Sorry for the delay in uploading (third time typing this today). I've been busy (for full explanation check out A Chain Of Events).

Harry Potter is not mine

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Fred opened his eyes slowly, letting them adjust to the light. He jumped a mile as a face loomed an inch away from his. Opening his mouth and reaching for his wand, automatically ready to curse them, his brain slowly caught up, halting his actions.

"George?!" he said questioningly, then glanced down at Hermione as she stirred. "George," he continued in a whisper, "what the hell are you doing here?"

"I just came to see my twin and wish him a good afternoon." George had an angelic expression on his face that Fred didn't believe for a minute; he knew his twin better than that. Slowly watching his twins face, he gently lifted Hermione off his lap and settled her back on the sofa, smiling softly at the sight of her curling up into a small ball around a cushion.

Looking back at his twin, something clicked in his brain. "You came here to see Hermione, didn't you? Someone must have told you she was back."

George grinned guiltily s they headed through to the kitchen. Something else popped into Fred's head.

"Hold on, good afternoon? What's the time?"

"About two." George was grinning like a maniac.

"Two? We've been asleep for four hours?"

"Didn't either you get much sleep last night?" George tasted, ducking and moving away as Fred moved to hit him.

"Don't you dare let Hermione hear you joke about something like that." Fred was deadly serious and the laugh died on George's lips.

"When did you become so serious, Fred?"

"When Hermione came to stay with me and I promised I'd look after her."

George nodded, showing he understood. They were twins, after all, and would back each other to the hilt, no matter what. With the ease of comfortable familiarity, George headed to the fridge, grabbing a couple of chilled butterbeers and handing one to Fred. Simultaneously, they opened them and took a swig, sitting in comfortable silence.

"So, what happened to Hermione? No one at The Burrow has any idea, all they know is that you came round late last night with her."

Fred sighed. "To tell you the truth, I have next to no clue myself. I found her on the streets, cornered by a couple of men. What caused her to go on the streets, and become prey to men like that, I have no idea. I just have a feeling Malfoy has something to do with it."

George scanned his twins face. "Do you have any evidence for blaming Malfoy, or is it simply because you don't like the git?"

"Do you really blame me for not liking him? He's always been a git to our family, and especially to Hermione. Anyway, she mentioned being alone, just her against the world, for a year. That's when she started dating Malfoy."

"OK...but that could just be coincidence. Or she could be exaggerating slightly."

"Since when did Hermione exaggerate?" pointed out Fred.

"Well, why don't you just ask her? Would solve all your problems."

Fred got the feeling George was talking about more than finding out what happened to Hermione, but ignored it.

"I can't ask her, I promised that I'd wait until she was ready to talk, and not push her into telling me anything."

George shook his head in mock-exasperation at his twin, taking another mouthful of butterbeer. They both sat in companionable silence, both glancing up when a shadow fell across the doorway.

"Hey, Hermione. Want a butterbeer?" Fred offered, getting to his feet as she nodded and slid into a spare seat. Fred grabbed one, pulled off the top, and handed it to her.

"So, Hermione," George started, ignoring Fred's warning glance. "How are you feeling?"

"Better than I was. You have no idea how amazing it is to be able to sleep in a proper bed again."

"And how's my less-handsome twin been?"

"Fred's been wonderful, really kind." Hermione smiled shyly at Fred, who grinned back.

"So he's not been irritating at all?" George pressed.

"No, George, he hasn't. And why do you care?"

"Mum asked me to find out," said George off-handedly, not seeming to care that Fred was glaring at him as he told the lie. "Well, must be off, Angie will be wondering where I've got to." And he Apparated away.

Fred and Hermione sat in silence for a few minutes, then Fred spoke. "I've been thinking – tell me if you don't want to – but how would you like to go and get a new wand?" He started talking quicker. "Obviously, if you don't want to, then you don't have to. I just thought that..."

"Fred," Hermione interrupted. "You're rambling. Thank you. I'd love to get a new wand, it might help me feel as if things are getting back to normal. I don't suppose we could go and get me some new clothes as well, could we? I just don't want to be wandering around wearing Ginny's clothes constantly."

"That's fine, clothes and wand shopping it is. Let me just grab my Gringotts key, and we'll be off."

"Oh, Fred, I can't possibly ask you to pay for it all, that wouldn't be fair."

"Do you have your Gringotts key then?" Fred asked, full well knowing what the answer would be, but determined to prove to Hermione that he was definitely going to pay for it all.

"No..." Hermione trailed off.

"Well, then, looks like I'm paying." Hermione looked like she was about to interrupt again, so Fred quickly continued. "If it worries you so much, you can pay me back once we've talked to Bill about getting a new key. He should be able to manage it. But in the meantime, I'm paying."

He left the room before Hermione could argue again, and returned less than a minute later, clutching his key. "Let's go then," he said, offering his arm to Hermione, which she readily took. He Apparated them away, right into the centre of Diagon Alley.

"I have some galleons, so I think we can go to Ollivander's, then to Gringotts." Fred rummaged through his pocket, checking he had enough money. He did. They both headed towards Ollivander's, Hermione buzzing with anticipation at the thought of getting a new wand, Fred completely entranced by the enthusiasm that was coming off her. It was such a change from the girl he had rescued just last night. Fred couldn't help but grin at the way Hermione was improving; she was already so much more confident. If he had tried this earlier, he was sure that she would have been terrified at the sight of the crowds, and being pushed into people. Now, though...

They were both so utterly wrapped up in their own thoughts that they didn't notice the hands gripping onto their outer robes and Apparating away before it was too late.

Cliffie!

Hoped you liked that chapter - Fred and George interaction is always fun.

Please review - it motivates me to write and update quicker.