Author's Note: Once again… sorry it took for evar. Thanksgiving was hecktic. Emphasis on the heck part. I just adore my extended family. (Rolls eyes)
But anywho- I felt kinda bad about leaving ya hangin' so I decided to update! Yeay!!
Disclaimer: Come on, if I owned even a one-thousandth of Warner Brothers I would find much betta' things to do than write fanfiction. But alas!
After less than twenty minutes Jane blacked out. Her tormentor smirked and walked out the door. He used his wand to slam it shut and placed several charms on the door. Not that she is going anywhere. He continued down the hall to the great room. At his entrance the several people in the room jumped to their feet as he seated himself in the main chair. He nodded for them to sit.
"Lord." One of the men spoke. "Why do we keep her? Why not dump her somewhere. I am sure we are not the only ones who have noticed her return."
The Lord played with his wand, moving it between his fingers. "Because you moron. I have waited many years to kill her. But first I want to make her suffer. To believe that she was alive, all these years. Clever Wench. Convenient that the Weasel's closed shop that day. But why did she run there?" He paused. " I would have thought once she returned to the Leaky Cauldron she would have headed for The Boy Who Just Wont Die."
"My Lord. I have heard that she took one of them as her lover." A woman recalled. "The entire Wizarding World assumed her dead. So would her lover then."
He flashed an evil grin. "A Weasel as her lover. There is only one thing I love more than killing that Mudblood. Is killing her in front of them." He turned towards the fireplace. "Goyle. Watch over the pathetic excuse for a shack the Weasels call home. Inform me when they are all present. It's time we return the Mudblood to her love."
----
Crystal waved as Ginny walked out the door. In the two and a half weeks since Crystal had met Ginny she had stopped by seven or eight times. Always wanting to know more about Jane and her daughter. But she had no new information, at least that she was willing to share.
A few days after Jane had come by Crystal had looked up her information through the alumni committee. She hadn't told Ginny, as she was still curious as to why she had a sudden interest in Jane. Her instincts told her she could be trusted but Crystal still held back.
Crystal had called Jane's home and received no answer. Could she be avoiding me?.. Crystal was truly worried about her friend and wanted to help her. But there wasn't much she could do as a social worker.
Crystal sighed, grabbed her coat and headed back to the office. On her desk she found a new file case. A post it on top told a brief outline; A missing mother, an abandoned child and an impossible to find father. Crystal opened the file and gasped.
Lily Ann Granger, daughter of H. Jane Granger and Fredrick Weasley.
Status of mother: missing.
Status of father: no record.
Status of child: State custody.
---
Fred left the 3W's and headed for the nearest pub, but a pair of hands stopped him. Fred whipped around to find Bill with a cross look on his face. "Don't even think about it Fred."
Fred took Bill's hands off his cloak. "I am a grown man, if I want to get smashing drunk. I can. And I will." Fred began walking again.
But Bill stopped him once more. "NO. You are coming to dinner. You haven't come home sober in almost three weeks. You need to be with people. You need to be with your family."
Fred stared at his brother. "Why do you care? Mister Happily Married. Why do you care if I am a drunk single?"
"I care because I am your brother. It's not healthy to drink this much and this often."
"You drink all the time!"
"Yes, but I am not drinking twelve full bottles of Firewhiskey in one sitting."
Fred opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. "I talked to the bartender Fred. It isn't healthy to be drinking that much each night. Come home."
----
Bill and Fred floo'd into the Burrow welcomed by the smell of roast beef and garlic potatoes. Bill quickly found Fleur and gave her a quick kiss. Fred lingered in the doorway with his head down, Ginny immediately rushed to him and gave him a hug. Fred was stiff at first but then gave way to the hug. He looked down at his little sister and gave her a weak smile. Once the table was set the Weasley Clan sat down for dinner.
---
"Lord, they have gathered."
---
Jane woke up to pitch black. Her tormentors had left her hours ago. She struggled to bring herself to her knees. She began to feel for new wounds, rubbing the dried blood off her arm. Jane winced as she breathed as the first cut was still healing; the slashes on her chest. To her it felt as if someone had cut her with a sword. They had partially healed but every so often they would crack and bleed.
Jane gently laid her head against the wall. She didn't know how much more she could take. The only things keeping her alive were Lily and Fred. If she could see them both, together, just once, it would be enough.
Suddenly the door burst open. "Time for a little reunion, Mudblood."
----
The Weasley Clan was a bit nervous having Fred there, especially since he was sober. They still hadn't told him about Lily or Hermione. No one particularly wanted to bring that up, much less be the one to tell him. But Fred was oblivious to the awkwardness and silently ate his food. Dinner was about halfway through when several pops! were heard outside.
----
Jane had closed her eyes as she had been grabbed and was confused when she felt the rush of apparating. Jane's eyes flashed open to find herself just outside the Burrow, in the arms of Death Eaters. The leader of them stepped towards her. And in the dim moonlight she recognized his blonde hair. Malfoy! He sneered at her as he pulled out his wand. Jane went to scream, "NO!" but her voice was muffled by a silencing charm.
----
Charlie had heard the pops! and instantly knew it was the sound of some one apparating. He rushed to the window to see ten Death Eaters holding a woman. Charlie grabbed his wand and headed out the door.
The rest of the Clan watched Charlie and quickly grabbed their wands as well. They all flooded to the back yard to find Charlie with his wand pointed at the nearest Death Eater. They each pointed their wands at one of the masked members. It was ten on ten. Harry gripped his wand and was about to attack when he saw the woman they had.
She was filthy. She looked as if she had been kept in a pile of dirt. Her hair was matted with dried blood and her eyes where puffy from crying. She had bruises and dried blood everywhere. But before anyone could move the Death Eater yelled, "Cruico!"
The woman couldn't scream due to the silencing charm, but everyone could see the tears in her eyes. The Death Eaters let go of her and Draco Malfoy kicked her onto her back. He glared at her with his cold eyes. "SECTUMSEMPRA!"
The entire Weasley Clan jumped forward. "NO!" But the Death Eater's stopped them; Draco turned to them and gave them the Malfoy evil grin before disapparating. The others quickly followed him.
The Weasley's stood stunned staring at the woman who was now openly bleeding. Fred stood for a moment until he saw her big brown eyes. "Minnie?.." He whispered. "MINNIE!" He screamed as he ran to her dropping his wand on the way.
"Minnie." Fred cried as he gathered her in his arms. She was light, and very pale. "Minnie. It's Fred." He began to openly cry, the tears streaming down his cheeks. The rest of the Clan hung back. Ginny placed her hands on her mouth trying to not cry.
"Baby. You are alive. You're alive." Fred whispered, pushing her hair away from her face. "I am here."
Hermione winced but no sound came out as the silencing charm was still in effect. She looked up at Fred and mouthed the words I love you.
"I love you, Hermione." Her head fell back and her eyes began to close. Fred propped her head up. "Come on Minnie. Don't leave me. I just found you again. Don't leave me. I need you." Fred began to sob. "Don't leave me."
Hermione looked up into his eyes one more time. I will always love you Fred Weasley. And with that she closed her eyes one last time.
Fred began to sob harder as the body in his hands went limp. "Hermione. Hermione." He began to cradle her in his arms. He had found her only to lose her again.