Chapter 12

POV George

The Party after Ron got into the Quidditch team was alright. It surely would have been better if Hermione was actually awake but with her nearly asleep him and Fred could test some more of their products.
Some time later Harry finally entered the common room. He looked really bad too. Not tired like Hermione looked most of the time. He looked like he was in pain. George had heard that detention with Umbridge was bad but that it made you look like that surprised him.

“Where’s Hermione?” Harry asked them.

“She’s over there” Fred pointed to Hermione. She was sitting in a armchair by the fire. George was a bit worried that she would spill her drink.

“Let her sleep.” George added as he saw how Harry was about to go over to her.

After Ron had nearly caught him and Hermoine, George had to wait over a week till he was once again alone with Hermione. They finally found some peace and quiet in a far away corner in the library. Hermione was doing her homework and George was pretending to do the same.  

It was harder that he had thought to find a time both of them could slip away without anyone noticing it. He had Quidditch training and even though Fred knew about them Lee and their other friends didn’t. Since Fred and George used to hang out together all the time it would seem strange to find them apart too often. And after all Harry was in possession of the Marauder’s Map, what if he spotted them a bit too closely together?

Another problem was that Hermione had a lot of Homework and then there were her prefect duties which she took very seriously. A little too seriously for George’s liking.

But that didn’t matter at that moment. What did matter was that tomorrow would be Hermione sixteenth birthday. George had ordered a gift for her. But he had no idea when he would be able to give her his present.

“I can not concentrate on my homework when you are staring at me like this” Hermione said without lifting her eyes from her Homework.

George was so deep in thought that he hadn’t noticed that he was staring at her.

“Sorry” He quickly mumbled and focused on his own homework. Which he had no intention of actually completing.

After a while Hermione finally closed all her books and for the first time in an hour looked up.

“So… tomorrow is your birthday. Do you think you will have time to meet me in private tomorrow?”

George asked.

After Hermione thought for a while she answered, “I don’t think that we could meet early in the morning since Harry and Ron usually weak up early to make sure not to miss me. And after that we have classes together. Our last class is Herbology. Maybe I could slip away on the way back if you want to meet me before dinner. I don’t think I could slip away after dinner.”

“I have a free period before dinner so I can meet you anywhere.” George replied with a smile on his face. “We just have to find a fitting place.” George added.

“Maybe we could meet at the Lake.” Hermione suggested.

“That’s a great idea” George replied, and he dared to give her a quick kiss on her cheek.

Even though they hadn’t seen a soul since they sat down at their table it wasn’t sure that no one would come by, even if by accident.

“Then it’s set I will see you tomorrow at the lake” George said and got up. “I’m sorry I have to leave I have to meet Fred and Lee.” George added whilst he packed his things together.

“Do I even want to know what this meeting is about?” Hermione asked with one raised eyebrow.

“No, I don’t think you do.” George replied with a grin on his face. Before he left, he dared to give her one last quick kiss.

POV Hermione

Much to Hermione’s surprise she saw George way sooner than anticipated. She, Harry and Ron where on their way to their transfiguration class when she noticed that she must have left her Charms book behind.

“Uhm guys I have to back to grab my book. But you can already go ahead.” Hermione said before she quickly turned around and headed back to the Charms classroom.

On her way back she suddenly got pulled behind a tapestry. Hermione was too startled to scream.

“Hi” A voice said. It took Hermione a second to realise that it was George who had pulled her into the secret passage.

“Hey, You scared me” Hermione managed to say before George leaned down to her to kiss her.

“Happy birthday” He said after he broke away from her.

“Thanks. Even though I would appreciate it if you never do this again. I could have hexed you by accident.” Hermione said not as convincing as she had wished.

George just smiled at her and said, “But you didn’t.”

Hermione rolled her eyes and picked up her bag which she must had dropped before.

“Thank you for your surprise but I think we are running late for our next class.”

George seemed to ignore Hermione’s words since he pulled her in for a hug.

“Well, what if I would rather do this than going to class on time.” He mumbled in her Hair.

Hermione contemplated for a moment that going to class late isn’t the end of the world. The decision whether to be on time or late for the next class was taken from her by the bell, which had just rung for the next class. She had to gently but firmly shove George away.

“We really have to go now. I will see you at the lake later.” Hermione said and turned away before George could convince her to skip the next class.

Luckily Harry and Ron were deep in conversation about quidditch as they were packing up their things after the Herbology lesson. Hermione tried to pack her things together as slowly as possible.

“You two can go ahead, I will meet you at dinner.” Hermione said.

Hermione knew that when they were talking about quidditch they wouldn’t ask any additional questions. And she wasn’t proven wrong. They left without looking back at her.

George was already waiting for her. He sat in the grass and seemed to enjoy the autumn sun. Hermione decided to pay him back for this morning. She crept up on him and then grabbed him and shouted, “boo”.

Much to Hermione’s displeasure he didn’t even flinch.

“I've heard you from afar” George said and smiled at her.

Hermione sat down next to him. She was surprised to see that he brought a cover to sit on.

“So, do you have anything for me or did you just want to see me solely for me?” Hermione asked.

She saw the surprised look on his face. Hermione usually never was that direct. Normally he was. He must have already had bad influence on her.

“I do in fact have something for you.” He replied and handed her a book shaped gift. It was wrapped in a nice paper.

“Let me guess, it’s a book” Hermione said with a smile on her face.

“Maybe” George replied.

Hermione opened the gift. It indeed was a book but what took Hermione’s interest was a little box. She opened it. In it was a golden necklace it had two golden charms on it. Hermione took it out of the box.

“Thank you so much. It’s so beautiful” She said happily.

“First I only wanted it to have the G but then I thought that would be a bit to much so I added H. Now they also just could be your initials.” George said whilst he took the necklace out of her hand and helped her putting it on.

“Thank you so much.” Hermione said and took a closer look at the book.

“Ohh that’s perfect as well.” she added and hugged him.

“I thought you could use a book to help you with the OWL’s.” George said before he pulled her closet for a kiss.

If it had been up to Hermione they would have been there for hours. Sadly, it didn’t and they heard the bells which told them that it was time for dinner.

“I really should go I told Harry and Ron that we would meet at dinner. And you know your brother as soon as there is food available, he’s there.” Hermione said with a sorry look on her face. “But thanks again for the presents. They are perfect.”

And after one last kiss she went off to dinner.

POV George

“So where exactly are we going?” Fred asked him after they stepped out of Zonkos.

“Hermione told me we should meet them at Hog’s Head if we want to do something against Umbridge” George answered.

They seemed to be the last. George saw how nervous Hermione was. The furious looking Harry next to her certainly wasn’t helping.

George was impressed. Hermione did great after all, all 25 including him wrote their name on the paper. He was sure they would find a fitting place soon. To George’s dislike his brother pulled him out of Hog’s Head as soon as they were finished.

“You looked like you wanted to eat her up.” Fred whispered in his ear so that Lee wouldn’t hear him.

“And after all we still got business to do, don’t we.” Fred added and took the lead.

George hadn’t realized that he must have been staring at her again. But sometimes he just couldn't help himself. In moments like those he was a bit sad that they kept their relationship private. He would have loved to be there next to her and immediately tell her that she did amazing whilst having his arm around him. But he understood that she didn’t want that at the moment.