Chapter 10

Molly Weasley was a mum, plain and simple. Her whole world revolved around her family, and had for a very long time. Almost every member of her family was in mortal peril at this moment, she didn't need her old clock to tell her that. That included the ones who weren't on the clock, the ones without red hair as well. This ridiculous mission, this ridiculous war.

Twenty three minutes, that's how much longer she had to wait until the first portkey was to arrive. She put down her knitting, it wasn't helping distract her. Ginny was walking circles around the living room, while Luna sat on the couch intently reading the latest issue of the Quibbler.

Seventeen minutes now. The three women made their way to the kitchen, Luna had suggested that having some tea ready would be nice.

Four more minutes. They were now waiting in the backyard. This is where they will be coming from when they finally got here.

No more minutes, they were late. Something must have happened, gone wrong. Normally at this point Molly would be raging, she was good at that. Screaming and yelling and intimidating, it was how she communicated. She did it with love of course, not malice, but that was usually her way. With seven children, she'd learned quickly how to be heard over the chaos. Not this night though, this night she stood silently with Ginny's tense hand firmly grasping her right hand, Luna's calm hand reassuringly holding her left. The three witches stood in the backyard watching the sky counting the minutes until something happened.

"There." Luna pointed to the boundary, and not even a moment later they saw two forms appear and drop to the ground. They ran and saw Harry and Hagrid, the real Harry. They quickly ran to them, checking on them. They were alright, a few bumps and bruises, but alive and well. Molly sighed her first sigh of relief.

Then the next pair appeared. Molly's world stopped in that instant as she saw Remus carrying her baby, one of her trouble-making, brilliant, twin babies. They were both covered in blood. Then as quickly as everything stopped it came crashing back, full force. Molly calmly gave orders. Remus, lay him on the couch. Ginny, grab the dittany. She vaguely heard Remus question Harry's identity but tuned them out, focusing on her baby, her Georgie.

The bleeding was coming from his ear, or rather where his ear had been. It was a dark curse, it couldn't be regrown. She was able to stem the blood flow eventually. She had it clean now and was preparing to wrap it up. She heard a commotion behind her and saw her husband and other son. Fred was at George's side at once. George managed to make some awful joke about his ear, which made her cry for the first time. There was nothing more she could do. It wasn't right, not fair. A mum is supposed to keep her babies safe. She couldn't fix this.

….

Arthur and Fred made it back safely. Fred sought out two people the moment he landed, one of which was hugging Harry fiercely and he let out a small sigh of relief. He took in the sight of Hermione safe and engulfed in Harry's too big clothes as she was turning back to her own appearance and thanked all the gods and Merlin himself that she was alive. The sound of his dad yelling about seeing his son brought him from his thoughts and the realization was immediate, George was hurt, again.

Fred numbly made his way into the house. He saw Remus, he was covered in blood and Fred froze. He couldn't make himself move, he just knew that George was hurt badly, maybe even... no he couldn't even think that. A small cold hand took his and his legs began to work again. Hermione squeezed his hand gently as they reached the couch where his mum was concentrating hard on something. Not something, someone. George. He looked pale, too pale, he'd lost a lot of blood. As if he could feel Fred standing over him, George opened his eyes, and attempted a weak smile.

"How do you feel, Georgie?" whispered Fred.

"Saintlike," George muttered.

"What's wrong with him?" Fred asked. "Is his mind affected?"

"Saintlike," George said again. "You see... I'm holey, Fred, geddit?"

"Pathetic," Fred said. "Pathetic! With the whole wide world of ear-related humor before you, you go for holey?"

"Ah well," George said looking from Fred to Molly. "You'll be able to tell us apart now, anyway, Mum."

Once he was sure that George was alright, Fred stood up, he decided now was the time. This life could be over in a split second. Yes, George was fine, but he so very easily could have died. Fred stood up straight, walked right up to Hermione, and not giving a damn who was watching wrapped his arms around her and kissed her with all he had. It took only a few moments for her to get over the shock and respond, she was kissing him back. It started out desperate, him needing to tell her how he felt about her, and then it morphed into a more passionate kiss. It took a few cleared throats and finally an 'Oi break it up already' from Ron for them to remember where they were. There were several people around them, funnily enough no one looked particularly surprised. Only Harry, looking a bit uncomfortable, wasn't smiling, everyone else had huge grins plastered on their faces.

"I think we need to talk, yeah? Maybe in private?" Fred asked Hermione quietly.

"Yes, let's go for a walk." Hermione answered.

They left the group to head down to the orchard. Hermione was grateful it was dark outside, she could feel the blush in her cheeks.

"So I don't want you to think that I kissed you just because of what happened to George, I've actually fancied you for a very long time, but I was worried that you wouldn't think of me like that. That you'd just see a prankster, and you wouldn't be interested. And if you aren't interested, that's okay. You won't hurt my feelings if you don't. I mean it would hurt, quite a lot, in fact, but I wouldn't be upset with you at all if you don't think of me like that." Fred was rambling, a bad habit he had when he was nervous.

"Fred, please stop talking for a moment. I like you, like that. I've fancied you since my third year in fact."

"Oh... good. Well, really?"

"Yes really. We have a bit of a problem though don't we?" Hermione said as her smile dimmed a bit.

"What's that?"

"We're at the beginning of a war, as soon our mission is finished I'm leaving with Harry. Do we really want to start something now?"

"You're right, the timing is bloody awful. However, now that I've kissed you, all I want to do is kiss you again, a lot. The way I see it is that we all have our parts to play in this war, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let that evil, snake-faced son of a bitch take this away from us. If you don't want to be with me, I'll understand. But if it's because of him, don't give that to him, love. This is ours," Fred said passionately.

Hermione answered him the only way she could think of, she kissed him. It was a fierce kiss, the kind you remember all your life. The kind Hermione had only ever read about. Fred was right, this was theirs and no one would take it from them.

"So basically we'll just continue with the way we've been, but now I get to kiss you whenever I want?" Fred asked as they stood to head back to the house.

"Yes, exactly. We can just relax around each other. I'll try not to overthink everything either of us says anymore." Hermione said smiling, enjoying the feeling of their intertwined hands.

"Good luck with that, love. I don't see that being likely."

"Yeah, yeah..., funny boy." She said laughing.

As they approached the others, they noticed the somber tone at once. Fred had been vaguely aware that Bill and Fleur had finally made it back when he'd first kissed Hermione, but registered it only as understanding all of his brother's had made it home.

Hermione's stomach dropped at the news that Mad-Eye had been killed. It was at this moment that it all hit her, she had known that there was going to be a war. The knowledge was there in her head. Harry, her best friend, was the 'chosen one'. It was on him to defeat Voldemort, it was on her and Ron to help him find the horcruxes and destroy them. It was on the Order to keep Harry safe and defend the wizarding community from the death eaters. These were all facts that Hermione knew.

This moment however, with the death of someone she knew, someone from the Order, someone too strong and tough to ever die, this was the moment she felt it. Felt the war was here, not just some far off concept. Even Dumbledore's death hadn't had this affect on her.

She was glad that Fred was sanding so close to her because she suddenly felt like standing was too much effort and leaned into him for support. She let him lead her to the picnic table that Harry, Ginny, Ron and Luna were sitting at and sat her down. Looking at Harry and Ron, Hermione drew up all the strength and courage she had left.

"Could I please have a few moments with Harry and Ron?" She asked the others.

"Come on Gin, Luna lets go rescue George from Mum," Fred said as he squeezed Hermione's hand and kissed her on the cheek.

"I expect they need to discuss their secret mission. I'm very happy that you and Hermione have finally realized your feelings for each other," Luna said matter of factly as Fred led them back into the house.

"Oh bloody hell, did everyone know?" Fred yelled into the night.

"Of course, you nitwit. Hell, mum's already planning the wedding," Ginny said as they made it into the house. That was all that Hermione could hear of the conversation and couldn't help smiling a bit at knowing Molly was alright with the relationship.

"Alright, first Harry, it wasn't your fault-" Hermione began.

"Oh no? Not my fault!? Of course-" Harry asked loudly.

"That's enough! You think George lost his ear for you? That Mad-Eye died for you? No, they didn't. This is so much bigger than you. You're my best mate, my brother in fact, but get over yourself and over it! This is about You-Know-Who and stopping him," Ron shouted back at Harry. Harry just started at him open mouthed and Hermione had a huge smile on her face.

"Well said, Ron," Hermione said. "Harry, I know you feel this is all on you, but it isn't. This is our reality now, we are at war, and every single person has to make the choice for themselves. Now, my next point. I believe I've found a horcrux, or maybe not, I'm not sure. But I do know that it's something Voldemort made, and it's very dark magic, indeed. I think we should tell Bill and Remus about them. I think that for all Dumbledore's brilliance, we are going to need help. We have a vague idea of how many there might be, we have a vague idea of what we need to do. But that's all we have. Do we know that he only made six? Even Dumbledore wasn't sure. We don't even know how to destroy them once we've found them. Being that they are such dark magic I don't believe a simple spell would work."

"I understand what you're saying Hermione, really I do, but I just don't know that it's a good idea. Dumbledore said not to tell anyone else, he wouldn't have said it if it weren't important," Harry said, looking quite exhausted.

"Please just think it over," Hermione said, knowing that she wasn't going to change his mind tonight. "Oh, before I forget, here, I've made these for you two." She handed them both what looked to be muggle makeup compacts.

"Are you sure you've got the right color for my skin tone?" Harry asked, feeling better now that she had changed the subject.

"Very funny, Harry. Open it, look in the mirror and say 'Ron Weasley'."

Harry did as she asked, almost instantly Ron's mirror started to vibrate.

"What the hell?" Ron asked as he nearly dropped the compact.

"Honestly, Ronald. Open yours as well," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. Ron opened his and was surprised to see Harry's face looking back at him. Both boys looked at Hermione with awe.

"You really are bloody brilliant, Mione," Ron muttered.

"Always the tone of surprise. Actually Fred helped a lot with them, he is quite brilliant himself. If you will tap it with you wand three times, it will accept ownership from you alone, it will appear to be nothing more than a mirror to anyone else who picks it up. Harry you'll have to wait until your birthday to do it though, we don't want it to show up with the trace in any way. Each of the twins have one as well as Angelina, Remus, Dora, Bill and Fleur. They are all interconnected, and as long as the other person has claimed ownership of their mirror it will show their name on the front."

"Speaking of Fred, how exactly did that happen? And you and Luna? I feel like I've missed a lot in the past few weeks," Harry said as he placed his mirror in his pocket.

….

Molly had finally stopped fussing over George, satisfied that Fred would be stuck to his side for the rest of the night.. The twins were in their bedroom, George was laying down in his bed listening to Fred tell him about what happened with Hermione. George, who was regaining his strength slowly along with his sense of humor, was telling Fred that it was bloody well about time when there was a soft knock at the door.

"I've come to babysit the invalid while you go take a shower. I know you won't leave him alone," Hermione said as she walked into the room.

"Hey, I resemble that remark," George said.

"That's why I said it," Hermione said and stuck out her tongue at him. She then crawled up onto George's bed over top of him, she sat with her back against the wall and her legs draped over him.

"Invalid indeed! I'll have you know I am still the handsomer twin," George said.

"Well, obviously. It's going to take more than both ears for that one to be better looking than you," Hermione said with mock seriousness. Fred looked from George to Hermione and back again.

"You smell awful and you're covered in my blood, if you don't go shower I may take my own nose off to match my ear," George told him.

"Alright alright. I'll be back shortly," Fred grumbled and left the room.

"Alright, dearest, spill it. I want all the gushy details. You are in like with him, he's in like with you. Your eyes met in the moonlight. Is it love? Do you just want in his pants? Can I braid your hair?" George asked, in a breathy voice that sounded eerily like Lavender Brown.

"We are very firmly in the 'in like' category, there was some moonlit eye contact. Love? Who knows? It's still early, shut it, and yes, braid away," Hermione said in an equally breathy voice, scooting to sit in front of him so he could play with her hair. "Now you. How are you feeling? Any pain?"

"I'm actually alright. It doesn't hurt anymore. It can't be regrown though, so there's that."

"There's something else though?" Hermione asked, he was certainly avoiding eye contact.

"I'm just a little worried about seeing Ang. What if she doesn't want to be with a one-eared freak? No matter how handsome of course," George said, trying to sound casual.

"Well, I don't know Angelina as well as you do, but if she doesn't want to be with you because of a missing ear then I fully intend on punching her right in the stupid mouth." At this George snorted. "Seriously though, you are brave and you lost your ear in a bloody battle, if she can't live with that then she isn't who I thought she was, nor someone you should be with anyway. And if you call yourself a freak again I'll punch you in the mouth."

They had become close friends in the last few weeks together, and Hermione had very little patience with her friends putting themselves down.

"Thank you, for treating me normally, for being my friend. And I'm so happy that Fred finally wised up and kissed you," George said seriously and finished up braiding her hair.

"Well, thank you for being my friend too, George. And I'm happy he kissed me too," Hermione said as she moved up to sit next to him, she put her head on his shoulder.

"Take your filthy hands off my girlfriend! Girlfriend, hmmm I like the way that sounds." Fred said as he walked in the bedroom freshly showered.

"Girlfriend, I think I rather like the sound of that as well. Alright boys, I'm knackered, I'm off to bed. Remember, I'll punch her right in the mouth," Hermione said and kissed George on the cheek as she got off the bed and walked over to Fred.

"Just who's mouth are you punching, love?" Fred asked as he took her on his arms.

"If I'm right, no one's," Hermione said as she reached up on tip toes and kissed him chastely on the lips.

"Good night," Fred said as he kissed her again, a bit more deeply.

"Good night," She said, eyes closed and a little light heatedly.

"I will not hesitate to hex the both of you right this second," George said. With that Hermione, a bit red faced said her last good nights and went off towards Ginny's room.