11. To Be Young: Where Hermione pays a visit to the joke shop and finds her interest perked.

.

She spotted him among the throngs of people at Diagon Ally in front of his now-famous shop, swirling his wand above his colorful head of hair and making fireworks shoot to seek out those nearby. The fireworks had a way of reeling in kids, who would then find out ways to drag reluctant parents to enter the colorful shop.

Hermione shook her head with a grin as she cut through other children scrambling to get to other shops for Hogwarts. She felt a jab of nostalgia as she saw a little girl walking around with a bright ginger kitten, tucked safely in a new pointed hat. Both of their sets of eyes were wide, and Hermione wondered if she was a Muggle born like herself.

He didn't notice her for a while, even after she had stood aside of him for a good few minutes. He was yelling with a magnified voice about some end of the season clearance, and how Gryffindors got an even further discounts. It seemed he was trying to turn the courageous house into the clown house.

"You're never going to change, are you?" Hermione finally voiced as she crossed her arms.

George jumped a good foot in the air before turning to her, brown eyes wide and eyebrows high.

"I was wondering when you would be dropping by," he said as he fiddled with his hat that had almost fallen off. It looked like quite a few things could pop out of it at any moment. "I know that your Ministry job can't be that demanding not to see an old friend."

"We're friends?" Hermione added with a sly grin.

"Frenemies then I suppose, if that makes you feel better. Do you still hold grudges against me and Fred's little pranks and experimentation?" he said silkily. "But honestly, I would think you and I were somewhat amiable to the other."

Hermione snorted.

"You're hurting my feelings here, Hermione," he said as he lifted a robe sleeve to dab at entirely-dry eyes. "A natural heart-breaker, you are."

She tried to snort again, but it came out more of a chuckle than anything. George was suddenly beaming, and before she knew it, she was being pulled through the loud store. She looked around in slight awe, not realizing how much George had expanded the shop since her last time inside. She saw Ron at the counter, who was waving enthusiastically at her. She waved back, and another wave of naostalgia hit her unexpectantly. Back when her love had been one-sided and she was still so young and ignorant of heartbreak-

"Come on, I wanna show you something," George said as he pulled her aside and out of Ron's line of sight.

It was altered catnip, promising to make your cat dance numbers and meow along in time to music. It was ludicrous enough that Hermione found herself chuckling. When she imagined Crookshanks dancing the hula, she found herself bubbling up with laughter.

"Free if you want it," George said with a grin that suddenly looked a little subdued.

Hermione found herself beginning to blush under his heavy stare. She knew she should get out before she was suckered into coming back from her lunch-break with arms laden of joke material.

"You should come by more," he said as he walked her back to the door, the small box of cat treats stuffed in one of her coat pockets.

She turned back, expecting to say something noncommittal, but then saw his expression of hope. George suddenly looked so young, like he did back in seventh year when he and Fred had been insufferable to her. Maybe this was just him finally paying her back with what had pained her, but she couldn't stop the sudden pull in her chest.

"Tomorrow," she blurted out before her brain could get in the way of her heart.

When that hesitant expression turned into one of triumph, Hermione realized she was stuck.

Posted: 10.19.2011
Word Count: 660

An Unsure Note: This is really 'meh' for me but I hope it was at least a little cutesy. Review?