Author's Note: Once again….
Disclaimer: No wit, no fluff. I simply don't own this stuff!
Fred sobbed as he held the lifeless Hermione. She had been alive and he hadn't known. He had wasted four years without her. Once again she was gone. Fred began to rock her back and forth, his tears landing in her hair.
Her hair. As the moments passed it grew less wavy and darker. Fred looked at her to find the bruises and blood vanishing. Her face became pale and her hair smooth. And on her right forearm was a dark tattoo.
---
The Death Eaters assembled back at the Headquarters. Lord Malfoy was already sitting in his chair, an evil grin across his face. The Death Eaters bowed before him and removed their masks. Save one, But Malfoy did not notice.
"The filthy Mudblood is dead." He smirked. "Now on to the rest off them."
"I think not." Replied the last Death Eater, removing her mask. "I am right here."
---
Flashback"Time for a little reunion, Mudblood." A female voice called.
Jane looked up to find the woman with her wand lit. She brought her pug-like face close to Hermione. She glared at her with dark cold eyes.
"Why did you leave Fred Weasley?"
Hermione was shocked at the question, and puzzled still by the woman. She knew she recognized her. "Why do you care." The name dawned on her. "Pansy."
"I want to know, Granger. Before we kill you. Why did you leave the battle?"
Hermione hung her head. "I. I got scared. So I dropped my wand and left."
"So you are a scaredy-cat. Pathetic." Pansy strummed her fingers along her wand. "Why didn't you come back after the Battle?"
"There was no reason to."
"There was FRED!" Pansy screamed.
"IF FRED WAS ALIVE WHY DIDN'T HE COME AFTER ME?"
"You are a cruel, heartless Wench, Granger."
"You are calling me cruel and heartless. You're the one with the dark mark."
Pansy's hand automatically went to the mark as if it burned. "You don't know anything."
"Why do you care about Fred Weasley?"
"Because, I LOVE HIM!!"
Hermione was stunned, "You..You."
"I love him." Pansy whispered.
"You love Fred?" Hermione stuttered.
"YES! He is the sweetest man I have ever known!" Pansy's eyes went soft. "He tutored me in Charms. He was always patient, kind and understanding." She shook her head and her face grew hard. "Then you came along, and broke his heart. So now I am going to break you."
"Killing me is not going to get Fred to love you back. He will only hate you more."
"I know." She whispered. "He loves you, and he will never love me." Pansy stood. "No matter how much I hate you, you make him happy."
Hermione shifted and looked up at Pansy. "Do you know why I was so scared that night? The night of the Final Battle?"
"Because you are a coward."
"I was pregnant."
Pansy's jaw dropped as she turned back to Hermione.
"I was pregnant. I found out that morning." Hermione shook her head. "And that night I found myself on a battlefield where people where dying all around me. I stood there, with Fred's baby growing inside. I wanted to be able to give that baby a life. So, to save us all I walked away." Tears began to roll down Hermione's cheeks. "He…" She choked. "He doesn't even know." Hermione placed her head against the wall. "She looks just like him. Freckles and all. And she will never know who he is."
Pansy stared at Hermione, her face no longer hard and ugly. Tears now streaming down her cheeks.
"Will you let me tell him? And say goodbye?" Hermione pleaded. "That is all I ask. To see him one more time, and to tell him of his daughter."
Pansy wiped away the tears and shook her head. "No. I won't let you say goodbye." Hermione's breath caught as Pansy turned and walked to the door. "You can't leave him. He needs you." Pansy gave Hermione a weak smile. "And you him."
End Flashback
---
Fred stared down at the Death Eater in his arms. He sat stunned at what had just transpired. George and Charlie gently took her out of his arms and laid her down on the ground. Charlie drew his wand to burn the body, when a pop! was heard. Instantly the Weasley Clan turned wands drawn at the Death Eater who appeared. The Death Eater dropped her wand and spoke to Charlie, "Don't. She deserves a proper burial after what she just did."
Every wand lowered at the voice. Fred turned to see the woman pull back the Death Eater hood, revealing her golden brown curls and big brown eyes moist with tears. Everyone held his or her breath, glancing from Fred to the woman. Fred looked at her and then down at the body.
"Who"
Hermione cut in. "Pansy Parkinson. She switched places with me."
"How"
"Polyjuice Potion."
"You"
Hermione nodded, fresh tears running down her cheeks. "Yeah. It's me."
Fred quickly crossed to her pulling her close. She immediately burst into tears, her body melding with his. Fred held her near as if he feared she would slip away again. The Weasley Clan watched on with tears of joy.
"I am so sorry." He whispered. "I should have known."
Hermione shook her head against his chest. "No. I should have told you. I had to go."
Fred lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes. "It doesn't matter. I love you and I am never letting you out of my site again."
---
Fred wanted to take her to St. Mungo's that instant, but she refused. "Fredrick Weasley, I did not let myself be tortured by a gang of Death Eaters just to go to a medi-wizard!" She sounded just like her old self.
"What is so important that your massive bruises and scars can wait?" He responded his arms around her waist.
Hermione gulped and looked at Ginny, who was still crying. Ginny smiled and nodded.
"Lily."
Fred looked down at her. "Your favorite flower?" He was puzzled. "You needed to remind me what your favorite flower was before I could take you to St. Mungo's?…"
Hermione shook her head. "No. Lily. We need to find Lily."
"Who is Lily?"
"Our daughter."
---
Admit it. I had you fooled. Never saw that coming, now did ya. Sheesh! You people really think I am that heartless! Do you really think I would leave Fred alone?…no faith! So to prove this I updated. AGAIN! Go me for doing it so quickly though……