I have just noticed that I had the battle end at night rather than the morning or whenever.
Chapter 7 – Common room comforts.
Using the cloak, Hermione and George left the chamber and carefully made their way back up to the Gryffindor common room. The castle was completely quiet now and there was no more fighting. All of the seriously injured had been taken straight to St Mungos for treatment. Despite the fact that Lee and other George had been there with Lupin, he had been one of the badly injured and had been taken to St Mungos. Due to not being able to interact with any of their friends, they were unable to find out how Lupin was. Tonks and Fred however were both alive. Tonks had gone off to be with Lupin at St Mungos while Fred was getting treatment for some deep cuts on his arms and chest, cracking jokes with his brothers.
The Great Hall that they had left was filled with Hogwarts past and present students, Hogwarts professors, members of the Order and healers from St Mungos who were attending to the injured. McGonagall and Slughorn had conjured tables which were laid with mugs of steaming hot tea and plates of sandwiches the house elves had prepared. Neither Hermione or George wanted to leave the Great Hall but could see the other George and Hermione sitting with the Weasley family and Harry who was sat, letting Ginny rest her head on his shoulder. Theyt knew that their friends and family were alright and that was the main thing. Hermione and George reached the common room and were let inside by the Fat Lady who didn't ask any questions.
"It is safe for us to go inside?" George wondered.
"Of course it is." The Fat Lady replied.
"Is there any students in there?" Hermione asked. "Or anyone else for that matter?"
"No it's completely empty." The Fat Lady answered.
"You didn't see us if anyone asks." Hermione stated.
"Hiding on someone?" The Fat Lady asked. "Shouldn't you be down celebrating?"
"Not quite but we need to hide out there for a day or two, long story." Hermione answered.
"Ok in you go." The Fat Lady answered and let them inside. "I'll keep everyone else away."
"Thank you." Hermione said.
"But you'll alert us if someone tries to get inside?" George asked.
"Yes I will now go on in before I change my mind." The Fat lady said.
The common room was empty when they entered but that was to be expected. All the younger students had been evacuated earlier in the evening before the battle had commenced. George went straight over and lit a fire in the fireplace.
"Should we just sleep here?" He asked Hermione.
"Yeah, that would probably be a good idea." Hermione answered.
"Are you hungry?" George asked.
"Yes, a little bit." Hermione answered.
"Are you alright, Hermione?"George wondered.
"I think so." Hermione squeaked. "Did we actually just save Fred, Lupin and Tonks?"
"Yes we did Hermione and it's all thanks to you that we managed it." George grinned, lifting Hermione up and spinning her around.
"Is it all over?" Hermione asked.
"I think so Hermione. I mean you-know-who is dead isn't he?" George answered. "And most of his most loyal followers are gone too. The rest will either do a runner and go into hiding or get chucked in Azkaban where they belong."
"It just doesn't seem real, George. It feels like something horrible is going to go wrong, like we've done something wrong by going back in time." Hermione squeaked.
"Please don't be worrying Hermione. Did something go wrong the last time you went back in time?" George asked.
"Not that I can remember." Hermione answered.
"Look all we've got to do now is stay here until it's the right time to go back to the burrow." George said. "Then we can celebrate the end of the war properly."
"And Fred is alive." Hermione said.
"Exactly. We did what we came here to do and that's the main thing." George answered with a grin.
Hermione was glad to see George's smile back on his handsome face once again. She missed seeing him smile and it broke her heart to see George so broken. She missed Fred too and she missed the laughter the two would cause. Hopefully that would be restored and they could go back to normal once they returned to the battle.
"What are you so worried about Hermione?" George wondered, sitting down on one of the sofas.
"That this isn't all over and that we're all still at risk." Hermione squeaked. "And that we've tempted fate and something bad is going to happen to one of us or someone we care about."
"Hermione please stop worrying." George pleaded.
"I wish I could George but I can't. All I seem to have done this past year is worry about this and that and about Harry and our friends safety and what has happened to my parents and about whether or not we would be able to defeat you-know-who and now I'm worrying..." Hermione trailed off but was stopped by George placing his finger to her mouth.
"Shhh Hermione." He said in a soft tone.
"Harry has defeated you-know-who with your help and we're all alive as is my family and I'm sure your parents are safe too." George said. "Now please stop worrying until I get us some food."
"How are you going to get that?" Hermione wondered.
"Lets just say that Fred and I are very good friends with the house elves that work in the kitchens." George answered with a wide grin.
"Are you going down to the kitchens?" Hermione asked. "I don't want you to leave me here."
"I have an idea." George grinned, jumping to his feet. "Oh dear Fat Lady."
"Yes. How can I help you?" The Fat Lady asked.
"We were wondering if you'd be able to help the two of us?" George wondered, turning on the charm.
"How?" She asked.
"Is there any way you could get the lovely little house elves to send Hermione and I some food and drinks up?" George asked. "You see we have to stay here for a day or two, long story and we will need feeding. We don't know how safe it is to venture out of the common room yet."
"Well if you insist. I would like to get some sleep you know." The Fat Lady answered.
"Thank you, thank you. We really do appreciate your help, dear lady." George replied, bowing to the portrait. "And please don't tell anyone we are here."
The Fat Lady left her portrait and George returned to Hermione in the common room.