The next couple days, Hermione and George were more…together. Hanging out in the Common Room, talking and going over homework with each other, eating meals and taking walks together around the lake. There were a lot of rumors going around that they were together but they didn't bother listening to them. He still did a prank every other day and she spent the afternoon in the library. They joked and laughed, getting closer to each other as the days came and went. Then everything changed when Ron opened his big mouth.

"IT KILLED HIM!" he shouted at Hermione in the middle of the common room. "Your bloody cat killed Scabbers!"

"He didn't do anything Ronald!" she yelled back at him. "You need to take better care of your pets."

"Oh that's rich, you need a bloody leash for yours!" he yelled. "Or a reinforced cage!"

"You can't even keep track of your own pet, he's been missing every other week!"

George entered at that moment; his bag slumped against his back and his hair slightly disheveled. He was looking for Hermione to go over his Potions homework. Not that he needed it, he hasn't seen her around for a couple days so it was a small excuse to hang out.

He looked over to Harry for details. "What's going on?"

"Ron found blood and Scabbers' fur over his sheets and thinks that Crookshanks killed him," He explained, shaking his head.

George sighed and leaned against the wall with Harry, watching the shouting fight with him.

"Honest, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Hermione scoffed. "Crookshanks is notout to get your rat."

"How many times did he try to kill him Hermione? How many?"

"Your being ridiculous!" Hermione exclaimed. "Why would Crookshanks want to kill your hideous rat?"

"Mi hideous rat?" Your one to talk!" Ron shouted. "A hideous cat and owner is a pair made in heaven!"

The entire common room gasped, along with George and Harry. Hermione, on the other hand stood there in shock at what Ron said, who stood there just as angry. Then her face changed, one of pure hatred and vengeance. George could feel her magic prickling in air and saw her hand twitch to the pocket with her wand.

"That's my cue," he said, walking to the fuming witch and standing between the two. "Okay, Hermione, Ron's a prat, he's not even worth it. Ron, what the hell is wrong with you? It's a bloody rat that's a hundred years old! So a cat might have killed it, if Crookshanks ate him, he's doing the rest of the school a favor. He sacrifice himself and ate that diseased rat!"

The common room laughed and Ron blushed with embarrassment, as George turned to face Hermione he saw her leaving through the portrait hole.

"Thank you and good night!" he hollered, grabbing his bag and following after her.

She wasn't walking very fast so he easily caught up with her. Her head was tilted down with red cheeks and her fist clenched.

"I don't feel like studying George," she said embarrassed.

"I know," he answered, smiling down at her. "Come on, I wanna show you something."

Without a reply, he took her by the hand and pulled her along. She was practically running to keep up with his long stride, but as they went through the hallways she began to enjoy being tugged around by George. He led her through a few secret passageways and brought her to the other side of the castle. He went through a tapestry that hid a stone wall with a knocker in the center of it. He turned around and smiled down at her.

"Close your eyes,"

Hermione gave him a skeptical look. George grinned and lifted his hands to her face.

"Trust me," he said, placing his hands on her cheeks then settled his thumbs on her eyes gently sliding the down.

She smiled and felt his hands let go of her face, but reach for her hands instead. He led her forwards and held her hands in a soft grip.

"Is this a room?" she asked, thankful that she hadn't run into a wall yet.

She heard him chuckle and dropped his bag onto the floor. "Yes, it use to be a Prefect's head room kind of thing. I found it last year when I was running from Flitch."

"What prank was it?"

"I tell you later," he laughed. "But now you can open your eyes."

Hermione breathed, and opened her eyes. She smiled, it was the most charming sitting room ever. With worn comfy looking sofas and chair in a dark evergreen surrounding a brick fireplace that was going, relaxed her instantly and thoughts of Ron vanished. There was a small bookcase filled with books in the corner and a desk with a wizard radio on its' shelf. Looking up a tapestry of Hogwarts castle and the Forbidden Woods hung above them like a canopy. When she looked over at George, he was watching her reading her expression.

"It's amazing, did you did this?"

He smiled at her. "Not really, some of the furniture was ruined but that was easy to fix."

"Does Fred come here?"

"Nah," he said, leading her to the couch. "He did at first to work on our pranks but he's caught up with Angelina and spending most of his time with her. I come here time to time when the common room is too crowded to study."

"You study?" Hermione slapped a hand across her mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry! I reallydidn't mean it to sound like that, I meant that—"

"Mi!"

They reached the couch and he pulled her down next to him. She realized he was still holding her hands.

"I know what you meant," he said smiling. Running a thumb over the back of her hand. "Relax, I know you're not someone who would say something like that. Yes, I do study. Fred and I actually do really well in school, not that we really care, I mean, we're here to learn so we might as well."

"I wish Harry and Ron would understand that," she murmured, watching their hands. "We're supposed to be preparing for our lives here, and honestly they can't cheat off of me forever."

"They'll both get a kick in their arse once they graduate, while you'll be getting some Ministry job or teaching position with everyone running to have you."

"George, shut up. I'm a know-it-all bookworm and everyone knows it."

"So, this is school, no one out there will give a thought if you read or study more than the next person. It just shows you want it more."

She smiled up at him then glanced down at their hands. "Um…you're still holding my hand."

"Yes," he said, smiling at her. "Yes, I am."

"You're not going to let go?" she asked, biting her lip.

"No," he said nonchalantly, picking up her hand and running his fingers across her skin. "You actually have really nice skin, very smooth…"

"Thank you?" she giggled.

"It's true though," he smiled, wrapping her fingers and his hands. "Quite beautiful actually."

"George…"

"Mi?"

"Don't lie to make me feel better, it's a little worse than pity."

"Hermione Granger, you are probably the most attractive witch ever to walk the halls of Hogwarts."

"Okay, I'm leaving."

"Mi—"

As he tugged her down to stop her from leaving she landed closer to him, her leg almost draping over his. Hermione breathed deeply as she realized how close she was to George and his…lips.

"Why would you say something like that?" she asked quickly, looking away from his gaze.

"Because it's true, and honestly I like you."

Hermione's brain froze and George felt like he should slap himself for speaking.

"You are more sexy than any girl I've encountered, not just with your looks but your attitude," he cupped her chin and pulled her to look at him. Making her stare into his blue eyes. "You're confident and smart, hell, you yelling at Ron was the hottest thing I've seen."

She chuckled. He was sweet, charming and funny, and she believed every bit of what he was saying to her. Something about him just made her trust him and after dealing with Ron and Harry for three years, she wanted someone to want her just not for her smarts.

"'Mione…I really like you."

Hermione took a breath, "I…like you too."

George looked surprised. "You do?"

She laughed. "Yes, I mean, that day by the lake was wonderful, and ever since I wanted to spend more time with you, and liking you even—"

"Will you go out with me?" George asked, quite quickly but she still managed to hear him.

"You really want to go out with a bookworm like me?"

"You're not high maintenance are you?"

"No," Hermione answered laughed.

"Yep, still wanna date you."

Hermione turned away blushing. "I don't really know how to date, to be honest."

George smiled. "It's like hanging out, but with the occasional snog."

Hermione looked at with a slight scared look. George saw it and laughed.

"Not right…not right now Mi, but eventually I hope."

She still looked a little freaked out, which made George smiled. He wrapped a arm around her shoulders and leaned them both into the coach. After stiffen a bit, she relaxed in his arms and fit herself against his side. He beamed as he felt her relax against him and ran a hand up and down her arm.

"Mi, I'm not going to push you into anything. Mum raised me to be a gentleman, treat someone I like with respect. If I date you Hermione, I'm going to treat you like the women you deserved to be."

Hermione smiled, feeling her face red at his little speech. "I trust you, George, you forgot one thing."

"I did?" He replied confused.

She looked up at him, leaned forward. "Kiss me."