go mental if they found me up here." Fred answered. "When we get to headquarters I promise we can have as much alone time as you want. I want to spend as much time with you as we can, make the most of all it."
It wasn't that Fred thought they were going to be separated in the near future, he just wanted to make the most of the time he did have with Hermione. Dumbledore's death made him realise that time with family and friends was precious.