Stand Strong

By: Kryptonite

A/N: Another chapter for my lovely, lovely reviewers.

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Two Weeks Later: The Burrow- Late Evening

" I found him!" Hermione cried, bursting into the Burrow.

" Found who? George asked pleasantly oblivious to her contraptions as he tried to pop popcorn over the fire.

" Fred." George immediately dropped the popper into the coals.

Everyone else had a similar reaction except for Harry, Ron and Ginny.

" You didn't tell them." She looked accusingly at Harry.

" It, er… slipped my mind." He lied lamely. Hermione snorted, very un-ladylike.

" Sure it did. Harry has been putting money into a second account at Gringotts for Fred." Mrs. Weasley gasped at the news.

" Is this true Harry?"

" Yes ma'am." Harry looked resolutely at his feet.

" Oh Harry." She was disappointed, and as much as she tried to hide it, it showed in her voice and how her face was set.

" Why didn't you tell us?" George asked quietly, not looking up at anyone but the hurt and anger just as visible as the fire.

" Fred asked me not to."

" The coward." George spat bitterly. Harry bit his lip and stopped the unbidden words from tumbling past his vocal chords.

" Does anyone want to know where he is?" Hermione asked quietly, trying not to draw any of George's anger to herself.

" NO!" Came the emphatic response from the two people by the fire. Mr. Weasley was still more than a little angry that his son had just up and left and George was down right livid.

" Okay." Hermione backed down quietly, not really surprised at their response. Tension filled the air the rest of the night.

" Why didn't you tell them Harry?" Once more, the four friends were the only ones up.

" ME? Why aren't you jumping on Ron's back or Ginny's?"

" Because it was your responsibility. It was your message to tell them. Your secret." Harry started muttering. Hermione pulled her wand in a heartbeat. " Don't tempt me."

" So where is he?"

" New York. Dumbledore helped me trace him."

" I knew he was involved." Harry fumed loudly.

" What?"

" That was the only way you could have found Fred. He takes the money and transfers it to another bank account under an alias. I can't even trace it, it bounces so many times."

Hermione slumped back in her chair, deflated. " Oh." It had seemed a little too easy.

" We'll find him, don't worry." Ginny said, trying to cheer Hermione up. " You found what city he's in so all we have to do is find the address." Hermione sniffled and attempted a small smile of gratitude back.

" What do you mean 'we'?" Ron asked from the other side of the newest Hogwarts Professor.

" I-"

" No. You aren't coming with us." When Ginny moved to speak he added, " And no buts either. It's final." Ginny crossed her arms and pouted until she decided to go to bed.

" Ron, he's her brother too."

" That slimy snake doesn't deserve a family. Or happiness. Bloody hell Harry. He left you to defeat Voldemort all alone. He could have at least tried to do something." Ron said bitterly, taking up his sister's previous pose.

'He did try to do something.'