Chapter 14

March 1998

"Thanks for the update, Rapier. Once again, I'm River and that brings us to the end of another edition of Potterwatch. We're not sure when it will be possible to broadcast again, but I promise we'll be back, so keep tuning in to this frequency. Remember - the next password will be 'Prongs'. In the meantime, keep each other safe and keep the faith. Good night."

Lee Jordan flicked the dial to the off position before swiftly charming the broadcasting equipment back into its carrying case. He made sure everything was ready then with a nod they'd vanished — Remus and Kingsley back to their individual safe houses and Fred, George and Lee to the twin's Aunt's place in Devon — ensuring that no trace of their illegal operation was left behind.

Once back at Muriel's, Lee sighed as he watched Fred and George retreat into their room. With the exception of meals and Potterwatch broadcasts, the boys rarely joined the others, preferring to fret and worry in solitude.

Fred in particular had struggled since Hermione disappeared alongside Ron and Harry during the bedlam that occurred at Bill and Fleur's reception almost seven months earlier.

The first few weeks hadn't been so bad, as the boys had managed to stay in touch with Hermione via the special boxes they'd used when the twins left school. The messages were by necessity short and cryptic enough to ensure the safety of all parties involved but it was better than nothing and at least it gave Fred the comfort of knowing she was alive.

Things had taken a turn, however, in early October when the messages abruptly ceased. Fred had been on the verge of a breakdown when word reached the family that Ron had suddenly arrived at Shell Cottage — alone.

The twins apparated there straightaway but the reunion soon disintegrated into a blazing row when Fred and George learned that not only had Ron abandoned Harry and Hermione on their quest but he had also inadvertently blasted apart the message box whilst trying to destroy something called a 'horcrux'.

Ron tried to explain how the item's dark powers and negative energy had clouded his mind and how he'd tried to return to the pair as soon as he'd left but Fred was having none of it. He ranted and cursed and shouted about promises and loyalty — even going so far as to call Ron a 'prat more self absorbed than Percy' — before storming out of the house, vowing to cut yet another brother out of his life for good.

The situation grew worse in December. First, George received word that Luna had been kidnapped off the Hogwarts Express while making her way home for holidays and was apparently being held in Azkaban in retaliation for her father's support of Harry in The Quibbler.

Then a few days after Christmas the Weasleys learned that Ron had disappeared yet again. They received no further updates until early spring when they heard through the grapevine that Harry, Ron and Hermione had been spotted making a narrow escape from Death Eaters at the Lovegood place.

This information — as encouraging as it may have been — did little to soothe everyone's frayed nerves and the stress around the group intensified until it was thick enough to carve with a knife.

That late March evening, after returning from the broadcast, Lee hid the equipment in its usual spot before going to check on Fred and George. He'd just entered the room when a shaft of light burst through the window and swirled about wildly before taking the shape of a enormous wolf. Lee jumped, still not quite used to the change in Bill Weasley's patronus.

The creature shook its massive head then Bill's voice called out softly, "Not sure how safe this is but thought you ought to know that our household has just grown exponentially with the arrival of several stray animals, including one very badly injured kitten," he said, looking pointedly at Fred. "I believe it could benefit from some individual attention if anyone is available."

In a flash Fred and George were on their feet. While Lee wasn't entirely sure what the message meant, from the looks on their faces he was able to make a pretty good guess.

"Go," he urged them. "I'll let your parents know what's happened."

Before the words were out of his mouth the boys were gone. Seconds later they'd materialized on the beach outside Shell Cottage and were racing towards the house. Their brother met them at the door, barely jumping aside in time as they charged past in the direction he was indicating.

The twins flew down the hall but came to a screeching halt when they entered the room and saw Hermione lying on the bed — eyes closed, face pale and gaunt, hair matted and dull, her breathing so shallow that for a split second they feared they'd arrived too late.

A moment later Fred was shoving Harry, Ron and Fleur out of the way so he could scoop Hermione into his arms. He let out an anguished cry when he lifted her and realized how desperately thin she was.

"Merlin's Beard! Where's the rest of her?" he demanded. He adjusted his hold on her and his gaze fell on the blood soaked bandages wrapped around her forearm. "What's this? What happened here?"

A dark silence descended upon the room as Harry and Ron traded guilty looks. Finally Bill spoke from the doorway.

"That's a little present from Bellatrix LeStrange."

"Bellatrix?!" The word seemed to catch in Fred's throat. "What the hell are you talking about?! Why was she anywhere near that harpy?! What did you get her into?!"

Bill began relating the story as best he knew it, with occasional input from Ron and Harry. By the time they'd reached the part about Hermione being tortured at the Manor Fred was incandescent with rage.

"Why didn't you do something?!" he snarled at Harry and Ron. "You promised you'd keep her safe! You promised!"

"We tried, Fred. Honestly," pleaded Harry. "Hell, Ron even offered to switch places with her but they threw us in the cellars with Ollivander and Luna and…"

George snapped to attention. "Luna?! We were told she was taken to Azkaban months ago."

Ron shook his head. "No, mate. After the Death Eater's grabbed her off the train they brought her to the Malfoy place. She'd been chained up in their basement with Ollivander until Dobby rescued all of us this morning."

George grabbed his brother's arm. "Luna's here?! Where is she?!"

Bill gestured down the hall. "She's in cousin Agatha's old room. Fleur's given her a sleeping draught as well. Dean Thomas and Griphook are in there keeping an eye on her and the old man."

George looked at Fred who nodded and said, "It's okay. Go."

George hurried from the room, followed by Fleur, Harry and Ron. After everyone else had left, Bill pulled a seat next to the bed and watched as Fred ran his hand gently over Hermione's cheek.

"Sleeping draught. Is-is that why she's so still?"

"Yeah. She was in a lot of pain when they got here, Fred. We weren't sure how many times she'd been hit, not to mention the blood loss," he said, pointing towards her arm. "It would have been a lot for someone in good condition to withstand. For a person in the shape she was in — obviously exhausted and undernourished — well, to be honest, I got scared. That's why I took the risk of contacting you the way I did. I was afraid if something happened…"

"You did the right thing. Thank you." Fred pulled her even closer then asked in a small voice, "Bill? I-Is she going to be okay?"

Bill laid a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I don't know, Freddie. But I can tell you that Fleur's one hell of a healer and she's doing everything in her power for Hermione, I promise."

A few minutes later Fleur returned and ejected Bill and Fred from the room, announcing that she was going use the en-suite to give Hermione and Luna baths before providing both with a clean change of clothes.

"Zey cannot begin to 'eal properly if all zey can smell is ze stench associated with zeir trauma," she stated firmly.

As the twins paced and waited in the hallway, George shared what additional information he'd managed to glean from Dean and Ollivander about what happened at the Manor.

He clenched his fists as he related some of the horrors Luna had faced over the past three months. When he finished he kicked a hole in the wall opposite them, then spoke in a voice so low that Fred had to struggle to hear him.

"I'm going to find them, Freddie."

He lifted his head and there was a look in his eyes that Fred had never seen before. In a cold, merciless tone he continued, "I'm going to find them and I'm going to kill each and every person that laid a hand on her."

Fred gave a terse nod of understanding.

"Fine. You do that. As a matter of fact, you can have all of them..." Fred's eyes narrowed as he growled, "All except Bellatrix LeStrange. She's mine."

xoxox

A half an hour later Fleur finally allowed the boys back inside. While George carried a sleeping Luna back to her room, Fred began adjusting Hermione's blankets. He went to move her arm then stopped and looked at Fleur in confusion.

"Why's the bandage still here? I thought Bill said you were healing her?"

"Beel did not tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

Fleur studied Fred as if trying to reach a conclusion about him. He was beginning to squirm under the scrutiny when she appeared to come to a decision.

"Normally I would leave zis sort of to zing to ze patient but I believe et will be easier for both of you if you see et ze first time while she es sleeping."

The willowy blond carefully unwound the wrapping to reveal a deep gash carved into Hermione's skin. It took a moment for it to register with Fred that it wasn't simply a jagged cut. It was a word.

Mudblood.

Fred's entire body began to quake with a barely contained fury.

"That bitch," he snarled.

Fleur silently wound the gauze back in place then sat next to Fred and fixed him with a resolute stare.

"You understand zis 'as been done with Dark Magic, yes? Zat et cannot be 'ealed? Ever?"

Fred swallowed hard and nodded.

"Does zis change 'ow you see 'er?" Fleur demanded.

Fred looked bewildered. "What? What are you talking about?"

"Does zis make 'er less beautiful to you? Less desirable? You must look me in ze eyes and tell me ze truth."

"Of course not! How could you even — "

Fleur held up a hand. "Zat is all I need to know."

She leaned forward and spoke in a soft but fierce tone. "Listen to me, Fredrick. When 'ermione decides to show you zis 'erself, you must make sure zat she knows zis. Tell 'er she es beautiful. Tell 'er that you still see 'er the same way. She may not believe you at first. It may be something she struggles with, possibly for a long time. Much like Georgie, tu comprends?"

Fred nodded.

"Good." Fleur rose and started towards the door. "I placed more of ze draught in 'er bath. She should sleep til morning. Be aware zat she may be very disoriented when she awakes. Zat is to be expected under ze circumstances."

Before she left, Fred quietly called out, "Fleur? Thank you. Thank you very much."

His sister in law smiled warmly. "You are most welcome, Fredrick. You are a good man. She is a remarkable woman. You are both very lucky."

After she'd pulled the door shut behind her, Fred curled up on top of the duvet. He took Hermione in his arms, buried his face in her hair and finally allowed the tears he'd been holding back for so many months to flow freely.