She didn't want to move, didn't want to breathe. Not as her parents gaped at her, at the tears shining on her face, her wand gripped tightly in hand.
"I have to," she whispered. "To protect you."
"Hermione," her father answered, his voice wobbling. He swallowed. "Are you- you sure?"
"We can protect ourselves," Hermione's mother's face was brave. So very brave, because that's what she wanted, needed, Hermione to see. And Hermione loved her for it, and many other things.
"Not against them. I won't leave it to chance, Mum," Hermione said.
"We can't just go to Australia?" Her father asked. Hermione shook her head.
"They might look for you. But if they don't know who to look for, if you don't know who you are-"
"I won't leave you here alone to face them!"
"I won't be alone, Mum, I promise. I'll be with Harry and Ron-"
"Bigger trouble magnets than your boyfriend-"
"But capable fighters-"
"One who is sixteen-"
"Not for more than another month!"
"I won't allow it. It hasn't been necessary before, I don't see it being necessary now!" Hermione's mother stood. Hermione gaped. She hadn't expected this of her. Of her father, maybe, but not of her mother.
Hermione stood from the couch, sparks flying from her tightly gripped wand. She met her mother's gaze evenly. "I told you as courtesy, Mum. You. Can't. Stop. Me. You couldn't stop any witch or wizard who wanted to hurt you. So you, you and Dad, are going away, where you couldn't even find yourselves."
"Love," her father gripped his wife's hand. "Let's talk alone. Please."
"We're going to have words, young lady," Hermione's mother gestured between herself and her daughter. Hermione swallowed tightly. She'd expected understanding from her mother, at least.
"Expecto patronum," Hermione said.
~m~
"What the hell did you tell my mother?! My parents? I only told you about what I planned!"
Feed swallowed as the otter disappeared, leaving an unusual crackling in its wake. He wondered how she'd managed to suppress her rage enough to summon the Patronus in the first place.
"Oooooh, you're in trouuuublllleee," George crooned.
"Shut up," Fred snapped. He hadn't warned her parents, per se. Just mentioned that she might be planning something driven of fear and grief. That, of course, assumed that she hadn't been thinking of doing this even before what happened to Dumbledore, which he doubted. Didn't mean it was a good plan. He couldn't imagine it'd gone over well with her mother, who was trying to cling to every scrap of time they had left together, fearing the worst. Not irrationally.
"Fred." He looked back at George. His face was grave. "You aren't going to do what Harry did." Not a question, barely shy of an order. Fred stiffened.
"No. I'm not," he said tightly. George took a step forward.
"You are my brother. But so help me, I won't allow that idiocy from you," George said. "The second you leave, some asshat will-"
"Just say Ron," Fred murmured. George's mouth snapped closed. "I'm not making this some stupid competition. He knows. Hermione knows. We chose each other. I won't stop choosing her."
"Don't think that Hermione appeals only to Weasleys," George grumbled. Fred's fists clenched.
"I'm not going to beat the piss out of Ron. The others . . . If she wants me to," Fred forced the words through his teeth. George nodded. They were allies in this. And if Fred wouldn't smack Ron for being a fool, George would.
"She'll take care of what she needs to," George said grimly. Fred grunted in agreement. "Where is she going when she leaves her parents'?"
"Burrow," Fred swallowed. They didn't have the Ministry protecting the shop. Couldn't, due to laissez-faire laws. It could be seen as preferential treatment, and not only that, but it would have them handing over too much information to the Ministry. The business would topple violently when the Ministry was infiltrated. Plus, the hag wanted back in. It was all over the papers. Not that many paid attention to it.
"Fred?" George pointed upward. A second silver otter drifted down from the ceiling.
"I'm doing it now."
Fred ran from the apartment before the silver mist disappeared.
~m~
Fred caught her as she fell to her knees. She'd come to the spot they'd agreed on, just outside the boundaries of the Burrow's Ministry protection. She'd been crying for Merlin knew how long. Her parents would be on a plane in an hour. They'd left the door to the house open, unseeing eyes drifting past her. They'd taken so little. Hermione took even less.
"I'm sorry, love," Fred stroked idle circles into her back, whispering into her hair. He pressed kisses across her cheeks and forehead, wiping away tears where he could. She pushed his hands away and dropped her head to his chest, her breath torn from her. He held her calmly, letting her be. Without a word, he knew to stop crowding her.
"I- I just need-" Hermione broke down once more. Fred shushed her quietly. There was rustling in the tall grass.
"Give us a minute?" Fred requested. She looked up to see Bill gaping at them. She buried her head in Fred's chest again. He stroked her hair gently. "We'll be right along."
"Do you want to tell me something?" Bill asked slowly.
"Not the time," Fred started swaying. Hermione sucked in a huge breath of air.
Then Bill was kneeling in the dirt beside her, an arm around her shoulders. Several minutes later, someone who smelled like roses and fresh laundry joined around the other side. Hermione kept crying, though she quieted somewhat. Soon, she nearly fell asleep, cocooned completely.
"I can carry her back," Bill offered. Fred declined with a grunt. Hermione lifted her head as cool air greeted her where there had been a wall of solid Weasley. Delicate hands touched her face, and two scalding kisses met either of her cheeks.
"It iz 'ard, 'Ermione, to leave family," Fleur hummed. Hermione nodded weakly. Fleur smiled and stood. She helped Hermione up while Bill grabbed Fred. Hermione swayed on her feet, wiping at her eyes. Fred kissed the top of her head. Fleur took her hand and pulled her off toward the Burrow. Hermione cast a glance over her shoulder. Fred stood, his hands in his pockets, watching her so very carefully, Bill at his side, their expressions so very similar, even if their builds weren't. Two pillars of flame in the darkness. The wind picked up, dark clouds rolling overhead. They must've appeared when she was crying.
"Merci," Hermione breathed. Fleur let out a soft laugh that was undeniably beautiful and squeezed her hand.
"You're here," Mrs. Weasley beamed, opening the door for them. "Well, where have the boys gone off to?"
"Righ' 'ere, Mum!" Ron called from what was no doubt the kitchen, judging by his muffled voice.
"Oh, dear," Mrs. Weasley reached up to pat Hermione's cheek gently. "Straight upstairs with you. We'll run the bath. Ginny!"
"What, Mum?!"
"The bath!"
"Why?!"
"'Mione, of course!"
"Oh!"
Ginny jumped half the last floor of stairs and came bounding through the house, flying into Hermione, lifting the bushy haired witch into the air. Hermione squeaked in surprise, laughing. Ginny traded Fleur for ownership of Hermione's hand and tugged her back upstairs.
~m~
"So, I didn't lie," Fred finished, still staring at his home. Lights flicked on and off up and down the house. Someone looking for something. It wasn't unusual, though it was mostly Ginny these days. Everyone else could just use a Summoning Charm.
"She's letting you tell people."
"We agreed," Fred couldn't tear his eyes away. Not even as the wind brought his eyes to watering. The upstairs bathroom light came on and stayed on. "Something terrible is coming, I can feel it. I just want to be happy while I can be. No sense in hiding it, smothering it, in our home."
"What'll Charlie say?" Bill asked. Fred didn't need to look to know he was grinning.
"More worried about Ron," Fred answered. They were being honest, so honest he'd be.
"Ron's seventeen. We were all self-absorbed at that age. Time you get old, like me, you'll understand," Bill chuckled. "'Sides, your little announcement is going to take the wind out of his sails right quick."
"Oh, I'm not making an announcement over dinner," Fred shook his head. "I told you 'cause I need to know how to tell Mum and Dad."
"This one: tell Dad, have him help you figure out how to tell Mum," Bill grumbled. "She didn't exactly take to Fleur immediately."
"But Mum already likes Hermione," Fred plaintively gestured to the house. Bill sighed. Fred relented, "All right, I'll tell Dad first."
"Good," Bill clapped him on the back, moving toward their home. Fred trailed after him. "Anything else?"
"Yeah, uh, Hermione says if you walk in on us again, Mum will have to look elsewhere for grandchildren," Fred smiled. Bill turned back to hit his arm. Fred ducked away. "Her words, not mine."
"Yeah, but if I hit her, I'll end up with a broken nose, so . . ."
"Conceded."
Fred didn't flinch, even though he knew Bill hit him much harder than he would've Hermione.
~m~
"But," Ginny held up a hand, completely stonewalling Fred's most irresistible pleading face. "You have to cover for me when Harry gets here."
"I what?!" Fred's expression crumbled. "You aren't even together!"
"Fred," Ginny held out her hand. "Take it or leave it."
Fred narrowed his eyes. "Who taught you how to drive a bargain like that?" Ginny didn't even flinch, not even when Fred grinned. He shook her hand firmly. "I'll cover for you, but I'll beat his ass into next week after."
"Oh, you're going to kill the Chosen One?" Ginny pulled him into her room, turning and backing out the door. She smiled, mirroring Fred almost down to the freckle. "Good luck explaining to Mum, Freddie."
Fred waggled his fingers and closed the door, waving a Silencing Charm into effect. Hermione couldn't help the little giggle that escaped her.
"You're a terrible influence."
"So you keep saying," Fred muttered. Hermione slid off the rickety bed tucked into the corner of the wall. She stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Are you feeling better?"
"I cried a lot today," Hermione sighed. She crossed her arms over her chest and wandered to the window. Two people played a game of one-on-one Quidditch over the orchard. Hermione watched them whiz over the treetops.
"I don't think I could even do that," Fred said lowly. "I don't have the willpower."
"If your parents were Muggles, you'd find it."
"'Mione."
"You would," Hermione said lightly. He ducked his head into the crook of her neck and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her cheek gently.
"I love you."
"What did you tell my mum?"
Her heart really wasn't into arguing about it, so she just listened to Fred's explanation. He apologized throughout. She didn't know what to do, and thus started crying. Again. She couldn't help it.
"Hey, when it's all over, I'll go with you," Fred held her. "We'll find them, I promise. I promise."
"What if I did it wrong?" Hermione whispered. "What if it doesn't work or it doesn't not work?"
"Hey," Fred turned her, gripping her shoulders tightly. He shook her, only a little. "You're Hermione Granger. They haven't invented a spell you couldn't do."
"Thank you," Hermione murmured. Fred nodded. She curled into him, trying to hold her tears at bay. "I love you."
"I told Bill," Fred said quietly.
"I figured."
"I think I'm going to tell Mum and Dad, after the wedding. Maybe Charlie, when he gets here."
"Okay," Hermione sighed. "I really don't think taking any attention away from Harry or Bill and Fleur will work in our favor."
"Harry?"
"His birthday is coming up, remember?" Hermione lifted her head to meet Fred's eyes. He smiled easily. She narrowed her eyes. "I can't tell if you knew and are joking or if you had no idea and you're covering for it."
"Well, I have no intention of giving away any of my secrets," Fred kissed her lightly.
"I'm tired, Fred," Hermione sighed.
"That's okay," Fred kissed her again. "I'll stay until you fall asleep."
.o0O0o.
Merr Crisis, hooligans.
Hollowg1rl: Thank you on every front!
Bookwormkat1: Thank you very much. I'm pretty sure I only answer reviews like this cos I didn't know what else to do when I started and now I don't give enough fucks to stop lol
BlueMarian: Fun fact: Instead of dragging y'allst through all book 7, I'm going to have about 5 chapters (The Wedding, The Manor, The Beach, The Battle, The End). It's gonna be a good time
To the Guest (I'm assuming it was one) Who Reviewed Multiple Chapters: You're making me wanna start this whole shebang over again. Mostly in a good way? Idk, I was 15 when I started writing this shit
gabyram07: Congrats on your smaller human! I'm doin my best to write and update, getting into the good shit that is Book 7 Angst.
Aisti: Thank you, I'm trying.
ElianaxIsabella: Not soon, exactly, but sooner than most.
notanegatron: Thank you very much.
Leesie3973: I'm trying my best to finish it.
Ash: You are unfortunately stuck with my pace of writing. Yes, writing. It's not finished, hence the three years of writing it. This isn't my only obligation in life, actually, it's not an obligation at all. I choose to do this with my time, while working two jobs, going to school full time, and writing original and other works. If there was a completed version somewhere on the internet, I would've mentioned it sooner, but as is, there's not a completed version anywhere, not even my head. Thank you for reading.
CrookshanksTheCat: I would expect nothing less from a part-kneazle. I just re-read it and yeah, maybe a little desperate, but hey! It worked!
tessa-thomas: Goodness, don't forget to study the bones and what-not! Good luck with the doctoring!
afraidofspiders: Thanks!
Infernalbooks: lmao for real, you've been here from the start.
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123a456e: Thanks!
Fandomqueen104: Oh my lord, I always forget how young I am and how much younger interwebs people can be. Thank you so much!
