Disclaimer: Yeah, I'm just having some fun here. Chill out, yo. ;)
A/N: They'll get it on eventually. Enjoy the ride.
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At 7:56pm they flooed to Grimmauld Place one by one, until only Hermione and George were left in the kitchen of the Burrow. She took a handful of floo powder from the jar on the mantle, but before she could throw it into the fire he pulled her back, his hands gripped her hips, and tugged until she rested against him. She sighed and shut her eyes. No, Hermione, she said to herself, you cannot stay here and snog George. You have to go to the meeting. You're going to be—
"You're squeaky clean," he whispered into her ear.
Hermione shivered, "Mmm hmm."
He kissed the spot where her shoulder began to curve into her neck, "We'll do something about that later."
"God, I hope so," she murmured. She pulled away, and grinned back at him as she shouted, "Grimmauld Place!" into the green flames.
The kitchen of Grimmauld Place was quite a different scene than the one she left. It seemed that every last member of the Order was crowded into the candle lit space. Hermione didn't recognize many of them. It seemed that the Order had been doing some recruiting. But there were some familiar faces: Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, and a good majority of the students who had been in Harry's DA class. She smiled and waved at Neville and Luna, and made her way over to Harry and Ron who were being scolded by Professor McGonagall while Professor Lupin stood by shaking his head.
"I don't know what you three were thinking," she said, "And I really expected better of you, Miss Granger."
"It was what Professor Dumbledore wanted me to do," Harry said, not sounding the least bit sorry, "It had to be done this way."
"We shall see, Mr. Potter," she said shortly, and left them to call the meeting to order.
Harry nodded sharply, and Hermione bit her lip. It still wasn't safe to mention anything about the horcruxes, but Harry said he had a story that would appease the members of the Order. They wouldn't be able to tell anyone the absolute truth until Nagini was destroyed. They couldn't run the risk of Voldemort finding out and making more horcruxes. She wished that Dumbledore was still alive. He could have made the Order believe that their actions were for the best. She doubted anything Harry could say would make the Order leave the matter alone. Her anxiety must have been showing, because Harry caught her hand and squeezed.
"It'll be okay."
"I hope so."
The three of them found seats together at the long table. Professor McGonagall stood at the head and everyone fell silent. "As you all are aware, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger have returned home. I have requested that they come to this meeting to tell us the nature of their absence. Mr. Potter, if you would."
Harry stood and cleared his throat. He was so tall, Hermione thought. What had happened to her scrawny friend? There had been a time when she had been taller, but no longer. And when had he started to radiate the sort of power that Dumbledore had? It would have been frightening, but it was still Harry.
"As you all know, Ron, Hermione and myself have been gone for three months. I know that we worried you, and we're very sorry, but we had to go. Last year, Professor Dumbledore was giving me private lessons, and at that time he guided me to a certain task. The mission is of extreme importance to ending the war, and destroying Voldemort once and for all. Before he died, Dumbledore instructed me not to tell anyone, except for Ron and Hermione, what this mission involves." Harry looked at the tabletop and crossed his arms, "I've spoken to Dumbledore's portrait at Hogwarts since then, and he asked me to keep this information a secret until the time comes when it is safe for me to tell you."
At that, a maelstrom of indignant voices rang through the room.
"Mr. Potter!"
"Harry, please—"
"Boy, you have got to tell us what's going on!"
"Look!" Harry shouted, "I know you're all upset, but I won't take the risk."
"What risk, Harry?" asked Professor Lupin.
"I won't be betrayed."
A chill settled on the group.
"My parents were betrayed by someone they trusted, and it cost them their lives. Now, I'm definitely not accusing anyone, but I won't endanger our cause just to satisfy your curiosity. This is too important."
"Harry…"
"No. And it's no use trying to reason with me. Hermione, Ron, and I have made an Unbreakable Vow." Hermione tried very hard not to look surprised at that. They had done no such thing. "So unless you'd like one of us to die, you'll leave the matter alone." Harry's eyes were positively electric. No one spoke. Professor McGonagall's face was very pinched. Mrs. Weasley had gone white. Remus was rubbing the bridge of his nose. Hermione and Ron exchanged a look.
George stood and clapped his hands together, a wide grin splitting his face, "Alright then. Now that's done, shall we inform the Chosen One of what's been going on since he's been gone? Who's got those maps?" Harry cast him a grateful look and sat down again. Hermione squeezed Harry's hand under the table, and he raised his eyebrows apologetically at her. His face said, 'Yes, I lied, I'm sorry.' Truthfully, she didn't mind, if it would get everyone off their backs about the mission, and just let them get on with it, well, then it was fine.
Maps were passed their way, and Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt proceeded to tell the group of recent Death Eater attacks and sightings of Lord Voldemort.
The meeting was called to a close some time later, but people trickled out slowly. Many of them stopped to talk to Harry. Most were of the opinion that he was right not to say anything, and everyone was glad they were safely back. Hermione left the group to sit on the couch by the large fireplace. She had spent many nights in the same spot during her summer at Grimmauld Place. She had found the house so eerie, as if the building itself hated her for being Muggleborn. That feeling had faded as time went by, and the Order and the Weasley's made their mark on the dark house, but the fire reminded her of the Gryffindor common room, and that had helped to keep the dark feelings away on nights when she felt particularly vulnerable. She was definitely feeling vulnerable now. She stared into the flames and tried to process all the information they had received tonight. The Death Eater's were gaining in confidence. Their attacks were daring, and vicious. This had to end, and soon.
"Butterbeer?"
George was standing next to her, holding out a bottle. She took it, grateful for his presence, and made room for him on the couch. He sat and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and they sat quietly for a while. She wondered again how she could feel so comfortable with him. It felt so natural to be sitting with him like this.
"This reminds me of Gryffindor," he said, "The fire and all the people around."
"I miss it."
"Me too." He took a sip from his bottle and asked, "Will you go back when Hogwarts reopens?"
"I think so. I could probably do my NEWT's now, but… I don't know. Who knows how things will be when the war is over."
"Yeah," he said, and pulled her closer. She sank into him, wishing the melancholy feeling away. There was no use in wondering.
"Harry was lying about the Vow, wasn't he?"
"How did you know?"
"Because he'd never ask you two to do that. He wouldn't need to."
"No, he wouldn't."
"Plus, it's not a very Gryffindor thing to do."
She snorted, "No, but he was very Slytherin tonight, wasn't he?"
"Bite your tongue, girl. That's our Chosen One you're talking about."
She laughed and kissed his cheek. The fire was nice, and he was warm and solid against her, and if there wasn't a war going on outside she could call this moment perfect.
"I'm glad you're safe," he said softly, kissing her temple, "I was so worried."
"So was I." She had lost count of the number of times she had nearly died in the last three months, but she hadn't forgotten the terror of those moments, or the exhausted relief that came after.
He tightened his arms around her, "You know that I… that I really care about you, right? I mean this isn't just messing about for me."
Her stomach swooped, and that skin buzzing feeling hit her full force. "It's not for me either."
"I want to be with you, Hermione." She turned slightly to look at him. He looked unsure, and completely vulnerable. "Is the thing with Ron… He hasn't tried to punch me, or anything, but—"
"We agreed that we're better as friends."
He frowned, "You two didn't—"
"George, I didn't think of anyone but you in the past three months. Nothing happened with Ron. Not ever."
"I know it's horrible, but I'm glad."
She smiled and tilted her face to meet his. They kissed softly, slowly, and she knew with absolute certainty that George was it for her. No more Quidditch players. Not even the really good ones. She laughed against his mouth.
"What?" he asked, grinning too.
"I was just thinking about something Parvati told me once. She said that I must have a thing for Quidditch players."
George chuckled, "Made your way through all the positions yet? Krum was your seeker, I'm your beater…"
"Cormac McLaggen was my keeper."
"McLaggen? Really?" he made a disgusted face.
"Yes, it was a mistake, shush. But I've never kissed a chaser."
"Well, we'll get you drunk sometime and I'll dare you to kiss Angelina. How's that?"
Her eyes widened, but he cut off whatever remark she would have made with his lips.
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A/N: I hope you liked that last little bit. I made myself giggle, but who knows. It's nearly 6am and I haven't been to sleep yet. :) Yay insomnia!
