A/N: Chapter 2!!! Sorry about the cliffie in the last chapter!

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"Okay, well, it all started when Snape gave me and Fred a detention in my fifth year for turning his robe electric blue," said George. "I was supposed to go into the Forbidden Forest with Professor Sprout to collect these very rare seeds from some plant. I don't even remember what it was now." At this point, George stopped to wipe the remaining tears from his eyes. Hermione took his hand reassuringly.

"Anyway, I was supposed to go with her, and somewhere along the path, I got separated from her and Fred. I'm not exactly sure how. I started running, trying to get back to them but..." George had been looking at the ground while he spoke, but now he looked up at Hermione.

"...Hermione,... I-I'm a-a... I'm a werewolf." George looked at the ground again and tears were pouring freely from his eyes. His shoulders were shaking as he tried to contain himself.

Hermione just gaped at him. She had no idea. She couldn't believe him. This was probably just another stupid one of his and Fred's jokes. But Hermione quickly dismissed that idea as she watched how much George was struggling. Hermione didn't know what to do. She put her arm around him and he immediately collapsed into her.

"I'm so s-sorry, Hermione. I never wanted you to have to deal with me like this. That's why I always sit in front of the fire late at night. I don't want you to have to carry my burden for me. Y-you can forget I ever told you. Now go to bed. Please. Please just leave me alone."

Hermione just watched him for a few seconds. "George, it's okay." she said. George looked at her through blurry eyes and seemed surprised that she was still there.

"You are so good, Hermione. Not many people would forgive someone for keeping a secret this big from them." George paused, regaining control of himself. "Okay, back to my story. I was trying to catch up to-to Professor Sprout and Fred when I heard something behind me. The next thing I knew, I was being chased by this pack of wolves. I-I tried t-to shoot spells at them. I-I tried everything I knew, but nothing worked. They had me surrounded. Oh, God, I was so scared. All of them advanced on me and I couldn't do anything. I was completely helpless. There was one of them that was slightly bigger than the others- he got to me first. He-he took a big bite out of my leg." George touched his leg lightly, indicating the place. He paused again, trying not to cry even more.

"I-I got scratched up real bad. The wolf, actually werewolf, broke my leg. All the others attacked me. I got bit countless times." He looked at Hermione again. "You have no idea how much pain I was in. I think I was partly unconscious by the Professor Sprout found me and scared the wolves away. That was fifteen minutes after the first bite. She thought I'd died. To tell you the truth, I can't believe I'm still alive." More tears poured out of George.

"Well, she levitated me back up to the castle- to the hospital wing. She told Fred to go back as soon as I got separated, so he has no idea. Madame Pomfrey cleaned up my wounds easily, but she recognized the bite on my leg as a werewolf bite right away. She told Dumbledore right away, of course. I was still unconscious. I lost a lot of blood and I didn't wake up till morning. They told me everything. I couldn't believe it. I still can't. Hermione?"

Hermione, who had been listening intently and looking at George, was startled to be addressed. "What?"

"Well, you haven't said anything in a long time. What do you think about all of this?" George asked.

"Well, I'm fine with it I guess. I mean, its shocking news, but I think I can deal with it. I think we can deal with it, together." Hermione said. She looked at George and found her stare returned. They kissed and held each other close.

"I-I love you, Hermione. You're so sweet. You're so nice. I don't deserve you."

"Yes you do. And I love you too." Hermione told him. She ran her fingers through his fiery hair. "Hey George? Who all knows? I mean besides me, Dumbledore, Madame Pomfrey, and Professor Sprout."

"Well, Snape knows because he has to give me my wolfsbane potion. I think that's it. The other Professors swore that they wouldn't tell anyone. I could be kicked out of school. Professor Sprout blames herself a lot. I'm sure Fred would, too, if he knew. Now Hermione, you can't tell anyone, right?"

"Don't worry. I won't even tell Ron or Harry."

"And can I ask you one more thing?"

"Sure."

"Er, well, willyougooutwimme?" George stammered.

"Pardon?"

George sighed, "Will you go out with me? Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Oh! Yes, yes of course I will."

George looked relieved. "Oh, good. I-I'll see you in the morning, then," George stammered. He kissed her on the cheek and they walked to the staircases to the dormitories hand in hand. "Hermione, er, thank you. For everything. Good night." George kissed her passionately once more and walked up their separate staircases.

Hermione was about halfway up when she heard giggling ahead of her. She froze. How much had they heard?

She kept climbing and saw Parvati and Lavender.

"How much did you here?" Hermione asked sharply.

"Oh, we heard enough," Lavender said. "Thought you weren't ready to be in a relationship right now, Hermione."

Hermione was relieved. For a second, she thought they heard George's secret.

"We saw you two on the couch, but we couldn't hear what you guys were saying. It's not fair, but you'll give us all the juicy details, right?" Parvati asked.

"Er, no, I can't. Even if I could, I wouldn't. You two are the biggest gossips in the whole school!"

"C'mon! George looked really upset. What were you talking about? You can tell us."

"No."

"Please?"

"No. Why do all of our conversations end up like this?"

"But you are going out, right?" asked Lavender.

"Yes, but I'm not telling you any more."

"We saw you guys kissing."

"So?"

"We saw George crying."

"So? That's none of your business."

"You gotta give us something!"

"No, I don't. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to bed."

"I'm sorry for this Hermione, but..." Parvati pulled out a small vile. "Hermione, this is Veritesserum, the truth potion. Tell us something now, or we'll force you to."

"You wouldn't," she said shakily.

"We will. This is your last chance."

"I can't. I love him too much. I won't tell you his secret!" Parvati and Lavender advanced on her and unscrewed the top of the little glass bottle. Hermione let out a scream as Lavender put her in the full body bind.

"Petrificus Totalus," Lavender said.

The next thing Hermione knew, she was falling down the stairs. Her head was about to hit when two strong arms caught her.

"What's going on?" George demanded.

"Nothing," Parvati said stupidly.

"Why did Hermione scream, and who put the body-bind curse on her? Tell me!" his tone of voice was almost frightening. "What's in that bottle?" George performed the counter-curse on Hermione and she immediately told him what happened.

"They wanted me to tell them what happened between me and you, but I wouldn't and they pulled that Veritesserum out and I screamed and they put me in a body bind."

"We weren't trying to hurt her, honest, but we were curious. Nothing interesting has happened around here in ages!" Lavender complained.

"Don't you dare come near her again!" George yelled.

"George, settle down, it's alright! I'm all right. Let's just all go to bed, okay? I know I'm beat. Goodnight George," Hermione said as she kissed him on the cheek.

Hermione went up the steps and heard George go down and Parvati and Lavender coming up, too. Hermione fell asleep right away. The new information about George was shocking, but she had a real boyfriend at last.