Chapter 10

POV George

It has been a few days since Hermione had rejected him. George was still a bit sad about it. Not that he had hoped that she wanted to be his girlfriend or anything but the feeling of being rejected did bother him more than expected. If the fact that Hermione wasn’t looking to happy herself made him feel better or worse was something he couldn’t decide on. He kept telling himself that she must be concerned about Harry and his soon arrival at Grimmauld place. According to his mother Harry would arrive soon. They went to get him about two hours ago. Of course, they were instructed to wait in their rooms till dinner as to not disturb any order members. George wasn’t sure how they would disturb any order members outside of their room but he and Fred decided to not question their mother too much as they wanted her on good terms. George was happy that Harry would join them, that may would calm Hermione a bit and seeing her happier would make him happier.

Soon after they could hear a loud voice trough the floor.

“Shall we join them, George?” Fred asked him with a wide smile on his face.

“We shall” George replied and with a blop they vanished.

As they reappeared in Ron and Harry’s room George immediately spotted Hermione who once again flinched as he and his Twin brother appeared.

“Could you please stop doing that?” Hermione asked the both of them.

George did it like his twin brother and ignored her.

“Hello Harry” He said instead and turned to him.

“We thought we’ve heard your lovely voice.” Fred added.

“You really shouldn’t keep back and let out your anger.” Fred proceeded.

“There might be a few people fifty miles away who didn’t hear you.” George said.

“So you’ve passed your Apparation tests I see.” Harry said still angrily yet ignoring their other words.

“Yep. With distinction” Fred answered him with a big smile on his face.

They carried on talking about all the things going on. Sadly, they couldn’t use the Extendable Ears since they’ve put an Imperturbable Charm on the door. As they heard footsteps coming up to them George and Fred vanished.

POV Hermione

“That’s enough!”

Hermione flinched hard when she heard Mrs Weasley interrupting Sirius. She hadn’t noticed that she had returned in the meantime. Hermione had to process what Sirius had just told them. A weapon, one he didn’t have last time, Hermione had no idea what this could be. As she looked around, she figured that the other Weasley children and Harry had no idea as well.

Mrs Weasley followed them upstairs. Hermione could feel that she was angry. She didn’t want them involved the slightest.

“I think Ginny’s already asleep so please try not to wake her up, we’ve got a busy day tomorrow.” Mrs Weasley said to Hermione before she entered her and Ginny’s room.

Hermione nodded and went into her room. To no surprise, Ginny wasn’t asleep yet, but Hermione waited till she heard Mrs Weasley going back downstairs till she started to tell Ginny everything they’ve just heard.

As Mrs Weasley had told them they were busy the next day. They started to clean the drawing room. As instructed by Mrs Weasley Hermione took a spray and a cloth which she tied so it covered her nose and mouth. Hermione tried to avoid looking at George but when she did she saw that he still looked kind of hurt, or maybe she was just imagining things. It made her think about what she had said to him. It wasn’t like Hermione didn’t like him at all but she just doesn’t think that dating him would be a great idea. And she was just hoping that it was the right decision.

During the following days till Harry’s hearing, they finished cleaning the drawing room and Hermione had a lot of time thinking about her decision. George did stop coming to the library in the morning even though he was the one who suggested they still could do their rituals just as friends. It was something that Hermione could understand but he didn’t even seem to be up as usual, which was something that did hurt a little even if Hermione didn’t want to admit it to herself. Therefor she was now alone in the library. It felt lonelier that Hermione thought it would feel. Normally she didn’t have any problems being alone in a library but now it was a problem.

Hermione was awake early on the day of Harry’s hearing, but she didn’t dare to go down in the kitchen. She knew that she would totally stress out Harry if she would see him before his hearing. Her and Ron had told him their good luck wishes last night. Instead, she went to the library as usual. It was still quiet in the house as Hermione went up to the library. She was happy she didn’t run into Mrs Weasley Hermione thought that Mrs Weasleys wouldn’t exactly be thrilled to see her walking around the house this early in the morning. When Hermione opened the door to the library, she was first confused to see that the fire still was lit, she thought she had put out the fire when she went to bed yesterday. She didn’t think much of it and pulled out a book she hadn’t read yet. As she was about to sit down on the sofa, she let out a semi loud scream.

There in the high-back armchair was George sleeping. The chair was turned towards the fire and Hermione couldn’t see him when she entered the room. Her scream seemed to have woken up George. He flinched and opened one of his eyes slowly.

“What happened is there a spider somewhere?” He asked still half asleep.

Hermione had to shake her head over his question. Was he kidding her for about a week he didn’t show up and now he’s sleeping in the library. Hermione was sure that he wasn’t here when she left last night so he had to have come early in the morning.

“What are you doing here?” Hermione asked ignoring his ridiculous questions.

“I was sleeping till you screamed.” George replied, yawning.

“Funny, that doesn’t explain why you are here. I thought I had scared you off forever.” Hermione said.

“Am I not allowed to be here?” He asked innocently.

As an answer Hermione rolled her eyes and finally sat down on the sofa. She knew that she wouldn’t win this argument, so she decided to stop it here. Of course, he was allowed to be here, but she didn’t expect him to be here. Being alone in a room with him being alone with him nagged at her confidence that she didn't like him at all and that the kiss was just a way to shut her up about her fussing over Harry.
She tried to read but she couldn’t concentrate with him in the room. He seemed to have fallen asleep again. Hermione wondered how he was able to sleep now that it was the first time they were alone in a room again. As she heard him breathing regularly she dared to glance over the top of her book.

“You know I can feel you staring at me, do you?” George asked after a short while.

“I wasn’t starting” said Hermione, her cheeks were now flaming red but she hid them behind her book. George still looking totally relaxed opened his eyes.

“Are you concerned about Harry’s hearing” George asked next.

“I don’t know rationally I know that they can’t throw him out of the school judging from a legal perspective, but we can’t know what the ministry is up to, now can we?” Hermione replied. As she said this, tears started to form in her eyes. Hermione didn’t exactly know why but this whole thing made her more emotional than usual. She wasn’t used to this many feelings. She tired to blink away the tears. She heard that George got up from his armchair and shortly after she felt his body next to hers. One arm was now rapped around her.

“I’m sure he will be fine Hermione, please don’t cry.” George said soothingly and pulled her closer to him.

His action and words made her tear up even more. Her head was now leaning on his shoulders and her tears ran down her face.

“Thanks George, I know I don’t deserve your kindness.” Hermione sobbed as an answer.

“What do you mean by that?” George asked after a little pause.

“Well, I think I really hurt you and now you are the one comforting me, again.” Hermione replied still sobbing a bit.

“Oh stop it Hermione you making me blush I know that I am great. You know to finally answer your question from before why I was here, I wanted to ask me if you don’t want to reconsider your decision.” George said with a wide smile on his face.

Hermione looked at him for some seconds before she answered, “Reconsider my decision?”.

“Your decision that dating me has something to do with the fact that you are one of the best friends of my brother. Because you know, I don’t really agree with you.” He replied with no hesitation.

Hermione had to giggle at his respond.

“Is that so.” Hermione replied still giggling a bit.

“Yes Mme” He said still beaming at her.

“Don’t you ever call me Mme again.” Hermione said now giggling harder than before.

“I wouldn’t dare to Mme” Said George.

Hermione who still had her head on his shoulder now slapped him on the chest and said, “Stop it will you!”.

“Ahh, that hurts you know.” George replied.

Since he was still smiling, she didn’t believe him a word he said.

“But in all serious I really think we should just give it a shot you know. We can take it as slowly as you want to. And if it doesn’t work out it will be fine too at least we can say that we’ve tried.” George said after a short while.

Hermione had to think about his words for a bit, so they sat in silence for a few minutes.

“Okay, but I don’t want anyone to know at first. That includes Fred. If it really does work out, we of course can tell everybody but at first, I want to keep it a secret if that is okay.” Hermione eventually said.

“Deal” George said, and he pulled her closer to him. He even gave her a little kiss on the top of her head.

Hermione was feeling very happy until she remembered that it still wasn’t sure if Harry would return to Hogwarts with them. After a short wave of anxiety Hermione decided that this was a problem, she couldn’t change now, so she tried to shove away the anxiety as good as possible.

POV George

After Harry and his father got back from the hearing the atmosphere in the house changed noticeably better. For George it was more the fact that he got to spend the time before breakfast together with Hermione. They often sat on the sofa and cuddled while Hermione continued to devour as many books as possible from the library. He enjoyed just looking at her or doing some research for Weasley’s wheezing wizards. And every now and then George stole a short kiss from Hermione.
But even the most wonderful times had to have an end. It was the day before their departure to Hogwarts and even though they hadn’t received their booklist they had to start packing. George was surprised usually the letters came way earlier.

George and Fred started to pack everything in their room and then go on to collect things that are maybe not in their room. George was lost in his thought when suddenly Fred started to speak.

“So, what is going on with you and Hermione?”

George was shocked to say the least. He thought that they weren’t that obvious, and they normally hid it very well when the others were around but after all he was his twin brother maybe it was more intuition than anything else.

“Nothing, why are you asking?” George replied hopefully seeming calm.

“Well, I noticed that you look happier than before and besides that I saw you two in the library and let me tell you I personally don’t hang out like that with her so you can’t tell me your just friends.” Fred answered with a wide grin on his face.

George was shocked, but he was also relieved that he could tell someone, and this would make everything especially in Hogwarts easier. He actually didn’t know how long he could have kept it a secret since he and Fred tend to spend more time together there and they always knew where the other one was.

“When did you see us?” George asked calmly.

“This morning. Mom woke me up early to start packing my stuff. I searched for you so we could start packing together. I mean I found you but I didn’t wanted to interrupt anything.”

Fred answered the wide grin still on his face.

“How thoughtful of you.” George said ironically.

George knew that his brother wouldn’t leave him alone till he had told him everything he wanted to know. And after all he wasn’t used to keeping anything from him anyways. But before he could say anything there was a knock at the door.

“Come in” Fred said.

Hermione came in and she was looking excited and she said, “Our letters have finally arrived.”.

She handed them to George and Fred and opened her own. George who wasn’t really interested in his letter looked at her and saw the moment her face went white. She just froze for a second and then pulled something golden out of her letter. George flinched hard when she suddenly let out a loud scream.

“What’s the matter Hermione?” George asked and with one step was next to her.

“I got selected as prefect!” Hermione screamed and jumped at him. She hugged him tightly and even gave him a little kiss in all of her euphoria. George who was surprised at this reaction just held her tight.

“hem, hem” Fred let out a cough as to remind them that they are not alone.

Hermione’s head turned quickly to him and she let go of George immediately.

“Relax, he just told me that he had already seen us this morning. I’m sorry Hermione.” George said.

“He did?” Hermione turned back around to George, and he saw the light shock in her eyes.

“Yes, I did and don’t worry I can keep it a secret if you want to please just don’t do that again in front of me.” Fred said and turned back around to his trunk.

George shrugged his shoulders and then took the badge from Hermione’s hand to take a closer look.

“My girlfriend is a prefect now. Don’t you want to go tell Harry and Ron?” George asked as he gave her badge back.

“Sure, I will join you too in a minute you go ahead.” Hermione said.

Whit that George and Fred vanished.