Chapter Text
The war was over. Everyone remained in the Great Hall helping tend to those wounded or dead. The Weasley clan, plus Harry, were grouped together mourning the loss of Remus and Tonks each wondering about the two crucial members of their family that were missing, hopefully not dead. Fred was practically bouncing on his feet waiting to find the moment he could ask about trying to retrieve those that had been captured.
Suddenly, Molly and Arthur both shivered violently, their eyes widening.
“What is it?” Bill asked.
“The wards at the Burrow were just activated for two by a family member.” Arthur whispered in shock.
“George?” Fred asked quickly. “George is at the Burrow? We need to go!”
“Wait!” Arthur grabbed his son from running out of the hall. “He brought someone back with him.” Harry and Ron both perked up in hopes in might be her, although very unlikely. “He’s been gone for 47 days and she has been gone for almost three months. We have no idea what state they are in, if it’s even them. We do have distant family that could’ve triggered it.” He mentioned solemnly. “It might be best for Bill and I to go before we bring everyone back.”
“Dad you can’t expect me not to come, it’s George!” Fred exclaimed pulling himself out of his dad’s grasp. “I’m going. Everyone else can stay here.”
“If there’s even a chance it’s Hermione I’m going sir.” Harry stepped forward.
“If Harry is going then I am going.” Ron added.
Arthur ran a hand down his face. He just wanted to protect his family. This could be someone with George as a hostage. Yes, the war was won and he wanted his family whole but the news may not have spread that quickly. A few high ranking Death Eaters managed to escape before they could be arrested. This could very easily be a trap. The Weasley family made up a large portion of the Order, it’s possible this is one last desperate ploy to take them out.
But if it really is George and Hermione are they prepared to see them? With the time they have been gone the damage: physical, mental, emotional, even magical could be very extensive.
“I appreciate everyone’s concern. But we don’t know what state they’re in. Are you prepared for that? We’re lucky to have gotten out relatively unscathed as it is. Are you ready to go home and possibly find two people we love - who may not even be there - hurt?”
“You’re right.” Fred replied, surprising everyone in the group. “They are likely very injured and us standing here discussing it is wasting even more time. I’m going.” He ran out the hall to apparate home.
The elder twin didn’t wait for anyone else to arrive, although he heard the pops of apparition behind him. He ran towards the Burrow bursting through the backdoor to find a sight far worse than he had anticipated.
George had his wand pointed straight to his face looking more crazed than Fred had ever seen. His twin was deathly pale and hardly more than skin and bones. With a slight peak over George’s shoulder Fred was able to see Hermione sprawled over the dining room table. There was hardly a place on her exposed form that wasn’t black or blue from bruises. Dried blood was caked over her shredded clothes and matted into her hair. Both of them had dirt lines in nearly every crevice from the grime they had been left in. Fred almost vomited on the spot.
The elder brother was shoved slightly by someone thumping into his back. George seemed to have come back to himself because suddenly he was in Fred’s arms and sobbing. The man was completely frozen, missing the strangled cries and gasps from his family upon viewing their two missing members.
“Save her! Please!” George pleaded.
Fred finally regained his senses at the words because he started to run diagnostic charms over his brother. Arthur had herded him into a chair at the table. The ginger immediately reached for Hermione’s hand, running a soothing thumb over her wrist.
It felt like everything was moving in slow motion but both brothers vaguely recognized Molly and Bill chanting healing charm after healing charm while Percy and Charlie rummaged through their limited potion supplies pouring almost everything still usable down her throat.
Ron, Harry and Ginny seemed to have frozen by the doorway as they watched in horror.
Fred crouched down to be eye level with his twin, who he did not recognize at the moment, “Georgie?”
The man startled, “Is Hermione alright? What’s going on with her?”
“Georgie, Mum and Bill are taking care of her. How do you feel? Do you need anything? Your diagnostic charms show that you’re severely malnourished, dehydrated, and sleep-deprived. You have some nerve damage from -”
“I don’t care, Fred. I’m fine. I just need her to wake up.”
The older boy caught his father’s eye briefly and there was overwhelming concern as he watched how his prodigal son wouldn’t relinquish his hold on the witch his family practically adopted.
Unsure of what to do he stood behind his twin, placing his hands on George’s shoulders and pretended not to notice how they grew stiff under his touch. Together they watched as his eldest brother and mother slowly heal Hermione. Eventually George’s exhausted state caught up to him and he slowly leaned forward to rest his head against her arm. He was asleep within moments.
After what felt like hours Molly announced that was as much as they’d be able to do for her right now. George stirred as the activity in the room slowed and his grip on Hermione tightened.
“The poor girl.” Molly cried. “She’ll need daily. And we’ll need someone far more experienced than I. She’s severely malnourished, dehydrated, exhausted, almost all of her bones have been broken and healed incorrectly. I’d need bruise paste ordered by the gallon to completely cover her. The scars -“ A sob escaped.
”Mum.” George interrupted with his eyes closed. “Please, not right now.”
The matriarch cleared her throat to gather herself. “You’re right, love.” Fred wanted to crack a joke that she never thought she’d say that to Weasley twin but couldn’t bring himself to in the circumstances. “We should set her up in Ginny’s room -”
“No. She bunks with me.”
Molly, having only just registered who she was talking to, turned to bring in her son for a hug while she started sobbing more fitfully. The boy held her close and just as tight.
“Dear, I know you care for her but I really think she might be more comfortable in Ginny’s room.”
George chuckled dryly. “Absolutely not. We’ve been sleeping together on the dungeon floor since the day I got captured. I can’t sleep unless I’m able to feel her breathing.”
A thick tension settled in the room that no one knew what to do with. No one wanted to anger George in his state and they couldn’t possible imagine what either had been through during their capture. Hermione and George were friendly before the war but had not been the closest so this new attachment was unfamiliar.
“Son, she’s been through a lot.” George scoffed. “You both have.” Arthur corrected, misinterpreting the boy’s actions. “I really think you both might better sleeping in your own beds.”
“I am going to shower and get something to eat. Someone get me immediately if she wakes. You can put her in whatever room you want but I will be sleeping in there.”
His tone was final. No room for debate. The rest of the family shared uneasy glances, unsure of how to proceed with this new dynamic.
Fred followed his twin up to their old room, watched him gather new clothes from their dresser. He used to know George better than he knew himself, but this man in front of him felt like a stranger.
“I’ll be okay once she’s okay Freddie.”
“Can I stay with you? Wherever you stay?” Fred whispered, fearing rejection.
While he was concerned about George’s new attachment to Hermione it was not enough for him to want to stay away from his twin. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to stay away from him ever again.
If there was one person capable of destroying Fred Weasley it would be his twin. He could deal with his family’s disapproval of their lifestyle, their teachers backhanded compliments, the hand-me-downs, sharing each and every one of their items, consistently being called the wrong name and being looked down upon because of their last name. None of that mattered because he had George by his side. But if George wasn’t willing to let Fred be there or if they couldn’t overcome this newfound distance - then he had no idea where that left him in the world.
“Of course.” George hugged him fiercely, “I missed you.”