Chapter 17: Building bridges

Fred was back in the flat about half an hour later and found Hermione with a book on the sofa, while George was busying himself in the kitchen. The two of them seemed to have come to some sort of understanding as he couldn't detect any awkwardness between them. And that was a good sign.

"What do you two think about a family dinner at the Burrow?" he said nonchalantly after throwing himself next to her on the sofa. She raised her brows questioningly at him and he continued, "Well, I can imagine that there is at least a person I recently met, that would be thrilled to meet back with the Weasley family." He winked and suddenly her face lit up.

"You think they would come?" his wife asked hopefully, and he grinned at her in return.

"Actually I'm pretty sure of it. The two of them seemed thrilled, when I suggested it to them. Well? What do you say?"

George nodded towards him with a smile, whereas Hermione squealed in delight. "Oh, that's brilliant, Fred. When can we go?"

Fred chuckled in delight. "What about today?" he proposed and a few moments later, all was set up. And he was pretty pleased with himself. Hermione might take the chance to talk to his mum and seek some advice. If not, the evening would hopefully at least lift all of their moods. And that was something they could all desperately use.

They brought Harry and Neville to their flat with one of their portkeys but decided that they would take the floo to the Burrow. Hermione fidgeted next to him, she looked even more nervous than Harry himself.

"Calm down, Mione." he murmured to her and squeezed her hand.

She nodded weakly. "Don't worry about me. And now go." She nodded towards the fireplace where George had just disappeared. "I'm right behind them." He sent her an affectionate grin, before taking a pinch of floo powder from the mantle and throwing it into the fire. And a moment later he was gone.

The madness started as soon as his mum looked at him and sighted the missing ear. "Fred!" she shouted with wide eyes and pulled him into her arms. "What happened to you? How did you…"

He shook his head towards her. "Wait for the others mum. There are some … visitors today and it's best if we only have to tell the story once." She nodded with her eyes full of worry, just as the fire roared again and Neville stepped into the living room. A collective gasp went through the room, but Fred just smiled knowingly towards his twin. And here we go, he said through the bond and George nodded towards him. Their eyes trailed towards the fire and just a second later Harry stepped onto their carpet. And the room erupted in chaos.

When Hermione entered the Weasley's living room as the last person of their party nobody even seemed to notice her. A crowd of five had gathered around Harry, who was currently hugged by a sobbing Ginny and Ron, who looked like he had seen a ghost. Fred and George stood some steps away from the group and seemed to have pulled Neville into a conversation and for a moment Hermione was not sure what to do. And so she simply waited in front of the fireplace for the chaos to die down. It took a while, but Hermione didn't mind at all. It had been a long time since she had seen everybody that happy and Hermione enjoyed it as long as it lasted.

"Hello Hermione." her thoughts were suddenly interrupted and as she turned around, she saw Percy standing next to her.

"Hi Percy, it's nice to see you here."

He sent her a slightly forced smile. "I'm trying to be at family dinners as often as possible now, as I have missed quite a lot of them during the last years."

She nodded, because she understood him completely. If she ever got the chance to bring her parents back from Australia, then she'd visit them as often as possible, too. "Yeah, I can imagine. Is it… I mean, they have forgiven you, haven't they?"

He nodded with a serious expression. "Yeah, they have. Everyone seems to be happy to welcome me back into the family and I am really glad. But in moments like these…" he gestured towards the happy reunion in the middle in the room, "I feel like I have missed a lot or like I am not really a part of this any longer."

Hermione sighed. "You know it's not true, Percy. Even if you missed out on several months with them, you are here now and you'll be in the future. That is what counts. You were even at my wedding…" She grinned at him conspiratorially.

"Yeah, you're right. How are things between the three of you, by the way? George and Fred seem… happy." Percy tried carefully.

She sighed again. "Things are going alright I guess. But we've had some rough days lately and we are all still a bit shaken, I guess."

Percy hummed in acknowledgement. "I've noticed Fred's missing ear, yeah. Was it Bellatrix?"

Hermione stared at him in surprise. "How do you… did they say something?"

He shook his head with a smirk. "Even if some members of my family can be kind of oblivious, I could always count one and one together, you know? Bellatrix gets promoted to a hunter of muggleborns and goes missing shortly after. At the same time my brother, who is married to a muggleborn witch, shows up with a missing ear and the her

o of the wizarding world, who was supposed to be dead. It kind of fits, you know?

Hermione hummed. "Harry didn't have anything to do with that, actually. We found him the day afterwards."

"Whatever. I can imagine that it's not easy for any of you. But you seem to be good for each other. So, if I can give you some advice Hermione… don't make the same mistakes I've made with my family. Whatever happens, try to stick together and don't turn your back on them. I only realized my mistake, when it was almost too late."

She nodded thoughtfully. "That is good advice. Thank you Percy."

He smiled at her and suddenly he really looked like a Weasley. "Anyway. I believe dinner is ready. Shall we move to the dining room?" Percy gallantly offered her his arm and with a smile she took it.

George couldn't help but watch Hermione for the whole evening. As soon as they moved to the dinner table, he seated himself next to her, but she seemed too distracted to really start a conversation with him. He couldn't fault her, because dinner was an emotional rollercoaster. His mum started asking after Fred's ear again and so they finally decided to fill them in. In no time, dinner seemed forgotten and their mum caught them into a bone-crushing hug while kissing their faces.

"Oh, my boys…" she sobbed and pulled them even closer. "I could have lost you or… or…" she sobbed again. George looked helplessly towards his brother, but his eyes landed on Hermione who was white as a sheet.

"It's alright, mum." Fred muttered and patted her back. "It's just an ear and Hermione was there to save the day."

His mother choked out another sob, before throwing herself at Hermione. "Oh my girl, my precious clever girl…" she said while Hermione seemed more and more uncomfortable.

"It's alright Molly… I…it was the least I could do. Well… they wouldn't have been in this situation after all, if they hadn't stepped in and married me, right?"

The room fell instantly silent, as all eyes were instantly on the two women. His mother gasped. "Hermione dear, don't say that. Don't even think that. It's not your fault, do you hear me."

Almost everybody nodded, but George could see in Hermione's eyes that she wasn't convinced. And he decided that they'd have to talk to Hermione about it, soon.

George felt emotionally drained when they finally reached their flat around 11 p.m. They were all ready to simply fall into bed, but there was still the fact that it was Sunday and the ministry would just be waiting for them to make a mistake. He sighed.

"Hermione?" he said after she had stepped out of the fireplace and walked into the direction of her own bedroom. As soon as she heard him, she stopped in her tracks, but didn't turn around. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, looking for strength, and slowly walked behind her. "Love, it's Sunday and… I know it's probably the last thing you want to do right now but…"

She sighed and sounded very tired. "It's alright, George. I just need a minute to myself but I'll be at your room in just a bit."

"Alright." he said even if he didn't want her to leave. But she'd be right back, she said, and so he went into their shared bedroom after a last look towards his twin. And for the first time George wished that it wasn't always him who had to play icebreaker.

Hermione thought about Percy's words for the whole evening. Dinner had left her shaken and she had once more realized how close she had come to losing one - or both her twins actually. This thought chilled her to the bone, and she couldn't say why. They were friends, yes and they had protected her from this stupid law. But that wasn't it, there was more and as the evening drew on and emotions ran high, she more and more realized what it was. Was it possible that she had fallen for them – both of them? Well, they were magical twins and Fred had explained they were like the two sides of a coin. So was it possible that she had fallen in love with the whole coin? And if so, what would it mean for the pregnancy she had just come to accept? Should she bow to their wishes and just step back? Could she even do that and just trust that the others were able to end this nightmare alone? Well Neville and Harry were around now, but still…

Hermione didn't know, but she had to find out – soon. George had already admitted that he didn't want to lose her, and she was almost sure he had wanted to say even more. It wasn't fair for any of them to be held at arms-length out of her fear of her feelings. And it also wasn't fair to lead them on without being totally sure that she loved them.

After escaping to her room and leaving George behind, she gave herself five minutes to compose herself before going to their shared bedroom. George was already sitting on the bed, waiting for her. Hermione couldn't help but notice how lost he looked, and her heart went out for him. Well, she'd have to be brave for the both of them.

"Hey." she said shyly and sat herself right next to him on the bed. Alright, she could do this, she told herself, and took his hands slowly into hers.

"Hey." George replied and looked at her with a gentle smile tugging at the corner of his lips. She leaned over just ever so slowly before her lips met his. For a moment, he didn't move at all, but then he sighed and relaxed into the kiss. His lips were soft and gentle and he tasted like honey and chocolate. It felt wonderful, it felt right, and Hermione didn't want their kiss to stop. God, she had missed him during the last days. She had hated not talking to him, being angry at him. And she had come so close to losing him too, to losing them both. And the thought of losing them hurt. Before Hermine realized what she was doing, she had grabbed his shirt and pulled George with her to the bed without breaking the kiss. Her hands sought out the skin under his shirt feverishly and with heavy, thumping heart. Right then, she knew she had her answer. What she was feeling towards George wasn't just friendship, lust or obligation towards the ministry, it was definitely much more. Hermione loved him. And even if she couldn't tell him just now, she had every intention of showing him tonight.

Fred sank deeper into the sofa with a tortured moan, as the pictures coming through the bond kept haunting him. The last times his brother and Hermione shared a bed hadn't been that bad. Maybe it was the separation from her or the fear of losing her, but no, something was different today. Pictures and feelings kept flowing and flowing through the bond. He could see Hermione on top of his brother – or was it him? – her kisses feverishly covering his skin. There was a fire in her eyes, a passion, he hadn't seen there before. And he wanted to be with her so badly that it hurt.

A groan escaped his lips as the feeling of need washed over him but there would be no release for him today, not with her.

"Merlin, Hermione," he heard himself groan - or was it George? - as he felt her hand closing around his length and moving ever so slowly. And gods it was killing him to know, to feel but to not feel at the same time. It took all his strength not to bolt from the sofa and storm into their shared bedroom. But it wasn't an option, not right now when they were just finding back together again.

Another groan escaped his lips and he started thrashing his head from left to right, but the feelings just wouldn't stop. Merlin, was that her tongue he was feeling on him? He gasped. Yes, definitely her tongue. Merlin! Before he even registered it, his hand had crept inside his boxers and closed around himself. It wasn't enough - but it was all he had at the moment. And so he pounded desperately into his fist as he almost heard her moan into his ear, almost felt her hands on his back, her nails on his skin. And as she screamed his name – no, his brother's name – he came with a muffled groan. But it still wasn't enough. His heart was thumping in his chest and his body ached all over with need, even though the flood of pictures and feelings through the bond had finally stopped. Things had calmed down for the other two, but not for him. Gods, he needed her. And he needed her now.

Without thinking, he had muttered the cleaning spell on himself and a second later he was already on the way to their bedroom. It was insane and she'd probably just push him away scandalized or just throw him out. But he'd be damned if he wouldn't at least try.

Just as Hermione rolled down from her lover with a satisfied sigh the door to their bedroom flew open. For a moment she was on high alert before a corner of her brain registered that it was Fred. It wasn't the first time he joined them afterwards but usually he waited until things had calmed down a bit. Well, maybe he was just tired and desperate to get into bed, a voice in her head murmured soothingly, as her heart started hammering in her chest nervously. But no, Fred didn't look tired. His pupils were blown wide and his breath came in small agitated pants, as he studied the two of them with a quick glance.

"Fred?" she asked confusedly and saw George lifting his head groggily toward his brother, but in his eyes flickered something like understanding before his head gave a single sharp nod into Fred's direction. There must have been an unspoken communication between the two of them, because suddenly Fred leaped towards the bed and she didn't even have time to make room for him, before his lips crashed on hers with a desperate kiss. Hermione froze in shock.

"Fred, what are you…" she tried after pulling back from him, but his lips muffled the end of her sentence. Just a second later, she felt the well-known chill of a cleaning spell wash over her and as her brain tried to catch what was happening, she felt George escape from the bed behind her. She pulled back from his brother confusedly.

"George? What's going on? Where are you going?" she asked him confusedly and heard Fred groan in frustration.

"I…" George started and looked to his brother desperately. "I'll be back in a bit, " he promised quickly and that's when her head finally caught up and she understood. Her eyes took in Fred's disheveled state and the expression on his face told her all she needed to know. The twin bond, she realized, and everything clicked in place.

"Alright," she agreed, and it seemed they both took it for an answer as she was immediately pulled back into Fred's arms. His mouth was on her a second later and for a moment she was shocked by the raw need that she tasted from him.

"Merlin I want you," he moaned into her mouth just a second before he turned her on her back and crawled over her. His hands were on her naked hips a second later, steadying her as his hips grinded into her with something like desperation. Yes, he definitely wanted her, this much she could tell.

"Fred," she groaned into his mouth, before sucking in his bottom lip. "Would you mind removing these clothes?" She looked down at his fully clothed body and started tugging at his shirt. He grinned at her with glowing eyes.

"I almost feared you'd never ask." he murmured before snatching his wand from his back pocket and waving it lazily through the air. "Better?" he asked as soon as she was feeling his heated his skin on hers.

"Much." she laughed and a moment later he pulled her close again. Her heart thudded hopefully in her chest as his lips found hers again and his hands started to roam her body with fire and desperation. How could it be possible that her body was shivering again in anticipation and her heart ached for his moans and words of admiration? She desperately wanted him to want her and she wanted him back with a fire she hadn't thought possible for her. But it was definitely there. I love him too, she realized just as his mouth kissed his way down her throat and a moan escaped her lips. I love them both. And just like that she realized that it felt totally right to do so.