Summary: Hermione and Fred are separated by war, their relationship and recent engagement completely hidden from everyone. Terrified for each others safety both still have to play their separate parts.

Pairing: Fred/Hermione

"Guys, I found it! Come quickly!" Ron's excited yell turned the heads of Harry and Hermione, who were sat on their respective beds in the tent, Harry watching the Marauders map, Hermione flicking through the book she'd been left in Dumbledore's will. However they both dropped their respective activities, rushing to Ron's side.

"Password was Albus." Ron interjected, but he was shushed by his friends, Hermione leaning closely into the radio.

"We continue to hear truly inspirational stories of wizards and witches risking their own safety to protect Muggle friends and neighbours, often without the Muggles' knowledge. I'd like to appeal to all our listeners to emulate their example, perhaps by casting a protective charm over any Muggle dwellings in your street. Many lives could be saved if such simple measures are taken."

"That's Kingsley." Ron whispered, but Hermione waved her hand as they listened further. Hermione had one thing on her mind. Ron had told them about this radio station, had told them Fred was working with George on it, and sometimes spoke on it.. Was she about to hear him?

"And what would you say, Royal, to those listeners who reply that in these dangerous times, it should be 'wizards first'?"

"Lee." Ron's hurried whisper earned him an eye roll from Hermione, while Harry hissed at him in response.

"We know!" The conversation between Lee and Kingsley continued, the three of them listening in silence, until the topic changed.

"And now everyone, we have a guest with us, please welcome Rodent-"

"Not Rodent, I told you, I want to be Rapier!"

"Okay, Ladies and Gentleman, Rapier."

Ron didn't need to speak, as Hermione let the muffled gasp escape her lips.

"Fred..." Both Harry and Ron turned to look at her, neither could have missed the emotion that filled her words. She continued to determinedly stare at the radio, drinking in his words, prepared to hit either of them if they questioned her.

"Point is, people, don't get lulled into a false sense of security, thinking he's out of the country. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't, but the fact remains he can move faster than Severus Snapeconfronted with shampoo when he wants to, so don't count on him being a long way away if you're planning to take any risks. I never thought I'd hear myself say it, but safety first!"

Hermione was bowled over by the emotion she felt at hearing his voice. The voice she'd missed so much.. She couldn't stop the tears falling down her face, smiling through them at the joke he'd made. She knew, on some level, that she needed to hide her emotions, that Harry and Ron would be utterly confused. But that could wait.. She found herself completely overcome by hearing his voice.

"And Harry Potter, if you're out there, we're all rooting for you. And to his companions, well... We miss you more than words can explain."

Hermione was struck down by this, sat back on her heels as Lee took over again, continued talking. He'd spoken to her, that had been for her. It had been clever, too, to address it to both her and Ron, as so many would assume he was speaking to his brother, from his family.. But she knew Fred. That had been for her. Even so far away, he was still comforting her.

"Listeners, that brings us to the end of another Potterwatch. We don't know when it will be possible to broadcast again, but you can be sure we shall be back. Keep twiddling those dials: the next password will be 'Mad-Eye'. Keep each other safe. Keep faith. Good night."

"That's amazing, it's so great what they're doing." For the first time in a few months the happiness was evident on Harry's face, and Ron was grinning. Hermione smiled, her tears forgotten, the three of them rejuvenated by the contact they'd had with the outside world, Hermione especially so for hearing Fred.

"Hermione?" Harry turned to her, and she smiled at him.

"It's great to hear them, isn't it?" She couldn't help herself, more tears fell down her face, and she let them come. Harry nodded, but she knew by the look on his face she wasn't exactly out of the water. Nontheless he put his arm around her, as did Ron, and they had an odd sort of group hug.

In that minute, everything went back to normal. There'd been some unspoken oddness between them since Ron's return, Hermione had certainly been upset with him. But the locket was destroyed, and now they were back, back to the golden trio. As normal as they could be, under the circumstances.

"Come, on, 'Mione..." Ron said, a look of disbelief on his face. Harry eyed him pointedly, but Ron didn't seem to notice. Hermione was lost for words. She didn't want to tell them. She had kept this a secret for such a long time, it was second nature for her. SHe coldn't face all their questions, not now. Telling them was probably the right thing to do, maybe they should have known a long time ago. But now, when it'd been a secret for such a long time, telling everyone was something Fred and her had to do together.

"I was just a bit overcome to hear them Ronald, that's all." Hermione stood up, ending the conversation.

Harry and Ron didn't stand up, staying sat down by the wireless. They exchanged glances. Hermione was a girl.. they had a quick wordless conversation with their eyes, and after a small nod from Harry, they decided that leaving it, for now, was the right thing to do.

"What was that? We miss them more than words can say? Lee turned to Fred, voicing what his twin had probably also been thinking, and Fred shrugged. It hadn't been in the script, but he'd had the feeling that Hermione, somewhere, was listening to him. And he hadn't been able to stop himself. The second Lee signed off he'd turned to him, and now both Lee and George were staring at him, incredulously.

"Just had the feeling they were listening." Fred said simply, and Lee shook his head at him, a weird smile on his face as he turned back to his equipment, but George didn't let it go. Taking Fred's arm, he pulled him from the room. Fred pulled back, but George persisted, and Fred eventually gave up, following his twin into their bedroom.

"How long." George wasted no time after he shut the door, and Fred stared at his twin. From the look on his face, Fred knew George had caught on. He pondered denying it, but he didn't want to lie. George had known something was up, never questioned him, understood GFred's need to keep it a secret, for years. Now was the time.

"Since sixth year." He said, finally.

"We got together after the Yule ball." George's eyes widened, and Fred noted the hurt in his twins eyes, but it was gone in a second.

"I'm sorry." Fred said, after a minute, but George merely clapped his hand on his twins shoulder, shaking his head.

"No need." George's eyes showed nothing but acceptance, now, and Fred understood that George really wasn't upset. It was a sign of how strong their relationship was that George trusted him, completely, and wasn't going to hold this against him.

"You aren't mad?" Fred knew he wasn't, but had to make sure. George shook his head.

"Gred, when you know someone as well as I do you, you don't get mad. You kept you and Hermione a secret?" George cocked his head before continuing.

"You did it with reason. Not everyone will be as accepting as me, and it's so..." He screwed up his face.

"Unexpected." Fred laughed, and nodded.

"Someday you'll have to tell me how it happened." George said, a grin on his face, and Fred nodded.

"I'll tell you everything, if you want to know." Fred replied and realised he'd like this. While perhaps George wouldn't want to hear, he wanted to tell. He wanted to share what he had, what he'd found. George's grin showed him what he wanted to see.

"Alright, bro. Tell me how you hooked up with the bookworm." The cheeky grin he saw so often in the mirror covered George's face and Fred smacked his arm before sitting down.

"The day after the Yule Ball, I asked her to meet me by the cherry tree outside Hogwarts, you know the one..."