Chapter 15

Hermione woke up twice that night to check up on George. George grumbled as she woke him but he drank some water and let her check his back.
The next morning Hermione dabbed his scar with the tube Fred made just to be sure. Hermione was just working on the last scar when she plucked up her courage.

"George?"

"Hmm?"

"I want to tell you about Malfoy Manor."

George turned slowly. "Why now?" He asked softly.

"Because of this." She pointed at his back as he put his shirt back on. George looked at her brows furrowed. She pulled her sleeve up and showed him her scar. Mudblood. George face went red with anger.

"Who!?" Was the only thing he could manage to say and even that was in a low growl.

"Bellatrix."

"Did Fred know?"

"No..It happened a few weeks before the battle."

"I'm glad mum offed her, or I would have been the one if I knew or even Fred." He gently took her arm and traced his thumb around the scar. "Can you tell me what happened?"

And so Hermione told her all what had happened that night, the capture, the torture, Greyback, Malfoy, Dobby. After she was finished they sat there in silence, while George was still gently rubbing her scar.

"Bill and Fleur know?"

"Yes, Fleur did everything she could to heal me but this.. this is dark magic."

"And like I said yesterday. I'll find a way to get rid of it."

"But even if you don't – No George it is entirely possible you won't succeed – but that's okay. Like you said yesterday. We got those for doing something good, these are a reminder for what we live for today."

George pulled her into a sidehug. "I know. You can put a tattoo over it." George laughed.

"Not a bad idea actually." Hermione answered serious as she glanced at the word Mudblood carved in her arm.

"What do you want to do today?" Hermione asked as they ate breakfast at the restaurant of the hotel.

"Maybe we could explore muggle New York for a bit. I hear it is very popular among muggles."

"Yes, I heard that too." Hermione chuckled and scooped up a bit of egg on her fork. "We could go to Times Square and maybe Central Park."

"You lead the way Hermione." George said as he drank from his tea. "You know more than I do. At least you know more than I do regarding New York." He grinned at her.

"Miss and Mister Lovegood." Suze appeared and bowed deep before them.

"Morning Suze." George smiled down at her. "What can I do you for?"

"I have a letter for you Mister Lovegood."

"Thank you." He accepted the letter and gave a few coins in return.

George saw his mothers handwriting on the envelop. George and Hermione.

"It's for the both of us."

Hermione scooted closer to him and he opened the letter.

George, Hermione

Are you okay? I haven't heard from you in two weeks. I already talked to Kingsley and asked if he could contact the ministry of Australia but they haven't found you! I'm loosing it. I'm one second away from taking a portkey to Australia and come looking for you myself. Bill and Harry said if something happened you would have let me know. Angelina has been coming her a couple of times a week since she hasn't heard anything either. Let us know something from the moment you get this or I'll come after you two.

Mum.

"I guess the letters didn't arrive." George said as he looked up from the letter.

"Guess so. It is a long way of course. Let's send a patronus, that's the fastest."

"Can you do it? I don't know if I can manage one yet. I tried to send one a few weeks after Fred... but I couldn't do it."

She placed her hand on his arm. "I'll do it." She thought of the first time Fred told her he loved her. "Expecto Patronum." The silver otter shot out of her wand and turned to look at them. "Molly and everyone who is there. George and I are fine. Our post must have gotten lost along the way."

"Hi mum. We are alright. We are just taking a break today and going to do some sightseeing." George added.

"We'll contact you soon."

"We miss you." George closed the conversation to the otter.

"You can give this message to Molly Weasley." Hermione told the otter. The otter nodded and jumped through the wall and out of sight.

"Can I ask what you thought about?"

"The first time Fred told me he loved me." She sad with a smile, a blush on her cheeks.

-FWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHG-

"Mione love? What are you doing?" Fred asked as he looked up at Hermione who was hovering in the air stacking the shelves. She looked down at him smiling.

"I'm restocking. What does it look like?"

"But why are you in the air?"

"Because I'm not as tall as you." She turned and looked at the other redhead who sat at the counter with an amusing smile on his face. "I'm done Georgie, you can put me down."

George waved his wand and Hermione came down gently in Fred's arms. "Hi." She blushed at their close proximity. At that moment the door flew open and Parvati and Lavender walked in. Hermione walked backwards out of Fred's arms. "Not those two." She groaned.

"Hermione? What are you doing here? What are you wearing?"

"I work here." She said her chest puffed.

"You? Work here?" Lavender giggled.

"Yes she does. And she is certainly an asset. She helps us make the products we sell here." Fred glared at the blond witch walking back closer to Hermione and wrapped and arm around her waist. George walked towards them and trew his arm around her shoulders.

"Can I help you ladies?" George asked frowning.

"I was wondering if one of you could help me search for the skiving boxes." Lavender said batting her eyelashes. George looked over his shoulder and pointed.

"There."

"Oh, well then I'll go have a look then. Parvati?" She asked. Parvati followed but turned.

"I'm sorry." Parvati whispered as she glanced over to Lavender.

"It's fine." Hermione shrugged.

"And you look great in those robes. I could never pull it off." She said honestly.

"Thanks." She smiled at Parvati before she headed down to her best friend.

"That Lavender bird can't take a hint." George sighed as he let go of Hermione. "Why don't you two go upstairs, me and Verity can close up."

"You sure?" Fred asked looking at his twin.

"Go on before I send Lavender after you." George chuckled as he pushed them to the stairs leading to the flat. Hermione saw Lavender's stare as she walked up the stairs with Fred.

"Do you mind if I lay down for a bit?" Hermione asked once they entered the flat. "Harry arrived last night and we talked until late at night."

"No go lie down. Grab something of mine to wear. I'll just start on dinner."

"Thank you." She kissed his cheek before heading to the bedroom. She grabbed one of his old quidditch shirts and threw it on. It stopped right at her knee and she decided it was long enough to go without pants.

Fred prepared dinner and placed it on a heating charm for when George made his way up. He went to his bedroom where Hermione was fast a sleep. He felt his heart stutter as he saw her lying there with only his quidditch shirt on. The shirt has crept up on her legs and stopped right under her bottom. He walked over, heart racing as he laid down next to her and drabbed a blanket over her. She kicked the blanket away and curled up next to him, wrapping her arm around his waist and her head on his chest.

"To warm." She mumbled.

"Sorry love, dinner is ready." He whispered on the top of her head, placing a light kiss on her hair.

"Five more minutes."

"Alright love. And I got to say you look even better in that shirt than in you do in your work robes." He said softly and he felt her chuckle.

"Then maybe I'll keep it."

Fred smiled to himself as the beautiful witch laid on his chest. Her breathing got more shallow and Fred thought she fell a sleep again when he whispered.

"I love you."

He felt her stiffen on top of him and he wondered if he screwed it all up. He thought she was a sleep, he still meant it though but was afraid she didn't feel the same or it was to early. Slowly Hermione lifted her head up from his chest and looked up at him with big brown chocolate eyes.

"What?"

"I – I love you." He said with a shake in his voice and tried to figure out what was going on inside her head, searching for an answer in her eyes. Before he could say something she grabbed him by the neck and pulled him down as she kissed him passionately.

"I love you too." She breathed as they pulled back. Fred couldn't control the grin that grew on his face before he swooped down and kissed her again. When they heard George walk in they made their way to the kitchen to eat dinner together. George quircked an eyebrow when he saw what Hermione was wearing.

"Change of clothes Hermione?"

"I took a nap. Harry held me up all night." She said as she dropped down in front of George who was waggling his eyebrows.

"Ew! Gross no. Harry is like my brother." She chuckled. "He arrived yesterday and wanted to catch and talk some sense in your little brother."

"And how did that go?" George asked as Fred sat down next to her. His arm around the back of her chair.

"He got him around. Even though he said the exact same things as me, he believed Harry." She shrugged as she dug in to her plate of pasta.

-FWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHG-

That night Fred and George were sitting on the sofa making notes on their products.

"Fred? Fred!" George called louder waking up day dreaming Fred who had a silly grin on his face. "Where was your head?" George asked chuckling.

"Hermione told me she loved me."

"Oh that's what that dopey smile is for." George laughed, shaking his head. "So you liked that she wore your quidditch jersey right?"

"I loved it!" Fred's grin grew even wider.

"Come on go to bed you. You can't work if your head is in the clouds."

"First a shower." Fred said standing up.

"A cold one, I presume." George laughed as Fred face lit up.