Sorry for the delay in updating. I've been very busy with work at the moment what with it being so close to Christmas. I will try my very best to get more written on my days off.
Chapter 8 – Settling In
"I think we should make ourselves at home." George said. "We can have a sofa each by the fire."
"Sounds good. It is definitely better than having to camp in the woods." Hermione answered.
"Was it that bad?" George asked, making himself comfortable on one of the sofas.
"It was really bad during the winter months as the tent was freezing cold. One of us had to sit outside on watch too, even though we had loads of protective spells around us." Hermione answered. "The tent we had wasn't as nice as the one we had for the Quidditch world cup."
"I can't imagine how hard it must have been for the three of you. Fred and I could have given you a helping hand." George said.
"It was really hard, George, not having any contact with any of you. Ron was constantly on edge due to worrying about you all and wearing the horcrux necklace made him worse. How we managed to survive that all, I'll never know." Hermione said.
"Someone must have been watching over the three of you." George said. "Maybe Harry's parents and Sirius were."
Hermione and George fell into silence, Hermione watching the flames of the fire flicker. A few moments later there was a crack as a house elf apparated into the common room, scaring the life out of Hermione who jumped to her feet. George jumped too with his wand at the ready.
"Wilfred brought both of you some food and drinks." The elf said.
"Oh thank you very much, Wilfred." George thanked, shaking the elf's hand.
"Can Wilfred help you both with anything else?" The elf asked.
"You won't tell anyone that you seen us? We have to hide out there for a day or two and can't be seen." George stated.
"Wilfred will not tell anyone that you are here." The elf answered.
"Should we wipe his memory?" Hermione whispered in George's good ear.
"No, he's used to Fred and I so it'll be fine." George answered.
"And you promise you won't tell anyone?" Hermione asked. "We can't risk anyone knowing we're here."
"Wilfred promises." The elf replied.
"Thank you very much Wilfred. It's very important that no one knows that we are here." George said.
The elf bowed at George and Hermione then went to leave.
"Wilfred, before you leave." George said. "Do you think you could maybe have someone send us up some breakfast in the morning?"
"Wilfred will send some breakfast and lunch up for you both." Wilfred replied.
"Brilliant." George chirped. "Thank you."
Wilfred then disappeared with a loud crack, leaving George and Hermione to tuck into their cups of tea and sandwiches.
"Did I just hear correctly or did thee Hermione Granger who set up S.P.E.W, want to modify a poor elf's memory?" George questioned in between mouthfuls of his ham sandwich.
"I might have done, yes." Hermione answered.
"Goodness me, being on the run with Harry and Ron has done you more harm than good." George chortled.
"Well we can't afford to be found hiding here." Hermione answered. "I didn't want to take any chances."
"If only Dobby was still alive eh? I liked that little dude." George said with a sigh as he put his feet up on a coffee table.
"Yeah he was great. Kreacher was actually really nice to us when we were hiding out in Grimmauld Place." Hermione answered. "He cooked and cleaned for us and everything."
"Wow! Did someone hit him with a bludger or something?" George asked.
"No. He changed towards us after Harry gave him back the fake horcrux locket that Sirius' brother had hidden." Hermione replied. "It was quite odd actually."
Hermione and George continued to eat their food while Hermione told George all about being on the run with Ron and Harry as George had no idea about what all had happened. George was not impressed that Ron had left Hermione and Harry when they needed him the most.
"He did come back though and he did save Harry's life." Hermione said.
"Still, he ran out on you and Harry which he should not have done. I always knew that Ron's temper and jealously would get him into trouble some day." George said.
"I think those are two of the reasons why I don't think being in a relationship with him would be a good idea." Hermione said sadly. "If he knew I was here with you he'd go mental."
"We're just good friends though Hermione and if he knew why we were here, he'd hopefully understand." George answered. "So what are you going to do about Ron?"
"I don't know. I do think we'd be better off staying friends. The kiss was only in the heat of moment kind of thing, like we could both die so we better get it over and done with." Hermione answered.
"Personally I think he doesn't deserve you, Hermione. He had you in tears more times than enough over the years. You could do so much better." George said, placing his hand on Hermione's knee. "And if he's going to get jealous of you being friends with other guys then you're going to have problems."
"That's what worries me. I know I am no angel either when it comes to what I did to Ron regarding Cormac but still." Hermione said. "I think we should try and get some sleep. It's been a long night."
Hermione pulled two pillows and two blankets out of her beaded bag and gave one of them to George.
"You really do think of everything." George grinned, accepting the items.
"I do have some other essentials in my bag too." Hermione said.
"Like what?" George asked.
"Toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and a few other bits and bobs." Hermione answered.
"Brilliant, actually brilliant." George grinned.
"And clean clothes for us both, well whatever you had packed in your bag." Hermione said. "I'm just nipping to the bathroom."
Hermione left the common room to pay one of the girls dormitories a visit as each dormitory had it's own bathroom. While she was away, George made their beds up on the two sofas that were close to each other. Hermione returned moments later, changed into a pair of jogging bottoms and a scarlet red Gryffindor t-shirt. George couldn't take his eyes off her as she pulled her hair into a messy ponytail. He could not wait to spend a day or two with the bookworm and hopefully get to see a different side to her.