Chapter 10

It was a couple days later, and I was sitting on a couch, a Jane Austen novel in my hands, as I tried to read away my headache. My homework I finished already, as Pomfrey made me take Sunday and Monday to recover, and I wasn't ready to go to sleep. The common room was unusually quiet, and I was rather pleased at this fact.

I was a couple chapters into my book when George flopped onto the couch, letting his head rest in my lap. I looked down and smiled, and then went back to my reading, my hand playing with his hair like normal. At some point he reached up and grabbed my hand, playing with my fingers and I quirked my eyebrow.

"What are you doing?" I asked, glancing down at the older boy in my lap. He beamed at me, before placing a kiss on my wrist instead of answering. I put my book down, carefully remembering my place, and turned my full attention on him. "Seriously George, what's going on?"

"I thought it was obvious," he started, his smile wavering slightly. "I'm sending time with you."

"That's nice George, but what are you doing with my hand?" I asked, my gaze on the appendage in question, which he had between his own hands.

"I… I dunno, just playing with it, I suppose." He said, his smile definitely gone now.

"Alright, why?" I brilliantly asked, and he sat up, running a hand through his hair.

"Geez 'Mione, I just wanted to spend time with you. I can go if you want…" he trailed off, looking like I'd kicked his puppy.

"You can stay George, I'm just confused." I replied, placing a hand on his arm.

"Why are you confused?"

"Well, everyone has been rather affectionate, sure, but it's been a few days, I'm fine. No one needs to constantly reassure themselves that I'm fine. Seriously, George, it's been nice, having everyone so close and attentive, especially when Ron's around. But he's not here, so I'm okay." I tried to reassure him, and his face just twisted up more and more.

"Is that what you think this is? That I've just been… what, keeping Ron away? I mean everyone else has been worried, but you think I've been spending all my free time with you because my brother is a jerk. Did it mean nothing?" he asked, standing up and looking down, his face flushed.

"Did what mean nothing? George what is going on?" I asked, standing up myself and taking a step closer. He looked down at me with a pained expression and sighed heavily.

"We kissed, that's what started this, and does it mean nothing? I told you, in the hospital wing, don't you remember? My mom wants to make us matching sweaters." He all but shouted in my face, and I reared back to look at him. He wouldn't meet my eyes, and the tips of his ears were red, like when he was embarrassed.

"Oh." I said, and sat down on the couch.

"Oh." He repeated.

"George," I started, my hand on his wrist, "I thought you were kidding, trying to make me feel better… I didn't actually think you were asking me, and you didn't… Not really." He just stared down at me incredulously.

"How could you think that? After everything, how could you think that?" He collapsed on the couch next to me, his head in his hands, sighing again.

"What do you mean after everything? George, I'm just your little brother's ex-best friend. Sure you and the group have been nice, and I appreciate it more than you can know, but I didn't actually expect anything. I just assumed you were being nice because I stopped nagging about you testing on first years. I'm two years your junior, sure you guys include me at meals times, and might let me sit with you in here, but it's not like anyone goes out of their way to include the bookworm, or be my friend." I sighed, and looked down.

"Hermione." He took my hand. "I can't believe you think that. We let you in on a prank. Not just anybody can help. Shoot, Angelina and Katie weren't included, not really. We were basically telling everyone in the school you were our friend, and not to mess with you, and that you mattered. And you think we did it to stop you nagging? Like we ever let that stop us before, I mean have you met our mother. It, It wasn't pity for Merlin's sake!" he exclaimed, his frustration mounting as he tried to explain.

"It wasn't pity, or to avoid the nagging, it was because… it was because you're actually quite devious, and you bring a new opinion, and you're funny. I mean I never knew, but you're actually hilarious. And you can tell Fred and I apart, almost instantly, and you're brilliant. Those tidbits about history are hilarious, little creepy, but still, and you're so nice, like insanely nice. You're our friend, ask the group."

"I just thought… well, I don't know really. It's been nice, ya know, to have friends, but I guess, I never expected it to last. You'd realize I was a bore, or a swot, or something, and you'd go off and have fun without me. Ron's always going on about how I'm no fun, and frigid, and, I'm used to it, it's not like it started when I got to Hogwarts, but it was just so nice, sitting and laughing with everyone, and having people actually be interested in me when I talk. Don't get me wrong, I love books, but to only have books is hard. I guess I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop." I muttered weakly. George sighed, before turning me to face him.

"'Mione, really, why you think so little of yourself just confuses me. Seriously, the other shoe already dropped, you get us, at least Fred, myself, and Lee, but you've lost ickle Ronnikins, and unfortunately, you're gonna have to prank with us. And get in trouble. It's gonna happen." He shrugged, giving me a smug smile, and then let it fall. "Why'd you think we would just drop you? We aren't Ron you know. Give us some credit."

"I… sorry." I said, after opening and closing my mouth a few times. I hung my head in shame and George squeezed my hand. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, George, I just didn't know I was, which, admittedly, seems to be all I can do." George reached out lifted my chin with two fingers. His face held a soft smile, and his fingers were warm against my skin.

"Hermione, it's okay, but in the future, tell me, or Fred, or Lee, when you feel that we are leaving you out, or you're lonely, or you just want to hang out, and we will do our best to make sure to do something. Alright? Promise me." He said, when I hadn't responded, and I gave a reluctant nod. "Say it!" he added, and I sighed.

"I promise." I breathed and he narrowed his eyes for a moment before nodding once.

"Okay, that's all I can ask about that, I suppose. Now on to the other matter." He said, fake joy in his voice, and his ears turning pink. "Mum's matching sweaters" he added after a minute. I could feel my face starting to flush and opened my mouth to respond. Before I had a chance, he placed his palm over my mouth. "Now, before you start, I get to talk. I know that I'm just you're ex-best friends brother, and I'm a prankster, and I don't care about school work. My twin is annoying, and we spend our time testing products on ickle firsties, but that's not all I am. I promise, there's more to me than all that, and I've never wanted anyone, other than Fred, to know that side. I've never wanted anyone to know until now, and I really want you to give me a shot, to know that side. The side that isn't all about pranks and being obnoxious, but the side that likes the quiet, and a good cuppa, and is just George, not Fred and George, not Forge, but just George." He expelled, quickly, and I sat there shocked. His ears were now a bright red, almost the same color as his hair, and his hand was still pressed against my lips. He looked at me expectantly, like I was to give a response, and I reached up to grab his hand. His cheeks flushed a bit and I hand to breathe through my nose not to laugh

"George," I began, and then paused, not knowing, for once, what to do. "Not that I don't appreciate it, because I do. I'm flattered, and flabbergasted, and mostly confused. George, why me?" I asked him, meeting his gaze and his eyebrows scrunched. He opened his mouth and closed it a couple of times, his eyebrows descending further over his eyes in confusion before he blew out a large breath and chuckled.

"You're impossible! Why not you? You're funny, and smart, and beautiful, when you smile I don't know if my heart wants to stop, or take off like a race horse. And when you laugh, gods woman, when you laugh I just want to sing at how amazing you look. You don't let Fred or me off on anything, but you care and you show it through everything you do. You're brilliant, and studious, but you still make time for anyone who needs you, and more than that, you look at me like I'm my own person. And that more than anything that has ever happened, fills me with joy." He ranted and I was shocked.

My face by now was almost entirely red, I just stared at the boy in front of me. This brilliant, funny, beautiful boy was telling me everything I'd wanted and needed to hear all at once with not a hint of anything other than truthfulness. I melted, it really was the only word for it, and smiled at him.

"George, oh sweet, sweet, George." I breathed, my hand reaching up, almost of its own accord, to cup his face. He sighed into my hand, pushing against it almost like a cat, and seemed to relax. "You silly, wonderful, crazy man." Was all I said and he returned my soft smile.

"So are you saying yes?" he asked hopefully, and I grinned a little bit more.

"But George, you haven't really asked me anything." I replied a bit too sweetly. His mouth dropped open a bit, and then a mischievous glint came into his eyes. He stood up, before kneeling down in front of me.

"Oh, beautiful Hermione, with eyes of chocolate, and hair like silk, would you do me, lowly redheaded me, the honor of going steady with me?" he asked grandly, and I giggled, giggled, into my hand. I again reached out to place my small hand on his cheek, before giving him a shy smile and nodding. "What was that, oh beautiful one? I couldn't quite hear you." He added with a slightly devious grin.

"Yes." I finally said, after groaning at his theatrics. His devious grin melted away, to be replaced by a full megawatt George smile, and I stopped breathing. Which was rather unfortunate as he grabbed me and pulled me into a very tight hug. He kissed my temple, and I sighed at the feeling of his lips against my skin, before nuzzling into his chest.

For tonight, the book could wait, cuddling with George seemed a better way to spend the evening.

AN: Hello! Here's some fluff! This chapter was interesting to write, trying to capture the actual feelings of the two.

it has been mentioned that I've changed Hermione from who she is, by making her rely less on books and more on friends. this is, of course, not my intention. By changing the circumstances, the characters must adapt. that is not to say she's no longer crazy over books, but more that I am not writing that part. We can all assume that it happens.

Many thanks to those who are following the story, and to those who review. Special thanks to Cmnewman, Erulastiel-Ithilwen, and dixie326, for your reviews. They are helpful and insightful, which I appreciate.

Much Love!