A/N: Sorry for the wait y'all!! Happy reading!!!

Those five words haunted George even though it had been three days since they had been spoken. He sat in his dorm, staring out the window at the falling snow. Thoughts of Hermione raced through his head as though they were trying to get out. He had tried to talk to her, but she ignored all his attempts. Sighing heavily, he stood and walked to the common room. To his left, he saw Hermione in all her glory. Her brown hair fell in soft curls around her face as she leaned over a huge book. He could barely make out her eyes as the scanned the page quickly. He started over to her, but decided against it. He made his way to Fred and Lee who were on the other side of the common room.

"Hey George! We have new prank we can pull! All we need is your maps!" Fred smiled as George took a seat next to him. eye fixed intently on Hermione.

"Yea. They're in my trunk upstairs." he mumbled, now turning to look at Fred. Fred could see the distant hurt that shone in his brother's eyes. He felt sorry for him because he knew what it was like to be rejected.

"George, you gonna be ok man?" Fred asked patting him on the back.

"Yea, but I gotta get out of here. Later." George answered walking to the portrait hole. A pair of cinnamon eyes followed his exit, tears silently falling.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry watched as Hermione glanced up from her book and watched as George exited the common room. Tears glided down her cheeks only to be wiped away quickly. He still didn't exactly know why she kept crying everytime she saw George, but he was going to find out. He tapped her lightly on the shoulder to get her attention.

"Hermione? Can I ask you something?" he whispered. When she turned around, he noticed the red that outlined her eyes. She nodded silently. "Why do you cry everytime you see George?" At this question, her eyes grew wide. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came. She sighed heavily in defeat.

"I love him, Harry and I can't be with him." she said, more tears beginning to form.

"Why? Does he not love you back?"

"No, he does love me, but I'm scared to Harry. After what happened with Ron how can I trust again?" she said, tears now pouring down. Harry pulled her to her feet and out of the common room. He walked her into the library and sat down in a secluded corner.

"Now that there's not much of an audience, why do you feel you can't trust George? He's not like Ron."

"I know, I know. It's just, my heart is still healing from its previous wound. I feel like I'm rushing into it, but then again, I don't think I believe in love anymore! I mean, it might exsist, but sometimes, I really doubt it."

"Hermione, George is nothing like Ron. Yes, you got hurt, but you know what you do? Get through it and move on! You can't run from hurt, Hermione, but when you do get hurt, that doesn't mean you can't trust people anymore. You take that risk with any relationship." These words sunk into her head and actually made sense. She threw herself from the table. Her chair fell behind her with a thud.

"I have to go!" she said fiercly and ran from the library. She ran down the hall with amazing speed. Turning into an old classroom, she sat down at a table. Tears poured from her eyes. "What did do? Oh god what did I do?" she cried, barely able to speak. She sat there for while, trying to calm herself. She finally calmed and walked slowly out of the room. Immedietly she ran into a hard object.

"Hermione? Is that you?" George asked looking down shocked. He noticed she was crying. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"I...um...it's nothing George! I have to be going now!" she said quickly, turning to run.

"Oh no! Hermione, you are telling me what's wrong!" he said exasperatedly, grabbing her arm gently.

"Please, no. I'll tell you later! I promise!" she begged.

"Hermione, please tell me. You can trust me." he begged back, rubbing his hands up and down her arms trying to calm her. She sighed, giving up.

"George, I....I'm afraid. I love you so much, but I don't want to be hurt again! I can't and I won't." she answered, beginning to cry again.

"Hermione, is that why you said you can't be with me?" he asked looking down into her eyes. She looked up and nodded. He let out a chuckle. She looked up, her eyes widening in shock. How could he be laughing?

"Why is that so funny?" she asked, anger now filling her veins.

"Hermione, don't you see? I'm not Ron!! I'm much better looking!" he joked. Noticing she didn't find it very funny, he continued to explain. "I'm not going to hurt you! Ron didn't know what he wanted, but Mione, I do know what I want. I want," he paused before leaning down to kiss her. "you." he finished, now letting his lips capture hers. She melted under his touch. When they parted, she looked up to his eyes and smiled.

"I know what I want too."