"Where have those three got to? Oh, you don't think anything could have happened to them do you?"

Bill Weasely watched as his mother paced around the kitchen, wringing a tea towel in her hands, and shooting him accusatory glances.

"Ginny says Hermione never came back to bed last night!" Mrs. Weasely continued in despair. "And Fred and George never heard Harry and Ron coming back to bed either! Oh Bill, what if you-know-who got them?"

"Voldemort," Bill corrected her, and his mother flinched.

"You've got to start saying his name mom. He's alive, he's out there and he's growing stronger. Remember what Dumbledore said? There is nothing worse than fear than fear itself. The longer you are afraid, the less hope we have. And I know you're afraid to lose us," He continued seeing the look on his mothers face. "And you're allowed that, it's only natural. But you've got to try to get rid of that fear, and the first step is saying his name."

Mrs. Weasely gulped and whispered, "But what's the point? I'm scared to sleep, I'm scared for every single one of you, and now Harry Ron and Hermione have gone missing, and how is saying his name going to get them back?"

Bill reached out and grabbed Mrs. Weasley's shoulders, looking down at her. "It won't help you find them," Bill said sadly, "but its one step closer to freedom. Plus," he said, releasing her shoulders and talking now in a matter of fact way, "they can't be that far. You would have heard them leave the house wouldn't you? And it's not like they know the password either. So stop worrying already, I'll go look for them."

His mother shot him a grateful look and sand down into a chair. Bill squeezed her shoulder reassuringly and left the tiny kitchen.

"Oi! Fred!"

"I'm George!" Fred called out in indignation. "And you call yourself our brother?"

Bill rolled his eyes heavenward. "I know you're Fred. Hello, big brother, remember?"

Fred let out a deep sigh and shrugged. "Worth a try I guess," and his eyes glinted maliciously.

"What are you up to?" Bill asked calmly, though curious.

"Me? Nothing." Fred answered in an innocent tone, which made Bill even more suspicious. However, he chose to ignore him and called back "you seen them three?"

Fred shook his head, and retreated back into his room, leaving Bill to climb the stairs to the attic alone. That would be the most obvious place to look, really. He thought to himself, knowing that that was where he would go if he was upset. And Hermione had seemed upset yesterday. He might have been partying and celebrating, but he hadn't failed to notice her leaving the party in tears.

He would have gone after her if he hadn't seen Harry and Ron discussing something in whispers, shooting anxious glances in the direction of the kitchen door. He supposed it was better that way anyway. He'd rather have had his friends with him, rather than one of his friend's older brothers.

He reached the final stair, reached up and pulled open the latch, heaving himself up with his muscular arms instead of using the tiny silver ladder that had descended the minute he'd opened it.

He didn't spot her at first, she blended into the shadowy walls, her dark clothing matching the blackened corners of the room.

She was alone, he was surprised to see, and she was watching him silently, not moving.

"Hi." He said, sitting down next to her, and regarding her thoughtfully.

"Hi." Came the soft response, which was followed with a small smile.

"You okay?" Damn it Bill. What kind of question is that? Of course she's not okay.

"Not really. But I will be."

Bill looked at her in amazement. He hadn't expected that. He would have expected a sorrowful look, and a "yeah, fine." He supposed his surprise must have shown, because Hermione was smiling at him kindly.

He put his arm around her shoulders, and looked down at her in concern. "Yeah, you will be. I promise," he whispered.

The bushy haired girl looked at him through teary eyes and then looked away again. "Thank you."

"What's there to thank? It's only normal."

But Hermione shook her head. "Thank you for coming to look for me."

He smiled at her kindly. "You're welcome."

She allowed one single tear to fall, a tear of gratitude, she told herself later, and then let her head fall onto his shoulder, and her eyes close for the second time that day.

Bill watched her close her eyes, and listened as he breathing evened, a smile on his face.

"Good night sweetheart," he muttered before kissing her forehead, and picking her up in his arms, only to carry her down stairs, and tuck her into bed.

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So, it's not longer! It's actually shorter! Aha aha aha! Sorry to let you downnnnnn, you'll just have to bear with me for a liiiittle while longer and hope I update soon. BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME! ADMIT IT!