All of the Harry Potter world belongs to JK Rowling.

No money is made and no money given in regards to this exercise of my imagination.

________________________________________________________________________

Hermione woke up when the bed shifted. Confusion plagued her…when did she get into bed? Hermione remembered being cold and terrified on the tile floor of the bathroom. Bill. She remembered Bill and the horrible spider.

Hermione gasped as someone touched her hand. Turning toward the touch, Hermione opened her eyes, "Ginny?"

Her favorite red head girlfriend smiled "Yep it is me." The sparkling warm smile made Hermione feel better.

"Charlie made sure I came when he contacted Harry." Ginny was gently holding Hermione's hand.

Hermione was still confused and her voice was hoarse "Where am I?"

Ginny sighed and rubbed her hand over her eyes, "You are in Bill & Charlie's flat."

Hermione stiffened her face revealing her terror "Spider…spider…" she whispered.

Ginny moved closer trying to comfort her visibly upset friend, "It is fine it is okay Sebastian is gone, you are safe. Harry took him to the Ministry."

Hermione panic relaxed and she tried to sit up. Her body shook with the effort. Ginny helped her lower herself back against the pillows. "You better stay flat kiddo; I am trying to heal all of those cuts and a horrendous gash."

Hermione cast a puzzled look at her friend.

Ginny continued, "We did not want to take you to St. Mungo's."

Hermione smiled, "Thanks I really hate that place." Taking a sip of the water Ginny offered she felt her throat improve. "I can see the headline 'Weasley Wrestle Wicked Wizard away from Washed up Witch!'"

Ginny chuckled, "You can predict the Daily Prophet better than Harry."

Hermione nodded, "Lots of practice. Ginny is Bill okay? I remember him in the bathroom with me and I know we both said something…I cannot focus… I can remember him speaking and I know I said something back…it is all still fuzzy."

Ginny made soothing noises as Hermione struggled to make sense of her memory fragments. "Bill is just in the living room." Rising from the bed Ginny offered, "I will get him for you."

Hermione watched Ginny go to the door and call down the hallway for her oldest brother.

Both Bill and Charlie bounded into the room.

"Coco finally decided to wake up?" Charlie was grinning as he walked closer to the bed. Bill stayed in the doorway quietly looking at Hermione with his bloodshot eyes.

Hermione smiled at her two knights in shining armor. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, "Bill are you okay?" she asked.

Bill made his way into the room finding a seat on the edge of the bed. Instead of speaking, Bill afraid that he sob rather than speak took Hermione's hand.

As Hermione's arm stretched to reach Bill, the pain made her gasp. The pain from the gash on her shoulder radiated down her arm.

Ginny helped her sit up, "That gash is not healing." Looking up at her brothers "If it is not better in the next day or two she should go to St. Mungos."

Bill was stroking Hermione's hand, "Do you think it could be a bite? A spider bite?"

Ginny appeared to be considering the possibility, "Yes that is a likely. But it would have to be a large spider."

Bill watched the pain cross Hermione's face, "Sebastian was an amiagous…he must have been here te entire time…as a spider."

Ginny understood "That bite would be venomous and could be problematic…perhaps Hermione you should go to the hospital after all."

Hermione was shaking her head "Please no I do not want anyone else to find out about my personal life…I sure I will be fine."

Charlie spoke up "Coco I understand but if you get worse I will carry your skinny arse myself! Do you understand?"

Hermione looked properly reprimanded, "I'll be fine…do not worry."

Ginny gave her friend one more check and a hug, "I will be back later tonight. Please stay in bed and rest."

Hermione smiled, "Yes mum!"

Ginny laughed and grabbed Charlie's arm "Walk me to the door oh favorite brother of mine?"

Bill growled, "I thought I was your favorite brother Ginny!"

Ginny smiled over her shoulder as she walked out with Charlie, "Of course you are my favorite brother on even numbered days!"

Bill chuckled and muttered, "Piece of work that one …" turning to notice Hermione sitting in the bed. She looked scared and Bill stopped still.

It was the first time they had been alone since, well since the latest drama occurred. Hermione's face was flush and tears were threatening to escape. A strangled whimper brought Bill back to the present.

"It is over…it is okay Coco…we finally got the bastard. You are safe…you are okay." Bill whispered as he sat down on the bed facing Hermione.

Taking her hand in his again, the tow just sat in silence for a while. Hermione's thumb was rubbing against his it betrayed her agitation.

Finally, she broke the quite, "I do not understand how you got him away from me…he was going to …"

She took a deep breath and tried again, "I remember an oath or a pledge or a vow… something like that we both spoke." Hermione's brow furrowed in concentration

"Was that what made Sebastian crumble? Exactly what did we vow, promise, pledge, or agree to?"

Bill had been worried about this discussion. The explanation he needed to give Hermione was not easy

He could not look his Coco in the face. Looking at their clasped hands Bill started, "I saw you and I saw him and I felt so useless…stupid caught with out my wand and you were bleeding so badly. I knew I needed to stop the bastard. I could not let him hurt you any further…I could not just watch him rape you Coco. I had to do something. You understand right…please say you understand."

Hermione was watching the abject horror in Bill's eyes. "Bill what did you do?"

Bill looked up to face Hermione, "I am so sorry…I failed you…I should have been prepared."

Hermione's tears fell on to Bill's fingers, "It was not your fault William Weasley. He was evil he is evil just evil."

Bill put their clasped hands to his cheek, "I just could not let anything else hurt you."

Hermione placed her free hand on the other side of his face, caressing his cheek and sighed, "I will be fine because of you my knight."

Bill laughed as they sat together hand in hand, "We sound like a truly horrible romance novel!"

Hermione raised an eyebrow, "You have read many these?"

Bill looked a little embarrassed, "No, of course not!"

As the laughter trailed off, Bill noticed Hermione was looking out the window, "what are you thinking about Coco?'

Hermione focused on Bill's face, "What exactly did I vow?"

Bill stood up and began to pace on the side of the bed. "I was desperate to keep you safe as safe as I could…please remember that."

Hermione looked wary, "Bill what are you not telling me?"

Bill continued, "Do remember Fleur?"

Hermione was surprised. "Of course except we called her Phlegm…but what does that have to do with this?"

Bill looked frustrated, "Yes well remember she came from a very old, very pretentious family. Her family enjoyed tradition…"

Hermione was paying very close attention "Okay"

"Well when we, that was Fleur and I, decided to spend our lives together…get engaged, her parents insisted on a 'betrothal ritual'."

Hermione held up her hands, "Bill I am still lost here."

Bill stopped pacing, "I know just bare with me. When we got engaged..."

Hermione interrupted, "Yes we covered that part you and Phlegm, sorry I mean Fleur, got engaged."

Bill's temper was simmering, "Hermione, this is serious and I am doing my best to tell the thing properly."

Hermione looked remorseful, "I am sorry Bill. It is just that you are so tense; it was just a few words, how bad can it be? Relax!"

"A few words! A FEW WORDS! Okay Coco the truth is Miss Smarty-pants those few words as you so elegantly put just got us engaged to be married. Yes, you Coco and I Bill Weasley agreed to be wed!" with that, rant Bill crumbled on to the bed.

Hermione was quite. After a couple of false starts Bill spoke, "I remember at the time I thought well not rational thought that if Coco is mine, betrothed to me, no one else could touch her …if she did not want them to that is…"

Hermione touched Bill's knee, "Why if we were betrothed would that keep Sebastian from hurting me?

Bill did not look up "The ritual is old and about declaring ownership of the woman. The vows make you mine and keep other men from taking what is mine…you see."

"So Bill or should I say darling?" The laughter on Hermione's face broke the tension, "I know that you did the very best you could to protect me and for that I am thankful."

"This ritual what else does it entail?" Hermione was playing with Bill's finger "Do I have to follow you around on a lease? Wait on you hand and foot? Carry your wand in my teeth?"

Bill smiled, "That does sound interesting but I do not think we have to worry about the rest of the ritual."

Hermione let the breath she had been holding out, Bill looked at her slyly "But if I ravaged you right now we would be legally married."

Hermione began to bite her bottom lip. Standing up to leave Bill pinched her cheek, "How about I work on breaking the vow rather continuing with the rest of the ritual?"

"Bill, are we going to tell anyone about this?" Hermione was worrying the edge of the sheet between her fingers.

Bill thought, "If this gets out I can see the headline 'One Weasley not enough! Which Weasley will be next?"

They both smiled, "No Coco I think this is best kept between the two of us."

"How did you a Fleur break the vow?" Hermione asked.

Bill was half way to the door, "She slept with another wizard." Once he opened the door he stopped, "Do you want me send Charlie in?"

Hermione gasped, "Heavens no!"

Bill laughed, "Okay Coco, get some sleep. I will be in the living room. I got a new case to solve…if you are a good girl maybe later I will let you help me."

Hermione smiled "Really, promise?"

Bill lowered his voice, "Only if you are a very good girl!"

________________________________________________________________________

Thank you to all of the kind readers who have reviewed.

It is encouraging to have people want to be altered when I update.

Thank you!