It Wasn't Meant to Be Like This

Summary: A George/Hermione fic. They have slowly become friends and they both want to be more, but with a jealous Ron and an angry Harry will it ever be able to happen?

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters from the books. They belong to J.K. Rowling.

Authors Note: Please Read. Please Review. Thankyou.

Better Together – Jack Johnson

Chapter Eight:

Hermione sat expectantly on her bed, frowning slightly as Harry paced around the room. For one time in her life so was utterly confused to why someone was acting as they did. Harry had spent the past few weeks tormenting her over her 'relationship' with George because it would hurt Ron. Clearly, the person it had hurt was quite definitely not Ron.

"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked softly, not wanting to sound harsh as he looked on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Harry paused, looked at her, his eyes bright and wide. "Uh…"

Hermione closed her eyes slowly, biting her lips to stop herself from saying something cold. Even though she felt sorry for him at this moment she couldn't forget the way he had treated her, the way he had hurt her.

Harry caught the look on her face and sighed. "Look Hermione, I know I've been harsh and stuff to you, but it's just I've had a lot on my plate and …and, I don't know Mione, I really don't know." Harry said quickly, eyes glazing over as he realised he had no real point.

"You said you needed to talk to me? Talk to me Harry." Hermione replied wearily.

She watched him watch her and felt sick. He caught the look and sat down next to her.

"Look Mione, I…I wasn't upset about George for Ron…" Harry begun refusing to look at her. "I was angry for myself"

Hermione brushed off his hand. "And why were you angry?"

Harry gave her a curious look, "Why do you think I was angry?"

Hermione sat very still. "You told me…" she began to reply but was interrupted by Harry rudely, "Not what I told you, what you think Hermione"

Hermione paused and looked into his eyes. He looked pathetic. As she sat and his eyes begged her to answer him Hermione realised, he was in love with her.

"Umm…" Hermione replied slowly, feeling uncomfortable as Harry sat next to her.

He edged a bit closer, and subconsciously Hermione edged away.

"I like you Hermione" Harry whispered to her, lightly touching her arm.

It wasn't that she didn't like Harry, when he was being himself, a friend, he was a wonderful person. But as they sat in the dimly lit room, him gazing at her, touching her skin all she could think about was George. He made her want to throw up. Hermione fidgeted next to Harry very aware that he was looking at her, wanting a reaction.

"Harry I don't…" Hermione began but paused. She glanced at the window and watched the Weasley's down below. George was sitting at the table with Fred and some girl who Hermione had never seen before. Hermione's stomach jolted as she saw the girl place a hand on George's leg. George smiled at her and said something that made her laugh gleefully. Make him jealous.

Hermione turned around to face Harry again and said. "It's complicated Harry, you know that…"

He looked at her curiously. "But it's not a no?"

"No"

"But it's not a yes?" Harry continued a small twinkle in his eyes.

Hermione refused to look at him, she was hating herself for what she was doing.

"Not yet"

Hermione glanced out the window at George again and saw he was sitting closer to the mystery girl, well he obviously didn't want her.

It surprised the Weasley's, to say the least, when Hermione and Harry walked outside together, smiling and conversing civilly. Ron greeted them with a weird look but patted Harry on the shoulder encouragingly.

"Good to see you too talking again!"

Harry laughed and high fived Ron which made Hermione narrow her eyes. How immature.

"Hermione!" a voice called from across the lawn. Hermione turned and saw Ginny, crossed legged on the grass, waving her over.

"What was that all about?" Ginny whispered as Hermione got closer.

Hermione sat down and innocently replied, "What was what all about?"

Ginny rolled her eyes and slapped her arm playfully, "Harry..that?" she said inclining her head to Harry who was now examining his new broom with Ron.

Hermione felt a small blush creep up her cheeks. "I think, you know, how he's been acting lately? Well I think he felt a bit bad about it is all."

Ginny smirked. "Oh really? Because I was talking to him earlier and he told me something quite different."

Hermione, at that moment, found the gnome crawling around the bushes quite interesting.

Ginny continued watching her and continued, "…and he seemed to think he was going to ask you out."

"He didn't ask me out"

Ginny laughed. "But he nearly did didn't he?"

Hermione peeked up at her friend and nodded. "And I hated it"

"Did you say yes?"

Hermione frowned. "No. But I didn't say no either"

They sat in silence for a minute, then Hermione, seeing Ginny looking at a point over her shoulder, turned around to see what she was looking at. Hermione saw the mystery girl smile at George and whisper something in his ear, energetically pulling her up from his chair. Hermione glared at his retreating back and whipped her head around.

"Danielle is in love with him you know" Ginny said casually.

"Who?"

Ginny smiled inwardly. "Danielle Warlock…she was in the twins year at Hogwarts, but Ravenclaw. She and George have went out and it's kind of been on and off for years."

She felt sick. She was supposed to be one of his closet friends but he'd never even mentioned her.

"I didn't know"

Ginny pushed herself off the ground and offered a hand to Hermione. "I'm not surprised, why would George mention someone like her to you?"

Hermione brushed off her legs, "Why wouldn't he Ginny!"

Ginny merely walked away from her and shrugged her shoulders.

Hermione loathed the bitch.

Bitch was such a strong word, and so rarely used by her that when Hermione thought of her as a bitch, she knew that she must actually be one. That or she was jealous.

George hadn't done anything… inappropriate…which the Weasley's newest houseguest, but Hermione could tell, quite clearly, that from the way she hung off George at every moment she must be having something with him.

She wasn't even pretty!

Hermione growled the moment she though that, it's not like she was prettier.

But she's not even smart! Idiot, she was a RAVENCLAW; of course she's smart.

And she has an annoying voice! …. Well…that is true.

Hermione slammed the back fly screen at The Burrow and squeezed her eyes shut at the warm breeze flew at her. It was a relief to get out of the chaos of the house, especially as she was tirelessly trying to avoid Harry & Ron. Hermione headed towards the thick bush at the back of the garden, wanting to get drawn into the quiet heaven. Hermione felt her feet carry her towards a place George had often taken her. It was quiet and had strange flat rocks overlooking the grassy hills. Hermione smiled as she remembered the first time he had taken her there. Hermione had immediately run to the edge of the rocks wanting to get the best view but George had bellowed at her to stop. She'd turned and saw the worried look on George's face – he'd thought she would just keep running off the edge.

Hermione pulled the last branch away and stepped onto the soft grass. The only problem was someone was already there. Hermione knew she hadn't made much noise, and so she was still staring at the back of George. She allowed herself to indulge in the curve of his back before clearing her throat. George turned around, a small bit of worry in his eyes as he noticed her.

"Long time no see" he spoke smoothly.

Hermione kept quiet at his serious face. "She's a nice girl"

George frowned at her. "You've not said one word to her"

"Would you have?"

George shook his head, "It's not what you think Mione"

Hermione snorted, "And what is it that I think?"

George stood and walked over to her, Hermione instinctively moved backward causing George to freeze in his spot.

"You're angry with me"

"No I'm not!" Hermione replied stubbornly.

George placed a hand on his hip and wagged a finger at her. "Are too"

Hermione restrained herself from replying with a childish "Are not" before sighing deeply, "Why did you never mention her to me? Ever?"

George looked away from her and cleared his throat. "Well, It...Never really came up or anything…"

A thought had just occurred to Hermione. "Is she the girl from my graduation night..?"

George didn't reply, but it was all the answer she needed. "…And the one Fred mentioned you seeing before?"

The silence continued.

Hermione made an angry noise in her throat. "Oh it never came up did it George? Gee! I wonder why! How could you ever pretend to like me if I knew about the other girl!"

His cool façade crumbled as Hermione pushed him roughly in the chest.

"Oh and what about YOU miss perfect? I'm not stupid you know, I can see what's going on between you and Harry." George hissed. Hermione opened her mouth to defend herself but he continued, "…And I don't even need to see because he and Ron won't shut up about how he's finally nabbed Miss Granger!"

"He hasn't" Hermione said quietly.

"He may have well as"

Hermione heard a rustle behind George and saw Danielle coming up over the hill. She let out a strangled noise causing George to see her, but he merely looked and turned back to her.

"You know Hermione you want to know why things didn't work between us? They didn't work, and will never work because everytime we come close you keep sabotaging it" George didn't let her reply merely broke the eye contact he had with her and greeted Danielle with a hug.

She watched them for a moment, not fully comprehending what had just happened. George noticed she was still looking and this caused Hermione to angrily push her way back into the bush and towards the burrow.

"What happened?" Ginny called anxiously as Hermione stormed up the stairs, pushing off Harry as he tried to stop her.

Hermione flung open her door and slammed it shut again, immediately flying face first onto the bed. The tears had already started as she'd entered the Burrow.

The door creaked open and Hermione didn't move, she knew it would be Ginny. A weight sunk onto the mattress next to her.

"Is it George?"

Hermione mumbled into her pillow, but Ginny intuitively understood.

"…And Danielle?"

"Mhmm"

Ginny sat, silent for a moment. "They aren't very good together you know"

Hermione acted as if she hadn't heard. "It never lasts long"

Ginny sighed as Hermione refused to get up. "…And it won't this time. Especially since you are around Mione."

Hermione shuffled as Ginny moved off the bed.

"But Mione?" Ginny asked. Hermione looked up.

"Mione…do something about Harry first"

A/N

Thankyou to reviewers and sorry for the delay in this story. I apologise for the lateness but I've had severe writer's block and I'm in this chock a block time of exams. Harry/Hermione might have something but this is always going to be a Hermione/George story. Clearly.