Being Assertive by WeasleyForMe
Could Hermione be the demanding, bossy, assertive woman of George's dreams?
Thanks to Grande.Vanilla.Skim.Latte for beta reading for me!
Hermione cradled her head in her hands as she gazed down at the papers on her desk. It had only been three days since she'd paid a visit to Fred and George, and already there were seven new complaints about their volume. She sighed when she realized she had no other choice but to return to their shop and reason with them. The last thing she really wanted to do was give them a fine for breaking the ordinance. She slowly stood behind her desk and reached for her work robe and an umbrella, suddenly remembering George's odd behavior from the last time she was there.
"Dinner?" she asked herself out loud. "Did he really ask me on a date?" She shook her head as she wound her way through the hallways and aisles of the Ministry and out the main doors. She strode briskly through the rainy afternoon toward Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
Fred and George were once again sitting on their stools side by side, replacing the products they had sold during the morning.
"I don't get it," George began, rather glumly. "We've been making a ton of noise, and she hasn't come back yet."
"Don't worry. She'll come," Fred replied. "I mean, honestly, did we or did we not blow the back door of the building off the hinges last night?"
George chuckled as he recalled the previous evening and the way his wonderful twin had helped him make a maximum amount of noise while they were experimenting in their lab.
Fred continued his pep-talk of sorts by adding, "Besides, we're irresistible to women."
The bell on the door flailed wildly, alerting them to the front of the store, where an extremely agitated Hermione was storming toward them. George jumped off of his stool and gaped at her. She had a fierce look of indignation on her pretty features, which caused George's heart to pound happily in his chest. "She looks right pissed off… and it's hot!" he thought. Out loud he managed, "Hermione! You look stunning today. Have you come to give an answer about the date?" He looked eagerly at her unwavering features while Fred just shook his head.
Hermione stopped just short of George, ignoring his questions. "Do either of you recall what I told you the last time I was in here?"
Fred raised his hand to answer. "I believe you mentioned over and over that you want George." He dropped his hand back down with a smirk while Hermione glared at him.
"I wouldn't have said that if I wasn't being constantly interrupted!" George grinned while she continued. "No, I was here earlier this week to tell you that you are breaking the noise ordinances on a regular basis. Would you like to guess why I'm here now?" she asked rather sweetly considering the scowl she was wearing.
"Um, because you want George?" Fred asked.
"No! Because you are too loud at night, and your neighbors are complaining!" she cried in aggravation. George was completely enthralled by the angry blush that was creeping into her cheeks. He had to stop himself from reaching out to touch her. "I am really trying to do you a favor here by not writing out a citation," she continued in a calmer tone. "What is it going to take for you to keep your experiments quiet at night?"
George looked at his brother before saying, "If this is causing you problems at work, then we'll keep it quiet."
"No!" yelled Fred, drawing their attentions to him. He turned completely toward Hermione as if George wasn't even there. "I refuse to work quietly until you agree to go on just one date with George. He's been thinking about you nonstop, and you should just agree to dinner." He crossed his arms and set his jaw.
Hermione looked from Fred to George, who was wide eyed and blushing furiously. She couldn't help but think he looked rather cute like that. Hermione reasoned with herself that it would be just one date. With little effort, she'd be able to make it through one evening, and then she wouldn't have to worry about them breaking this law. She could literally feel her resolve crumbling as she sighed. "Ok, fine."
Fred's face lit up, but George turned a deeper shade of crimson. "Really?" George managed a few seconds later. Fred looked very smug.
Hermione took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "If it will make things quieter, then sure."
George pumped a fist in the air. "Yes! This is great! How about Saturday?"
"Fine," Hermione said, trying to suppress her smile. She couldn't believe that a date with her could possibly mean so much to George, but it didn't much matter to her. She'd get what she wanted out of the deal. "I'll meet you outside your store at six o'clock?"
"Perfect," George agreed.
"I need to get back to work. And, Fred, if you don't uphold your end of this deal, I can guarantee that you'll miss your balls when I hex them off." Fred's eyes widened slightly as he watched Hermione leave their store, and George cracked up, gasping for air.
"She's amazing!" George finally managed to say.
George spent the entire day on Saturday running around the flat he shared with Fred, trying on different shirts and attempting to make dinner reservations. "Fred!" he finally screamed around five o'clock. Fred emerged from his bedroom with an eyebrow raised. "Where the hell am I supposed to take her to eat?" George asked frantically as he buttoned his green striped shirt.
"You didn't make reservations yet? Just call that expensive new French restaurant where Lee works; it's just down the street, and I'm sure he'll get you a table. Plus, you can impress Hermione by taking her there."
"You're so smart! And here I thought I was the smart twin, but you've really outdone yourself," George told his brother before he called in the reservation to Lustre de Cristal.
Fred examined George and scrunched his brow. "You're not actually planning on wearing that, are you?"
George looked down at his jeans and green collared shirt. "What's wrong with this?"
Fred shook his head. "Come here." He led George into his own room, over the piles of dirty laundry and around the mountains of trash. When they finally reached his closet, Fred pulled out some expensive black, wool trousers and a grey dress shirt. "Try these. And remember to tuck your shirt in; you're going out with Granger after all."
George accepted the clothes, but his face paled considerably. "Why did you have to remind me? I just finally stopped being nervous! Oh, Merlin… she's going to hate everything! She only agreed to go on a date with me because you bribed her," George rattled on and on.
Fred shooed his brother toward the door. "You'll be fine, I promise. Just relax," he added before closing the door between them. George stood alone in the hallway, suddenly realizing that his date started in twelve minutes. He ran into his room and dressed in Fred's clothes, hastily checking himself in the mirror before he ran down the back stairs to meet Hermione.
When he arrived in front of the store, he stopped short and stared for a full minute. Hermione was looking at some of the products on display in the front window, and she didn't notice him. She was wearing the most adorable, emerald green babydoll dress he'd ever seen. Her pink pained toenails were visible through her open toed, black shoes which had just enough of a heel to make her seem taller. She'd tied her hair back in a braid that fell down her back, and if George wasn't mistaken, she had put on a little bit of makeup. She was even wearing the homemade, black cardigan that his mum had given her for Christmas, unbuttoned over the dress. George took a deep breath. The sight of his bossy date wearing a dress that feel just above her knees was making his palms sweat. He'd have to try to keep himself from staring at her shapely, sculpted legs all night. George took a hesitant step in her direction, and Hermione turned to face him when she heard him approach.
"Hey, George," she said with a shy smile. "You look really nice."
George silently thanked Fred's wardrobe as he forced his eyes away from her legs. "Thanks," he croaked out. "Your dress is the loveliest thing I've ever seen." He promptly shut his mouth tight after he realized what he'd said. Hermione just nervously giggled a little bit.
"Where are we going for dinner?" she asked, and they started walking. Before he could answer, she added, "I hope you aren't planning on taking me somewhere expensive like that new French place, Lustre de Cristal."
That was exactly where he had planned on taking her. "W-Why wouldn't you want to go there?" he stuttered.
"I suppose I was just hoping you weren't the type of guy who is so full of himself that he takes girls out to fancy places just to show off how much money he makes," she told him truthfully. "I hate that."
George swallowed the massive lump in his throat. "Oh, I'm definitely not that type of guy." His brain was whirling at top speed, trying to come up with something else they could do. "Damn it! I'm never listening to Fred again!" he thought frantically.
"So, where are we going?"
The rest of their date will take place in the next chapter! I swear, I'm making most of this up as I go along, so if there is something you'd like to see, send me a message!
Thanks to my helpful friends in the TwinExchange for getting me unstuck! Did you like this chapter? Would you like to see more? Please Reivew!!