A.N.: For this chapter my special thanks goes to my writer-friend Moonfairy13 who's always patiently helping me out, if I struggle phrasing something in English. You're my hero! Thank you for being there for me and encouraging me.

A.N: Before somebody tells me that the week days don't match with the dates: I know. I just realized that I messed up somewhere during the last chapters. At the beginning everything was fine, but somewhere I made a mistake. I'll correct that when I go over the story again, when everything is finished and I have someone betaing for me. But I can't correct it just now, I'm sorry.

Chapter 25: Gratitude

26th of September 1999

It was a long and draining evening for all of them as Hermione pulled memory strand after memory strand from her head and viewed them together with Fred and George in her Pensieve. She hadn't been lying when she said she'd show them everything because for them to understand what happened they needed the whole picture. And that meant seeing at least some parts of her sixth year at Hogwarts and the most important events since. Every memory she showed them made them look more and more haunted and after she finished with the last one of her visit with dying George, both men were openly crying next to her on the sofa. Hermione looked at them in sadness.

"I'm sorry, was that too much?" she whispered, looking at them anxiously. But she had barely closed her mouth again before they embraced her in a bone-crushing hug. They seemed at a loss for words though as none of them uttered a word and they just held her until their tears stopped falling.

"I think it's the first time in my life that I am totally speechless Hermione," Fred said after a while and slowly let go of her. "I can't believe what you did for our family, but especially for us. It quite frankly blows my mind and I have no words to show you my gratitude."

George nodded on her shoulder as he still hadn't let go of her. "We can never pay you back for this, Hermione. This is more than a life debt or anything I could even put into words," he mumbled and rested his head against hers. But Hermione gently shook her head.

"I don't want anything in return you two, that's not why I told you any of this. I just need you to understand what led me to make this vow towards you, George, because I think you need to acknowledge its fulfilment for these light cords to finally go away." She motioned towards the two of them and finally, George let go of her and looked at the magic binding them together.

"Yes, right," he said awkwardly, cleared his throat and locked his brown eyes with hers. "I, George Gideon Weasley, acknowledge the vow that you, Hermione Jean Granger, made toward me and I hereby declare it as fulfilled." The reaction was immediate, as the magical cords binding them together glowed even more brightly for a moment, before vanishing a moment later. Hermione blinked her eyes at the brightness for a moment, before her shoulders sagged with relief.

"I guess that's done then," she said and smiled before a huge yawn escaped her mouth. "Merlin, what time is it anyway?" She glanced at the watch on her wrist and blinked in surprise. "It's four in the morning."

Fred chuckled darkly. "That's why I feel so tired then. Thank god it's Sunday tomorrow because there's no way I would be able to stand in the shop and work tomorrow."

George hummed in agreement before turning to Hermione again. "You're staying over of course. There's no way I let you go before having had a proper talk about all of this." With that he pulled himself up from the sofa and gave her his hand, to help her up. "You can sleep in my room, I'll just bunk with Fred like in old times."

Hermione blinked at them insecurely. "But, I didn't bring anything for a sleepover, guys. I could just use the floo and come back in the morning." But they were having none of it.

"I'll resize you some of my pyjamas and for everything else you're a witch, right?" He winked at her. "So, no excuses, you're staying." He looked at her with firm eyes and Hermione sighed in defeat.

"Alright, I'm staying," she said and took George's hand to get up. He smiled at her full of gratitude.

"Excellent."

27th of September 1999

Hermione slept without dreaming that night which was unusual but welcome for Hermione. The last days had drained her and she was thankful to get some much-needed rest in George's very comfortable bed. It was noon until she finally crawled out of the covers and trotted into the bathroom across the hallway. When she emerged from it half an hour later, still in George's pyjamas, she saw that the twins were already up and waiting on the breakfast table for her.

"Morning guys," she said and padded towards them with bare feet. "Sorry for sleeping in, but I think I really needed the rest."

"Don't worry about it, Hermione. We want you to feel at home with us," Fred said and winked at her, before patting on the chair next to him. She followed the invitation with a happy smile.

"No Canary Cream for breakfast I hope," she said jokingly and poured herself some tea.

George snorted. "Only if you want some. We're more for classic breakfast though." He winked at her before offering her some toast and beans. She accepted them with a grateful nod. But just as she wanted to start eating, she saw both of them staring awkwardly at her.

"What is it?" she asked before taking a bite. Fred cleared his throat nervously and put his cup down, before taking her hand into his own.

"George and I have been thinking," he said and George who was sitting across from her at the table nodded with a shy smile. "About everything you told us yesterday, everything you lost or had to give up."

"Uh… okay?" Hermione said and waited what was coming next. Because she was pretty sure that the two of them had prepared some pretty big speech.

"You were dating our brother, weren't you?" George asked her suddenly before Fred had the chance to say something else and this time it was Hermione's turn to clear her throat.

"For about a year, yeah," she admitted and looked at her filled plate.

"Do you still love him?" the man across from her continued and she could feel the intensity with which he was studying her.

"I… the Ron from this timeline is very different, he's not the same and he will never be. The other Ron is lost to me now. I loved him very much once… but I am trying to get him out of my mind, to be honest."

Both of them nodded understandingly. "Take all the time you need, Hermione. And if you need help or simply… anything… we're here, for whatever you want," George concluded and looked at her with a smile. She smiled happily.

"There's actually really something I would like from you," she said and looked at them. "Two things actually."

"We're all ears," they said in unison and looked at her expectantly.

"I'd really like to be your friend again, not your aunt or whatever you consider me at the moment. I know we barely know each other, but I'd really like to change that. If that's alright with you," she mumbled and looked at them with a shy gaze. But she needn't have worried because instantly Fred pulled her into a firm hug, while George squeezed her hand across the table.

"We'd love to get to know you and be your friends, Hermione," they chorused happily, before letting go of her again. "And what's the second thing you'd like from us?"

Hermione grinned. "How do you feel about pranking Ron and saving the memory for me?"

They grinned. "It would be our pleasure."

29th of September 1999

Fred and George kept their promise of pranking their brother for her and it didn't take two hours after arriving back at Spinner's End for the first vial of memories to arrive. From there on she got a delivery once or twice per day usually accompanied by some words of gratefulness or appreciation or an invitation for an evening with them. Hermione had to admit that she was looking more and more forward to their little surprises. Suddenly Hermione's days weren't dull or sad at all and before she even realized it, the feeling of homesickness she had had for weeks had faded completely.

"I'd like to open a Gringott's account," she said to Severus two days later over lunch. "… and start earning some money for myself. I hate living out of your pocket and it's time I start doing something about it."

Her friend looked at her with a pleased smile. "I surely won't say anything against it. Do you want some support with the goblins? I'm free in the afternoon so if you want somebody to have your back or look over the contract…"

"Absolutely. Who knows how many problems I will run into," Hermione said and grinned. She had no idea.

Stepping into Gringott's would never get less exciting for Hermione. The building itself was impressive on its own but knowing that a huge dragon was guarding the vaults below and having the memories of her break-in into the bank made her heart beat faster when she got up the stairs towards the entrance. When she entered to building some moments later and was pinned down by the suspicious gaze of about twenty goblins that didn't make her any less nervous. She swallowed but when she felt Severus' reassuring hand on her shoulder she straightened her spine and moved to the next open counter.

"Name?" a black-haired goblin asked her with green distrustful eyes.

"Hermione Granger, sir," she said politely and forced herself to smile. "I'd like to open an account."

Immediately she could hear the hall breaking out into nervous whispers, while the goblin behind the counter looked at her with even more suspicion. "There is already an account with that name, Miss," he replied coldly and studied her with a piercing gaze. Hermione turned around and looked at Severus with wide eyes.

"There is? But… I never opened one, did I?" she asked him in a confused tone. Her friend shook his head with furrowed brows.

"Not that I know off, no. But as I mostly couldn't be at your side back then, there is the possibility that I am just not aware of it."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully, before turning back to the bank assistant. "As far as I know there is currently only one Hermione Granger in Wizarding Britain, sir. But unfortunately, I do not remember opening an account before."

The goblin nodded slowly and suddenly another goblin appeared right behind him. "Is there any way for you to prove, that you are indeed Hermione Granger, Miss?" She blinked in confusion.

"Well, I don't know. Is there? I do have my wand, or maybe by taking some of my blood…" she murmured and suddenly the hall broke out into excited whispers again. Hermione looked around nervously. What was all of this about? But she felt Severus starting to nervously shift from one foot to another.

"I wouldn't recommend offering your blood Hermione," he whispered urgently and Hermione nodded in understanding. Then she looked at the bank managers in front of her.

"Well? Is there a way to prove my identity?"

They smiled widely at her showing their pointed teeth in the process. "If you don't feel comfortable offering your blood, witch, then we will take hair from your head. And kindly hand over your wand if you please." He looked at her with dark gleaming eyes and Hermione looked at Severus for confirmation.

"What do you think Severus?"

Her friend shrugged. "There're some really dark rituals that can be performed with blood, but hair should be safe enough. They probably just want your DNA."

For a moment she blinked in surprise of the use of the muggle term before she remembered that her friend was a half-blood. She nodded before pulling one of her hairs out and offering it to the goblins. One of them took it carefully with two fingers and put it into a golden bowl that was richly decorated with various gems. Then he looked at her with a raised brow and Hermione handed over her wand to him with a polite nod. The goblin took it warily and inspected it with furrowed brows. As the minutes trickled by several other goblins appeared behind the counter and in the end, seven of them were engaged in a hushed discussion, as they motioned between her hair and her wand with agitated gestures. Hermione couldn't help but feel the nervousness take more and more hold of her. But before she could say something else to Severus one of the goblins stepped around the counter and offered Hermione her wand with a deep bow.

"Madame Granger," he said and looked at her with an unreadable expression. "My name is Warrick, I am the current leader of Gringott's. I apologize for the inconvenience we might have caused you. But we had to make sure it is really you."

Hermione looked at Warrick in surprise. "It's alright I suppose. But I must confess that I am still not sure what all of this is about." She blinked at him, then suddenly felt the tell-tale headache from behind her forehead and gripped Severus arm in caution. And before she could say any anything else to warn him, she felt her vision cloud over and her legs give out, as another memory hit her with the force of a truck.

5th of June 1981

After having secured their second Horcrux Hermione was so full of victorious feelings, that she had the strong hope everything would be well in the end. They had Dumbledore's help for destroying the pieces of Voldemort's soul now and as Severus was already working on retrieving the diary from Malfoy Manor, there were only two other Horcruxes they had to worry about. And while Hermione was floating in her bubble of victorious feelings, she suddenly had a mad little idea. She wasn't particularly fond of the idea of breaking into Gringott's again and as Severus wasn't really keen on stealing a hair from Bellatrix, they would have to try something else first. Hermione had an idea what exactly that could be. But before she would even consider making steps into that direction, she would consult with Fabian, Gideon and Severus - her cunning Slytherin friend. Because if she wanted this plan to work, she'd need all the cunning and knowledge she could get.

And so it was three days of heavy planning and discussions later, that Hermione marched into Gringott's with her twins and an expertly transfigured Severus in tow. Fabian had done a masterful job on him and even Hermione who knew that it was Severus couldn't find any similarities between him and the blonde, stunningly handsome wizard that looked at her with pale almost violet eyes. He looked like a Veela with his long hair that fell down his back in soft waves and the charming smile that played around his lips. He looked like an entirely different person and if they were spotted by a Death Eater by chance, no one would be able to make the connection to the grumpy, oily haired wizard with crooked teeth that was a member of their muggle-hating circle. And so Hermione felt confident that their little scheme would remain undetected.

Luckily the bank was fairly empty when the four of them stepped inside. There were only two customers around and so most of the counters were empty. Severus, who had taken the lead in their little party, confidently turned to the left and moved to the counter at the back of this side with a grace that spoke of money and an upbringing in the highest circles. Hermione followed him close behind with the twins flanking her from both sides.

"I'd like to offer the bank a business deal," Severus' rich baritone stated firmly as he looked the goblin behind the counter squarely into its small beady eyes. "But I'd prefer a more private setting for this discussion."

The black-haired bank assistant studied him with intelligent eyes and after a moment he nodded and hopped from his high stool. "Come with me then, noble Sir," he said and hobbled towards a large golden door in the back of the room. The three of them followed him closely and Hermione could feel the eyes of almost everyone else in the bank following them. She raised her head proudly and passed the door with a confident smile on her lips that didn't show the inner turmoil she was feeling.

They were led into a huge office that looked more like a richly decorated sitting room of some wealthy Aristocrat and only the desk at the other end of the room betrayed the impression and indicated the real function of the room.

"Please take a seat. I'll go and get the bank manager for you," the goblin said and before any one of them could utter a reply he closed the door behind him and was gone. Hermione sighed nervously.

"Merlin, I hope this works," she said and sat down on an intricately decorated chair that looked like it was directly from a museum. Her friends copied her action after sending her a nervous smile.

"Me, too," Severus mumbled while sitting down to her left. It didn't take long for the door behind them to be opened again and Hermione got up from her seat again to greet the elderly Goblin that was walking towards them with measured steps. She nodded towards him with a kind smile and the three men in her company copied the gesture of respect before sitting down again. The goblin looked at them with a pleased smile, before taking his seat behind the desk.

"My name is Grabruk. I am the current bank manager of this Gringott's branch. It came to my attention that you want to make a business proposal, sir. May I inquire your name and the nature of the proposal?"

Severus looked at the white-haired goblin across from him with a winning smile. "My name isn't to any importance to this discussion as I am not actually the one, making the proposal." He nodded towards Hermione with a small smile and she saw it as her cue to look at Grabruk with proud eyes. "It is me who wants to talk to you, sir," she said and immediately the small green eyes of the bank manager came to rest on her.

"And your name is?" he asked her in a polite tone.

"My name is Hermione Granger," she replied and looked at him with a self-assuredness she didn't feel at all. Now it was time to play her cards and she would have to do so very carefully. "My friends and I came across two Goblin made artefacts and we would like to seek your opinion on their condition first. Would you agree to inspect them, before we continue this discussion?"

Grabruk looked at her with growing interest. "We would consider doing so given a small fee," he said and looked at her with an inclined head.

Hermione nodded with a grateful smile. "Thank you. I need to insist though, that this conversation must remain within these walls and is not to leave it under any circumstances. It is for all of our safety." The goblin nodded and she continued. "Furthermore you might want to consider inviting one of your most skilled curse breakers in for the discussion."

The goblin studied her with a calculating gaze. "Very well," he finally said and pulled at the small cord next to his desk. "Harrinuk will join us in a moment. I must admit, that you have piqued my curiosity."

Hermione smiled to herself. That was intention behind her introduction of the upcoming discussion. Because she needed the goblins to listen to her and really consider what she was offering.

Harrinuk the curse breaker was a goblin as well and he strode into the room wearing a heavy-looking armour, that made him look more like a warrior. He nodded towards them with a grim expression before stepping next to the bank manager and conversing with him in a hushed tone. Hermione waited patiently for the end of their little exchange of information. It didn't take long until Grabruk looked at them with a business-like expression.

"Very well, we are now ready to inspect your artefacts," he said and Hermione nodded. This was the twin's cue and they stepped in front of the desk and Gideon pulled a little box out of his robe that had the size of a matchbox. But as soon as his twin touched it, the little charmed thing extended to its original size and Hermione recognized the safe box her twins had constructed for the safe-keeping of the Horcruxes. The twins looked at her for a short moment, before gripping the lid of the container in unison and opening it with a practised move. The two Goblins behind the desk looked at the contents of the box in stunned silence before a small smile started to form around their lips. And Hermione immediately knew she had their attention.