A/N: The title of this chapetr wouldn't fit in the box but it is so funny that I wanted all of you to know. It's a title from a Fall Out Boy song.
Chapter 5: Champange for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends
Hermione woke up the next morning later than normal for her. She changed into a nice pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt, all while humming to herself.
Ron, Harry and Ginny were already at breakfast when she came down. "Good morning all" Hermione sang out cheerfully. She sat down across from Ron and began to eat.
"So I here someone got in awfully late" Harry teased. Hermione smiled.
"Not too late" Hermione defended herself playfully.
"Did you have fun?" Harry asked.
"It was fun, we just went to dinner in muggle London" Hermione advised him. "We are going out again tonight"
"Where are you going?" Harry asked.
"It's a surprise for me" Hermione admitted truthfully, because George had actually not told her where they were going. Hermione almost laughed at the expression on Ron's face. he and Ginny both looked as if they were ready to explode.
"Who is it that you're seeing?" Ginny asked trying to sound non chalant.
"Just an old friend" Hermione said causally.
"Do we know this old friend?" Ron asked sounding a lot less composed than Ginny.
"I really don't want to talk about" Hermione replied, excusing herself from the table. Once back in her room she smiled and chuckled to herself.
George really did know his siblings well; it was already driving Ron crazy. Hermione felt a stab of guilt as she pulled out a book. She tired to shake it away by opening the book and settling down to read.
"I will only keep this up for a couple of days and then let them in on it" Hermione said out loud. "We will have a good laugh about it"
About two hours later Ginny opened the door and grabbed her broom.
"Hermione" she said. "Draco, Pansy, Blaise and Daphne are downstairs. They are here to play quidditch. You should come down"
"I don't play quidditch" Hermione reminded her without lifting her eyes from the book.
"Then you could sit with pansy and Daphne and socialize" Ginny retorted.
Hermione sighed deeply and closed her book. "Ok but I am bringing this with me" Hermione told her holding up the book. "I like Pansy and Daphne but we don't have much in common." Hermione followed Ginny downstairs to greet her friends.
They played quidditch three on three; Harry's team (Ron and Ginny) just barely beat Draco's team (Blaise and Katie). When they were done Draco started tease Hermione they he always does.
"So I hear you have a boyfriend Granger" Draco said
"No, that is incorrect information" Hermione told him. "I am casually seeing someone"
"Oh" Draco laughed mocking a serious expression." I am sorry" "Well, who is it you are casually seeing?" Blaise asked.
"I don't really want to talk about it right now, I mean if it doesn't work out, I don't want to be disappointed" Hermione explained.
For a moment everyone was quiet, Draco finally cleared his throat and said.
"Well, it's too bad you have plans tonight or you could come to my party"
"What party?" Hermione asked. Draco looked at Harry and Ron obviously confused.
"I have been having get together at my house the last couple of weekends" Draco replied. "We have passed invites along through Ron and Ginny."
"This is the first I have heard of it" Hermione told him, her face growing warm with anger.
"They told us you declined because you felt out of place with out a date" Pansy told her looking embarrassed.
Hermione turned on her friends who were looking anywhere but her direction.
"Care to explain" Hermione prompted her friends. Ginny coughed a little and looked at Ron, who silently and fervently shook his head looking to Harry. Harry slumped down in his seat, staring at the floor.
"We knew that you felt out of place around people who were with their signigant others" Harry said finally after a moment. "We were just concerned.
"No" Hermione barked jumping to her feet. "You weren't concerned about me. You were tired of feeling bad for poor pitiful lonely Hermione. Well bugger off all of you" With that Hermione flew up the stairs and into Ginny's room. She felt so embarrassed, she wasn't sure she could ever face Draco and the other Slytherins again. She felt enraged at her so called friends, how could they put her in that position?
Quietly she slipped into the bathroom taking a long shower. When she was done she started on the daunting task of straightening her hair.
By the time she was done with that she went into the room she shared with Ginny, which thankfully was empty. Hermione threw open her trunk and started to got through her clothes. Tonight she felt like a change and none of her clothes felt right. Then she found some older clothes she never wore, things Viktor bought for her.
Hermione pulled out a red tank top and short black skirt that flared a little. After slipping on those clothes and putting a little bit of make up, she was shocked at the transformation. Hermione hadn't felt truly beautiful in so long but tonight she felt hot.
Ron, Harry and Ginny were just finishing up dinner when Hermione came down the stairs.
"Mrs.Weasley" Hermione called coming into the kitchen.
"Yes, Dear" Mrs.Weasley answered.
"I may out pretty late tonight, later than I usually am, is that OK?" Hermione asked.
"You are of age dear, you can stay out as long as you want" Mrs. Weasley replied looking apprehensive. "Just be careful"
"I will" Hermione called as she headed outside. She gave the three at the table a scathing glare that made all of them flinch and she was gone.
George was waiting for her outside of the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione almost gasped when she saw him. He was wearing a black slacks and sports coat with a red shirt and no tie. His red hair, a little longer than Ron's was hanging in his eyes. He looked gorgeous.
"Hey" Hermione called when she got her voice back. George looked up and Hermione could see the shock in his eyes.
"Wow" he said smiling "You look amazing"
"Thank you" Hermione replied. "You don't look half bad yourself"
"Are you ready?" George asked.
"Yes" Hermione replied.
George held out his arm to her which she took. They walked arm and arm through Diagon Alley, George evading all questions about the destination.
"Here we are" George announced a few moments later. Hermione looked around saw a large brick building with winding stairs that led to a door. There was a line of people waiting to get in. The sign read "Golden Snitch".
"A night club?" Hermione questioned as George led her up the stairs.
"Yes, actually Oliver Wood opened this place a dew months ago" George advised her. "It's like a muggle night club, pretty cool place, I come here often"
"I thought Oliver played Quidditch" Hermione said
"He was, until the war." George answered. "He quit and went into business for himself"
Hermione looked at the crowd around the door.
"We'll never get in" Hermione hissed.
George smiled in response and grabbed her hand leading her to the door. The large doorman looked at George and to Hermione's surprised he smiled.
"Mr.Weasley" he greeted. "Your brother is already here"
"Thank you" George replied, gently guiding Hermione through the gate by the small of her back.
"By the way Tony" George told the doorman. "This is Hermione Granger, a very close friend of mine. She may start coming here with us on regular basis"
Hermione smiled at him and he tipped his hat. George pulled Hermione away. They passed a large dance floor, the bar and several tables. He led her up anther flight of stairs. At the end of the hall they stopped in front a set of metal double door, labeled V.I.P...
The room wasn't actually a room; it was a balcony that over looked the night club.
Lee Jordan, the twin's best friend, was draped over one of the plush, arm chairs paying poker were Fred Weasley and the Creevey bothers. Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnett, two former members of the Gryffindor quidditch team were watching.
Fred looked up as Hermione and George walked in. He eyebrows raised questiongly when he saw Hermione but he greeted her warmly.
"Hi Hermione" he said standing up to give her a little hug.
"Hi Fred" she responded.
"Whoa" lee called. "It has been forever since I've seen you. How have you been?"
"I've been good" Hermione replied. "And you?"
"I have been good" lee answered. He looked her up and down, grinning appreciatively. "And if I may so, you are looking mighty fine this evening."
Hermione giggled and blushed at this statement. She hugged both Colin and Dennis Creevey, and wasn't the least bit surprised when they advised they were working at the joke shop as interns.
"So, what are you doing here?" Fred asked after Hermione was settled onto the couch between Colin and Dennis,
"To what do we owe the pleasure of you company this evening?"
"It's long story" Hermione told him.
"Not really George commented, turning form his conversation with Lee. He sat down and told Fred a condensed but accurate version of her problem with Harry, Ron and Ginny.
"You guys are wicked" Angelina commented after hearing about the payback.
"The little gits deserve it" George retorted, he no longer seemed amused with the situation after hearing about the incident with Draco.
"Whatever' Hermione replied."I am done with the whole situation. Right now, I just want to have fun, so Fred, deal me in"
"Yes mam" Fred saluted dealing the cards for the next hand of poker.
Four hands later Hermione had thoroughly trounced them all and hurt the boy's ego.
"Come on" Angelina said laughing. She pulled freed and Lee to their feet. "Let's go dance"
"Ok" Fred agreed giving Hermione a very pathetic look.
"Let's go" George said trying to pull Hermione up.
"No" Hermione said. "I don't dance"
"You can't just sit here" George urged her. "It will be fun"
Hermione laughed when she saw George giving her a rather effective puppy dog face.
"Fine" she groaned following him out to the dance floor.
Hermione never realized dancing could be. George bought her a couple of drinks and he turned around the dance floor to muggle dance music. Just as she was dealing wore out the fats music stopped, the lights dimmed and slow song started.
Hermione started to leave the dance floor and George stopped her.
"Where are you going?" he asked smiling. He wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist and she didn't pull away. His smell was intoxicating and she felt the need to be closer.
i What is going on, she thought, I can't possibly have a crush on George. Hermione thought she must be imagining when she felt his arms tighten around her but she pressed her cheek to his. I won't think, Hermione told herself, for once in my life I will enjoy the moment regardless of what it means.
George pulled away, his face flushed. He looked at Hermione, his eyes full of passion and before she knew it their lips crashed into one another. The kiss was intense and Hermione felt as if she were being pulled away by the tide. When George finally broke the kiss, Hermione came back to reality.
"I have to go" Hermione stuttered, running out before George had a chance to speak.
