Hey guys. Exams all over, so uploading something based on something I DON'T OWN (felt like doing the disclaimer slightly differently)
"Hermione, can I come in?" Fred knocked at the door, and then leaned his head against the wood, listening to the way the movement suddenly stopped. "Hermione, are you ok?"
A muffled "Yes" emitted from the room.
"Ginny sent some clothes for you to wear. I'll leave them outside the door, ok?"
No response.
"I'll be in the kitchen, when you're ready. I hope you still like pancakes!"
As he walked away he thought the head the door open and a whispered "Thank you" but, by the time he'd turned back around the door had been shut again.
Five minutes later found Fred making another of the few dishes he was proficient in – pancakes. Throughout Hogwarts Hermione had always loved pancakes, and Fred wanted to ensure she ate as much as possible – she was much too thin. Turning round, he was greeted by the sight of Hermione standing in the doorway, dressed in Ginny's clothes. Fred's eyes travelled up and down her body, and a small half-smile spread across his face. Hermione, seeing this, crossed her arms protectively over her body, hiding it from view. Fred stepped towards her, gently tugging her arms away and taking her hands in his. "Hermione, I won't hurt you, I promise. I'm just pleased to see you safe, wearing clean clothes that fit."
Hermione nodded and squeezed his hands to show she understood, then her eyes widened and she looked behind him hastily. "Fred, your pancakes are burning." Fred whirled round and swore, pulling the frying pan off the heat and peering gingerly at the charred remnants in the bottom of the pan.
"Well, looks like pancakes are off the menu, then." Fred bit his lip as he tossed the pan into the sink. "How about I get us a couple of fried breakfasts from The Leaky Cauldron?"
Hermione nodded eagerly, then blushed. Fred winked at her and headed towards the fireplace, laughing silently at her enthusiasm. Grabbing a handful of Floo powder, he called The Leaky Cauldron for the second time in less than twenty-four hours.
"Hey Tom, me again!...No, I don't want to talk to anyone today...No! I was wondering...can I order a couple of fried breakfasts?...How long do you think it'll take?...Ten minutes? Ok, I'll pop over in ten minutes to collect them...Yeah, see you then. Thanks, Tom." Fred pulled his head out of the flames and turned to the hovering Hermione. "I won't leave just yet, but will you be ok on your own for a bit? I promise I'll be a couple of minutes, maximum."
"I'll be fine, Fred. It'll only be a couple of minutes, after all." Her expression softened. "Thank you for caring."
"How could I not care?" Fred pulled her close. "Hermione, you're important to – to my family. We'd all do anything we could to make you happy."
"Really?"
"Really truly. Why do you sound so amazed?"
"I suppose because, for the past year, it's been me against the world. I've not had anyone looking out for me or protecting me."
That admission pulled Fred up short, although he managed to hide it. A year? That was when she had started dating Malfoy. So Fred was right, it was the stupid ferret's fault.
He looked up at the clock, and saw that their breakfasts would be ready and waiting. He didn't want to leave Hermione alone after what she'd just told him, but he also wanted to make sure she ate. As though sensing his inner turmoil, Hermione pulled away. "Fred, just go. I told you, I'll be fine on my own for a couple of minutes."
Glancing once more at Hermione, Fred nodded and headed through the Floo. Hermione was alone. "For Merlin's sake, what am I doing?" she groaned quietly to herself, sitting down on the sofa, and burying her head in her hands. "What am I doing?" she asked again, but received no answer but silence. She sat there, not moving, until she heard the Floo activate. Hurriedly lifting her head up, she leapt up to help Fred with the dishes.
"Thanks, Hermione. I hope you're hungry, because these are huge." Fred grinned, not noticing the conflicting emotions crossing Hermione's face as they both headed to the kitchen and sat down.
The sound of cutlery on crockery was the only sound filling the room for a few minutes, before Fred paused in eating and set his cutlery down, surveying Hermione. She, sensing his eyes on her, looked up and met his gaze before quickly looking away.
"Hermione, I know I promised not to ask you anything, but I want to know – before those two men, did anyone succeed in, you know..." Fred trailed off, not daring to look at Hermione.
"I knew this was too good to be true. I thought you were different, that you actually cared, that you kept your promises. But you're just like everyone else, putting on an act until you can work out exactly how much you can take from me. Well, I'm sick of it. I'm not going to just hang around to be used by you whenever you feel like it." And with a fire that Fred hadn't seen for ages burning in her eyes, Hermione got up and headed towards her bedroom, her shoulders trembling as she tried to keep them thrown back when she just wanted to curl up and cry. Fred leapt after her, and whirled her round, looking beseechingly into her eyes.
"I didn't mean it like that, Hermione, I swear I didn't. I wouldn't hurt you for the world. I just wanted to know because I'd want them to prevent them ever hurting you again, and punish them for what they did, even if it meant going to Azkaban."
Hermione just looked back at him, her brain struggling to process all that he had said. Slowly she closed her eyes and tears seeped out. Fred's reaction was instantaneous; scooping her up and holding to his chest as he carried her over to the sofa, sitting down and cradling her on his lap as she sobbed, the stress of the last year intermingled with relief that she was now safe. Fred sat there, rocking her slightly, and stroking her back as he whispered soothing words in her ear. Eventually she calmed down, and tried to move away from Fred, but he wasn't having any of it. Instead, he moved so he was resting against the back and arm of the sofa, with Hermione still on his lap. Eventually she relaxed into him, accepting her position. Fred gazed down at her, wondering yet again how something like this could have happened to Hermione. After several minutes of comfortable silence, Hermione spoke softly to Fred.
"I was never actually raped, Fred. Most people don't see those living on the streets, just ignore them. They follow the principle that, if they don't know that they're actually by their feet, then they aren't their problem. Those men were the first who almost succeeded. Sometimes I had drunk men come up to me and offer me money for sex, but there was always another homeless person who stood up for me. As time went by, and I got dirtier and dirtier, the men stopped paying attention to me."
Fred nodded and increased the strength of his grip, letting her know that he was there for her, and would always protect her. They lapsed into silence again, and both their eyelids started to droop, before Hermione spoke again.
"Fred, would you really risk Azkaban for me?"
"Yeah, I would. Without a moment's hesitation."
"Why? Why risk something like that for me?"
"Because I care about you Hermione. Everyone does, and everyone would risk things for you."
"But would they all risk Azkaban?"
"I don't know. You'd have to ask them. But they probably would – Harry, Ginny and Ron especially."
"George?"
"Most likely."
"But you're not sure." Hermione was sitting up straighter, determined to get answers.
"Why are you so interested in whether George would go to Azkaban for you?" Fred tried to deflect the questions, but was keen to know the answer.
"Because if he wouldn't, why would you? I've never been closer to you than George."
"Even if he wouldn't, I would because I made a promise to you. Last night, I promised to protect you. And I intend to keep that promise until my last breath."
Hermione looked at him, not fully believing that someone would do that for her.
"I would. Honestly. Now, just before we had this conversation, I believe that we were both about to fall asleep. Care to try to get to that state again, or is there going to be more interrogation?"
"No more interrogation." Hermione murmured, leaning her head against Fred's chest. A couple of minutes past before she spoke again.
"Before you condemn yourself to Azkaban, Fred, remember that going through legal methods, such as the Muggle police, or the Ministry, can be just as effective."
"I'll bear that in mind," Fred laughed.
"And, Fred, just so you know; I'd go to Azkaban for you too." Hermione's eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep, leaving Fred staring at the top of her head, fighting conflicting feelings yet again.
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