Draco flood over to Diagon Alley and headed for the twins' shop. It was bustling with people as always, and he noticed two new shop assistants. There were no Weasleys in sight until he got to the register and showed his ministry badge, slipping into the back offices. He stumbled upon one of them and squinted to try to check which one it was.

"Fred?" he asked, pretty sure he was speaking to Ginger One.

"Yup, what do you want Malfoy?" he asked, arms crossed over his chest. "Did you find her?" he added, taking every opportunity to hassle the blond into action.

Draco stumped down his irritation and nodded. "I need you to come with me."

Fred looked stunned for a moment before realising that they finally found her. "Are we going to rescue her? Where is she? Let me get George," he whizzed through the words, speed talking as he tended to do when nervous or excited.

"No," Draco stopped him in his tracks. "She's here, in London, and she's fine, but she asked to only see you."

"Why?" Fred asked immediately, the request most odd. Hermione cared about all three of them, so why would she be only asking for him? Unless…there was something wrong and he would be able to handle it before they let George and Roxy know.

With the realisation he dropped his protective magenta potions robe and wrote a quick note for George, before following Draco back to the Leaky Cauldron. He tried to tell himself everything would be alright but he braced himself for just about anything. Turns out it wasn't enough, as they stepped through the floo and he saw her for the first time in two weeks.

Hermione was pacing by the couch when the flames turned green. She exchanged a quick look with Draco who readied his wand just in case, just as Fred stepped through. He stopped right in front of the fireplace and just stared at her.

The human Hermione would probably feel a little shy about the dress. The twins may have seen her in a top without a bra, or in a bikini, but this dress hid even less than anything she wore before. But somehow she didn't feel an ounce of concern for her body as she stood before Fred. All she could do was force herself to stand still as his scent hit her.

Gunpowder.

Strawberries.

Something spicy….like Cedar wood.

And blood. She could practically feel the heat of his strong, fragrant blood, pumping steadily through his body with the steady beat of his healthy heart. Without any realisation, her pupils dilated and her irises turned from golden brown to vermillion when the desire to feed and mate hit her.

Mate.

She was standing before her mate.

"Draco…" she managed to force out through her teeth before a well-aimed spell made thick ropes wrap about her body and hold her in place.

Fred just watched in awe as she hissed and tried to find a way out of the ropes before settling down with a deep breath. Her eyes however never left him, flicking between his eyes and his neck hungrily. A part of him was resolved to the fact that she might return a vampire. Another part of him was fascinated by the woman before him. He had felt the pull towards her before, they both have with George. But what he felt now was making his heart race and magical core tingle. And if what his instincts were telling him was correct, he was to be her mate, her consort.

He took a step towards her but felt a hand grip his wrist. "I'm not sure you want to do that," Draco said cautiously.

Fred shook his head. "Let me," he said firmly, showing him he knew what he was doing.

He carefully walked towards Hermione and watched as she stopped testing the limit of the ropes and instead leaned towards him, her gaze fixed on his. "I'm so sorry.." she whispered.

Fred shook his head. "Don't be. It was meant to be," he offered a small smile and reached up, pushing a strand of wild curls away from her face.

She turned towards his touch and her nose skimmed over his wrist, nostrils flaring at the scent of his blood so close.

"Go ahead," he encouraged, guided by his instincts.

Hermione looked like she was trying to fight herself for a moment before her canines extended and she bit down on his wrist gently, groaning in delight at the first taste of his blood. Sweet like strawberries, the nectar of life trickled into her mouth from the opened wound and she sucked eagerly, licking the wound closed only after a few gulps. Fred panted softly, the moment her canines pierced his skin he felt the tendril of a connection grow strong and bright, their beings marked as mates.

Hermione felt much calmer and contented, her own magical core pulsing within her belly. "I'm safe now, Draco," she looked at him, the vermillion receding and her eyes returning to their usual golden brown.

Draco studied her a moment longer before releasing the ropes, and watched as Fred practically engulfed her in his arms. They were still, not moving, not speaking, just holding onto each other and breathing each other in.

"Will you be alright, Ginger?" he asked, wanting to make sure Hermione wouldn't regret him leaving them to their own devices.

"Right as rain, blondie," he nodded and steered Hermione towards the fireplace, landing them neatly in her apartment.

They had cleaned it up and made sure there was not a speck of dust in sight, and the fridge and cabinets were filled with food. Of course now that may be somewhat redundant.

Hermione stepped away from Fred and decided to give them some space while they discussed what needed to be said. "We should talk," she suggested, hoping he would agree.

Fred shrugged. "Nothing to talk about. You've been turned but you're still yourself. I am your mate, I presume George is as well, because we both feel a connection to you. I love you, and I will not be without you in my life. Did I leave anything out?" he asked matter of fact. There was none of his usual humour in his voice, and his gaze was serious.

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and stood firm. "Plenty. How about the fact that I don't yet know how this change will affect me? How about George probably hates me and won't let me anywhere near Roxy? What about being my walking blood bag for the rest of your life? Are you really not concerned about any of this?" she asked, frustrated that he couldn't see the issues.

Fred sighed and sat down. "You've been gone for nearly two weeks. The moment we found out that you were abducted, and by a vampire, we knew there was a chance. And we were worried for you. Not worried about you turning, but worried for you," he emphasised, hoping to make her understand his point of view. "There were only three possible scenarios. One, you would be killed. I refused to accept that as a possibility," he said simply but she could hear the slight tremble in the words, knowing she wouldn't be able to imagine a world without the twins and Roxy either.

"Two, you would escape unscathed, in which case we would not let you out of our sight for at least a couple of days, and most definitely come clean about how we feel about you," he once again emphasised, making sure Hermione knew George had feelings for her as well.

"And the third was that you would be turned into a vampire. In which case you would either remain our friend if we were not your mates, and we would hopefully live long enough for Roxy to always have you in her life. Or the fates would decide that we are your mates and we could be closer than ever. There was no question about you retaining your humanity. None. I never doubted you for a moment," he finished in a whisper, the gravity of his words overwhelming for them.

Hermione sat down across from him and took his words in, seeing they were earnest and there was nothing but love in Fred's chocolate eyes. "Are you sure about this? Are you sure you wish to spend the rest of your life as my blood mate, or as my mate for eternity if I change you?" she asked, knowing it was not uncommon.

"I love you," he repeated, all the reply she could need.

She was across the table in the blink of an eye and straddling his loins, their lips meeting in need. "I wish we could…" the emotions swirling her powerful and wanting to read through. She loved the twins, both of them. Ever since they became close, she promised herself to love them but never step between them because of her feelings. Knowing that they were both her mates, two halves of one soul meeting with hers, meant so much to her.

"But we can't. Not without George," he groaned against her lips, leaning in for one final kiss before they separated cautiously.

"How do we do this?" Hermione asked, pacing into the kitchen to busy herself with tea, feeling Fred's presence as he leaned against the doorframe.

"Without Roxy, at first," he suggested. "Her semester at the prep school is finished for this year and she's making decorations for the Christmas tree at home. So why don't I go help her, and you have a word with George?" he suggested.

Hermione poured the milk in and put it away silently as she thought about it. "Alright. Go, I'll wait," she replied carefully and leaned into one final kiss before Fred turned around and left.

Hermione braced herself for the impact, for the first time she saw George. Twenty minutes later when he stepped through the floo, Hermione was unprepared for her reaction once again.

She felt nothing….