A/N: HAPPY NEW YEARS! I was hoping I'd get this posted before, but some things came up and I wasn't able to. I hope this chapter was worth the wait though! This chapter really flowed easily! I couldn't stop writing, but I had to end it somewhere, and where I ended it seemed like the best place. I hope it doesn't disappoint!

On a side note: We had our family Christmas just before New Years, and I got one of the best presents ever! My parents got me Quidditch Through The Ages, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Beedle the Bard! I have never been so happy! :) I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Years!

Now, on with the story!

Chapter 10

Everyone at the Burrow could see the tension between George and Hermione, but no one had the courage to say anything.

"So, Oliver, how have you been?" Harry asked, trying to start a conversation.

"Alright, Harry. I've been busy with Quidditch, as I'm sure Ginny is as well," he said looking at Ginny, "but the season is almost over, so I'll get to have some downtime."

"Will Puddlemere have a chance at the cup this year?" Ron asked.

"I believe we have a pretty good chance. But those Harpies will give us a run for the money, I'm sure," he winked at Ginny.

"Oh Oliver, you flatter me!" Ginny laughed. "So, tell me, when did you and Mione become an item?"

Hermione glared at Ginny for a second before recovering. Oliver smiled a knowing smile at Ginny and said, "Well, we aren't exactly an 'item,' but who knows what will happen in time." He smiled at Hermione.

Blimey, if I wasn't so in love with George, I'd easily fall in love with Oliver.

She smiled back at him, and laughed flirtatiously at him. She risked a glance at George, and she could see he was seething. She thought he'd break his fork in half with the way he was gripping it. She almost smiled in triumph until she saw him put his arm around Angelina and lean into her.

"Molly, this is such a lovely dinner. It's been such a long time since I've been here," Angelina said after a few moments.

"Why thank you dear! It has been awhile hasn't it? Not since…well, since you were dating Fred, wasn't it?" Molly asked.

"Yeah," Angelina said, trying to smile at her.

"I forgot you dated Fred, Angelina. How long did you two date?" Hermione asked. George was looking at her with a hurt expression, but she tried to ignore it.

"Uh, for about two years until…well, until the battle at Hogwarts," Angelina replied, looking down at her plate.

"Hm, so you must be attracted to the red heads, am I right?" Hermione asked. Molly and Fluer gasped, Ron spit out his drink onto a shocked Percy, Bill choked on his potatoes, Arthur, George and Oliver sat there stunned with their mouths hanging open, Ginny sent her a hurt look, and Harry dropped his fork onto his plate. Ignoring everyone, Hermione continued. "Or maybe it's a twin thing?" She said casually before taking a drink of her pumpkin juice.

"Wh-what? Hermione I-"

"It must be the twin thing, because aside from George's missing ear, they were exactly identical. So since Fred is gone, now you can have George." She was seething now, unable to control her anger or her words.

"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed, standing up.

"No Harry! I have to say this! After looking for my parents for seven months, I come back and see George in a depression, while everyone else let him hide away in his room. No one even tried to help him! For months I spent every waking moment with him, trying to forget about the fact that I have no family whatsoever! I tried to bring the old George, the George that I first fell in love with, back!" Turning to George, she said through her tears, "and then I find that you are with Angelina, and I felt like all those months with you were for nothing."

George was stunned speechless until she said that he was with Angelina. "Hermione, you don't understand-"

"No George! Don't you dare tell me that I don't understand! Yes, you lost a brother George, your other half, and I wish every day that Fred could be here! But you should be bloody grateful that you still have a family! My family is dead! They were imperioed to kill themselves, and when they died, they had no idea, no knowledge of ever having a daughter!"

Everyone was staring at her shell shocked, no one daring to say a word. The women were crying silent tears.

As if just realizing what she had just said, she looked to Molly and said quietly, "Molly, I apologize, but I think I should go." Without another glance at anyone, Hermione ran out the door, never looking back.

oOo~oOo~oOo

Time seemed to stop once Hermione ran out the door. No one moved, no one spoke, it seemed like no one breathed. But everyone seemed to be either looking at the door where Hermione disappeared through, or at George.

George himself was a hurricane of emotions. She tried to bring back the old me back; the George she first fell in love with. Does that mean she fell out of love with me, and then fell back in love with me? When? And then she found out I was with Angelina? I have never, and will never be with Angelina! Her parents were forced to kill themselves? They had no knowledge of Hermione? Their own daughter?

Question after question went through George's mind, but he couldn't process his thoughts; he couldn't answer any of them.

Suddenly everyone started talking at once.

"George, what did you do to her?"

"Why would you hurt her like that?"

"Did you know about her parents?"

"Why would I know? She's barely spoken to me since she got back because she's been holed up with George!"

"Why did she say that we were together?"

"You go after her now and apologize!"

George was barely processing what everyone was shouting at each other and at him. Looking up he saw Luna looking at him with a knowing look on her face. She smiled and nodded at him, and suddenly George knew what he needed to do. Without a word, he jumped out of his chair and ran out the door after Hermione, ignoring the shouts of his family.

oOo~oOo~oOo

He didn't know what led him towards the lake, he wasn't entirely sure where she had gone. She might have just apparated away for all he knew. But something was drawing him to the lake, and once he reached it, he saw her sitting at the base of his and Fred's favorite tree with her knees drawn up to her chest, with her head leaning on her knees while she looked out at the lake, tears running down her face.

He didn't say anything at first; he just watched her. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but she was even more beautiful now than ever before. Merlin, this woman was in love with him, and he was madly in love with her.

She still hadn't noticed his presence, so he finally said the first words that he could think of. "I'm sorry."

She didn't move, but tears continued to run down her face. She whispered hoarsely, "What are you sorry for? I'm the one who screamed at you and your girlfriend."

"Angie is not my girlfriend, nor will she ever be," he said, crouching down next to her. He saw her eyes widen for a second, but she never looked at him. "And I meant that I'm sorry about what you've lost and been through," he continued slowly. He saw more tears fall down her beautiful, perfect face.

"I never meant for anyone to know. I don't know why I told you all that," she said.

"Mione, why do you do that?"

She finally turned to look at him with a confused look. "Do what?"

"You hide all your emotions from everyone. You carry your burdens alone, not allowing anyone in to help you."

"Because they are my burdens to bear! I don't need pity parties, and I don't need help," she snapped before turning back to look at the lake.

Sighing, George sat close to her and looked at the lake with her. "I let you in, and only you. If it hadn't been for you, I would still be sitting up in my room, looking out my window, grieving for Fred and our forgotten future together." She glanced at him and he continued. "Hermione, you helped me live again. Why can't I help you to live again?" he asked, looking at her.

A few more tears escaped her eyes, and she sniffed. "I'm scared of living again for fear of losing someone I love. I'm scared of the darkness that consumes me every time I close my eyes and I see my parents. I'm scared of the thought of never being truly happy again."

George cupped her cheek with his hand and wiped away her tears. "Love, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that life is uncertain, and it throws wicked curves at you when you least expect it. But if you don't risk anything for the sake of love or happiness, you'll end up drowning in that darkness. If it wasn't for you, I'd still be drowning in that darkness. Please, let me in and let me bring you back to the light."

She leaned forward and placed her hands on his chest. "You are my light George."

George's heart was soaring. He smiled at her, and leaned towards her while pulling her to him. She gave him a small smile, and George closed the distance with his lips on hers. He thought he had never tasted anything as sweet as she was. He was in heaven, and the only thing keeping him grounded was her touch.

They pulled apart, and both were breathing hard, despite the kiss being short and sweet. He placed his forehead on hers, and held onto her hands.

After a few seconds, George said, "So, you fell in love with the old George, eh?"

Hermione laughed softly, and looked up at him. "I can't believe I said that either." Even in the darkness, he could see her cheeks tinge lightly.

"I'm glad you did. I'm just worried about how long I was oblivious I was to it."

She grinned. "A few years, but I honestly didn't realize it until Fred pointed it out to me."

George's head snapped up. "Wh-what?"

Hermione sighed and looked out at the lake again. "He noticed how I would smile when you walked by me, how I'd try to hide my smile and laugh when you'd pull a prank or tell a joke. He noticed how I mostly reprimanded him and not you about testing your products on the first years. He approached me about it one night in the common room and after he opened up to me about some things, I opened up to him about my feelings. He promised he would help me with you, but then you two left Hogwarts after that, and then the war started, and the battle, and then he…"

"Then he died," George finished for her. She nodded and looked at him. George didn't know whether to feel hurt that Fred knew how Hermione felt about him, and how George had felt about her, but he had never said a word; or whether to feel grateful.

"George, please don't blame Fred. It wasn't his fault. If he had had his way, you would have known how I felt about you long before tonight," Hermione said quickly, noticing the faraway look on his face.

George gave her a small smile and shook his head. "I could never blame Fred for anything, even if he was a git for keeping that from me. I'm actually quite surprised he kept quiet as long as he did."

"Yes well, after I talked to him, he was determined to tell you then and there."

"Why did you let him?" He asked curiously.

"Well…I was afraid of rejection I guess. I mean, failing is my biggest fear, and I feared I would fail at being good enough for you. And with the oncoming war, and Harry needing help hunting the horcruxes…there just never seemed like a good time to tell you."

"Hermione, you not have been rejected; I can tell you that right now. To be honest, I think you're far too good for me. I've always felt like you were too good for me, and that's why I never said anything."

Hermione looked at him instantly. "N-never said anything?"

George's eyes opened wide as he realized what he had just said. "I, uh, well…it wasn't just you…that had feelings for me. I mean…not for me! I meant…I had feelings for you too…at school." He finished while looking anywhere but at her.

Hermione's eyes opened wide at his statement. Noticing how George wouldn't look at her, she figured he was embarrassed. Smiling she said, "Who would have thought…the great George Weasley, prankster extraordinaire can get flustered!"

George's head snapped up and he saw the smile on her face. "Ha, yeah, who would have thought? I'm sure Fred is having a laugh right now."

Hermione grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "I hope he is."

A/N: Approve? Disapprove? Send me your thoughts! =)