We watch You-Know-Who fall and nobody moves. The shock that he's finally dead is too much. When that wears off, the room explodes in ear-piercing cheers and everyone rushes Harry. People shake his hand, hug him, pound him on the back...anything they can think of to show him how great this is.
Mum gathers all of us Weasley children to her, doing a head count. Ginny, George, Ron, and I are all looking around frantically for Hermione, to no avail. Harry's obviously fine, so she's the last piece.
"There she is!" George finally says, pointing.
I see her leaning heavily on Draco Malfoy, blood gushing from a head wound. We're all about to rush over there-what's she doing with him?-when Neville Longbottom stops them. They exchange a few words-Neville clearly feels about him the way we do-and Hermione tells him something. The whole mood suddenly shifts and Neville supports Hermione's other side as they walk up to the platform where Madam Pomfrey is tending to the injured.
"What just happened?" George asks.
"I thought Neville would curse Malfoy," Ginny replies. "He hates him more than we do."
Mum's fussing over all of us and Harry, obviously grateful she hasn't lost anybody. We're lucky, sure, but Lupin and Tonks are dead. That hurts. I silently count our dead as the last of the bodies are brought in. 52. I look around the room. There are more than double that still alive. Good.
Hermione and Neville embrace for a long time, so long that I eventually turn my head. Ron grunts. "She's so out of his league."
Ginny's eyes narrow. "I'm not against hexing family members."
"What's up with you and Malfoy?" Ron demands when Hermione joins us.
"He saved my life when the Death Eaters attacked us after Neville and I killed Bellatrix Lestrange," she replies.
Her head is no longer bleeding, but she looks like she's in pain. Harry and Ginny both hug her and soon we all end up in a Weasley family group hug.
"Come on," Mum says briskly. "Let's go home. Harry and Hermione, you too."
After we've all showered and sat down to eat, Harry obliges our curiosity for details about the war. Ron helps him tell the tale so he can eat as well, but Hermione, across from me, is eerily silent. She barely eats, picking at the food on her plate. Her sleeve slips down her arm, revealing nasty-looking cuts. I'm about to ask, but her eyes meet mine with a look so miserable that I shut my mouth. It hits me: hearing the details again is hurting her.
I keep my eyes on her, but return to the conversation, listening to Harry talk about the horrors they, especially Hermione, went through at Malfoy Manor. Bellatrix Lestrange had tortured her.
Fleur nods emphatically. "We thought she was dead when they showed up at our house. I had to use Skele-Gro for her arms and legs. It was awful."
Everyone's eyes turn to Hermione, who holds up her arm and moves aside the collar of her shirt wordlessly. There's a cut on her neck and the word Mudblood carved on her arm. My stomach turns. If Lestrange wasn't already dead I would kill her with my bare hands.
"Madam Pomfrey said everything should heal correctly except for this." She touches her arm. "I'll probably always have these scars."
Mum is near tears, so Harry and Ron quickly finish their tale. When it comes down to it, without Hermione, they'd all be dead.
"You're all so brave," she says when it's over, hugging the three of them in turn with tears gushing down her face. "I insist you stay with us here, at least for the summer. Hermione, we'll help however we can with locating your parents in Australia. So smart and selfless of you to do that."
"Thank you, ma'am," she says quietly.
Bill, Fleur, Percy, George, and I decide to leave after dinner so we can all get a good night's rest. George and I pull Hermione aside before we Apparate. "Good job," George says. "I always knew it was always you protecting those too."
"So does that mean I don't need protecting anymore?" she replies, a mischievous smile on her face.
"You never needed it," I reply. "Well, except maybe that first year."
"But you somehow, despite your nagging about testing products on First Years-"
"Which was very annoying," I put in.
"-managed to become one of our best friends. And we would do anything to keep our best friends safe."
Hermione has tears in her eyes. "Thank you."
We hug her tightly, then leave. She's right. We did spend a lot of time protecting her. Her whole first year because people were so cruel to her for being a bossy know-it-all. Her second year when she got petrified by the basilisk. That had been scary. Her third year we had a serial murderer who turned out to not be a serial murderer running around. And her fourth year...well, everyone started discovering the opposite sex. I'm happy for George and Angelina now, but that had hurt like hell back then.
The Yule Ball...Ron had asked Hermione too late; she was already going with Krum. She looked so beautiful and had such a good time, then Ron had to have a go at her and make her cry. Katie Bell, my date, had been disgusted and we'd both gone to comfort her.
"Ignore him," Katie had said. "He's just jealous because he couldn't get you."
"You look incredible tonight," I had said. "Don't let him ruin your night."
That night I had sworn I would never let Ron hurt her again. As far as I know, I've kept that promise. They didn't fill us in on many of the details of their trip outside of destroying the horcruxes and the few encounters with Death Eaters. Ron could have done something stupid.
"You think Hermione would want to work here with us this summer?" George asks when we get back to our flat above the shop. "We could use her Charms and Potions expertise."
Half our shop had been destroyed during a Death Eater raid during the war, so even though we have Lee Jordan to help us, we could use another set of hands. Verity only sells products; she doesn't create them.
"She might," I reply. "We can ask her tomorrow."
I won't lie, Hermione's on my mind when I fall asleep. I had worried about her so much during the war that it's almost second nature to do so now.
"I hate that we have to throw all this stuff away," George says as we clean up the shop early the next morning.
"Me too," I agree, adding broken glass to the rubbish pile.
The door opens. "Can we help?" someone asks.
I look up to smile at Hermione, then see her holding hands with Ron. The shock punches me so hard in the chest I can't speak. George hops in quickly, returning her smile for me. "We can use all the help we can get."
Harry and Ginny are with them too, so the six of us get to work. We don't talk much after our initial instructions, but I keep an eye on Ron and Hermione. He keeps touching her-not inappropriately-but enough up turn my stomach. I never thought I was capable of this kind of jealousy. Then again, I never thought I would want to be with a woman this much either.
Katie knew it. I still feel bad about the way our relationship ended. She and I had dated for a long time after the Yule Ball, but it got to the point that when I was with her, I was thinking of Hermione. Katie knew I cared for Hermione and she had eventually brought it up. She wasn't angry; we're still friends today. She's actually in a serious relationship with Lee now.
I wasn't an idiot like Ron; I knew Hermione was a girl long before I saw her in that pretty gown. I also knew she had a massive crush on him and he on her, which was part of the reason they bickered so much. Mum loves that they like each other; she wants Hermione to officially be part of the family. But she didn't read Hermione's tear-stained letter about how stupid she was for not realizing that Ron and Lavender were a pair or see the look on her face when he was in the Hospital Wing. One thing she can never be called is stupid and she did it anyway.
"I don't think it's going to take very long to have this place up and running," Hermione says when we finish. "You did such a good business during the war."
"Actually that reminds me," George says. "We have a proposition for you. Can we speak to you alone?"
Ron looks at us suspiciously. "Why can't you say it in front of me?"
Hermione squeezes how hand. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
She follows us up to our flat. "What's going on?"
"How would you like to work for us this summer?" George asks. "We need help recreating the products we lost. We'll pay you, of course."
She hesitates and I know why. "You don't have to work all day," I assure her. "Just a few hours each morning with Lee."
That works. "I like that arrangement," she says. "Do you want me to start tomorrow?"
"Yes," we say together.
Before she leaves, I grab a hat from my room. "I learned one of your Muggle magic tricks."
"Show me," Hermione says, smiling.
I pull scarves out of the hat, then a stuffed bunny. She laughs. "I can't believe you still have that hat."
"It's a nice hat," I reply.
I hold the green and white striped top hat in my hand after she leaves, just looking down at it. Hermione had bought it for me at the Quidditch World Cup. I still remember that day.
"Your mum is worried we'll freeze," Hermione says, laughing as she drapes my green and white scarf over my head. Her fingers graze my neck as she wraps it, making me shiver involuntarily.
I look down at her and roll my eyes. "Typical Mum. I'm surprised you're coming with us."
She shrugs. Hermione's not a Quidditch person and we all know it. "I thought it might be fun."
She's wearing a green and white scarf too and even allows me to paint small green lines under her eyes. George and I have our whole faces painted, something Hermione would have scoffed at last year, but just helps us create this year. She's changing too.
She sits between Ron and me in the stands and he tells her not to bother him. If she doesn't understand something, oh well. So George, who's on my other side, and I offer to answer anything. She's been doing research, though, so she can follow it.
The game is exciting and I don't even realize that I'm gripping her hand until it's over. "Sorry about that."
But she just smiles. "I'm glad your team won."
Riots break out on the way back to our tent as Death Eaters storm the camps and set fires. I automatically pull Hermione close, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. She wraps both of hers around my waist, her voice shaking when she calls my attention to the Dark Mark in the sky. I tighten my grip. I won't let them hurt her.
"Fred!" George yells.
"What?" I ask, snapping out of my memories.
"I've been calling you for five minutes."
"Sorry," I reply. "Distracted. What's going on?"
He starts to say something, but stops. "We'll talk about it later. Enjoy your daydreams."
Not my fault I have a good imagination.
Hermione is prompt the next morning, so we put her to work with Lee on our potion- based products while George and I work on the charm-based ones. Lee had flown under the radar at Hogwarts in terms of his skill in classes because he was a troublemaker, but his Potions work is nearly as good as Hermione's. He and Hermione actually talk nonstop as they work and he tells her about our daring escapes while broadcasting Potterwatch. She tells him about some of their close calls as well, seeming much more comfortable than she had the first night.
Lee's impressed. "You know, I always wondered why you were in Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw. Now I know."
She smiles. "A lot of people asked me that question."
She turns to her potion, stirring it carefully while the rest of us talk Quidditch. Kingsley Shacklebolt, the new Minister of Magic, had managed to save the Quidditch World Cup this year, even though the Death Eaters had tried to destroy it. Ireland versus Malawi. I really want to go.
"That reminds me," Hermione says, sitting her potion to the side to cool. "Viktor sent me a letter yesterday. He has tickets for the World Cup, but he doesn't want to go. He offered them to me because he knows my friends enjoy Quidditch."
"Really?" George asks, nearly jumping off his chair. "We were hoping someone would have extra tickets. Katie and Angelina are away that weekend."
"He has five of them. Since Harry and Ron will be gone for Auror training by then, the four of us and Ginny could go."
"Without Death Eater riots this time, right?" I add, winking at her.
She smiles. "I'll write to Viktor tonight. He'll be happy to get rid of them. He hates Ireland."
"You're amazing," I say. "Truly fantastic."
"Don't let Ron hear you saying that," George warns, laughing.
"Don't let Ron hear you saying what?" Ron himself asks from the doorway.
"You aren't allowed back here," George says at the same time Lee says, "Viktor Krum sent Hermione tickets for the Quidditch World Cup."
I can tell by the looks on both Ron's and Hermione's faces that Lee shouldn't have said that. Ron's face is quickly turning the color of his hair. "You're going to the Cup with Krum? You know how I feel about that git! How could you!"
He starts cursing and doesn't stop until Hermione raises her wand and forcibly makes him close his mouth. "If you will let me speak." She waves her wand and crosses her arms. "Viktor doesn't want to go to the Cup so he offered the tickets to me. I've asked this lot and I'm going to ask Ginny to go with me."
"He's not going." Ron's face brightens considerably.
"No. And I seem to remember you having a hero worship for him before he competed in the Triwizard Tournament and asked me to the Yule Ball. So kindly do not call him names."
Ron crosses his arms too, pouting like a child who's been scolded. "Are you ready to go yet? I thought I'd actually get to see my girlfriend this summer, not just watch her hang out with my brothers."
Hermione takes on a tone I recognize from my mum as she transfers her potion into bottles. "I told you I would be working here in the mornings for as long as they need me. You will have me all afternoon and evening. Being in a relationship with you doesn't require me to abandon my friends, and that includes Neville and Draco as well."
"I can't believe you're friends with Malfoy," he grumbles as she tidies her mess.
"You don't have to believe it," she replies coolly. "Are you ready to go?"
"I've been ready."
Hermione sighs and turns to us. "I'll see you all tomorrow."
"Fred'll be at dinner tonight," George says quietly.
It's quick, but I think I see gratitude flash across her face. "See you later then."
Lee turns to us after Ron damn near yanks Hermione out the door. "Is he always like that?"
"Immature?" George responds. "Yes."
"How does she put up with him?" He throws his hands in the air. "Merlin, Neville would have been perfect for her. They were always so close at Hogwarts. Or you." He gestures at me. "You care for her more than any woman I've ever seen you with."
"Maybe they'll break up when he goes to Auror training," George says.
I doubt it. But I don't want to talk about Ron anymore, so we focus on our projects and talk about Quidditch. I'm starving by the time I head to the Burrow for dinner.
Hermione's eyes look shinier than usual, the bun on her head has a few pieces falling out of it, and there's a polite distance between her and Ron on the bench. I don't even have to ask; they've obviously had a row. I remember asking her back at Hogwarts one time why she never let anyone see her cry after that first year, save for when Dumbledore died. She had looked at me and said, "Why don't you let anyone know you actually try at school?"
"Because that would change how people think of me," I had answered.
"Exactly," she had said.
What people at Hogwarts saw was true; I was a happy-go-lucky prankster who didn't care for school and loved playing Qudditch. But Hermione saw the side of me I didn't like sharing because she was so perceptive: the man hurting because the girl he thought he loved had chosen his brother, trying at school because he didn't want to let his mum or the "brightest witch of our age" down, and quietly looking out for people who couldn't do it themselves. She saw right through me when I tried to act like everything was fine and that was one of the reasons it had been so easy to leave when Umbridge took over. It wasn't until later that I realized we had a two-way street: she could see through me, but I could see through her as well. Neither of us could lie to each other as well as we lied to others or even to ourselves.
I look around the table. Ginny and Harry are flirting as they eat. Ron is complaining to Dad about how the Ministry doesn't give enough information for Auror training and Mum and Hermione are talking about Muggle versus Wizard dessert recipes. She hasn't talked much about her plans yet. I know she's going back to Hogwarts, but I don't know what she's doing after she finishes her seventh year. She's disappointed Neville isn't going back with her, though. He's going straight into Auror training with Harry and Ron.
I don't get a chance to ask Hermione what happened because I get pulled into a game of Quidditch, minus the Snitch. Ginny and me versus Harry and Ron. Hermione is scorekeeper. Ginny should be captain of the Gryffindor team when she goes back to Hogwarts, so she's been practicing a lot. We win and the sour look on Ron's face is worth it. All I manage is a "See you tomorrow, 'Mione" before Ron pulls her inside.
