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 and generally being SuperCool!!

Hermione decided that going to see a movie would be a very welcome distraction after a ridiculously long day at work. She had been running around trying to solve a land dispute on Diagon Alley and a complaint about wild pixies in Hogsmeade. And that was only in the morning. After lunch even more paperwork was piled on her desk, and she had reached the point where the only thing she wanted to do was go and see George. And she was about to leave for the cinema when she noticed a piece of neon parchment as it landed on her desk.

"Not another absurd request!" she moaned as she unfolded it. She sighed as she read it. It looked like she was going home alone instead of out with George. She suddenly felt an undeniable emptiness as it crept into her chest, realizing that she would in fact miss him. She was falling for George.

She packed her paperwork and headed for the street.

As George took a seat across the small table from Alicia, he gave her a crooked grin. "It's kind of a long story, but I'm going to be your date for tonight. That is unless you object and kick me out or something."

Alicia giggled, reminding George of the fun they always had when the played Quidditch together. "No, I'd never kick you out! I was just surprised," she told him. "Is there anything wrong with Fred?"

"The obvious answer to that question is 'yes', but if you're asking if he's on his deathbed or something, then no." George smirked as he ordered a drink and a sandwich while Alicia tried to stop laughing.

"It's nice to see you, Alicia," he told her once the waiter had gone.

"I've missed you. I haven't spent any time with you at all in the last few months. How are things?"

George ran a hand through his hair. "I'm not complaining. Work is pretty good; slow season and all, but once school shopping starts, things will pick up. Oh, and I'm dating Hermione Granger," he mentioned, before taking a sip of his drink.

"Really?" she asked, surprised. "How on earth did that happen? Not that it's bad, but, you know. I wouldn't have guessed that one."

George sighed. "She said she wanted me, and it was all downhill from there." Alicia was puzzled, but she could tell by the dreamy look on his face that he was content.

"I'm happy for you, George," she told him sincerely as their food arrived. "So, have you seen Angelina lately?"

George paused as he chewed his sandwich, unsure whether Alicia knew that she and her girl friends were all dating the same man. Fred was going to hear about it if this "date" became awkward.

But much to George's pleasure and dismay, he looked across the table at Alicia and immediately noticed Hermione across the restaurant, staring straight back at him. She was holding a takeaway bag, and looked less than pleased.

I strangled look crossed George's face, and he didn't know whether to smile and call her over or start to cry from the glare she was sending. "Are you alright? You don't look too good," Alicia told him. Her voice was laced with concern, and she reached across the table to gentle touch his cheek.

"I'm- uh, I'm fine," he managed to say, but the damage was done. Hermione walked over to their table like a silent storm. Alicia hadn't noticed her yet and continued to coo about George's odd expression.

Hermione paused as she came up along the table. "Good evening, George. Alicia," she said almost emotionlessly, but her stormy eyes gave her away.

Alicia turned toward the voice and quickly dropped her hand from George's cheek. "Hermione! How have you been? George was just telling me about you!"

Hermione turned toward George, completely ignoring Alicia. "What is this?" she asked quite pointedly.

"It's just, it's only Alicia," George muttered. "Hermione, I didn't mean to cancel-"

"I don't want to hear it," she told him quietly. "I can plainly see with my own eyes exactly what was so important to you that you needed to cancel our date, which, may I remind you, was originally planned by you in the first place."

Alicia just sat, dumbstruck, while George stuttered and mumbled. "I just, wait, this isn't a date, Hermione. You see, Fred-"

"I don't want to hear about it. I'm just going to take my dinner and go home, and I don't really want to see you." Hermione simply turned, and without another word, began walking toward the exit. George tried to understand how bad the situation must look to her as he watched her slender calves and curvy hips disappear from view.

"George! Go after her!" Alicia exclaimed. "She doesn't understand!"

George shook his head as he jumped to his feet. "I'm going to murder Fred." He ran out of the café and looked for her, but she had already vanished.

George had tried to contact Hermione for the rest of the evening, but each of his owls returned with their letters unopened. She was avoiding him, and he couldn't stand it. He was well on his way to going completely mental, pacing around the kitchen when Fred apparated home, whistling a peppy tune.

"Fred!" George bellowed.

"Oh, George," Fred muttered as he started to loosen his tie and unbutton his shirt. "How was Alicia?"

"Oh, Alicia was fine," George managed, through gritted teeth. "But not you; you're going to spend a week in bed while your bones re-grow!"

Fred scratched his head. "You're not making any sense."

George clutched at his hair and let out a scream before collapsing onto the couch. He spent the next hour explaining the situation and threatening Fred.

"You've got to get Ginny. She can fix this," Fred told him, once he was done ranting.

"No, you can fix it!" George declared assertively, before stomping off to his room. He spent the rest of the evening trying to contact Hermione.

Hermione decided to call off work on Friday morning; she needed a day for herself. But after spending the entire weekend in her apartment with the floo connection closed, she decided it was not beneficial to mope. So she found herself on Sunday afternoon, organizing her paperwork for the following day and baking cookies.

"Hermione?" Ginny called through the newly reopened floo grate. "I'm coming over." Hermione pulled her treats out of the oven and sighed. She walked into the living room, prepared to put on a good show.

"Ginny! How are you?" she asked, excitedly.

"I'm fine, but I've heard you've been hiding out all weekend."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Did you hear that from George, perchance?"

"Yes, now would you tell me what's going on?"

Hermione sank down into a cushy armchair. She could feel tears at the backs of her eyes, but refused to let them surface. Ginny was always a good, sympathetic friend, and she knew she could be trusted. "I made a mistake. George is dating other girls. I'm such a fool," she whispered.

Ginny knelt on the floor in front of Hermione. "Other girls?" she asked gently, looking up at her friend. "Hermione, there are no other girls. He's crazy for you."

"Well, he cancelled our date for absolutely no other reason than to take Alicia Spinnet out!"

Ginny gaped at Hermione, slowly processing this information. First, and most importantly, Hermione was completely smitten. But surely George wasn't seeing anyone else. "Hermione, did you give him a chance to explain?" Ginny asked, piecing the puzzle together.

"What is there to explain?" Hermione wailed. "I was into him more than he was into me!"

Ginny shook her head and began to laugh; she knew that Fred had been dating Alicia along with a plethora of other women. "What the bloody hell is so funny?" Hermione demanded.

Ginny reached up and rubbed Hermione shoulder. "George isn't your problem… Fred is."

Aw, I feel so bad for George!

I hope you're enjoying yourself! Thanks for all of the reviews and adds so far! Remember, if you have an idea or suggestion, let me know. Keep up the lovely reviews!