Glittergrll4142: Aw, thank you. A beta-reader reads over stories before they are posted to look for grammatical mistakes and critique the work.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and affiliates are not mine and I have in no way profited from this story.

Clarification

One week later and Padma was still giggling like Parvati when she found out that Ernie liked her. But for once she did not care that she seemed as immature as her sister because she kissed George. It did not matter that Fred came in to make the week's purchases instead of George since he was away trying to complete a merger. Nothing could take away the fact that she kissed George, well, George kissed her, but she was not letting minute details get in the way of her joy.

There was a definite difference in her attitude that everyone, including Ernie, noticed. It was when she flounced, yes, flounced, into the antique store on Saturday to meet her sister for lunch that Ernie commented on her improved mood.

"Who cast a cheering charm on you?" he asked, eyeing her suspiciously as though at any moment her mood might change and he would be hexed clear into the next store.

"No one," she laughed a broad grin on her face, "It's just been a good week."

Parvati immediately squealed.

"Something happened with George didn't it? I knew it!" She hugged her sister. "How could you wait so long to tell me?"

"I've been busy with work," Padma explained, "besides, I'm telling you now."

"But I want details!" Parvati groaned, "Right down to the last freckle."

Padma rolled into her eyes and launched into her story about going to see George at Weasley Wizard Wheezes, Amanda Zonko's interruption, George's apology at the Apothecary, and finally, the kiss.

"How romantic," Parvati sighed, clutching her hands at her chest, "You'll have such a beautiful story to tell, and someone to bring to our family events."

Padma rolled her eyes once more.

"I think I'll wait until we've been together awhile before bringing him to our family affairs." She broke into a grin, "I don't need Aunt Nupur scaring him off with her miniature schnauzer of doom."

"In that case, you better wait until you're married."

George flopped down onto the couch in the living room, grateful to be back from the extended business trip. He had not intended for it to take as long as it had, but the owners of the other joke shop were a little reluctant about selling despite being deeply in debt. After a week he finally managed to convince them that the store's only hope for survival was to join with the Weasleys.

Lying there in complete silence, his mind was able to drift off to his other thoughts, one of those being about Padma. The last time he had seen her; he had kissed her and then left. There had been no time to discuss what had happened between the two of them, and he was almost positive that Padma was as confused as he was. Now, he wanted clarification of what the whole thing meant for them.

Just before he disapparated into thin air, he wondered how she would react to his just popping in.

Padma dropped the bags of groceries on her kitchen counter and grabbed a pan that was hanging on the wall to make some tea. There was a loud pop right beside her. Startled, she let out a small scream and whirled around, hitting the person in the stomach with the pan.

"Bloody hell," George groaned, doubled over, "If you didn't want to see me, you could have just said something."

"Oh!" she gasped, tossing the pan to the counter, "I am so sorry, you just scared me half to death."

He took a few more gasping breaths and managed to stand up straight.

"Great Merlin, I just wanted to talk to you, about, well," he nervously adjusted his collar, "you know."

Her eyes widened.

"You don't regret it do you?"

"No, no," he assured her, "I just wanted to make sure you didn't."

She smiled brightly.

"I do believe that I was the one to make a declaration of love."

George laughed.

"Very true."

Suddenly, Padma felt incredibly awkward. She twisted the ring on her finger around anxiously.

"So…"

"What does that kiss mean for us?" George finished quickly, beginning to flush.

The air was starting to feel warm all around Padma and the collar of her shirt felt uncomfortably tight. She had assumed that it meant they were going to start a relationship. It never occurred to her that he might not be thinking the same thing.

"Well, I…I guess I hoped that it meant we were…more than friends…maybe?"

A broad grin stretched across George's face.

"I kind of like that idea."

It was late when George returned home that evening. Much to his surprise, Fred and Angelina were there boxing up some of Fred's belongings.

"Out visiting a certain Patil twin?" Fred asked, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

George could feel a familiar blush begin to creep up his neck. He needed to stop doing that every time someone gave salacious hints about Padma especially since they were now in a relationship. He was a Weasley twin after all.

"Yes, not that it's any of your business."

"Of course it's my business," Fred told him, "I'm your twin and I'm concerned for your welfare."

George sighed and disappeared into the kitchen for a butterbeer.

"How exactly are you concerned for my welfare?"

"Well, its Padma Patil," he explained, "She was a Ravenclaw prefect. I need to make sure that she's not as stuffy and pompous as a certain Big-headed HeadBoy."

George rolled his eyes.

"Padma is nothing like Percy."

"Yeah, with her you can…"

Angelina slapped the back of his head and gave him a warning glare.

"Do not for one second even fathom contemplating thinking about finishing that sentence."

George sniggered softly to himself as Fred looked at his fiancée, offended.

I'm still searching for that Beta-reader. Don't be shy. I don't bite...hard.