As Hermione took her place on George's right side at the dinner table, Ron began to realize something was going on that no one was telling him. Sure, Ginny had looked off when she saw him in the kitchen, and George had given him a look that made him feel like he was the biggest git on the planet, but he assumed it was because they knew Hermione caught him cheating.

No, there was definitely something more going on. Mum was bouncing around like she did when Bill and Fleur got engaged.

Before he could stop himself, Ron turned to Harry and said, very loudly, "Ohmigod mate. You proposed to my sister didn't you?"

The silence that swept the table was deafening. George's arm, which had never left Hermione, tightened around her as he began to shake with a mixture of nerves and silent laughter.

When he finally managed to compose himself he leaned down and whispered into Hermione's ear "Merlin, he really isn't quick on the uptake, is he? No wonder you fell for me instead. Even with an ear missing I'm more appealing by leaps and bounds." She didn't even try to stifle the laughter that escaped her. It was true of course that, out of the Weasley men, George had always been the charming one. He was also the most handsome; though he and Fred were identical, George had a strong, sinewy look to him and a stronger jaw where his brother was more on the lean side.

Hermione sighed and resigned herself to leaning in to George's side as she watched the entire family laugh at Ron for being absolutely outlandish. The brunette knew that Harry was going to propose to Ginny, very soon, but it hadn't happened yet. He was going to in about a week's time before they went back off to Hogwarts to finish their education and make up the year missed while plotting the downfall of Voldemort.

"Georgie, when are you going to put Ginny out of her misery? She looks like she is about to word vomit that we're together all over Ron before he continues to embarrass himself."

" 'Ne, I was starting to think I'd just wait until my stupid little brother had thoroughly shamed himself with his ignorance and then announce that I have swept you off your pretty little feet out from under his nose and that we are to be married next week before we all go back to school."

Hermione playfully hit George in the back of his head before the end of his sentence struck her. "What, George, do you mean exactly by before we all go back to school?"

"I was going to surprise you dearest but I suppose I've let the cat out of the bag, now haven't I? I'm coming back to Hogwarts to teach Charms. Flitwick has been made Deputy Headmaster and is taking on responsibilities that will keep him from being able to teach Beginner and Intermediate Charms classes. McGonagall owled me after I'd had time to put myself back together some and asked if I would do the school the honour of being the most attractive Professor at Hogwarts in ages. Naturally, I said yes."

The mischief glinting in his eyes was one of the most endearing things about him. Even when there was a serious topic at hand, he knew how to take the edge off by fluffing up his own ego with half-truths slid into his stories. Hermione loved him for so many reasons, and that was most certainly one of them.

As the bedlam died down and Ron had satisfied George's mean streak by suffering sufficient amounts of torment, he gave Hermione a quick squeeze and stood, clearing his throat.

"Oi, you lot. Can I get some attention over here for just a moment? I am after all the most attractive out of the bunch…"

Mrs. Weasley said a very audible "George Fabian Weasley, your ego…." before letting him continue on.

"Thanks, mum. Anyway, I wanted to let you all know that I have a girlfriend."

A murmur passed over the table before Bill jested "She must be something to be able to put up with you!"

"Brother, she is something, indeed. She is kindhearted and brilliant and patient and loyal to a fault. Not to mention she's even more beautiful than I am which really is quite the feat, if we're being honest about it."

"Oi. If I didn't know better I'd think you were dating Hermione" said Ron in a smartass tone that was quite unbecoming of him.

"Well, obviously you don't know better because that's who it is, little brother. Hermione is attempting to love me, the broken and arrogant mess that I am, while I attempt to give her the world, which isn't even as much as she deserves."

Turning to the rest of the group, and putting a hand on his lady's shoulder, he paused before continuing as Hermione was growing an intense shade of pink. She wasn't embarrassed so much as flattered that George, her very new beaux, was declaring his adoration for her to his whole family a mere hour after they were officially together. She should have known that George would use his flair for the dramatic whilst making this announcement.

"Before you ask, mum and dad, I love her. I have for what feels like a lifetime; and I promise I'll treat her right and be LOYAL (he practically spat that word at Ron) to her for as long as she will call me her own. So, yea. Welcome Hermione into the fold as one of our own, legitimately this time" he concluded before pressing a kiss to the top of Hermione's curly head.

Arthur was the first to react after George's speech. He stood, walked to his son and hugged him while he said "Good man, son. I thought you would never make the move. You two deserve each other." And, as he hugged Hermione, he whispered "you're the only one who truly knows him. I know you two will be nothing but happy."

Molly was in full out tears by this point. She had been hoping for George to find someone to complete him and fix his broken heart after Fred died. All the better that it was a young woman as superb as Hermione; she had always wanted her as a daughter-in-law. Ginny was clinging to Harry, beaming like the Sun while he smiled at them. Harry would never say it but, he always knew his best female friend was far too good for the other third of the Golden Trio.

When the words finally sunk in that his brother was now dating his ex-girlfriend mere hours after she left him, he was livid. "YOU FUCKING LOPSIDED GIT! YOU STOLE MY WOMAN FROM ME AND GO AND ANNOUNCE IT TO THE WHOLE BLOODY FAMILY? HOW DARE YOU TRY AND PLAY THIS OFF LIKE IT WAS INNOCENT. YOU DID THIS ON PURPOSE!" he yelled as he flung himself from his chair, sending it flying back across the yard. His wand was pointed at George's chest in a very menacing way.

"I didn't do anything, mate. You were the one hiding your wand in some Slytherin slut this afternoon on your desk. You were the one who treated her like she was nothing instead of showing her how truly brilliant she really is. It's not my fault that we fell for each other while we were grieving and healing together after the disaster that has been our lives for the last three years. I love her and, by some miracle, she loves me too. If I had planned this I certainly wouldn't have announced it with you here, you ass. And, it's quite obvious she was never really your woman" said George in a tone that was so calm, even, and serious that Hermione wasn't sure it was coming from him.

Ron, still absolutely outraged, turned to Harry for solace and support. "HARRY! CAN YOU FUCKING BELIEVE THIS? MY OWN BROTHER WENT AND TOOK MY WOMAN FROM ME AND…" but he was cut off.

Harry had had enough of Ron's delusional perspective on the situation. After all, he had sat there and listened all afternoon while his best friend attempted, very poorly might he add, to defend nailing the eldest Greengrass sister for the last two months.

"Ron," Harry spoke with a sting of ice in his voice as he addressed his friend, "if you don't sit down this moment and stop embarrassing yourself I'm going to make you. You can't say this was planned and believe it. We ALL saw them falling together as time went on this summer, unbeknownst to the two of them. And, we also saw how poorly you treated Hermione when she was supposed to be your girlfriend. And, to top it all off, you've been shagging Daphne Greengrass since we all came home from the Final Battle. So, you can go right on and try to make George look like the villain here if it will make you sleep better at night. But I, for one, am not going to put up the streamers for your pity party. You lost the best woman that ever walked into your life to a man who is far more deserving of her than you. So, shut up and stop acting self-righteous. I'm sick of hearing it and no one else wants to either, I'm sure. Let's enjoy some good company and the amazing meal Mum has made for all of us and savor life now that it can finally be happy again. Oh, and we all know Hermione will never belong to anyone."

With that, a stunned silence fell over the table and everyone dug into their plates of stew and biscuits. No one had ever heard Harry be so blunt, or cold for that matter, when it came to his friends.

Eventually the mood lightened as Bill told a few jokes and George started talking about the new products he was releasing at the shop before he went on leave to teach- Lee Jordan would be running the shop in his absence.

Ron was still fuming, turning a deeper scarlet with every moment that passed. He would send Hermione an owl tomorrow, unless she stayed the night with Georgie, he gagged mentally as he thought about his brother and Hermione together, and apologize and get her back that way. George was no better than he was, in his opinion.

What neither of the Weasley brothers knew was that, though she was happy and she did love George, in the depth of her heart Hermione still was devoted to Draco Malfoy. She had pushed him aside and given up hope for ever seeing him and confessing her emotions, but she still loved him more than she had ever loved anyone. She was being as honest and forthcoming to George as one can be when their heart is unwillingly tethered to another.

Regardless of her heart's unintentional dual loyalty, Hermione Granger was beaming at George Weasley like she had never seen a more wonderful man in her life and he was smiling at her like the Sun was shining out of her ass. Yes, perhaps they would be a match made in Heaven...if Draco Malfoy ever actually did drop off the face of the planet permanently. Sadly for George, he had no such luck.