Hermione POV

How do I get myself into these situations? I thought, as I stared awkwardly across the table of a cute pizzeria in Hogsmead. George seemed a bit fidgety himself, casting glances over my shoulder rather than right at me.

"So, how's the business going?" I threw out a random question, immediately regretting it. So blah, so obvious, so boring. I never had this problem talking to Ron. Sigh.

­"Erm, its going ok. It's a lot better than spending all day studying like I used to.. ok well like I was supposed to." I blushed at this, thinking about all the studying I liked to do. George took the hint quickly. "Oh, not that there is anything wrong with that." He lowered his eyes to the table and the unsettling silence was between us again.

We both looked up at each other at the same time. George's eyes wandered again over my shoulder, and I studied him for a moment. I could see bits of Ron in him, but George was a bit shorter, with a rounder face. Ron had grown at least an inch and a half above his older twin siblings. He also had a shorter nose than Ron's. His face wasn't as chiseled, no sign of the high cheekbones that made me melt. And yet, there was his pale skin, his scattered freckles, and his blue blue eyes. My stomach jumped, but settled when I realized they weren't Ron's eyes I was gazing into, they were George's. I suddenly felt horrible for this whole charade.

"George—"

"Hermione—"

We both blurted out at the same time.

A blush spread across George's cheeks. "Um, listen, before you go on, I have a confession." ­Oh bloody hell, he's going to say he likes me, what do I do? "You might hate me for this, but I just feel too bad pretending anymore, you're such a nice girl." Wait, what?

"I only asked you out to—"

"to make someone jealous!" I finished his sentence, piecing together the frequent glances behind me and the sudden confession.

I twisted around in my chair to see a strikingly beautiful blonde sitting with another boy. She looked familiar and I thought back to when I was flirting with George at the store. I slightly recalled him helping her out before talking to me. I looked back at George with wide eyes, only to see sadness in his.

"Oh George, you don't even know!" I started laughing hysterically, much differently from the girly giggle before. Much more like me. I was completely relieved. "I was doing the same." His eyes lit up.

"Oh, 'Mione, that makes me feel so much better. So, who's the lucky bloke?"

I blushed profusely, and lowered my eyes. "I can't say.."

"Oh come on, who am I gonna tell? I don't even go to Hogwarts anymore, so I never see anyone from there except Angie, Harry, Ginny, and…." His eyes widened and I noticed a glimmer of mischief. "…and RON!" He burst into a grin.

"Please, don't say a word!" I pleaded with George. His grin widened, but he looked very sincere.

"I promise. But Hermione, this isn't the way to get to Ron. He's so thick, he won't even realize this whole scam is for him."

"Well then, what do you suggest?"

"I have an idea…" And suddenly I felt much better, I had traded up from ditzy Lavender working on my side, to the master of scheming—George Weasley.

Sudden burst of inspiration at midnight…. My writers block has disappeared today! Plus, I couldn't go to bed without resolving the predicament Hermione has gotten herself into. This story may end within the next coupla chapters… tear! but who knows, perhaps there will be a sequel. Thanks for the wonderful reviews. I really enjoy them ahem (keep em coming!)