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 Six

Hermione met George atop the astronomy tower again that night after another run-in with Mrs. Norris. This time Hermione was only able to get away from the cat by sending a spell down a corridor and knocking over a suit of armor as a distraction. George was already on the tower waiting for her. She silently took the hand he offered and they climbed up onto the ledge. Wordlessly, they sat on the broomstick with Hermione in front of George.

"You're in charge tonight," he whispered as he gave her full reign of the broom. His voice sent a burning hot chill down her back.

She kicked off of the ledge, but it was more difficult with the weight of two people on the broom. They went into the air a bit crooked at first, and she had to scramble to straighten them out. George left all of the maneuvering up to her, and made no move to help her with straightening them. Instead he wrapped his arms around her waist. Hermione was thrilled by his soft touch. Her thoughts were running wild. "He's touching me! Focus on flying… focus on flying… focus on George's muscular arms. No! Flying! Focus."

She was taking them in circles around the castle which was once again illuminated by the moon. She was trying to practice changing her speed from very slow to as fast as she could go. She thought it was safer to practice this while George was on the broom with her.

"Is it alright to fly over the lake?" she asked George. She turned her head a bit to face him and noticed she was nose to nose with him.

He smiled and whispered, "Anything you want." Hermione could practically feel his lips move. She began to lose her grip on the broom. Just as they dropped a few feet in the air, she whipped her head back around and regained control. Her heart was pounding and her face was burning. She planned a course toward the lake and took deep breaths.

George was also in need of a few deep breaths. "What exactly is going on here?" he thought. "I can't even think straight when she's this close. I think I'd be able to concentrate if I could just kiss her and get it out of my system, but she'd probably kill me. And this is definitely neither the time nor the place."

Hermione flew directly across the lake then zigzagged along the shore for awhile. She was gaining confidence on the broom and was doing well as long as she avoided thoughts of George's lips. Soon, it was beginning to get cloudy and it was no doubt very late. Hermione flew them back up to the top of the tower and demonstrated a perfect landing. She turned around and handed the broom to George while she beamed.

"Admit it," she said with her hands on her hips. "I'm getting pretty good."

He sighed and nodded his head. "It's true. You are indeed. In fact, I think we should try an obstacle course next time."

"Actually, I'm not really all the good. Perhaps we shouldn't do that yet," she said to try to dissuade him from his decision.

"No, you said it yourself," he said while trying to hide a grin. "You're much too good now to not learn an obstacle course. How about Sunday after lunch?"

"Sounds good," Hermione whispered. She was thinking of what could have happened when they were interrupted on the Quidditch pitch. Then she leaned toward George. She wasn't sure why she did it. Maybe it was her newly found confidence on the broom, or maybe it was because he looked so damn cute, but something compelled her. She stood on her toes and kissed George on the cheek.

"Thanks again," she whispered as she turned and ran down the steps.

George was left standing on the tower alone with a silly smile on his face.

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The following day, George woke up and did something very strange. He went to the library. He barely remembered how to get there, since he'd only been there a handful of times, and once he arrived, it took him awhile to find the correct section. Finally, he found the manual for the O.W.L. level flying exam. He took the book over to a seat. After skimming the flying section, he figured out the type of obstacle course Hermione would need to fly through for her test. He made a mental note of the different materials he would need to find.

He looked across the library and saw Hermione talking with Angelina. He was temped to eavesdrop on their conversation but remained in his seat with the book.

"I heard you met him again last night after curfew," Angelina whispered across the table to Hermione. They were both studying for charms exams.

"How did you hear about that?" Hermione asked as she looked up.

"Fred told me that George came in late again last night," Angelina said with a slight smirk. "I get the feeling nobody is getting the full story from either of you."

Hermione blushed as she remembered kissing George's cheek the previous night. "There is really nothing more to say than George is kindly helping me learn how to fly."

Angelina narrowed her eyes. "Whatever you say. Just tell me one thing. Why is George in the library?"

Hermione spun around in her seat to see George approaching them with a book. "Gods he looks good in those clothes. Why am I thinking these things?!?!"

"Good morning, ladies," George greeted them as he took a seat next to Hermione. "How are we today?"

"Fine!" screeched Hermione before Angelina could say something embarrassing, but it was too late.

"George, you're looking awfully well for someone who stays out past curfew," Angelina told him. Hermione turned red again.

"What can I say? Some people just look good all the time," George said as he shrugged. "Anyway, Hermione, I found this book that tells what type of obstacle course the test is built around. You'll definitely need to practice on a course for the next week."

"Fine. I'll sign that book out and take it with me. I'll be sure to read it before tomorrow," Hermione told him.

"Wow, they let you sign the books out? This library place is really helpful," George said with a mystified look on his face.

Angelina and Hermione both cracked up, and the three of them earned a nasty look from Madam Pince.

"Yes, George, that's generally the purpose of the library. It has an informative nature," said Angelina bringing George up to date.

"Whatever…I need to get going. This place is bad for my image," George replied as he stood. "See you tomorrow, Hermione."

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