THE LEAVES – CHAPTER FOUR
The leaves were starting to grow back on the trees outside Shell Cottage by the time Hermione had the strength to walk again. Fred led her, with an arm around her waist, down to the sand dunes to watch the ocean. He sat down on the dune and she sat in between his legs with the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. He wound his arms around her waist once again and nestled his head into her hair, rocking her back and forth.
"Thank you for staying with me," Hermione whispered.
"No problem, anything for you, love. I'm just glad you're not too damaged," Fred grinned down, winking at her. He heard her giggle which set his heart soaring as it had been ages since he had heard anyone laugh.
"We're going to have to leave soon, you know that, don't you?"
"Of course, I just don't want to let you go again," Fred mumbled into her hair.
"It's okay because we only have to go to Gringotts now and then we will meet again at Hogwarts. I'll send you and the rest of the Order the signal once we're inside Hogwarts and then after that you can meet us through Dumbledore's brother in the-"
"Hog's Head. I've got it, Hermione. Trust me when I say that nothing is going to go wrong, I can promise that."
"I know, just promise me you won't get hurt,"
"Promise me, you won't get hurt," Fred replied with another wink.
"Hermione!" A call interrupted "It's time to get ready!"
"Coming!" She called back to Harry.
Half an hour later, Hermione returned to Fred and the others on the dunes. She was dressed in the ghastliest robes imaginable and she had taken Polyjuice Potion so now she was the exact replica of Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Ready to go, 'Mione?" Ron asked, looking warily towards her new appearance. To which she replied with a curt nod and a big grin.
"Fred?" She questioned, "I'll see you soon,"
"I'd hope to be seeing the real Hermione, not this new Bellatrixy Hermione," Fred winked at her as she walked up the dune to Ron, Harry and Griphook.
She clasped the hand that Ron held out for her and took Harry's in her other. She caught Fred's eye and grinned at him.
"The leaves are growing back," She shouted from her hill before they apparated away.
"The leaves are growing back," he repeated after she had gone, his hand still raised in a wave.