Thank you everyone for reading. I got some inspiration so I wanted to update a little sooner. Thank you for your lovely reviews, hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer- I do not own any rights to Harry Potter
"Harry." Hermione smiled, taking the last step. Instantly she was engulfed in Harry's arms. He pulled her as close to his body as possible. She winced slightly at the embrace.
"Sorry." He said, his head still pushed into her neck.
"It's ok, I'm just a little sore." Hermione replied, not releasing him from her hold.
"Don't ever leave me again." Harry cried. He couldn't contain it anymore. All this time and she was finally home. Slowly Harry began to pull away. Not that he wanted to, but he knew the family behind him would want a chance to see her too. Once he could look at her again, reality sank in. Hermione had been gone a year. In all that time, she looked like she went through hell. As his arms slid down the sides of hers, he could feel the healing wounds. Visibly she was thinner, paler. He looked up to meet her eyes. "Hermione?" He put a hand softly to her cheek.
"I'm ok, Harry." She smiled at him, her hand coming to rest on his. He smiled back and took her hand in his, leading her into the living room.
Fred stood quietly by the couch, as he watched the two best friends finally reuniting. Harry had been by his side relentlessly steadfast through every lead they got. Not once had he questioned Fred about his feelings, nor gave him any indication that he was giving up on finding her. Now here she was and they both couldn't be happier.
"If you all don't mind, I really would like to sit." Hermione said walking over to the spot nearest Fred. Harry followed, only letting go of her hand once she was seated. George moved down to make a spot for Harry next to her, while Fred sat on the couch's arm. He smiled when he felt Hermione reach for his hand, taking it in his without a thought.
"Your back?" Ron blurted out into the still quiet room. His mother shooting him a shut up you idiot look.
"I really think Hermione needs to eat before we start with the million questions." Fleur interrupted before anyone else could speak.
"Yes, yes." Molly replied, walking towards the kitchen. "Is there anything ready?"
"We made some sandwiches and soup, Mom." George called after her.
"We'll help you." Fleur said, heading toward the kitchen followed by Bill and Arthur.
The room was quiet again. Ginny, George, Ron, Lavender, Harry, Fred, and Hermione all sitting in silence. Hermione had pushed back onto the couch. One hand resting in Fred's while her head lay on Harry's shoulder. She was home, safe for now.
"Are we really just going to sit here?" Ron stood up from his spot on the loveseat next to Lavender. "I mean your back! I. We have been looking everywhere for you."
"Ha!" George blurted out from across the couch.
"George, it's not the time." Fred said quietly, not looking at Ron. Definitely not the time for this fight, he thought.
"Ha what? I have been looking for her too. I am one of her best friends." Ron inched closer to Hermione, stopping in front of her. "I am so happy your home and ok." He reached for her hand. Suddenly a hand was on his chest pushing him back.
"Don't." Fred was now standing in front of Hermione, looking like he was ready to pounce.
"Are you mad?" Ron snorted, taking a step back.
"Fred? Ron?" Molly questioned, coming back into the living room. "That is enough between you two. Come into the kitchen, food is ready for everyone. Hermione are you ok to walk?" the matriarch asked.
"Yes ma'am." She replied, looking up to Fred. "Fred?" she raised her now empty hand up to him, hoping more to distract him from Ron. Those eyes, he thought as he turned his attention back to her. He took her hand gently in his and walked her to the kitchen.
"What the hell Ron?" Ginny spat as she walked by the youngest Weasley boy. George and Lavender followed closely behind, leaving Ron and Harry alone.
Harry sat on the couch, head in his hands.
"Well, what do you wanna say?" Ron grumbled, sitting on the coffee table.
Deep breath, Harry thought. "Ron, she just got back. I don't know what all she has gone through. We need to give her time, let her adjust to being free." Pausing, he looked towards the kitchen. "You're going to have to let her come to you."
"Harry, do you see the way Fred is with her? What is going on there? I mean, I thought she was supposed to be with." Ron stopped, trying to control his emotions. "I just don't understand." Ron shook his head and got up.
"How about we eat and not worry about understanding right now. Let's just be happy that she is home." Harry stood up, wrapping an arm around Ron's shoulder.
The kitchen was a bustle, like any Weasley gathering was. Hermione had already found a seat next to Fred with George seated beside her. Food was being passed around the small table and back to the others who were sitting on barstools around the counter.
"Everything taste amazing." Hermione said looking to Molly.
"Hey now, all they did was make plates. We did all the actually cooking." George said puffing out his chest.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh. It came out ragged, but it was there. Once her laughter appeared, the room seemed to calm down to some normalcy. The others ate and talked. Small conversations lite up around the room. No one asked questions, no one was actually talking to Hermione at all. Fred squeezed her hand. She looked at him, letting her eyes linger on his. Suddenly her body felt flush. Her heart beat quickened.
"Ginny and Ron, help clean up the dishes." Molly ordered, her voice breaking apart Hermione and Fred's personal world. "Fred I think we all need to talk at least about why we are not at the burrow." The burrow, Hermione had forgotten all about Bellatrix.
"It's Bellatrix." Hermione started, looking around the room. "She sent Fred a note saying it was from me. I believe she is coming for him." Hermione stopped, taking a peek towards Fred.
"Why Fred?" Ron questioned.
"Not important." Fred interrupted.
"I don't know how safe the burrow is or how safe here is." Hermione sighed. "We need someplace big enough for everyone and warded enough to stop Bellatrix."
"Do you think she'll actually come? I mean with us knowing do you think?" Ginny stopped.
"I don't know. I don't know why she wants me hurt so badly to begin with. But I know we need to be somewhere safe." Hermione turned to Harry.
"My place. It's big enough for us for now. Once I can get back to the ministry I'll see if we need to move." Harry replied.
"A few of us can go back to the burrow and pack some things before heading to Grimmauld place." Arthur spoke, standing up from his chair. "Bill, Fred, George. We must be quick." The boys shook their heads in agreement.
"Everyone else, let's get ready to go." Molly ordered, before moving out the room with Arthur, Bill, and Fleur.
"We're going to have to apperate to Grimmauld, it isn't set up with the floo network yet." Ginny said moving closer to Hermione. But Hermione was paying no attention. She cared not about the safe house, nor having to apperate. She cared only for the danger Fred was about to put himself in.
Harry moved to her side. "He'll be fine." He said wrapping his hand around hers'.
"I know. It's just." Hermione paused, not sure of what to say. "I need him to be alive."
"And that's exactly how I will be when I get to Grimmauld Place." Fred said from behind Hermione. Her body warmth was back, followed by her quickened heartbeat. Harry released her hand, as she turned to Fred. He took her in his arms, embracing her fully for the first time. One arm remained wrapped around her, while the other cupped her face. "Hermione, look at me." He said tilting her chin up so he would be in her eye line. "I am coming back." She brought her hand to caress the side of his face. That intimate touch sent his heart ablaze. There was no doubt in his mind he was coming back for her.
"You are." She whispered. He smiled, bending down to kiss her softly on the forehead. Stay here, she begged in her mind. This moment right here, forever. Please stay here. But then he was gone. Out into the night, away from her.