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┄┄ .•* 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟗 *•. ┄┄

𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬, 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

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As soon as they got to Shell Cottage, Ron hurried towards it, a bloodied, bruised, and limp Hermione in his arms. And as her left arm fell limp and blood beads slowly fell through it until the tip of her fingers the word Filthy was clearly carved on her skin. Filthy Blood traitor. Filth on the Black family.

Harry wasn't too far away from them, having made sure Dobby was alright first. Ron and Harry burst into the cottage, Bill and Fleur already awaiting their arrival since Luna, Olivander and Dean had to come to their shelter. Sirius and Remus were just coming out of the floo—much to everyone's surprise—and as soon as Sirius saw the state of his daughter, his jaw clenched and his fist balled up. Without a thought, he reached for Hermione and Ron passed her into her father's arms.

Fleur gasped at the sight of Hermione and Bill looked horrified, immediately leading them up the stairs onto a spare room she could take.

Sirius set Hermione down softly. Ron and Harry were quickly ushered out of the room by Fleur—Sirius refused to go, thus he sat on the chair, intent on staying there until his daughter was not on the verge of dying. Fleur immediately began healing Hermione's cuts, taking the pieces of crystal out of her body and using Dittany in any would she could so they wouldn't scar; after she was done Fleur used a cleaning charm on Hermione and magically switched her clothes.

After she had been healed to the extent of Fleur's capacity, Hermione was left to sleep in bed. Sirius turned into Padfoot and laid on the feet of her bed, glancing up at Annora, who—as there was no one else in the room—was running her hands through their daughter's hair muttering softly to her.

After Sirius made sure Hermione wasn't shaking so much in her sleep, he went downstairs, hate in his eyes. He had been warned by Annora of what happened to Hermione, that was the reason he and Remus had been there so quickly, but now that he knew she was breathing and mildly healed, Sirius was set on revenge.

It took Remus to charm his friend to fall asleep to prevent him from getting himself killed. Sirius was placed on the couch.

Hermione woke up a few hours later, sobbing violently, tears streaming down her face. The sobbing stopped soon though, as her voice gave out and her head went numb. They found her in her room hugging a pillow for her life and clutching her stomach. She was just looking blankly at the white wall in front of her, tears silently running down her cheeks and soaking the pillow under her head.

"Mione?" Harry called out softly.

He and Ron kneeled next to the bed. Remus stood just behind them, as Bill and Fleur stayed on the threshold, the other temporary residents of Shell cottage behind them.

Hermione didn't answer, she didn't give any sign of acknowledgment either. She clutched her stomach tighter, her other arm clutching at the pillow like a lifeline. Every few minutes soft whimpers would leave her mouth or her body would twitch as a consequence of the Cruciatus.

"She eez in shock," Fleur said quietly looking at the girl on the bed with sorrowful eyes. "Maybe eet eez time to wake up 'er dad."

"Yeah," Harry answered absent-mindedly leaving the room numbly.

"Mione?" Ron tried again putting a hand on her shoulder.

Hermione's body jerked at the touch and he immediately let go, but apart from that, she remained numb not acknowledging his call.

Just then Sirius came forward through the door, glaring at Remus before his eyes landed on his daughter and immediately softened his gaze.

"Mia?" He crouched down beside the bed and moved to brush some hair out of her face. For the first time in hours, Hermione did something.

Her eyes fluttered to his face, and Sirius's worry grew tenfold.

Her eyes were hollow simultaneously full of emotion; but mainly they were grieving, full of despair. The same look he had on his face when he had lost Annora and his little girl. The same look of suffering he had seen so many times in the mirror after his mother hit him with the curse, but then it was rage that hid behind the hollowness of his eyes. Hermione seemed angry, but she also seemed to grieve. Traumatized. Sirius continued brushing her hair out of her face.

"Do you need something?" Sirius asked softly his eyes trailing up to Annora who was watching in tears as the scene unfold. He knew that what she wanted to do more at the moment was reach for Hermione and hold her in her arms, but with Bill, Fleur, and the others here she couldn't. Remus, Ron, and Harry (and most likely Fred, he figured) were the only ones who knew that they could appear in this world if they were in contact with him or Hermione.

Hermione parted her lips and let out a whisper. Sirius frowned not even with the heightened hearing he could hear.

"What?"

"Fred," Hermione said quietly, barely above a whisper, and this time he heard it. Sirius didn't even have time to feel jealous over the fact that his daughter was choosing her boyfriend over her dad because seeing her in this state was like having his heart ripped out.

He turned to Harry, who was the one closest to them, and didn't even have to say anything, that he nodded and left the room once more.

Sirius continued to run his fingers through her hair, wiping the tears from her face. The only sign of acknowledgment she gave him was not jerking away from his touch as she had with Ron. Otherwise, she just blankly looked ahead, here and there some sobs escaping from her lips as she trembled.

In less than ten minutes Fred had arrived, George coming behind him though the latter stayed back with Bill, trying to figure out what had happened.

Fred rushed through the house, his face concerned and worried for his little witch. He walked inside the room as Ron and Harry stepped aside and took Sirius's place.

"Hey, Mimi," he said softly as crouched beside her.

Hermione's silver eyes immediately snapped to his own, and brimming with tears she let out a choked sob.

At the scene, Fleur immediately commanded that everyone started to leave to give Fred and Hermione some privacy. Right before he left Sirius sent Fred a thankful look and the redhead only nodded before turning his full attention to Hermione.

Fred immediately picked her up, gently scooching her body over and laying down on the bed with Hermione curled up on his side. The hand that wasn't on her stomach, clutched to his shirt, pulling him towards her, close as possible as if he would disappear if she let go. Not that Fred minded, in fact, he was afraid the same would happen if he let go.

"I'm not leaving you, Mimi," said Fred rubbing her back soothingly. Hermione cried into his chest, gripping him much like she had done with the pillow—at that moment he was her lifeline.

Hermione let out a strangled noise as if she was trying to say something. Fred didn't pressure her and instead continued to run his fingers through her hair, holding her tight to him.

"It hurts, Freddie," Hermione whimpered.

"Where does it hurt?" said Fred softly.

"Everywhere," was Hermione's answer.

Fred nodded and grabbed Hermione's hand, ignoring the bandage around her forearm, with drops of blood pricking through, and put a kiss on her palm, then he let go of it and wrapped his arms around her, his heart breaking at how vulnerable she was.

Hermione was never one to truly show her emotions, she kept them bottled up and Fred knew. It was rare for her to show her true emotions to people. Fred had been able to break through that wall, though, with him she showed how truly vulnerable and fearful she felt. But still, he had never seen her like this. So... fragile.

Hermione eventually fell asleep, her grip on him not loosening one bit. And apart from some whimpers and twitches of her body, she slept peacefully. Sometime later Sirius opened the door, and Fred looked up at him.

"She's asleep," he said softly not to wake her up as he continued running his fingers through her hair.

"Good," Sirius nodded looking at Hermione with worry. "She needs to rest. Bellatrix put her under the cruciatus curse and sliced her skin."

Fred glanced at the bandage on Hermione's arms.

"Filthy," Sirius said, "that's what she wrote."

Fred's blood boiled and his jaw clenched. "I'm going to kill her."

Sirius let out a humorless chuckle. "Not if I do first." He looked once more at Hermione and sighed, "I'm going to leave you two. Take care of her, Fred."

"I will," Fred said solemnly and Sirius nodded closing the door again.

Half an hour later Fred was asleep too. The two of them held each other close, not wanting to let go.

Downstairs the adults sat at the dining table. Ron and Harry were forced to go get some rest and the others, that escaped Malfoy Manor, were moved to another safe house of another Order member as there was not much space in Shell Cottage.

Remus and Sirius sat at the table along with, George, Bill, and Fleur.

"I t'ink somet'ing else eez 'appening to Hermione," Fleur admitted from her place on the table. "I can almost feel eet."

Remus nodded as he warmed his hand on the hot chocolate Fleur had made for him while the others drank tea—or in Sirius' case, firewhiskey. "I think I can smell it," he said with a frown and glanced at Sirius.

Sirius rose an eyebrow in recognition of the familiar speech; Bill nodded in agreement with Remus. George frowned.

"The boys said she has been having trouble apparating," Bill told the table.

Remus nodded, "Tonks can't apparate either."

"Mia always had trouble apparating," George said his frown deepening, not sure why Tonks had been brought into the conversation. Sirius on the other hand blanched.

"But eef she eez... then the magic in 'er core wouldn't be focusing on 'elping 'er," Fleur said knowingly.

"That is if she didn't lose it," Bill said somberly, "No person can go through what she went through and be able to save herself and a—"

"You can't be bloody saying what I think you are," Sirius said lowly at the table but his hand shook as gripped the glass. "Annora was supposed to be the last that caught the curse!"

"Curse?!" George said loudly, his eyes widening and Remus snorted.

"It's not a curse; in fact, both Annora's mother and Annora would say it was a blessing in disguise," he said, he took a deep breath. "We think Mia is pregnant."

George's blood drained from his face.

Back upstairs Fred woke up with Hermione stirring, trying to get free from his grasp.

"What's wrong?" he asked groggily, but his eyes looking at her for any sign of injury. Hermione didn't answer and only pointed to the bathroom door, Fred nodded in understanding. "Can you walk?"

"I'll try," Hermione said quietly; Fred rolled his eyes.

He slipped out of the bed and helped her to the bathroom, closing the door as she did her business. Once he heard the flush of the toilet and water running, he opened the door and smiled softly at her as he helped her to the bed again.

Hermione looked frail. She was thinner and paler. There were bags under her eyes, those that were puffy and bloodshot from crying. Her cheeks had the marks of tears running through them. Not to talk about the various injuries and bruises that Fleur hadn't had the chance to heal properly again. Hermione looked so delicate and fragile, her arm wrapped in a bandage, and the rare twitch of her body made his heart clench. They laid back down on the bed but this time, though she was still gripping onto him, Hermione wasn't crying anymore.

"I think I lost it," she finally said in a whisper; Fred frowned.

"What did you lose, Mimi?" he asked soothingly and Hermione sat up straight with the strength she had, looking him straight in the eyes.

"I think I lost it," Hermione said again, she gulped slightly and her hand unconsciously went to her stomach. "I think we lost it."

"We?" Fred asked again not being able to understand what she was saying. What they both could've lost that would cause her this much pain. And then it clicked in his mind and Fred's face went pale as he swallowed hard.

"You were pregnant," he said softly. Hermione nodded, searching his face for a reaction. Fred sat up on the bed and merely pulled her into his arms, running a hand down her back. She buried her face in his chest, shaking.

"I don't think I can feel the baby anymore, Freddie," she sobbed and Fred couldn't do anything other than try to calm her down. "Everything hurts. It hurts so much..."

"Everything will be alright, Mimi." He made her look at him, brushing the tears away from her face with the pads of his thumbs. He gave her a small smile, "I love you."

"You're not upset?" she asked softly.

Fred frowned at her. "I could never be truly upset at you, Mia, especially not right now. You're hurting and... And if you lost the baby... I wouldn't be opposed to trying again, or rather failing at those contraceptive charms," Fred told her, a crooked grin on his face; Hermione laughed breathily.

"You want to?"

"I love you, Mia. Of course, I want to," he said as if it was obvious and Hermione smiled at him, her eyes filled with tears that wouldn't fall. "Maybe not now, with the war and everything, and considering we're still young, but someday nothing would make me happier than having a kid with you."

"What if I didn't"—Hermione's eyes drifted to her stomach and she smiled when she saw and felt Fred's hand rest on it—"lose it?"

Fred looked up at her, his blue eyes glinting and he grinned at her, "Then we'll have the most prankster kid on earth to corrupt Lupin's kid."

Hermione sighed in relief and put her hands on top of his, "After everything... I'm really glad to hear you say that."

"You thought I would bail on you? Tsk, Mimi, you know me better than that...." Fred looked down at their hands, "Do you really think you lost it?"

Hermione shrugged hopelessly and let herself fall onto Fred, who then rested his back against the headboard. Hermione couldn't keep herself up anymore.

Fred pressed his lips to her forehead and held her close to him as her breathing calmed down. "Will you marry me?" he asked in a murmur as if he had hoped Hermione had fallen asleep.

She hadn't. She looked up at Fred who was looking at her with a sheepish smile.

"W—What?" spluttered and Fred didn't waver.

"I know we're young. I know that. I know that we're in the middle of a war and that you just went through some pretty fucked up shit. And yet you survived and I bet in a week you'll be on your feet again and out of my sight," Fred spoke quietly and Hermione listened, her lips parted as she looked into his blue eyes that didn't once waver from her silver ones. "And I know I can't stop you, I'm not stupid. So I won't fight you, even if you're pregnant I won't be able to keep you for as long as one night, even though I desperately disagree—"

"—I need to help, Freddie," Hermione said quietly and Fred nodded burying his hand in her hair, Hermione leaned on his touch.

"I know," he said, "I know that. And I know you'll think I'm cheesy for this, but I love you. I couldn't imagine my life with anyone else. You truly are one of a kind, Hermione Black. You're strong and beautiful, and clever, and selfless—mostly—and wonderful. And that's why I know I can't stop you. And somehow that makes me love you even more. But before that happens I want you to know that I'll always be here, and I'm not going anywhere. You need me, and I'll be there. For anything, no matter how small it is. Whether you want chocolate cake or have your hair shaved off—"

Hermione gasped horrified and Fred's lips tugged into a small smile, seeing her react normally again.

"I want to be there for you, forever. You've become the most important person in the world for me—"

"What about, George?" Hermione sniffed quietly and Fred let out a chuckle.

"He's a tosser." He shrugged and she let out a choked laugh, that even though it was quiet and quivering, was still there. "You make me laugh, you know. And no one's been able to make me laugh so much as I do with you apart from Georgie. You make me feel better about myself, too, like I matter—"

"—You do, Freddie."

"—You always put me first, I don't feel like a next-door neighbor when I'm with you. You always believed in me, and never put my dreams down. And for that I love you, Mimi. I'm not doing this because you may or may not be pregnant or because you're hurt—" Hermione pursed her lips as he answered her before she even asked— "So I ask you again. Will you marry me?"

"You're serious?" Hermione asked.

"No, that's your dad," he said and Hermione's lips twitched. "I just poured out my soul to you and you ask if I'm bloody serious, Mimi? Of course, I am!"

Hermione searched his eyes for doubts but he didn't have any. But she knew her own were full of them. All filled with the nightmare that plagued her sleep for the past month and a half. Fred's still laughing face as he became cold and lost and forever not hers anymore. Because even if he died, Hermione had understood that the people she saw from the dead never reached past the year she came back to this land. She couldn't see Dumbledore after all. She wouldn't be able to see Fred if... She trembled under his hold, under his unflinching gaze.

"If I say yes," Hermione said in a whisper, "you better make sure you stay alive, Fred Weasley. I don't think I can make it without you."

"I promise I'll do my best."

"Yes," Hermione nodded softly, grabbing the hand he had on her face in hers. "I'll marry you, Freddie. But not for another few years," she warned him and he laughed.

"Thank Merlin." Fred sighed before he kissed her softly, being aware of her injuries. They were quiet for a few moments basking in the flicker of happiness in between their shattering world. Then Fred murmured softly, "When are you leaving?"

"I dunno," Hermione shrugged as she rested her forehead against his. "I have to heal first. And... we have to.see if I didn't lose the baby. If I didn't then getting out of here will be a lot harder than anticipated."

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