AN: Sorry it was short. But I thought it was a good place to end it. :) You'll just have to wait and see what happens next.

Proposal

The Meaning of Love

Winds of Autumn

George moved to Hermione's side, resting a friendly hand on her shoulder. She jerked, a hiccup spilling forth as she turned and lunged at him. Catching the small woman easilly, George merely held her and let her tears soak his shirt. Whatever had made Harry so angry, he had no right to do this to Hermione. She was his best mate. Bloody hell, she'd been there for the git even when Ron hadn't been. When she stopped crying, he looked around and his brow furrowed. She'd been packing? And Harry had left in a storm of anger.... She was leaving.

"Where you going?" he asked softly, rubbing her back gently.

Slowly, Hermione lifted her head and looked at him. "I can't stay, George. Its... Its too hard." He'd never now her to give up so easilly, or at all for that matter. But matters of the heart were more painful and much more crippling than anything else she'd dealt with. Even more so than Voldemort had been.

He sighed, nodding in defeat. "I can't come with you." He pulled her closer, resting his chin on top of her head. "But you'd better write me every day, or I'll come after you," he said, trying to coax a laugh from her. It worked-- she gave a soft laugh, sniffling afterward.

"Is it so wrong that I want him this much?" she asked, eyes shining as she looked up at him, begging for an answer that was honest. He cupped her cheek, thumbing her tears away, and kissed her forehead.

"No, Hermione. Whats wrong is him." George took a deep breath, watching her. "Marry me, Hermione." He pressed a finger to her lips to cut off her immediate protests, shoving his other hand through his hair nervously. "I know we're not in love, but we do love each other. You need someone to stand with you and protect you when you can't protect yourself-- an impossible time, I know. But I want to be there for you. The fireworks might not go off right away, or ever, but I'll be a father for your baby and a best friend that you never have to be seperated from...." He sighed, looking at her. "I love you Hermione, not like you love Harry, but I do love you. You kept me going when I lost Fred, and I'd love to help you. Bloody hell, I need to because I love you." He slowly removed his finger from her lips, watching her intently.

Her lips pursed as she thought. Did she want to move on? Was there any chance at all that she could get over Harry given time? Would he ever leave Ginny? She didn't know. "I.... I need to think about it, George. Its a big step," she said softly, taking his hand in hers and squeezing gently. "I really appreciate your offer. Though why you chose me..." she murmured, watching him from beneath her lashes, hoping to inspire a laugh from him. A grudging smile came to his face. Touching his cheek, she waited until he was looking at her again. "If I said yes, it would be unfair to you. I could never love you the way you deserve. I would pine for someone else, and you would know it. I'm sorry, George. I.... I can't."

George nodded slowly. "I understand. But... Keep it in mind, all right?" He waved his wand, the rest of her things flying into her trunk neatly. Standing, he shrunk her trunk for her. "Be safe," he added, kissing her hair before he left. So maybe he'd been angry at Harry for no reason... Harry hadn't done that to Hermione, their emotions had. He sighed, heading back to his own room.

The door clicked locked behind him and his wand flew from his hand. George lifted bewhildered eyes to his brother. "Ron? What are you doing?" he asked wearily.

"Whats going on between them?" he asked, his eyes hard. "I deserve to know." He was their bloody best mate! What the hell was going on? Even if he'd been angry at Hermione, he still cared about her.

George dropped down onto the bed beside Ron, staring down at his hands. "Hermione is in love with him, and.... Its not my place to tell you...." He stood.

"And you're in love with her?" Ron asked, watching his older brother as he froze. Ron was right, he realized. He didn't know when it had happened, but it had. Sure as hell, it had. He'd been so sure he'd only cared for her as an older brother, as a best friend, but Hermione Granger was amazing. You couldn't help it, he supposed.

"Yeah.... I guess I am.... I asked her to marry me, you know. She said no of course, but I had to at least ask." Ron nodded in understanding.

"Hermione is a great girl. Its easy, isn't it?" Both boys sat on the bed, staring down at their hands and becoming lost in their thoughts of the bushy haired eleven-year-old that had blossomed into the amazing woman she was now.

Cool air whipped past his face, nearly knocking his glasses off, as he pushed the Firebolt harder. He had to get away. He could still see the tears in her eyes, the flush of pleasure on her cheeks, the trembling of her lips as she sighed--- NO! He loved Ginny. He did. But he loved Hermione too. Maybe more. Okay, so he loved Hermione more than his own life. But what could he do about it? Nothing. If he left Ginny, the whole Weasley family would be breathing down his neck.

He paused in midair, the broom hovering to support his weight. His thoughts were as turbulant as a tsunami. He couldn't seem to find his bearings amidst his own mind. Ginny. Hermione. Teddy and Hermione. Would Ginny be as good with children? No, he'd seen her around Teddy.

Harry sighed, scrubbing a hand through his hair. He supposed he knew what he had to do. He needed to choose. But who?

Looking down at the streets below, misted from the clouds he hovered in, he grinned unconciously at seeing Grimmauld Place. His home. Landing quickly, he slid inside, inhaling the scent. Strawberries. Hermione. He groaned. He couldn't seem to get away from her! And the memories. The heat.... Dropping his head against the wall, he sighed. He didn't want to hurt either of them, but he knew what he had to do. Setting his broom in the corner, Harry drifted through the house, seeing Hermione everywhere. She had worked so hard to make his home inhabitable. Her touch was everywhere-- the books ordered alphabetically on the shelves, the central theme of Gryffindor and Hogwarts everywhere (soft but blunt, easy on the eyes, but completely Harry), Quidditch memorabelia and so much more that made him feel.... completely comfortable. Like this was home. And it was.

But it was empty without Hermione.

Growling, he clenched his fist at his side. Without a second thought, he strode back to the corner, grabbing his broom and heading for the back door. He set off at once, flying even faster than he had before. He had to talk to Ginny.