A/N It's going a bit slower, as I've got less of this prewritten, but I'll try to keep updating as often as I can. As always no notable characters are mine. Enjoy!
Chapter Seven
They walked in a companionable silence the five minute distance to the café Hermione had mentioned. The tables under the bright red umbrellas were empty because of the cold, but inside was relatively busy. When they entered the warm bustling restaurant George thoughtfully removed his arm from her, before Hermione could shrug him off. He looked down to ask her if she was warm enough when a frazzled looking witch with black braids to her waist approached them.
"Just two then?" She asked quickly without looking at them and at Hermione's soft 'yes' she gestured for them to follow her. Luckily there was a small table just beside the window that she slid Hermione and George into. When they settled in she met George's eye and looked at him appreciatively. He shot a pointed look to Hermione, and the witch sighed silently before walking away.
"That article in Witch Weekly must get you that a lot," Hermione supplied. George frowned up at her puzzled.
"Which article?"
Hermione's eyes widened. "No one told you? You were listed as one of the most desired bachelors in London about a month ago. I believe a few key terms were 'silent but sexy,' as well as 'a bad boy looking for the right witch to tempt him."
"Bloody hell!" George exclaimed stunned. "That explains a bit. Can they write something like that without my consent?"
"They can write whatever they'd like," Hermione supplied, "it didn't help that Katie Bell chipped in a few quotes, as well as Alicia Spinnet about how you were the 'one that got away'. They even asked Harry for a quote," Hermione grinned, "Wanted a take on the 'wounded war hero, fighting for good.' Harry told them to shove off, as did Ginny."
"Well small favors at least…" he snorted. "Alicia was in with Fred for a bit at school, not me, and Katie…" He shrugged trailing off. They'd flirted through Hogwarts, and after the war he'd met her a few times after a drinking binge. Eventually she'd told him she wanted more, and he'd done the right thing and let her go. Hermione nodded like she'd known, Ginny probably if he had to guess.
"Anything to drink tonight?" Their waitress interrupted the silence that had developed and George nodded.
"Water for me please."
"Do you have any Merlot?" When the witch nodded Hermione requested a glass.
"I'll be right back with those." She handed them a menu and turned to the table beside theirs.
"Think I'll be having the shepherd's pie," George said after only a few seconds, and Hermione agreed.
"I haven't been out with someone in so long," Hermione mused aloud as they waited. "Not since Ron, it's nice to have the company, other than Ginny of course."
"I am much more attractive across the table I'd wager." He grinned cheekily and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"No one I'd rather sit across from," Her tone was slightly teasing, but George met her eyes with his and held them.
"I'm glad it's you across from me," he said seriously and Hermione licked her lips nervously. "This is the first real date I've had since Hogwarts." Hermione's mouth dropped open into a cartoonish 'oh'.
"George- this isn't a date. You and I…"
"Isn't it?" George mused softly, leaning in to her. He watched as a line gently creased between her delicate eyebrows. "Hermione, we're two attractive people, alone in a nice restaurant, flirting and laughing… if this isn't a date than what is? We're both adults, we get along well, and there's an obvious attraction. Why shouldn't we date?" When she opened her mouth to object he forced himself to remain calm and interrupted smoothly. "And don't say you aren't attracted to me, because I know you too well for that." He didn't allow the fact that his heart was racing in his chest to show on his face. He was in now, there was no going back. He could tell Hermione was scared, so there wasn't any room for him to show hesitation.
"George… I won't deny that there's a physical attraction… but with Ron, and-."
At least she wasn't denying that…"Hermione, let me handle my brother. I'm not saying we should jump into bed with each other… I'm telling you I want to spend time with you, enjoy your company, and get to know you a little better… what harm is there in that?"
Before she could answer the waitress placed their drinks in front of them. George ordered two shepherd's pies, while Hermione quickly drained her glass. She shakily requested another one.
"George, our friendship is important to me, after everything that happened with Ron, I'm not sure I'm willing to risk that again." He had to force down the surge of pleasure that he knew would show on his face. She might as well have said she felt it too, the desire and emotions. She was hesitant, but the way she was looking at him, her eyes large and vulnerable, he knew.
Tentatively he picked up her hand she'd rested on the table, holding just her fingers as gently as he could. "I'm not Ron, Hermione." Her eyes flickered nervously from his down to the hand he held, and as she watched, he slowly traced a circle around the second knuckle of her middle finger. His heart leapt when her eyes met his again. There was no mistaking the way she looked at him then.
"You'd talk to him?" George nodded continuing his feather light caress of her fingers.
"When the time is right, yes Hermione. I'll talk to him." Hermione's lips twitched into a hesitant smile.
"And we'll take it slow? I don't want you to regret- that is you're already helping me so much…"
"Mione, I'm helping you because I care for you. We'll go as slow as you'd like… but I won't regret this." He squeezed her hand gently, and released it. She flexed her fingers at the loss of contact, and jumped when the waitress placed their food in front of them, along with another glass of wine.
"Anything else I can get for you two?" She asked, and when Hermione didn't speak, just continued to look at him George shook his head.
"No, thank you, we're fine." Hermione sipped her wine again, a bit more slowly, and George couldn't help but grin.
"Nee," he said teasingly. "I'm still just George. Devastatingly handsome, yes… but you don't need to be intimidated."
She snorted and smiled up at him. "Sorry, it's a bit much. But you're right, you're still the pain you were two days ago…"
"A pain!" George said his voice incredulous. "If anything Hermione, I'm a blessing."
She rolled her eyes and took a small bite of the pie, and she moaned as it touched her tongue. "Oh George," well, George thought to himself… that was a shot to the loins. "It's as good as Luna said, you have to try it!"
He took a bite to appease her and was surprised at how delicious it actually was.
"Well before this I'd say that my taste and Luna's weren't the same… but now? I'll never doubt her when it comes to food." George declared bravely and Hermione laughed.
"That might be pushing it George, next thing you know, you'll be joining her for some tea. It's horrid, trust me. She uses ingredients that I'm not even sure wild animals would eat."
George laughed between bites. "Hmm, well then perhaps only in regards to pies…"
"Meat pies." Hermione added helpfully and George nodded his face serious.
"Have you written anything new lately? I swear every time I look you've got a different book in your hand."
She laughed, "I haven't written anything yet, but I have found a couple new resources. I'm hoping to begin writing again on Monday. I'm hoping to have at least a rough draft by Christmas."
"Christmas!" He said disbelievingly. At her pointed look he added, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but that's so soon. I always manage to forget just how brilliant you are, Hermione."
She scoffed and George frowned. "I'm not brilliant."
"I forgot, just about anyone can finish a novel on an entire history of mistreatment in less than a year."
"I've gotten a few chapters written," Hermione said defensively. "It's not that I'm that much smarter…" she paused and thought for a moment before responding. "It's more I feel like I've got to work harder, to prove something to myself."
"Prove what?" George leaned forward, his tone anything but light.
"I don't know," Hermione laughed. "Prove that I can be good at something? Before Hogwarts, well-." She laughed again, "Even a bit at Hogwarts I was teased. Studying is something I've always done well, and I work to keep it that way."
"You're better at more than just studies, Hermione." She grinned up at George, and to effectively end the conversation took a pointedly large bite of supper.
The rest of the meal was comfortable, and George didn't bring up that he considered it a date again. He paid for the meal with a few galleons he left on the table, and he fought the urge to wrap his arm around her as they walked back to the flat. When Hermione shivered slightly, George wordlessly tugged his sweater over his head and handed it to her. She looked sideways at him for a moment, an errant curl hanging delicately across her cheek. Her brown eyes looked at him calculatingly. He thought for a moment she might reject the offer, but she took it gently and he grinned as she slipped it over her head. She wrapped her arms around herself and he felt a wave of possessiveness move through him. She was dwarfed by the too large sweater, but the fact that she was wearing something of his made the cold he felt through the short sleeved white t-shirt he wore unnoticeable.
Hermione pulled the collar of his sweater across her face and her eyes smiled at him. "Thank you." Her voice muffled she continued, "it smells like you."
He grinned cheekily at her. "You're welcome. What do I smell like exactly?" Hermione released the sweater and shook her head at him.
"Dirty socks and pygmy puff." She said daintily and George laughed.
"Ah, but better that than old books and wet ink." He poked her in the side and she joined him in his laughter. It was a few steps before Hermione spoke again.
"Should we tell anyone-about this-going…" She stumbled over the world and George winked at her.
"Our date you mean?" Her ears pinked.
"If we're calling it that, then yes our date."
"We are calling it that, Nee. I plan for us to have many more of them, so we should call it what it is, a date."
"Slow, remember George?" Her voice shook a bit and George rubbed her back soothingly.
"Hermione, relax. Yes, slow. Just let yourself have fun with me. It's just me, just George. We don't have to tell anyone until you're ready. Let's just see how it goes hmm?"
Hermione leaned in to him slightly haltingly and George smiled.
"I'll have to tell the hordes of women who pine over me daily though- only seems right."
"Wouldn't want to lead them on," Hermione smirked.
"Don't be jealous Mione, I promise I'll only see them when you're unavailable to tend to me."
Hermione snorted and George laughed.
"Don't worry Love, I'm a one woman sort of man." Hermione pretended to be uninterested in that bit of information, but she relaxed into his arm. It felt so good just to hold her lightly. If this was slow he could handle it easily.
Hermione breezed through the store and they walked up to the apartment with George only cracking a few jokes and Hermione attempted not to show how awkward she was feeling about the situation. George was pleased to notice however that she was more comfortable than she had been at his original suggestion. They settled onto the plush couch in the living room together. Hermione with her legs crossed and facing George, as he leaned his arm across the back of the chair. When she spoke, her eyes were anxious.
"George, I wanted to get back to what we were talking about at dinner…"
"Hermione, have you ever known me as the type of man who talks things to death?"
"I'm just nervous that you haven't thought this through-."
"No," George agreed. "Perhaps I haven't but where's the harm in that, really Hermione? So we enjoy ourselves, we have what I can only assume will be mind-blowing sex -."
"George, I'm not just going to jump into bed with you."
George smiled at Hermione gently, "No, I didn't think you would. But I think what you need more than anything else is a chance to relax, to just let go and enjoy yourself for once, and I think I'm the perfect person for that."
Hermione gently laid a hand on George's knee, "The problem is George, that I'm worried it would be more than that."
For a moment George was silent. They looked into each other's eyes. That problem wasn't mutually exclusive to Hermione. What was he to say though, 'Oh gee Hermione, actually I'm hoping to shag you wild, and by the way I've wanted to be with you since we met…' somehow that hardly seemed appropriate.
"Let's take it a bit at a time." George said quietly, taking the hand from his knee and holding it in his own. "Nee, just give it a shot okay?"
Hermione squeezed his hand and George's heart was suddenly in his throat. He moved closer to her on the couch, a bit nervous about startling her off, and slid his hand that was resting on the back of the couch, to catch her face in his palm. When she didn't stiffen, he traced her cheekbone lightly with his thumb. She trembled and he leaned in to her, only inches between them.
"I know it's not exactly moving slowly…" George said quietly, almost in a whisper, "but I'm going to kiss you now Nee, I just can't help it."
"Oh, George," she said softly and he watched thrilled as her eyes fluttered closed and her breathing hitched. George mentally froze her like that in his mind, her head tipped up to him and her lips soft and inviting. It took him only a millisecond to capture the image and then he leaned in, and ever so gently pressed his lips to hers.
Many hugs to my followers and readers, do you hate it, love it, want some more of it?! I'm having a bit of frustration with the plot so I'd love to hear what you guys think to keep me going. I know it's a bit of a cliffhanger but I couldn't help it! I'm also currently debating with myself about the M rating. I'm wondering just how graphic things with George and Hermione will get, let me know what you think!
