"What are you talking about?" Fred asked. "I was hurt, unconscious, but I'm alive." He said while he padded his hands over his body.
"No mate, you – you died." George looked over at his twin. "The first time, you died."
"The? The first time?" He asked confounded. Hermione fumbled under her shirt and pulled out Luna's turner. Fred's eyes went wide, he jumped of the desk and walked closer to her. He looked her in the eyes before his gaze traveled down to the necklace. He turned it over in his hand and looked back between George and Hermione.
"You went back in time?"
Hermione grabbed his hand as he let go of the necklace. "Yes." She whispered. "The first time you died when the wall exploded." Hermione said with tears in her eyes. Fred took a step back and Hermione's hand fell to her side.
"No." He whispered as he took another step back looking at them in shock.
George stepped forward tears in his eyes. When Fred saw his brother in that way, he knew it had to be true. "Freddie, it's true. We had to live without you but-"
"We couldn't." Hermione said as she stepped up next to George. "We couldn't lose you. So, we found a way to bring you back."
Fred combed his hand through his hair pulling at the ends. "Do you know how dangerous that is? What if you messed up? What if Voldemort lived?!"
"We knew what was going to happen. We knew what time and place you were going to..." George started, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "We had it all planned, we worked on it for weeks."
"Weeks? How long?"
"Six months. We went back in time November 9th." George looked over at Hermione as he nervously tapped his foot. "But then something happened, we didn't expect."
"We were supposed to go back to November and blend with our other selves. But we stayed... and our other selves, our younger selves disappeared." Hermione continued as she twirled the necklace in her hand. "This one..." She held up the necklace "isn't the one we used. This one, goes only back a couple of hours. It took us three months before we found this one. Someone told us about another turner, a black and silver one. It could only be used once, then it would destroy itself. The one who told us about this turner, thinks that we may have stayed because it was always meant to be. We always were meant to be go back and save you, save Tonks."
"Tonks ... Tonks died too?" Fred choked out. George nodded as he placed his hand on his shoulder.
"That's why Hermione and I are so close. When you di- when you were gone. Hermione was the one who stayed with me, was the one who got me to eat or shower. She was the only one I saw for months; I couldn't bring myself to see our family." George hung his head as the tears fell down his cheek.
Hermione wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. Fred stepped closer but looked apprehensive as the pair hugged. After a minute they broke apart and looked back at him, their arms still around each other.
"Then one day Hermione came to my room and told me about the turner. That's when I first left the flat and saw the family. We traveled to New York to try and find it."
"New York?"
"Yes, but let's talk about that later." Hermione sighed as she leaned back against the desk. "I know this is a lot."
"No kidding." Fred looked up before he finally strode all the way over and wrapped them both in a hug. "I love you." He whispered to the both of them before he pulled back. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry about the way I acted."
"It's okay twin of mine." George clapped his shoulder before he pulled him back in a hug. "I can't believe I got you back."
"Don't want to interrupt but we've been here for over two hours. Everyone is probably awake. We should go back before they get worried."
Fred turned to her; love shone in his eyes. "Before we do..." With one step he was in front of her. He bent down and kissed her passionately. "It was to long for me. So, I can't imagine what it must have felt like for you." He whispered as he pulled back. She smiled, tears threatening to fall again before she grabbed his neck and pulled him down again to her lips.
"Come on, lovebirds." George chuckled as he wrapped his hand on their shoulder and pushed them to the door. "Let's get some well-deserved breakfast with our family."
"Oh. Our whole family knows about us now." Fred's eyebrows shot up before he groaned. "They are going to bombard us with questions."
"Which you can answer." Hermione chuckled. "We already answered enough of yours."
"I think I can be persuaded." Fred chuckled as he waggled his eyebrows.
"Gods, I missed you." She said as she cuddled closer to his side.
They went straight to the great hall where they immediately saw the notorious mop of red hair. When the Weasleys noticed the three of them walk in, they all sighed in relieve and their shoulders dropped. Hermione sat down next to Harry who gave her a side hug. Fred sat down next to her, and George dropped down across from her next to Ron.
"So, who wants to start?" Molly asked looking at Fred and Hermione who were holding hands as they leaned against each other. Hermione grinned at Fred who rolled his eyes before he looked over at his parents.
"So, this lovely bird here is my girlfriend." He grinned at his family pulling her even closer.
"Yeah, we kind of figured that out." Bill chuckled.
"What we want to know is how did it happen, how long?"
"Hmm..." Fred hummed as he thought about his mother question. He looked over at Hermione and smiled wide. "A little over two years."
"TWO YEARS?" Was shouted across the table. Several heads turned to the Weasley's.
"I don't know how, but I got this one here to agree to be my girlfriend, right before we left Hogwarts."
"Doesn't feel like two years, does it?" Hermione asked herself a little surprised. "With me away at school and being on the run."
"No, it doesn't. But now we'll have time to catch up." He kissed the top of her head.
Molly saw the love and affection he gave the young witch and her eyes started to water. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Numerous reasons really." Fred started and Hermione saw Ron bow his head as he twirled with his fingers.
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you." Hermione said to Ron.
Ron looked up from his lap. "Who knew?"
"I did." None of them were surprised by George statement.
"Me too." Ginny added. "Figured it out myself. It was quite obvious." She chuckled.
"I knew too." Harry whispered. Ron's eyes grew big as his head turned to Harry.
"You knew?! And you never told me!?"
"I caught them." Harry looked nervously at Hermione who placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Ron... I asked him to keep it quiet. It wasn't his secret to tell."
Ron shot up from his chair and bounded out the room. Molly shook her head slightly and looked back at Harry, Hermione and Fred.
"Just give him time. I don't think he's mad that you two are together. I believe he moved on last year." Molly didn't say her name because everyone knew Lavender had been one of the casualties. "But I think he's mad because you didn't tell him. He was left in the dark."
Hermione's gaze traveled to the open doors where Ron disappeared through, she sighed as she leaned into Fred. Happy to have his strong arms wrapped around her once again. Ron calmed down after a few days like Molly predicted.
- HGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFW -
"We're leaving."
Hermione looked over at Fred. They were sitting in his room after he finally left George's side after he lost his ear three days ago.
"I figured. You've been packing since you arrived here." Fred rubbed his hands over his face as he walked to the bed and sat down next to her. "When?"
"After the wedding." She grabbed his hands. "I need you to promise me something."
"Anything." He answered as he rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.
"Promise me you'll be save."
Fred gave her a hoarse chuckle. "You are the one who's going on some sort of hunt."
"I know but I know you."
"I promise love. After what happened to Georgie..."
Hermione raised one hand and cupped his cheek. He automatically leaned into her touch. "He's going to be okay."
"Can you stay with me tonight?"
Hermione stood up and walked out the room leaving a flabbergasted Fred in her wake. A few minutes Hermione walked back in the room in her pajama's and with a wave of her wand locked the door.
"Ginny is going to cover for me." She smiled as she climbed under the covers. Fred stood up from the foot of the bed and changed in his pajama bottoms before climbing in next to her. Hermione scooted closer and laid her head on his shoulder and a hand on his chest.
"Can you promise me something too?" He felt Hermione nod against his chest. "Write to me?"
Hermione lifted her head and searched his eyes. She nodded slowly before she placed her lips on his pouring all her love into the kiss.
Fred and George were leading everyone to their places for the wedding when a veela cousin smiled seductively as she made her way to Fred.
"Hello." She placed a hand on his arm, Fred stepped back immediately, looking around the tent for Hermione. "Can you help me to my seat?"
"Actually, I'm waiting for my girlfriend but my brother there would be happy to help you." He pointed the veela to Ron. She frowned as she looked from Ron back to Fred and grumbled. "Fine." Before she strode of to a very happy little brother.
What Fred didn't know was that Hermione was just outside the tent, watching the exchange with a smile. Fred turned and looked straight at her a big smile stretched on his face as he saw her.
"Wow!' Fred sighed as his gaze went up and down. "You look gorgeous."
"Thank you." Hermione blushed under his gaze. "You don't look bad yourself." She smiled as gently pulled on his collar. "Care to escort me to my seat?"
"Wouldn't want it any other way." He offered her his arm with his charming, crocked smile. When they reached her seat, he gave her quick peck on the cheek and whispered. "Save me a dance?"
"Of course." She smiled as he bounded down the aisle back to the front a happy bounce in his step.
"Can I cut in?" Fred asked when the song ended as she danced with Viktor. Viktor gave him a short nod before he departed leaving Hermione in Fred's arms.
"Hi." She smiled up at him as he held her close. "You weren't jealous, were you?"
Fred huffed as he glanced over to Krum as they slowly dance on the music. "Maybe a little. Not as bad as with that git Cormac." He admitted as he looked down in her brown eyes. "I know Krum has a girlfriend."
"Fiancé actually." She smiled. "And you also know I only have eyes for one man."
"Who? I'll beat him." Fred joked as he looked around the tent. She slapped his chest as she laughed. "Gods I love the way you laugh."
"I really want to kiss you right now." Her eyes full of desire as she looked up at him. He grabbed her hand and turned to the exit but before they could reach it a patronus landed in the middle of the tent telling everyone the ministry had fallen. Hermione looked in panic at Fred who stared back at her with the same fear.
"HERMIONE!" Harry called as he grabbed her hand and started looking for Ron.
"I love you!" She yelled at Fred as Harry took her to Ron.
"I love you!" He shouted back before they disappeared.
They wrote to each other a least once a day, just to tell each other they were okay. The next time day saw each other was when they arrived at Hogwarts. Hermione didn't want Harry to tell Fred what happened at Malfoy manor as she knew Fred would endanger himself to come see her. So, when Fred stepped in the room of requirement her breath hitched. Hermione raced over and hugged George and then Fred. She lingered a little longer on her twin as he whispered in her ear.
"You're okay. You're okay." He repeated in her ear.
"I missed you." She whispered back as she squeezed him. "I love you."
"I love you too." They broke apart when Harry started to explain about the diadem. Soon after Harry left with Luna and Hermione was going with Ron to the chamber of secrets.
"Be careful." He whispered next to her as she was about to leave.
"I will. I'll see you soon okay." She squeezed his hand as she looked up at him.
"Soon." He repeated as he squeezed back before she departed
