Chapter 11

Hermione slept poorly that night. Her dreams were full of a terror and grief that belonged to someone else. She woke early and had a sickening sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. What had happened? Where was Fred? She dressed quickly and ran up the boys dormitory, she hesitated outside the seventh years door, before continuing up the spiral staircase and hammering on Harry and Ron's door. A bleary eyed Neville answered,

"Hermione?"

"Where's Harry? Ron?" Hermione asked looking past Neville at their empty beds.

"They left. In the night. Harry had a nightmare, he was sick." Neville sounded scared. "McGonagall took them, and Ginny and the twins too. Harry said their dad had been attacked by a giant snake. He was really sick"

Hermione looked at Neville in horror, then turned and ran straight to McGonagall's office. She was awake, looking tired,

"Ah, Miss Granger. I'm glad you're here. I trust you have heard what happened last night?"

"Yes, how is Mr Weasley?"

"Alive. I know that this goes without saying, but you must not mention Harry's… dream, to anyone. In particular, Dolores Umbridge. Do you understand?"

"Yes Professor."

"Very good. Now you best go and pack, the carriages will be arriving at 10.30 to take you all to the station"

"Professor?" asked Hermione.

"Yes?" said McGonagall fixing her with a beady eye.

"I originally requested that I return home for the holidays. But given the circumstances, I think I would like to amend my form and return to Grimmauld Place. If that's allowed?" McGonagall gave her a sharp look and then said,

"Certainly. I shall arrange for the night bus to collect you and take you there directly. I shall escort you myself."

Hermione arrived just as the family were returning from the hospital. She hugged Harry and Ginny and as they all traipsed off to bed. She caught Fred's eyes and he slipped into the drawing room. She waited to make sure the hallway was empty before she slipped in after him. She took one look at his exhausted, drained face and crossed the room in two strides and hugged him. He held onto her fiercely, drawing strength from her warmth. They broke apart just enough so that she could stand on tip toes and kiss him. She tried to put a lot of unsaid feelings into the kiss and she thought he might have understood as he squeezed her tightly.

She could feel the energy wrap around and surround them, the very air began to vibrate with it. Fred deepened the kiss, there was an urgency about them as they clung to one another. Hermione's heart felt like it was rejoicing in her chest and the creature in Fred's chest was roaring with happiness. Fred kissed her neck as she tilted her head to give him better access and his hands ran up her sides sending bolts of pleasure through her. The charged air around them crackled, the old oil lamps flickered in an invisible breeze, but neither of them noticed. They were totally absorbed in each other, kissing fiercely, hand roaming, pulling the other closer. The intensity of the magic that surrounded them seemed to cast them in a golden glow, and slowly they were lifted off the floor, hovering a few inches above the dusty carpet. They hardly noticed. After a few long moments, it could have been minutes or hours, they slowed, both breathing heavily. They drifted softly back to the ground and then slowly became aware of their surroundings- the air was humming around them, the magic almost palpable, one of the lamps has gone out and looking down they saw a perfect circle where the dust had been blown away from where they stood.

"What is this?" asked Hermione, wonder in her voice.

"No idea" said Fred softly "but I don't think it's bad" he trailed his fingers lightly over her face, tracing the shape of her eyebrows, her cheekbones… her lips. Lowering his head he gave her a long, soft kiss that made her melt into his arms.

Fred stayed with Hermione for the rest of the day why the everyone else slept. They spent most of it in the drawing room, Fred dozing on the couch while Hermione curled up on the old armchair, reading. She had found a dusty old tome called 'The Most Ancient of Magics' and was devouring the pages. Mrs Weasley poked her head around the door early evening,

"oh there you are, I'm just putting together a late lunch in the kitchen dears"

"Thanks Mrs Weasley" said Hermione, standing up and stretching. She waiting until Mrs Weasley had gone before walking over to Fred and lightly stroking his face and planting small kisses along his jaw to wake him. He smiled and as she went to stand, he caught her hand and pulled her down on top him.

"Fred!" she laughed. He sat up with her on his lap and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders deepening the kiss. Then, hearing footsteps thudding down the stairs Hermione jumped off his lap and hurried to the door. She reached it just as George did.

"You seen Fred?" he asked looking concerned. She gestured behind her as she ducked past him and headed down to the kitchen.

"Have you been in here all day?" asked George looking around the room suspiciously.

"Yeah, I fell asleep on the sofa" Fred said looking directly at his twin, daring him to contradict him.

"And Granger?"

"She must have come in to read while I was asleep" Fred shrugged, nodding at the old book Hermione had been reading.

"Bloody bookworm" muttered George, but seemed satisfied. Together they headed down to the kitchen.

The rest of the Christmas holidays passed in a blur. Hermione was happier than she ever remembered being. Her bond with Fred was so strong that she could feel it connecting them whenever they were in the same room. It almost felt like a physical force, binding them together. In her mind's eye she imagined it as fine gold threads linking the two of them. Wanting to understand what was happening between them, she had asked Sirius if she could borrow some of the books from the library- he said she could take as many as she wanted and the burn them when she was done. Disturbed at the idea of burning any book, Hermione asked Fred to perform an extension charm on her trunk so she could fit all the books she wanted in.

They travelled back to Hogwarts on the knight bus, Stan Shunpike gave her a warm welcome and a free hot chocolate as she was becoming such a regular. She sat with Ginny at the very front, feeling Fred's gaze on her. When they reached the common room, Fred slipped her a note as he followed George over to Lee Jordan. Her heart beat faster as she imagined secret instructions to a rendezvous point and she couldn't help letting out a particularly un-lady like snort of laughter when she read it:

'Bet you were expecting a secret meeting spot. No such luck I'm afraid. Sweet dreams.' There was a moving sketch of a smiley face that winked at her.

The next morning, Fred sat with George arguing over their plans for the future. They had managed to secure premises at Diagon Alley for their joke shop, and they had developed many of their products. George wanted to leave the school soon, he claimed things were getting a little too serious with Angelina and he was ready for the dramatic, heroic exit they had always talked about. Fred was trying to convince his brother that they should stay, but couldn't come up with a strong enough argument. All he could think about was Hermione. If they left now, when would he see her next? Not being able to say any of this to George he said,

"Lets wait."

"For what?"

"For Umbridge to go really power crazy. Then we strike. Maximum impact."

"The fireworks?"

"All of them." George grinned at his twin and clapped him on the back.