I awoke with a start. Something had jarred me from my peaceful slumber. Now I just had to figure out what.
BANG!
Hm, my silencing charm must have worn off in the middle of the night.
Well that answered that. From the sound of it George was opening and slamming closed every cupboard in the kitchen as hard as he could.
Very mature.
Rolling over I noticed my alarm clock; five-thirty in the bloody morning. I still had at least another half hour until I normally got up. I groaned and swung my legs over the side of the bed. There was no way I could go back to sleep now.
I made my way slowly to the loo, stretching as I padded across the carpet. After a quick shower I threw my hair up into a twist with a simple clip, put of some light make-up, made my way back into my bedroom, and flung open my closed doors. I picked out a simple black skirt that flared out around the knees, a light purple blouse, and a dark purple set of dress robes. Glancing in the full length mirror in the corner of my room one last time, and the clock; six-forty five I noted, and decided to make an appearance in the kitchen.
As I walked down the hallway I could still hear George banging around. Honestly, what is he playing at? Suddenly I shook my head. NO! I am not going to start talking to myself again. I stopped walking. Damn it.
Pausing at the entrance to the kitchen, I was about to say something George but then something stopped me. He was standing at the stove; yes we did cook the muggle way, with his back to me and from the smell of it making bacon. Suddenly I was noticing things I hadn't before. The way his hair curled slightly around his ears, how broad his shoulders were, and his long nimble fingers. I shook my head again to get my thoughts under control.
Told you so, I vaguely heard the voice from last night in the back of my head and I caught myself growling quietly.
Apparently not quietly enough because it cause George to turn around quickly—except it wasn't George! It was Fred. Don't ask how I knew. After living with George for so long you just know.
"Oh, hullo 'Mione. Sorry, I didn't wake you did I?" Fred asked innocently.
I sighed. It was only Fred
"Er, well yes actually, but only a half an hour, no worries." I told him nonchalantly as I went to hang my robe on the back of my chair. But they both look the same from the back…Came that nagging voice again.
"Then I'll make it up to you. Bacon?" he asked handing me a plate.
"Sure, but Fred, what are you doing in George's and my kitchen in the first place?" I inquired while nibbling on a piece of bacon.
"Oh, I didn't have any food at my place so I decided to pop over here. And I hadn't seen you guys in what? Two days? So I thought I was over due." He said grinning broadly as he turned back to the frying pan.
"For the love of Merlin Hermione will you stop with the rack—Oh, Fred. What are you doing here?" George came in the kitchen yelling until he realized who was making said racket.
"I'm stealing your bacon oh dear brother of mine." Fred said over his shoulder.
I noticed George eye me suspiciously, like maybe I had invited him over, but I only got up, got a glass of apple juice from the fridge, sat back down, opened the Daily Prophet and immersed myself in an article about a man who claimed to have broken the space time continuum and was actually from a week in the future.
"Bacon Gred?" Fred asked hold out a plate to him as well.
"Fine, whatever. You didn't make coffee did you?" George asked taking the plate and sitting on the opposite end of the table from me.
"What else are you supposed to drink in the morning?" He asked magicking a mug over to George; black. I however snorted behind my newspaper.
"I heard that missy." Fred said. "And it's true, every word of it. Coffee is a drink from Merlin himself."
"Or a muggle God," I laughed, rolling up the paper. Noticed George giving me the evil eye behind his mug, my evil side got the better of me. "So Fred, guess who has a hot little date tonight."
George's face changed instantly to a begging, pleading look. He also shook his head and mouthed, "No, please."
"Who?" Fred asked not even turning around to see our exchange.
"Oh, uh me," I said hastily.
"Really?" he asked turning around obviously highly amused at the thought. "And who may I ask is the poor boy you've lassoed into this fiasco? You didn't nick a love potion from the shop did you?"
"Shut up, I did not. His name is er, Oliver." I thought quickly.
"Surely not Oliver Wood?" Fred asked incredulously.
"No, no. He's um, muggle, Yean an old muggle friend of mine I used to know. He's in town and wanted to get together." Phew, could I lie or what?
"Oh, well, if you say so. Congratulations." He said turning back to the frying pan once more.
"Thanks." I said casting a wary glance in George's direction unwillingly.
"Honestly," he mouthed. "Oliver? Was that the best you could come up with?"
"Hey! I was put on the spot! And I just saved you tail so shove it." I hissed at him angrily, luckily Fred didn't hear. "Well," I said at a normal volume as I stood up, grabbed my dress robe, and stuck my hands through the sleeves, "I must dash. I'm sure I'll see you later Fred. Have fun tonight George." I added sweetly as I quickly flew out the door and made a swift exit.
One the other side of the door I chuckled lightly. Let him explain himself out of that one. I made my way down the steps rapidly and stopped at the bottom of them. Okay, so I felt a little bad for how I left him as my mind wandered to the conversation I'd had with myself last night and what I'd noticed this morning. With that I made a rash decision. Instead of going straight into the shop and into Diagon Alley, I turned left into the shipping room.
Quickly I found a spare bit of parchment and a quill and penned a letter to my other best friend, even if she did drive me barmy. I knew if anyone could help me it would be her.
'Gin-
Meet me for lunch? Much to discuss. Apologies for the short notice.
All my love,
Hermione'
I rolled up the letter and coaxed an owl down from its perch and tied the letter hastily to its leg. "Ginny Weasley please," I told the owl as I unlatched the window and the bird took flight. I would get to the bottom of this whether I liked it of not.
----------- Breakline to LaterStory ----------
Around ten-thirty that morning I finally received my reply. Brushing some of my reports aside I opened the letter as fast as my finger would let me. I skimmed the letter and smiled.
''Mione-
Lunch sounds smashing. Much to discuss? I'm riveted. Leaky Cauldron at noon?
Gin'
I penned back immediately.
'Gin-
Fabulous, and you'll see extremely soon.
Hermione'
Glancing at the clock on my desk I groaned; Ten-thirty four. This was going to be a long morning. Gathering and stacking my reports in an orderly manner, I dove back into work.
----------- Breakline to LaterStory ----------
I hurried down one of the streets in Diagon Alley, every once in a while having to dodge a witch or wizard caring large bulky shopping bags.
My watch read eleven-fifty but if I knew Ginny, she'd already be there waiting impatiently to see what had caused me to call this impromptu lunch date.
Pulling open the large wooden door with the sign 'The Leaky Cauldron' swinging happily above it in the breeze, I made my way into the busy room. I noticed flaming red hair as soon as my eyes adjusted to the slightly dim lights. I pushed my way through a crowd of chatty witches to a booth near the back.
"Ginny!" I cried happily when I was close enough for her to hear me. "It's been too long really."
The red head jumped up and gave me a tight hug. "By Merlin it has! We should set up a date every week to get together from now on so we can catch up."
We sat down at the booth and Ginny immediately launched into conversation. "So what do we have much to discuss about? This has been killing me all morning! I've been racking my brain for anything-" Here she suddenly gasped, "Oh my God, he didn't really propose did he?"
"Ginny, doll, calm down, this doesn't even really have anything to do with George." And it didn't—in a way.
Just then a petite blonde witch sashayed up to the table and handed us two baskets of fish and chips and two butterbeers. "Enjoy." She said with an American twang and a bright smile.
"Foreigners," Ginny muttered, slightly bemused. "Sorry, I went ahead and ordered when I got here because I knew there would be a wait. Fish and chips are okay right?" Ginny asked already cutting into her fish.
"Of course, now who I really want to discuss is Oliver Wood." I said nonchalantly pouring some catsup on my chips.
Ginny practically squealed and promptly dropped her fork with a clatter on the table. "No way! You're not going out with him are you?!"
"Heaven's no." I replied laughing at her antics. George is. I added silently. "I just um, heard something very interesting about him yesterday and I wanted to see what you knew about it."
She looked put out but answered none the less. "Okay, shoot."
"Okay. Well, did you know he's gay?" I asked lowering my voice so not to be over heard, not that we would.
It was Ginny's turn to laugh hysterically. "Oh God," she was still laughing and she had to take a swig of butterbeer to calm down.
"Did I miss the joke?" I asked.
"Gay? You can't be seriously." She stared at my questioning face. "You're serious aren't you?"
"Well, I mean, I didn't hear it from a very reliable source-" I tried explaining lamely.
"Obviously," Ginny said rolling her eyes. "Wait, you mean you don't know?" She asked. At the negative shake of my head she went on. "Dear Merlin I thought everyone knew. Oliver's been engaged to Angelina Johnson for almost a year now. They're getting married in the winter."
To put it mildly I was shocked. Even to say I was floored would have been an understatement. "He—what?"
"Oh yeah—it was announced in the paper ages ago. It's supposed to be huge, I mean, they are both colossal Quidditch stars. Yeah, I remember them going out even during Hogwarts and then he popped the question a few years later-" She rambled on a bit while I was lost in my own thoughts.
Bloody hell! What am I going to tell George? I can't believe he didn't know! Usually he's the first to hear about these kinds of things. Oh no! He's going to be heart broken! I have to find him and tell him before he makes a complete fool out of himself!
I snapped back to reality and heart that Ginny was still talking. "-simply amazing. They've picked out a gorgeous church. Her dress should she equally as stunning-" I cut her off.
"I'm so sorry Gin but I'm going to have to cut our date a little short. I just remember I'm expecting in a meeting with some officials from Sweden about a new breed of kneazles in about five minutes. I'll owl you later, promise! Send my best to Neville." I lay down eleven sickles for the meal and dashed out of the pub thinking that I had to get to George's shop as fast as I could.
---------- Breakline to ChangeOfScene ----------
Skidding to a halt in front of the store I bent over and put my hands on m knees to try and catch my breath. Maybe I should work out more…Pushing that thought aside I opened the door and walked inside slowly.
Poking my head around the people who were enjoying the many oddities in the shop, I didn't notice George anywhere. I did however notice Verity working behind the cash register so I made my way to the opposite side of the store.
"Hullo Verity—I was er, looking for George. Is he in the back?"
Verity smiled, she had decided to stay in Diagon Alley as well because she already had a flat down the street. "'Lo Hermione, no actually I'm not sure where he is today. He opened up this morning and then when I came he said that he was going to take the day off. He seemed extremely excited though—well, more so than usual."
"Oh," I said slightly put out. "He didn't say where he'd be or anything did he?"
"No, I don't think so." She replied tapping her chin. Just then a customer came up behind me so I said a quick good-bye and headed to the back of the story and toward the 'Employees Only' door.
I went up the same stairs I had that morning to go and check the flat to see if maybe George was there primping or something for his 'date.'
The word twisted my gut into knots and a wave of guilt washed over me. My words of 'I'm always right!' bounced around in my head. For once in my life I didn't want to be right.
Once in the flat it was apparent that he wasn't here either. Just in cast though, I walked through the kitchen and down the hallway to George's room.
Nothing.
I walked back out of the room, into the kitchen, and just stood there.
"Now, if I were George, where would I go?" I looked around the kitchen until my eyes hit the dirty frying pan in the sink, then it hit me.
"Of course!"
---------- Breakline to ChangeOfScene ----------
I left the flat and shop as quickly as I could and apparated to one of the only places I could think of George to go to.
Hogsmade. More specifically: Fred's shop.
Entering the almost identical shop, I heard the bell jingle above my head and call Fred's attention.
"'Mione!" He greeted me ecstatically. "And to what do I owe this great pleasure too?"
"Actually I'm looking for your brother." I told him peering around the store seeing if he was going to pop up from behind one of the rows and rows of colourful shelves.
"Bill, Charlie, Percy, George, or Ronald? You're going to have to be a tad more specific there my dear." Fred replied good-naturedly.
"George of course," I retorted.
"Hm, might I suggest, oh I don't know, maybe his shop?"
"Don't patronize me Fredrick Weasley. Of course I looked there and Verity said he's taken the whole day off!" I told him exasperatedly.
"The whole day you say? Well, he's not here, though I can't for the life of me figure out why he'd take the day off…" Fred began as he scratched his head.
I sighed and began wringing my hands together. "And you can't think of anywhere else he'd go?"
Fred's expression turned to that of thoughtful. "Honestly, no. Usually you two are attached to the hip, bloody annoyance really." He said with a teasing smile.
"Oh ha, ha," I said sarcastically as I checked my watch. "Bullocks," I cursed under my breath. "I'm ten minutes late from my lunch break. Well if you see George—just tell him I need to see him—as soon as possible!"
He nodded. "Sure can do." And with that I left another shop and apparated back to work.
---------- Breakline to ChangeOfScene ----------
After that, work seemed to go on forever so when I arrived back to a still empty flat I nearly screamed in aggravation.
"Men!" I said huffily to the sofa as if it were the cause of all my problems. "Well—he'll have to come back to get ready won't he?" I tried reasoning with myself. "I'll just wait her for him." So I turned and flopped on the blue and cream striped sofa, crossed my arms, and waited.
There were only two flaws with my otherwise brilliant plan. The first one became increasingly apparent within the first fifteen minuets; waiting in a quiet flat equals too much time to think.
Where in the name of Merlin could he be? I thought to myself as I began wringing my hands together worriedly again. Wait, why am I getting so worked up? I mean sure he's my best friend and I've been ther for him through everything, and I mean everything. But it's because we're just that right? Best friends. Not because of his deep laugh, or his crooked smile, or the sheepish look he gets on his face when I catch him doing something he shouldn't—No! What am I doing? Okay, reasons that I don't like George! Well one, duh, he's gay. Two, he, well I mean he always—and when he, um.
I was drawing a blank. I honestly couldn't think of a number two.
"This is madness!" I screeched in frustration. "I mean for Merlin's sake! The boy. Is. Gay. And there's no way in bloody hell he likes me." I added quietly.
I leaded forward and threw my head in my lap, losing my clip in the process. I did not just admit that. I tried convincing myself.
I didn't work.
I loved George.
I loved George Weasley!
And the broad's finally caught on! Cheered the voice from last night.
"Oh hush." I mumbled into my arms shaking my head.
Please. It took you long enough to admit. I think I have the right to gloat. Even for a bit.
I sighed. "Damn it."
This is around when the second flaw in my plan became blatantly obvious to me. George wasn't coming back to the flat.
The clock on the wall I insisted on having, practically screamed seven-fifty five at me. True I had no clue what time their little 'date' was, but knowing George he would already be there, waiting, just like his sister.
"I need a drink." I said wearily to myself, but I was tired from my wild goose chase this afternoon so I settled for turning on my side and stretching myself along the sofa. Just to rest my eyes for a bit.
If felt as though my eyes had only been shut for a millisecond when I was jarred awake by a loud bang. Déjà vu. I thought sluggishly to myself as I rubbed blearily at my eyes. "George? That you?" I was able to ask after clearing my throat a few times. Squinting into the dim light of the hallway I could almost make out his tall lanky frame.
"'Mione?" he asked quietly, meekly really, from the doorway.
"Yes George?" I asked sitting up trying to make out his face which was downcast.
He sniffed. "Oh 'Mione, it was horrible!"
"Come'ere George," I told him softly.
Crossing the room in record time, he immediately curled up into a ball at the other end of the sofa and began sniffling and hiccupping.
I could feel my heart breaking into a million pieces and I sighed.
He sucked in a shaky breath. "Please 'Mione, just please don't say 'I told you so.'"
I shook my head despondently. "I wouldn't dream of it George."
He stayed quiet for a moment, only sniffling on occasion then all of the sudden he blurts out, "Married Hermione! He's getting married!
"Mmhm," was all I could come up with.
"To a girl!"
"That's generally how it works darling." I told him sadly.
"But I didn't know, and I always know these kinds of things!" George cried out desperately.
"Oh honey, you can't be right all of the time you know." Immediately I regretted my choice of words.
"I can't but you can right?" he laughed bitterly.
"Trust me George," I said wistfully, "I'm no where near as perfect or right as you think."
He sat up and cocked his head to the side. "You have a bad night too?"
"Mm, ever since last night," I admitted to the pillow I had been hugging in my lap.
George was silent for a full minute. "Me too." He said finally.
I took a deep breath and decided to just put it out there. "George—I think—I should move out."
His face, which had previously been staring adamantly at the floor, snapped up the meet mine. "W-what? I mean—why?"
Taking a moment to collect my thoughts I hugged the pillow tighter to my chest. "I—well, maybe it's just time you know? And well, recently I've realized some things, you've helped me realize some things, and just maybe it's a good time to look into getting my own place." I couldn't look into his face, I just couldn't.
"Realized some things? What have I helped you realize 'Mione?" He asked, hurt evident in his voice. "Listen if this is about last night, I'm sorry. You know that I don't mean the things I say when I'm angry, it just sort of spills out."
"I know George. It's just, something I've realized about myself really—and being here with you. Oh I don't know! I don't want to leave, but I'm afraid it might be for the better." Tears were slipping out of the corners of my eyes by now but I made no move to wipe them away.
He moved closer to me and gathered me up in his arms. "What aren't you telling me 'Mione? We're best friends, we tell each other everything. What makes this time any different?"
"Because this time it's about you," I confessed to his chest. He had been stroking my hair but then his hand stilled.
"Me?" he asked disbelievingly.
"Yeah," I gave him a watery chuckle. "So who do you tell, when there's no one to tell?"
"You tell the story but you make it your 'friend' instead. You know, 'I have this friend, Julie, and she…' you see what I mean? Why don't you try that?" He suggested jokingly.
"Fine," I told him and sighed. Well if worse comes to worse; I just will have to move out and we'll still be just friends. "So I have this friend, Emma, and she has her best friend, Jamie. And she's just realized that she's fallen in love with him." The silence in the flat was deafening as I held my breath.
George continued to hold me but said nothing. I was about to pull away and tell him to forget it when his voice surprised me. "And Jamie doesn't love her back?"
My breath caught in my throat. What? I wasn't sure how to answer. "Well she doesn't um, know. I think she just-" I was cut off abruptly by George's finger curling under my chin and his lips meeting mine. That's when all rational thought went right out the proverbial window.
I wasn't thinking about the fact that the boy in front of me was supposedly gay; no I was thinking about how nice it felt to finally taste him. He was slow and cautious at first, like he wasn't quite sure what he was doing, but quickly he became more confident and deepened the kiss. I moved my hands to tangle in his hair and that's when it hit me. George. Gay. What was I doing?! Startled, I pulled away.
"George—what-" I searched his face for the answer.
"I'm—I don't know." George said racking a hand through his hair. "I've never—Hermione you're, okay I'm getting ahead of myself." He took a deep breath and settled his gaze on me. "I don't think that your feelings are exactly one sided here 'Mione. For weeks now, maybe months, I've been feeling, well unsettled around you. It was like I was seeing you in a new light almost. I noticed things about you that I hadn't before like the line of freckles across your nose and cheeks, and when you get lost in thought you always twirl that one strand of hair. Things like that. I tried convincing myself that we were just friends and that maybe I was just lonely so that's probably why I threw myself into liking Oliver so much, to hide how much I really wanted to be with you."
For the second time that day I was stunned into silence. He still gazed at me expectedly and I knew I needed to answer him. "Are you—but what about, well, being gay?"
He scrunched his brow in thought. "I'm not really sure. I suppose maybe I've been bi this whole time and apparently I favor girls now." He smiled shyly at the end.
My heart soared. "So you mean—we could try this?" I found his answer in another searing kiss.
We were best friends turned lovers. It was as that simple.
Finito.