Whhhattt i actually updated, so shocking i know, wow. can you believe it? I'm so sorry it's taken so long again (major deja vu, the amount of times I've apologised for this.) You can thank Lyrae Malfoy for this upload. Lyrae's helping me with idea's and stuff, making sure i finally get this finished. So enjoy the story, i should hopefully have another upload for you before too long. i'm going to give myself an unbreakable goal of at least 1 chapter a month from now on. This story will be finished! please just stay with me a little bit longer.
Christmas swept in quickly with a haze of decorating. Sirius would often be seen hanging decorations and singing Christmas carols loudly with a wide smile on his face, or he'd be with Fred, teasing George about Hermione whenever she had her back turned. On Christmas eve George found himself being tugged into Sirius's room as he passed on his way down from feeding buckbeak. George yelped as he was suddenly tugged through the door and shoved onto a large bed, he hit with an small oof, looking up to see Sirius hovering over him, hands on his hips, smirk on his face.
"Wanted to get you alone." Sirius explained.
"Wow, I never knew you felt that way about me." George said easily. "I have to say I'm flattered but mum would have your balls if we ever-" George was silenced by Sirius's snort of laughter. George grinned back. "What did you want?"
"To give you a present."
"If you undo your belt I'm out of here." George said calmly, smirking at Sirius exaggerated eye roll the man walking across the room in a few strides. He grabbed something from the side before he was jumping onto the bed next to George. Sitting with his legs crossed a wrapped present sitting in his hands as he bounced grinning like a child.
"Early Christmas present." Sirius announced, shoving the present at George.
"You couldn't wait a few more hours?" George asked, already tearing at the wrapping paper.
"Patience is a virtue I don't have." Sirius said as George pulled out two small mirrors from the shreds of wrapping paper.
"Wow." George said breathily, looking into the mirror. "I'm beautiful." Sirius let out a booming laugh snatching the other mirror from next to George.
"It's a two way mirror." Sirius explained. "I'm giving the other half of mine to Harry,I've been doing more cleaning while you were at school and found this. I thought you could use it. You won't be going back to Hogwarts next year and I can think of one young witch you'd be inclined to stay in contact with."
"Thank you." George said earnestly, eyeing the mirror. He'd heard about them before, never seen one though, even in his house they hadn't gotten their hands on one, Two way mirrors cost a lot, even second hand. "Could I...Would it be okay if I gave it to Ginny? I already have a plan to keep in touch with Granger, she can handle herself and she has Ron and Harry stuck to her constantly. Not that Ginny can't handle herself, but what if she's alone next year? I'd like to be able to see her."
"Give it to whoever you like. So what's this plan to keep in touch with Hermione?" George quickly explained.
"I haven't quite figured out the right charms yet to keep it completely private. It's hard to break into but a smart wizard could do it in time."
"You came to the right person." Sirius said joyfully. "Go get it, we'll work on it. It's been a while sine the marauders map but I've still got some things up my sleeve."
The two spent the few hours before dinner working on the present. Sirius insisting it would be done in time for Christmas.
The evening was surprisingly calm for everything that had been happening of late. With Voldemort back it still shocked George any time they got a moment of peace and quiet, a moment where the fear would fade leaving them acting like normal people, not kids caught in a war. Sirius belted out Christmas carols and told stories of the past to the teens, Fred and George told stories of small pranks that wouldn't get them into trouble with Mrs Weasley who just rolled her eye fondly at the twins. Butter beer flowed easily between them, laughter floated from the house in a way it hadn't in months. When they finally all packed up and went to bed it was with smiles on their faces. Even Harry managed to break out of his bubble of gloom and crack some smiles. Not that George blamed the kid for being so morose, if George had his life he'd probably have off'd himself already
Christmas morning was much the same, spent with lazy smiles and stocking gifts. Sirius and Molly having prepared a feast for them all for breakfast, only to start working on a second feast for lunch while the 'kids' went to play. They all trailed up the stairs. Fred and Ginny at the front, talking quietly as not to wake Sirius's mother as they trudged upwards trying to chose whether to play exploding snap or some other game that George didn't recognise but judging by the name had something to do with grandma and footsteps. Harry and Ron followed after them Hermione walking somewhere in between next to them and behind them as they prattled on about quidditch.
"Granger." George hissed, quickly grabbing her and pulling her into his room while Ron and Harry continued on towards the attic obliviously. "I got you something." George said pulling her over to his bed and quickly sitting her down before he was rushing over to the desk, picking through the scraps of paper. "Here, Merry Christmas!" George said, thrusting a scrap of paper at Hermione with a giddy smile.
"Wow..I love it." Hermione said slowly, eyeing the piece of paper a horrendously fake smile plastered on her face. "Just what I wanted. A..scrap of paper."
"That's not just any scrap of paper. I made it." George said.
"You made paper?" Hermione asked, George shook his head, falling onto the bed next to her.
"Well no, I ripped it out of that notebook you gave me last year." George said. "But I enchanted it. I got the idea from your coin actually, that and the marauders map, had a little help from Sirius actually."
"So it's a magic scrap of paper?"
"Yes...look it's easier if I just show you." George quickly pulled his own scrap off paper out of his pocket. "So, you write whatever it is you want to write on it. so..Merry Christmas" George quickly scribbled it down on the paper as he spook before pulling out his wand and tapping the paper. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The words quickly vanished into the page. "Now look at the bottom corner of yours." He urged, pointing to a small G.W appearing at the bottom right hand corner of her page. "Now tap it and say-"
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Hermione said, tapping her wand at the paper, a moment later George's scribble of merry Christmas formed from the blank page, hovering there for long enough for her to read before it vanished.
"I'll be leaving Hogwarts at the end of the year, won't be around to talk to and owls are slow, not to mention more and more post is getting checked for 'safety reasons'. I just thought, once I'm gone, it's a way we can talk or if there are any shenanigans you can tell me about them so I can maybe help out. The initials pop up whenever there's a message and there's a charm on the paper to keep it from ripping."
"It's great George." Hermione said happily, eyes running across the parchment. "So why the same saying as the marauders map."
"I like making you say you're up to no good." George said. "Also it had to be something people generally wouldn't think of saying so - George Weasley is a hot hunk was out of the question."
"You're ridiculous." Hermione said fondly.
"Now are you sure you don't want to come?" Mrs Weasley asked for the umpteenth time. The remainder of Christmas had been nice. They'd managed a trip to Mungo's to visit Arthur. Sirius mood had changed abruptly on boxing day however, each day their return to Hogwarts grew nearer Sirius grew more sour. He tried to put on a front, to act like he was okay but it was obvious he wasn't. So when Mrs Weasley had decided they would be spending new years eve at St mungo's with Arthur George couldn't help but feel bad for the man knowing he'd be stuck alone in the house ringing in the new year in a place he hated.
"Yeah Mum, tell dad I'm sorry I just really don't feel well." George lied. He figured the least he could do was keep Sirius company for the night. St Mungo's wasn't all too interesting anyhow and Arthur was due to be returning home the next day so the one missed trip wouldn't matter.
"Maybe I should stay-" Molly said moving to check his temperature again, George was quickly pulled back by a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll take good care of the boy Molly. Don't worry, go see Arthur." Sirius said calmly, pulling George further away from Mrs Weasley's hand.
"I'm sure Arthur would understand if George is si-"
"Why don't I stay too?" Hermione said suddenly. "I know a lot of muggle remedies for nausea I can try."
"Hermione no." Ron whined. "You're coming with us."
"Your brothers sick Ronald. Someone should take care of him."
"I'm right here, I can take care of him." Sirius said, Hermione threw him a small, suspicious glare.
"Come on Mum, George can be without you for one night, especially with Hermione playing Nurse. Let's go, Dad's waiting." Fred said
"Alright, alright. Okay, you be good." Mrs Weasley said, rushing over and pressing a kiss to George's forehead before she was herding the children out of the door. The door closed with a bang leaving the three in silence. Hermione waited a few seconds, foot tapping against the floor before she turned.
"Whatever you two were planning it's not happening." She said quickly. "I deal with enough silly pranks at school."
"He's sick." Sirius said incredulously.
"He is not." Hermione sniffed.
"He isn't." George admitted. "But we're not planning anything. I just figured you would prefer some company on new years eve."
"You stayed for me?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah man, you shouldn't have to be alone on new years." George said, clapping him on the shoulder with a grin.
"Are you planning to kiss me at midnight." Sirius cooed
"well if you play your cards right." George said with a wink that made Sirius bark out a laugh. "So Granger, if you want to go and catch up with the others you can. We're just going to be hanging out."
"Please, someone needs to keep an eye on you two." Hermione said.
"So..Fire whiskey?" George asked.
"It's 6pm, lets wait a few more hours or you'll miss the countdown." Sirius said.
"Hey I can drink you under the table." George said.
"Let's test that shall we?"
"No Sirius." Hermione sighed.
"Right. No, bad, no drinking." Sirius said stiffly."That better?"
"Much" Hermione said with a small smile.
"At least until after 8."
"Sirius!"
"Drink drink drink drink."
"Sirius." Hermione snapped storming into the room. George quickly downed the shot of fire whiskey choking at the burn a moment later Hermione snatched the now empty glass out of George's hand. "I was gone for two minutes!"
"I implied we'd be drinking tonight. I even admitted we'd start after eight."
"It's twelve past six." Hermione said harshly. "Honestly you two-"
"Granger my dear. Shut up and drink." George said calmly. "One night, no parents, no expectations, no looming war. Just harmless fun."
"You won't be thinking it's harmless when you're throwing up and I'm not there to take care of you because I'm too busy holding back Sirius's hair while he vomits in another bathroom."
"You'd never choose Sirius's hair over me."
"Everyone would choose my hair over you." Sirius snorted into his glass. "We're going to drink. I promise you that we won't drink too much. You're more than welcome to drink with us, obviously in moderation as well."
"Could we play a muggle game?" George asked suddenly. "you've mentioned some and they sound interesting, like charades?" Hermione eyed the pair of them. George did his best to look innocent even as Sirius filled up three glasses with fire whiskey. Nudging one towards Hermione with a grin. George watched as her eyes flickered to the drink, the girl shifting her weight from foot to foot. He couldn't help but smirk as Hermione's face changed, her smile shifting, eyes glinting mischievously. Expression full of promise, it was her up to no good face. A face that made his heart thump wildly in his chest and his legs beg to give way so he could drop to one knee and agree to do whatever rule breaking idea she had in mind while declaring his undying love.
"I heard of a drinking game." she said slowly, like she was testing out the words. "It's called bull..I've..well I always thought it sounded quite funny."
"A drinking game?" Sirius said excitedly. "Girl after my own heart."
"We'll need a pack of cards." Hermione said. "Non exploding ones." She added quickly.
The drinking game was fairly simple, but also extremely good at getting them drunk. George wasn't sure if Sirius was really awful at it or if he was just being awful so he could drink more. After a few games of it they moved onto charades. Something they quickly found out that he and Sirius were awful at having seen next to none of the films or muggle books Hermione would act out.
The three drank steadily. Sirius perhaps a bit too steadily as he was polishing of the bottle of fire whiskey with glazed eyes and a too loud voice. When he offered to get another bottle George waved his agreement, happy to continue the warm buzz spreading through him, his limbs tingling and cosy. Even Hermione who was being the most sensible of them, was verging on drunk, her frizzy hair sticking out further than usual from running her hands through it when she was flailing around. Her cheeks rosy and a permanent grin on her face that would warm George's insides further.
New years crept up slowly.
"I'm hungry." George decided, Sirius stomach growled loudly at his exclamation and he sat up straighter.
"Oh thank Merlin, I'm starving, was wondering when you'd want to eat." Sirius sighed happily.
"I hereby declare the instigation of education decree number 1293. Chinese must be eaten on the night of new years." Hermione said in a shrill impression of toad face "Please." She wined breaking the impression and turning her puppy eyes on the two generations of pranksters. "I'll pay. I just really want Chinese."
"I could eat Chinese." Sirius mused. "You're not paying though."
"To the store!" George exclaimed.
There were many problems with Grimmauld place, the constant smell of damp, the ear piercing blood purity drivel Mrs Black would scream if she woke up, the fear of opening the wrong door and getting hit by some dark magic. The worse, to George, was that they couldn't order food from a delivery. Unfortunately muggles would have trouble finding a house that for all intensive purposes didn't exist. Which lead to George walking down the road, arm tucked firmly around Hermione's waist, chilly December air cooling his burning skin. Sirius bounded around them, swaying and almost tripping over more than once. He knew they shouldn't go outside, especially not with Sirius, but it was new years eve and he didn't know how Sirius wasn't completely barmy after sending so much time locked in the hell hole of a house. Half an hour outside hopefully wouldn't cause any trouble, especially it being new years eve, in a muggle area of London with them heading to a muggle takeaway. Most death eaters wouldn't be watching 'the dragon' the dingy take away location, so small it didn't even have seats for them to wait.
Not that they could, after walking in with two drunk underage teenagers and one dog that smelt more of booze than canine they had been kicked out to wait in the street while there food was made. After a good ten minutes of waiting Hermione was called back inside to grab the large bag of food.
They devoured their food quickly back at headquarters, washing down the chow mien and rice with more fire whiskey.
"It's almost 12." Sirius said, looking around the ratty living room, taking a large gulp of his drink. "If you two want to go to mungo's I can get one of the order here to-"
"Shut up snuffles." George said with a laugh. "We're spending new years with you, and even if I wanted to spend my new years in a grimy hospital, which I don't, there is no chance I'm seeing mum when I've had this much to drink. Definitely not with saint Granger. Mum would flip, she'd make sure she was okay before killing me and then coming back here to kill you. It's a bad idea all round."
"You shouldn't miss out on your family for me."
"Well you're family too." Hermione said earnestly.
"I don't think-"
"No she's right!" George shushed Sirius. "It's like, you're Harry's god father right. But Harry's my little brother from another mother and he's Granger sister."
"No." Hermione sighed with a laugh.
"So you're like our godfather right?" George said happily, thumping Sirius good heartedly on the leg. "And even if you weren't our godfather."
"I'm not." Sirius said, despite the smile spreading across his face.
"You're my friend, like my older brother you give me advice, whether I ask for it or not. You help out on pranks and take care of us and stuff. There's no where I'd rather be tonight." George finished. "Well actually, us on a beach in Australia breathing that ocean air, where you can doggy swim in the waves would be better. But for realistic idea's for tonight it's here."
"Thank you George." Sirius said, ruffling George's bright hair with a grin.
"What on earth do you give George advice on?" Hermione asked
"Girls. Not that he ever listens. I've told him to just admit he lo-"
"DRINK!" George screamed. "Let's drink. Woo drinking time." The two allowed the blatant subject change much to George's relief.
They counted down to new year looking at George's watch, cheering far too loudly and as the hand hit 12. George felt his breath get knocked out of him when Hermione pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, her lips warm and soft. The grin it left George with was blinding.
"Adorable." Sirius mused, before smacking his own wet kiss to George's cheek making the red head burst out laughing.. "Happy new year!" A burst of confetti flew from the end of the older mans wand, leaving golden pieces of glitter and foil landing in their hair and drinks. George countered with a round of fireworks that fizzled around the room leaving the three watching them with bright grins and drunken exclamations of awe.
"Well kiddies, I'm off to bed." Sirius said when the fireworks finally died down.
"What? Sirius it's not even late." George moaned..
"It seems, I have drunk a little too much fire whiskey." Sirius slurred. "Now, drink water before you sleep, don't want Molly to find you hungover do we?"
"I'm of legal drinking age!" George said quickly. "I can do what I want."
"You're going to be in trouble." Hermione sung.
"Shove it Granger."
"Goodnight." Sirius said, with an enthusiastic bow that almost sent him toppling head over heals. "Not trying that again." Sirius muttered before swaying out of the room. Leaving a giggling pair of teenagers behind him.
George waved enthusiastically at Sirius's back, sinking further into the surprisingly comfy sofa. He watched the back of Hermione's head as she leant forwards, snagging the emptying bottle of fire whiskey before flopping back against him leaving him with a mouthful of bushy hair. The smell of fire whiskey, parchment and strawberries floating from her.
"What do you say we move this to the bedroom?" George asked with waggle of his eyebrows.
"Oh Mr Weasley." Hermione swooned.
"Stop that." George giggled, nodding his head to the door, Hermione quickly stood following him from the room, the two crept up the stairs, smothering their laughs in their hands trying not to wake Sirius's mothers portrait.
They made it to Fred and George's bedroom eventually after a few almost tumbles and an incident in which they entered the wrong room, then got distracted when George realised it was the room Ron shared with Harry and deciding to turn all of Ron's belongings upside down. George quickly threw himself onto his bed, letting his head hit the pillows and letting out a happy moan.
"So much comfier." He breathed, nestling further into the mattress. He felt it dip next to him before he let out a small huff of pain as Hermione landed on his side, elbow digging into his stomach, hair assaulting his mouth. "Well it was." George grumbled. Moving to adjust her quickly so that she was tucked up next to him but wasn't crushing him and had no stray limbs stabbing him in sensitive places.
He hummed happily as she rested her head against his chest, fingers rubbing soothing circles on his hip. George bought the bottle up, taking a gulp, leaning awkwardly so he wouldn't spill it. Hermione took it a moment later, taking a large gulp, he knew if he could see her face it would be screwed up in disgust and smiled at the thought of it.
They fell into a comfortable silence, passing the dwindling bottle back and forth. It was Hermione who finally broke the silence, Merlin knows how much later.
"I like this." Hermione said breathlessly, tilting her head to look at George. Their faces close together, her breath warm against his cheek. He couldn't help but think she looked beautiful, her cheeks flushed, eyes warm and soft.
"Being drunk?" George asked with a grin. Hermione slapped him sloppily on the arm, almost missing completely.
"No silly." Hermione said with a content sigh. Shifting against to rest her chin against his collar bone and peering up at him with a light smile "Being normal. Being a teenager. Not having to worry about everything."
"It's nice." George hummed, enjoying the warmth seeping from her body pressed close to his.
"It's easier with you. To feel like this, you always make me feel like there's something to be happy about, a reason to laugh" She admitted. George ducked his head into her hair, hiding his smile.
"I'd say same." George mumbled against the brown hair. "But you're always trying to ruin my fun. Threatening to tell my mother when I've been naughty"
"George." Hermione whined with a laugh, smacking him more solidly this time, a quick hit to the chest. Her hand lingered there, over his heart. "Be nice. I'm trying to have a moment with you here."
"Who knew you'd be a sappy drunk." George said smiling at Hermione's snort of laughter. He rescued the bottle from her grasp, taking a drink before letting his hand flop to the side, the bottle dangling from his fingers over the edge of the bed. "Can I tell you a secret Granger?"
"Always."
"I'm a sappy drunk too." He fake whispered. "You make every bad day worth it, knowing I'll see you after it. Knowing I can tell you about it, or that I can ignore it and you'll make me forget all about it." George said. "I'd study if it meant hanging out with you."
"Merlin, that was pretty much a marriage proposal from you." Hermione gasped dramatically. "You really are a sappy drunk aren't you-" George pinched her side making her squeal.
"I'm an adorable drunk." George mumbled.
"Yes you are." She said earnestly. He looked down, ready to mock her for admitting he was adorable.
George felt his breath catch when he noticed how close their faces were, Hermione's breath ghosting across his lips warmly. He could count the freckles dotted across her nose, crinkled adorably as she smiled, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears of laughter.
Everything in him told him to close the distance between them, to whisper out what he'd been wanting to say for far to long and finally kiss her. He thought, for a moment, that he was doing just that as her face grew even closer, but he realised he was still in the same place head firmly against the pillows. She was the one moving.
"Granger." George tried to say, his voice coming out as a choked desperate plea. He watched her eyes slid down to his lips leaving George licking them heart thundering in his chest, her hand fisted in his top above his heart, making him wonder if she could feel the rapid beat of it Then she was closing the distance.
Her lips brushed his sending sparks through him, his breath leaving his lungs as he sat motionless, eyes still open, watching in shock as her eyes fluttered shut as she pressed gently before she begun to pull back. His mind kicked into gear, his head following hers, lips chasing Hermione's. He caught them easily, the bottle slipping from his fingers, hitting the floor with an unnoticed crash as he wound his fingers around her waist, pulling her closer. They paid no mind to the smell of alcohol filling the room further as the honey coloured liquid slowly seeped from the open neck of the bottle. Too caught up in each other.
He'd always thought, when, or at least if, they finally kissed it would be desperate, hard, years of longing seeping into the kiss making it frantic. He'd been wrong, but he didn't mind in the slightest. It was gentle, slow a caress of lips like they'd been doing it for years. It filled him up, swept over him like a cool breeze on a hot day. It left his lips burning, full of grins and giggles so strangely familiar yet new and exciting,like coming home after far too long away.
His were everywhere, ghosting at her sides, stroking down her back, brushing her warm cheeks, tugging at her hair. Hermione's weren't much better, at his waist and his chest, her thumbs tracing his jaw as she pepper kisses against his mouth making his whole body feel electrified. His teeth caught her bottom lip, sucking on it making a whimper crawl from her throat and heat pool at his groin.
George's hand latched onto Hermione's waist, the other fisting in her hair before he was flipping them over, she broke the kiss with a bright laugh. That left George grinning down at her, settling between her legs as he watched her laugh, nose crinkled and eyes screwed shut, her head tipped back against the pillows, hair spilling around out around her. It was such a simple thing but the beauty of it took his breath away, his eyes ran over her face, trying to cement the moment to memory, to capture the way her red lips glistened and her breathing came in rapid pants, the way her laugh turned into an undignified snort that just made George's chest seize with how ridiculously perfect she was.
She finally stopped laughing, her eyes opening and catching Georges. He could get lost in her eyes the way the twinkled and the warmth behind them, always so open and expressive.
"I-" George started, stopping as her hands came up to frame his face. Soft fingers brushing across his cheek bones, the touch making him gulp, swallowing his words. She leaned up, raising her head from the pillows to press her lips against his again, pulling him down. He went without a fight, licking into her mouth, tasting the fire whiskey on her breath and revealing in the softness.
The world swayed around him, for a moment he thought it was because of the kiss, opening his eyes he saw her face close, her eyes still closed lips working against his own, her face swimming in his vision
George pulled away suddenly, bowing his head., resting his warm forehead against her collar bone, taking a few shaking breaths as his mouth filled with saliva.
"I'm gunna be sick." George grumbled, before he was jumping off the bed and racing from the room to the closest bathroom, Hermione's laughter ringing in his ears.
George looked up from the sink to Hermione, leaning back against the wall watching him with a concerned smile, her unruly hair a mane around her head, no doubt worse from him running his hand through it and tugging at it. Her lips still swollen and red making George grin knowing that it was because of him for once.
"Better?" Hermione asked as George rinsed his mouth once more with the mouthwash. He gave a lazy nod that left the room spinning. "Bed?" George gave a grunt of agreement and she lead him back to the bedroom, despite being stumbling drunk herself they made it easily. George flopped onto the soft mattress, dragging her with him. The two curling up together like they'd done a thousand times before. The room smelt a mix of spilt fire whiskey and his now minty breath.
"Hey Granger." George breathed. Enough was enough, she'd kissed him, she had to like him, he could tell her now, could admit that he liked her and they would finally stop circling each other and all would be well. Hermione made no reply. "psst, Granger." George whined a soft snore rose from beside him. He looked through the dark room, squinting to see her lax face pressed into the pillow next to him. He rolled his eyes, a fond smile on his face "Goodnight Granger." George sighed, tugging her closer into his chest and letting sleep claim him.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you could comment that would be great, your comments always inspire me to write more. Thank you for reading, hope you're all well 3