A/N- If you're hoping for resolution to the Molly thing, you're going to have to wait a bit longer. I really wanted to get Ginny and Harry together, and deal with the absence of Crookshanks. And George and Hermione with other people is fun to write. So this chapter tackles New Year's Eve and a little extra.
Instead of all meeting at the restaurant, everyone came to Hermione and George's loft. The girls got ready in Hermione and George's bedroom while George showed his brother and Harry the plans for the store. "She's really excited about this huh?" Ron asked, looking at the bookcases George had installed for her.
"I think she's as excited about this as I was about us moving into our own place. So I think incredibly excited would be an apt description."
Harry smiled, "I thought she might work at the Ministry but I think this is a better fit for her. She can finally just relax."
"Unless we're around Mum," George muttered.
Ron nodded, "She'll get over it. I don't know why she's upset. I told her that I agreed with Ginny; you two are perfect together. I guess I just never expected her to date you."
"Neither did we," George said as they climbed the stairs to the flat, "We were lying out in a park near her house and were watching the stars one night and we just kissed. That led to a snog and then I asked her to be my girlfriend. She said yes. Never looked back."
When they entered the girls exited the bedroom. George's jaw dropped. Hermione looked amazing in a tight red dress that stopped at mid-thigh and showcased some tasteful cleavage. "Wow," he whispered. Hermione smiled and kissed him, "I really like that. When did you get it?"
"It's actually Lavender's," she said. "It's not too short?"
"Just short enough," he answered. "I like that bust too," he said, glancing down at her chest.
"George," she warned, though she kissed his cheek.
"I told you that dress fits better on you Hermione," Lavender said, "it hugs you in all the right places. I'm not as ample as you are. You're much curvier."
"Lucky me," George whispered into her ear. Hermione smiled and kissed him, "You other ladies look lovely, even if one of you is my sister and shouldn't be wearing a dress like that."
"Thank you George," Lavender smiled, wearing an ice blue dress that was the same length as Hermione's, though Lavender's was strapless and her bust line was cut a little lower. Ginny was wearing a black dress that was almost knee-length, but it did highlight her breasts and her hips. Harry looked like his eyes were going to pop out of his head and Ron muttered that Lavender looked wonderful. George helped Hermione into her coat, Ron helping Lavender and Harry forced to help Ginny.
"We'll all Apparate then, by twos," George said. "Everyone knows where we're going?" Everyone nodded and George took Hermione's arm, Apparating them both. The others followed suit.
Dinner was at the restaurant Sugarpine. They chatted throughout dinner, Hermione and Lavender keeping conversation going and keeping a suddenly shy Harry and an awkward Ginny talking. If Harry got too quiet George and Ron would engage him in conversation. When Ron and George were paying the bill Ron spoke, "This is painful. Even I'm not this dense."
"Either Harry's gay, or he's the densest man I've ever met. And knowing you, that's saying something," George agreed. "Maybe we need to get him a few drinks."
"That could work," Ron said, "I don't think Harry drinks very often."
"Hermione can hold her liquor," George said as they walked to their girlfriends.
"Lavender too," Ron nodded. "At least tonight is fun. I'm having a good time."
George smiled, "Me too."
At Opaleye George gave the bouncer his name and they were led inside. Immediately George headed over to see Lee, picking the other man up in a big hug. Hermione slid out of her coat with Ron's help. "I'm dating a big kid."
"Yes you are," Ron smirked. "He'll always be that way."
"I hope so," Hermione answered, "Thanks Ron."
"No problem," Ron helped Lavender out of hers, "Come on Harry, let's go get some drinks. Hermione? What do you want?"
"A round of Lemon Drop shots on me Ron," Hermione handed him a couple galleons out of her purse, "Then I'll have a Lemon Fizz. And George will want a Dragon's Blood."
"Sure thing," Ron nodded. "Come on Harry."
George soon returned and Hermione pointed him to the bar to help the boys. He kissed her apologetically and walked over to help them. "This place is pretty nice," Hermione said to the other girls.
Lavender nodded, "I'm so glad we came out with you guys. Tonight has been fun."
"Here comes the liquor," Hermione smiled. George placed their drinks on the table and kissed her, "Hey there handsome."
"Hello gorgeous," he raised his shot glass, "Let's drink."
They clinked shot glasses before downing them, Lavender smiling, "That was delicious Hermione."
"I think it's a good opener," Hermione nodded. "You can try my drink if you want. George's is a bit strong for me."
They all talked and drank together for a bit before Lavender pulled Ron to the dance floor, Hermione smiling. "Ron seems really happy with her."
"I think so too," Ginny said. "Let's dance Harry."
Harry looked like he was about to say no and Hermione looked at George, who smiled and leaned in to kiss her. They began to snog and Harry looked at Ginny, "Sure let's go."
Hermione smiled into the kiss and they waited until Harry and Ginny were away from the table to break apart, "Smooth," George smiled.
"He needed some encouragement," she shrugged. "I don't see you complaining. We got them up from the table."
"You and Lavender seem to be getting along really well."
"She's not like she was in school. I'm not either. We've both changed."
George shifted so as to hold onto her better, "I love you."
"I love you too," she smiled, leaning against him and kissing him. "I think this was a great idea," she said.
"Well I liked my idea of being naked all evening but this is fun too," he kissed her cheek, "Lee said that he'll play a slow song for us whenever we signal him."
"So that's why you hurried over," she nudged him, "you romantic."
It took three shots before Harry finally made a move on Ginny on the dance floor. Ginny returned the kiss, "Is this because you're drinking or because you like me Harry?"
"Both," he answered. "I thought you were mad at me for breaking up with you at the end of my sixth year."
"I've been mad that you haven't wanted to get back together. I thought you were interested in someone else." Harry smiled and they kissed again.
"I should be mad that Harry is snogging my sister on the dance floor," George said as he danced with Hermione.
"It's what she's wanted George. Leave them alone."
"I will," he frowned, "I just…I should be angry. I should want to protect her. But I don't feel either of those things."
"Well you like Harry."
"True," he nodded. "Maybe that's it. I've been angry over other boys she's dated before." Hermione placed her head on his chest and he slid his arms around her waist, "I like dancing with you like this. I know I joke alot but…"
"Shh," she put a finger over his lips, "George if you didn't joke around like you do you wouldn't be the George I fell in love with. The George I fell in love with had 'To My Marginally Better Half' inscribed into the locket he gave me. That is the George I love and the George I want to be with. Don't be anyone but yourself. Your mum is clearly devoid of sanity if she doesn't understand how wonderful you are."
He grinned and they kissed gently before they went back to dancing. "Am I still allowed to talk?"
"Is it self-deprecating?"
"No."
"Then yes," she smiled up at him, "you can."
George rubbed her back, "I was thinking. Do you want a new cat? I know we can't replace Crookshanks, but I thought you might want a kitten now that we live on our own and right above your shop."
"Do you like cats?"
"I don't hate them," he answered. "I want you to be happy, and I remember how happy you'd be sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room petting Crookshanks." He leaned in and whispered into her ear, "I don't know if you noticed this yet, but I rather enjoy making people happy. You could almost call it a mission or a calling."
Hermione laughed and pulled back, "I'd like to get a kitten George. I do miss Crooks terribly."
"I'm sorry you had to leave him with your parents in Australia."
"I couldn't leave him at the Burrow. I just couldn't," she shook her head, "Mum and dad took good care of him. It's just he was getting old and I'm sure he missed me."
"Being away from you for long periods of time does make me feel like dying," George admitted. Hermione chuckled and they went back to their slow dancing as the song was about to end. "Stay for the next one or go sit down?"
"We can dance if you want to."
"Can we leave your friends behind?"
Hermione yanked him off the dance floor to the table, "George don't start quoting Muggle songs."
"But that one is amusing," he pouted.
They sat down with Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Lavender, "I hate it when you pout. I fold so easily."
"Take off your top and display the hills of happiness and I fold too," he retorted.
"Hills of happiness?" Ginny raised a questioning eyebrow at her brother and Hermione.
"I could spend days lost in them," George answered, looking unabashedly at Hermione's chest.
The others giggled at George's pet name for Hermione's breasts while she just rolled her eyes, "I'll get you back for that."
"I await it eagerly," he grinned, leaning in to kiss her.
When midnight hit Hermione, slightly intoxicated from the copious amounts of alcohol they'd imbibed, kissed George far more passionately than she did in public generally. Ron and Lavender began snogging virtually nonstop and Harry and Ginny snogged like they were going to die as soon as they released one another. Hermione rested against George, "Okay them kissing is no longer cute. Now it's gross."
"Well they've been doing it for the last 2 hours or so," George said. "Let's go home and bring in the new year right," he kissed her.
"I think going out with our friends and drinking was the way to go."
"Still time to get naked!" He looked at his siblings, "Hermione and I need to go home. I want to explore the hills of happiness before dawn."
"Yeah we should get back too," Ron said, gazing at Lavender, "Can I stay at your place?"
"Of course," she smiled. "Hermione I'll just pick up the dresses some other time."
"Sure," she nodded. George said goodbye to Lee and then they all exited. "Harry, Ginny, you two going to be okay?"
"I'm going home with Harry," Ginny said, "I'm glad he lives in Grimmauld Place now."
"Be safe you two," George said, "I mean it Harry."
"We will," Harry promised, oblivious to exactly what George meant. Ginny stuck her tongue out at George before they Disapparated.
Ron rolled his eyes before saying good night and hugging them both. He and Lavender vanished and George looked at Hermione, "Just you and me, sexy lady."
"I cannot believe you called them the hills of happiness in front of an audience."
"Alcohol," George said.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "You were not that intoxicated George. Don't even try it."
"I can't help that my girlfriend has a perfect body," he shrugged. "Come on let's go home."
In the weeks that followed George and Hermione were busy. Hermione with working at WWW as well as preparing her own shop; placing orders for books and painting the walls the scenes she wanted. Somehow she managed to wrangle the help of Ron, Harry, and Lavender. Ginny helped too, but she soon had to return to Hogwarts for her last year. George helped when she asked him, mostly with rearranging things around the store. Now that he was inventing new products, and making strides in the new lines Hermione had suggested, the shop was more popular than ever.
George refused to speak to his mother, much to Hermione's frustration. She was certain if he just talked to Molly things would be better; but she didn't push. She understood George's hurt at the things his mother had said and finally decided that if anyone was going to fix things between George and his mother, it would have to be his mother.
The last week of January George entered the flat with a large box, "Hermione? I have something for you."
She looked up from her inventory list, "What is it?"
"A surprise," he grinned, "and I promise it will not blow up or turn you different colors or any other prank I could pull with a large box. Just open it."
Hermione shot him a glare, "If it does anything you're sleeping on the couch tonight."
George smirked, "You always threaten that but it never happens."
She opened up the box and gasped. A little gray kitten, whose face looked a bit squashed, was inside of the box. "George!"
"No that's a kitten. She's half-kneazel, just like Crooks." She picked up the kitten and held it against her. It purred as she stroked it and she smiled. Standing, she leaned up to kiss George, "You're welcome. Enjoy your kitten. I hate to be a great boyfriend and run but I made great strides in a product today and it is almost ready to be tested. I just need to go tweak a few things."
"What kind of product?" When it came to the sex line of things for the shop she was George's guinea pig. Whether it was charmed dildos and vibrators or various potions to increase pleasure, heighten the senses, or any number of other sex toys and potions she was the tester. She always got the feeling George used her because she trusted him. There were few people who trusted George Weasley when he handed them something. Whether foolishly or bravely, she was the one that did it the most.
"Gender bending drops," he answered. "Gag not sex line. I think I've almost figured it out. I'll be back in time for dinner," he kissed her, "love you."
"I love you," she smiled, turning her attention back to the kitten nuzzling her neck. "What should I name you little one?"
A/N- I would like to thank my best friend Amber for giving me the 'hills of happiness' line. I still chuckle everytime I read it. I have something planned for this whole thing with Molly. Be patient it might take me a while to nail down perfectly.
And now, I have a request. I don't own a cat. In fact, I'm allergic to them. I have a dog. So what should we name Hermione's kitten? She's female and gray. I haven't decided on eye color yet. Let me know!
