Thank you to everyone who is reading this! I am taking my time with this story, trying to get it right. Thanks again!
Disclaimer-I do not own any rights to the characters of this story
Fred moved swiftly but carefully back to the burrow. Cradling Hermione close to his chest. Her breathing was quiet, much too quiet for his comfort. He didn't dare take a peek at the small girl. The fear of her state kept him pushing further. It was hard enough feeling how lite her body was, how cold to the touch she was.
"Alohomora!" the burrow doors swung open at Fred's command, allowing him to barrel into its warmth. "George! Get blankets, towels, water, food, Mom!" Fred ordered, unsure of what exactly he needed. George was close behind, waving his wand to summon what he could. Fred rushed up the stairs, taking Hermione to his old room. Slowly he laid her down, his eyes finally coming to rest on her.
The nightmares he had had the last year were nothing compared to the reality before him. Her body was torn. She looked like she hadn't eaten a good meal in months. Her skin was pale and cut in many places. Dark bruises scared her arms and her bushy hair, was now flat and matted against her skull.
"Fred." She whispered, shaking him from his trance. He felt his legs give way and he fell to his knees beside the bed. His hand carefully coming to rest on hers. She closed her eyes. "You're alive." She hummed, a slight smile spreading across her face.
"You're alive." Fred replied allowing a deep breath out. All this time he knew she was alive. They sat for a moment in silence. Both exhausted, but both happy.
The silence didn't last long. "Ok, towels, water, extra blankets, some food." George came to a stop at the end of the bed. "Wow, Mione I, I really don't know what to say." George smiled down at Hermione and then his brother. "Ya know Fred has been looking nonstop for you." Fred smiled, feeling tiny fingers wrap around his. "It's pretty amazing you were able to send that note to us without your wand. I mean it's amazing you could do any magic without." George slowed his speaking to a stop.
The girl in the bed was no longer smiling, relaxing with her eyes closed. No the girl in the bed was now sitting up straight, fear plastered on her face.
"What note?" She asked
"Fred, he he got a note saying Fred I'm coming-H." George stuttered. "That's from you right?" Fear was creeping into George's voice.
Hermione felt the blood in her body run cold. "We have to go." She leapt from the bed, her heart feeling as though it would punch through her chest.
Fred stumbled back from the bed. "Hermione, you need to rest." He stood up as quick as possible, reaching for her hand.
"No, no. You don't understand. I didn't send you any note! That note is not from me. She knew, she." Hermione felt her body letting go, but she had to warn him. "She's going to come for you. Please, please..we." She reached out for Fred as the last once of energy she had was gone. Darkness again for her.
"Hermione?" Fred caught her as she slipped into sleep.
"Fred, I think we should go." George put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "We'll go to Shell Cottage for now. Then try to get in touch with the others."
"Ok." Fred kept his eyes on Hermione, as he scooped her into his arms for a second time that night. The twins hurried down the stairs and out into the night.
No one was home at Shell Cottage. Fred had almost forgot tonight was the one year anniversary celebration at Hogwarts. It had been two hours since they had arrived and Hermione was still fast asleep in the living room, leaving the twins to make plans in the kitchen.
"Bellatrix." George finally broke the silence which seemed to be dragging on. "She is the one who sent the note."
"That would be my guess." Fred rubbed his hands down his face.
"So Granger does fancy." George laughed. The room lightened slightly as Fred laughed with him.
"Now wouldn't that be something." Fred smiled looking over to the sleeping girl. For so long he had waited to tell her. All he wanted now was that chance.
"Sooooo." George prolonged. "Are you going to tell her?"
"George." Fred tried unsuccessfully to shut him down.
"What? You have been searching for her for a year. You have been denying your feelings for much longer than that! I think you should." George was interrupted by the roar of the fireplace.
"I'm going to be sick." Came a quiet voice stepping out of the fireplace. "
"You'll be fine, dear." Another voice stated.
"Oh, Bill. I think we have company." The blonde sister in law, Fleur came to stand by their still sleeping guest.
"Yes you do, our beautiful in law and amazing brother." George smiled as he and Fred made their way into the living room.
Fleur went to hug the twins, as Bill stepped closer to the couch. Stopping just a few feet from her face. "Oh, Merlin. Is that Hermione? "The room stilled, as all four turned to the couch.
"Yes Weasley. It is I Hermione." Hermione smiled and slowly sat up. Every part of her body still ached, yet she felt so much better. "How long was I out for?"
"Um, just about two hours." Fred said, coming to sit next to her. "How are you feeling?" Bill and Fleur sat down on a love seat across from the couch and George sat on the other side of Fred. All hanging on for Hermione's answer.
"My whole body feels sore and I need a shower, but I feel better." She smiled resting her hand in Fred's'.
"I can get you a change of clothes and you can use our guest room/bathroom. If you would like." Fleur sprung to her feet. "I'll have the boys make you something to eat."
"That would be wonderful." Hermione stood slowly, getting a feel for what she was working with. Her legs tingled, like they had been asleep for a while.
"I can help." Fred stood next to her, one hand in hers and the other on her back.
"No, no Fred. Let me help her with that. She is a lady." Fleur took Hermione's other hand in hers. Instantly she felt colder. For so many months all she had was an image of him. Now he was here, he had not given up on her.
"I'll be right here if you need anything." He smiled as she walked slowly away.
"What is going on?" Bill asked as soon as the girls were out of earshot.
"Hermione's back." George sung from the couch.
"I can see that brother. The question is how? Where was she? How did she escape? Is she ok? What is going on with Fred?" Bill slumped back into the loveseat, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Answers anyone?"
The twins didn't respond. To Fred answers didn't matter at the moment, all he could think about was the girl upstairs. She needed food and rest, not a million questions.
"Bill! Fleur!" The fireplace roared to life again. Out walked the matriarch of the Weasley family.
"Fred? George? What are you two doing here?" Molly asked, dusting the soot off her gown. "You all never showed at Hogwarts."
"Mom, is everyone still at Hogwarts?" George asked, realizing they never told anyone not to go to the burrow.
"Yes, yes. But why? Everyone was looking for the two of you!" Molly walked closer to the twins. "Fred?"
"Mom, there is something we need to tell you. First, though, we need you to go back to Hogwarts and bring everyone here. Do not go back to the burrow." Fred kept eye contact with her. "Please hurry." He concluded.
Molly stood still for a moment, keeping eye contact with her son. Her heart begun to beat quickly, fear of the unknown washing over her. "Ok." She said nothing else and rushed back to the fireplace.
Up the stairs of the small shell cottage, Hermione was waiting for the shower water to warm. She sat still fully clothed, afraid to take her clothes off, revealing the scars that lay beneath them.
"Hermione, would you like some help?" Fleur stood next to the open bathroom door.
"No, I'm ok. Just…" She couldn't finish it. She knew she wasn't ok and in that moment she knew she would see that she wasn't ok.
"Shhh, dear. The water is hot now. Let me help you with your clothes." Fleur stepped in the room and helped her stand up. Slowly she peeled away the rags that covered Hermione's body. "It's ok now." Fleur smiled, pulling aside the shower's curtain.
"Thank you." Hermione smiled, not looking at the mirror behind her. The hot water stung her skin. Shocking her as it rushed over her body. The water around her feet darkened. The dirt and grim of the last months washing away. Closing her eyes, she ran her hands down her body. She stopped at her side, feeling the raised skin where mudblood was craved into her. Deep breath, she thought to herself.
Hermione turned the water off and walked out into the steam filled bathroom. There was the mirror, completely fogged up, thankfully blocking her image. She wrapped the towel tightly around herself. Fleur was waiting in the adjoining room.
"Here is some sweat pants and a t-shirt dear. They might be a little large, but it's ok." The blonde smiled, handing Hermione the clothes. "I'll just wait outside the door." As she went to leave Hermione saw the small bump protruding from Fleur's tight dress.
"I don't mean to pry Fleur, but are you pregnant?" Hermione asked.
Fleur's smiled, resting a hand to her stomach. "Yes, six months now. That's why we came home early tonight. Morning sickness isn't restricted to only mornings."
Hermione sat down on the bed, towel still wrapped tightly around her. "Six months, I've been gone for six months?"
"Hermione, I'm afraid you have been missing for twelve months." Fleur replied.
"A year, a year?" Hermione felt the room spinning. She had been gone for an entire year. Why had they not been able to find her? How did she end up in that hospital? The room was going dark, this was too much. A year of her life was gone. Suddenly calloused hands were wrapping around her shoulders.
"Hermione? You need to breathe. Can you hear my voice?" Fred steadied her body. With one hand on her shoulder, the other went to cup her face. "Look at me. I know this is a lot, but you have to look at me."
Slowly Hermione felt her heart beat come back to normal and she opened her eyes. There he was. All the time she spent locked away in her personal hell. He was there, even if only in her mind, he was there. Now standing before, he was no longer a dream. "Fred." She breathed, looking deep into his eyes.
"There you are." He smiled down at her. "It's a lot. A lot of time gone, I know. But you will get through this. I will help you get through this. Ok?" He brought his hand down to rest in hers.
"Ok." She said, squeezing is hand.
"Ok. Do you want Fleur to come back in and help you?" Fred asked.
"No, I can do this." She reassured him. Fred hesitated for a moment. Not wanting to move, to lose sight of her. "I'm ok, I promise."
"I'll be downstairs whenever you're ready just let us know." He slowly let go of her hand and made his way towards the door, stopping just before opening it. "Hermione." He started looking back to her.
"Fred." She said at the same time. They both laughed and smiled at one another.
"I'll be right down stairs." Fred finally said leaving the room.
Hermione quietly got dressed, careful not to look down at her body. She brushed her hair, but still didn't look at the mirror. "I can do this." She said to herself standing with one hand on the door knob.
As she walked into the hall, she could hear the commotion down stairs. Voices filled the small living room. All asking bombarded the twins with questions.
"Hello." Hermione said. The room hushed and all turned towards the stairs. She couldn't move. As her eyes moved around the room, she begun to feel the time that she missed. They all looked slightly older, the effects of war. Yet she found herself smiling. They had won. All of her family was in thtat room and they had somehow defeated Voldemort. Tears slowly streamed down her face.
"Hermione." Harry stepped out from the crowd and rushed the stairs.