~Echoes of Silence~
Summary: Hermione is abused at home... Fred's in love with her, but hasn't acted on it because he thinks his brother Ron is also in love with her. An Hr/ FW story
End of Fourth Year
Hogwarts Express
Harry, Ron and Hermione's Compartment
The weather could not have been more different on the journey back to King's Cross. Than it had been on their way to Hogwarts the previous September. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky. Harry, Ron and Hermione had managed to get a compartment to themselves.
The trio talked more freely than they had all week as the train sped them southward. Hermione was glad Harry could talk about what happened to him and Cedric that night of the last task. The conversation came to a stop when the trolley arrived.
After paying for her sweets, Hermione put her money back into her schoolbag, dislodging a copy of the Daily Prophet. Watching the facial expressions of her two best friends, Harry's face had an extremely worried look on it.
"There's nothing in there," states Hermione noting Harry's disbelief. "You can look for yourself, but there's noting at all. I've been checking every day. Just a small piece the day after the third task, saying you won the tournament." Softly smiling to ease the shock, Hermione continues, "They didn't even mention Cedric. There's nothing about any of it. If you ask me, Fudge is forcing them to keep quiet."
"He'll never keep Rita quiet," groans Harry. "Not on a story like this."
Trying hard not to smirk. Hermione declares smugly, "Oh, Rita hasn't written anything at all since the third task." Hermione takes several deep breaths to control her anger. "As a matter of fact Rita Skeeter isn't going to be writing anything at all for a while."
Seeing their identical blank faces, Hermione smile widely at them. "Not unless she wants me to spill the beans on her."
"What are you talking about?" demands Ron. Looking confused.
"I found out how she was listening in on private conversations when she wasn't suppose to be coming onto the ground," smugly Hermione informs them.
"How was she doing it," asks Harry. As Ron asks, "How did you find out?"
"Well, it was you," Hermione points to Harry. "Who really gave me the idea."
"I did?" perplexed Harry asks. "How?"
"Bugging," Hermione happily inform him.
"But you said they didn't work…" states Ron.
"Oh not electronic bugs," says Hermione dismissing the idea. "No you see…Rita Skeeter is an unregistered Animagus. She can turn," reaching for her bag and pulling out a sealed glass jar. "Into a beetle."
"You're kidding," whispers Ron shocked. "You haven't… she not…" gesturing to the jar in my hand.
"Oh yes she is," happily informs them as she brandishes her jar at them.
Still stuttering Ron lifts the jar to eyelevel. They discuss how Rita knew about what Krum said after the second task, how she knew about Harry's scar hurt during Divination and Hagrid's talk with Madame Maxime. Ron and Harry piece together that the Slytherin's must have known and didn't care. Hermione puts away the jar as the compartment doors slid open.
"Very clever, Granger," drawls Malfoy with Crabble and Goyle standing behind him. Looking extremely happy with themselves, and more arrogant and menacing than ever to Hermione. He slinked into the compartment. Hermione licks her suddenly dry lips. This is not good. Why can't he just leave us alone?
Fighting to hear the words being exchanged between Harry and Draco, Hermione only catches the tail end of the conversation. "You picked the losing side, Potter! I warned you! I told you that you ought to choose your company more carefully, remember?"
Swallowing hard Hermione slowly reaches for her wand, only a few word that Malfoy was sprouting penetrate her conscience.
"Riffraff like this." Observing Malfoy jerk his head at Ron then towards Hermione. He gleefully hiss, "Too late now, Potter! They'll be the first to go." Fear starts to crawl around inside Hermione. "Dark Lord's back! Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers first!" Watching Crabble and Goyle looming behind Malfoy I pull out my wand and mutter the first hex that comes to mind.
Series of bangs forces Hermione to jump backwards in fright. Blinking several times Hermione sees Malfoy, Crabble and Goyle all lying unconscious in the doorway. I know I didn't do that on my own! Feeling Ron on one side and Harry on the other, Hermione examines the boys on the floor. It looks like we used different hexes.
Just then Fred's voice filters in. "Thought we'd see what those three were up to." Fred steps over Goyle and into the compartment. Relief fills Hermione, he had his wand out and behind him so, did George.
"Interesting effect," mutters George as he looks down at Crabble. "Who used the Furnunculus Curse?"
The boys sort out who used what hex. Ron, George and Harry kick, roll and push the unconscious boys each of whom looked distinctly worse for the jumble of jinxes with which they had been hit, out into the corridor. Fred gave Hermione a tight comforting hug; one that Hermione wishes would just go on. Never felt so safe.
Upon the compartment door closing, Fred reluctantly lets go of Hermione. "Exploding Snap, anyone," Fred asks as he pulls out pack of cards. After the boys play three rounds, Fred coerces Hermione into playing the next round with them.
Well into the fifth game Harry asks Fred and George whom they were blackmailing. Dismissing it as unimportant, causing an increase of interest from Ron, Harry and Hermione. They pest the twins until they talk. Fred was the first to crack, and George followed him telling us that Bagman had cheated them out of their money at the Quidditch World Cup.
"So we asked for our money back," George said glowering.
"He didn't refuse!"
"Right in one," answers Fred; Hermione's anger starts to boil.
"But that was all your savings," states an angry Ron. I can't believe someone would do that! It's not like they have money to spare.
"Tell me about it," replies George as he launches into a story about Lee's dad having trouble-getting Bagman to pay up. He also tells us more about Bagman's problems with gambling.
Fred squeezes Hermione's hand; looking up into his green eyes Hermione squeeze his back. As the train pulls into Platform 9 3/4 quarters, Hermione and Ron step over Malfoy, Crabble and Goyle. Struggling with their trunks even with the twins help. Harry, however, stayed put. Hermione watches Harry hand George his Tournament reward. Oh that's so generous of Harry.
George tries to give it back, but Harry refuses to take it. Fred tries to reason with him, Harry pulls out his wand. Why can't they tell he's serious about this? Harry left the compartment before the twins could do or say anything else.
Sighing deeply, blinking away fresh tears. Why him? Swallowing a large lump in her throat. Spotting Harry's Uncle Vern, she silently echoes Ron's statement. "Maybe Dumbledore will let you stay at the Weasley's house halfway this summer." Leaning over, Hermione kisses Harry on the check.
Waving goodbye to almost all of the Weasley's, a solid hand touches her back. Glancing behind her and spotting Fred looking down at her, a small smile graces her face.
"Hey Mione," whispers Fred. "You know that goes for you too, right?"
"Thanks," Hermione whispers to Fred as she hears Mrs. Weasley issue her a welcome to stay at the Burrow. Looking towards the women, Hermione instantly spies her father standing rather impatiently behind Mrs. Weasley.
"She will be spending her summer with her own family," snaps Mr. Granger tapping his foot as he glares at his daughter.
Fred clenches his hands, trying desperately to keep a cool head. That man is bad news. He watched as the Hermione's small smile filtered away.
"Thank-you for the offer Mrs. Weasley," croaks out Hermione as she passes the woman, watching her father stumble with her trunk and things.
This is going to be a long summer.
Until Later
