Chapter 14

Mason ran up the stairs leaving a dumbfounded Hermione and George behind. They looked at each other before following him up the stairs. When they reach the landing they just saw the glimpse of Mason as he exited the room. The hurried after him and found him waiting for them at the front door, box hidden in his jacket.

"Where are you going?" A voice asked behind them. George and Hermione turned slowly and saw Agatha standing there, her hands on her hips, a move that reminded them both of Molly.

"I- euhm."

"I'm showing them my bar aunt Agatha."

"Now?" Her gaze shifted to Mason.

"Yes," George cut in. "Someone has been very rude to Hermione tonight and I think it's best we go before I do something about it." George lied easily. Agatha looked from George to Hermione to Mason.

"Alright. I don't want you to ruining your changes at a marriage. Better learn to keep you temper in check."

"Let's go." Mason handed us our coats as he led her out the door. "Where to?" He whispered as he closed the door behind him.

"The hotel." Hermione said as George took his shoulder and Hermione's hand as they apparated away.

"I can't believe it worked!" George cried out as he closed the door behind him after they entered their hotel room.

"My heart was going like crazy!" Mason said as he dropped down on the sofa. He looked around the room. "Do you two sleep here?"

"Yes why?"

"There is only one bed." He stated.

"Really I haven't noticed." George grinned as he dropped down next to him.

"Even tough George isn't my brother in blood. In all other ways he is. I trust him with my life." Hermione smiled as she sat across from them.

"I'm sorry didn't mean to pry."

"It's fine. I think if others knew they would think the same way." George shrugged.

"And what are you making?" He pointed to the cauldron.

"Felix Felicis. We wanted to make it to help us save Fred. But it will take another three and a half months to complete. So if this works-" He pointed at the box Mason just pulled out. "We'll try without it."

It was quiet for a few minutes before George spoke again. "Can I see it?"

Mason looked up from the box he was turning over and over in his hands. He handed him the box and George took in gently pushing it open.

"Don't touch it." Hermione warned. George nodded as he looked at the turner. He took in a deep breath as he started to tremble. He quickly gave the box back and walked to the bathroom.

"Why don't you get started. I'll check on him." Hermione said as she rose from her seat.

"Is he alright?" Mason asked as he pulled his wand from his costume.

"It's all a bit much." Hermione walked to the door and knocked softly. "Georgie? Can I come in?"

The door opened with a soft click and she walked in closing the door behind her. George was sitting on the floor, his back against the wall. His knees were pulled up with his arms wrapped around them as his head was buried in his knees. Hermione slid down the wall to the floor and wrapped her arms around his waist. They just sat there until George stopped shaking.

"It's going to be okay Georgie. We are getting close to get him back."

George looked up from his knees, his eyes were red from the tears that had spilled.

"I know. It was just getting to me."

"I understand. We've been so busy the last weeks. Why don't we call it a night and do this another time?"

"No! Let's see what we can do tonight."

"Are you sure?" George nodded. "Okay but tomorrow we are taking a break from everything, even if we can't figure it out tonight. Tomorrow will do anything that has nothing to do with this. Deal?"

"Deal." He kissed the top of her head. "Let's go see what's curly doing." He grinned as he pulled her up.

"Let's change first." Hermione chuckled as she looked down at her medieval dress.

-FWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHG-

Mason figured out that there were at least seven spells or curses on the box and turner. While George and Hermione were in the bathroom he got rid of three of them. Mason sighed and asked the others if they wanted to try. George took the box and let it hover in front if him as he muttered spell after spell at it. When the box turned bright green, he jumped up from his seat and started rummaging in his rucksack. Hermione and Mason looked over at George but didn't say anything. After a moment George walked back to his seat where the box was still floating mid air, he held out a spray bottle in front of it. Mason grabbed his hand.

"What are you doing?"

"It's okay. The green light suggested there is some kind of force field around it. If I spray this around it I can see what kind."

"Where did you get it?"

"Made it." He grinned wide.

"George and Fred are brilliant. You should visit their shop sometime. They make everything themselves." Hermione said as she came closer and sat on her knees next to George in front of the box. "I trust everything they make."

"Then I'll know what to do when this is all over." Mason grinned. "Spray away."

And George did just that. He sprayed the bottle a couple of times around the box. George watched intently with Hermione and Mason as a golden shield took form. George turned to Hermione. "Do you still have the book?"

Hermione nodded, knowing exactly what he was talking about. She stood up and walked to her nightstand and came back with the pureblood book. She handed it over to him as she sank back to her knees. George flipped the book open and started flipping through it.

"A book about purebloods?"

"Yes, specifically bloodlines but there are some secrets in their as well, like potions, spells they want to keep to themselves." Hermione explained.

"But why is it in a book?"

"Only purebloods can open the book. That's why I gave it to George."

"You're not a pureblood?"

"Not exactly." Hermione murmured as she rubbed her arm.

"I don't care if you are or not. Most purebloods are pretentious assholes anyway." He shrugged before looking back at George. "But you are?"

"Yes." George said without looking up. "But not the pretentious kind."

"Yeah, kind of figured that out mate." Mason laughed clapping his back. The silence came back to the room as George studied the book.

"I've got it!" George called in the silent room making the others jump. George took his wand from the sofa and aimed it at the box.
"Infectum vitrum." He whispered. They stay the shield scatter like glass. George tentatively reached for the turner. He took it out without any trouble. He let out a breath in relief as he studied the turner closely. Hermione sat the box down on the table. George gave the turner to her as she sat back down on her knees.

"Your turn." He said as she accepted the turner. She did the same thing George and Mason did and let the turner float in front of her as she cast revealing spells at it.

"George do you have the scream with you?"

"No but I bought one at the joke shop here but isn't as powerful as ours. Why?"

"Don't know for sure." She said as she eyed the turner. "Can you amplify it?"

"Yeah, give me sec." George stood up walked to her shopping bags that were still full of his purchases.

"The scream?" Mason asked a bit unsettled.

"Yeah, they made it during the war. It's to scare others away or if they are close enough would leave them without hearing for a couple of days."

"But the one I bought here. Is just a little scream to give your siblings a scare." George said as he walked back with a bright blue ball in his hand. He sat back down next to her. He preformed some difficult spells and hand movements before handing it down to her. "Wait Mione." George waved his wand over everyones ears as he put a protective bubble around it and cast a silencing spell around the room. He nodded to Hermione that she could continue. Hermione tapped her wand on the ball and it cracked open. Even with the protective charm George put around them the scream still reached their ears. Hermione focused the scream at the turner. Mason looked afraid the glas of the turner would brake as he saw cracks forming. He waved his hand towards her but she ignored it. George pushed his hand down and gave him a look. Mason looked at him and dropped his hand before focusing back at the turner. George saw it crack more and before it exploded he flew himself in front of her and covered her from the blast. When the Hermione fell to the ground the ball dropped to and the scream stopped. George sat back up slowly as he pulled her back up, removing the protective bubbles around their ears.

"Thanks George." She gave him a weak smile but it fell down when he saw him wince. "George!" She cried as George fell back down, flat on his stomach. Hermione looked at his back. His shirt was starting to turn red from his blood. She looked over her shoulder to a grim looking Mason.

"Mason!" She snapped him out of it. "Get the tube on the dresser!"

Mason stood up and ran to the dresser. Hermione turned back to George and with a wave of her wand his shirt was gong, she then started with the few healing spells she knew. His blood stopped and the slashed close. George relaxed at bit more as they wounds closed a bit. Mason handed the tube over and Hermione smeared it across his back. The wound instantly healed up but left a couple of scars. George eyes fluttered open and Hermione helped him up and guided him to the sofa.

"How do you feel? This is all my fault!" Hermione cried as she was crouching in front of him her head in her hands.

"I'm fine Mione. And it's not your fault, that was dark magic." George said softly as he took a hold of her hands and pried them away from her face. He pulled her up next to him and she laid her head on his chest. Mason stood awkwardly nearby.

"You have scars."

"Everyone has scars Hermione. And when we get home I have some scar remover cream."

"I don't know if it will help with dark magic Georgie."

"Then I'll will make one or learn to live with it. Hermione if this is a reminder for the rest of my live that this helped save Fred I don't care."

"How did that work so fast?" Mason asked looking over the tube. "Made that to?"

"Fred did." George and Hermione said in unison.

"Hmm." Mason hummed as he looked at the tube. He looked over were the turner was still floating, unharmed. "It didn't even leave a dent."

George and Hermione leaned forward as she summoned it closer. Hermione held out her hand and touched it.

"We're almost through it, you can feel it." She plucked the turner out of the air and handed it to George.

"Yeah, it – it feels lighter." George said as he held the turner out the Mason. Mason carefully took it and weight it in his hand.

"Finite Incantatum." He cast the spell at the turner and he felt another spell leave the necklace. "Only one to go, I think."

"Can I have a look?" She held out her hand as he gave it back. She felt George bobbing his head. "George, I know it's hard but please stay awake, you just lost a lot of blood. Mason can you grab him a new shirt?"

Mason walked to the wardrobe as Hermione twirled her wand around the necklace. After twenty minutes Hermione sighed and leaned back on the sofa.

"I think it's right in front of us but I just can't seem to see it."

"It's been a long night. We don't we get some sleep and try tomorrow."

Hermione rubbed her hands in her face. "Fine, but not tomorrow. George and I made a deal. No work or talk about any of this for one day. Just a day of distraction and relaxation."

"Okay I'll make a deal with you two to then. We work on the rest this Sunday but tomorrow you two come to my bar. We eat something and then we drink."

"Brilliant idea." George slurred as he tried to hold his eyes open.

"Ok. I think we can do that." She grinned. "Now you of to bed." She helped George up and led him to his side of the bed. She tucked him under and walked with Mason to the door.

"Keep the turner save. And best wake him in a couple of hours to see if he's alright." Mason said looking over at George who was already sleeping. "I'll pick you two up at six."

Hermione grabbed his arm as he turned to walk out the door.

"Mason. I can't thank you enough for what you did, what you are doing for us."

He placed his hand on hers. "You don't need to thank me, not you, not George. Just promise you tell me everything after."

"I promise." She reached up and kissed his cheek. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."