CHAPTER 4

Pairing: Fred W/Hermione G

Rating: K+

DISCLAIMER: Only the plot is mine. J

A/N: this chapter will be a bit long, and mostly a filler chapter, but I think it will be helpful to those who would like to know what happened between the Trio, as well as how Hermione met Michael. Thanks, and enjoy!

Previously on "A Place to Stay and a Heart to Love":

"So… Hermione…" Hermione looked to see the twins both staring at her. Scrutinizing. She shuddered a bit.

"Yes?"

"What happened?" She winced again. This was going to be a long, long, long, story.

"Well… Y'see…"

FLASHBACK – 5 years ago, right before the end of Hermione's repeated 7th year at Hogwarts:

Hermione sighed as she walked along the hallways in her beloved school. It had been a long year without her best friends, and she was glad her NEWT's were almost over. She longed to be free of what had now become a sort of prison for her; no friends to speak of, for they all only wanted the new, famous Hermione Granger. Not the real her. Her teachers all expected top quality work from her, but she just couldn't bring herself to care anymore. All she wanted was to be free, and back home with her brothers.

Harry and Ron. The two had been reluctant to let her go back to Hogwarts alone, but supported her all the way. She was glad for their support. Hermione clutched her books righter to her chest, and sped up, intent on going to her dorm, and calling an Elf for a cup of Hot Chocolate to calm her nerves.

Ever since the war, her anxiety levels had been through the roof. For quite some time, acute depression gripped her mind as she struggled to cope with the loss of so many friends in the War. Frequent anxiety attacks, as well as lack of sleep, did not help the matter, but slowly she was recovering.

As she neared her dorm, Hermione broke into a slow jog. So close to her room, and her comfort. So very close.

THUMP.

Hermione was thrown backwards as she hit something sold. She let out a groan, and lifted a hand to massage her forehead.

"Hey, are you alright?" A slightly accented, rich, baritone voice floated down to her ears, and she opened her eyes to find them locked with the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. With a nervous smile, she took the hand offered to her, and let the man haul her body up off the cold floor.

"Thanks," she mumbled. He chuckled in response. Hermione made to pick up her fallen books, crouching down and gathering up the ones in reach. She looked around for the rest, but couldn't see them anywhere.

"Here." The books were shoved gently into her arms. She looked up at the man, and smiled at him.

"I'm Michael. Michael Levski. Transfer from Durmstrang. I'm in Ravenclaw." He held out a hand for her to shake. She took it, and sighed softly and the warmth emanating from his calloused fingers.

" I'm He –" Her voice was cut off as he interrupted.

"Hermione Granger, yeah. I know. Golden girl and all." She frowned at the nickname, and pulled her hand from his. They were always the same. She nodded in acknowledgement, and pushed past him lightly, her mind set on her room once more.

She made it two steps before a hand grabber her arm to stop her. She turned around, and eyebrow quirked in question.

"Yes?" She winced at her own icy tone, but kept her face indifferent.

"I'm sorry. I'm new here, and while I know who you are, I am only repeated what I have heard around the halls. I need someone to show me around the castle. Could you help me?" Hermione looked into Michael's eyes, and saw a flash of something indescribable. It was gone in an instant, and she was sure she had imagined it.

"I would love to help you. Please, just let me put my books up, and we can go." She smiled at him warmly. He nodded, and returned the smile. It had been the beginning of their relationship.

Harry and Ron had not been happy when they found out. Ron still held slight feelings for Hermione. The two had tried to date for some time, but Hermione felt it was too soon, and broke it off. She returned to Hogwarts only a week afterwards.

The two had been suspicious about Michael from the beginning. They saw the looks that he gave Hermione when she wasn't looking, and noticed the tight leash he kept her on. Every time they brought it up with her, she seemed to get more and more agitated.

She had finally had enough. The nagging that they put her through every time she visited grated on her nerves, and after a while, she snapped.

"This is MY life, Ronald! You both only see what you want to see! I love him, and I know he loves me. You have no say in my life anymore." She shot down their protests, and stormed out.

It had been the biggest row yet between the three friends. She waited for days for an apology from them, or word that they accepted Michael, or at least tried to contact her.

Nothing came.

Her own pride would not let her budge, and she made no move to contact either of the two. After a month, both parties had given up, and gone on with life.

Not six months later, Michael proposed, and she immediately accepted. Never before had she been so in love. Michael gave her whatever she needed, and was there for her when Harry and Ron were not.

The beatings started the day after they wed. For fear of losing everything, including the baby she had just found out she was carrying, she remained married to Michael, thoughts of the family she used to had not once coming to her mind as she tried to shower her kids in love, and still find ways to avoid further beatings from Michael.

END FLASHBACK – Now in present time. Hermione is 23 years of age.

A hand on her shoulder shook Hermione out of her reverie, and she looked into the expectant faces of the Weasley Twins. She sucked in a deep breath. Should she tell them the truth? Or should she just say she was tired, bid them a good day, and leave? This was her family, however, and somehow, she found the truth spilling past her lips.

"Michael… I left him last night. Late last night, actually. He… He –" She stopped a moment as the pain of her wounds pronounced itself more as she thought about the blows. Fred gave her another sip of water, and she continued.

"He hits me; has been, for 4 years now. Last night, he tried to hit Rose," Hermione's voice became more venomous as she told them what happened, "and nobody hurts my baby." Fred looked ready to kill after hearing her confession, and George was not far behind him. Hermione saw the looks on their face, and placed restraining hands on each of their arms.

"I'd rather no one knew about this for now. I need to divorce the bastard before anything else happens." The twins nodded, and looked her up and down, as if checking for visible wounds. Hermione pulled her sleeves up slowly, knowing that they would ask her anyways. Audible gasps filled the room as the two men looked at the black and blue bruises on her arms.

"If you want to divorce him and file for assault charges, you might want pictures of those," George mused. Hermione looked at him blankly, before registering what he said. She nodded.

"Maybe later." George smiled at her, and nodded.

"Hey, Hermione, you got a place to stay," Fred asked. Hermione hesitated, and then shook her head. Fred opened his mouth to respond, but was stopped when a cry came from the armchair where Rose was sitting next to Hugo. Hermione shot up from the couch and ran over to her children.

"Shhhhhh baby, mummy's here. Don't cry, baby! Mummy's got you. SSShhhhhhh," Hermione cooed to Hugo. The infant stopped crying, and instead began to gurgle. Rose smiled at her brother, immediately grimacing, however, when he let out a loud burp.

"OOhhh.. Mummy's boy is hungry, is he? Let's get you some milk, shall we?" Hermione looked to the twins, still holding Hugo in her arms.

"You wouldn't have a room I could go in, would you? He only eats in quiet, and with this chatter box, there will be no quiet here." Hermione gestured to Rose, who was smiling, and singing loudly to herself ("An' he eggs made plates and pants wun away, and Mummy's home and Hugo's a big baby and I wuv you toooooooo!"). George chuckled, and took the child from the chair.

"Hey Rosie! Hows abouts you and I go down to the shop and check out some pranks to play on your Uncle Fred, huh?" Fred made a noise of indignation, but laughed when Rose shot out the door and down to the shop.

"A prankster in the making, you've got there." Hermione smiled, and nodded.

"Thank you, Fred. You've been a great help today." She looked up at him before turning to her wriggling son, and forcing the nipple of the bottle into his mouth. The young child sucked greedily, and relaxed in his mother's arms.

"So, Hermione. You have nowhere to stay?" Hermione shook her head. "What if you stayed here? We have an extra bedroom, if you don't mind sharing with your kids, and you can lay low here until you divorce Michael." She looked at Fred in shock, appalled that he would offer after how she treated his family.

"Are you sure?" Fred nodded enthusiastically. Hermione beamed at him, and then gave him a one-armed hug in thanks. The day seemed to be getting better after all.

A/N: NO THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY. I will have more chapters, not to worry. im done with exams! So now, I can focus on the story over break. I hope to have a few more chapters, but I doubt any will be as long as this last one… This one was just super important. So just a warning. I try to write the story with a British accent in my head, (I used to have one until I moved) and so I hope it is up to par with that. I welcome any ideas you might have, or feedback too! I don't really know where to go with the story from here.. Should there be a huge divorce? Or should I just make it short? And should George move out to live with Angelina, his girlfriend, letting Hermione and Fred get closer? Let me know! Thanks, and until next time!