Hey guys. Harry Potter is still not mine, but reviews are still loved...
Early that morning found Fred pacing anxiously inside Kingsley Shaklebolt's office as Kingsley and Aurors debated what to do. "Would Draco Malfoy really do something like that?" asked an Auror. "By all accounts, he is a model citizen. I struggle to imagine him doing such a thing."
"For Merlin's sake!" shouted Fred. "Hermione's in Malfoy Manor right this minute, and who knows what Malfoy's doing to her. He is hurting her, just look at my memories! Kingsley, I mean the Minister, already has. He didn't bring you here to discuss if, but how!"
"Minister, are you going to let him talk to us like this?" asked an older Auror, who worked at the Ministry in a consulting position.
"Yes, I am. He's quite right. Now, Fred. As these lot seem incapable of making a decision, I shall come with you myself. If you would just take my arm, we'll Apparate there directly," said Kingsley in a calming tone that reduced all the Ministry workers in the office to silence.
"But, Minister..." one of them started to protest, but was cut off by a look from the Minister.
"Minister," said Fred hesitantly. "The wards around Malfoy Manor prevent-"
"I know all about that," assured Kingsley. "And being Minister has it perks these days – being able to Apparate anywhere being one of them. Now, shall we?"
Fred nodded once, resolutely, and gripped tight onto Kingsley's arm as he Apparated them away and darkness enclosed them.
At Malfoy Manor Hermione awoke to find an absence of Fred. Well, she had been expecting that. She knew Fred would disappear once she was asleep – it would have been too dangerous for him to stay. As she stretched, she thought, At least Malfoy didn't come in last night, nursing his wounded pride, no doubt.
Last night, when Fred had suggested that she leave with him, she had been sorely tempted to take him up on the offer and escape Malfoy Manor there and then. But the sensible side of her won through. If Malfoy had come in and found her gone, then he would have realised something was wrong, then he would have scarpered, just in case someone caught up with him. He wasn't stupid, he knew exactly how to react to situations, how to seem like he was doing nothing wrong. If Hermione had disappeared, then so would he, until he was sure nothing was going to happen. At which point he would doubtless strike again, taking her away from Fred once more. That time the consequences would be much more severe, Hermione knew. He would ensure there was no escaping wherever he put her – he wouldn't be foolish enough to put her in Malfoy Manor twice. And there was no way Fred would escape, either. Malfoy would kill him.
And the Ministry – that had been another problem. If Hermione had known for definite that they would move swiftly to arrest Malfoy the moment she went to them, no matter what time of day it was, then she definitely would have gone with Fred last night. However, although the Ministry was better now under the leadership of Kingsley Shacklebolt, it still had a tendency to make stupid decisions that hadn't been thought through and badly affected people, on some occasions.
At that moment, the door opened and Malfoy himself walked in. Hermione immediately shrunk away from him – she was much more frightened in the harsh light of day, knowing that Fred wasn't there if things got too bad.
"Well, Hermione, darling," Malfoy began, advancing on her like a predator advances on its prey just before making the move that ends a life. "How are you feeling today? In a clearer state of mind I hope. After all, I am still capable of finding Fred Weasley if you refuse me too many times."
Hermione paled at the thought of Fred being harmed, but reminded herself that he was going to the Ministry today, he may already even be there.
"Fred's more than a match for you, Malfoy. Remember, he was a member of Dumbledore's Army – he's more than capable of seeing off someone like you."
"I sincerely doubt that, my love. Didn't you see how powerless he was yesterday?"
"Well, if you will insist on having two cronies there to do your dirty work because you don't want to get your precious hands dirty..." Hermione trailed off, letting Draco fill in the rest of the sentence himself. He evidently didn't like what she was implying, because the next second he had grabbed her by her hair and was pulling her head up, exposing her neck, and holding his wand against it threateningly.
"If you dare cheek me like that again..." he left the threat hanging in the air.
Hermione summoned up all her courage and gave a laugh, which sounded a tad high pitched to her ears, and said in what she hoped wasn't a quavering voice, "or what, Malfoy? You'll kill me? But you can't do that, because then you can't have your fun with me."
Malfoy have a growl and released her hair, shoving her back onto the bed with so much force that the mattress creaked and groaned as it protested against the rough treatment.
"You're lucky that I have work and can't afford to be late, Mudblood," he spat out delivering a sound slap to her cheek, turning his back and leaving the room, locking the room magically behind him.
Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes as she pressed the scrap of cloth Fred had left behind, now freshly wet, to her cheek, which was already swelling and turning red. Slowly heading back to the bed, Hermione, rolled onto her side and drew her knees up to her chest as the tears flowed free.
Arriving at the front entrance of Malfoy Manor, Kingsley lifted up the large, gold door knocker and knocked once. It reverberated around them, but no one came to answer the door. Fred shifted from foot to foot, anxious to get inside and find Hermione. After what seemed like an eternity of standing there, during which time Kingsley knocked again, Fred coughed. "Minister, Kingsley, are we just going to stand here all day, it's just that, we won't be much use to Hermione out here."
Kingsley looked at him. "Fred, I'm trying to do things by the book, and I believe that Draco Malfoy isn't in."
"But, Kingsley, surely that can't be the end of it? Why don't you let me have a go, I'm sure the door will open for me."
"Very, well, Mr Weasley, but remember, by the book."
"Of course Minister. When have I ever not done things by the book? Actually," added Fred hastily, as he saw Kingsley's mouth open, "don't answer that."
Fred knocked once on the door, and, as he expected, heard no sound of movement from inside.
"Minister? Is there a chapter in this book we're going by that says charms are allowed to be used to open front doors?"
"I'm not sure there is, Fred. I can't recall seeing such a chapter, but my memory can be slightly faulty."
"You might want to avert your eyes then, Minister, in case it's not in the book. Just to be on the safe side." Fred withdrew his wand and muttered a quick unlocking charm. It didn't work and Fred cursed under his breath, glancing at Kingsley, who was pretending to study the Manor's architecture but kept sneaking glances at what Fred was doing.
"Um, Minister?" Fred asked hesitantly.
"Yes, Fred?"
"You'll definitely want to avert your eyes for this bit. I know that this won't be in the book."
"Ah, OK then." Kingsley turned around so his back was facing the Manor as Fred rummaged through his jacket pocket for his lock-picking kit. Finding it, he selected a hair slide from the half a dozen in there – all stolen when Ginny wasn't looking, and began to fiddle with the lock. After a couple of minutes hard work, he sat back on his heels and replaced the kit, looking pleased with himself.
"Oh, Minister? You can turn round again now."
Kingsley turned around and made a show of being surprised to see the door open. "Fred," he asked solemnly, "do you agree with me that it is our duty to check the premises of a building which has its front door wide open, yet no sign of any occupants?"
Fred cottoned on quickly. "Yes, Minister, I do agree. Who knows who could have got in."
Kingsley nodded approvingly and pushed the door open and stepped inside, Fred following him in. The door closed behind them, and Fred immediately started down a corridor.
"Mr Weasley? Where do you think you're going?"
"To find Hermione. She was in a room down in the kitchen area – underneath the main rooms. Trust me, I'll find her."
Kingsley nodded and followed Fred as he went down passage after passage. Suddenly Fred stopped and Kingsley crashed into him.
"I think this is it," Fred said, withdrawing his wand and muttering, "Homenum revelio." Sure enough, a ghostly image of Hermione appeared, and Fred immediately turned the door handle; only to find it wouldn't budge. Jiggling it, Fred cursed under his breath, and, pointing his wand at the lock, whispered, "Alohomora". Trying the lock again, Fred was worried to find it still wouldn't open. Why did Malfoy lock it now when he hadn't before? Was he trying to hide something, or was it to punish Hermione? Was it to ensure no one got out or no one got in? Both, most likely, thought Fred bitterly.
Once again reaching into his pocket, he selected a slightly more delicate slide and inserted it into the lock. After just a few seconds this time, he felt the lock draw back. Standing up he grasped the door handle and turned it, hurrying into the room, Kingsley close behind.
Fred headed straight over to the bed, where Hermione was lying curled up, shaking. Sitting down next to her, he placed a hand on her shoulder, muttering soothing words to her as she opened her eyes and looked up at him. Immediately she sat up and enveloped him in a hug, burying her head into his shoulder as he held her tight and rocked her slightly.
After allowing them a couple of minutes alone, Kingsley stepped forwards. "Hermione, I just want to know a couple of things. Just a couple of questions and that's it. I've already seen all of Fred's memories, and that's by far and away enough to condemn Malfoy, I just want the whole picture. Was he abusive when you were in a relationship with him?"
Hermione nodded, pressing closer to Fred as he tightened his grip on her.
"Thank you, just one more question, Hermione, and then you can go with Fred back to his flat and I'll go arrest Draco Malfoy. Did he ever succeed in..." Kingsley trailed off delicately, but Hermione and Fred both knew what he was trying to ask.
"No, I always managed to fight him off." Hermione's voice was a little above a whisper, but Fred and Kingsley heard it. Nodding once Kingsley looked at Fred and said, "you can Apparate directly out of here," before Apparating away himself.
Fred cupped Hermione's face with both hands and looked into her eyes. "Are you alright, Hermione? I was so, so scared last night. So, so scared."
Hermione leaned her forehead against his. "I was scared too, this morning, knowing that, unlike last night, you weren't there in case things got too bad."
"I will always be there from now on Hermione Jean Granger. I'm never going to let you go or let anyone hurt you ever again, I promise. Now, shall we go back to the flat?"
Hermione nodded fervently, desperate to leave the Manor in favour of the warmth, comfort and safety of Fred's flat. Wrapping an tightly around Hermione's waist, Fred Apparated them away to his flat, where they curled up together on the sofa, not saying anything, just holding each other, for hours, until Hermione's stomach rumbled loudly and she glanced up and Fred to see him chuckling lightly and getting up to throw together some sort of meal.
They ate together on the sofa and eventually, late into the evening, long after the sun had gone in, went to bed in their separate rooms – Fred making Hermione promise that she'd come to him if something was the matter – no matter how small the problem or worry may be, he wanted to know about it.
That night they both drifted off to sleep with smiles on their faces, happy in the knowledge that their feelings had been realised and returned, and that Hermione was safe from Draco, who was, even at that moment, in the Ministry holding cells awaiting trial.
Reading this back, I can definitely see that it's one of my weaker stories, but please, review. I've had so many positive comments, and it would be amazing to get some more. Next chapters the last, ladies and gents. Just a short time left to review. Please also check out my other stories.