A/N: Written for Hermione's Haven Personal Library Drabble Elimination Challenge in 2021! The quote for this round was: "You should be kissed often and by someone who knows how." - Rhett Buttler, Gone With the Wind. And my pairing was Hermione Granger/George Weasley. Thanks to the modmins for hosting this competition! It's always such a fun one to do. No beta, just Grammarly. Enjoy!

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Summary: Hermione and George spend a day at the Burrow when George finally works up the courage to admit his feelings to her.

Pairing: Hermione Granger/George Weasley

Rating: M

Warnings: N/A

Sundrenched Kisses

"You should be kissed often and by someone who knows how." - Rhett Butler, Gone With the Wind

Hermione sighed as she leaned further back into the lounge chair, enjoying the feeling of the sun on her skin. The sounds of the children laughing and shrieking from the nearby pond was enough to put a smile on her face. It should have been uncomfortable, spending time with her ex-husbands, new wife's family, but she had known the Weasleys since she was eleven years old. Molly and Arthur had been the first to assure her welcome after her divorce with Harry.

The divorce itself was amicable enough, despite the fact that they had both Rose and Hugo already. Harry wanted a cool girl, someone Hermione had desperately tried to be for seven long years, but in the end, she was only lying to herself and him. It was no surprise at all when he sat her down a year after the divorce and explained about Ginny. She was truly happy for them and the fact that her kids got three more siblings made her happy too. Maybe it was strange, but it worked for them.

It had been a decade since all of then, and along with the rest of the Weasley siblings, they were one large happy family. All were married with children of their own, except for George. George, the perennial bachelor, didn't even bother bringing witches home anymore. He claimed it was because he was too busy at the shop. But Hermione had been watching him the last few years and she felt fairly sure that he was lonely. Lonely and unable to figure out a way out.

It made her sad to see, but she wasn't sure George even realized what he was missing. It didn't escape her notice that he took every opportunity to be next to her at a Weasley function. Like today, he was stretched out on the lounge chair right next to hers. The Singles Club, he called them.

"I'm going to get another butterbeer," she announced, turning her head to face George. "Want one?"

"Sure," he grinned at her and she smiled in response as she stood and stretched. These sun drenched weekends at the Burrow made life so sweet.

Bill and Charlie had set up the tent not too far off, where Molly and Fleur were sitting. Fleur was pregnant again, with their seventh and she swore this would be their last. Stepping under the tent, the cooling charm that was applied prickled against her skin, making her shiver after the warmth of the sun.

She waved at Molly and Fleur as she dug into the cooler and pulled out two bottles of butterbeer. Just as she was about to head back toward where she and George were sitting, she spied him crooking a finger at her from behind the willow tree on the opposite side of the tent. She frowned, but headed towards him, wondering just what he was up to.

"Are you planning a prank, George Weasley?" she asked as she stepped inside the Muffliato he cast around the tree. He grinned and quickly turned her so her back was to the willow with him standing directly in front of her.

"No pranks, Hermione. Promise," he said, crowding her further. Her breath hitched and a feeling of arousal trickled through her veins.

"Then what are we doing back here?" she asked, her voice coming out much more breathless than she had intended.

"Just trying to find a little privacy," he said with a shrug while propping an arm on the tree behind her, almost caging her in.

"For?" she bit her bottom lip and didn't miss the way that action made his eyes darken.

"This," he murmured and dropped his lips to hers, pressing a quick, chaste kiss to her mouth. She gasped, taken aback and he took the opportunity to taste her. He pulled away before she could kiss him back. Her free hand drifted up to her mouth as her eyebrows knotted. She looked up at him.

"Been wanting to do that for a while now," he admitted. "I hope I wasn't too forward."

"I don't usually kiss before a first date," Hermione said primly, teasing him.

"Well then, when are you going out with me?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow at her. The look on his face was half cockiness, half hope, and entirely endearing.

"Are you serious?" she asked, her heart hammering in her chest. She was holding her breath, unsure if he meant what he said. He wasn't the only one who had been lonely the last few years.

"Very," he replied, dropping his head to the space above her shoulder. "You drive me nuts, showing up at the Burrow in your little shorts, and wild hair. Looking so fucking delicious. So fuckable. It's taken me ages to work up the courage to say something," he admitted. His breath was hot in her ear and she shivered when he pressed a kiss against the pulse point on her throat.

"In that case, Harry's got the kids tonight. Shall we have dinner? My place, say eight?" Using her free hand to balance herself against his shoulder, she turned her head and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"It's a date," he confirmed and pushed her further back against the tree, his mouth on hers for a long moment. This time, long enough that she was able to return the kiss. A gorgeous, heartstopping, sundrenched kiss that she knew she wouldn't be forgetting anytime soon.

~Fin~