CHAPTER 2

Pairing: Fred W/Hermione G

Rating: K+

DISCLAIMER: Only the plot is mine.

Hermione walked down the street, clutching Rose tightly to her hip while trying to quell Rose's shaking. Hugo was held tightly against her chest; the infant was sleeping peacefully, unawares of what just happened. A tear coursed slowly down Hermione's cheek, but she stopped the others at the source. She would not cry over that bastard.

She kept walking, making random turns at random streets, just trying to get away from hell. A sniff came from her shoulder, and Hermione slowed down a little.

"Mummy? I's cowd. D'you haff a bwankie?" Rose's small voice floated up to Hermione's ear, and she stopped completely on a sidewalk. Placing Rose down for a moment, Hermione whipped out her wand and conjured up a fleece blanket to wrap her daughter up in. Waving her wand once more, she cast silent warming charms over the three of them. A sigh of relief escaped her as she felt the warmth envelope her shivering body. With a final wave of her wand, Hermione conjured one last fleece blanket, and bundled Hugo up in it, making sure not to wake him up. Picking Rose up again, Hermione gripped both her kids tightly, and began to walk again.

Minutes passed, maybe hours, and slowly, Hermione could see the sun begin to rise over the horizon. She had no idea where she was, but to be quite honest, she didn't care. She turned onto another street, shifting her kids in her aching arms, and paused.

"Oh my god," she whispered. "What have I done?" The full brunt of her actions finally hit her. She had nowhere to go. Her parents had died during the war, having been in a car crash in Australia. The Weasleys lost contact with her after she left and got married to Michael, Harry along with them. Making a final decision, she tightened her hold on her sleeping children, her muscles screaming in protest, and apparated to the Leaky Cauldron. It would at least give her somewhere to say for a couple of days. Her eyes drooped a little bit as she landed next to the bar.

"Tom?" Her voice rang out tentatively. The wizened barman appeared behind the counter, stooping a bit with age.

"Hermione! What a surprise! It has been ages, has it not?" Hermione nodded, and attempted to muster up a smile. She failed miserably.

"Tom, you wouldn't have a room open, would you? Just one. It doesn't matter the size…" She trailed off, a half-hopeful, half-dead look on her face. Tom hesitated a moment, a look of unease coming onto his face.

"Not tonight, Hermione." Tom patted her back sympathetically before turning around and helping another early-morning customer. Hermione sighed, then walked over to a table. Setting Rose and Hugo down, she turned around again, and called out to Tom, who was cleaning glasses by now.

"Tom! Haven't got any milk, have you? And some Tea?" Tom smiled, and nodded. Pouring her a cup of tea, and a glass of milk, he slid them across the counter. Hermione reached for her pocket to get some money.

"Not today Hermione. Least I can do." Hermione hesitated, then nodded. Taking her beverages, she walked over to her table, where Rose was just beginning to stir. Hermione gave her daughter a tired smile.

"Hi baby. Good morning."

"Mownin' mummy!" Rose blinked a bit, and rubbed her sleepy eyes. Hermione pulled out her wand and cast a warming charm upon the milk, heating it up to just the right temperature. She conjured a straw, and slid the glass over to Rose.

"We can get something else later. Drink some milk for now." Rose nodded, and began to sip at her drink. Hermione pulled the still-sleeping Hugo onto her lap, and drank her beverage, sighing in relief as the hot drink rejuvenated her a little bit. A small wiggle in her lap alerted her out of her haze, and she looked down to see Hugo awake and screwing up his face, about to scream. She put her cup down in a hurry, and picked up the infant, shush-ing and cooing in his ear, slowly rubbing circles on his back. Hugo calmed down a bit, but was awake now, and seemingly with a full diaper.

"Oh, you've got a full nappy there, haven't you?" Hermione smiled at her son lovingly, before vanishing the contents in his nappy, hesitating a bit in the beginning. It's only once, she told herself. It's only because I'm not at home right now.

Hermione pulled out Hugo's emergency formula, and mixed it with a bit of warm water to creat his meal. Hugo took the nipple of the bottle eagerly, and sucked on it for a while, staring at his surroundings with interest as he ate. Hermione held her son tightly, and drank her tea, idly chatting with Rose.

"I'm done!" Rose announced after she drank the last sip of her milk. Hermione smiled at the bubbly three-year-old, and took the glass.

"Hugo is almost done with his breakfast, sweetheart, and then we can go to Diagon Alley to shop for a few. How does that sound?" Hermione hated shopping, but she didn't want Rose to get bored, or start whining. It doesn't help that I'm tired as hell, and dead on my feet. Hugo spit the bottle out of his mouth and gurgled, his fists flailing in the air for a moment before he gave a sigh. Hermione placed the bottle on the table, and burped her child.

"Thanks, Tom, for everything. I'm just going to go now. Have a good day!" Hermione put a fake smile on her face, and entered Diagon Alley with Rose and Hugo in tow.

"Alright, Rosie-Posie! Where to first?" Rose's face was bright with excitement and happiness, all hunger and exhaustion forgotten.

"Weezie! Weezie!" Weezie? Hermione looked at her daughter, confused, before realizing with a start that she was talking about "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes", the twins' joke shop. With a sigh of resignation, Hermione held tight to Rose's hand and pulled her along the street towards the shop.

A bell tinkled somewhere above the trio as they entered the store. It was still early in the morning, and not many people were in the shop yet.

"Hello! Welcome to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes! How may we – " Fred Weasley stopped short in his welcome speech upon seeing who was standing at the entrance to his shop.

"Her – Hermione?" Hermione tried to smile at him, but could only grimace. Rose's grip on her hand tightened, and Hermione winced as a bruise was brushed.

"Hey, Fred…" Fred just looked on, gobsmacked.

A/N: SO that is the end of chapter 2. I hope the length of this makes up for chapter one… If not, then oops… I am glad I got to write this before exams… it's a good break from studying! Please review and tell me what you think!