Hermione tried desperately not to stare, but it was next to impossible. She knew she shouldn't be spying on him in his back room, but she was transfixed on the magic in front of her. He was performing a clarifunkulous charm, which was conjuring a miniature solar system in a rather large display case, complete with clusters of stars, purple planets, and even a comet that soared around and around the box.
George Weasley stepped back to examine his work, his arms crossed across his chest. Hermione, crouched down behind several dusty boxes, and turned slowly around trying not to make any noise. Her heart rate was quickened and she couldn't understand why. She was quite annoyed with herself for ogling at the likes of George, someone whom she was always quick to chastise rather than be transfixed upon. Still…she thought to herself, it was a fairly beautiful piece of magic…
Standing up, Hermione turned once more to get one last look at the tiny universe only to become face to face, or rather, face to chest with George himself, who was leaning against the pile of boxes with his arms still crossed, smirking at her.
"Enjoying the show?" he asked comically.
"Oh…erm…" Hermione started, utterly embarrassed at being caught. She couldn't bring herself to say anything. It felt as though her chest was constricting from being confronted so abruptly and so…closely. She felt unable to keep her eyes focused on his for more than half a second, as she was frantically looking around the entire room at anything else.
George quickly grabbed her wrist, pulled her into the room, and shut the door quickly behind them with a snap. Her heart raced once more.
"This," he said majestically throwing his arms towards the large box, "is our newest development, Pocket Full of Cosmos. Eventually, you will be able to keep this beauty in a small, compact box that could fit inside your pocket, and then release it onto your own bedroom or dormitory ceiling. Perfect for outdoor fun without the outdoors! Also, an amazing try at stirring up romance," he finished turning to stare at her. "You like?"
Again, Hermione felt her chest tighten, but managed to quietly say, "Beautiful."
George smirked at her again, a hint of amusement across his freckled face.
"I mean to say," started Hermione, clearing her throat and speaking a little louder, "that it is astonishing. I've never seen anything like this before…I am completely in awe of you."
Hermione froze at this, unable to believe that she used those words. What? I'm in awe of what?
At this George raised an eyebrow and his sarcastic smirk morphed into more of a genuine smile.
"Is that so, Granger?" he asked playfully. "Well, you ought to stop your star stuck stare before someone catches you, otherwise they may think you're into more than just my breath-taking magical abilities."
Hermione stared blankly, hoping with all her might that her cheeks weren't betraying her embarrassment. She exhaled slowly.
"Don't go and get ahead of yourself there," she said indignantly.
She turned on her heels and began to stride towards the door in a huff, wanting nothing more than to leave and forget that this had happened. Her mind felt clouded and her chest entirely too tight. As if she was interested in more than just his magical capacities!
Well…you did say that you were in awe of him…she reminded herself.
Before she could think on this a second longer, George was at the door with one outstretched hand on the wall, blocking her way.
Without looking at him, Hermione said loudly, "Please, I really have somewhere that I need to be now." Which wasn't true, she had already purchased all of her sixth year school supplies and merely wandered into Fred and George's joke shop on her way out of Diagon Alley out of sheer curiosity. She did not expect to stumble across George and become at a loss for words at his stunning abilities, or his red hair that was pushed up in different directions. What?
He studied her face for a moment, as though searching. Finally he said softly, leaning closer to her, "Of course, if you want this to stay between you and I…I don't think that anyone else has to know." He winked.
Did he just wink at me? Hermione was a bit stunned, and once again at a loss for words. It was no mistake that her heart was beating frantically in her chest, her head spinning slightly as though she had just stood up too quickly.
George reached out and quickly stroked her bottom lip with his thumb. "You know where to find me, love," he smirked again, holding the door open for her.
Hermione stared at the open door for a moment, wanting desperately to stay for reasons she wasn't quite sure of, and wanting to flee for fear of what was happening. What is happening? She thought. Am I going mad?
The latter won out, and she took a deep breath. She quickly strode past George not daring to look at him in the face again, and out the door she went with her fingers brushing her lower lip.