Safe and Sound
"I remember tears streaming down your face when I said I'll never let you go"
-Taylor Swift, "Safe and Sound"
"Where is she?" Fred was in a panic as he burst into the door of Shell Cottage. "Remus told me Hermione is here, and she's hurt. I need to see her."
"I'm sorry Bill," Remus followed close behind. He reached out to grasp Fred's shoulder, but the younger man easily pulled from his grip.
"Please," Fred quietly pleaded, "please let me see her." Fleur took one look at her disheveled brother-in-law before getting to her feet and ushering him up the stairs toward their spare bedroom. When he opened the door and saw her still body on the small bed he had to suppress a sob.
Luna stood from where she had been sitting at the end of the bed and offered Fred a small smile. "She will be happy to know you are here. Sit, talk to her."
Fred closed his eyes and nodded before sitting in the small chair that had been positioned next to the bed. Once they were alone he reached out and pushed the curls back from her forehead. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Hey Mione," his voice cracked and he cleared his throat. "I-I've missed you. Gods, how I've missed you."
He sat there silently for several minutes just watched her shallow breathing before he let the first tears fall. He took her hand in his."You're safe now, Mione. They can't hurt you anymore. You have to be ok. Please be ok."
As the minutes grew into hours he sat beside her, sometimes talking, sometimes not, but always holding onto her hand.
"Fred?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it was more than enough to get his attention.
Fred sat up so quickly he had to steady himself. He wasn't sure when he had fallen asleep, but he had, and he was relieved that her voice wasn't just a dream.
"Mione, I'm here," he gently squeezed her hand.
"Where am I? Why are you here?" She started to sit up, only stopping when he put his hand out to stop here.
"No, don't get up. There is plenty of time for explanations, but for now, I have to go get Fleur."
"Please, don't leave me alone here," she pleaded.
"Never, Mione." Fred pulled out his wand and sent Fleur a Patronus, before leaning back down and kissing Hermione's forehead. "I'll never leave you."
The sound of the wall crashing to the ground caught her attention. Hermione turned in time to see a piece fall and pin Fred beneath it. Without thinking she was on her way across the room.
Percy stood dutifully by her side guarding her as she began moving the ruble from atop Fred. When she finally revealed him she let out a sob.
Suddenly a voice boomed around her. "You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured." The sounds of the fight began to die down as the Death Eaters temporarily retreated, but Fred still wasn't moving.
"No," she shook her head, "no, you can't be dead. Please, Fred." She pushed blood-soaked hair back from his forehead and began casting every healing spell she could think of.
After several tense seconds, he began coughing. Without thinking it through, Hermione threw her arms around him and pulled him tighter against herself, causing him to cough harder.
She withdrew and looked at him sheepishly, "I'm sorry Fred, I thought I lost you. I couldn't bear to lose you."
He reached out and cupped her cheek, silencing her. "I told you Mione, I'm not going anywhere." Pulling her back to him, he pressed his lips to her. "Now then, let's get me mended. We have a war to win, and tomorrow we will start the rest of our lives. Safe and sound."