Disclaimer: Not mine.
Chapter 16: The Zoo: Part 1Hermione woke up the following morning feeling entirely rested and content. The sun was bursting into Ginny's bedroom and Hermione could hear birds singing just outside her window.
"Morning sleepyhead," a very familiar voice whispered in to Hermione's ear. Her eyes flew open in surprise.
"George! What are you doing in here? What if someone catches you!" She hissed, trying to keep her voice down.
"Oh Mione, you worry too much. Ginny's in the shower and no one else even knows I'm here. I apparated directly in," he whispered, kissing her forehead tenderly, "Are you ready for our big day at the zoo?"
"Well, not exactly. I am still in my pajamas you know," she pointed out. George surveyed her appearance with a smile.
"It's alright, I don't mind. These pajamas are perfect zoo attire," he told her pinching the little sliver of exposed stomach between her tight pink tank top and plaid boxer shorts.
"Georgeee," she groaned, embarrassed that he was acting this way while his mother was busy making breakfast a mere two floors below. She wriggled away from his tickling fingers but he scooped her up as she flailed about trying to suppress her exploding laughter. He held her tighter to his chest until she relaxed against him, settling her head on his shoulder and giving a little sigh. As he leaned over to kiss her, Ginny's door was flung open. George dropped his hold on Hermione, trying to muster some sort of innocent expression, as she was dumped ungracefully onto the bed. To Hermione's relief, however, it was only Ginny at the door. Still, Ginny was blushing horribly and backed out of the door mumbling incoherently,
"Oh my gosh you guys, I am so sorry. I'll just go back…to the bathroom. Yeah I left something there,"
"No Ginny, wait!" Hermione cried as she leapt towards the closing door. "It's really alright, we weren't doing anything. You can come in." Ginny blushed deeper but entered her room. She gave her brother a tentative, albeit bashful, smile and picked up a brush, running it forcefully through her wet, tangled hair. George seemed to finally unfreeze.
"Yeah Ginny, don't worry, I was just up here because, because she was having a nightmare. I heard her screaming and ran up to investigate. And I had to hold her like that to calm her down. You know, girls and their silly nightmares." Ginny raised her eyebrows suspiciously at her older brother who was quite oblivious to her reaction. He shot Hermione a grin and the thumbs-up sign as if to say "don't worry, I've got this covered." Hermione had to suppress her laughter.
"Um, ok George," Ginny answered, shooting a smile at Hermione.
"Um, George," Hermione said, returning Ginny's smile, "she knows."
"Knows what Hermione? About your chronic nightmares?" He asked, trying to appear innocent.
"I have no idea whether or not Hermione suffers from chronic nightmares. I presume you would be the expert on that, George, seeing as how you're the one sleeping with her these days," Ginny said tactlessly. Both George and Hermione's mouths dropped.
"Hermione!" He exclaimed, turning to face her with an accusing glare.
"Ginny!" She exclaimed, hands flying to her hips in a haughty manner.
"What?" Ginny laughed. "Look George, I forced her tell me. And I never would have done that if it weren't for your absolutely blatant adoration of her the last few days. The next time you want to hide a relationship, try not to ask her to come sleep with you at your place in the middle of the living room," she finished triumphantly. George hung his head, looking quite sheepish. "Well, now that I've thoroughly embarrassed you both, I think I'm off to see what's for breakfast," she announced. She headed for the door before being stopped by George.
"Hey Gin?" He asked tentatively.
"Yeah yeah, I know. I won't tell anyone. My lips are completely sealed," Ginny reassured him. As she pulled the door shut, though, she smiled devilishly and whispered to herself, "for now."
When the door clicked shut, Hermione looked at George tremulously.
"You're not mad at me, are you?" She asked. She was biting her lip in a deliciously cute sort of way, George noticed, which, of course, meant there was no way he could be mad at her.
"Nah, she knew anyways. But did you have to tell her everything?" He asked, kissing the tip of her nose. She giggled a little.
"Yes," she answered simply. George sighed. "Now do you think you could leave me alone so I can get ready for the zoo?" George nodded and, after kissing her, apparated outside so he could walk through the front door as if he had not been upstairs in his sister's room for a good 15 minutes kissing Hermione.
When Hermione arrived downstairs half an hour later freshly showered and dressed for the zoo (at least she hoped she was dressed appropriately for the zoo, she was not exactly certain of the proper attire), George was relaxing in the kitchen with the rest of his family. When he looked up at her, his eyes brightened considerably. He was downright beaming, and though Hermione should have probably begged him to tone it down with her eyes, she was proud of the effect she had on him. Though Ginny gave Hermione a knowing smile, and Harry looked at George suspiciously through narrowed eyes, Ron continued shoveling food into his mouth like it was his last meal, barely noticing Hermione's arrival in the kitchen. Though Hermione had been out of practice at interpreting his food-muffled questions, she finally decided he was asking her what she wanted to do that day. Hermione smiled inwardly, glad that Ron had not seemed to change at all in the last six years, at least as far as table manners were concerned. Sharing what she hoped was an inconspicuous look with George, Hermione realized she would have to break the news to Ron and Harry that she had other plans that day.
"Actually, Ron, I already agreed to visit the zoo with George this afternoon," Hermione said quietly.
"So what?" He said through a mouthful of eggs, "Just tell him you'd rather hang out with us. I'm sure you don't really want to spend any more time with him anyways," Ron pointed out. George looked offended and reached over to punch his brother in the arm with an indignant "Hey!"
"Oy, when did you get here?" Ron asked, looking quite surprised to see George sitting there. Ginny and Hermione rolled their eyes simultaneously.
"Maybe if you weren't so intent on eating everything in sight you would have already noticed that Hermione and George- hey that hurts!" Ginny exclaimed as Hermione stomped hard on her foot and George kicked her in the shin from across the table. Ron had already turned back to his breakfast and didn't even notice Ginny's near slip.
"Ron," Hermione said, trying to bring his attention back to the conversation at hand, "I've already made plans with George for this afternoon, but we'll be back before the train leaves," she promised. Ron shrugged and Hermione looked exasperatedly at Ginny.
"Shall we go then?" George asked, rising from his chair. Hermione nodded a little and followed him from the kitchen, waving goodbye to Ginny and promising to see them before going home.
As George and Hermione walked out the door of the Burrow and up the path to St. Ottery Catchpole, something dawned on Hermione.
"How exactly are we getting to this zoo?" She asked him.
"Oh we'll walk. It's not far at all. It's in the village," he told her. She looked at him skeptically.
"It is?" She asked. He nodded. "But what about all the muggles? Won't they see?" Hermione asked doubtfully. George laughed.
"Oh Hermione haven't you learned anything? Just trust me, ok?" He looked down at her so sweetly that Hermione ignored all logic and smiled up at him.
As they walked through the sweet little town of St. Ottery Catchpole, George seemed to float on air. Hermione couldn't help but be amused by how excited George was about the zoo. Quite suddenly, George stopped in front a tall lamppost, looking triumphant.
"Erm, what's going on?" Hermione asked uncertainly. George poked a yellowed, frayed poster that was tacked crookedly to the lamppost, announcing that some poor little pup had gone missing and displaying a number to call in case he was found. It looked terribly updated.
"A lost dog?" She asked uncertainly. George smiled mysteriously and glanced at his watch. He raised his hand (and Hermione's little one clutched within his) and rested it on the poster as the bell tower in the square struck 11 o'clock. Suddenly Hermione felt the uncomfortable tug behind her navel as she was jerked from the ground by the port key and deposited rather unceremoniously in front of a looming wrought iron fence, which read "The Wizard Zoo" in curling letters. Positively surprised by this turn of events, Hermione looked over to George and gave him her warmest smile.
A/N: Hi y'all I hope you're not disappointed by this chapter at all. I know I promised the zoo in this chapter but it just got a little too long to add the whole zoo experience in. I promise the real zoo is up next! As always, please read and review and let me know what you think!