Hermione slammed the door, listening to it shake on its hinges. WHY! She screamed in her mind. Why did she always have the uncanny ability to make a scene, and in the process embarrass herself? Why was she so sensitive? Why was she so intolerant? She was just as much to blame for everything as George was. George had given her chances, which she hadn't taken. Yes, he'd also made mistakes but when it came down to it, it was her who was always making the final decision. Had she bothered to address the issues that stopped her from having a relationship with him? No. He was right. It was always one thing or the other. First Ron, then Harry… and with Harry, well, that was a weak excuse. How come she was so scared?

Why did she always have to be scared?

George glared at the door. He could feel Danielle's and his mother's eyes frozen on his back. They expected him to rant, to rave, to rush out the door after her. George then did something very unexpected – he laughed. He turned his head slightly to glance at Danielle who smiled weakly at him; so much was said in that smile. He knew that she knew they were never going anywhere. As long as he had known Danielle she had known Hermione was something special, and as a kind, generous Gryffindor, she would always do the 'right' thing and let George go.

George gave her one last grin and flung the door open, grabbing a coat on his way out. He paused momentarily to try and see if she had hung around. He immediately spotted her sitting on a stone ledge about 20ms away.

Drawing a deep breath he yelled "IS THAT THE BEST YOU'VE GOT?"

He saw her back tense as he drew slowly towards her. His heart rushing a mile a minute pounded as she turned her head slightly to look at him, her face unreadable.

"Is that all you give us then Hermione? After we give you a place to stay, a family?" He continued in a bit of a softer voice, after all, there was no need for everyone to hear their conversation.

Hermione's face tightened but as she opened her mouth to retort he continued, continually moving closer towards her.

"All you do is say how bad I've treated you, how I don't care for you and how much I huuuuurt you. Did you ever wonder, Hermione, how much you've hurt me?"

George was now standing only a few meters away from her.

"No"

It was not the reply he'd expected. Taking into consideration her past actions he'd prepared himself for a slap, a lunge, a bright red face and frizzy hair shouting at him in indecipherable long words. But all he'd gotten was a simple "No", and it told him all he needed to know.

"So then you never really loved me did you?" He replied calmly, ignoring the sick sinking feeling in his chest and stomach.

"I guess I was selfish" she answered quietly, her cheeks tingeing pink.

A thick lump formed in his throat, "I guess you were"

They stood, for what they both thought was eternity, arms loose, heads bowed, both refusing to look at each other.

He wondered what she was thinking, what she was feeling. Was she ashamed? Did she not care about him at all? And why?

His thoughts suddenly changed as he felt something rub up against him. Opening his eyes his mouth would have dropped had Hermione not been there to stop it. Tingles rushed through his body as her small hands cupped his face. Her brown almond shaped eyes looked into his, and despite the red rims around them he hadn't seen her look more beautiful.

"Just because I was selfish…" Hermione said slowly, pressing herself firmly against him, "Doesn't mean I don't love you"

…and then she kissed him.

A/N – A teaser for the final chapter, sorry about not updating in oh, let me see, months. Reviews doooo help authors write the final chapters though, mmmm reviews.