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!

Chapter 6

"George, your girlfriend is here," Fred called across the store. Hermione rolled her eyes. It had been a month since Fred had convinced her to go on 'just one' date with George. They had gone out a number of times, but they hadn't yet discussed what their relationship actually entailed. All Hermione knew was that she didn't think she'd mind being George's girlfriend. George walked out from the stockroom wearing casual clothes, unlike Fred's work robes, and she immediately broke out into a grin.

"Ready to go?" he asked her before kissing her cheek lightly.

"I suppose, but why won't you tell me where we're going?" she whined. It was a beautiful Friday afternoon and she had just left work. She'd been wondering where they were headed all day.

George chuckled as he took her hand. "If you must know, we're going on a picnic."

"Ooh, another picnic?"

George wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they walked out of his store, basket in hand. "Yes, because the last picnic wasn't really supposed to be a picnic." Hermione looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "During our first date, I didn't know what to get for dinner so I ran into a café and bought a bunch of food."

Hermione paused and started to giggle. All George could do was try to quite her as she positively howled with laughter, drawing the attention of the other witches and wizards on Diagon Alley. "I thought it was strange," she said through gasps, "that you went off to look at some books. Why didn't you just tell me you didn't know what to do?"

George merely shook his head. "Because I had to impress you so you'd ask me out on a second date," he said with a wink and an eyebrow wiggle. As soon as she composed herself he led her back to the park they had visited the last time. They found an area of soft grass and laid out a quilt where they spread out the food and sat.

"Did you make all of the food?" Hermione asked, spying the messy looking sandwiches, slightly burnt cookies and oddly shaped vegetable slices.

George beamed. "Yes, I made everything!" Hermione pursed her lips so she didn't laugh out loud at him. He really was adorable, and the food looked like it was still fairly edible.

"Thanks," she said, leaning over their dinner to kiss him. He ran his fingertips along her jaw as their lips met, sending a shiver along Hermione's spine. George playfully nipped her lower lip, running his tongue smoothly over the seam of her lips. If George Weasley was good at anything, it was definitely snogging.

Hermione pulled back and sat down on the other side of their food. George pouted at the lost contact of her lips. "Maybe more after dessert," Hermione said as she smiled sweetly, cheering George.

"Or maybe that could be dessert." He smirked slyly at her, a questioning glint in his eyes.

Hermione cleared her throat as she blushed, piling food onto two plates. George immediately turned his attention to the egg salad sandwiches and carrot sticks. "I'm starving. Fred took the longest lunch in history today, so I was left with a tiny little short one. I only had time to eat three sandwiches."

"Oh, is that all?" Hermione asked sarcastically. "I couldn't possibly make it through an afternoon with anything less than five." She daintily shoved a sandwich quarter into her mouth, causing George to snort.

"If there's one thing I've come to love about you, Hermione, it's your lovely humour," he told her with a smug look. She felt her cheeks tingle at the mention of loving something about her. "Go ahead and prove it. Eat five sandwiches."

Always one for a challenge, Hermione tried to eat five, but could only manage two and a half along with some vegetable sticks and a cookie. George helpfully finished her sandwich and cleaned out the rest of the basket. Stomachs filled with George's gourmet food, they leaned back in the grass to watch the sky change colour as the sun set.

"What's your favourite colour?" Hermione asked as they enjoyed the view.

George pointed along the horizon. "See that colour right there? That kind of bright red mixed orange. Like that. I guess you'd call it cinnamon." Hermione turned her head to face him and nodded. "It's the exact colour of the flecks in your eyes."

Hermione snuggled up against his side. "Mm… that was romantic."

George grinned in celebration even though Hermione wasn't looking at his face. He ran a hand through her extremely curly hair. "What's your favourite?"

"Plum purple."

"Hey, that's not the colour of my eyes."

Hermione giggled against his chest where he head was laying. "I know. Sorry, I'm not a romantic." They were quiet for a few moments, lost in their own thoughts. Hermione turned her head away from the sunset so she was laying across George's chest facing him. "George, can I ask you something?" He nodded. "Why did you and Fred leave school? There wasn't much time left before your graduation, and I know you could have fought through Umbridge if you tried."

George stared at the sky for a moment. "It's really hard to explain. We didn't leave out of fear, we left out of spite. It was a statement about the way we believe that nonconformity is important. I was also really happy to hear that more students started to stand up to her after we were gone. And besides, it was priceless to see that toad-faced bitch explode like she did."

Hermione smiled and pulled herself up so she was looking down at him as he was on his back. "It was a lovely image that I cherished for the remainder of that school year. Plus you're a legendary Hogwarts celebrity right now," she told him, causing him to blush and lick his lips. "I'm about to snog a cultural icon," she said with a small giggle before she let her lips claim his. George patiently let Hermione tease his mouth with little pecks and licks until he couldn't stand it any longer. He slowly wound his fingers around her curls and deepened their kiss. Hermione gladly accepted his tongue into her mouth as he fingers slid along the side of his neck. George sighed into her mouth as her hand came to rest against his chest and her lips made contact with his Adam's apple. Her sweet lips made a path along his neck and George was afraid he was going to moan or drool or do something highly embarrassing.

"Hermione, I'm afraid of causing a public scene."

She drew back and looked around the park. Although it was twilight, there were a number of people walking and children playing. "Good point. Want to walk me home? I have a lovely front porch, perfect for snogging?"

Within seconds, George had the quilt packed in the basket, and he was hurriedly pulling Hermione toward her flat.

Everything seems to be going well for George and Hermione, but the tides will be changing... Thanks for reading and thank you for all of the reviews so far. I'd love to know what you think and if you have an idea to add!!

Thanks again to the twin.exchange ladies!!