New chapter,

Sorry for the long waiting

So, I did cut the inside of the battle like I did cut other things in older chapters. I am not sure if you are going to like this chapter, Hermione and Fred might seem insensitive but dealing with death is not new for them, fighting is not either and none of them never really seemed to care that much about what happened to the persons who are not in their little circle of family and friends.

Fred is not really the most compassionate character in the books (to do not say that the least compassionate character). As for Hermione, well let's say that the end justifies the means, whenever it can benefit her plans like capturing Rita Skeeter. I love her character but she had flaws and her flaws are quite compatible with Fred's.

With that say, I hope that you will still enjoy the chapter.

filmdork welcome :)

MBBlackbelt welcome :)

HachLori welcome:)

Hokerlily welcome:)

Themidnightkris welcome :)

and finally for this week maryvenus.22 welcome :)

xx

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Hermione slowly opened her eyes, she was alive, Fred had saved her from the flames. She was not sure how though. She was already half unconscious when she had heard Fred calling her name. Out of breath, she had made a last effort and called him back before to faint. It was as if, somehow, her subconscious had known that she was safe and that she could let go.

...

She had lost track of time, minutes or hours could have passed. She raised her gaze to find Fred's. Except a little scratch on his right cheek, he looked fine. Thinking about what he had done, she, gently, brushed his bloody cheek.

Fred had risked his life for her, not that she had doubted that he would, yet she had not expected to get a real proof after a month and a half of dating.

She thanked him for saving her.

Fred smiled at her and hugged her tighter. He was not sure if he was the one still shivering, if it was Hermione or both, probably the latest.

It had been such an awful night, somehow it had been worst than the battle of Hogwarts.

They had fallen, willingly, into the Death Eaters' trap. They could have stopped them, if they had the guts to speak with Kingsley. If Percy and Charlie had not been at each other's throats, they could have unmasked Rookwood, the fake Audrey, days ago. If Charlie had not been so busy thinking about Alicia all the time, if Percy had not been so jealous, if, if... They were just so many if in that story.

Hermione sniffed loudly, they had all the clues in front of them but none of them had really wanted to see them, at least not all of them, protecting their secrets had been more important. When had they become so selfish? She had not even told Harry...

And why did they understimate the Death Eaters? It had been a terrible mistake, the Death Eaters were smart, specially the ones on the run.

...

...

Hermione was trying to picture things differently to feel less guilty. She blamed the scars and wounds, physical or mental, of the last battle, they were still raw so they had avoided to look into certain directions, consciously or unconsciously, that was still to define or to avoid...

She bit her lips, no matter how hard she would try to think about a believable excuse, deep down, she knew that it would not repaired the damages.

« It is not your fault, not our fault either. I mean yes, we are guilty but who is not? » said Fred to break the ice and Hermione's silence.

Hermione disagreed. The girls had gone to a girls' night at the Lovegood's to have some funny Muggles' drinks, talk about guys and to listen to Lavender comparing Witch Weekly and Cosmopolitan. They were supposed to have fun, not fighting for their lives.

Besides, for Hermione, it was hard to swallow and to accept that her secret had been revealed, well almost revealed. She had not understood why Dolohov had not exposed her in front of everybody. She asked Fred if the cat was out of the bag. She had missed half of the battle so perhaps the all truth had been told.

« No, I don't think so. The battle has just ended minutes ago, Neville, Dean, Seamus and the Aurors have just left to escort the Death Eaters, all of them, to Nurmengard. » explained Fred while fondling Hermione's hair

«Nurmengard, why? » asked Hermiome confused

«I think that Kingsley just doesn't really trust the Dementors. Can't blame the man for that, Dementors had turned their back on the good guys way too often. »

Hermione reckoned that Kingsley was right. Dementors could not be trusted.

...

...

Sniveling, Hermione looked around, for the first time since her awakening, she was wondering if she owed an explanation to the girls, did she? Would they asked her why she had taken the time turner? Would they ask her what was the plan of the Death Eaters? She knew the answer to those two question, yes. They would ask, it was logical, after all, they had fought without knowing why.

Would the girls resent her for what had happened? Would they say that it was all her fault?
She would find out eventually but perhaps she should swallow her pride and apologize. It was her fault, was not it?

If she had not taken that time turner then the Death Eaters would not have trapped them at Luna's. Of course, there were many things that had led to this very final battle but still Hermione had never felt guiltier. Fred had become her boyfriend but guilt had clearly become her best friend, a true companion...

Hermione would never forget Ginny's face when Dolohov had dropped the bomb. The rest of the girls had looked at her in a curious way but Ginny's gaze was different. Ginny had seemed puzzled and disappointed, Hermione knew that a long and uncomfortable talk with the redhead would come very soon.

She knew that Ginny would blame her, not only for not telling her but for believing that she was above the rest of the wizarding community. The redhead had once told Hermione that being the brightest witch of their generation did not mean that she was better than everybody else. Ginny had, indeed, implied a few times that Harry was not the only one who had ego's issues, except that Hermione's issues were not really about her selflessness.

She asked for Fred's opinion. Over the last few weeks, they had improved their communication. Indeed, they were no longer afraid to disagree with the other or to talk about delicate subjects even though Fred had not mentioned what he had learnt about the forbidden spell, when, days ago, he had met Percy alone at the Ministry. Actually, he did not have the intention to tell her anything, ever.

He sighed and put that thought back to the darkest corner of his brain before to say with a serious tone:

« You like to control everything, you are lost without a plan to follow. Unfortunately, when you are making a plan, your instincts aren't always pointing towards the right direction. It is ok, we all have our flaws Hermione. Besides, if Percy had told us about his doubts, I am sure that you would have put two and two together and Rookwood would have been unmasked days ago. »

« So it is Percy's fault? Geez, Fred, you can be so insensitive and tactless. » snarled Hermione

« I am not saying that it is his fault, I am just giving you another view. Let it go Hermione, I am serious, let it go. » hissed Fred who wanted to avoid another act of the Hermione's guilty show.

He was not even sure if Hermione was feeling guilty or if she was upset for her lack of judgement and dutifulness.

...

Hermione sighed, Fred was right. She asked what she should do about Ginny though.

« Ginny loves you, she will understand. Yet, you, we should tell her the all truth. Actually, I think that we won't have any other choice but telling the truth to my family. Bill and Charlie, they know that we are linked to this mess. Also, when I got you out of the house, Ron and Harry ran towards us and they were right next to me when I threw the time turner into the flames and believe it or not but I am quite sure that I had seen Kingsley smiling when I did. I could have been more careful but »

Hermione interrupted him with a smile

« It is destroyed that's all that matters to me and you are right, your family deserves an explanation. » she said gently

Her best friends, Harry and Ron, she should have talked to them. She should have told Harry what she had done the morning after the battle. She had been afraid of his judgment, she still was but Harry loved her, he would understand, would not he?

As for Ron, well, what was life without a little argument with Ronald Weasley?

...

She let her head rest of Fred's chest while sobbing silently. She had thought, many times over the last seven years, that she was near her death but this time it had felt more real than all her other near death experiences. It had been short, the battle had lasted for a bit more than an hour yet it had been horrible. While she was trapped inside of the house, surrounded by the flames, and before to faint, she had heard terrible screams of pain.

...

...

Still wrapped in Fred's arms, Hermione looked around them for the second time. She spotted most of the Weasleys, Harry, Lavender and some of the other girls but her eyes could not find Luna, her father, Charlie, Alicia, Angelina, Audrey, Percy and Katie.

She gently pushed Fred away to look behind her. Horrified, she started to cry loudly when she saw what was left of the Lovegood's house, only few rocks, few bricks and a window had not finished in ashes.

Fred kissed her forehead and whispered comforting things into her right ear. She asked Fred if they had lost someone. She knew the answer as the silence around them was only broken by sobs. She looked into Fred's eyes and begged him to speak.

Fred sighed deeply before to tell her :

« Mr Lovegood, three Death Eaters, the aurors Alan Smith and Edward Leigh. Alicia, Audrey and Fleur are badly injured, Charlie, Percy and Bill had taken them to St Mungo. Katie, Angelina and George went with them. We are lucky, it could have been worst.»

He paused for a second, not sure if the time was right for a gossip but he and his brothers had been so shocked.

« And you know we arrived something weird happened. Alicia was fighting Rookwood and Lestrange and I could swear that I had witnessed Charlie jumping in front of her, he could have been killed. I am not sure why Charlie had ran towards Alicia, I did not really have the time to ask obviously but it was weird. Any thought? » he asked nonchalantly

« Are they gonna be ok, Fleur and Alicia » asked Hermione who had decided to avoid Fred's question.

She wanted to tell Fred that Alicia and her had a nice talk and that she wanted to get to know the auror better, she could not blab. She did not want to spoil a possible friendship with Alicia besides she did not want to have Fred rambling about his brother and his best friend all night, she had something way more interesting in mind.

« Yes, Hermione, they are going to be ok. The skinny witches are tougher than what we think. They are fighters. » affirmed Fred

Hermione agreed with a smile.

« It is over Hermione. It really is this time and as I trew the time turner into the flames mission accomplished and I am alive so we can go home.»

She kissed him on the lips and thanked him again for saving her life and cheering her up. Fred was definitely too good at lightening the mood.

Of course, she was still sad and she was deeply sorry for Luna's loss, she would have to find the right words before to face Luna yet she was relieved, the nightmare had ended for good.

« Also, now that we are equal if we could try to do not turn this into a competition, it would be great. » advised Fred with a smirk

Hermione asked if he was afraid to loose. Fred chuckled, he would win, he knew it. As he was still insisting on why he would win, Hermione grabbed the collar of his shirt and silenced him with a kiss.

« I love you too Granger. » grinned Fred

...

...

They were still in each other's arms when Kingsley, with Harry and Mr Weasley, came to them. Fred and Hermione stood up to face the men. They knew what was coming, they knew that it was time for Hermione to explain herself. The young witch took her wand out of her jeans' pocket, ready to give it to Kingley

Confused, Kingsley raised an eyebrow and said :

« Hermione, what you did was wrong and under normal circumstances, you would have an hearing at the Ministry and yes , it would be decided if we should take your wand or not. »

Nervous, Fred interrupted Kingsley to ask what the use of the conditional meant which made his father glared at him but made Kingsley smirked.

...

Part II will come soon and after, there will be two chapters left. I will try to post it all soon, so the dynamic won't be broken. Thanks again for reading and following!