CHAPTER ONE

Summary: With the War finally won and a rapid decline in the wizarding population, drastic measures are taken in a bid to save Wizarding Britain with the introduction of a new Marriage Law. Under the law, Hermione is forced to marry at eighteen or face being exiled from the Wizarding World. She must learn to deal with her past and look forward to her future with rising Quidditch Star, Oliver Wood. Rated M for a reason.

Disclaimer: All original characters and canon events belong to J.K. Rowling. Non-canon events and characters are my own. I am not making any profit from posting this fanfic. Characters are likely to be OOC.

This is my only warning; this is rated for sexual situations, bad language and violence. This particular fic does have a little Ron, Ginny and Viktor Krum bashing.

AN

I am aware that some events may have happened differently in canon to how I write them, but I intended for them to be so. Fanfiction allows for the moulding and changing of characters and events, and I do so love to change things to my liking.

Just a quick note, I am a Northern Lass (for viewers that reside in England and understand what I mean) and although I try very hard to reign that side of me in, it does tend to show in my writing style and the slang, phrases and terms I use.

This fic is currently being edited and is undergoing a massive make-over. Chapters 1-9 updated.

A guide to Oliver's speech. Refer to this if something doesn't make sense:

· A – I.

· A'm/ Ah am – I'm/ I am.

· Nae/ Naw – No.

· Aye – Yes.

· Af/ Aff - Of/ Off.

· Mae – Me.

· Me – My.

· Hoo – How.

· Doon – Down.

· Fer – For.

· Ferget – Forgot.

· Befere – Before.

· Tae - To/ Too.

· Twa – Two.

· Oot – Out.

· Ma/Da – Mum/ Dad.

· Feck – Fuck.

· Ye – You.

· Yer - Your/ You're.

· Onybody – Anybody.

· Wee – Small.

· Havnae – Haven't.

· Wisnae – Wasn't.

· Int it - Isn't it.

· Intae – Into.

· Dinnae – Didn't.

· Dunno – Don't know.

· Cauld – Cold.

· Auld – Old.

· Anno – I know.

· A'thing – Everything.

· Abo'dy – Everybody/ everyone.

· Aboot – About.

· Cannae – Can't

· Pritty – Pretty.

· Mibbie/Mibay – Maybe.

· Lassie/Laddie – Girl/ boy.

· Windae – Window.

· Efternuin – Afternoon.

Updated: 16/01/19

Page count: 15

It was the day after the Final Battle. They'd won and Voldemort had been defeated for good. Many lives had been lost that day and there had been even more wounded. Tonks and Remus had died and left behind their adorable baby boy, Teddy. They'd lost Colin Creevey, Lavender Brown, Professor Snape and Padma Patil, as well as many others. But the opposing side had come off worse with over one hundred Death Eaters dead, almost one hundred captured and ready to face their judgement at trial, and over eighty were on the run.

There were casualties that had minor injuries such as Hermione with a few deep cuts and bruises, there were casualties with broken bones and head wounds, and then there were casualties like Fred Weasley, barely alive and holding on.

When Hermione had entered the great hall after the Final Battle had been won, it was to see The Weasleys gathered around a lifeless Fred Weasley, who lay on the stone floor, his body still, his skin pale and no sign of the mischievous smile she was used to seeing. Hermione rushed forward to the gathered Weasleys, making her way through the crowd of injured and grievers and coming to a stop not far from Fred's body, her eyes wide and her mouth parted in horror as she stared at him.

She and the twins had never really seen eye to eye, but they'd grown up together, not only in school, but when she'd visited The Burrow over the years. They may have argued and fought and wound each other up, but no matter what, she'd always seen them as annoying, older brothers.

She felt tears welling up in her eyes and her throat hurt as she did her best to hold back a sob, and when her eyes opened, a tear fell from the corner of her eye and ran down her cheek. After closing her eyes for a moment to ground herself, they fluttered open to a sight that had her heart beat speeding up and hope flooding her. There was the faintest of twitches in the side of Fred's neck.

Without thought, her feet closed the distance between her and Fred's body and she fell to her knees beside him, leaning over him until her ear was hovering over his mouth and her eyes closed when she felt the a scarcely there puff of breath against her face. He was breathing.

"Granger! He's dead! Leave him!" George yelled, his voice cracking in his grief and devastation at losing his twin. He picked her up, his arms wrapping around her stomach and he hauled her off her feet, pulling her away from his twin's body with tears, grief and anger covering his face.

"George, get off me!" She protested, wriggling against his hold and trying to break free from his tight grip.

She elbowed him in the stomach and in pain and surprise, his hold on her loosened and she broke free, landing on her feet and rushing back over to Fred's side, once more falling onto her knees beside him. She wrapped her hand around his forearm and pressed to fingers against his wrist in search of a pulse, but she couldn't find one, so she turned her attention to his neck, shuffling closer to him so she could better reach his pulse point.

"He's dead!" George snapped, but she ignored him.

She placed her hand against Fred's neck and searched for a pulse. She found one, it was almost nonexistent, but it was a pulse nevertheless.

"Madam Pomphrey!" Hermione yelled, the sound echoing in the great hall.

Madam Pomphrey was on the opposite side of the hall and she looked up from healing Dean Thomas' broken arm, her eyes searching for the owner of the voice until they landed on Hermione.

"He's alive!" She called.

The moment those words left her mouth, Madam Pomphrey rushed over with a few healers from St. Mungo's trailing behind her. Hermione moved out of the way to give them more space and they began running Diagnostic Spells over Fred's body. The sobs and cries of The Weasleys had quieted as they all stared at Fred, their eyes not leaving his face and they huddled together in the need for comfort and support, waiting to hear the healers' verdict.

"She's right, he's barely holding on but he's alive," a male healer said to his colleague. "We have to get him to St. Mungo's," he muttered, as a stretcher was conjured and without time to waste, Fred was levitated onto it before he was rushed out of the great hall and he was no longer within their line of sight.

The Weasley horde turned their eyes to her, staring at her in.. Shock? Awe? Relief? Too many emotions to name, before they rushed out of the great hall as a group and followed Fred to St. Mungo's, leaving Hermione surrounded by others, but alone.

Later that night Hermione went into Muggle London and did something she was convinced she never would do.

Present time...

Sunday 3rd May, 1998

It was fairly late in the evening when Hermione walked into Fred's hospital room, seeing the only person present being George who was sat in a chair beside his twin's bed, with his head buried in his hands.

Hermione knew Fred had already been visited by his family earlier that day, but they had to leave him in the capable hands of the healer so they could aid in patching up the damage done to the Wizarding World. The quicker it was done, the better it would be for everyone. Having the memories of what had happened was one thing, but seeing the evidence of it every day was another thing entirely.

Aurors were out tracking and capturing rogue Death Eaters every hour possible and professors, students and civilians were aiding in the repair of Hogwarts to get it ready for September. Business owners and civilians were repairing Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade as quickly as they could, and Ministry employees were building the Ministry back up, under the watchful eye of the newly appointed Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt. And when they weren't doing that everyone was with their families and loved ones, no longer taking the time they had with each other for granted.

But unlike everyone else, Hermione didn't have family. She hadn't told anyone but she'd obliviated her parents the Christmas of her sixth year, removing their memories of her to protect them in the war; no matter how much it hurt her to do it, she did and she lived with that decision everyday knowing that they were safe. Or at least she used to.

That's why she was visiting Fred. She didn't have family that needed her. But The Weasleys did. George needed her; he just didn't know it yet.

She walked over to the chair on the other side of the hospital bed and sat herself down, doing her best to get comfortable. Realising he wasn't alone, George lifted his head from his hands and looked up to her with tired eyes.

"Granger?" He questioned quietly. "What are you doing here?"

"Brought you some dinner," she replied, holding out the paper bag from him to take. "I didn't make it. It's from your mum, so you won't be getting food poisoning," she said softly, making an attempt at a joke.

"I'm not hungry," he muttered, putting his head back in his hands.

"Alright, I'm done being nice. You either eat it or I shove it down your throat," she said seriously. He looked up at her with a raised eyebrow. "I'd do it, do you not remember the mornings of Quidditch matches when I would force feed Harry?" She said, still holding the bag out towards him.

He sighed and reached out, taking the bag from her. He opened it up and retrieved the turkey and stuffing sandwich from inside, and after he'd taken a bite of the sandwich, Hermione sat back in her chair. She closed her eyes tiredly and tilted her head back and that's when he noticed she looked exhausted, worse than anyone he'd ever seen. She had dry tear marks on her face and her eyes still had a red tint and a slight puffiness to them.

"You've brought me my food, you can go now," he said.

She shook her head slightly with her eyes still closed. "No, I'm needed here."

"I don't need you," he mumbled gruffly.

"Maybe not, but I'm not leaving you alone. You need someone here with you to stop you from going off on your broom handle. We can't have you terrorising the healers," she said softly.

She peaked opened one eye to the sight of his mouth twitch slightly, trying to stop himself from smiling at what she said, as they both knew it was true.

"You've been crying," he commented, catching her off guard at the change of topic.

"No, I haven't," she denied.

"Yeah, you have,"

She sighed in defeat. "Fine, I have. Harry and Ron..."

"Look no offence, Granger, but my brother's in a coma. I don't really care about your tiffs with 'The-Boy-Who-Conquered' and Ronnikins."

"I'd actually have to see them in order for us to have an argument," she muttered, a sad tone to her voice and he picked up on it, noting the way betrayal flickered through her eyes when she looked to him, but it was gone soon after.

"So why have you been crying?" He asked, taking another bite from his sandwich.

"I thought you didn't care,"

"I don't really, but you're here. May as well make conversation."

She shrugged her shoulders and leaned forward in her chair, wincing slightly when her jeans rubbed against her right hip and then she sat back, once she' pulled a piece of folded up parchment from her back jean pocket.

She leaned over and handed it to him. He looked at her curiously and then put his sandwich back in the bag and he opened the parchment, his eyes sweeping the words carefully.

Hermione,

I want you to know that I couldn't have done this without you. I'm lucky to have had you in my life. Anyone else would've left me after being attacked by a three headed dog. Even Ron left us for a couple of months, but not you. You stayed. You stayed by my side for seven years, and that's why it's going to be so hard to leave.

Ron, Ginny and I, we're leaving the country. Maybe do some travelling. The war's over and we don't want to have to deal with the aftermath. I don't know how long we'll be gone. Maybe a year, maybe two, maybe forever.

I'm sorry for not being able to tell you this face to face, but I'm a coward.

Hermione, you can do this without us. You're a survivor. You're a true Gryffindor.

Love Harry, Ron and Ginny

He looked up at her in surprise, no wonder she looked like hell. She'd just gone through a war which she'd been fighting for the better part of seven years and her best friends left her to deal with the aftermath and public. Hell, his little brother and sister had abandoned their family, but he knew it would affect Hermione more than it would them.

"I found that this morning, Ginny left it on my bedside table. I checked to see if it were true. Ginny's clothes are gone from the wardrobe and Ron's and Harry's things are gone from their room. Even their brooms are missing," she said sadly. "After that I dressed and left The Burrow. I haven't been back and I don't know if the rest of your family knows yet. They left them a letter, too, on the kitchen table. They didn't even have the guts to tell me to my face."

"They left," he muttered, stunned.

She nodded. "They left everyone behind, injured and not," she replied, her eyes moving to Fred, and at that point a healer walked in.

"I'm sorry to stay that visiting hours are over and you must leave the building," the young looking blonde said, not even bothering to lift her eyes from whatever was in her hand and look at them.

"We're not going anywhere," Hermione replied with her eyes closed and head tilted back against the back of the chair.

"Visiting hours are over, if I have to call for security I will.

"You do that, but they won't do anything to me," Hermione sighed, lifting her head to look at the healer with hardened look in her eyes. "I helped take down Voldemort." The healer flinched at the mention of His name. "My name's Hermione Granger, I'm sure you've heard of me. Now, please leave us alone and we won't be going anywhere until Fred's discharged."

The healer paled and fear flickered across her face, having definitely heard of her, before she backed out of the room and shut the door behind her without a second glance.

George stared at her in something akin to awe. 'Wow, scary,' he thought.

"So what's the prognosis?" She inquired in a more pleasant tone.

Knowing she'd been through a lot, he reluctantly allowed her to change the subject and didn't comment on it, knowing that she was putting on a brave face and hiding her problems. He picked up his sandwich and began eating the rest of it.

"He's in a coma. He's gotten crushed bones from the wall falling on him and the healer's say it'll take a few days to heal. He had some organ damage but with a few potions that's no longer an issue. He should be fine; we just have to wait for him to wake up."

"That's good to know," she said sincerely, and she leaned further back into the chair and slumped down.

They sat in silence for a while, being too stuck in their own minds to find the ability to converse.

George would never admit it, but he was glad he wasn't alone. Hermione had saved his brother's life and having her in the room with him brought him some comfort. Hell, she had even scared the staff into letting him stay with Fred for the remainder of his time in hospital. He found it odd since they had never really spoken except for a few arguments about his and Fred's pranking ways.

"You should get some sleep," Hermione said out of nowhere. "You should go home and see the rest of your family. I'll stay here with him so he won't be alone."

"I'm not leaving him," he replied.

"Very well," she said sighing. "Stand up," she instructed and he raised an eyebrow at her. "Just stand up, George," she rolled her eyes.

He reluctantly stood from his chair and she removed her wand from the inside of her jacket sleeve and pointed it at the chair he was previously occupying. She transfigured it into a single bed. She then pulled out her trusty beaded bag and opened it, muttering, "Accio blanket," until a soft blue one was summoned from her bag. He looked at her surprised, his eyes darting between the blanket in her hand and the small bag.

"Don't ask," she muttered, as she threw the blanket at him. He looked at her strangely before lying down on the bed, draping the blanket over his legs and looking up at the ceiling.

"Just go to sleep, George," she sighed, and he shuffled to get more comfortable.

Hermione waited for his breathing to even out before turning her attention to Fred. He had a slight pink tint to his skin and she frowned, leaning over and placing the back of her hand against his forehead to gauge his temperature, feeling that he was a little warmer than usual. She conjured a bowl, filled it water and with a damp cloth she wiped down his face before resting the cloth against his forehead. She could've easily used a Cooling Charm, but she preferred to do it herself, allowing her a distraction and giving her something to do.

She would do this periodically throughout the night until George woke up the next morning, after the healer had done his morning Diagnostic Spells on Fred and administered his treatment.

"You're still here," he said groggily, pushing himself into a sitting position, stretching his arms above his head and yawning.

"I did say to you that I wouldn't leave him," she shrugged her shoulders. "Do you want to go home and get changed?"

"No, I'm not leaving him."

"Well, your mum should be here soon, so if you don't mind, I better head off. There's a few things that need my attention. I'll be back later this evening; I'll bring you some clean clothes and dinner."

He raised an eyebrow at her as she stood from her chair and stretched her arms out in front of her, before she rolled her neck and shoulders, trying to ease the aches of being sat in an uncomfortable chair all night.

"Don't you have family that you want to see?" He asked her. A brief flicker of pain entered her eyes before it disappeared, but he'd noticed it.

"Not right now, your family needs me more. The healer's been in this morning and he gave Fred his treatment and a dose of Pain Relief Potion as a precaution," she informed him. "I'll see you later," she said as a goodbye, leaving out the room.

~000~000~000~

The Burrow – Monday 4th May, 1998

Hermione floo'd into the living room of The Burrow to see it empty, everyone having already left to do their tasks in helping rebuild the Wizarding World. Hermione headed up stairs into her and Ginny's room...Her room and she climbed into bed not bothering to change out of her clothes, being too exhausted.

She woke up four hours later, sweating and with tears flowing from her eyes and down her face. She'd the nightmare again. She dreamt of her parent's torture and death. But then it changed. She was back at Malfoy Manor being tortured by Bellatrix. Bellatrix being the thing that haunted her dreams was a recent thing, since the night of their capture. She was glad Mrs. Weasley had killed her; the world was better off without her in it.

She climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom, and once she'd showered and dressed in white converse, black skinny jeans and a grey hooded jumper, she tied her hair up in a messy bun before heading down to the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley had left a plate of breakfast food on the table for her with all the appropriate charms on.

Mrs. Weasley had noticed that Hermione had lost a lot of weight after being on the run and she'd made it her mission to fatten her up. Hermione quickly ate her breakfast and noticed that the letter Harry, Ron and Ginny had left had been opened, meaning that everyone knew and Mrs. Weasley likely wouldn't be taking it well.

When she was done eating, she sent the dishes to the sink to wash themselves and she walked into the living room to use the floo.

~000~000~000~

Weasley's Wizard Wheezes

Hermione stepped out of the floo and into Fred and George's flat above their shop. The place had been ransacked, but it wouldn't take long to set things straight.

She removed her wand from her sleeve and began banishing rubbish, repairing furniture, putting things back in their places and repainting the walls. She then moved onto the kitchen, fixing the smashed plates, broken cupboards and smashed up sink and she repaired the wooden kitchen table. She cleaned the counter tops and the floor and put the plates and cutlery back in the correct drawers and cupboards.

She then walked over to a door to the left of the living room, and opened it, revealing it to be one of the bedrooms, whose she wasn't sure. With the aid of magic she put everything back in order; placing the clothes back in the wardrobe and chest of drawers and placing items back on top of the chest of drawers and bedside table. When she was finished she moved onto the room next to it, the bathroom. The only thing that needed doing was putting everything back in its place and cleaning the floor, mirror and shower door, removing the dust and grime.

She moved onto the room next to it and it was another bedroom. She fixed the shattered double bed, put the clothing back in the chest of drawers and wardrobe and put the items and trinkets back where they belonged. She moved onto the last room, another bedroom. She fixed the double bed, the broken chest of drawers and the broken wardrobe door. Given the lack of trinkets and clothing, she guessed it to the spare room.

When she was finished she walked back into the living room and slumped down on the couch, sighing and pushing a fallen curl back from her face and tucking it behind her ear. She knew she didn't have to do anything for the twins, but she couldn't help herself. She was projecting her mothering behaviour on to them now that Harry and Ron had left; she was using it as a distraction from everything she had been through.

When she looked up, she saw the time on the clock she'd fixed and noticed it wasn't far off seven o'clock in the evening. She couldn't believe she'd gotten the flat completely repaired and cleaned within a day, in fact, she couldn't believe she'd been there that long.

She stood from the couch, summoned some of George's clothes -which came from the first bedroom she'd fixed- and then she floo'd to The Burrow. Seeing it empty and no sign of any anyone having returned yet, she quickly made George some food and then floo'd to the hospital.

~000~000~000~

St. Mungo's

Hermione walked into Fred's hospital room, seeing that George had taken the other chair and moved it near the bed so she conjured another chair and she sat herself down as she had the day before. She handed George his food and put his clean clothes on the transfigured bed.

"Be careful," she warned him as he removed the ham and cheese panini from the paper bag. "Your mum hadn't been back, so I made it." She noticed his mouth twitch before he shrugged and took a bite.

"We're at a hospital anyway," he replied and she chuckled at him and sighed, sitting back in her chair.

"What've you been doing all day? You're covered in dust and...Is that paint?" He questioned with a slight frown.

"What do you mean?" She asked confused.

"You've got paint on your face," he said amused and she just shrugged, not having the energy to try and clean it away.

"I've just been doing some repairs for a local business," she said cryptically.

"I hope they know how lucky they are to have you," he replied, taking out a second panini from the bag and making a start on it.

"They needed my help, they're good people and they've worked hard to get where they are today, they deserve it. They have a lot to deal with at the moment so my helping them is one less thing for them to worry about."

They sat in silence for a while, and before Hermione suggested George get some sleep he spoke up.

"Why are you here with me and not your family, Granger?" He asked her and a look of sadness and pain filled her eyes again before it disappeared.

"I told you; they don't need me."

"You're lying,"

"No, I'm not,"

"Yeah, you are,"

"No, I'm not,"

"You're a terrible liar."

"What do you want from me, George?" She asked annoyed.

"I want you to tell me the truth."

"Fine," she snapped. "My parents don't need me because they're dead," she said, her voice cracking and tears filling her eyes.

"What?" He said dumbly, staring at her in shock as tears began to fall down her face.

"Christmas, my sixth year; I obliviated my parents and wiped their memories of me. I watched as every picture of me disappeared, I watched the dazed look cross their faces and I felt a cold wave wash over me as I was torn from their lives as if I never existed. I gave them new identities and sent them off to Australia." She pulled her feet up onto the chair and wrapped her arms around her knees, pulling them tight against her chest. "Just before Bill's wedding I received word from the Australian Ministry that the tracker I asked to be placed on my parents had been triggered. When they arrived they found a blood bath. My parents were tortured and slaughtered by Death Eaters." A sob tore from her and he stared at her in silence, not knowing what to say.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" He finally managed to get out.

"I was ashamed of what I did. I took away their memories to protect them and they still died, they were still murdered. Everything I did was to protect them and I failed. They died because of me, because of my being Undesirable Number 2 due to my refusing to leave Harry. For years I've put up with the death attempts, the danger, the torture, the arguments and mistreatment and I still stayed," she spoke through her cries, and he watched her as she stared at a spot on the wall behind his head. "I've been into the Forbidden Forest for him, I turned myself into a cat for him..."

"Wait, you turned yourself into a cat?"

"Human-cat hybrid, I brewed Poly Juice my second year in a girl's bathroom, so we could break into the Slytherin common room," she sniffled, wiping her face with the back of her jacket sleeve.

"What?" He said stunned. 'She broke into the Slytherin common room and brewed poly juice in second year?' He thought in awe.

"Harry and Ron managed to get in, but I accidentally used a cat hair and I was in the hospital wing for a few weeks. I grew fur and whiskers a bloody tail for Merlin's Sake, until I was petrified for months by the basilisk. Do you know what that's like, George?" She didn't wait for him to answer. "It's like being frozen in time but everything else is still moving around. I could hear every conversation, I could still feel people touching me and I could still see people looking at me. But I couldn't move. I couldn't even blink. And Merlin I was starving!"

Now that's she'd started, she was unable to stop. For years she'd been keeping it all bottled up and it was finally being released.

"Third year I put my friendship on the line to protect Harry from a possibly jinxed broom. And I was right; it was from Sirius, I was just wrong about it being jinxed. The Whomping Willow thought it would be fun to throw me around like a rag doll whilst I clung to it for dear life. I attacked a Professor, I was chased by a werewolf and I time travelled for him."

"Professor? Werewolf? Time travel?" He muttered dazed.

"I hexed Snape. Remus tried to kill us because he forgot to take his potion, but Sirius distracted him and we got away. I was given a time turner in my third year to help me get to my classes, I was taking twelve that year, and we ended up using it to go back and save Sirius from the dementors and Buckbeak from being executed. Don't even get me started on everything I did for him in fourth yea; I spent hours teaching him defence charms and I was stuck in the middle of him and Ron during their ridiculous falling out. Fifth year I planned all of the D.A. meetings for him, and I almost died in the battle at the Department of Mysteries. Sixth year was a nightmare and that's not including what happened with my parents, and the year on the run... We ran out of food and I starved myself so they could eat, but of course Ronald still complained. I've lost three stone, George, and they never noticed I was giving them my portions of food. There's a reason I look the way I do now. Your mum puts food in front of me every time she sees me. Do you know Ronald left us? He abandoned us for months. Harry was attacked by Nagini and I saved his life, pushing him out of a window and I didn't have time to cast a Cushioning Charm so I used myself to break his fall. And when his wand was snapped in half, I gave him my wand. You know how funny we are about others using our wands, but I gave him mine without a second thought. And when we were captured due to Harry's stupidity, I was tortured for hours on end, both magical and muggle means. Several of the Death Eaters tried to rape me! I broke into Gringotts for him and flew on the back of a dragon, despite flying being one of my biggest fears. After everything I've done for him, for both of them... And they've left me alone to deal with the fall out. I'm going to have to deal with the press, the Ministry, the questions and the attention on my own. How could they do that to me?" She sobbed, burying her face against her knees.

Before he knew what he was doing, he stood up and walked over to her and he pulled her up from her chair. He sat himself down and pulled her into his lap and she clung to him as she sobbed and he made comforting sounds as he rubbed her back.

He couldn't believe what she'd told him. He and Fred had always thought that she was a stuck in the mud, fun sucking, goody to shoes, bookworm. But that couldn't have been any further from the truth. He realised that they'd seriously misjudged the little witch curled up and crying on his lap.

She'd broken more rules than he and Fred had combined, she'd gotten 'The-Boy-Who-Lived' and his idiot little brother through seven years of school; both academically and physically. She was a major contributor -second only to Harry- to why the Wizarding World was safe again and she'd saved his brother. If it wasn't for her Fred would be dead.

He couldn't believe everything she'd gone through for the good of the Wizarding World and its occupants, and most wouldn't even know. He certainly hadn't. She'd starved herself, been hunted and tortured, and was almost raped for Merlin's Sake!

She'd long since cried herself to sleep and she was curled up in his lap and clutching his t-shirt tightly in her hand. Looking down at her, he realised that she'd need taking care of, that it was her turn to be taken care of and he vowed that he would do just that. As would Fred when he woke up and he told him everything he'd learned about Hermione Granger.

~000~000~000~

St. Mungo's - Tuesday 5th May, 1998

Hermione woke after dreaming about her parent's murder. She couldn't remember much, just the screams and the blood. She bolted awake and fell side wards, falling off George's lap. She squeaked in surprise and then landed on the floor with a loud' thud' that woke George, who had fallen asleep some time during the night.

He looked down at her to see her sprawled on the floor and when he saw her embarrassed riddled faced, he burst out laughing; his first laugh since the battle. She grumbled at him and sat up, crossing her arms over her chest.

"When you're quite finished," she said with a scowl and he laughed for a few a little while longer before taking deep breaths and calming himself down.

"Sorry, Granger," he said, looking anything but.

"No, I'm sorry," she sighed, rubbing her hands over her face.

"For?" He asked confused.

"For my outburst yesterday, you have other things to worry about and I shouldn't have burdened you with it," she muttered.

"How many people have you told about your parents and what you've been through?"

"Harry and Ron don't know what happened to me at Malfoy Manor and they don't know about my parents. I didn't want to burden anyone with my problems and grief. You all have your own lives and there's bigger happenings in the world than my home life and mental and emotional state. You're the first person I've told," she said, looking down at the floor ashamed.

He looked at her strangely, not that she could see. He couldn't believe he was the first person she'd told about her life. He knew she was leaving out some details, but he would make it his life's mission to get her to tell him everything.

"If you tell anyone, George, I will...Well I don't know what I'll do...But I led Umbridge to a giant and she was carried off into the Forbidden Forest by a heard of centaurs because of me..." His eyes widened. "So you can imagine how creative I can be," she said, pointing her finger at him and he gulped and nodded, promising he wouldn't tell anyone.

She stood up and brushed herself down. "Good. I have to get back to helping with the wreckage of the shop. Your mum will be here soon and I should warn you, I think she knows about Harry, Ron and Ginny. I found the letter they wrote to your family open in the kitchen. I'll see you later tonight"

"You don't have to come tonight, you look exhausted."

"I told you I'm not leaving you alone, stop trying to get rid of me because it'll be harder than killing Voldemort," she said. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "What? Too soon?" She asked innocently and he chuckled and shook his head at her. "There's still a change of fresh clothes on the bed for you," she said, before leaving the room.

'Who knew she had a sense of humour?' He thought.

~000~000~000~

Weasley's Wizards Wheezes

After Hermione had left St. Mungo's she floo'd back to The Burrow, showered and dressed in a pair of black leggings, white converse and an old denim shirt. She ate her breakfast that Mrs. Weasley had left out for her and she returned to the twin's joke shop, once she was finished.

She'd been there for hours working on the shop floor, banishing rubbish, repairing shelves, windows, displays, doors and the counter. When she finished she went on to repainting the walls and then she moved onto the second floor. She fixed the staircase and the banister, the balcony and the shelves, before repainting those walls, too.

When she'd done that she moved into the storage room, the potions lab and the work area, where she repeated the process. When she was in the storage room she went through the products and she thanked Merlin that the twins had been efficient and placed expiration dates on the products. The products that were damaged or spoiled, she banished and then she sorted the rest of the products into categories for easier management. Considering how brilliant the twins were, they didn't have a suitable set up in the storage room, so she rearranged everything and made it easier to find products through her system of category and then alphabetical order.

She then went back into the potions lab and the work area and sorted through the ingredients, making notes of those that needed to be replaced and restocked and then banishing the damaged ones.

When it reached eight o'clock she called it a day, summoned more clean clothing for George and then headed back to The Burrow.

~000~000~000~

The Burrow

Hermione stepped out of the floo and walked into the kitchen to see Mrs. Weasley finishing up with clearing away the table.

"Hello, Dear," she greeted.

"Hey, Mrs. Weasley" Hermione smiled as she sat herself down at the table. Mrs. Weasley put a plate of food in front of her and then sent a spell at the dishes so they cleaned themselves and she sat down opposite Hermione.

"How many times a day have you been eating?"

"Two," she replied with a slight shrug, putting a spoonful of beef stew into her mouth.

Mrs. Weasley frowned. "You should be eating three times a day, young lady," she scolded and Hermione couldn't help smiling.

"I can't eat anymore than I already do as my body isn't used to it. I already feel ill after eating two meals a day. I was barely eating one meal every two days whilst we were gone. The best thing to do is gradually increase the amount of food I eat until my body can handle it without making me ill."

Mrs. Weasley reluctantly nodded and then she looked at Hermione sadly. Hermione knew what was coming.

"I'm sorry they left, Dear. I can't believe that two of my children left without any thought as to how it would affect this family," she said sadly.

Hermione put her hand over Mrs. Weasleys and squeezed it gently. "It's not your fault. They're the ones that left us to pick up the pieces. They're the ones that have left me to deal with the aftermath alone. I can't believe Harry did that to me. Seven years and I've never once left, but as soon as it's over, he turns tail and runs, leaving me to deal with everything. They're going to be on my case now; they're never going to leave me alone. But none of that is your fault. You're a brilliant mother and you brought your children up wonderfully," Hermione praised. Mrs. Weasley's eyes watered and she nodded with a small smile. "I'm going to head to the hospital; I'll take George's dinner with me."

"He said that you've been staying the night the last couple of days, so that he could get some sleep. He also said you threatened to force feed him," she said, her voice less sad and happier, with a hint of pride and amusement to her tone.

"Yes. They need me, so I'll be there," she said simply and Mrs. Weasley smiled.

"Thank you. Thank you for saving my son's life and for taking care of my boys. But that's what you've always done, isn't it? Taken care of my family," she said smiling brightly.

"Well it's hard not to, you have a wonderful family." Hermione chuckled when Mrs. Weasley flushed and she beamed at her.

"You're covered in paint," Mrs. Weasley said. "What have you been doing all day?"

"Fixing up the shop," she replied.

Before Mrs. Weasley could ask her 'what shop?' Hermione took George's dinner, left the kitchen and floo'd to the hospital.

~000~000~000~

St. Mungo's

"Beef stew," she said, handing him his dinner, putting the clean clothes on the bed and sitting down in what had recently become 'her' chair. She was glad to see he had changed clothes.

"What've you done today? You're covered in pain again," he said chuckling, removing the spoon and the container of stew from the bag.

"I've been at the shop,"

"Well, whoever they are, they have great taste," he commented, pointing to the splashes of orange and purple paint on her face and clothes. She hoped he wouldn't catch on.

After George finished eating, they talked for a while before he got into bed under Hermione's glare and he fell asleep. Hermione tended to Fred, adjusting the blanket and placing a cool damp cloth against his head, making sure he would be kept comfortable.