A/N: Here's the third chapter, technically the second part of the second
chapter.. But it's better than nothing. I hope the splicing of the chapter
doesn't cause it to get confusing.
Do I really need to tell you I don't own the characters? I do own the plot
though.
Chapter 3
The next afternoon Mrs. Granger briskly moved about Hermione's room fussing over this and that. "Mum will you give it a rest already? I'm 21 years old, I think I can decide what's best for myself, besides, there's no way I am going to miss the Weasley Christmas party. Now where's my really soft red sweater?" Hermione asked as she shoved clothes aside in her duffel bag. "Didn't Daddy grab it? I asked him to."
Her mother opened the closet door and grabbed her daughter's red sweater and dark blue jeans that she had hung on in there the day before. "Here they are dear, and I know perfectly well you are capable of making your own choices, but I heard you cry yourself to sleep last night and I'm just concerned about how your feeling about all this. I know you were pulled into an ally and bea." Hermione turned and saw her mother slouch onto her bed and cover her face with her hands.
"Oh mum," Hermione said softly and moved to sit next to her mother on the bed. "I'm okay. Really I am, see? Good as new!" Hermione said spreading her hands out in front of her. She turned to her mother and tried her best to keep a grin on her face. She just couldn't bear to tell her mother everything that had happened that night. She couldn't bear to horrify her mother any more at the moment although it killed her to keep such a huge and horrible secret from her.
Her mother seemed to sense that there was something her daughter was keeping from her, "Are you sure there isn't anything else you need to tell me honey? Whatever it is, we can work through it." Mrs. Granger said, her voice shaking.
"No mama, there isn't. Now help me finish getting ready, I still can't lift my arms above my head to put my sweater on or fix my hair. So you remember when you used to fix my hair in that sweet little ponytail on the back of my head? Why don't you fix me one and spice it up a little!" Hermione laughed and wrapped her arms around her mother.
Finally at 6:00 p.m. Hermione apparated into the busy kitchen at the Burrow. It was a few seconds before anyone realized she was there, but finally Ron (who she had apparated directly next to) turned and did a double take. "Hermione!" He cried and pulled her into a hug. It was all Hermione could do to suppress the grunt of pain as her back and shoulders protested the strain of the hug.
"How are you Ron?" Hermione asked hastily pulling back and placing a loving but restricting hand on his chest and patting him a few times.
Ron smiled oblivious to anything, "I'm great, but really how are you feeling? Is that Relaxer Elixir helping at all?" He asked, a look of concern passing over his handsome features. Hermione took a good look at him for the first time in ages. Ron had grown up a lot, and into a perfectly handsome young man. He was serious, thoughtful and perfectly charming.
She smiled and cupped his cheek, "Yes its worked miracles, Thank you Ron."
Ron grinned back, "That's good, hey do you want some egg nogg? It's homemade!"
"That would be wonderful!" Hermione said as Ron left to fetch a cup.
"Hey Hermione! When did you get here?" She recognized Harry's voice from behind her. She turned and saw Harry leaning in the stairwell doorway with his arm around Ginny.
"Just now, and I see you two have finally wised up and faced the inevitable." Hermione said winking at the blushing red head.
"Honey, I think everyone knew we were going to get together before we did!" Ginny said grinning up at Harry. Hermione noticed that Harry, to, had grown into a handsome young man. She imagined that he probably looked just as handsome as his father had at his age. Ginny and Harry made a handsome couple that reminded Hermione of pictures she'd seen of James and Lily.
"Hermione you look so pretty in that outfit! And I love your hair like that, it's so cute!" Ginny exclaimed gesturing to Hermione's simple ponytail. Her mother had gone one extra step to wrap a stand of hair around the tie to make it look like the strand was holding the ponytail together.
"Oh, thanks Gin." Hermione blushed. At that moment Ron appeared at her shoulder holding a cup of chilled egg nogg that he handed to Hermione. She took a sip and relished in the smooth creamy cinnamon flavor.
"MMmm, this is SO good Ron." Hermione said taking another sip.
He laughed, "Thanks but I didn't make it. You know me and cooking," he said with a laugh, "But mum might appreciate your compliments. She probably wants to talk to you."
"Oh right, I'll go say Hi. See you later." Hermione said and left to find Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh it's wonderful to see you feeling so well dear, you gave us a dreadful scare." Mrs. Weasley said after she and Hermione had been talking for a while. "OH BUGGAR!" She cried suddenly, "The tarts are burning, do excuse me dear we'll catch up later!" Mrs. Wealey said and bustled off.
Hermione stood in the center of the deserted den wondering where in the world everybody had gone. She supposed by the noise that most of the Weasley family and their friends were either in the kitchen or some other room in the house.
Hermione was content to take a moment to herself. She was tired of telling everybody that she felt fine even though she appreciated his or her concern. As she stood gazing at Mr. Weasley's family clock, of which all the spoons were pointing to "home" she heard light footsteps behind her and felt a pleasing shiver run up her spine.
"That's dangerous you know." Said a familiar voice into her ear.
Hermione turned to face him; "What are you talking about George?" Hermione asked grinning, "For once I'm not doing anything dangerous."
George gave her a mysterious smile that made her heart leap into her throat and a warm feeling creep into her stomach. In the soft light of the den, George had never looked more attractive in his black pants and royal blue button up. Of course the twins had always been very attractive, and it was every girls dream to date one of them while they were at Hogwarts, but that all seemed deep in the past.
George moved closer, and Hermione could make out the light scar above his lip that was illuminated from the flickering light of a nearby scented candle. She wanted to reach out and trace it with her finger. "Yes, you are. It is very dangerous to stand in a dim room, looking so very beautiful. And worst of all, you are standing in a dim room, looking so very beautiful, underneath the mistletoe." George said quietly drawing still closer. Hermione glanced above her head. Sure enough, a delicate bushel of mistletoe tied with ribbon was dangling directly over her head.
Suddenly she could smell George's delicious cologne, as she lowered her gaze she became face to face with George. "I guess there's only one thing left to do." George gently cupped her face and slowly brought his face closer to hers. Her heart was pounding; she wanted to kiss him so badly.
"Did I mention you look beautiful tonight?" George asked. She nodded and he softly placed his lips on hers. It was like fireworks filled her head. She was so overcome with the wonderful feeling of George's kiss she couldn't think of another thing. His lips expertly moved against hers, and his tongue ran along her bottom lip sending chills up her spine as he asked for entrance. She opened her lips and his tongue enticingly darted between them. Hermione's knees grew week as George deepened the kiss. He dropped his hands from her face to her hips and pulled her against him, she clutched at his shoulders for stability and dug her fingers in the hair at the nap of his neck. He began to massage her tongue with his and Hermione, who obviously hadn't had as much experience as George began to run out of air.
Suddenly, Hermione felt a pressure constrict her throat. George had lightly placed a hand on her shoulder near her neck, but somehow it made her feel suffocated. She pulled away from the kiss and choked for air. She stepped away from him and clutched at her neck.
"I'm sorry George." She gasped.
George looked surprised and concerned, "Did I do something wrong? What's the matter Hermione?"
Hermione felt tears in her eyes, "No! It's not you.it's me. I don't know why.I can't.it's just."
A look of recognition passed over George's face, "I think I understand. You don't have any feelings for me?"
"No! It's not that! I mean I do have feelings for you George." Hermione took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She was not going to blow this. "I can't explain it right now George. That kiss it was wonderful, and I would love for a thousand more to happen between us, but I just don't have." Hermione stopped, she couldn't tell him. She didn't want him to know, he would think she was disgusting and he wouldn't want anything more to do with her.
"What? Please tell me. What don't you have?" George stepped forward and took her hands. She felt crowded and confined and she hated it. She resisted the urge to yank her hands away. She felt terrible! How could she even hope to become romantic with him if the mere closeness of a man made her feel like a cornered animal?
"Please, I'll do anything Hermione. I have liked you for so long, I have wanted to kiss you and be close to you but I haven't been able to. I didn't know how to tell you! What's wrong?" George asked as a tear escaped from one of Hermione's brown eyes and ran down her cheek. George wiped it away with the tip of his finger.
Hermione sighed as the tight feeling in her chest and throat began to ease and was replaced by the wild thumping of her heart. "George, a part of me has been taken forever, and I will never get it back. I'm not used to that part of me being gone, and I don't know what kind of a person I am without it. I don't know if I will ever be able to love without it, and I don't know if I will ever be the same again."
George looked into her eyes. "I don't understand. What was taken from you? What's missing? From what I have seen tonight, you are still the same kind and loving person that my family and I have always known."
Hermione swallowed and licked her lips, "I'm not really ready to talk about it yet." She said almost harshly. "I'm sorry."
George just looked at her.
"Hey you two! Dinner is ready, this is the biggest turkey in the history of England George, come and help me eat it before it flies off the table!" Fred called from the kitchen doorway.
"We better go in there." Hermione said and turned to walk to the table.
George caught her hand before she could walk away, "Hermione I don't understand what you went through, and if its not something you're uncomfortable talking about right now then that's fine. But don't play mind games with me okay?" George said looking directly into her eyes. "I want to talk after dinner." He said and let her hand drop to her side.
Hermione stared up at him for a moment then nodded.
Dinner was delicious as always and the energy in the air seemed to climb throughout the meal. Hermione ate as much as she could stomach and picked at the remainders on her plate. She kept sneaking sidelong glances at George down the table. He looked a little glum but nevertheless kept up an entertaining conversation with Fred, Harry and Ginny.
After Mrs. Weasley's delicious dessert puddings, the group went into the den for coffee, tea and cakes.
Hermione stood near the doorway and watched as George muttered to Fred. He stood up and made his way to Hermione. "Can I pour you a cup of peppermint tea?"
Hermione nodded, "Thank you."
George collected two cups of tea and motioned for her to follow him. "Lets talk my old bedroom."
They walked to the second floor and Hermoine suddenly felt nervous. She knew George was a good and honest person and would never force anything on her, but that didn't suppress the anxious feeling she was getting. "George, won't that look kind of bad on our behalf?"
George opened the bedroom door and held it open for her, "No, they won't do the gift exchange until after tea, besides I told Fred we were going to talk."
"This was your old bedroom?" Hermione asked as she looked around. The only thing that suggested the twins had ever lived here was the rickety looking bunk bead in the corner. Next to it were stacked three or four old cauldrons with the sides blown out of every one. File cabinets, stacks of papers and a large desk took up the rest of the space.
"Well, Fred and I live above the shop now and we sort of turned this room into the office. Mum just feels better if we keep coming around the house from time to time to do work and visit." George said pulling a chair for Hermione and handing her a cup of tea.
Hermione took a deep sip of tea as George sat on the edge of the desk. She felt like she should start the unavoidable conversation. "I'm really sorry about the way I over reacted tonight. Its just that after what happened, I have some things to work through."
George took a sip of his own tea and looked at her closely. He wasn't going to try to figure out her secret, or the reason behind her odd behavior. He quite frankly wasn't sure what to say at this point, no girl had ever reacted so strangely after he had kissed her under the mistletoe or wherever.
He watched as Hermione rose from her seat and stood in front of him, "Please say something." She begged. What was there to say? He was quite confused as to what to do next because he was so unsure of her boundaries and if she even harbored feelings for him. He resolved to a helpless look on his face.
To his surprise Hermione smiled, "The infamous George Weasley has nothing to say? Cat got your tongue?"
At this George grinned and still said nothing, which made Hermione laugh openly. At least she had the guts to crack the ice.
"I want to be with you George." Hermione said growing serious again. "But I need you to be patient with me." She set her cup onto the desk beside him and looked into his eyes.
"If you want me to be patient, then I will be patient. I can tell you're hurting, and I can tell you're hiding something. Just let me know when you need me to help you." George said finally. He refrained from reaching for her, unwilling to set her off again.
Hermione's eyes filled with tears, "That is all I can ask for." She said as she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, " I fear I will need your support sooner rather than later and I swear I'll tell you."
George hugged her to him, "Come, lets not ruin our Christmas evening with talk of bad memories. Lets go downstairs before they start without us." He said and made to stand up but Hermione stopped him.
"One more thing." She said and drew him closer, "Will you have dinner with me Monday night?"
George grinned, "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Hermione smiled, "Good. You'll be the first date I've had in years."
George laughed and nodded, "Oh, I'm honored!"
Hermione giggled and gently pulled him into a kiss.
Hermione had never had a better night. She was with her old friends enjoying a wonderful evening and she even had a date!
A/N: Please review respectfully. I appreciate all constructive criticism and praise. It is the only way writers can grow.
Chapter 3
The next afternoon Mrs. Granger briskly moved about Hermione's room fussing over this and that. "Mum will you give it a rest already? I'm 21 years old, I think I can decide what's best for myself, besides, there's no way I am going to miss the Weasley Christmas party. Now where's my really soft red sweater?" Hermione asked as she shoved clothes aside in her duffel bag. "Didn't Daddy grab it? I asked him to."
Her mother opened the closet door and grabbed her daughter's red sweater and dark blue jeans that she had hung on in there the day before. "Here they are dear, and I know perfectly well you are capable of making your own choices, but I heard you cry yourself to sleep last night and I'm just concerned about how your feeling about all this. I know you were pulled into an ally and bea." Hermione turned and saw her mother slouch onto her bed and cover her face with her hands.
"Oh mum," Hermione said softly and moved to sit next to her mother on the bed. "I'm okay. Really I am, see? Good as new!" Hermione said spreading her hands out in front of her. She turned to her mother and tried her best to keep a grin on her face. She just couldn't bear to tell her mother everything that had happened that night. She couldn't bear to horrify her mother any more at the moment although it killed her to keep such a huge and horrible secret from her.
Her mother seemed to sense that there was something her daughter was keeping from her, "Are you sure there isn't anything else you need to tell me honey? Whatever it is, we can work through it." Mrs. Granger said, her voice shaking.
"No mama, there isn't. Now help me finish getting ready, I still can't lift my arms above my head to put my sweater on or fix my hair. So you remember when you used to fix my hair in that sweet little ponytail on the back of my head? Why don't you fix me one and spice it up a little!" Hermione laughed and wrapped her arms around her mother.
Finally at 6:00 p.m. Hermione apparated into the busy kitchen at the Burrow. It was a few seconds before anyone realized she was there, but finally Ron (who she had apparated directly next to) turned and did a double take. "Hermione!" He cried and pulled her into a hug. It was all Hermione could do to suppress the grunt of pain as her back and shoulders protested the strain of the hug.
"How are you Ron?" Hermione asked hastily pulling back and placing a loving but restricting hand on his chest and patting him a few times.
Ron smiled oblivious to anything, "I'm great, but really how are you feeling? Is that Relaxer Elixir helping at all?" He asked, a look of concern passing over his handsome features. Hermione took a good look at him for the first time in ages. Ron had grown up a lot, and into a perfectly handsome young man. He was serious, thoughtful and perfectly charming.
She smiled and cupped his cheek, "Yes its worked miracles, Thank you Ron."
Ron grinned back, "That's good, hey do you want some egg nogg? It's homemade!"
"That would be wonderful!" Hermione said as Ron left to fetch a cup.
"Hey Hermione! When did you get here?" She recognized Harry's voice from behind her. She turned and saw Harry leaning in the stairwell doorway with his arm around Ginny.
"Just now, and I see you two have finally wised up and faced the inevitable." Hermione said winking at the blushing red head.
"Honey, I think everyone knew we were going to get together before we did!" Ginny said grinning up at Harry. Hermione noticed that Harry, to, had grown into a handsome young man. She imagined that he probably looked just as handsome as his father had at his age. Ginny and Harry made a handsome couple that reminded Hermione of pictures she'd seen of James and Lily.
"Hermione you look so pretty in that outfit! And I love your hair like that, it's so cute!" Ginny exclaimed gesturing to Hermione's simple ponytail. Her mother had gone one extra step to wrap a stand of hair around the tie to make it look like the strand was holding the ponytail together.
"Oh, thanks Gin." Hermione blushed. At that moment Ron appeared at her shoulder holding a cup of chilled egg nogg that he handed to Hermione. She took a sip and relished in the smooth creamy cinnamon flavor.
"MMmm, this is SO good Ron." Hermione said taking another sip.
He laughed, "Thanks but I didn't make it. You know me and cooking," he said with a laugh, "But mum might appreciate your compliments. She probably wants to talk to you."
"Oh right, I'll go say Hi. See you later." Hermione said and left to find Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh it's wonderful to see you feeling so well dear, you gave us a dreadful scare." Mrs. Weasley said after she and Hermione had been talking for a while. "OH BUGGAR!" She cried suddenly, "The tarts are burning, do excuse me dear we'll catch up later!" Mrs. Wealey said and bustled off.
Hermione stood in the center of the deserted den wondering where in the world everybody had gone. She supposed by the noise that most of the Weasley family and their friends were either in the kitchen or some other room in the house.
Hermione was content to take a moment to herself. She was tired of telling everybody that she felt fine even though she appreciated his or her concern. As she stood gazing at Mr. Weasley's family clock, of which all the spoons were pointing to "home" she heard light footsteps behind her and felt a pleasing shiver run up her spine.
"That's dangerous you know." Said a familiar voice into her ear.
Hermione turned to face him; "What are you talking about George?" Hermione asked grinning, "For once I'm not doing anything dangerous."
George gave her a mysterious smile that made her heart leap into her throat and a warm feeling creep into her stomach. In the soft light of the den, George had never looked more attractive in his black pants and royal blue button up. Of course the twins had always been very attractive, and it was every girls dream to date one of them while they were at Hogwarts, but that all seemed deep in the past.
George moved closer, and Hermione could make out the light scar above his lip that was illuminated from the flickering light of a nearby scented candle. She wanted to reach out and trace it with her finger. "Yes, you are. It is very dangerous to stand in a dim room, looking so very beautiful. And worst of all, you are standing in a dim room, looking so very beautiful, underneath the mistletoe." George said quietly drawing still closer. Hermione glanced above her head. Sure enough, a delicate bushel of mistletoe tied with ribbon was dangling directly over her head.
Suddenly she could smell George's delicious cologne, as she lowered her gaze she became face to face with George. "I guess there's only one thing left to do." George gently cupped her face and slowly brought his face closer to hers. Her heart was pounding; she wanted to kiss him so badly.
"Did I mention you look beautiful tonight?" George asked. She nodded and he softly placed his lips on hers. It was like fireworks filled her head. She was so overcome with the wonderful feeling of George's kiss she couldn't think of another thing. His lips expertly moved against hers, and his tongue ran along her bottom lip sending chills up her spine as he asked for entrance. She opened her lips and his tongue enticingly darted between them. Hermione's knees grew week as George deepened the kiss. He dropped his hands from her face to her hips and pulled her against him, she clutched at his shoulders for stability and dug her fingers in the hair at the nap of his neck. He began to massage her tongue with his and Hermione, who obviously hadn't had as much experience as George began to run out of air.
Suddenly, Hermione felt a pressure constrict her throat. George had lightly placed a hand on her shoulder near her neck, but somehow it made her feel suffocated. She pulled away from the kiss and choked for air. She stepped away from him and clutched at her neck.
"I'm sorry George." She gasped.
George looked surprised and concerned, "Did I do something wrong? What's the matter Hermione?"
Hermione felt tears in her eyes, "No! It's not you.it's me. I don't know why.I can't.it's just."
A look of recognition passed over George's face, "I think I understand. You don't have any feelings for me?"
"No! It's not that! I mean I do have feelings for you George." Hermione took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She was not going to blow this. "I can't explain it right now George. That kiss it was wonderful, and I would love for a thousand more to happen between us, but I just don't have." Hermione stopped, she couldn't tell him. She didn't want him to know, he would think she was disgusting and he wouldn't want anything more to do with her.
"What? Please tell me. What don't you have?" George stepped forward and took her hands. She felt crowded and confined and she hated it. She resisted the urge to yank her hands away. She felt terrible! How could she even hope to become romantic with him if the mere closeness of a man made her feel like a cornered animal?
"Please, I'll do anything Hermione. I have liked you for so long, I have wanted to kiss you and be close to you but I haven't been able to. I didn't know how to tell you! What's wrong?" George asked as a tear escaped from one of Hermione's brown eyes and ran down her cheek. George wiped it away with the tip of his finger.
Hermione sighed as the tight feeling in her chest and throat began to ease and was replaced by the wild thumping of her heart. "George, a part of me has been taken forever, and I will never get it back. I'm not used to that part of me being gone, and I don't know what kind of a person I am without it. I don't know if I will ever be able to love without it, and I don't know if I will ever be the same again."
George looked into her eyes. "I don't understand. What was taken from you? What's missing? From what I have seen tonight, you are still the same kind and loving person that my family and I have always known."
Hermione swallowed and licked her lips, "I'm not really ready to talk about it yet." She said almost harshly. "I'm sorry."
George just looked at her.
"Hey you two! Dinner is ready, this is the biggest turkey in the history of England George, come and help me eat it before it flies off the table!" Fred called from the kitchen doorway.
"We better go in there." Hermione said and turned to walk to the table.
George caught her hand before she could walk away, "Hermione I don't understand what you went through, and if its not something you're uncomfortable talking about right now then that's fine. But don't play mind games with me okay?" George said looking directly into her eyes. "I want to talk after dinner." He said and let her hand drop to her side.
Hermione stared up at him for a moment then nodded.
Dinner was delicious as always and the energy in the air seemed to climb throughout the meal. Hermione ate as much as she could stomach and picked at the remainders on her plate. She kept sneaking sidelong glances at George down the table. He looked a little glum but nevertheless kept up an entertaining conversation with Fred, Harry and Ginny.
After Mrs. Weasley's delicious dessert puddings, the group went into the den for coffee, tea and cakes.
Hermione stood near the doorway and watched as George muttered to Fred. He stood up and made his way to Hermione. "Can I pour you a cup of peppermint tea?"
Hermione nodded, "Thank you."
George collected two cups of tea and motioned for her to follow him. "Lets talk my old bedroom."
They walked to the second floor and Hermoine suddenly felt nervous. She knew George was a good and honest person and would never force anything on her, but that didn't suppress the anxious feeling she was getting. "George, won't that look kind of bad on our behalf?"
George opened the bedroom door and held it open for her, "No, they won't do the gift exchange until after tea, besides I told Fred we were going to talk."
"This was your old bedroom?" Hermione asked as she looked around. The only thing that suggested the twins had ever lived here was the rickety looking bunk bead in the corner. Next to it were stacked three or four old cauldrons with the sides blown out of every one. File cabinets, stacks of papers and a large desk took up the rest of the space.
"Well, Fred and I live above the shop now and we sort of turned this room into the office. Mum just feels better if we keep coming around the house from time to time to do work and visit." George said pulling a chair for Hermione and handing her a cup of tea.
Hermione took a deep sip of tea as George sat on the edge of the desk. She felt like she should start the unavoidable conversation. "I'm really sorry about the way I over reacted tonight. Its just that after what happened, I have some things to work through."
George took a sip of his own tea and looked at her closely. He wasn't going to try to figure out her secret, or the reason behind her odd behavior. He quite frankly wasn't sure what to say at this point, no girl had ever reacted so strangely after he had kissed her under the mistletoe or wherever.
He watched as Hermione rose from her seat and stood in front of him, "Please say something." She begged. What was there to say? He was quite confused as to what to do next because he was so unsure of her boundaries and if she even harbored feelings for him. He resolved to a helpless look on his face.
To his surprise Hermione smiled, "The infamous George Weasley has nothing to say? Cat got your tongue?"
At this George grinned and still said nothing, which made Hermione laugh openly. At least she had the guts to crack the ice.
"I want to be with you George." Hermione said growing serious again. "But I need you to be patient with me." She set her cup onto the desk beside him and looked into his eyes.
"If you want me to be patient, then I will be patient. I can tell you're hurting, and I can tell you're hiding something. Just let me know when you need me to help you." George said finally. He refrained from reaching for her, unwilling to set her off again.
Hermione's eyes filled with tears, "That is all I can ask for." She said as she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, " I fear I will need your support sooner rather than later and I swear I'll tell you."
George hugged her to him, "Come, lets not ruin our Christmas evening with talk of bad memories. Lets go downstairs before they start without us." He said and made to stand up but Hermione stopped him.
"One more thing." She said and drew him closer, "Will you have dinner with me Monday night?"
George grinned, "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Hermione smiled, "Good. You'll be the first date I've had in years."
George laughed and nodded, "Oh, I'm honored!"
Hermione giggled and gently pulled him into a kiss.
Hermione had never had a better night. She was with her old friends enjoying a wonderful evening and she even had a date!
A/N: Please review respectfully. I appreciate all constructive criticism and praise. It is the only way writers can grow.