Hey guys. Second chapter up and yet another disclaimer. I own nothing but my deluded imagination and the warped belief that Fred, actually didn't die and ended up with Hermione.

Chapter 2

Shrugging off his jacket, he gently reached forward and placed it round her shoulders, wrapping it tightly around her and covering her body. He could feel her shaking, so he pulled her to him, and held her close, murmuring in her ear, promising that he'd look after her and protect her. Slowly, Fred sensed she was calming down, so pulled back slightly and looked into her face.

"What happened? You've been missing seven months. Have you been on the streets all that time?"

A small nod confirmed his suspicions.

"But why didn't you come to us? You must have known Mum would've taken you in."

Hermione looked down at the ground. "I couldn't. Please don't ask me to explain, Fred. Please."

"I promise, Hermione. I won't expect you to explain anything, not unless you want to."

Fred was struck by just how quiet and scared she sounded. She didn't seem like the Hermione he knew. That Hermione wasn't afraid to stand up for herself, was proud and brave. He dreaded to think of what had turned her into this shell of her previous self. Gathering up her clothes he handed them to her, before turning to the men, who were completely immobile except for their frantic, roving eyes. "Maybe leaving you like this is the only way to stop you harming any other girls. As much as I would love to do so, there are strict laws against it." Saying this, he unfroze them.

"Wipe their memories." Hermione spoke little above a whisper but Fred heard her. He looked enquiringly at her. Surely they should remember what might happen if they tried the same thing again.

"The Statute of Secrecy. Muggles aren't supposed to know about us, remember?"

Fred nodded slowly. Looking back to the two men, who were frozen in fear despite being able to move if they wanted to, he raised his wand to each of them in turn and murmured, "obliviate". A glazed look came over both of their faces.

Fred left them there. He was sure they'd find their way home eventually. His sole concern now was Hermione. When she first went missing seven months ago the whole family had been worried, scouring both the Muggle and the magical world. There had been no sign of her, however, and, eventually, they had stopped searching. Whenever Fred went into the Muggle world though, he always hoped that he'd find her. And now he had, and he as sure as hell wasn't going to let her get lost again.

"You don't have your wand, I take it?" What a stupid question – of course she didn't. If she did have her wand, she wouldn't be living on the streets. Sure enough, she shook her head.

"OK then, you'll have to side-long-Apparate. You alright with that?"

Another small nod. Fred offered his arm, and Hermione gripped it tightly. Concentrating fiercely on The Burrow, Fred Apperated Hermione away.

When he next opened his eyes, they were both standing next to the lake, with the Burrow in the distance. Lights were shining from the windows of the first three floors, giving a warm and homely impression. Fred smiled slightly as Hermione sighed at the sight of it. Wrapping an arm around her waist, Fred led her towards The Burrow. Without knocking he opened the door and shouted for Mrs Weasley. She came hurrying down the stairs and stopped short and the sight of Fred leading a thin Hermione into the lounge, where he laid her down on the sofa, summoned a blanket from upstairs that almost hit Molly as it whizzed past her, and tucked it gently around Hermione, before smoothing her hair away from her face and taking a seat in the armchair next to the sofa. Only then did he glance up at his shell-shocked mother.

"I found her." It wasn't anything like an explanation, but it was the best he could manage, seeing as he didn't know anything about her circumstances either. Hermione was the only one who could shed any light on the situation, and at the moment she didn't seem particularly keen to talk about what she'd been through.

Molly Weasley suddenly seemed to regain her ability of speech and movement. Hurrying down the remaining stairs she bustled over to Hermione, checking her temperature and fussing over how thin she was.

"Fred, would you Floo the Leaky Cauldron, dear? Harry, Ron and Ginny are having a drink there. They should be told Hermione's back. And once you've done that, would you mind if you started making some broth? Hermione needs to get her strength up."

Fred nodded and stood up, heading for the fireplace. Grabbing a handful of Floopowder, knelt and threw it into the flames calling "The Leaky Cauldron". He stuck his head into the now green flames and proceeded to hold a conversation that the other occupants of the Burrow could only hear one side of.

"Tom? Yes, it's Fred Weasley ... I'm good, you? ... Good, good. Anyway, are Harry, Ron and Ginny there? ... They are? Could I speak to them, please? ... Yeah, it's pretty important. ... Harry? Hey ... I have news. Want it now or when you arrive back at the Burrow as soon as you settle the bill, in a couple of minutes? ... Yes, yes, I know you weren't planning on coming back for a while, but, honestly, I think you should come back ... The news is definitely major ... Stop yelling at me and I'll tell you ... Thank you. Anyway, Hermione's back ... Yes, I meant what I said. I told you it was major. OK, see you in a couple of minutes." He withdrew his head from the fire, threw a quick smile to his mother and Hermione, before heading to the kitchen to start making a weak chicken broth. He wasn't the best cook, but this was one dish he could make.

In the kitchen he started setting everything going. Thank Merlin for magic. Once it was simmering on the stove, he leaned against the worktop, out of sight of the living room but where he could hear Molly asking Hermione all about the last seven months. Hermione, however, was as unresponsive with Mrs Weasley as she had been with Fred. It was clear to him that Hermione didn't want to be having this conversation, and he moved from his comfy position to go and intervene.

"Mum, leave the poor girl alone. I'm sure she'll tell you everything when she's ready."

Hermione threw a grateful look at Fred, who winked cheekily back, settling himself in the armchair just as Harry, Ron and Ginny Apperated into the room. The three of them immediately rushed over to Hermione, who struggled to sit up.

"Hermione!"

"You came back!"

"What happened?"

Fred sighed. They were peppering her with questions that she obviously didn't want to answer.

Glancing at Hermione once more, he headed back into the kitchen to pour the broth into a bowl. Pausing only to grab a spoon, he headed straight back into the living room, where he gently touched her shoulder to get her attention, before placing the bowl and spoon on the low coffee table so he could help her to sit up properly. After rearranging the cushions behind her he passed over the bowl and spoon, smiling as she fell upon it ravenously.

Sitting down in the armchair again, he contemplated Hermione. She did look rather worse for wear, although, he thought, that was only to be expected. Every time he thought of those men who had almost raped her, he felt a rush of protective anger. The strength of it surprised him, although he had always been close to Hermione, closer than anyone had really been able to see, he had never thought much of it before. He dismissed it as the feelings of an older brother, and tried to quash the desire to murder someone if it turned out that those two men he rescued her from hadn't been the first, and others had managed to get their way with her. Seeing that she had now finished the bowl of broth, he leaned over and gestured to Hermione, offering to take it from her. She gave it up, and he headed back towards the kitchen, stopping the doorway.
"Guys, Hermione should probably get some rest now. Come in here for a few minutes yeah?"

Ron, Ginny and Harry all looked at each other before following him into the kitchen, standing there in silence as he washed up the bowl and glanced through the hatch to see Hermione rearranging the cushions so she could curl up again. Eventually, he turned to them.

"I appreciate the fact that you're glad Hermione's back, but she's been through a tough time and doesn't want to live it again. Don't push her into telling you anything, she'll tell you when she's ready and feels safe."

The three of them looked at each other before nodding to show their agreement and understanding. One by one, they crept past Hermione and upstairs, leaving Fred alone in the kitchen.

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