Hermione sat in the inventory room working quietly. In the background was a playlist of classical music coming from a box she had charmed to play when opened. One thing that she had missed the most from her muggle childhood was he CD player and so she was ecstatic when she found the spell. Currently playing was Spring by Vivaldi and Hermione was quietly humming along. Whilst engrossed in the inventory she lost track of the time, which meant she was completely surprised when George walked up behind to tell her to eat.

George knew he shouldn't have walked up behind her like that but he couldn't help it. She looked so calm as she worked and as a prankster it made sense so he walked up behind her and tapped her shoulder while saying her name. Next thing George knew he was pinned up against a wall with a wand pressed into is side by a panting Hermione. He stared into her eyes for a moment as they cleared. Once Hermione's eyes were clear she quickly backed away and turned away from him.

"I-I am so sorry, George", Hermione said quietly. In her voice George could hear shame and he winced.

"No, it is my fault. I know how badly you were affected by the war and yet I still snuck up on you. I am the one that needs to be sorry, not you."

George kept looking at her and noticed that she was trembling. Feeling awful he carefully walked over to her and pulled her to his chest and hugged her.

"You are okay, Hermione", he whispered softly. "No one here is going to hurt you, I promise. You however may hurt me if you wish as I did scare you."

Hermione let out a quiet giggle at the last sentence but shook her head. "No, you don't deserve to be hurt but I will be pranking you when you least expect it."

George shuddered. He knew from experience that she was almost worse than him and Fred combined which would terrify the most experienced of aurors. He started backing away from the room trying to get a head start before she decided to just prank him then and there. He knew her pranks were worse when done in a small room like this.

"Well, I am going to go and get lunch. You should eat as well 'Mione. Starving yourself will make your work sloppy."

Hermione sighed knowing that George was right. When she had first started working for the twins she had gone without food several times while trying to inventory the back of the shop only to look at it the next day and realize that she had made mistakes because of not eating. It was extremely annoying and that was the only reason she followed George out of the room and up to the flat. Well maybe not the only reason. For some reason she was extremely tired. She wasn't sure if it was the conversation she and Fred had had over breakfast or if it was just build up to her time of the month but it was absolutely ridiculous how tired she was.

Being as deep in thought as she was, Hermione ran into George's back as he tried to get the flat door open.

"Oof, sorry George, didn't realize you had stopped."

George chuckled. "I'm not surprised. I could hear the wheels turning in the pretty little head of yours."

George couldn't see it, but at his last comment Hermione blushed. She thought that she was used to the quick comments of the twins but sometimes they would say something like that and it would throw her off. No one used to compliment her. The most that would happen is being ignored. She tried to get used to the twins but it was hard. They could go days without a compliment and then quick as a flash have one hanging in the air before she could blink. It was confusing to say the least as she thought at least one of them had a little crush on her. She certainly wouldn't be opposed to the attention. The last time she had even kissed someone was when she was with Ron and she didn't really count that anymore.

Hermione sighed and wondered if George was going to open the door before feeling his hand grab hers and pull her along. She had been standing in the doorway for several seconds during her internal ramblings with George just looking and smirking at her. He had turned around after complimenting her and opened the door and when he stepped through he had turned and noticed she was no longer paying any attention to what was going on around her.

George wasn't surprised that she had zoned out. She did that every time he or Fred complimented her and so they tried complimenting her all the time to get her used to it. So far, the only change was the length of her zoning out. It was becoming shorter and shorter with each compliment which made both men happy. They wanted her to quickly get over her lack of self-confidence and if constantly complimenting her is what did it, well the boys were always willing to help.

Walking into the flat, Hermione noticed that Fred was at the stove and her stomach clenched a little. She'd had the twin's food before and all though both boys were efficient in making potions their cooking was like poison. Fred turned from the stove to look at Hermione and chuckled. He saw that she looked a little disconcerted at him standing and cooking but he wasn't going to stand aside today. No, today he was going to cook something edible.

"Whatcha looking like that for, 'Mione?"

Hermione looked at Fred trying to force her face to look normal but the look of disgust was still there. "Well, I'm a little worried that I am about to die if I eat your cooking today."

George started laughing quietly while staring at the look of mock hurt that spread across Fred's face. "Are you saying that I can't cook? That wounds me deep."

Hermione burst out laughing. "I've been working here way too long to fall for that Fred. You should know better by now."

Fred's look of hurt changed into a pout. "You know, you used to humour me. What's changed, 'Mione?"

Hermione smiled softly. "I've changed, Freddy, you know that."

Fred quickly sobered at that and walked over and hugged Hermione to him. He knew that their conversation that morning had been rough and he was glad that she had stayed at work that day. He knew that if she had gone home the likelihood of her eating would have been slim. This way he and George could make sure that she ate a decent meal before work ended. He had never expected to be so protective of the woman but now that the instinct was there he didn't question it. It was now a part of both him and his brother and as long as she didn't protest that instinct would be permanent.

George watched as his brother held Hermione and tried to not get jealous. He knew that his brother was more aware of why she was upset but he couldn't help but want to be the one comforting her. Without truly thinking about it he walked over and encircled both Hermione and his brother into a hug of his own and just held on, glad when he heard no complaints from either of them.

The embrace lasted until Hermione smelt something burning and pulled away with a light laugh to fix whatever it was that Fred was trying to cook. The twins shared a look as she started her intricate dance through the kitchen to make all three of them something edible. The laughter and her quick light movements made both men shift slightly and smile. It only took Hermione a few minutes to have lunch ready and when she turned around both men inhaled sharply at the rosy glow that Hermione had. It had been a long time since they had seen that particular look and they both loved it. Without realizing it, both twins made the same vow to themselves at the same time. Both vowed to recreate that look any chance they got.