Takeoffs and Landings by WeasleyForMe

Hermione finds out there has been an addition to the O.W.L. exams... a mandatory flying test. The only trouble is Hermione doesn't know how to fly! George agrees to give her lessons. Will she learn how to fly, or will she fall hard for George Weasley? Hermione/George

I don't own these characters. Thanks for reading!!

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Chapter Four

The next morning was Saturday which included Quidditch practice for George. He managed to talk Hermione into watching the team practice so she could see some firsthand techniques for taking off, landing, and steering. She was the only person sitting on the bleachers by the pitch waiting for the Gryffindor team to come out.

Hermione's mind wondered back to the previous afternoon. George was almost always in her thoughts recently. They were quickly becoming better friends, and she was very happy about this. He was a great teacher, and he had an amazing sense of humor. Plus he was easy on the eyes.

She pulled her thoughts back to the present as the team came out of the locker room. Harry was the first one in the air, flying at amazing speeds trying to warm up his broom. Then the chasers joined him and began to throw the quaffle around. Finally she saw George, and her face erupted into a smile as he turned and winked at her.

"He's really quite amazing, isn't he? You're a lucky girl, Hermione," came a voice from behind Hermione, making her jump.

"Oh! Professor!" she said as she spun around. Professor McGonagall was also attending her houses' practice session this week. "What do you mean, I'm a lucky girl?" Hermione asked as she blushed.

"I meant you're lucky to have Mr. Potter as such a good friend, dear," Professor McGonagall replied.

Hermione thought for a second that her teacher saw her ogling George. As she stood up and made her way to sit by her teacher, Hermione replied, "Yes, I guess I am." Hermione and her Transfigurations professor chatted on and off while they watched the team.

Throughout the practice match, George would occasionally turn and make a face or wink at Hermione. She tried to ignore him and concentrate. She watched everyone on the team and took note of the ease with which they maneuvered their brooms. It kind of bothered her that George was making a fuss over her from a distance, but Harry and Ron hadn't noticed she was there at all. She chalked it up to George being older and more mature than the others. And after all, he did invite her.

After the practice ended, George made his way over to the stands to talk to Hermione and Professor McGonagall instead of heading directly to the locker room with his team.

Hermione immediately froze. There he was, all sweaty and hot with his jersey clinging to his muscles. Her throat went dry. She couldn't stop staring.

"Hello Professor McGonagall," George said as she stood to make her way to talk to the other team members. After she was out of hearing range, he turned to Hermione. "Like what you saw?" he asked while his green eyes sparkled.

"Wha-What?" she responded like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

He chuckled. "I'm merely curious. Did you learn anything new?"

"Uh, yes!" she squeaked. "I noticed the way everyone was steering their brooms. And I think that if I kick off harder to begin with, it would be less scary than if I just kind of hover over the ground."

"Great, we can try that this week. I need to get to the locker room for the speech from McGonagall. But one more thing," he said with a gin. "I'm determined to cure you of your fear of heights. Meet me on the astronomy tower at eleven tonight."

And with that, he was gone across the turf toward the locker room, leaving Hermione with a head full of inappropriate thoughts.

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Hermione spent the remainder of the day in the library doing homework. She only emerged for an hour for dinner, and then she returned to the library. She could barely concentrate on anything except George. Her mind wondered to their plans for later that evening. He said he would cure her of her fear of heights. All she thought of was how tall the astronomy tower is. Her stomach was already tying itself in knots.

Then suddenly Angelina took a seat next to her. In a hushed 'library' voice, she said, "I heard you have a date with George tonight."

Angelina giggled as Hermione's jaw dropped.

"No, I do not," replied Hermione as quietly as her shocked voice would go.

"But Fred said George is taking you up to the astronomy tower after curfew. That sounds a little bit 'friendlier' than a friend, don't you think?" Angelina asked with a wink.

"Oh, please, you're as bad as Fred!" Hermione told her. "It's not a date!"

"Come on, Hermione. I saw you watching him at practice this morning. Something is going on here, and I want to know the truth, before Fred starts making up stories for fun," Angelina pleaded.

"Ok, the truth is that nothing is going on. George agreed to help me learn how to fly for my O.W.L. exams. That's it," she told Angelina.

"It still sounds a little bit… extra-curricular to me," Angelina replied with a grin. "Plus George couldn't take his eyes off of you during practice, now could he?"

Hermione blushed as Angelina left the library. Perhaps she should go back to her dorm room now and get ready… in case this turned out to be something more than she considered.

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At eleven that evening, Hermione was waiting impatiently on the astronomy tower. She had barely been able to make it there with Mrs. Norris prowling through the hallways. Before that, she had a small run-in with Peeves. And before that, Angelina gave her a knowing look as she emerged from her room wearing new pants and a modestly revealing shirt. She had even taken time to apply some Sleekeazy to her hair. Now she was going to feel ridiculous if George showed up in his pajamas or something.

She didn't have to wait long. Just then she heard the door at the bottom of the tower open then close again. With only the bright moonlight illuminating everything around her, she waited to make sure it was George. She was relieved when she saw a red head appear in the moonlight, and George's bright smile.

She smiled back as she noted that he brought his broom with him.

George froze as he looked at her. "Wow, you look bloody amazing." Hermione laughed at his comment and the expression on his face. George tried to hide his blush as he rubbed his neck and sneaked another peek at Hermione.

"I brought my broom, and uh, I planned to take you for a flight, if that's alright with you," George responded uncertainly. He was having a difficult time speaking and thinking. He was sure it was the way Hermione looked that had him baffled. She looked amazing. Her hair was shining in the moon glow, and her shirt was revealing more of her than he knew existed.

"That sounds like a good plan, as long as you're going with me," she whispered to him.

"Of course," George whispered back. "Give me your hand."

Hermione slipped her hand into his, and they walked to edge of the tower. George climbed up on the ledge, and turned to Hermione. She was shaking her head.

"Hermione, do you trust me?" he asked her gently.

"Yes, but I'm so afraid to climb up there," she answered very quietly.

George reached down and took her hand again. "Then just keep your eyes closed and I'll take care of you."

Hermione looked into his deep green eyes and knew she would be safe. She took a deep breath and shut her eyes. She felt George pull her up onto the ledge and wrap an arm around her waist. She sucked in a breath, and hoped George thought it was from the height and not his touch. She knew better than that though.

George managed to get Hermione and himself positioned on the broom without her freaking out. "Are you ready to fly?" he whispered.

Hermione, with her eyes still tightly closed, nodded her head briefly. George pushed them off of the tower's ledge, and they were flying.

"Oh no!" Hermione cried as she squeezed her eyes shut even tighter.

"We're fine; don't worry. Just try to relax and open your eyes when you can," George whispered as he steered them away from the tower. They were flying over the Quidditch pitch and edging closer to the Forbidden Forest. Hermione's breathing was becoming softer as George turned them in the direction of the lake.

When Hermione finally opened her eyes a bit, she saw the full moon reflecting off of the lake's surface and a velvety blue sky full of stars. The Forbidden Forest looked dark and restful, not as forbidding as usual. The castle was illuminated by the moon's radiance, and the tallest stone turrets cut into the velvet blue of the sky. Hermione felt George's arms holding her tightly in place and she smelled the fresh air that accompanies a late spring night. She heard the breeze in her ears and a few owls calling to each other. All of her senses were mesmerized as they flew lower around the front of the castle.

"Wow," she whispered into the night. "This is the most amazing feeling."

George leaned in closer. "I'm happy you finally see it that way. There's nothing to be afraid of."

He was wrong though. There was a lot for Hermione to be afraid of. She was afraid that there wouldn't be enough time for her to learn how to fly for her exam in two weeks. She was afraid of taking her O.W.L.s. And she was afraid of her feelings for George. She was afraid that they wouldn't spend any time together after her lessons, and she was terrified that she was falling for him.

"Right," she said. "Nothing to be afraid of."

"Steer us. Show me what you learned today," George said as he removed his hands from the broom, forcing Hermione to take control. At first she was a little erratic with her motions, causing them to bump through the air. After a few laps around the castle, she was a becoming a master at maneuvering around the jutting stone buttresses of Hogwarts castle.

"It's getting very late," George whispered into her ear. "You're doing smashingly well with this exercise, but we need to get back to the astronomy tower."

She steered them toward the tower, but let George land them safely on the ledge. He held the broom while Hermione climbed down from the ledge then jumped down after her.

"Thanks, George," Hermione said with a bright smile. "I think that really helped."

George wanted nothing more than to pick her up and spin her around while kissing her squarely and persistently on her sweet lips, but he knew this wasn't the time. So he just smiled back. "So on Wednesday you'll be ready to practice kicking off and steering, right?"

"Why do we have to wait until Wednesday?" she asked as her smile faded.

"I have detention Monday and Tuesday nights this week. Apparently Filch doesn't appreciate fireworks indoors as much as I do," he replied with a sad look.

Hermione giggled. "I doubt anyone appreciates indoor fireworks as much as you do. Except maybe for Fred."

"Wednesday after classes?" he asked.

"See you then," she said as they silently made their way back to Gryffindor tower.

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I hope you liked this chapter. More is coming soon. Please review!