Forbidden

Disclaimer: i do not own harry potter, or any of its affiliates.



Chapter four: Admitting you have a problem, is half the battle.



"hey...hey, Fred, wake up." A quiet voice said near his ear.



Fred lifted his head sleepily and looked around. he was still at the hospital. his eyes darted to Hermione\'s bed, and then to his twin.



"Hey...how long have i been?"



"About a half an hour. Every one went home, I let you sleep." George said.



"What for? You should have woken me up. I had a weird dream." Fred grumped. "I would have rather you woke me up."



"Yeah, well. what\'s done is done." George grinned. "You have had less sleep than Harry. Trust me, Gred, you needed it." he held out his hand to his brother.



"I guess so Forge." Fred said letting his brother pull him to his feet. "I just wish..."



"I know." George said softly.



They made their way from the room, stopping only when Fred cast a disparring look behind him. "I\'ll see you tomorrow Hermione..." Fred said sadly.



once they were in the main lobby, George turned to him. "When you floo, head to the leaky cauldron, we\'re meeting Ginny and Harry for a pick-me-up, and you look like you could use a bowl of tom\'s hot stew as well."



Fred nodded. "Sure. whatever you say."



they each took a pinch of the blue powder, and tossed it into the flames. stepping inside the green inferno, they called out, "The Leaky Cauldron!" with a flash of light, and a swirl of robes, they were gone.



flames flared in the dank room, filling it with an eerie green glow. two tall figures spilled onto the stone floor. they stood and brushed the dust and ash from their clothes and bright red hair. they straightened their robes, and headed to the dark corner furthest from the bar. "Two firewhiskeys, and a large bowl of your famous stew, Tom!" George called out.



there was a nod from the bartender, signaling he had heard them. several seconds after they had seated themselves, their drinks appeared out of midair, and a steaming bowl of stew hovered above their table. Fred pulled it down on the table in front of him, and picked up a spoon.



as Fred ate, George watched the fireplace. soon a second flash of light resounded the room and Harry and Ginny made their way to them.



they each ordered drinks, and Ginny made Harry get himself a dragon flank steak. as they ate their food, and sipped their drinks, they made idle chatter, none of the four of them, really interested in what the other had to say. until Fred spoke for the first time since entering the pub.



"I have something I need to get off my chest. but until I get the say so, none of you can say a word...you hear me?" Fred said wearily.



the others nodded solemnly.



"Because if anyone gets wind of this, it will be the end. unless we have concrete proof, which I do, but cant use because the person gives me express permission to do so. and i promised." Fred began.



"Would you like a wizards oath?" Ginny asked.



"No! i wouldnt want my little sister to take one of them unless there were no other option. please just promise not to say anything. especially to Ron."



they agreed. Fred launched into his sorrowful tale.



scenechangefred\'smemoryscenechange



he awoke cold, rolling over to try to obtain some form of warmth, he slid into the slight dip in the mattress. he opened his eyes and flinched at the light. once his eyes had adjusted, he looked around the room. "Hermione?" he called. "We need to talk, where are you?"



when silence met his question, he climbed from the bed, and looked for Hermione. Fred realized she had work in the morning, simultaneously realizing that he had no idea where she worked. He sighed, resigning himself to the fact, that she had went back to his abusive younger brother. he dressed and apperated to Weasley\'s Wizards Wheezes, and awoke his brother to open the shop.



Hours passed, and the shop was running a bit slow. knowing that Ron was bound to be at work, until very late, Fred called to his twin. "Hey George, the shop is slow today, im going to head out, send me a patronus if it picks up again okay?"



"Sure sure." was his response.



Fred quickly apperated to Ron\'s house. he entered the house with little difficulty, and got comfortable. he didnt know when Hermione would return.



it was around five, Hermione was usually off of work by now, right? he pondered several things in his head during his wait. like why would his little brother beat the woman of his dreams, or why wouldnt Hermione turn his sorry arse in to the authorities.



he snapped from his thoughts, and he quickly dissalusioned himself, just in case it was his prat of a brother. it wasnt. Hermione entered the room, her dark robes swished as she closed the door with a snap. she turned to face him, and jumped when he lifted the spell. "We need to talk Hermione."



"I, um...uh..." Hermione sputtered.



"Why did you leave without waking me?" Fred demanded. "Did you even eat breakfast before you left?"



"Fred, I," Hermione started. "This has nothing to do with you... I can handle myself..."



"Handle yourself? Hermione you cant even raise your wand against someone who is beating the shit out of you!"



Hermione\'s eyes flashed. "It was just the once. it will not happen again. I assure you. and as such, there is no need for this conversation, or your concern." hermione snapped.



"It is my concern! you were bruised! that should never happen!" Fred raged. " and whats more, it was my brother! that alone is cause for my concern!"



"No Fred!" Hermione said viably angered. "Let me handle it! Promise me, that you will not tell the aurors! besides, if you do, i will lie. i will not have my marriage left in ruin!"



"Hermione, please, you need to get out now, there are ways to break the bonds of marriage." Fred argued,"if you let me help you i can..."



"I neither want, nor need your help, Fredrick Weasley. now i ask you to leave." Hermione waved her wand at the door.



fred stood and stalked his way to the door. before he stepped out of the house, he said, "Hermione, i will leave. but if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me. i\'m pretty much living there now anyway. your always welcome."



"thanks, but no thanks, Fred. i\'ll be fine."



"Suit yourself." Fred stepped away from her, and with one last look behind him, turned on the spot, and apperated.