No money is being made from my playing in JK Rowling's universe.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Bill had finally settled down to working on his project. The last in a series of curses was proving to be his personal demon. He could not seem to crack the logic; his pride was suffering. Bill was sitting on the sofa, papers and reference books were strewn about him, and he did not hear the front door open.

Charlie and Hermione were bickering as they walked into the apartment.

Hermione's voice sounded strained "How can I be overly sensitive…I am sure everyone thinks I am a slut. I had a baby, no father around. I am living with two sexy single wizards and I am shopping for provocative underwear. I think in many people's minds that would qualify me as a whore!"

Bill looked up at that statement, "Did I miss something?"

Charlie was grinning, "Did you hear that? She thinks we are sexy!"

Bill grinned.

Hermione was vaguely reminded of their twin brothers.

Charlie walked over to Bill, "I took her to Veela's"

Bill nodded and looked at Hermione. "Great store and that explains these."

Hermione glanced over to where Bill indicated. Stacked against the wall next to the kitchen was a staggering number of boxes from Veela's Vanities.

Hermione gasped, "She must have sent the entire store!"

She sank on the floor and mumbled to herself, "How am I going to pay for all of this?" Her face was blank.

Charlie sat next to her, "I am paying for it Hermione I tortured you I will pay for it."

Hermione looked at him, "I can not let you pay for my knickers, that is just wrong."

She continued talking to herself more than anyone in particular, "I will have to sell my mum's engagement ring…oh…no it was in my apartment. I guess it is gone."

By the time she finished she was sobbing. Bill looked at Charlie they both seemed confused.

Bill sitting down on the opposite side of her finally asked, "Hermione, I know it is none of my business but I got the impression from Ron that your parents left you well off financially. What happened?"

Hermione shifted trying not to look so pathetic. "Do you know how much it costs to have a baby that is so premature? Doctors, nurses, medicine, then there are the other costs. I'll be lucky to pay it all off by the time I am fifty!"

Bill and Charlie just looked at her.

She continued, "I was going to sell my flat but it is not worth much anymore. I will have to become a whore. Sell my goods…at least I have the correct wardrobe!" She let out a feeble snort.

Bill pushed her sideways toward Charlie, "That is not funny Coco, but seriously…"

Bill was hoping she had been joking, "Hermione, Ron is going to help with the medical bills and Charlie and I are great at home repairs. We had to be around the Burrow. It is going to be okay, we promise, right Charlie?"

Charlie grabbed Hermione and pulled her into his lap, "Right and I am going to pay for your knickers!"

Hermione grinned as she squirmed in his lap, "That does not give you visitation rights!"

Charlie laughed, "Well do we get at least get a style show?"

Hermione's eyes got as big as saucers; "I do not think so!" she scrambled to get out of Charlie's reach. She picked up as many boxes as she could and headed down the hallway toward her bedroom.

Bill laughed at his little brother, "How about I pay a visit to our youngest brother? You stay around here?" Charlie nodded and Bill left.

Hermione finished putting away her purchases and wandered in the living room. Charlie was lightly snoring from the chair where he had fallen asleep. Hermione started looking at all of the parchments that Bill had left scattered around the sofa. Curiosity got the better of her and while she straighten them she started reading. She found herself unable to put them down. Instantly she was fascinated by the complex curse research. The more she read the more lost in thought she became.

It was dark outside when she looked up at Bill as he entered the apartment. She smiled at him like the Cheshire cat. Bill's eyes narrowed when he took in the scene. Hermione had organized his work papers and had made some notes of her own.

Bill had to ask "What have you been up to?"

Hermione's grin got bigger. She slowly stood up, "Me? Up to anything? Oh you mean other than figuring out the counter curse you have been working on!"

Bill rush forward to her pile of notes. He was cautious as he sat down and began to devour her comments. He was stunned at the level of insight and her logical progression. She was brilliant.

Bill shook his head and looked up at her, "You are amazing; you should be a curse breaker."

Hermione was pleased, "You think?"

Bill was certain, "Yeah I think."

Hermione squealed she would love the challenge.

Bill laughed, "How long have you been working on this?'

Hermione thought, "What a couple maybe three hours?"

Bill snorted, "I have been slaving over it for a month…Coco you are bloody brilliant!"

He stood up and hugged her. Charlie had woken up and was watching. Bill and Charlie had a silent conversation. They agreed that Coco had turned a corner she could look at the future and see herself there.

Hermione was yawning and trying to stay awake while the brothers puttered around the kitchen after dinner.

She finally gave up, "I think I am going to turn in, goodnight you two."

"'Night" they responded and Charlie turned to his older brother when he heard Hermione's bedroom door close, "Beer?"

Bill stretched his neck and rolled his shoulders then took one of the offered beers from his brother as they both walked out of the kitchen and took up seats on the sofa.

Bill's beer was half-gone before he started to tell Charlie about his visit with Ron. "That Veronique is a right piece of work…she actually had the nerve to suggest to Ron that he should not help pay for the hospital bills because …and I quote 'It was not like he got to hold the baby and how could they proved it was really his any way!' Can you believe the nerve of the tart?"

Bill took another long swallow and then added, "thought Mum was going to hex her newest daughter in law!"

Charlie sat stunned, he could not think of thing to say. Bill continued, "She just might be worse than Fleur."

Charlie choked on his beer; his brother never spoke about his former fiancée. Charlie looked at Bill's expression it was somber.

Charlie was a brave man, he played with flying fire-breathing dragons for a living but he was not brave enough to disagree with his brother when he looked that angry. Discretion being the better part of valor, Charlie faked a huge yawn and stood up. "The nap did not seem to help, I am done. See you in the morning."

Bill nodded and gesturing to the well-organized stacks on the coffee table, "I am going to go over Hermione's notes on my case before I turn in."

Hours later Bill was still sitting in amazement going over Hermione's work when he heard a faint pop. He had been so absorbed in the case it took a few minutes for the noise to register. The muffled cry that he heard next bolted him into action. Quickly and silently, he walked down the hallway toward the direction of the cry.

The door to his and his brother's shared bedroom was ajar. Wand aloft, Bill pushed the door open to see Charlie sleeping on his back with his mouth open and softly snoring. Bill heard a thud from across the hall and his hand reached for the handle to Hermione's bedroom. Making no sound, Bill opened the door to see Hermione standing back to the opposite wall in one of her new purchases.

Her eyes wide with terror, she saw Bill open the door but made no sign. Bill then heard the whispered sound of a deep angry male voice. Hermione was shaking and Bill opened the door wider. The better angle allowed him to see a tall thin man holding a wand pointed directly at Hermione's heart.

Bill took a second but realized that it was the same wizard that Hermione had slapped all those nights ago at the Happy Hippogrif. The wizard was slowing tracing the curve of Hermione's chest with the tip of his wand. He was so preoccupied that he did not realized until it was too late that Bill was next to him and pointing his own wand at his temple.

"I'd stop irritating Coco if I were you." Bill drawled with a lopsided grin. The wizard's head snapped towards Bill and then simply disappeared.

Bill caught Hermione when her legs gave out. He carried into his bedroom waking up Charlie with his shouts. "Charlie get up, some how the wards have been breached!" Bill was trying to hold Hermione up right and shake Charlie with his foot.

Charlie grumbled and sat up, "What?" "I said fire boy that some how that wizard…you know…Hermione's neighbor was here. Come on Charlie get up…it is not safe for Coco here. We have to get her to Mum's and Dad's."

Charlie was pulling on his jeans and boots as the three of them walked into the living room. Charlie fully awake now said, "Right we'll go then."

Bill's arms were still around Hermione as he pulled her into the fireplace, "the Burrow!"

Mrs. Weasley was a light sleeper. Years of having six sons and daughter had taught her to sleep with one ear listening for the creak in the stair landing. She almost always caught them sneaking in or sneaking out. The floo bell ringing was enough to have her out of bed and down the stairs before Charlie could shake off the soot.

Mr. Weasley was right behind his wife and walked into the kitchen to find Charlie and Bill whispering quietly to a visibly upset Hermione. Mrs. Weasley was looking confused Hermione was crying, Bill was holding her very close in his arms and Charlie was on the other side of Hermione rubbing his hands up and down her arms a if he was trying to keep her warm.

Mrs. Weasley took a good look at Hermione and realized a light breeze might seem like an Artic blast in that nightgown. "Tea everyone?" she asked as she handed Hermione an old barn jacket that was hanging by the backdoor. "You do not want to catch cold dear."

Mrs. Weasley said as she filled the kettle with water. The boys voices were getting louder as Mr. Weasley walked into the kitchen, Bill and Charlie were beginning to argue about going to get Harry.

Mr. Weasley cleared his throat, but his sons did not notice. He pointed his wand at the boys and silenced the noise. Bill looked at his father sheepishly and Charlie looked over and waved. Mr. Weasley restored their voices.

"Sorry Pop!" said Charlie, "we did not mean to wake you up."

Bill was leading Hermione to a chair gently pushing her down to sit. Once she was seated, Bill knelt down next to her and whispered something in her ear. Charlie sat on the other side of Hermione and gratefully accepted a steaming cup from his mother.

"Apparently someone broke into the apartment and was holding Hermione at wand point." Charlie offered as an explanation.

Bill growled, "It was not a 'someone', it was that git neighbor from Coco's apartment building."

Charlie put his hand up "Okay it was the git, the point is that Bill surprised him and he vanished."

"Who vanished?" asked a sleepy looking Ron as he walked into the kitchen closely followed by skimpily clad Veronique.

Mrs. Weasley blushed, Ron's wife's attire made Hermione's seem demure. She reached for another barn coat and handed to Veronique, "this kitchen is so drafty dear."

Veronique shrugged and placed the coat over the closest chair as she turned to her husband, "What are they all rambling on about darling? Do they know what time it is? I need my beauty sleep you kept me up so late." She gave a little laugh.

Bill was stunned into speechlessness. Ron repeated his question pointedly ignoring his wife, "Who vanished?" Charlie filled his brother in on the latest events.

Just as Charlie was finishing Hermione heard Veronique mumbling, "She always has to be the center of attention doesn't she little…"

Charlie had mentioned that Bill was certain that the wizard that been attacking Hermione tonight was Hermione's neighbor, the same wizard that tried to drug Hermione at the nightclub and possibly responsible for the fire that destroyed her apartment.

Veronique was still mumbling "Sebastian is not going hurt her idiots, he got her to the hospital didn't he when she fell…"

Ron turn and faced his wife, "What did you say?" his voice barely controlled.

Veronique was flustered, "I mean…I did not say anything…it must have been her." She was pointing at Hermione.

Ron advanced towards her, Veronique gave the group a haughty look, "Okay fine, I said Sebastian wouldn't mean to hurt her."

Bill looked dumbstruck, "You know this Sebastian who has been stalking Hermione?"

Veronique looked disgusted, "Of course I do…Sebastian is my brother." Squaring her shoulders, she gave them all a scathing look, "and I think stalking is a gross exaggeration!"

Charlie was now standing in front of his sister in law his rage barley controlled, "How do you know it is your brother?"

Veronique sighed looking at them as if they were all stupid, "It was all part of the plan of course…Sebastian wanted Hermione" she gave a conspiratorial sideways glance at Mrs. Weasley "there is no accounting for taste!"

Then she continued, "He wanted her and I wanted Ron of course! We worked it out so we both got what we wanted."

As after thought she added, "It was almost ruined when the little witch turned up pregnant…but Sebastian fixed that with a little hex in the park."

Ron's hands were balled up into fists, his face was contorted, "You and your brother planned to break Hermione and I up?" he hissed.

Veronique laughed, "Well it didn't take much, just a little self doubt spell and sweetheart, you bolted."

Ron leaned into her face, "You knew Hermione had given birth to our son and that he had died when you and I met?"

Veronique nodded and in a voice that she hoped sounded sultry and alluring, she said, "I know, I know, but Ronnie sweetheart, I'll give you sons, plenty of healthy sons…"

Ron's voice was barely above a whisper, "You helped to murder an innocent baby, my son?"

Veronique looked confused, "Murder? No, I wouldn't say murder Ronnie baby…I just helped get rid of an inconvenience."

Hermione had been quite but hearing her son referred to as an inconvenience was too much. She stood up and grabbed Bill's wand from his back pocket. She pointed it directly at Veronique and calmly stated, "I should kill you, but that would be too good for you. I want you and your brother to have to live, live a very long time paying for what you have done."

Hermione looked around, "how long is the penalty for murder 50 years? Life? Life in Azkaban sounds like a cakewalk compared to waking up every morning knowing your own child is dead."

Hermione looked at the Weasleys, "I apologize for making a scene…Bill and Charlie were concerned for my safety."

Looking at Bill she continued, "I think we should contact Harry and let the aurors deal with the rest."

Then she looked at Ron, "I just have no words…" Ron nodded.

Mr. Weasley was already contacting Harry while was wiping her tears. Hermione put her arms around the older woman and kissed the wrinkled cheek, "I know, I know."

Bill took back his wand and kept it trained on Veronique. Ron had walked to stand by the fireplace he appeared to be lost in deep thought.

Harry arrived with in minutes and once he was made fully aware of the situation he looked at Ron, "I have to take her to the Ministry; you can follow us there, Ron."

Ron looked at Veronique, "I do no think so."

Veronique had begun to cry, "But Ronnie, I'm your wife!"

Ron looked at her with cold hatred, "Only until I can find a way to end it!"

Veronique was sobbing "Ronnie darling, We are married…married forever…Ronnie baby, you don't mean that!"

Ron strode towards her his wand pointed directly between her eyes, "Hermione is right death is too good for you."

Harry had bound Veronique's hands and before he took her outside to transfer her to the Ministry he spoke to everyone, "I'll be sending a team to search for her brother, I will let know when I have something."

Hermione nodded "Thank you Harry. I will be at Bill and Charlie's."

Bill grabbed Harry's offered hand, "Thank you mate. We will keep Coco safe until we hear from you." Charlie was standing behind Hermione and nodded once at Harry in agreement.

After Harry and Veronique left Hermione turned to Bill, "Can we go home now?"