Let me apologize to begin with

Let me apologize for what I'm about to say

But trying to be someone else was harder than it seemed

And somehow I got caught up in between

Between my pride and my promise

Between my lies and how the truth gets in the way

The things I want to say to you get lost before they come

The only thing that's worse than one is none

- In Between

Hermione paused before entering the office she shared with Harry and Ron. She wasn't sure how she would explain everything to them. They might see it as the end of the Golden Trio. She had just told her boss, and he wished her well, but telling her friends would be so much harder. Sighing, and deciding that now was as good a time as ever, she painted a smile on her face and entered the room. Harry and Ron looked up from the paperwork they had spread on Harry's desk as she closed the door.

"Where the bloody hell were you last night?" Ron asked, looking worried.

"With George," Hermione replied, blushing slightly.

A wide smile crossed Harry's face, but Ron's look of worry remained. "Back together?" Harry asked hopefully.

"Yes. I talked to him and I talked to Amanda and we straightened everything out."

"There's something else," Ron said, studying her face.

"Well, yes, there is something I should tell you."

"You're not pregnant, are you?" Ron asked in shock.

"I was going to comment on your powers of perception, but I guess I was a little premature" she rolled her eyes.

"Sorry," Ron muttered. "I can tell when you've got big news, and I can tell when you're nervous about saying something, but I couldn't think of anything else."

"What is it?" Harry asked, shaking his head at Ron.

"Well, I've done a lot of thinking recently, and I'm looking for something a little more exciting in my life. So I went to St. Mungos today on an interview, and they offered me a position as a Trainee Healer."

Ron and Harry looked stunned for a second, and a pit grew in her stomach. But then Harry smiled wider than he had been before, and stood up to hug her.

"Oh, 'Mione, that's great news!" he said as he squeezed her.

"Yeah, blimey, 'Mione," Ron added with a hug of his own. "What was so nerve-racking about telling us that?"

"I don't know," Hermione said in relief. "Maybe I was worried you'd be mad at me for breaking up our trio or something."

"Why in the world would you think we'd be mad about that?"

"The better question," Harry threw in, "would be why in the world would you think we'd be breaking up?"

Hermione looked at him, eyebrow raised.

"We'll always be best friends, 'Mione. And we'll always come running every time we can't figure something out," he added with a smirk.

Hermione smiled despite herself. "You guys will never learn, will you?"

"We'll learn as soon as you learn to stop dating Weasleys," Harry countered.

"But what if George and I get married?"

"Then I guess we're off the hook."

Hermione thought about it for a minute. "No, you're not. Because I would have stopped dating at that point."

"Not necessarily," Ron said with a smile.

"Oh, yes, necessarily," Hermione hugged him. "You guys have to grow up sometime."

"Yeah. We have to grow up as soon as my brother, King of the Dungbombs, inventor of A Million Ways to Get Out of Important Things, decides he's going to settle down. I think we're in the clear for a while."

"You never know. George is full of surprises."

"I guarantee we're safe for a few years," Ron smirked, placing his feet on the desk and folding his arms.

"Whatever you say, Ron," she started towards the door.

"Where in the world are you going?" Harry asked.

"Out," she replied.

"Two weeks left and you're ditching?" he asked as she opened the door.

"What can I say? Spend some time with George and he's bound to rub off on you."

"Just as long as you don't throw up any Puking Pastilles on the floor."


George was scribbling some numbers on a piece of paper when a pair of jeans and a t-shirt fell onto his desk. He looked up to see Hermione standing over him, a mischievous smile across her face.

"New dress code I don't know about?" George asked, picking up the shirt.

"You would know better than I would," she said, sitting across from him.

"Okay, second guess. Returning the clothes you wore to go pick up chicks in?"

"George..." she crossed her arms and looked annoyed.

"So what's up with the new clothes, then?"

"I thought I'd go along with your suggestion. Get dressed, let's go."

"I've changed my mind. If we're going to ditch out of work I think we should go upstairs and try out a few new products."

Hermione sighed. "What is it about you and sex?"

"Um... I'm male?"

She smiled at him. "I promise we'll have sex later, but I want to tell you my big news."

"Big news?" he looked suddenly nervous. "You're not pregnant, are you?"

She threw her hands up in the air. "What in the world is with you Weasleys? Why do you think I would get unexpectedly pregnant, and try to make the announcement some big deal?"

"Who else did you tell?"

"I'm not pregnant! I told Ron my news, and before I was able to say it he asked if I was pregnant, too."

"Great minds think alike," George said, grabbing the clothes. "Since you're being so mysterious, I'll go. Let me go upstairs and change."

"Why do you need to go all the way upstairs?" Hermione murmured.

George raised an eyebrow. "Am I going to manage to make it into these clothes? Because if I'm not there's a few things I should probably clean off the desk."

"I promise that we're not going to have sex on your desk."

"Yet?"

"Yet."

George changed quickly, told his employees he'd be back later, if at all, handed the spare keys to the cashier, and led Hermione out the door. They walked down the street to their usual cafe, where they sat at their normal table. The waitress quickly brought them their food while George pestered Hermione for information, and she quietly refused.

"You have an uncanny ability to annoy me, 'Mione," George said after asking for the tenth time what her news was and not getting the answer.

"Call it revenge."

"I won't call it anything. Tell me, please," he said, scooting his chair up to hers, taking her in his arms and gently kissing her shoulders.

"Alright," Hermione said, melting into him. He knew exactly how to get what he wanted, the sneak. "I quit the Ministry today."

"Good for you. Want a job?"

"No. I have a job. I'm going to start training as a Healer at St. Mungos."

"That's great!" he said, abandoning kissing her shoulders to give her a kiss on her lips. "You're finally getting out on your own."

She smiled at him, pleased at his reaction. "I gave it a lot of thought, and I've been thinking about trying to become a Healer for a while, it just seemed like the right time."

"I'm proud of you, 'Mione. I think you'll be an excellent Healer."

"Thanks," she blushed slightly. "It means alot that you're supporting me."

"I've also been giving a few things a lot of thought. Especially since Saturday. I did a really stupid thing, and I felt like I lost a part of me while you were gone. And I don't want to lose you again. "

"Oh, my God, George," Hermione nearly cried as George slid from his chair and got down on one knee.

"I feel stupid doing this," he muttered, digging in his pocket. "I can make a huge scene at Hogwarts, but I can't figure out a good way..." he sighed, holding her hand and looking up into her eyes, which were rapidly filling with tears. "I want to live the rest of my life with you, 'Mione. Will you marry me?"

Hermione couldn't speak. She could only nod.

He slid a diamond ring on her finger, stood up and enveloped her in his arms. She threw her arms around him and tried to catch her breath. "Are you, okay?" he asked. "Mum is going to have my hide if I messed this up. She can't stop talking about having you as a daughter. Please say something."

"Harry and Ron are going to kill you," she sobbed.

A/N: I'm debating doing an epilogue using the bonus track, but I'm not sure. What do you think? Please leave a review.