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


Gryffindor Tower
Common Room: Friday

Breathing in and out, Hermione was sitting in one of the comfy chairs by the empty fireplace. What rumors could she be talking about? How in the bloody hell could they have reached her in America? What am I going to do if she decides to pulls me?

Watching his best friend panic even before her aunt shows up, Ron comes up with a plan to make her relax. "Oi, Mione! Your aunt isn't due until tomorrow, so why don't you come flying with us tonight?"

"No," snaps Hermione suddenly standing up. "My room's a mess! I have to clean it." Racing up stairs, before Ron could even respond.

"She's nutters that one," mumbles Ron as he too stands up. "She just needs to relax." Going over to the portrait, Ron pushes it open. Exiting while Fred and George enter.

Looking around the common room, Fred doesn't see Hermione anywhere. Shrugging his shoulders, Fred tells George, "Mione is probably in the library. So what do you think her aunt's impending arrival?"

"It could go either way," replies George sitting down in a comfy chair. "Her aunt has some warped sense of humor, but if she is really like Snape she could pull her just for the sheer pleasure."

"Do we even know what time she is due to arrive," asks Fred.

"No," answers Lavender as she comes down the stairs. Gesturing behind her, "Hermione is in our room."

"So," asks George almost rolling his eyes at the girl.

"Super cleaning it," sneers Lavender. "That room has never been this clean."

Looking at each other both Fred and George reply, "smashing," in their most sarcastic tone of voice. Shaking his head, Fred resists the urge to go up to the girl's dormitories and physically hull his girlfriend out.

Dinning Hall
Friday Dinnertime

Holding Hermione's shaking hand, Fred mutters words of encouragement. Bloody hell never seen Mione this worked up, her aunt isn't even here yet! And Mione's already a bleeding mess!

Professor McGonagal was standing where Hermione, Harry and Ron normally sit. She was talking to both boys about something. Feeling her eyes following them, Fred swears under his breath. Don't tell me her aunt is already here!

"Ah, Miss Granger," purrs Lucius Malfoy holding his cane in his right hand. "How wonderful to see you?"

"Mister Malfoy," coldly greets Hermione. Fred notices that all of her shaking has immediately stops. Noting that George along with both Ron and Harry were silently making their way closer only made Fred breath a little bit easier.

"I bet your wondering why I'm here," sneers Lucius as he comes closer.

"Not really," dismisses Hermione as she attempts to move away from the approaching man. "I don't really care why you're here."

"Well," laughs Lucius coldly. "You should little girl."

Flexing his hand on his wand, Fred steadily glares at the senior Malfoy. Silently willing the man to give him an excuse to hex him.

"Why is that Mister Malfoy," questions Hermione moving her hand down towards her wand.

"Because Miss Granger," interrupts Professor McGonagal as she comes between Lucius Malfoy and Hermione. "It seems that Mister Malfoy here has gotten permission from the Ministry of Magic to interrogate you."

"But he can't do that," argues Fred. "Hermione's underage!"

Smirking evilly Lucius informs, "Yes, I can. The only person who can stop it is her guardian."

"She'll be here tomorrow," states Hermione to Lucius. "Professor McGonagal surely it can wait until then?"

"No, Miss Granger it can not," thunders Lucius Malfoy tapping his cane impatiently on the hard ground. "You're ineptness has cost me time," Lucius continues to rant. "Now come along!"

"And just were am I going," questions Hermione refusing to go anywhere near Lucius.

"Why you little mudblood," snaps Lucius completely forgetting to mind his manors. Roaring as he lunges towards Hermione. "How dare you question your superiors! Filthy piece of trash."

Loud thundering, a flash of bright silver directly hits Lucius Malfoy in the stomach sending him crashing towards the Head Table, only to hit the ground with an ominous thud a few feet short.

Eerie silence fills the room, before a soft silky voice coils out, "Really Lucius, if you're this insipidly stupid maybe Dumbledore will let you go back to school. Then you might learn the meaning of the word Squib."

"Ah, Aunt Athena," stammers Hermione as her tremors return tenfold. Everyone from the hall clamors to get a better look at the young woman Hermione has identifies as her aunt. Shoulder length wavy jet-black hair perfectly form around the pale face. Piecing laser blue eyes pin whomever they have it their hold. Blood red lips compliment the extremely ice manor in what the young witch carries herself.

As the tall statuesque woman enters the dinning hall, her long black robes flow. Slowly peels off her shoulder length black gloves. "Now Josephine, what is this I'm hearing about an interrogation?"

Wringing her hands, Hermione answers, "I haven't a clue."

The tempter of the room dropped a few degrees. Hermione's aunt glares coldly down her nose, "Really," purrs Athena glaring coldly at Professor McGonagal then turning her hard icy sharp blue eyes to Lucius. "So you mean to inform me that, Lucius Malfoy has receive a release of guardianship from the Ministry of Magic to perform an interrogation?"

"No of course not," mutters a Ministry of Magic official. "We weren't expecting you until tomorrow."

"That much is obvious," deadly whispers Athena as she glides across the floor towards the prone Malfoy. The official awkwardly follows her. "Do you know who I am?"

Coughing the official straightens his back squaring his shoulders, "I am an official of the Ministry of Magic." Puffing up his chest to make himself look more important then he really is.

He must think he's someone; thinks Fred as he escorts Hermione over to where George, Harry and Ron were waiting.

The enchanted ceiling crackles startling everyone in the great hall. "I am Lady Athena DeBear," Athena's soft voice floats around the room. "Of the House of Destiny."

Gripping the official by the jaw, Athena hisses, "Perhaps you saw an imaginary wand. Hmm?" Releasing his jaw, everyone understands Athena's implications. A swirl of robes is the only indication that the young woman has changed her course.

"Bloody hell, Mione," croaks out a gapping Ron.

"Josephine," questions Athena snapping her fingers in highhanded fashion. Everyone watches Athena cock her finger gesturing for Hermione to come hither. Standing at the end of the Gryffindor table. "Start talking or start pacing."

"About what," nervously questions Hermione as her eyes dart around the room. Looking up into her aunt's ice blue eyes, Hermione swallows uncomfortable.

"I think this school has been every easy on you," states Athena as she circles Hermione. Making her niece more nervous then she originally was. "If you can't honestly answer a simple question."

"But you didn't ask a question," interrupts Ron. Earning him a hard glare from Athena. "What you didn't?" The tips of Ron's ear were pink along with his face.

Rising an eyebrow, Athena quips out, "So you have simpletons running to your rescue."

"Ron is not a simpleton," snaps Hermione her voice carrying across the room. "He's a friend." Athena stops circling her niece, giving her a piecing glare. "Well, he is!"

"Fine," dismisses Athena gracefully. "You still have to explain yourself. There are several highly inappropriate rumors surrounding you."

"Why should I," demands Hermione getting irritated. "Your not my mot…"

A strong grip covers Hermione's jaw. "What the hell are you thinking, talking to me like this," demands Athena. "Wait don't bother answering. It's obvious to everyone that you weren't thinking!" Tears slip down Hermione's face at her aunt cold cruel words. When the grip around her jaw loosens, Hermione instantly steps back.

"Go to your room, child and wait for me," coldly states Athena before she glides away. Hermione runs for the room, tears slipping down her face.

Gryffindor Tower
Hermione's room

Laying face down, Hermione was being console by Lavender and Ginny. Both girls were muttering words of comfort to their friend and didn't notice the bedroom door opening.

Strutting into the room, Athena glances around before commenting, "I can only live in hope that it is your bed that's the one unmade?"

Until Later