Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
~ 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

The Burrow
11 P.M.

Most of the Weasley siblings except for Fred congested themselves into Ron's room. On one bed sat George, Ron and Percy. Ron was sandwiched between his brothers, leaning against George. One the other bed was Bill, Ginny and Harry. Ginny was the one in the middle. Bill had her in a comforting hold. Charlie sat on the floor. Expect for the occasional sob the room was eerily silent.

Hearing footsteps on the landing Charlie calls out, "We're in Ron's room."

As the door opens a big black dog peeks its head in. Both Ron and Harry gasp, as Remus Lupin follows the dog into the room. "We heard," murmurs Remus. "How are you holding up?"

Ron notices Ginny's reaction to the black dog. Probably thinks Sirius is a grim. Clearing his throat Ron croaks out, "I guess you haven't heard that Sirius's name is cleared."

"Yes Ron. We have heard that Sirius's name was cleared," contradicts Remus. "We just didn't want to draw attention to ourselves." Looking over to Ginny, Remus sighs. "Padfoot, old friend. Please change before Ginny has a nervous breakdown."

With a small 'pop' the black dog becomes a man before everyone's eyes. Sirius gives Harry a tight hug whispering, "I would gladly hand over my freedom to get her back." Harry wipes the fresh tears from his eyes, as he pulls away from Sirius.

"When did you get here," asks Sirius.

"Earlier today," answers Ron. "We heard about the accident at his uncle's house." The group settles into a comfortable conversation. Harry even explains what a television set is and what it is used for.

Around one in the morning, heavy footsteps on the stairs hushed everyone in the room. At the light knocking on a door further down the hallway Bill smiles slightly.

"About time," mutters Charlie running a hand throw his hair.

"About time," questions Ron. Both Harry and Ron were looking clueless as ever.

"Yes," aggress Bill. "It's about time Fred talked to someone."

"Why would Fred need to talk to anyone," asks Ginny.

George rolls his eyes, "Are you people blind?"

"George," hisses Percy glaring at him. "It took me until this summer to figure it out."

"Figure what out," demands Harry.

Ron's ears started to go pink. Turning to George, Ron hisses, "FRED."

"Why do I think Ron has just figured it out," mutters Charlie. "When the rest of us knew this time last year."

"Knew what last year," demands Harry. "What about Fred?"

"That he likes or rather liked Hermione," states Charlie.

"Oh is that all," dismisses Harry shocking everyone. Seeing Ron's mouth gapping like a fish. Harry smirks, "I knew that back in third year."

"What," hisses Ron.

"How," demands George. "I didn't even know that he liked Hermione until half of our sixth year term was over."

"Simple. Fred threaten to bash Wood's brain in using his beater bat," states Harry. Shivering at the memory, of Fred slamming Wood up against the boy's dorm room wall. Bloody hell was he pissed.

"What! Why would Fred do that," demands Bill.

"Bill, if you remember Harry got a Firebolt in our third year," comments George.

"Yeah, Hermione told Professor McGonagall," inserts Ron.

"Who took it away," adds Remus.

"So when Wood found out, he went a little nuts," mutters George.

"Wood was working himself up into such a state of frenzy," laughs Harry. "That's when Fred slammed Wood up against the wall hissing if he so much as entertained the idea of saying anything about my firebolt he would take his beater bat to his Quidditch laden brain."

"Really," squeals Ginny.

"I would have paid to see Wood's face," snickers George.

"OH MY GOD FRED!" shouts Molly from somewhere in the house.

"Do you think we should go and investigate," asks Remus looking at the door as if it was going to explode.

Harry put a hand on Remus's arm, "Mrs. Weasley is a little excitable."

"That's putting it mildly," mutters Ron. "Seeing how it's one of the twins, I'm surprised the floor didn't rattle." Soon the group started to yawn, everyone felt apprehensive about leaving the room incase they walked into Fred. Ginny was the only one brave enough to look out into the hallway.

Checking both ways she waves to the boys as she went to her room. Sirius and Remus transfigure the twin's chairs into beds. Sirius enchants them to flow four feet above the beds in the room. Harry and Ron went to Ron's room, both falling asleep as soon as their heads hit their pillows. Charlie, Percy and Bill went quietly to their rooms.

The Burrow
Next Day

Loud persistent buzzing starts to radiate throughout the house. Each sleeping member of the household groans, rolls over but the buzzing just gets louder.

"MUM," bellows Charlie.

"WE'RE UP," shouts Harry and Ron as they slowly climb out of bed. Harry and Ron could hear Remus, George and Sirius swearing in the twin's room as they too got up for the day. Slowly the whole household made its way into the kitchen.

"I let you sleep as long as I could," states Molly as she starts pilling food on the plates. Everyone hears soft pounding footsteps coming from outside. "The garden needs to be de-gnome again. After lunch I want you boys to handle it."

"Where's dad," asks Bill as he looks around.

"He had to go to the office," answers Penelope as she walks into the kitchen. Getting up Percy offers her his seat.

"Good afternoon Penny," mutters Percy as he kisses her check.

"Hello Penelope," greets Remus.

"This is Wireless Network Radio; with the hourly update. Cornelius Fudge was fired early this morning. Author Weasley replaces as the Minister of Magic."

"Got what he deserves," hisses Harry.

"Lucius Malfoy in an earlier statement refutes Fudges firing. However it soon became apparent that Cornelius Fudge had prior knowledge of You-know-who's return and refused all avenues of preventing You-know-who return to his former power."

Muttering of "Slimy git," "Stupid prat," "I hope they fire Malfoy next," "they should fire Malfoy," echo around the table.

"Albus Dumbledore supported all evidence against Cornelius Fudge stating that Cornelius Fudge knew for well over a mouth and still refuses to this day to believe that You-know-who is really back."

"Enough of that," states Molly as she shuts off the radio. "Go on eat up!"

"Hey, Percy who is the family member with the new animal," asks Penny.

"What new animal," asks George.

"The ugly one," replies Penny. Everyone looks at each other confused. "The one chasing the gnomes in the backyard?" Still seeing the blank or confused expressions, Penny tries again, "The orange ugly blur."

The only thing that I know that is ugly and orange is... Leaping up from her chair Ginny rushes to the backyard.

"Crookshanks!" shouts Ginny. "It's Crookshanks!"

Until Later