It's really getting hard to make this a happy story, but I'm still keeping up with my challenge of making a happy story out of a not-so-happy album.

Telling me to go but hands beg me to stay

Your lips say that you love, but your eyes say that you hate

There's truth in your lies

Doubt in your faith

What you build you lay to waste

-In Pieces

Hermione arrived at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes shortly after receiving George's request for assistance. She walked in the door and sought out the first thing in the ugly magenta robe she could find.

"I'm here to talk to George," she asked the pretty young witch behind the counter.

"One moment," the girl smiled and disappeared into the back room. A few seconds later a smiling George appeared.

"Hermione!" he beamed, motioning for her to follow him into the back room. She followed him into his office, where he closed the door and sat at his desk.

"What did you bring me here for?" Hermione asked, sitting opposite him.

"Always business with you."

"I am on the clock."

"I know, but you need to learn to have fun."

"I would have thought you of all people would know I do know how to have fun," Hermione said coyly.

George's eyebrows raised momentarily. "I meant in your job, but I am aware of how fun you can be," he smirked, checking the door.

"Anyways, your note said you were having problems with shoplifters."

"Yeah, kids are always trying to steal stuff. I was wondering if you had any ideas on prevention."

Hermione raised her eyebrow. "George Weasley, I've seen you terrify teachers and command respect from children of all ages. You expect me to believe for one moment you can't handle some underage wizards and witches trying to pilfer pygmy puffs?"

George smiled and shook his head. " The underage witches want the Daydreams, the underage wizards anything that goes bang and smells bad."

"Either way, you really can't handle them? How dumb do you think I am?"

"OK, you caught me. I wanted to talk to you, and I thought it'd be better when you weren't surrounded by my family or our friends."

Hermione felt her stomach drop. "What did you want to talk about?" she asked nervously.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner or something sometime."

Hermione swallowed. "I'm not sure that's such a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Listen. We had fun, but I wasn't looking for something long-term. I was in Mexico to have fun and let loose and that's what I did. I don't regret it, but I don't really want to make something of it." She got up to leave.

"Please, Hermione," George said, standing and placing a hand on her shoulder. "I wasn't looking for anything more than a good time, too, but I can't get you out of my head. One date. If it goes south we can break it off and pretend like nothing ever happened like we were going to."

"I just don't really want..."

"Please," George begged, wrapping his arms around her from behind and nuzzling her neck. "Just one date."

Hermione shook her head, but placed her hands tenderly on his.

"You know you want to. I'm totally charming and handsome, and you know how I am in bed. And, before you say it, I'm lovably arrogant."

Hermione smiled despite herself. "Alright, you persistent bugger, I'll go on one date with you. If you promise that if I call it off we'll never speak of it again."

George placed a soft kiss on her neck, causing a shiver to run down her spine. She sighed and tried to keep the memories of their night together from rushing through her mind. George kissed her again, and moved to give her another when she broke away.

"While I'm sure I'd get in enough trouble for planning dates during work, I'll get in even more for carrying on an affair."

George squeezed her before releasing her. "Meet me here Friday night at six?"

"I'll be there," Hermione said. She looked over her shoulder at him before excusing herself from his office. The look reminded him of their night together, and he locked himself in his office until he could get thoughts of Hermione shedding her bra out of his head.

___________

Fifteen minutes later Hermione sank into her desk chair.

"That was quick," Harry said, raising his eyebrow.

"Did you honestly think that George Weasley couldn't take care of a few shoplifters by himself?"

"I was wondering why he needed you."

"Where's Ron?"

"With his Dad. There's still those so-called healing artifacts out there, and Arthur wanted help busting a business that is selling amulets that supposedly protect wearers from colds and the flu. I can't believe that people still make that junk."

"It doesn't surprise me that people make the artifacts, it surprises me that people actually fall for them. And that Aurors have to go help other departments deal with them."

"Well, one amulet costs two galleons, a bottle of pepper up potion costs ten. I'm sure people thinks it's worth a shot. And we go because there's shit else to do. We haven't gotten a good call in four months. So what did George really want?"

Hermione sighed. "Seriously, you and Ginny were perfect for each other. Always sticking your nose into my business."

"Ginny and I would have been perfect for each other had she had something more between her legs," Harry smirked. "And by what you said I'm thinking that it had something to do with whatever you guys did in Mexico."

"How did you know...?"

"I saw you guys snogging on the dance floor. Making out in public isn't exactly keeping things like that private."

"Did Ron...?"

Harry shook his head. "I caught it out of the corner of my eye, and I didn't make it obvious that I was looking. Plus you two didn't do too much before leaving together. So when he sent the owl requesting you and you alone I was wondering if you were going for another hook-up."

"No. He was asking me on a date."

"Don't normal relationships go the other way around? First comes dating, then comes sex?"

"I thought all it was going to be a one-night stand."

"Where is the Hermione Granger I knew at Hogwarts?"

"What? I start having sex and I'm not the same person I was when I first met you?"

"No. You start having one-night stands and you're not the same Hermione as when I first met you. I'm not stupid. I knew you'd start having sex at some point. But I thought it would be one of those 'only when I'm in a long-term relationship' things."

"Well, it goes to show you that you should never judge a book by it's cover."

"That's such a bullshit line. If they didn't want you to judge a book by it's cover why put summaries, reviews, and attractive pictures on it?"

"Touché."

"Are you going to tell Ron?"

"Why should I? I'm going on the date to shut George up. There's more than a good chance nothing will ever come of it. What's the point of getting him riled up?"

"Why do you think he'd get riled up?"

"Because he knows me, and he knows George. We're not exactly similar thinkers."

"And Ron still cares enough about you to want to make sure you don't get hurt."

Hermione blushed and started sorting through her inbox.

"So, you're not expecting anything from the date?"

Hermione smirked. "Maybe something, but nothing long-term."

Harry's jaw dropped. "Hermione Jean Granger!"

"What? I'm not going to lie. He was great in bed."

"Maybe you can just keep him on as a friend with benefits."

"I don't think that's what he has in mind."

"Just don't go into the date with a bad attitude. Who knows? He might be a great boyfriend. From what I hear Weasleys make good boyfriends."

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