Chapter 16

When Fred and Hermione came back inside, Fred insisted she go back to her room and rest while he fixed a pot of tea. He entered the kitchen to find Bill leaning against the counter, a smug look plastered across his face.

"So, is everyone official now? You and Granger? George and Loony Lovegood?"

Fred gave his brother a look as he summoned the kettle. "Yes...although if you'd like your face to remain in its current configuration I'd advise you never let Georgie hear you call her that."

"Sorry. Force of habit. No offense intended. You know, I've actually grown quite fond of that little witch in the short time she's been here. If there were more people like her around, the world would be a much better place. I don't think there's a malicious bone in that girl's body," said Bill as he handed Fred the jar of tea leaves. "As a matter of fact, if you ask me, I think both you boys are punching above your weight in the romance department."

"Oh, like you somehow deserved an exotic, part Veela super healer?" Fred teased.

"Touché," said Bill, lifting his mug towards his brother. "Dad always said that Weasley men had been mysteriously gifted with the ability to convince remarkable people to accept us as partners. It would seem he was correct."

Fred glanced out the window as Ron and Harry walked past.

"Not all Weasley men," snarked Fred.

"Oh, give him time," Bill chuckled. "He just needs to grow up a bit and pull his head out of his arse. Same with Percy."

"And Charlie?" asked Fred.

Bill shrugged. "If Charlie boy ever finds someone that excites as much as dragons do then I'm sure he'll sweep them off their feet with that whole 'strong, silent type' thing he's got going on."

Fred loaded the tea tray and began levitating it down the hall. "Well, whatever it is, I hope no one finds a cure for it. I almost lost Hermione once. I don't plan on letting that happen ever again."

After tea Hermione asked Fred to call George in and at her request the boys pulled up chairs at her bedside. Hermione regarded them carefully for a moment then said, "I need you two to do me a favor."

"Anything," said Fred.

"Name it," said George.

"I want you to bury the hatchet with Ron."

Fred folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. "Fine by me. Which part of his thick skull do you want us to bury it in?"

Hermione gave him a stern look. "Fred. I'm serious."

Out of habit Fred responded, "No, you're not. Sirius was much taller."

Before he could prepare himself, Hermione winged a pillow at him, knocking him to the floor. He scrambled back into his seat as she calmly stated, "That was a warning shot. Next time I use my wand. Get it?"

The twins both sat up straight and replied in unison, "Got it."

"Good. Now, as I was saying — you need to make peace with your brother."

"Why?" Fred and George asked simultaneously.

"Because you're family. Because the war with You-Know-Who is only getting started and we all need to work together as effectively as possible. Because things are going to get worse before they get better and you don't want to live with regrets."

Seeing that these arguments were failing to gain traction she decided to play the ace up her sleeve.

"Because I'm asking you to."

The boys slouched in exasperation.

"Please?" she implored

Fred leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "I - I don't know if I can, Kitten. It was bad enough that those guys let you get hurt but Ron abandoned you and — "

"First off, no one let anything happen to me, Fred," Hermione cut in firmly. "We were hopelessly outnumbered and if it hadn't been for Dobby we would have all been killed — or worse."

Her mind flashed back to Greyback's vivid threats and she took a second to regain her composure before continuing.

"And Ron's leaving wasn't entirely his fault. You weren't around that awful necklace. It was evil. It had this vile, dark aura that...seeped into your mind. Preyed on your insecurities. Intensified all your worst qualities. In Ronald's case it was his anger and long held feelings of inadequacy. It got into his head and twisted his thoughts around 'til he couldn't reason properly."

"You and Harry did okay," argued George.

"Oh, it affected us as well, believe me. It continually targeted Harry's guilt complex. Made him think everything that was happening was his fault — that every death we got word of was his personal responsibility. Tried to get him to give up, chuck it all and run away."

"And you?" Fred asked, reaching for her hand.

"Me?" Hermione fixed her eyes on a crack in the wall opposite her. "It kept telling me that I was a failure for not having devised a plan yet. That my lack of cleverness was costing innocent lives by the day. That I'd always be the odd one out. That I'd never fit in. Never measure up in a society that valued blood status above all else. Never be truly accepted — or loved. That I was nothing more than a filthy mudblood that no self respecting wizard would ever care for."

In one swift motion Fred moved from the chair to the bed and folded Hermione into his arms, whispering fiercely, "You knew those were all lies, didn't you? Every word of it. Please tell me you knew that."

"I kept trying to tell the voice to sod off," she sighed. "But when you're hearing repeated it in your head — over and over and over for weeks on end..."

She looked from Fred to George and back. "I suppose what I'm trying to say is you can't judge your brother too harshly for what he did. It could have been any one of us that cracked under the pressure. It just so happened to be Ronald."

"Besides," she went on, "He acquitted himself most admirably when he did come back. He rescued Harry from drowning, destroyed the damned locket, helped me get Harry back on track and even offered to take my place when Bellatrix decided to...interrogate me."

She squeezed Fred's fingers. "You can both be proud of him. He's a good person that made a mistake. That's all. So, please...make peace already, would you?"

"For you, Kitten?" Fred brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. "I'd shake hands with old Moldywarts himself."

Hermione pulled a face. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

She looked at George. "What about you, Georgie?"

"I'm with Fred. If it's important to you then it's important to us." He paused then added, "I take it we aren't going to be allowed to smack ickle Ronnikins or jinx him at all during this process?"

"You most certainly may not," she said firmly.

Fred kicked George in the shins. "Had to say something, didn't you? Now we can't even plead ignorance."

He saw the look on Hermione's face and batted his eyelashes at her. "Not that we'd ever do that, Kitten."

"Sweet Merlin, I must be soft for you," she snorted. "I almost believed that."

She held her arms open and motioned for a group hug before calling Bill in to join them.

A moment later the elder Weasley entered the room with a bow. "You rang, my lady?"

"Yes, thank you. I have a favor to ask. Fred and George are going right now to mend fences with Ron. I'd like you to be present to act as a mediator. Make sure all parties involved keep cool heads about them."

"Me?" Bill looked aghast. "Merlin's beard, woman! I thought you liked me! What did I do to deserve this assignment?"

"You are the eldest family member present as well as being my third favorite Weasley."

"Damn," Bill sulked. "I'd hate to see what you have in mind for the least favorite."

Hermione arched an eyebrow. "Keep up this attitude and you might find out."

Bill raised his hands in surrender. "Fine! But I'm making them do this outside. I don't need to incur Fleur's wrath if they start acting up and make a mess in the parlor."

"Oh, they'll behave. They've promised. Haven't you?" She gave the twins an expectant look and they both stood and nodded obediently.

Bill barely stifled a laugh. "Sweet Circe! Have I ever told you how much I like you, Granger?"

Hermione smiled as she drew the duvet up to her chin and laid her head back on the pillow. "I can't remember if you have or not. You can stop by after my nap and tell me again if you'd like."

"Will do," Bill winked then turned to his brothers and barked, "All right, lads. You heard the lady. March!"

George started out of the room but Fred lingered a moment to make sure Hermione was comfortable.

He kissed her softly and asked, "Do you have any idea how much I love you?"

Hermione closed her eyes. "I think so but feel free to tell me more about it later on."

"Oh, you're going to hear about it. Every hour of every day for a very, very long time. Think you can handle that?"

She yawned contentedly, "I'll give it my best shot."

"Oi! Come on, Freddie," said Bill. "Let the girl rest. Go make nice with Ronnie and give her one less thing to worry about, why don't you?"

"Alright! Alright!" Fred got to the door and waved. "I'll be back soon, love."

Hermione snuggled into the blankets and nodded. "I'll be right here..."

xoxoxo

Fred, George and Ron eventually managed to set things to right between them with only a few raised voices and a minimum of bloodshed. They even worked together to repair the vase they accidentally broke before Fleur learned of the incident.

After that, the group fell into what passed for a somewhat normal routine under the circumstances, until a few days later when Fred walked into the parlor to find Harry, Ron and Hermione in the midst of an intense, hushed discussion.

"I'm sorry, Harry, but that's my final word on the subject." Hermione stood as Fred entered the room. "I'm going upstairs now. We'll meet with everyone tomorrow after breakfast."

Harry muttered his reply and while Fred couldn't make out the exact words it was clear that Potter wasn't thrilled with how the conversation had gone.

Fred remained quiet until he and Hermione were curled up together in her room, then he asked, "May I inquire what were you and the Chosen One arguing about?"

Hermione sighed. "Harry wants to keep Dumbledore's plans just between he, myself and Ronald. I think it's time to include everyone."

"And?"

"And I won. Tomorrow morning we're getting everyone in the cottage together and laying it all out in the open. I'm tired of secrets. Keeping them hasn't done any of us a damn bit of good. Time to try something else."

"Good for you. I think that's a very sensible plan." Fred paused then added, "May I ask you a personal question?"

"Of course."

"Keep in mind that I'll understand, no matter what the answer is but I need to ask so I can stop wondering." He fidgeted slightly then asked, "While you and Harry were out there — alone —did you and he ever..."

"No. Never," she assured him. "I don't harbor those kind of feelings for him at all. Besides, even on his worst days, Harry Potter remains hopelessly and utterly devoted to your sister. I could've danced naked in front of the man and he would have just kept staring at the map of the school you gave me and asking if I thought Ginny was going to leave him for Neville."

Fred squirmed awkwardly. "While I appreciate your honesty, I really wish you would've used a different visual there, love."

Hermione giggled. "Sorry. I was just trying to make a point."

"Oh, a point was definitely made."

They both burst into laughter then he kissed the top of her head. They lay resting in contented silence until she whispered, "Fred? I-I need to show you something."

She reached for the bandage on her arm but Fred stopped her by taking her hand in his.

"I've already seen it, love. I saw it when I first arrived, while you were still unconscious."

He felt her breathing hitch and he tipped her face up to look at him.

"I saw it and it doesn't matter." Seeing the look in her eyes he clarified. "I mean, of course it matters that it happened. I mean that it doesn't change how I look at you. Not one bit. If anything, it may even make me love you even more."

"But it can't ever be removed..."

"It's just a word, Hermione. And like any word it only carries the power that you give it."

"But, it's horrid and repulsive..." she started.

He pressed his finger lightly against her lips. "While I certainly object to the use of that word and I know what that banshee's intention was when she carved it into your skin, at the end of the day that scar is now a part of you and nothing that's a part of you could ever be repulsive. Not to me. Not ever."

"But..."

"But nothing." He tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "Answer me this. If it had been me instead of George that lost an ear that night, would it have made a difference to you? Would you have found me repulsive? Shunned me because I had a scar that I'd carry for life?"

"No!"

He kissed her tenderly. "Then why can't you believe the same about me? Why can't you believe that I still find you the most amazing, beautiful, beguiling, sexy witch that I've ever laid eyes on or ever will?"

Tears shimmered in her eyes. "Do you really mean that?"

"Of course I do." He kissed her again, slower and deeper this time. "Trust me, if I thought you were fully recovered physically and we weren't in a house full of nosy busybodies, I would show you exactly how desirable I find you, Hermione Granger."

They snogged until Fred pulled back with a soft groan. He held her close and murmured, "But I can promise you one thing, Kitten. When this is all over I'm going to find us a remote little cottage where we can hide away in a cozy room — just the two of us — with nothing but a soft bed, a pile of blankets and a warm fire. Deal?"

"Deal," Hermione smiled. "Although I must say it sounds like you've had that planned for a while, Fred Weasley."

"You weren't the only one having daydreams, love."

"Do you think it can ever happen?"

"I know it will. Like you said, tomorrow morning we'll get everyone together and start utilizing all our brain power to end this bloody war once and for all."