A/N: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a very very Happy New Year! I hope you all had a safe and happy end of the year and start to 2018. I was obviously busy with the festive cheer (my anniversary is new year's day as well, so it got a little hectic), but I hope to get you some more of this in a timely fashion. This is (I think) the penultimate chapter, not including an epilogue, but I mean, it really depends what I feel like doing.

As always thank you to my lovely readers and my even more lovely reviewers! THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME THROUGH ALL OF MY HIATUS PERIODS! :D I haven't forgotten you or this story ~MuchLove~

NOW! Enough with the guff and on with the show!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is JK Rowling's creation and I am a mere pawn.

***PLEASE NOTE THERE IS SMUT/LEMONS IN THE FLASHBACK - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED :D

Chapter Nine – Getting Him Back

It had been one hundred and twenty-seven days, six hours, and thirteen minutes since Fred's funeral, Hermione really needed to stop counting, but finally this was her last moment to fight for Fred's life. The plan had been solidified, everyone had arrived at Hermione's flat in the clothes that they had worn on the day of the Battle of Hogwarts, with their group comprising Hermione, George, Angelina, Ginny, Harry, and Percy. Hermione liked even numbered groups, and thought that the compact amount would be a powerful asset. Percy was not allowed anywhere in the vicinity of himself whilst not under an invisibility charm, however even still he had to be cautious. The group had split into two, Hermione, George and Angelina in the first group, and Harry, Ginny, and Percy in the second.

"Alright, let's go over the plan just one more time, for my benefit." Harry asked, looking tired.

"George and I are going to kill the two death eaters, preferably without using any unforgivables, then once that's done, George and I will keep past Fred and Percy occupied whilst you, Harry, act as the second death eater." Hermione explained a final time.

"We'll use glamour charms now and then you can stay hidden under the invisibility cloak until it's time for you to meet Colin. Ginny and Percy will follow you under the cloak and with invisibility charms on as well, just in case. They'll have your back throughout this entire ordeal, using defensive spells where necessary." George continued.

"It may be a good idea for one of you to set off a small explosion that would cause a lot of dust or smoke, timed with one of Oliver's shots, just so that Harry has a chance to protect himself and fall convincingly enough that Oliver won't come to check." Hermione looked between Ginny and Percy who just nodded.

"Angie, you'll keep an eye out for Hermione and I, while we are doing what is necessary, and make sure that Fred and Percy don't move. Once we get to them, you can run down the corridor to meet up with us." George said.

"Finally, when Voldemort has called for the dead, we will follow Percy and Fred down to the Great Hall but peel off before we get there, meeting altogether in the alcove off to the side of the courtyard where we jump back into our own timeline and pray that it all worked." Hermione finished, "Are there any more questions?"

Everyone shook their heads and murmured sounds of understanding. A nervous smile passed around the group and everyone was suddenly holding hands and hugging, for luck, encouragement, and anticipation. As Hermione turned to George, a nervous knowing look passed between them and Hermione shed a single tear, George thumbing it away from her cheek and smiling.

The large group apparated separately to Hogsmeade and trudged towards the castle in silence. The air was thick with tension, apprehension, and crackling with magic. All of them were lost in various thoughts, where many revolved around what the future would be like if they successfully pulled this off.

Hermione, however, was calm. Her thoughts lingered only on the task at hand, pragmatically. She thought it may be overwhelming to think of a future with Fred in it, or consider the consequences of her future without him. She pulled the beaded bag across her body and forged ahead, leading the group to the place that she had been travelling from. Using an extension charm on the chain, she eventually wrapped the time turner around everyone in the group, letting out a slow breath and preparing herself for the upcoming moments. As the dial spun uncontrollably backwards, she could feel a rightness about the situation, as if the magic agreed with her plans. She glanced down at her engagement ring and smiled in hope for a brief second before she looked around in the past again, sighing.

The group placed strong glamour and notice-me-not charms on each other and moved to their places; Harry, Ginny, and Percy hid on one side of the classroom to watch for the right time with Angelina, while Hermione and George lay in wait for the two death eaters. The group watched Percy and Fred walk down the corridor to stand in the correct places.

As the first death eater ascended the nearby staircase, Hermione intersected him, "Sorry, I just can't let you pass this time."

"What!?" the death eater asked incredulously, "Mudblood!"

He drew his wand, but Hermione was faster. She cast a non-verbal levicorpus and as his body dangled from its place near the ceiling, she felt almost bad for her victim. "I'm sorry." She whispered quietly. Shaking the feeling and refocussing, she dropped the spell, and as the body plummeted gracelessly towards the staircase, she cast a powerful reducto and the death eater's body disintegrated into ash. Hermione thought she'd feel more upset that she'd blackened her soul and stooped as low as the death eaters, but she didn't. In fact, if anything, she felt a weight lift off of her shoulders – as if the universe was slowly righting itself. 'One step closer to Fred.' She thought.

Meanwhile, George was at the other end of the corridor, stopping the second death eater from finishing his twin off. After a colourful verbal sparring match accompanied by a couple of missed spells, this was the stormtrooper after all, George had backed his opponent to the opening in the wall. As they were quite high off of the ground, the death eater had a panicked look on his face. George was unforgiving, casting an expelliarmus to take his wand, then using locomotor wibbly (a jelly-legs curse) to force the second death eater to fall to his death and into an awaiting swarm of acromantulas. 'If the fall didn't kill him, they certainly will.' George thought grimly.

The two ran towards past Percy and Fred, the latter opening his arms to sweep Hermione into a hug that she hadn't realised she'd needed until that moment.

"Hey, love, what's wrong?" Fred asked, worry crossing his face.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing is wrong." Hermione tightened her grip around his neck, pressing kisses to his shoulder.

"You're together?" past Percy more stated than asked.

"Oh, uh, yeah." Fred stammered.

"This fits." Percy nodded approvingly.

George had waited for long enough, pulling his brother into a hug as soon as Hermione had let go.

"Georgy, I saw you five minutes ago." Fred looked concerned again, "Are you both sure you're alright?"

"Yeah," George breathed, tears threatening his eyes, "nothing could be better."

As soon as Harry, Ginny, and Percy, had watched the second body fall out of the building, they quietly raced towards the staircase, passing George on the way. Harry had his clothes transfigured to look like the death eater robes with a mask that they'd picked up from a muggle craft shop and enhanced with protection charms. When they reached the staircase, Harry took the invisibility cloak off of himself and handed it to the siblings behind him, revealing himself as the death eater impersonator, pretending to shoot spells off in different directions by casting coloured sparks. When Harry entered the courtyard, he had a sinking feeling in his stomach. He really didn't want to face off against anyone from their side, let alone sweet Colin, who used to follow him around like a puppy – with a bright, flashing camera.

All too soon Harry was pulled from his dread with the appearance of said boy.

"I'm not afraid to fight you!" Colin declared, brandishing his wand in a duelling stance Harry had taught him a few years ago.

Harry pulled his wand out too, casting petrificus totalus before Colin could blink. He breathed out for a moment, before he spotted Oliver Wood racing towards him. Harry put up a quick protego as the first spell came flying towards him.

"That was a child you monster!" Oliver screamed firing off two more spells in succession.

Harry was hit by the second somewhere in his left leg, just as Ginny cast a reducto at Harry's feet, causing a broken stone tile to explode and spread dust into the sky, allowing Harry to collapse and play dead.

As Hermione had predicted, Oliver ran straight for Colin, ignoring the pseudo-dead body of the death eater he had fought.

"You have fought valiantly, but in vain. I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. I therefore command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose of your dead with dignity." Voldemort's voice came through the castle like a whisper directly into everyone's ears.

Harry tuned out the next part, directed at him, as Neville appeared in the archway, running towards Oliver to aid him in carrying Colin's body towards the Great Hall. Once out of sight, Ginny and Percy rushed over to Harry, the latter pulling his wand out and casting healing charms over Harry's leg to stem the bleeding. Ginny turned ghostly white at the sight of Harry's blood leaking all over the ground, attempting to smile reassuringly at her boyfriend but failing. Just then, Hermione rushed into the courtyard with George and Angelina trailing behind, their hands joined. Casting a quick accio into her beaded bag, she produced a bottle of dittany to apply to Harry's wound, closing the laceration in a neat scar.

"I hear that women like a man with scars." George said with a wink. Ginny rolled her eyes as Harry's cheeks tinged pink.

"Did everything go according to plan?" Percy asked the group.

"On our end, absolutely. I may have had to use a small confundus charm on Fred to keep him away from further battle, but otherwise, I think everything went smoothly." Hermione replied and pulled the time turner out to take them all back to the future, "Ready?" She asked as she looped the chain around the group.

Nods of assent were given as the dial spun faster and faster, whizzing the group back to their present day.

"How do we know if it worked?" Angie asked as they arrived.

"Well, we could go back to Hermione's flat to see if anything's different." Ginny suggested.

The six apparated back to Hermione's flat to investigate, only to find the place in a state of strange disarray. Where Hermione had left her bedding in the living room, along with copious notebooks and schematics on the kitchen table, it seemed as though another scene was trying to replace it – one with different books and throw pillows. Hermione's breath hitched as she saw her house in a shimmering state of change and she ran to the bedroom door, hesitating only for a moment before flinging it open. There, sitting on the edge of his side of the bed in nothing but pyjama bottoms was her fiancée, a perplexed look on his face as he studied his hands.

Flashback [A/N: Skip if you are sensitive to smut]

Christmas was always a crazy time of year for Fred and Hermione, where they couldn't show their affection towards each other publicly with the Weasley family, nor with many of their friends if they were at school. This year, they were spending their first Christmas in the apartment and Hermione had planned a Christmas feast for lunch with George and Angelina.

It was thusly to her annoyance, that she was currently stuck to the spot under a magical tuft of mistletoe, waiting impatiently for her boyfriend to wake up.

"I thought that once we had a house, the mistletoe wouldn't follow us around like it did in Hogwarts." Hermione muttered, then cleared her throat loudly in an attempt to rouse Fred.

After a few more attempts and a light stinging hex, Fred woke up, groggily swinging his legs over the bed, clad only in a tight pair of boxer briefs. Suddenly Hermione didn't mind being stuck under the mistletoe.

"Happy Christmas, Mia." Fred greeted, smiling up at his girlfriend.

"Happy Christmas, Fred. Now please get me out from underneath this mistletoe." Hermione attempted an exasperated look but it melted as Fred stood and stretched, his toned body on full display.

"I thought you loved kissing me under the mistletoe." Fred stepped closer, teasing her as his lips whispered down her neck.

"I love kissing you always, Fred, but I have a lunch to prepare and this blasted mistletoe is keeping me from my plans." Hermione tried annoyance this time, but Fred's hands were roaming small circles over her hips.

"Maybe we can delay those plans, just slightly." Fred kissed around the back of her neck, a sensitive area that he'd found last week, "I may have some plans myself."

"Fred," Hermione warned, although it came out more as a moan as Fred nibbled lightly on the shell of her ear.

"I'm not hearing a no, Mia." Fred sucked on her pulse point at her neck, "But just to be certain, I'd rather hear you saying yes."

All pretences were off. Hermione's plans could take a back seat because all she wanted right now was Fred. But she wasn't about to let him off that easily.

"And if I say yes, what exactly do you have in mind?" Hermione teased, a smirk in her voice.

Fred kissed her forehead, her cheeks, trailed kisses down her neck, pulling her thin tank top over her head to reveal her bare breasts, licking his lips and palming them as he kissed his way down her stomach. His teeth grazed over her prominent hip bone, tongue swirling after it. Fred pulled her pyjama shorts and underwear down so they pooled at her feet, neglecting her hot, wet core, and instead braced his hands on the back of her thighs, licking the crease at her pelvis and trailing down her inner thigh.

He stood up then, lips next to her ear, breath tickling the baby hairs, "My plan is to free you from this incredibly helpful mistletoe, deposit you on our bed, and ravish you until you cum screaming my name."

"So," Fred stood back, drawling, "do I hear a yes?"

"Yes." Hermione breathed, eyelids fluttering like a schoolgirl (she rationalised that she was still a schoolgirl, technically).

With that he kissed her, hard and passionately, pouring everything he had controlled up to this point into the kiss. He pulled her against his body, feeling her breasts pressed against his firm chest, his erection digging into her stomach. Fred picked her up, not breaking the kiss, and placed her on the bed, falling on top of her as gracefully as possible, attempting to get rid of his underwear at the same time. Both of them were panting as he broke the kiss in frustration to fumble his way out of the bothersome article of clothing currently separating himself and his lover from pure ecstasy.

Once the clothing had been removed, Hermione's arms came up to caress Fred's muscular arms, settling on his upper back and pulling her hips up to grind her dripping core across his hard member. She shuddered as her clit rubbed over his erection which twitched in pleasure as her juices coated him and he groaned.

Their eyes connected, betraying their desire, the want for each other, heat building between them. Fred plunged into her at a slow pace, but Hermione's hips grinding into him, matching his movements, drove the pace frantic almost from the beginning. Her moans echoed through the flat. His gritted out cries of "Mia" were interspersed with praises.

"Baby," Hermione panted through a moan, "I'm so close."

"Me too, love." Fred replied, movements becoming completely erratic.

They were lost to each other, in each other, kisses and touches, love bites and fingernails. Hermione's moans were closer to shrieks, as Fred pumped in and out of her, hitting that spot over and over again, making her feel as if she were coiling tight and unwinding all at the same time.

And then her noises ceased altogether, her mouth hanging open in an orgasm filled, noiseless scream. Her breasts heaved up into Fred's chest. His arm instinctively wrapped around her body to press her tight to him. He kissed her neck, moving to her nipples as he grazed them with his teeth. His body was relentless as he kept moving, riding Hermione through her orgasm, building it further, closer to his own.

Suddenly Hermione sucked in a sharp breath, body going limp for a moment before she changed her position, legs wrapping up around Fred's waist as her thighs tremored with aftershock from her orgasm. Her euphoria was a drug and she was perfectly content to lie back as Fred pounded into her centre, absolutely dripping now from her arousal and her orgasm. Hermione had never felt so good. So good in fact that…

"Oh Gods, Fred!" She screamed, as once more an orgasm arrested her body. This time, her tightening walls brought Fred with her as he cried out her name, milking him until they were both completely spent. Fred kissed her bruised lips sweetly and gently, full of tenderness and love for her. He looked down to admire his princess, his absolute angel.

"I adore you, Mia." Fred kissed her forehead, "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, love." Hermione pulled him tightly to her in a sweaty embrace.

After the pair had showered and cleaned up, they moved into the kitchen, Fred helping Hermione with any task she asked of him – as he had distracted her this morning and now she was "completely behind schedule!"

"Fred!" Hermione's yell came from the kitchen as tidied the living room for their guests.

Fred appeared in the doorway in moments, then had to stifle a laugh at the irate look on his lover's face. She stood, hands on hips underneath a fresh blossom of enchanted mistletoe.

"I understand the castle, but at home too?" Hermione asked exasperatedly.

"About that…" Fred trailed off sheepishly but moved to circle his arms around her waist.

"What have you done, Fred?" Hermione asked in a tone that he knew could lead him to an ear bashing.

"The mistletoe at school was almost always me. I always wanted any excuse I could get to kiss you, and I took it. Guess I forgot to remove the charm when we got the home to ourselves." Fred smiled down at her with boyish charm and it made any annoyance melt away.

"Actually…" It was Hermione's turn to look sheepish, "It might have been my charm. I might have done the same thing."

Hermione stretched up on her toes and planted a swift kiss onto Fred's shocked lips and danced her way back to the stovetop.

"This is the reason I love you." Fred laughed after her.

"Fred…" she breathed. He looked up at his name and smiled at her, that same warm smile full of love that she had missed for months.

"I love you, Hermione." Fred stood and walked towards her, holding out a hand to caress her cheek but stopping short and frowning, "What's happening to me?"

"What do you remember?" she asked.

"Everything." He replied, a telling look in his eyes.

"I need you, Fred." Hermione said, tears leaking from her eyes.

"I know, love." Fred pulled his wand out and cast the spell over his arm to reveal his bond to Hermione. She copied his movements, her own bond appearing in a matter of moments.

Both bonds had blackened significantly, however a strange silver shimmer ran through the darkness now.

"What do we do?" Fred asked, a pained expression crossing his face as he saw her darkened bond.

"We could try… touching?" Hermione suggested, reaching her left hand towards Fred's, her engagement ring glinting in the light.

Fred reached out too, fingers mere inches from Hermione's and tension mounting in the air, when the two were interrupted by a commotion in the living room.

Hermione turned to investigate, stopping just outside the bedroom door, and was faced with a bound Harry, several knocked out or paralysed Weasleys, and a duelling Angelina.

"I won't let you come in here and ruin this, Ron!" Angie yelled, casting a spider-conjuring charm to hopefully disarm her opponent. Ron was taken aback for a moment, before conflagrating the creatures and sending Angelina into a wall, fixing his attention on Hermione.

"Fred," Hermione whispered, "stay behind me, please. I can't have you hurt again."

"Don't worry about me, love. Just focus on keeping yourself safe." He murmured into her ear.

"Hermione!" Ron greeted, "And Fred, how lovely of you to join us." He sneered at the latter, but kept his attention on the girl.

"Hello, Ronald. Why are you in my apartment, knocking out my family?" Hermione questioned pointedly, taking a few steps forward and gesturing around the room.

"They're trying to get between us – and before you say anything, I have finally figured it all out." Ron stated.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked cautiously.

Ron pointed his wand directly at Hermione, casting a spell that sounded familiar, but somehow different.

"In a few moments, your bond with Fred should be severed and your bond to me should take its place." Ron said proudly, twirling his wand between his fingers.

Hermione glanced down at her arm, the bond slowly twisting its way back towards her heart, silver strands moving towards her engagement ring.

"I modified the incantation that Fred had first spoken to you. It should render any previous bond obsolete and be replaced with one from the caster." Ron explained, "Your notes and those books really were the key. I haven't studied anything so hard in my life. Honestly, you'd be proud of me, 'Mi."

Fred looked down at his own arm, watching the bond disappear and frantically thinking of something to do.

"Hermione," Fred whispered, "slowly reach for my hand, love."

Hermione's hand slowly twitched backwards, down to her side, her eyes never moving from Ron.

"Oh no, Hermione, we can't have that." Ron said, casting a brachium mortis to paralyse her arm and turning his wand on Fred. "Now, Fred, I suppose it's your turn."

Fred reached desperately for Hermione's hand, inches away.

"Petrificus totalus!"

A/N: Sorry for the cliffhanger. I'll post soon.

Love as always xxx