A/N: Written for a contest in The Third Floor Corridor. Special thanks to Sodapop77 for reading this chappy before everyone else. ;)

Brighter

Disclaimer: Not mine, but oh…twins.

Chapter 7: Scheming

After about 30 minutes of joking and laughing with the Twins and Beth, Hermione got up and excused herself to the ladies room. Beth was positively beaming when she got up, and that made Hermione a little uneasy. She had noticed Beth and Fred shooting looks at each other, and they seemed to be having a conversation with their eyes. Hermione was used to that going on between the twins, but it made her wonder what was going on anyway. She hoped Beth wouldn't mention their previous conversation about George while she was gone.

So many thoughts were running through her head as she looked in the ladies room mirror. All of her suspicions about her feelings for George had been confirmed when she had flooed him that afternoon. Just seeing his face made her grin, and his gentle teasing about her talking about him made her blush furiously. And when he had said he couldn't wait to see her, it had sealed the deal. Because it was exactly the way she felt about seeing him. When she had walked, or ran, up to the pub that afternoon, the look on George's face was enough to make her melt. It was that look she wanted to see every time she saw him. And she wanted to see him often too.

She blushed at the thought. Who would have ever imagined, prim and proper bookworm, Hermione Jane Granger, having these feelings for number one (or two, depending on who you asked) prankster, George Frederick Weasley? Hermione sighed and patted down her hair, before returning to the table.

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Fred had just launched into a detailed recount of their first attempts at a joke shop, when they had begun it through mail order. Beth was leaning on the table, listening intently to Fred's every word. George rolled his eyes a bit and chuckled to himself. Fred seemed genuinely happy, and George was glad for his twin. It was the first time in awhile Fred had talked so adamantly and George could see the spark was beginning to come back in his eyes.

George's eyes flitted over to Hermione, who was watching Fred tell the story. Her eyes seemed glazed over like she was lost in thought. He wanted so badly to know what she was thinking. He had honestly been so happy to see her this afternoon. She had looked so beautiful, running over to him, breathless and panting, cheeks flushed. George blushed himself, thinking of some other things they could do to make her be that way. He shook his head, clearing his mind of those other dirty thoughts. He was honestly just happy to be in her company. He had never met another witch that could make him as happy as she did, just by sitting next to him.

Fred finished his story and Hermione stood up, excusing herself to the ladies room. She gave George a small smile, and then disappeared through the crowded pub. George looked over at his brother and Beth to see them looking at him with a similar smirk on their faces.

"What?" George asked.

"Oh, nothing dear brother." Fred smiled.

George blinked. "No, you're lying. What is it?"

"Well," Beth began. "I had a bit of an interesting conversation with Hermione before…"

Fred grinned. "You best make a move soon, Georgie."

George grimaced at the childish nick name. "Whatever do you mean, Freddie?"

Fred scowled. "I mean, kiss her! Do something!"

"She's got it bad for you, George.She toldme so herself when you guys were getting us drinks." Beth smiled at him.

"She…she does?" George couldn't believe it. His luck was never this good. Ever.

Beth nodded. Fred snickered. "I think Beth and I can find some way to give you the proper amount of alone time."

Beth smiled and nodded her head. "Oh, and here she comes now." George made a face. "No time to plan it out, just go with your gut. It'll be fine, I promise."

Hermione came and sat down just as Fred stood up.

"Beth, you fancy a walk around town?" He gave her a charming smile.

Beth nearly melted. "Sounds like fun." She turned to Hermione and George. "We'll meet you guys later, in front of Honeypie's, the sweet shop."

Hermione grinned at her friend, and George merely nodded, as he was still trying to work things out in his head. He watched his twin and his blonde partner in crime walk out the front door. Partner in crime, that's what I'm supposed to be! And here they were, plotting the demise of my love life. George couldn't help but grin. They'd only know each other a half hour and were already able to execute the perfect plan. They'll make a fine match.

Hermione poked him in the side. "Penny for your thoughts?"

George looked confused.

"It's a muggle expression, sorry." Hermione grinned sheepishly. She always seemed to forget the Weasley's unfamiliarity with certain muggle phrases. "What I meant was, what are you thinking about?"

George smiled. "The impending relationship of those two." And the possible start of ours.

"Oh, yes they seem to be getting on famously!" Hermione smiled. She was happy her friends were getting along. "Fred looks like he's finally happy again."

George nodded in agreement. "Yes, finally. I'm glad; he's been in a right state ever since the whole Angelina thing happened. Maybe he'll finally be able to get over it."

"Those things take time."

"I'm not trying to rush it, but he needs other things to keep him occupied." George moved a hand over and pushed a piece of hair behind Hermione's ear.

Hermione froze when his hand grazed her cheek. His touch sent shivers down her spine. She felt her face get hot, and she looked down, hoping to hide the blush creeping up her neck.

It was too late, because George had noticed it. "Hermione?"

She managed to pry her eyeballs away from her lap. "Yes?"

Come on, George. Go with your gut. It's the only plan you've got right now. His brain was screaming at him, and so he did the only thing he could think to do. He leaned forward and closed his eyes, planting a kiss on her lips. He couldn't believe he actually was doing it.

Hermione was frozen in shock. He was kissing her. She felt an electrical spark shoot through her body as she kissed him back, lightly at first, and then with a little more passion. He deepened the kiss and put his hand in her hair.

Reluctantly, he pulled away. She still had her eyes closed, but there was a smile on her face.

"Wow…." She breathed, opening her eyes.

George smiled at her. "Yeah…wow." He placed his hand on top of hers. "Hermione, I…I've wanted to do that for ages, but I wasn't sure you felt as strongly about me as I do about you."

"What made you change your mind, George?"

He smiled. He liked it when she said his name. "Fred and Beth."

Hermione shook her head and laughed. "I knew that little witch was up to something! She told you about our conversation?"

"Yes, a little bit. She told me you 'had it bad.' And my brother added in that I better do something fast. Then they made up an excuse to get us alone."

'They've known each other a half an hour and they're already scheming!" Hermione exclaimed.

George threw his hands up. "That's what I'm saying!" They both collapsed into laughter.

"Well, they did quite a good job." Hermione smiled and leaned closer to George.

"Yes, I reckon I'll have to thank them later." George smiled back and leaned in, closing the space between them with another kiss.