Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I am making no money off this story, just a lot of fun.
"So, did you and George have fun last night?" Ginny asked when I got up. I nodded my head, smiling brightly and pulling on my house robe.
"Yep, we went to the Three Broomsticks and then we went skating." I told her, pulling my hair back into a loose ponytail. A smile lifted my lips at the memory of last night, it had been wonderful. I'd had a lot of fun, George had started a game of tag and we'd ended up chasing each other around the ice rink.
"Sounds like a fun date."
"It was." I said before freezing. I spun on my heel and faced her, my face growing extremely serious. "It wasn't a date, we're just friends." I said quickly, defensively. She raised her eyebrows and looked at me in surprise.
"Okay, I didn't mean anything by it." I nodded my head at her, turning back around and heading towards the restroom. "It's just that you two do spend a lot of time together."
"We do not." I said, feeling nervous. What was I so worked up about?
"Yes you do."
She was right; we did spend a lot of time together. I enjoyed spending time with him, I couldn't help it, and he was my best friend. We'd spent a lot of time together since everyone else was always out on a date.
"Okay, maybe we do spend a lot of time together, but there's nothing wrong with that. We're just friends."
She smiled in a maddeningly smug way and just nodded her head. "Sure, Hermione, whatever you say."
"We are just friends!" I exclaimed, throwing my hands into the air in exasperation.
"Of course you are." She said, standing up and heading for the door. "Whatever makes you happy."
Her confident words and annoying smirk stuck with me the entire day, I couldn't focus on work, couldn't focus on anything. I just kept replaying the conversation in my head. Why had it upset me so much when she said we'd gone out on a date? Why was I suddenly feeling nervous about double dating with him tonight?
I hadn't figured out the answer by the time I had to leave for the Three Broomsticks, the place that Oliver Wood would be taking me tonight. I had no idea why Mrs. Weasley thought I would get along with him, but she'd signed me up for the date, so I had to go. I still got the better half of the bargain, poor George was going with Lavender Brown.
Lavender Brown, the beautiful, vivacious Lavender Brown. For some reason the thought of her going on a date with George filled my mouth with a bitter taste. It wasn't that I was jealous; I just didn't like the idea of her trying to seduce George. He deserved someone better than her. Smarter, kinder, more loyal.
Besides, if she tried anything with him, I'd hex her.
Where had that come from? When did I care who he dated? I was not jealous. I was simply looking out for him that was all.
I went to the Three Broomsticks and got a booth, deciding I'd wait for the others here instead of meeting George like I usually did. I ordered a butterbeer and waited, sipping it quietly in the corner. I didn't have to wait long; George appeared at the entrance, a frown on his face until he saw me. A flurry of butterflies filled my stomach and I started fiddling with my glass as he walked towards me.
"Hey 'Mione! What's up?" He asked, leaning down and giving me a kiss on the cheek. I smiled at the feel of his soft, warm, lips and beamed up at him.
"The ceiling." He sat down across from me, scooting over to the far side so Oliver would be able to sit down by him. He laughed at my lame joke before taking off his jacket.
"Seriously though, is everything alright? Why didn't you stop by the flat?" a blush lit my cheeks and I had to resist the urge to drop my eyes. What was going on with me? Since when did the sight of my best friend fill me with butterflies? This was all Ginny's fault; she's the one that made me start questioning my relationship with George.
"I got busy at work." I said, forcing myself to maintain eye contact. I hoped he bought it, he could always tell when I was lying. I was rather a rubbish liar.
"Okay, I won't ask." He said, smiling softly, though it was little sadder than usual. My heart clenched at the look on his face, and I wanted to explain, but what could I say?
"Evening guys." Oliver's deep voice sounded to my left and I tensed before forcing myself to smile.
"Evening Oliver." I said, smiling and trying to look flirtatious. He scooted into the seat next to me and smiled smoothly at me.
"You look extremely nice tonight."
"Why thank you." I said, flushing a slight bit. He was leaning into me and it was making me a little uncomfortable.
"How's everything Wood?" George said his voice loud and pointed. I started a little at it. I took a sip of my butterbeer while Oliver answered him and scooted closer to the wall, trying to put a little space between Oliver and me.
"George, so glad to see you." Lavender's soft, sensual voice sounded from the edge of the booth and my eyes snapped up, narrowed and glairing. I forced myself to relax and smile. She'd not done anything to me.
She scooted into George's booth, smiling lasciviously at him before giving him a kiss on the cheek. I tensed up and felt my hands form into fist at my side. The date had barely started and she was already looking at him like a piece of meat. He was no such thing; he was a man, and a really great one at that. Granted, he did have a really great body.
Wait, he was a friend, just a friend!
"What can I get you tonight?"
"We'll have a salad and soup." Oliver said, ordering for both of us. I raised my eyebrows and stared at him in disbelief. He did not just order for me without even asking what I wanted, did he?
"Actually," I said, piping up with a frown. "I'll have the chicken pasta."
"Are you sure?" Oliver asked, looking at me in surprise. "That's a lot of calories."
"So what?" George asked. I looked over at him and was glad to see he looked upset. I didn't know why that thrilled me, I was just glad. "'Mione doesn't need to watch her weight, she's great."
"I'm sorry," Oliver said in a placating tone. "I'm used to being on a restrictive diet, you know, quidditch. Gotta stay in shape."
"I'll have a salad." Lavender said, batting her eyes at the waiter. I rolled my eyes at that. George raised his eyebrow at her but smiled at the waiter good naturedly.
"I'll take the roast beef, thanks." The waiter nodded his head and left to get our orders.
Cue the small talk.
"So, George, how is business?" Lavender asked, batting her eyes at him now. It was a wonder she hadn't strained her eyelids with all the batting she was doing. I took another sip of my butterbeer and forced myself to calm down. She leaned closer to George, scooting nearer. "I find your joke shop so fascinating." I bet she did.
"It's going great." George said, giving her an easy smile. My hand tightened on my butterbeer and I took another swig.
"Hermione, did you hear me?" Oliver said, leaning in close to me and whispering in my ear.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" I asked, turning back towards him. His face was inches from mine, blurry in its nearness. My breath caught in my throat in surprise and I found myself freezing.
"I said you've grown up quite a bit since I last saw you." His eyes dropped to my body before looking back up at me. I could see George staring at me out of the corner of my eye; it made me even more nervous for some reason.
"Your food." The waiter huffed and then placed the food in front of us. I jumped in surprise, bumping Oliver on accident. He smiled at the contact and scooted closer to me. I had no idea how, since he was practically sitting in my lap anyway. I would have moved over but I was already against the wall.
"So." George said, his voice short. "How's quidditch going Oliver?"
"Great, Mate." He said, flashing him a smile. "We're number one in the league at the moment." He said, going off about quidditch. I listened half heartedly, losing myself in the sounds of their voices. My mind slipped away and I started thinking about everything Ginny had said that morning again. Did I like George? I mean, I liked him alright, he was my best friend, but did I like him? If I did, when did that happen?
"George," Lavender said suddenly. My eyes snapped up from where I had been looking at the table, and I saw her practically sitting in George's lap. He was against the wall as well, unable to move over any further. His eyes met mine for a moment and I felt butterflies rise up in my stomach before he looked away.
"Hmm?"
"You and Fred have a flat, right?" I did not like that question, not at all. I had no reason to dislike it, but I did. I didn't want her anywhere near George's flat.
"Yes." George said slowly, sounding unsure.
"Is it big?"
"It's two room." I said, cutting in and trying not to sound like I wanted to claw her. I needed to get out of here and think about what was going on. I needed to sort through my emotions, figure out what was going on with me and George. Why I suddenly wanted to claw out Lavender's eyes for sitting so close to him.
"Sound's cozy." She said, running her hand up George's arm. His eyebrows rose up even further and he moved his hand to cover hers, gently removing it from his arm.
"It is, just the perfect size for Fred and me." He said, turning back so that he was facing Oliver and me.
"So, 'Mione," Oliver started, winking at George. "Where's your flat, aren't you sharing with Ginny?" I don't really think I wanted to answer that.
"It's in Diagon Alley, you know, close to work." I said, smiling good naturedly as I picked at my dinner. I wasn't hungry. Lavender was rubbing George's arm again, and it was making me feel sick. Oliver kept talking to me, now about his flat, and he laid his hand on my lap, making me jump and feel even more uncomfortable. I'd had enough, I was leaving.
"George, could you take me home, I'm not feeling so well." I said quickly, I'd just cast a spell on myself and it made me turn pale and slightly greener. George looked over at me and fought a smile when he saw how awful I looked.
"I can take you home." Oliver said, standing and letting me out.
"I'd rather George, he knows where I live and the passwords to get in." I explained, swaying on my feet. George climbed out of the booth and grabbed my arm gently.
"I'll owl you tomorrow." Oliver called as he led me to the street.
"Please don't!" I called back. Once George had us out of the restaurant he apparated us away.
A/N: Sorry I forgot to disclaim last chapter! I hope you all like the story so far, it's fun to write. I'm basing this off what my mum did to my sister and brother in law, she had them double dating forever before they finally got together.