Chapter 51 – Celebration

They all managed to arrive back at Grimmauld Place in one piece. All of them were glad to be back to the safety of the house without any of them getting hurt or worse, killed.

"We actually got the necklace. We actually got it," Hermione kept repeating over and over again.

Fred led the way into the kitchen where Kretcher came stomping out of his cupboard to great them.

"Did Masters Harry, Ron, Fred and George find what they were looking for?" Kretcher asked.
"We did Kretcher. We found the real necklace," Harry replied with a sigh of relief.
"How do we destroy it?" Fred wondered, sitting himself down at the table, a large grin spread across his face.

Kretcher began to bustle around the kitchen making the group something to eat. Hermione sat down at the table, her face pale white as though in some sort of shock.

"Are you alright Hermione?" Fred asked.
"Yeah I just can't get over what happened, that's all. I mean I'm very happy that we got the necklace but I just can't get over how they're treating Muggle-borns. It's disgusting," Hermione answered. "That should be me getting interrogated by Umbridge."
"Hermione please stop! You're safe here with us and you won't have to go through that hell," Fred answered. "None of us will let you!"
"It's not fair Fred. All those poor Muggle-born witches and wizards will all be going through that torture. Some of them might even get killed or thrown in Azkaban or lose their wands completely. I wish I could go and save more families from that but I can't," Hermione cried.
"Look Hermione we've got enough to deal with at the moment without having to worry about other families. If they've got the sense they'll all go into hiding for the time being," Fred answered in a bid to reassure her.
"And what if they don't? What about our Muggle-born friends at Hogwarts? And those Muggle-born Ministry workers?" Hermione cried. "It's horrible, really horrible."

Fred moved over to Hermione and hugged her tightly as she cried into his shirt.

"I just wish it would all stop. Why are they being so cruel to us Muggle-borns? What have we done wrong?" Hermione sobbed.
"Nothing Hermione, absolutely nothing wrong." Fred answered, rubbing her arm.
"We may be Pure-blood Hermione but we've never thought badly of Muggles or Muggle-born people, that's the way our parents brought us up," George spoke.
"If only all Pure-blood people had your attitudes to others. If they did the Wizarding world would be a far better place," Harry said.
Hermione pulled out of Fred's grip and wiped her eyes.
"What if they find me Fred?" Hermione questioned.
"It won't come to that Hermione," Fred answered.
"How can you be sure though? I'll be in so much trouble if they do," Hermione stated. "Not only am I a Muggle-born on the run but I'm a Muggle-born on the run with Harry Potter."
"Because I won't let anything bad happen to you ok? I'll do whatever it takes to protect you!" Fred stated.
"Well will too," George added to which Ron and Harry also agreed.

The group were interrupted by Kretcher placing sparkling clean plates and bowls on the table.

"Kretcher will have dinner served shortly," the elf stated.
"Thank you Kretcher, that is very kind of you," Harry answered.
"It's the least Kretcher can do," the elf replied, bowing so his nose touched his toes.
"Come on 'Mione, let's look on the bright side we got the necklace," Fred spoke in a positive tone.

Hermione seemed to perk up at Fred's words. Harry brought the necklace out of his pocket and set it on the table. Kretcher stopped what he was doing, his large eyes widening as he spotted the locket.

"Now to destroy it," Hermione spoke, her old self coming back again.
"Can we open it?" Ron wondered.

Hermione tried to prise the locket open with her hands but it wouldn't open. She passed it to Fred who tried but he had no luck either. Neither did Ron, Harry or George.

"To be honest, I didn't think it would be that easy to open it," Fred spoke, feeling frustrated.

Hermione then tried a couple of spells on it but none of them worked either. Fred too tried but failed.

"Ooooh. I don't like the feel of this thing, it feels weird," Fred said, as a shudder ran down his spine then handed it to George.
"Yes, I get what you mean mate. It feels as though something is living inside it," George answered.
"Well there is part of You-Know-Who's soul in there," Ron retorted.
"It feels like it has a tiny heart beat," Hermione spoke after George gave it to her.
"What are we going to do with it until we get it destroyed?" Ron then asked.
"I think we should take it in turns to wear it to keep it safe," Harry suggested.
"That's a good idea Harry," Hermione replied brightly.
"Harry mate, how were the other items destroyed?" George asked.
"Well the diary was destroyed by a Basilisk fang and I don't know how Dumbledore destroyed the ring," Harry answered.
"We unfortunately don't have any Basilisk fangs," Ron spoke.

Kretcher by now had finished making dinner and began serving up bowls of roasting potato and leek soup with crusty rolls.

"Thank you Kretcher, this smells amazing," Harry commented.
"And it tastes bloody good too," Fred commented in between mouthfuls.
"Who knew house elves were so good at cooking?" Ron chortled.
"Who cooked all your food at Hogwarts for years Ronald?" Hermione questioned.

Fred, George and Harry all burst into fits of laughter though George nearly choked on his soup.

After the soup, the group tucked into a hearty meal of mashed potatoes, chicken and ham pie and a selection of vegetables. This was followed by some ice cream and apple pie. Hermione offered to help wash the dishes but Kretcher wouldn't let her. The group then disappeared into the living room with Hermione opting to wear the necklace first.

"Mione, fancy spending some time together, just you and me?" Fred asked, as Hermione sat down beside him on the sofa.
"I'd quite like that Fred," Hermione answered.

Fred jumped up off the chair and held out his hand for Hermione to take. Hermione accepted and the couple left the living room, going up to Fred and George's shared room.

"How are you feeling now?" Fred asked her.
"Must better, thank you Fred. I'm just glad we got the necklace and that none of us were hurt or caught," Hermione replied. "I really do hope the Cattermoles' got away safely,"
"Me too Mione. I've heard Dad talk about them before. He always spoke very highly of them," Fred spoke.

"Did you see your Dad at all today?" Hermione asked.
"Nope we didn't see Dad at all unfortunately. We did see Percy from a distance. I had to resist the urge to hex the git," Fred replied.
"Ron and Harry both seen Arthur," Hermione stated. "I think that's annoyed Ron slightly, being so close to him and not being able to speak to him or ask him how everyone is."
"It's probably a good thing we didn't or we'd have found it hard too. I really miss Mum and Dad," Fred admitted.
"I miss my parents too Fred but I know they are much safer and better off without me," Hermione said.
"You'll hopefully be able to find them again after this is all over Hermione and if you want to find them again, I'll help you," Fred said.
"I don't know if I will or not. They are hopefully so much happier now, living an amazing life in Australia but thank you Fred for the kind offer," Hermione replied, as she rested her head on Fred's chest.
"I worry all the time about Mum and Dad especially with Dad working in the Ministry. Of course I worry about Gin, Bill and Charlie too. I hate not really knowing how they all are and what's going on," Fred admitted.
"Hopefully Ginny will keep you updated on how your family is," Hermione said.
"Yeah I've told her to keep us posted on how everyone is. It'll be hard for her to write home all the time though as all letters are probably being intercepted," Fred replied.
"She's entitled to send letters home to ask how everyone is and your Mum is entitled to write to Ginny to see how she is," Hermione said.
"That's true. I'll write to Gin, later and let her know what's happening," Fred spoke.
"Yes that would be a good idea. I'd like to know how everyone is," Hermione answered.

Hermione and Fred stayed together for about an hour, just enjoying each others company again. It had been a while since they had some proper alone time together as they had been so busy planning their attack on the Ministry. This was just what both of them needed.

"Fred can I ask you something?" Hermione wondered, sitting up on the bed.
"Yes of course you can Mione," Fred grinned.
"Could you stay with me tonight? I get awful lonely on my own without having Ginny around. I feel safe when you're around," Hermione asked.
"Of course I'll stay with you Hermione," Fred replied with a smile.
"Will George be ok with it?" Hermione wondered.
"Yeah he'll be fine with it. He can crash with Harry and Ron if he feels lonely," Fred replied.
"Thank you Fred," Hermione replied with a small sigh.

Alright Hermione said she felt ok, she felt very down in the dumps all of sudden, as though her emotions were heightened. For a few long moments she just lay snuggled up to Fred, listening to his heart beating with seemed to relax her.

*****
After spending some quality, well needed time together, Fred and Hermione left the room and went down to be with Ron, Harry and George. George had cracked open a bottle of Firewhisky.

"I thought we could have a little celebratory drink," He chirped.
"We haven't got anything to celebrate yet," Ron snapped.
"Yes we do. We've found one Horcrux which is cause for a mini celebration," George replied.
"Wow we found one. We still have more to find!" Ron argued. "And we can't get the bloody thing destroyed."
"Look Ron, please stop," Hermione demanded, not wanting to hear Ron's complaints.
"Can't you just be positive for once Ron?" George questioned.

Harry, Hermione, George and Fred were all elated at finding the necklace, feeling like a tiny weight was lifted off their young shoulders. They all knew they still had a hard task ahead of them with finding more Horcruxes but they had found one and that was one less they had to worry about.