Chapter Twenty-Eight

Hermione POV

All lessons and exams were suspended. Most parents were having their children return home, immediately now that Dumbledore was no longer there to keep them safe. The day of Dumbledore's funeral was a grim affair despite the beautiful weather. Hermione put on her cloak over her black jumper and wiped away a tear that came rolling off onto her cheek. She wanted to check on Harry and see how he was doing before the funeral.

He was sitting down with his head in between his hands. She crouched down to sit next to him. "How are you holding up, Harry?"

"I ended things with Ginny."

"What?"

Harry pinched the top of his nose and shook his head. "Don't you get it. Voldemort uses people as bait. He has already used Ginny as bait before. I won't let him use her. I would probably consider doing the same, Hermione."

Hermione took in Harry's words and understood why he was telling her that him and Ginny had to break up. It was a warning. He thought she should end things with George as well. They were going to be leaving soon with no promise of returning.

"I need some time. I need to think of what I'll say." She bit her trembling lip and looked down at her trainers.

"Of course. I'm sure George will figure something is going to happen if Ginny told them that we ended things. I told her why. He's smart." Harry shoved his hands into the front of his jean pockets. "Ron will also forgive you. He forgave me."

Hermione nodded, taking in the information. She played mindlessly at the charm bracelet that he had gifted her in their fifth year, wishing she could trade places with that Hermione to not have to worry about disappointing her favorite person.

"What did you tell her, exactly?"

Harry smiled slightly in a sad way that made her think he was woeful of his actions. "She knew it for a noble reason as soon as I began to speak. She didn't cry at all while I did it. She knew that I will be busy saving the wizarding world."

Hermione gave her friend a tap on the back. "You're a good man, Harry. Far too good. I'm going to wait and do it when I'm back at the Burrow. It needs to be done in person."

He nodded in agreement. "I think that would be best. George is a great guy, Hermione. He'll wait for you I'm sure."

"I want him to be happy. I hate seeing him hurt. So, to be the one to hurt him—" She shook her head to stop the thoughts from entering her head.

The Order members were at the funeral. George probably didn't think anything of Hermione's sad glances to him. They were at a funeral after all. All she could think of was what she was going to say to George.

When they were packing up to return for the holiday, Hermione took George's hand. They were getting escorted by the Order members. Ron had broken up with Lavender. Harry had broken up with Ginny. Now it was Hermione's turn. She was being selfish and didn't want her time with him to end.

Reaching the protection of the Burrow, made Hermione relax. The youngest Weasley rushed into the house, ignoring her other family members. Ron sighed and followed her in. The mood was heavy, no longer filled with life and excitement. "Would you want to go for a walk?" George asked as he tucked a curl behind her ear.

She smiled sadly. "That would be wonderful."

They walked around the big yard and didn't say anything for a while. George is the one who broke the silence. "Ginny told me that Harry broke up with her."

"Oh." Hermione said in a dead voice. "Yea… I think she took it okay."

"I didn't know if you wanted to talk about that." He stopped her and looked down at her with warm eyes. "I don't want to, but I think you have something on your mind."

"Why are you so smart, George?" Hermione let out a wet tear drop down her cheek. "I don't know what to say."

He leaned in and gave her a kiss. She wrapped her hand into his hair and let out a cry. "Jeez—I didn't realize my kissing skills were so bad, Granger." The joke sounded sad and lifeless coming out of his mouth.

"George… I love you. But… we can't… we can't… be together. Voldemort uses people for bait. I couldn't fathom having him use you against me. He can't have access to you. Think of how much danger you would be in if we continue to be together." Hermione let out another sob.

George wrapped his arms around her. "What if I don't care?"

"Weasley's… you're all the same." She rested her head against him. "Ginny said the same thing to Harry. I have to help him now. I have to focus."

"Can we push this off for… one week?" George snuck his fingertips in between her own. A playful tone was in his voice despite the scenario that they were in.

"What?" She looked up at him with an exhausted look.

"Let's just… enjoy each other. One week. That's all I'm asking is one week and then you can continue to be a war hero and run off with Harry and Ron." George pleaded with her, clutching her hands.

"I can give you a day, George. I really need to focus. I have to study. I have to prepare. I have to—" Her heart shattered in half. She wanted to do nothing more than to ignore her responsibilities and run away with George, putting everything behind her.

He put on a large goofy smile and beamed down at her. "Well then let's make it the best day possible." George grabbed her arm and pulled her close to him. "I'm asking for a full day too, so today doesn't count."

She bit her lip, hiding a smile that was threatening to creep up there. "Fine. Tomorrow. Then I really have to—"

"I know. Don't worry. I have a wonderful person in my life who is willing to sacrifice her happiness for her friends. I would be a git if I took that out on you. It's what makes you so wonderful, Hermione." He tucked a curl behind her other ear as they continued to walk around the property.

George POV

He held Hermione tight into his arms as she slept on his chest. They didn't even attempt to hide the fact that she was in his room from his mother. Surprisingly, Mrs. Weasley didn't say a word. This would be the last night for a while that George would get to watch her sleep. She was mumbling about protecting Harry and Ron in her sleep. Whatever task Dumbledore had put them on must be incredibly dangerous if that's all that is on her mind.

George played with her hair and drew peaceful circles on her back until she drifted into a deeper sleep. He closed his eyes and drifted off himself, thinking of the wonderful girl in his arms.

When they woke up in the morning, George grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her out of the kitchen. "I packed us breakfast." He held up a picnic basket and a blanket that was thrown over his shoulders. "We can't actually leave the property for a date with all the protection wards up, but I figured that this would be a nice way to have some privacy."

She beamed up at him and pulled him down to kiss his freckled cheek. "You're too wonderful, George Weasley."

"Are you trying to give me a bigger head than I already have? Because if so, it's working." He kissed the top of her head before laying out the knit blanket onto the grass. "We have some coffee, orange juice, toast, bacon, and strawberries. A bit random selection but I didn't want mom helping me put everything together."

"It's perfect." She knelt down onto the blanket and began to nibble on a fresh strawberry.

The two spent the entire morning laughing and kissing in between bites of food. It was if the morning would freeze and they would spend this moment of bliss forever. Sadly, everything must come to an end.

A storm cloud came in and drove them back into the Burrow. They went up to the twin's room and laid in George's bed. "What is the plan for you, then." He couldn't stop the comment from rolling off of his tongue. Despite how happy he was today, he knew that the time would be up shortly, and she would retreat to herself, locking him out of her thoughts to protect him.

"I thought we weren't worrying about that today." Hermione sighed and rolled over, propping her head into her hand so she could stare at him with her big, brown eyes.

He smiled slightly. "I guess I'm just always worried about you is all. I keep thinking that our time is fleeting and you're going to disappear right in front of my very eyes."

"You're very observant." She bit her bottom lip. "We are going away. I can't say for what or when, but we are leaving. You cannot tell the others. Only Ginny knows and now you. It needs to stay like that."

George nodded. "I can do that." He wrapped his hand behind her head and pulled her down, so their lips met again. "Let's just enjoy right now."

Their kisses leading to dinner were sorrowful and filled with tears. Hermione kept sobbing in between their touches and caresses. George kept kissing the tears that were on her cheek away and reminding her that he wasn't mad and that he would wait for her.

He had to keep reminding her that he would wait for her. She was so perfect that he didn't want this to be the end of them He wouldn't allow that.

"George… what if I'm gone for a long time." She finally cracked, admitting that the Golden Trio would be gone for an extended amount of time.

"As long as it's before I die, I'll be waiting for you with open arms. Hell. Even if I'm dead, I'll be waiting for you on the other side." He kissed the crease in between her eyebrows. "Hermione, you are a goddess and so intelligent, I would be a fool if I walked away from this because I couldn't wait this out."

"It could be a while, George. It's selfish of me to ask you to wait."

"Be selfish. I want you to be selfish. I know I'm being selfish, and I want you to wait for me too." He watched her gaze into his eyes, searching for answers. "I don't care if you're gone for weeks, months, years… all of that is so small in the grand scheme of forever." George winked at her and kissed the tip of her nose.

"What do you know about forever?" She shook her head and rolled her beautiful brown eyes.

"I know that I want to spend forever with you, Hermione. I'm willing to wait forever because I'm all in. I've already met the most wonderful witch of my time. I'm not going to let her get away just because there's a silly war going on." George dodged her swat.

"Silly war? You're ridiculous, George Weasley." She kissed his cheek despite her words and giggled at the boy. "I love you, George. I will wait for you. That's all I'll be able to think of is your goofy smile."

Their stomach's dropped as Mrs. Weasley called the family down for dinner. Their time of pretending that nothing was wrong was running out. George knew that tomorrow, Hermione would be fully into the Trio's plan. She would spend every waking moment studying and reading to prepare her for their trip. He made a mental note to try and find research materials on advanced magic that she may not have discovered yet. He kissed her lips once more, tasting the sweet combination that was Hermione before they got up and walked into the crowded kitchen, holding hands throughout the entire meal, refusing to let go.