a/n: hee hee. Another story. crazy, huh? This idea randomly came to me last week or two weeks ago. I forget. Anywho, I started writing it, got about 11 pgs in, then decided it was crap and deleted the whole stinkin' thing. The next morning I promptly restarted the entire thing, only keeping the title and the main characters the same from my previous attempt. Trust me, this one is much MUCH better than that other icky one. I was truly appalled at my own inability to write. BUT now it's all good. Anyway, let me know how I'm doing! I give you all Somebody to Love. Enjoy!
Chapter 1: Jaya Hunter
George Weasley glanced around the glitzy, formal, overcrowded room again and fiddled with his tie. He spotted his baby sister across the room talking animatedly to some of the guests, her fiancé's arm draped casually around her waist. George shook his head, still not quite believing it. His sister was engaged, and to someone who was… a bit unexpected to say the least. But she loved him and he loved her so that was the important thing.
Finally deciding that the room was getting a little too stifling he spotted some doors leading outside and made a beeline for them. Once outside on the balcony he loosened his tie a bit and leaned on the railing overlooking the gardens. A soft breeze played with his hair and it felt good after the stifling warmness from the party.
"Heck of a party, isn't it?"
George whirled around to face the voice—he had been sure he was alone on the balcony—to find a woman sitting partially in the shadows leaning against the wall. She was sitting on the wide railing with one black-stilettoed foot on the railing in front of her and the other dangling off the side.
"Sorry, I didn't realize anyone else was out here," George said, turning to go.
"Don't leave on my account, George. Or is it Fred? I'm just sitting out here admiring the stars."
Taken aback that she knew his name, George looked her over again. She was wearing a shimmery blue evening dress that accentuated all of her curves and had a slit going halfway up her thigh. Her dark, curly hair was piled atop her head with a few stray tendrils loose. Little diamond clips adorned her hair and a diamond solitaire necklace completed the ensemble. She did look kind of familiar but he couldn't for the life of him figure out where he'd seen her before. Added to that was the strange mix of accents she had. He thought he could hear British, American, Canadian, and random others he couldn't quite place.
"It's George," he finally replied then decided to ask, "Excuse me, but have we met before?"
She smiled at him from the shadows. "You could say that. I take it you don't remember me."
He shook his head. "Not really, I just know I've seen you somewhere."
She laughed, clearly enjoying this, then gestured to the railing. "Well, it has been a few years. You can sit down if you want."
He did so, turning to face her and leaning back against the giant stone planter adorning the corner of the railing. "Aren't you worried about falling off?"
"Nah. There are wards against falling all around the balcony. We're fine."
He nodded and returned to trying to place her. "So where have I met you before?"
She gave him an impish grin. "Now that would be telling."
"Oh come on."
"Nope. This is far too fun."
He gave an exasperated sigh. "If I guess will you tell me?"
"How about this; you ask me yes or no questions and I'll answer them."
"Fair enough." He pondered for a minute then asked, "Have we met more than once?"
She nodded, her eyes twinkling. "I think it would definitely be safe to say yes on that."
"But I haven't seen you in a couple years?"
"No, you haven't."
He stopped to think for a bit then remembered her strange accent. "Are you originally from England?"
"Yes."
"Then what's with the accent?"
She quirked an eyebrow. "Not technically a yes or no question, but I'll answer it anyway. I travel a lot for my work and I tend to adopt certain accents into my own."
"I see." George fiddled with his watch as he tried to think of another question. "Did you go to Hogwarts?"
"Yes."
"Were you in my year?"
"No."
"But you are younger than me, right?"
"Yes."
"By how much?"
"That's not a yes or no question," she replied, giving him that impish grin again.
"Okay, fine. I'm 25 years old. Are you more than a year younger than me?"
"Yes."
"More than two years?"
"Right around two years."
"So you graduated with Harry, Hermione, and Ron then?"
"Yes," she replied, grinning again.
"What House were you in?"
"Once again, not a yes or no question."
"Fine, fine. Hufflepuff?" he tried.
"No." Her lips twitched in amusement.
"Ravenclaw?"
"Nope."
"It's not Slytherin, is it?"
"No, not Slytherin."
"Gryffindor then."
She nodded and he wracked his brain trying to remember who she was. Just then the balcony doors opened and Ginny came bouncing out arm in arm with Draco Malfoy.
"Hi George! We'd wondered where you'd gotten." She moved to give her brother a hug then turned to see who he was talking to. She let out a girly squeal and ran over to the woman and hugged her. "Hermione! You came, you came! I didn't know if you'd be able to get off! Your assistant said you have a shoot starting in five days so I wasn't sure, but you came!"
Hermione smiled. "Of course I came, Gin. It's not often my best girl friend gets engaged! But it's not Hermione anymore. It's Jaya."
Ginny waved it away. "Yes, yes. I know. Jaya Hunter. But that's your screen name. You'll always be Hermione Granger to me and everyone else who knew you before you were famous."
Hermione smiled again. "Fine, fine. You win."
Ginny looked decidedly pleased with herself. Then she asked, "But why are you out here on the balcony with my darling brother? The party's back inside!"
"We were just talking. I needed a little air and apparently he did too."
"I see." Ginny winked at her then turned back to her fiancé. "See you later then, Hermione."
"Yeah, see you. Congratulations to you both."