Content warning for mature language :)
I don't own the characters or setting, they belong to JKR
The next morning Hermione woke with a pounding headache. She rubbed the heels of her hands into her eyes, rolling closer to the warm body beside her. He chuckled below her, the sound radiating down his chest.
"Headache too?" He whispered and she nodded, her eyes sliding open to meet his. He looked much better in the morning light, and for that Hermione was grateful. She reached up and brushed his long hair past his ear and he gave her a soft smile. He had long grown past boyish good looks, he now was rugged, adorned with scars and the features of a man. A loud cough echoed from the doorway, and their heads snapped towards the sound. A disgruntled Ron stood, arms crossed. He also looked better than the night before. Hermione sat up quickly, revealing her bare legs beneath a long quidditch shirt she had borrowed from George. Ron's eyes narrowed in on her legs instantly, widening at the excess of skin. George noticed his brother's stare instantly, quickly covering his girlfriend's legs with the blanket. Ron's face exploded with fury.
"Well fuck me, you're shagging my brother?" He yelled, his fist balled at his sides. Hermione began to protest, stuttering uncomfortably.
"Ron, I tried to tell you-"
"Oh fuck off Ron, stop acting like a first year and grow up. Besides the fact that we're literally linked together, I've been shagging her for weeks" He spat and Hermione froze, her cheeks heating up. She was furious with George for spilling their secret, and in such a disgusting way. She spun around to him, her eyes narrowed in anger.
"George!" She shouted, and before she could get another word out Ron lunged into the room.
"You bloody git!" He was across the room in seconds, his wand raised towards them. Hermione leapt to her feet, pulling her own wand into the air.
"Ronald Weasley lower your wand immediately" She hissed, her eyes fiery with rage. Ron sagged a little, turning towards Hermione.
"I just- I don't understand 'Mione, you were supposed to be with me, during the last battle…" He trailed off, lowering his wand. Hermione sighed, a sad look on her face.
"Ron, I was trying to tell you, I didn't know how, not after…" She trailed off, her face tight. He jerked back, remembering what he had done.
"You're afraid of me?" He whispered, shocked. He stumbled back, fleeing from the room. Hermione stood, frozen by the events. George shifted behind her and she spun around, once again filled with rage.
"Shagging me for weeks? Really? I wish I had known we were so casual" She hissed, tears lining her eyes. His eyes went wide, and he jumped to his feet, but she was already gone from the room, grabbing a pair of his pants from the chest on the way out. George wanted to chase her, beg her to forgive him, but he knew he and he knew that it was too soon.
Hermione fled from the house, down to the makeshift quidditch pitch they had in the field. Tears tracked lines down her face, and she pushed them aside roughly. How could she be so stupid. She sank to her knees. She felt her vision swim and she knew it was the link. A thought rose in her mind, as she tried to figure out why it was affecting her so quickly.
"Is it affecting me so fast this time, because I am unhappy with George? How is that even possible" She whispered harshly to herself. But she knew that her magic was affected by her feelings for him, or at least their intimacy. Her vision swam again and she stubbornly ignored it, knowing that it would make him feel ill as well. Suddenly there was a loud pop beside her, and George stood paces from her, looking sick. Hermione stood, huffing.
"Can I help you?" She hissed, and George rolled his eyes.
"Oh Hermione, come off it, we both know that's not what I meant" He crossed his arms, stepping closer. She huffed angrily, stomping away from him and over to the large willow that was farther in the field. The winds blew the branches high around them.
"How could I be so daft, just another notch in the belt right?" She twisted around angrily. His face flitted from shock to sadness. He walked up to her, until he was a breath away, towering above her shaking form. He grabbed her chin, raising it so she could meet his eyes. His heart sank at the sadness that swam in her deep brown eyes. A tear trailed down her cheek and he wiped it away swiftly.
"Not you, never you" He whispered seriously. She shook her head, stepping back.
"I trusted you, I let you…" She felt her chest heave with emotion, as she pushed out the painful words. He stepped forwards again but she held up a hand, a tear trailing down her face.
"Don't, you are no better than Ronald" She whispered, and the wind howled around her. They swayed as their magic seemed to lessen. Hermione stepped back again, bitterness written all over her face. George swayed and Hermione faltered, wanting him to be okay but not wanting to give in. Suddenly George stomped over to her, grabbing her shoulders with a determined look on his face.
"Bloody hell Hermione, I didn't mean it I just wanted to hurt Ron, you know I love you" He said, and they both froze. She sucked in a breath, and he released her shoulders.
"I didn't" She whispered, wrapping her arms around herself. Her heart sang at the confession, and she was flooded with joy, but it was in such an awful way. Another tear tracked down her face. George's face was determined once again.
"I do. I wish I had told you in a better way, the way you deserve to hear it, not out here in the midst of a fight. But fuck, Hermione, you make my knees weak, you make my heart explode. I wish I could hide you away forever, so you'd always be safe, always with me. I can't even explain how I feel watching you cry, and knowing I was the one who caused it-" Hermione cut him off, jumping into his arms. Her lips met his and their magic exploded around them. The world seemed to come to a halt, it was only them, under the willow tree.
"I love you too George. I do" She whispered against his lips. She felt him smile against her lips, and he pulled her closer. They pulled apart and she looked up into the flowy branches of the willow tree. In her heart, this would forever be their spot, the place that changed everything forever. Hermione frowned a little, remembering what had happened earlier.
"Ron…" She whispered and George nodded, running a hand through his hair. He grabbed her hand reassuringly.
"I'll deal with my brother" He said, and they trudged back up to the house. Everyone inside was once again working on things for the wedding. Ginny caught her eye, and Hermione nodded towards the stairs. The redhead hopped up, and dipped away towards the stairs.
"George, I need to talk to Ginny about Ron, I'll be right back. Do you think you'll be okay?" She whispered and he nodded, with a small smile.
"I'll grab something for us to eat" He slid away from her and she headed towards the stairs. She entered her friend's room, chuckling at the girl, eagerly sitting on her bed.
"Well, out with it" She said, waving Hermione to sit beside her. Hermione laughed, sitting on the bed cross legged. Hermione couldn't contain it any more.
"Your brother is a prat, but he told me he loved me" She said, wiggling closer to her friend, who squealed in delight.
"He did! Finally, I mean I know it's really only been a couple of weeks, but for that boy it's been years. I really am happy for you two. What did you say? Tell me everything!" Ginny gushed and Hermione's face went red.
"Well, it's sort of a weird story. After last night, we woke up late this morning. Ron had burst into the room, and well I wasn't wearing pants under one of George's shirts. That's my fault, I don't know why I did that. Anyway, he accused me of sleeping with George, and George said 'yeah we've been shagging' I was livid. Ron went crazy, then I went crazy. I thought I meant more to George. We ended up under the willow out back, arguing, and he just sort of said it, and I felt it in my heart, that I loved him too" Hermione rushed out in a single breath. Ginny was on the edge of her seat, listening to the story.
"Wow, talk about romance novel. I wish me and Harry had dramatics like that" Ginny said, bouncing in her seat. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Trust me, you don't. So I'm not sure when we will tell the rest of your family, but honestly I like having it as our little secret, you know, something just for us" Hermione whispered with a shy smile. Ginny nodded, a knowing look on her face. Her face suddenly filled with excitement.
"We have to go get dresses for the wedding! How could I have forgotten? Let's go today, it's still morning, and you're already here" Ginny said, excitement lighting up her face. Hermione looked skeptical, and Ginny groaned.
"Fine, if you come with me today, we can go into ONE bookstore along the way, alright?" She rolled her eyes and Hermione nodded with a smile. She was secretly happy to be getting a dress, she really wanted to impress George. They hopped down the stairs, chatting away, until they reached the living room. The twins were in a heated match of wizards chess, and everyone else was working on the wedding preparations. Hermione stifled her laugh as she walked over to them.
"Kicked off the wedding committee?" She teased and they frowned together.
"The couldn't handle our-"
"Decoration ideas, said they were too-"
"Eccentric" The finished together and Hermione rolled her eyes. She rested her hand on George's arm, grabbing his attention.
"Me and Ginny are going down to the shops today okay? I am going to quickly grab the last two potions from the flat and then I'll be back and we'll be leaving" She explained and at first he looked sad, but then nodded. She smiled, and did as she had said, returning not five minutes later.
"Here we are, I also owled the hospital letting them know how the potion has been working. I assume they'll be sending more but I plan on brewing a standard batch while you fiddle away with your own version" She teased and he chuckled. They took the potions, and she hugged both the twins goodbye. She nodded to the family and Harry, and then they were gone.
"I am thinking this one dress shop I always look into, I can't remember the name, but I know exactly where it is" Ginny gushed, dragging Hermione down the street of Diagon Alley. Her eyes skimmed the passing stores, until they reached the doors of a very pink and frilly store. Hermione felt her face fall into a grimace.
"Here Gin?" She asked, unsure. To say the store was lacy was an understatement. Ginny just laughed and pulled her through the door. They browsed the racks, Ginny making comments occasionally, or holding up a dress for Hermione to see. She felt out of her element here, but Ginny seemed to thrive. After almost an hour of searching, Hermione had nothing and Ginny had an arms full.
"Well 'Mione, can you help me try these on and then we can head somewhere else for you?" Ginny asked, nodding towards the change rooms. Hermione nodded, following her friend to the back of the store. Ginny slipped into a few dresses, all no's so far, and Hermione felt jealousy rise in her heart. Ginny looked amazing in everything, she had a toned body from quidditch, and had filled out quite well in the spots that counted. Hermione glanced down at her body and frowned at the comparison. Before Hermione could feel worse about herself, her friend stepped out again, and Hermione's jaw dropped. She was wearing a deep red flowy silk slip style dress that hugged everything perfectly. It complemented her hair, her complexion, it was perfect.
"Ginny, wow, you look amazing" Hermione whispered, as her friend spun to look at herself in the mirror.
"Really? Do you think Harry will like it?" She gushed and Hermione nodded with a smirk.
"I think he'll be satisfied by it" She teased and Ginny laughed, smacking her on the shoulder. They paid for Ginny's dress and left the store. Hours were passing by and Hermione had yet to find a dress. They continued wandering down the road, glancing into shops, when suddenly something caught Hermione's eye and her heart stopped. The dress. Standing in the window of a small clothing shop. Ginny followed her gaze and squealed in delight.
"That's it! That's your dress! Come on let's get you into it" Ginny said, dragging her into the store. They grabbed a store assistant, and soon Hermione was emerging from the dressing room. Ginny had tears in her eyes.
"Hermione, you look bloody gorgeous. Wow, look at your tits" She gushed again, turning Hermione to face the mirror. Her reflection showed herself, in a floor-length flowy blue satin dress. The straps hung loose and flowy between her shoulders and elbows, and the dress had a single tier at the bottom. The waist was corset style, accentuating her hips and pushing her breasts up. She released a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. The colour made her eyes look lighter, and paired perfectly with her skin tone. This was the dress.
"George is going to die when he sees you in that" She heard Ginny say with a teasing tone. Hermione blushed, turning back to face her friend.
"I think I'll get it, I really like it" She smiled and once it was paid for, the pair left, Hermione leading the way. She led them to a small bookstore, a smile filling her face. Hermione browsed the shelves for a while, pulling things off the shelves. Ginny sat in a chair by the door, watching her friend enjoy herself. The day that had started off so terribly, was ending on such a pleasant note, for which Hermione was grateful.
