A/N- I have a confession. I almost broke George and Hermione up in this chapter *ducks flying objects*. I was literally writing the scene (I bet you all can tell where too) when I thought, "Don't do it. Your readers will hex you." Merlin's balls, I'd hex me if I did that. Sorry this took so long and really isn't all that long. I had an idea for a George/Hermione that turned into a Harry/Hermione story and then I had another idea for a Harry/Hermione one and started on that...I don't think writers should have short attention spans like I do.
Anyway, there is no Ron in this chapter, but Harry makes an appearance. Also, it starts on Christmas and ends in February. I like time jumping. Time jumping is cool.
George woke Christmas morning feeling very happy and well-rested. That feeling, it turned out, was not about to last. When he arrived downstairs Harry and Hermione were sitting on the floor, helping Teddy wobble his way between them. "What's up lovebirds?" He teased.
"I broke up with Ginny last night," Harry said.
Hermione asked, "You know how she was worried that Harry would cheat on her?"
"Yeah," George frowned, nodding.
"She ended up cheating on me," Harry said. "Luna saw her snogging this Slytherin a year below them. She told me and of course Ginny denied it."
George snorted, "So the cheater was worried you'd cheat on her? That is something else."
"I'm spending this Christmas with Harry," Hermione said, "so Teddy and I won't be headed to the Burrow today." He wondered what was up with Hermione. Despite her promise he still wasn't on the house's title, and she never accepted the check he'd given her. He'd found it at the bottom of her desk drawer. She was also spending an increased amount of time with Harry. But then, George was putting in an inordinate amount of time into work lately. He couldn't be upset with her for seeking some adult companionship. Harry had ceased his Auror training. Mainly because he'd decided he didn't want to do that anymore. George wondered if something had happened in training, sometimes.
"Well I can't blame you for that," he said. "I'm sure Ginny won't be pleasant to be around today," he leaned down and kissed her, "Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas," she smiled. "You got in late last night."
"Holiday rush, you know," he said, going into the kitchen. Hermione frowned at Harry and he nodded for her to go on.
"George, you've been working later and later. I'm worried."
"I'm not having an affair," he said.
"I don't think I would agree with that, George. Your affair just isn't with a person; it's with your work," Hermione frowned, "Am I second to your job, George?"
"Of course not," he turned and stared at her, wide-eyed, "you're first. You're always first. I can't say the same for you though."
She arched an eyebrow at him, "George that is not true. I put Teddy above you, of course, but you are always number 2. The career, the NEWTS, all of that falls way below you on my list of priorities; you know that."
Hermione put on the pot for some tea and he felt guilty. She was handling all of this responsibility alot better than he was, that was very obvious. He was clueless at balancing things in his life. She hugged him, "I'm not worried that you're cheating, I'm worried that you're overworking yourself trying to do both your job and Fred's. I work mostly on inventions; that means you're doing everything else. You need to give more responsibility to Charlie and Lee. You are not Superman, you can't do everything. We haven't even been intimate in two weeks, George. Not since that one night."
"The night you said you'd put me on the lease and I wrote you a check you haven't cashed."
Hermione looked at him, "Are you upset about that?"
"How could I not be?"
"Maybe because I'm afraid that you're trying to do too much too fast and wanting to have a family to belong to because you lost Fred," she whispered.
George stared at her. "I…I mean…Hermione…"
"George all of this…it's been happening fast. Very fast. And at first I was okay with it, because I thought I was ready. But I don't think that you are."
"Hermione I'm fine."
"Talk about Fred."
He felt his cheeks burn. He looked at the ground, "I see your point."
"I don't want my heart broken because you're just looking for something to relieve your grief."
"I got over it. Just like you did."
She shook her head, "I'm not over it George. Harry came by last month and I utterly lost it. I curled up against him and bawled my eyes out." He stared at her. She'd never told him that. "Harry got help for his post-traumatic stress. I've been going with him to a counselor to get my own done as well as grief counseling. And now I think it's time for you to do the same."
He opened his mouth to argue and Hermione spoke again, "George if you don't do this then we won't be a couple anymore."
"You're blackmailing me?" He asked.
"No I would never do that," she shook her head, "Teddy's welfare comes above my own heart. Losing you would break my heart. But I can't let Teddy be in an unhealthy environment."
George sat down at the kitchen table, "Not a very good Christmas."
"I didn't have an enjoyable one last year either. This isn't anything new to me," she said, sitting down next to him and holding his hands in hers, "George I'm doing this for your own good. I don't want to hurt you, and I know you don't want to hurt me."
He looked at her, "I…what if…what if we grow apart if I do this?"
She cupped his cheek, "Do you really think that will happen?"
"I can't lose you too, Hermione."
"George," she leaned in and kissed him, "Teddy looks up to you like you're his dad. He impersonates the noises you make when he plays alone, he grins and changes his hair to look like yours," she smiled, "I don't want to break his heart by removing you from his life but do you really want his memories of the man he views as his father to be of him being absent?"
If Teddy wasn't involved, maybe George's next sentence wouldn't have been that he would agree to go to therapy. He could see his hard-headed self arguing with Hermione and breaking up with her, he felt angry that she was demanding this of him. But the declaration that she and Teddy both saw him as Teddy's dad was enough to make him agree. To everything.
For the first time in George's life Christmas was spent with none of his biological family. Instead he, Harry, and Hermione spent it together with Teddy. They cooked Christmas dinner together and George and Teddy put mistletoe up to trap Hermione underneath it. This of course backfired when Harry walked under it with her to help her in the kitchen, much to George's annoyance. When Hermione pulled away from Harry after a very long kiss and winked at him George realized that she and Harry had one-upped him and he laughed.
Over the next month George went to therapy. Hermione noticed some immediate changes. First was the fact that George worked less and delegated more responsibility to his brother and best friend. Hermione also noticed that George was spending far more time with her and Teddy and coming home at a reasonable hour.
Their love life improved as well; and George's mood was improving. Hermione was relieved and showed him her gratitude every chance she had, much to his delight. He still struggled to talk about Fred but when Hermione brought him up George didn't flush and quiet down like he would before. "I love you George Weasley," she whispered one night in early February.
"I love you too," he said, caressing her side gently. "I'm glad you made me go."
"I'm glad you didn't leave," she rested her head on his chest, "I was convinced you'd leave me."
George sat up, pulling Hermione upright with him. "I've been trying to be a better boyfriend. How am I doing so far?"
"Well I think you're doing great," she smiled, leaning over to kiss him. "I especially like the whole making dinner for me and giving me a massage."
"And then the sex?"
She gave him a smirk, "Your performance was decent but not outstanding."
George clutched his chest, "You wound me! Oh woe is me I have failed to satisfy the great and wonderful Hermione Granger!" Hermione laughed as George flung himself to the floor and raised and lowered his hands to her in worship, "I am not worthy, oh great one! Please forgive your loyal servant! I will take courses and extra credit until I get an O!"
Hermione was laughing so hard she worried she might permanently injure herself. He finally ceased and Hermione leaned down to kiss him, "Now there's the Weasley twin I fell in love with. I knew he was in there somewhere still."
"I love you," he helped her up, "may I begin to work toward that O now?"
"I'd rather you accomplished multiple O's, but fine be selfish." George grinned. The teasing between them had really increased the past month and he was glad. It felt more like a real relationship now. He stood and picked her up, carrying her upstairs. He wasn't about to screw this up.