Chapter 14 – The reunion

"Where did you two disappear too?" Fred asked, his blue eyes wide.
"We had to do something important." Hermione answered.
"Like what?" Fred questioned suspiciously.
"We can't tell you that, just yet Fred." Hermione answered.
"George, you'll tell me?" Fred pushed. "Why have you changed your clothes?"
"I was wearing these earlier." George answered.
"You were?" Fred asked. "I could have sworn you had a different t-shirt on."
"Never mind that. Who's in?" George asked.
"McGonagall has paid us a visit to see how we all are." Fred answered.
"Brilliant." George replied with a smile.
"What have you two been up too?" Fred questioned.
"You'll find out soon enough." George answered.

George and Hermione managed to keep their emotions in check during their reunion with Fred. They followed Fred into the kitchen were everyone was now gathered around the table drinking tea and eating cake. Hermione called McGonagall out into the hall way.

"Do you think we should tell everyone?" Hermione asked.
"Yes I think it's probably a good idea." McGonagall answered.
"Will you help us explain everything?" Hermione asked.
"Of course I will." McGonagall replied.
"Thank you Professor. George and I really appreciate all that you've done for us." Hermione said.
"It is no problem at all Hermione. It was the least I could do." McGonagall replied.

The two women entered the kitchen again to join the others. Hermione tried in vain to keep her emotions in but was finding it very hard to fight back the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes. She sat herself down between George and Harry at the table and helped herself to a slice of the chocolate and strawberry sponge.

"Where did you and George go too?" Harry asked Hermione, quietly.
"We had something to do, something important." Hermione answered in a whisper.

McGonagall took her spoon and tapped her cup with it which silenced all the chit chat in the room.

"Hello everyone." She spoke. "The reason why I came here tonight, is to tell you something very important."
"Is it something bad, Minerva?" Molly asked, worry evident on her face.
"No it's not something bad." McGonagall replied. "A few days ago two people went back in time with the use of a time turner and were able to safe three people's lives during the battle."
"Who?" Molly gasped.
"Hermione and I did." George admitted. "That's where Hermione and I were and why we're in different clothes."
"But you were both here?" Molly questioned.
"Yes they would have both been here as they existed in two different time lines." McGonagall tried to explain.
"I don't understand." Molly confessed and it was obvious she wasn't the only one.

McGonagall began to explain everything about how time travel using the time turner works and what happened when George and Hermione went back in time. George and Hermione added in their own accounts of what had happened and how they had managed to save not only Fred but Lupin and Tonks too. Molly had tears streaming down her face as Arthur hugged her tightly. The thought that she nearly lost one of her sons as well as two of her good friends was too much for her to take in.

"So I was actually dead?" Fred asked, as if it was the most casual question.
"Yes you were." Hermione sniffed as she now had started crying. "George and I went back in time to save you and saved Tonks and Lupin too."
"Hermione and I have went back in time before." Harry admitted. "We saved Sirius from the dementor's kiss and Buckbeak the hippogriff from being executed.
"You both were very lucky that you didn't get yourselves killed." Percy said.
"They both were aware of the risks before taking on the challenge and they are here and that is all that matters." McGonagall answered.
"I can't believe it. I can't believe that I nearly lost my son." Molly cried, rushing straight over to Fred to pull him into a bone crushing hug.

George then began to tell his family all about what Hermione and him got up too while they waited, including coming up with new ideas for the shop. Fred was loving the new ideas and could not wait to get started on making them. One person, however was not overly impressed that George and Hermione had gone back in time together, Ron.

*****
Sorry it was a short chapter.