Together through it all

Chapter one: In the window sill

Frustrating, absolutely frustrating.

Childish was the word, yes, childish.

Didn't he understand how dangerous this was going to be? He was about to risk his life, and here he was, laughing and cracking jokes! Oh, how he absolutely infuriated her! How could he never be serious? He looked at her and winked, making Hermione blush and frown at the same time. She crossed her arms. Hermione was sitting in a chair in the living room in the Burrow, and she had perfect view of the twins who was sitting in the couch opposite of her. Hermione did absolutely not like that view. Or, well… it depended on how she looked at it. On one part, she thought there was nothing wrong with the twins looks, actually they were quite handsome, but what they were doing, on the other hand, on a time like this.

She couldn't take it anymore. Ron was playing chess with himself, the twins were joking with Ginny, and the rest of them was talking silently to each other, going through the 'get Harry safely away from the Dursly's and over to the Burrow'-plan. Hermione had tried to read, but it was impossible. She just couldn't concentrate. So, Hermione stood up and with a glare at the twins, she left.

Instead of going into Ginny's room, she went almost all the way up to the attic. This room was used mostly for storing. Hermione pulled away a dusty curtain who was hanging in front of what seemed like solid wall. Actually it was a window sill and a window, beside the fact that there was no glass. Dust flew all over the place, making Hermione cough as she sat down in the window sill. Now she could sit and think without being disturbed by thinking of a certain Weasley, who didn't deserve her attention at all, at least not when he couldn't be serious.

Hermione wasn't as alone as she thought. Suddenly someone jerked the curtain open and she jumped high. "Oh, George, you scared me!" she exclaimed. He looked just as surprised to see her as she was with him. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here… in fact I didn't know you knew about this place at all, when did you find it?" he asked curiously, with a little smile playing on his lips.

"After the Quidditch world cup actually…" she answered.

"Right, I'm sorry, I'll give you your privacy," George said with a wink and backed off.

"No, no, it's alright," Hermione quickly said, and made place for him to sit. He stared at her for a second, making Hermione blush at her quick response and thinking maybe he wanted to be alone for a moment, after all, that had to be why he'd come there. "Thanks," he smiled and sat down beside her. Hermione moved to sit so that her legs were hanging out of the window, mimicking George. She breathed in the scent of summer, and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again she noticed that George hadn't looked away from her yet. He was studying her for a while, before looking out of the window too. Then it was her turn to look at him.

He had really pretty eyes, Hermione thought, and a straight nose. She studied his hair, his many freckles and his mouth, wondering how exactly it would be if… Hermione blushed, but before she could look away George looked at her. She was a bit shocked to see the sad expression on his face, but before she could think more about it, it turned into a huge grin. "Thinking about kissing me, are you?" he teased, and laughed when she blushed. "And that wasn't what you were thinking when you looked at me?" Hermione challenged, and got earned by a faint blush on his ears. She grinned, but it didn't last long as she thought back at the tasks that were at hand.

They both turned to gaze out of the window again, and sighed.

"Do you think much about the war?" George asked without looking at Hermione.

She almost snorted at the question, but it came out as another sigh instead. "Yes. I do, all the time… it seems like it's the only thing I can think about… what about you? …Are you… are you scared?" she added quietly, afraid that he didn't want to be talking about that personal stuff, but after all, he started it.

"Yes, I think about the war sometimes… and yes, I'm terrified," he said and looked at her. Hermione looked back at him, and saw the sad expression again. It was so unfamiliar on his face. He was always so happy and carefree. "No one will live through the war and not have changed. What if I change to something bad?" he said, searching for solace in her eyes, something he found. He swallowed. "What if I don't get through it at all? Or if… someone else don't?" Hermione guessed her face pretty much held the same emotions as his. "Everything will change," she said slowly. "We can just hope it's for the better, and that the lives that are gone were worth it…"

"Are you scared?" he asked. Again, Hermione almost snorted, "Yes, I'm scared. I'm scared someone will die, and the problem with that is that I know someone will die, because this is war… I just hope it's not going to be someone I know, but at the same time that feels unfair, because every person who dies will leave behind so many hurt."George nodded, "Yeah, I know that feeling…"

"Why are you so happy?" Hermione suddenly blurted out.

"What? I don't know what this expression seems like to you, but believe me, I'm not anywhere near happy these days, I don't think anyone really are."

"But you're smiling, making jokes, and you seem so happy. It's not a bad thing, it's just… I don't know, inappropriate? Like downstairs," Hermione explained.

"Well, because it's so inappropriate, maybe that's the exact reason why I'm happy? What if Fred and I hadn't been here to spike up this glum mood every day? People need to laugh these days. And besides, that's what I do, would I be me if I wasn't happy?" he asked.

"I never thought about it like that… but it makes sense, and it's actually really great."

"Thank you," George smiled. So George Weasley could have a serious conversation. Maybe it wasn't that bad to almost constantly think about him then?

Hermione shuddered, it was starting to get darker, and colder. "Are you cold?" George asked. Hermione shook her head, she didn't want him to suggest they leave, but just as she had done that, she shuddered again. Luckily, George had other things in mind than to leave. "Come here," he said and held his arms open for her. Hermione scooted closer, and felt the nice sensation of him wrapping his strong arms around her. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Anything for you," he said, and she looked up at him, surprised to see a complete serious expression on his face.

"I hope everything goes okay tonight," he whispered back. The whispering made it a totally different mood, like it was so much more personal. "I do too," Hermione replied, "but sadly, all we can do is to hope…"

"Hermione, be safe tonight," he said into her hair, and stroke it a bit for good measure.

"I'll try," she said, her voice muffled by talking into his shirt. It was weird, sitting this close together, but at the same time it felt so nice and… normal, like it was supposed to be like that. "Be safe, George," she said.

George opened his mouth to say something else, but was cut off by a faint yelling that said "It's time". He swung his legs around to the other side, and stood on the dusty floor with a hand out for Hermione. She smiled and took it, and got up from the window sill. But when she too was standing on the floor, he didn't let go of her hand. Hermione looked quizzically at him, and he smiled. "Thanks for the talk, Hermione… you're really great, you know that?" he asked and took a step closer, he was standing really close now. Hermione swallowed, and breathed out a small 'thanks'. "You wanted to know how it would be to kiss me right?" he asked with a serious face, but Hermione could see the twinkle in his eyes. "Yes, I believe I did," she whispered, as he leaned down. She could feel his breath now, and her heart was beating rapidly. It was just a little peck, short, sweet and absolutely amazing, and yes, his lips were very soft to kiss.

He looked at her for a moment, and smiled before leading her out from behind the curtain. "I'll be waiting for you when we come back, okay?" he said, and she just nodded, a little smile on her face.

When they entered the living room again, all the others were joined. Moody, Remus, Arthur, Tonks, Fleur, Bill… Hermione looked at each and one of them in turn. All of them had focused expressions, set on the task of saving Harry. They went through the plan once again, and left.

A/N: Hi! So, this is my first story with chapters. Please tell me what you think about it! Not kidding, reviews do make me write faster , so if you want a new chapter soon, review!:)