"Redefining Family"

Chapter 2 – A Place to Hide

5

A/N: Welcome back to "Redefining Family"!

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Disclaimer: I do not, and never will, own anything related to Harry Potter.

The first few chapters are pretty heavily drawn from Book 8, but will diverge shortly. So if you recognize it, that's why.

Everything seemed fuzzy, slow. Harry and Hermione jumped to their feet and drew their wands, Ron following a moment later, just a beat slower than his friends. Many people were only just realizing that something strange had happened; heads turning toward the silver cat as it vanished. Silence spread outward in cold ripples from the place where the Patronus had landed. Then somebody screamed.

The trio threw themselves into the panicking crowd. Guests were sprinting in all directions, trying to escape from out beneath the canopy, golden chairs smashed to pieces in the chaos. Many of them were Disapparating; meaning that the protective enchantments that had been set up around the Burrow had been broken.

As they pushed against the surging crowd, Hermione glanced towards to front. Bill was shielding the Delacour family, and Charlie had gotten ahold of his parents. Satisfied that they were safe, Hermione turned her attention outward. She saw mask figures beginning to appear in the crowd, wands raised as dark spells filled the air around them. The trio spotted Remus and Tonks across the crowd, their wands raised, and heard both of them shout, "Protego!" a cry that was echoed on all sides.

A body crashed into Hermione's side, nearly knocking her off of her feet. Harry, reacting quickly seized her hand to make sure they weren't separated as a streak of light whizzed over their heads, whether a protective charm or something more sinister she did not know. Ron caught hold of Hermione's other arm, tugging her towards his family gathered at the front.

Hermione's heart raced as she, Harry, and Ron struggled towards the front. The once-cheerful garden was now a chaotic battleground, with spells of every color whizzing through the air. Debris from the shattered decorations floated lazily around them as curses and hexes clashed. Bill and Fleur, dressed in their wedding attire and bearing determined expressions, were already at the forefront of the defense, their wands sending powerful counter-curses at the oncoming Death Eaters. Arthur and Molly stood side by side, their faces etched with worry, their protective spells forming a barely visible shield around their family.

"Stupefy!" Harry shouted, sending a red bolt of light at a masked Death Eater who had been aiming for Ginny as she ran between the twins towards the group. The spell hit its mark, and the Dark wizard crumpled to the ground.

Beside him, Ron unleased a fierce "Impedimenta!" which sent another Death Eater stumbling backward. He glanced at Hermione, his blue eyes alight with fear and determination as he stood at their side.

Hermione nodded, her focus sharp as she sent a well-aimed "Expelliarmus!" at a Death Eater who was about to curse George. The wizard's wand flew from his hand, and he staggered backward, disarmed and defenseless. George tipped an imaginary hat towards her with a cheeky grin, even has Fred stunned the wizard that she had disarmed, his own expression one of grim satisfaction.

The Burrow's garden was now a whirlwind of action as spells collided, creating dazzling explosions of light and sound. The remaining guests were now united in a desperate fight for their lives.

From the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Ginny and Fleur working together, their spells synchronized as they deflected curses and sent them back to their attackers. The two women, so different in personality, had found a common strength in this moment of crisis.

Suddenly two of the Death Eaters turned and cast simultaneously, with an echoed shout of "Bombarda!" the twin spells raced towards the Weasleys. Combined, the spell was too much for the protective shield, and the world around her exploded as she was blown backward, through the canopy and out into the garden proper.

Sounds were muted as she slowly came back to herself in the carnage of the garden. She didn't seem to be badly injured from the explosion, although she could tell that one of her ribs was probably fractured. But she needed to move, or she would be found and killed. She had to find Harry and Ron. Hermione ducked behind a large overturned table, her heart pounding and her ears buzzing. Spells whizzed past her, and the air was thick with the acrid scent of burning debris. Her eyes darted around, scanning for her friends and loved ones, her wand gripped tightly in her hand.

From her vantage point, Hermione spotted Muriel, who had taken refuge behind a toppled garden gnome statue. The elderly witch was struggling to fend off a Death Eater who had cornered her. It was clear that the old woman, despite her stubbornness, was outmatched and needed help.

With a deep breath, Hermione made a quick decision. She knew she couldn't let harm come to anyone, even if that person had been rude to her and was undoubtedly still a blood purist at heart. So she tightened her grip on her wand, and without another thought, darted out from behind her cover.

"Stupify!" Hermione shouted, her spell flying true and striking the unsuspecting dark wizard. The Death Eater was knocked off balance and fell to the ground, stunned for now.

Muriel, wide-eyed and trembling, looked up at Hermione in surprise. "Granger!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and disbelief.

Hermione rushed over to help the old woman to her feet, pulling her away from the fallen Death Eater. "Come on, Muriel, we need to get you to safety," she urged, her focus split between watching out from approaching threats and looking over the other witch for obvious wounds. Satisfied that there were none, Hermione led the way to another hiding spot.

Together, they retreated behind a nearby tree, away from the ongoing battle. Muriel's gaze remained fixed on Hermione, and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of true gratitude in her eyes.

"I never thought I'd say this, but thank you, young lady," Muriel said, her voice shaky but sincere.

Hermione offered the other woman a small smile, realizing that in the midst of this chaos, a sort of bond had formed between them, one born of shared danger and the instinct to protect. "We're all in this together," she replied, her tone unwavering. "Now, stay low and stay safe until this is over."

As Hermione left Muriel behind, her footsteps felt leaden, and her heart was heavy with the burden of responsibility. The elderly witch remained hidden behind the tree, her frail form huddled in the shadows, her eyes wide with fear. She offered the other woman one last reassuring look before turning away, determined to find Harry and Ron.

Moving through the garden, Hermione navigated the chaos with caution, her wand at the ready to defend herself. Her ears rang with the shouts and cries of fellow wizards and witches, some of whom she recognized, and others were strangers caught in the crossfire. She longed to go and help those in need, but the urgency of her mission weighed heavily on her shoulders.

Rounding a corner, her heart plummeted at the sight that awaited her. George lay sprawled on the ground, motionless. Blood oozed from a deep wound on his side, staining the earth beneath him.

"George…," she whispered, her voice choked with grief. The sight of a Weasley twin, known for their humor and unwavering spirit, lying in such a state was a devastating blow. She could hardly bear to think of the pain his family would feel if they lost him.

Hermione knelt beside him, her hand trembling as she reached out to check for any signs of life, nearly collapsing with relief when she found his pulse, weak and threadbare as it was. Thinking quickly, she reached into her beaded bag and pulled out several potions and a small pack of bandages. She begin pouring the potions into George's mouth, rubbing his throat to stimulate him to swallow, before carefully wrapping the bandages around the worst of his wound. After a few minutes the worst of the bleeding seemed to have stopped, and his pulse was coming a little stronger. He was still unconscious, but she couldn't stay with him.

Pulling him away from the path, she tucked him beneath some bushes and covered the area in Notice-Me-Not charms. Tearing her eyes away from his hiding place, she reluctantly forced herself to move on, knowing that she couldn't linger by George's side. The battle raged on around her, and her friends needed her.

Continuing through the turmoil, Hermione's heart clenched as she encountered another distressing scene. Molly and Arthur, the pillars of the Weasley family, lay on the ground. Molly was unconscious, her usually vibrant face pale and drawn. Arthur's injuries were even more severe; blood soaked through his robes, and his breathing was labored.

Hermione quickly cast protective charms around them, creating an invisible shield to guard them from further harm. "Hold on," she whispered, her voice filled with desperation and sorrow. She knew that help was on the way, but it was agonizing to leave them behind, wounded and vulnerable.

She thought that lady luck must be on her side, as Hermione didn't encounter any other Death Eaters or injured loved ones as she crept around the corner of the house, eyeing the ruined pavilion with her wand at the ready. The setting sun hung low on the horizon, beginning to cast long shadows that played tricks on the eyes.

Each step she took was measured and careful, she knew she was outmatched by the Death Eaters if they caught her unawares. She strained her ears to hear any sign of Harry and Ron amidst the distant shouts, it sounded like the battle was reaching a conclusion and moving away from the house. Passing the back door to the burrow, Hermione's heart quickened. The shattered entrance of the pavilion loomed ahead, and she was about to step away from the cover of the wall when a sudden, strong hand shot out from the shadows of the doorway, grabbing her arm with a firm grip.

Startled, Hermione gasped, her heart racing as she was pulled forcefully into the dim interior of the house. She tried to cry out, a reaction to her fear, but a hand covered her mouth, muffling her voice. She reacted violently, thrashing to free herself or at least remove the hand from her mouth so that she could cast with her wand, but the arms wrapped around her held firm, against her captors hard, unyielding chest.

Then, just as her fear truly began to spiral, a familiar voice, muffled by her panic and the exertion of holding her, reached her ears. "Hermione! Calm down wildcat, it's me."

Recognition flashed across her face as she finally realized the identity of her captor. It was Fred, a teasing smirk lifting his expression, even though she could see the tight grip of desperation in his eyes. Relief washed over her, both for his safety and from having someone capable at her back.

Fred's grip on her slackened, and he removed his hand from her mouth. His eyes, still cautious but now filled with relief as well, met hers. "Sorry about that," he said in a hushed tone. "Saw you passing by, but didn't know who else might be lurking around."

Hermione offered him a shaky smile in return, grateful to have stumbled upon someone she knew and trusted in the midst of the chaos. "It's alright," she whispered back. "I'm looking for Harry and Ron though, have you seen them?"

Fred nodded, his expression grave. "Yeah, they're here, but things have gone mad. Harry keeps going on about needing to find you and some mission. But we can't find our parents, or George."

Hermione placed a careful hand on Fred's shoulder, "I've seen them. They're hurt, but I did what I could for them. Who else is here? Surely we can figure out a way to help everyone."

Fred, whose expression had flashed quickly from relief back to grim determination, tore his eyes from the door and nodded once, gesturing for her to follow him further into the house. "Everyone is in the kitchen, let's get you looked over and then we can figure out our next steps."