A/N: This story heats up a little in this chapter but there will be no sex, yet. Sorry it took me so long.

The sun blinded Hermione when she roused the next morning, causing her to curse loudly.

"Did Hermione just curse?" Ron asked.

"Sod off, Ron" Ginny hissed and turned back to Hermione shaking her gently again. "Hermione, wake up"

Hermione opened her eyes, letting them adjust to the light.

"You didn't make it to the bed" Ginny observed. "You must have gotten home late"

"Yeah" Hermione told her standing up and brushing past her three friends.

During her long shower she did some serious thinking, deciding that she did in fact have a small crush on George. The problem was what to do about it. She couldn't keep hanging out with him and being completely platonic because she was most surely kiss him again.

Hermione made the decision as she was straightening her hair; she would go and talk to George today. I am a Gryffindor, she told herself, and I am brave. The worst he can do is reject me and I can get over that.

Mrs. Weasley was making lunch when Hermione came downstairs.

"Hi Mrs. Weasley" she called brightly. "I was going to make a couple of sandwiches, I am eating lunch with a friend."

"What friend?" Ron asked.

Hermione turned on him.

"A friend, just a friend" Hermione snapped. "Not that you would even know what that word means, Ronald"

"Hermione" Harry started.

"I just can't talk about this right now" Hermione interrupted him.

"Here you go, Hermione" Mrs.Weasley said sweetly handing her a bag full of food. "Have fun"

"Thank you" Hermione replied. "I will be back before dinner."

Without another word to the rest of them Hermione apparated to Diagon Alley.

Hermione paced outside of i Weasley's Wizarding Wheeze's /i nervously. She had already tried to go inside four times but kept chickening out.

"Hermione" lee Jordan said walking up with a bemused expression on his face. "You ok?"

"I am fine" Hermione squeaked out avoiding eye contact with him.

"Are you here to see George?" lee asked still trying to catch her eye.

'Yeah" Hermione finally admitted.

"Come on" Lee motioned for her to follow. He threw open the door, calling Fred and George.

"Were back here" Fred responded from a room in the back.

Fred and George were sitting at a large table looking over receipts and paperwork.

"Hermione" Fred said in surprise. "We are seeing an awful lot of you as of late"

George stood and gave Hermione a hug.

"Hi" he whispered

"Hi" she whispered back

When George pulled away Hermione held up the bag.

"I brought you lunch" she told him.

"Thank you" George replied. "Let's take that upstairs"

Hermione followed George out; she caught a knowing glance between Fred and Lee, which caused her to blush.

The apartment was small and bare. Hermione guessed they only used it to sleep and eat.

George pulled out a chair in front of small table in the kitchen. Hermione smiled and shyly and sat down.

"Your bloody wonderful" George commented when he saw what she brought. "The only thing I really miss about the Burrow is my mum's food."

Hermione laughed and took her portion of the lunch. For the first few minutes they ate in silence, staring at one another and looking away quickly.

Finally Hermione cleared her throat and started the conversation.

"I wanted to talk about what happened last night," she said.

George smiled but his turned a little red as if he were embarrassed.

"I was wondering which one of us was going to bring that up," George said.

"I am really sorry I ran off' Hermione told him.

"I was a little offended," George admitted. "I am not that bad of a kisser am I?"

"No, that wasn't the problem" Hermione whispered.

"I don't get it then" George said looking perplexed.

"I am attracted to you" Hermione told him. "And if I keep hanging out with you, I am going to kiss you again"

"I wont complain about that," George teased causing her to blush. "But maybe you should"

"I don't understand" Hermione replied.

"I am not boyfriend material," George admitted. "I am really attracted to you but I can't be your boyfriend"

"I am not asking you to" Hermione said interrupting him. "I just got out intense relationship, I do not want anything serious."

"What are you saying?" George asked.

"I am saying that I want to be with you, I want to be more than friends but I want to it to be causal" Hermione answered,

"You sure?" George prompted. "That doesn't really seem like you"

"Let me decide who I am" Hermione snapped.

"Ok" George replied.

Hermione smiled shyly and crossed the room. George stood up and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her into a passionate kiss. His tongue slipped across her lower lip and she quickly opened her mouth inviting him inside.

George pulled Hermione sat down on the couch pulling with him. For a few moments they stayed that way.

"Excuse me" Fred called from the doorway.

"Damn" George swore softly. 'I forgot to lock the door"

"Yes" Hermione chirped pulling away from George. "How can we help you?"

Fred was trying to hide a grin.

"George we are swamped down there" Fred advised his brother. "I could sue your help"

"Give me a minute" George replied.

"Snogging is not an excuse to skive off work," Fred warned.

George opened his mouth to say something but closed it quickly.

"I need to go anyway," Hermione told him. "I will see you later"

"Dinner tonight?" George asked.

"Sounds good" Hermione said. "I will meet you here at 7:00"

George walked Hermione to the door and kissed her softly.

"Bye" she said before apparating away.

Ginny was waiting for Hermione in the room after lunch. Hermione apparated in and found her sitting on the bed, chewing her bottom lip apprehensively.

"Hi" Hermione mumbled turning to face the mirror and brush her hair.

"Can we talk?" Ginny asked timidly.

"Sure" Hermione replied. "Go ahead, I don't have much to say"

Ginny sighed deeply but continued anyway.

"What we did was horrible" Ginny started again. "We acted like selfish prats"

"Yes, you did" Hermione interrupted her. Ginny stood up and faced Hermione.

"We don't want to lose you" Ginny continued. "Please, forgive us. We can't undo what we did but we can change, please?"

Hermione stared at her friend for a moment, wanting to make her sweat a little.

"Your forgiven" Hermione finally relented after a tense pause.

Ginny squealed and threw her arms around Hermione's neck, both girls began to giggle. They stopped when someone knocked on the door. They turned and found Ron and Harry smiling at them.

"So, is it just Ginny you forgave or is it all of us?" Harry asked.

"Come on" Hermione urge and hugged both Harry and Ron.

"Party at Draco's tonight" Harry told her when she released him. "You can bring you friend or you can come alone, whatever."

"I appreciate the gesture" Hermione replied "but I have dinner at 7:00, I would skip it but it's kind of a important"

"Who is it Hermione?" Ginny asked. "I am dying here"

Hermione giggled.

"I am sorry" Hermione apologized sincerely. "I am just not ready. If I tell you then it's real and I am not ready yet"

"Ok" Ginny replied looking little disappointed.

For the rest of the afternoon Hermione played Wizard's chest with Ron while Harry and Ginny alternated between sngging each other senseless and watching Ron and Hermione.

Her friends were already gone to Draco's by the time Hermione was getting ready for her dinner. She searched high and low for the perfect outfit, growing frustrated with unsuitable wardrobe.

"Agghh" Hermione cried in complete frustration, she threw herself onto the bed

"'Ermionee" Fleur called from the doorway. Hermione looked up and smiled at the woman. Hermione used to really dislike Fleur but after she married Bill she changed.

When Bill died during the war Hermione was terrified Fleur would fall apart but she didn't. Fleur immersed herself in motherhood and became even stronger; Hermione had a great deal of respect for her.

"Hi Fleur" Hermione greeted her.

"Are you ok?" Fleur asked coming in and taking a seat on the bed.

"I am just frustrated," Hermione admitted. "I have a date tonight and I hate all of my clothes. I am not cut out for dating"

"Zat ess not true" Fleur told her gently. "Let's take a look at your wardrobe and see what we can find"

"There is nothing there," Hermione warned her. But Fleur began looking through the clothes a is she didn't even hear Hermione. "Aha"

Fleur had a triumphant look on her face and held up a silver dress. She thrust it into Hermione's hand and looked at her expectantly.

Hermione fingered the soft material and held it up. It was a calf length, silver and black dress that her mother bought her before her sixth year. Hermione had little use for muggle dress clothes when at Hogwarts so she never wore the dress but she knew it fit.

"I think this will work" Hermione told Fleur. "Thank you"

"You welcome" Fleur replied, she kissed Hermione on the cheek and whispered, "have a wonderful time, you deserve it"

"Thank you" Hermione said softly as she watched Fleur leave the room. Hermione threw on the dress quickly, making sure the tags were off. She touched up here hair and hurried to George's shop.

"Hi" Hermione called when she approached the shop. Fred and George were standing the doorway talking both stopped abruptly when they saw her.

"Wow" George started, "you look..."

"Hot" Fred finished for him. George reached over and slapped his twin on the back of the head. Fred just started laughing and George rolled his eyes.

"Ready to go?" George asked and Hermione nodded her head. The two headed for the Leaky Cauldron and out into Muggle London.

George took Hermione to the same restaurant he did on their first outing. They didn't do any real talking during dinner. It was mostly wine induced, getting to know you conversation. What amazed Hermione is how little they actually knew about one another. For years the Weasley's had been an extended family for Hermione and all she knew about George was his liked to play pranks. She didn't know her had a muggle divers license and could drive a car without magic. She didn't know he would have rather been a chase than a beater in Quidditch. She didn't know that George used to want to be a healer but decided to pursue business instead.

When they were done with dinner George invited her back to his apartment and she decided to go. It was still early in the evening and she didn't want to go home just yet.

"So" George said once they were in his apartment. "Let's talk about us"

For a moment that worried Hermione, what if he had already changed his mind about her.

"I think it's time to tell me family about us" George told her and Hermione felt relieved.

"I agree" Hermione replied. "I think it's time for the joke to be over"

"Tomorrow then?" George asked. "Mom asked the whole family to come and spend the day, since Fleur is here with the baby. I think that would be the best time."

"Sounds good" Hermione said.

"Now" George started smiling seductively. He moved closer to Hermione on the couch capturing her in his arms, before she could even think she crashed her lips into his. For a moment that sat there tongues dancing, her hands running through his hair, his hands rubbing her lower back.

Hermione leaned back, lying down on the couch and she brought George with her. George kissed her neck causing chills to run up her spine. George sat up and looked down at Hermione, she was shocked to find that her gaze was full of desire. Maybe that's why she let him pull her dress down. His hands grazed over the top of her bra and the trailed down her stomach. No man had ever caused Hermione to feel this. Hermione unbuttoned George's shirt revealing a very muscular torso, Hermione couldn't help but have a new appreciation for Quidditch after seeing George's well-defined abs.

Hermione arched her back and let out a moan when George's fingers played with the waist ban of her panties.

"Is this ok?" George asked as his hand sneaked around her back and fingered the claps of her bra. It was all moving so fast and Hermione couldn't think straight. Did she want this? Yes, very much. Was she ready? That she wasn't sure of.

"Hermione" George prompted hoarsely.

"I-uh-I" Hermione stuttered.

"It's ok" George assured her. "If you don't want to, that's ok"

"I-uh-I" Hermione stuttered again and just as she was about to say yes, Hermione could her voices and the door opened. Fred, Lee, Angelina and Alicia were walking in; Hermione quickly pulled a blanket around her. The four stopped dead in their tracks and stared at George and Hermione.

"Hi" Fred said finally, "were just going to wait outside.

"Thank you" George replied. "I would appreciate that"

As soon as the door shut Hermione heard them collapse into giggles.

"Oh my" Hermione sighed. "That was..."

"Horrifying?" George suggested. He buttoned up his shirt as Hermione slipped into her dress. George helped Hermione to her feet.

"I better go" Hermione said finally, breaking an anxious silence.

"Hermione, I wasn't trying to push you into anything you weren't ready for" George told her.

"I know" Hermione answered. "I am not really sure what I am ready for yet"

"Just let me know" George replied. Hermione lifted up on her tiptoes and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Goodnight" she whispered.

"Goodnight" George answered and Hermione dissapperated to the Burrow.