*George's point of view*

"George!" Fred's extremely over exuberant voice woke me up. I slowly blinked open my eyes, fighting off the residual effects of my sobering potion. Last night had been awful by all accounts. It had started off so promising too, Hermione had looked incredible, and had even flirted with me some. Then we got to the restaurant, and Cormac McLaggen had been there. Of all people in the world, it had to be him.

"Georgie?" Fred's voice sounded from the foot of my bed, quiet and worried. I let out a puff of air and pushed myself up forcing a smile as I looked at him.

"Morning Freddie."

"Are you all right?" he asked instantly, stepping around the bed and coming up next to me. Why did I even try getting past him? He was my twin for Merlin's sake, he really did know me better than I knew myself. He lowered himself beside me on the bed, furrowing his brow as he glanced at my side table and saw the bottle for the sobering potion.

"I'm okay." I replied half heartedly, trying to figure out just how to explain what had happened.

"But not alright, did you get drunk?"

"A little."

His eyebrows shot up and he looked even more worried. "Why? You never get drunk, at least not without me." He paused, and his eye grew wide before he continued. "Definitely not in front of 'Mione either."

"That's kind of why I got drunk." I said quietly, fisting my blanket uncomfortably.

"Wanna talk about it?" He asked softly. He was the only person who knew how I actually felt about Hermione, the only one that knew I was crazy about her.

"Not really, but you're going to get me too anyway."

"Yep," he said, slightly more cheerfully as he pulled his feet up on the bed. I wrapped my arms around my own legs and leaned my head against them.

"Mum got us both dates, so we decided to double as always. Neither of us knew who we were dating, which was really dumb looking back." I sighed and lowered my eyes, avoiding Fred's vivid ones. "She was wearing the most incredible dress, it was red." Fred smiled, he knew red was my favorite color. "We went to madam Puddyfoots. I asked for the reservations, and that was when she found out it was McLaggen. She tensed beside me, and at first I thought it was because she didn't want to go with him. Then we got to the tables." I stopped, taking a deep breath as the memory played in front of my mind. I hadn't seen it coming, not at all. Seeing Katie there had really shocked me, we'd had a terrible breakup, and the fact that it was my own mother who had set us up on a date had really hurt.

"Mum had set me up with Katie. Hermione was beaming and slid in next to Cormac, and I mean next to Cormac. I sat down by Katie, trying not to act too uncomfortable. Hermione was chatting with Cormac, so I started making jokes." I sighed again and tried not to sound to upset. Joking was what I did when I was upset, it was my defense mechanism.

"Cormac kept getting closer and closer to her, and I couldn't take it anymore. So I ordered a drink."

"What happened next?"

"I don't really remember too well. Hermione left, Cormac took her home."

"What?" he said, sounding thoroughly surprised. I couldn't blame him, I always jumped at the chance to escort 'Mione home.

"Yeah, that parts a little foggy, I don't know how it happened."

He didn't say anything for a moment, which was okay by me, I was just wallowing in my own self pity. He hopped off of the bed and stood up, pulling the covers off of me. "Get up, we have to open the shop, and then we've got to figure out how to get you and 'Mione together."

A smile pulled my lips up despite my protest, I couldn't help but smile at Fred's eagerness. Besides, if anyone could get the two of us together it was Fred.

"Sounds like a plan."

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The day flat out dragged on. Mum owled at noon and told us she had arrange another date for tonight, she didn't mention who we were dating, just that me and Hermione had one. I was actually excited about it, it was a chance to see Hermione again without having to think of an excuse. So, it was with unhidden excitement that I got ready for the surprise date. I wore a blue t shirt with a pair of faded jeans. We were going to the Leaky Cauldron, so I could go casual. At seven I finished messing with my hair and I decided I'd just leave it in its messy state. Hopefully she liked it that way, it wasn't going to do anything else anyway.

I apparated over to Hermione's flat and knocked on the door, praying that she would let me in. I'd upset her somehow last night, and I couldn't even remember how because I had gotten so drunk.

I stood at the door for what felt like an eternity, but was actually only a minute. I was about to knock again when the door opened. Ginny was standing there with an extremely disapproving glare.

"What did you do to her last night?" She demanded as she led me into their flat. "She came in crying last night, and has been crying on and off all day." She hissed at me. My stomach tied itself up into a painful knot. I had made Hermione cry, I'd made her cry! I was mad about her and I'd made her cry. I hated it when she cried, it made me feel like I was getting stabbed in the heart.

"I-" I started, unsure of what to say. Ginny stepped closer to me and stabbed me in the chest with her finger.

"I told her you liked her, I encourage her and you upset her!"

"George?" Hermione's soft voice called from her bedroom before I even had a chance to process what Ginny had just said. She was wearing a dark blue top and a pair of muggle jeans that fit her beautifully. A smile lifted my lips at the sight of her until I saw that her eyes were red like she had been crying. Oh Merlin's beard, Ginny was right!

"Ready to go out?" I asked, stepping forward and forcing myself to stay calm. My mind was racing to sort through what all Ginny had said, and what all it meant. I like Hermione, had for a long time, but I always thought that she only thought of me as a friend. What if I was wrong? What if she felt the same as I did?

Merlin, if only there was some way to know for sure. I'd hate to risk losing our friendship.

"Yep," she said, her voice happy. I smiled and looped my arm around her before heading towards the door. "Any idea who we're dating tonight?"

"Not a clue." I answered honestly. Not good, we once again had no idea who we were dating. That hadn't gone to well last night. I apparated us away and we reappeared outside of the Leaky Cauldron.

"At least I don't have to wear heels tonight." She said, smiling.

"I don't know, I rather like them." I said, winking at her. She blushed a little before looking forward and stepping into the Cauldron. I followed her, smiling excitedly. I'd made her blush with my flirt, maybe she really did like me as more than a friend.

Hannah Abbot directed us to the back of the cauldron where our dates were at. I couldn't make out who Hermione's was, but I recognized mine instantly, it was Cho Chang. Now that would be awkward. Why had mum set me up with her? Had she suddenly gone mental?

"Evening guys!" A chipper voice said from the other side of the booth. I knew that voice , knew it extremely well. The figure turned in his seat and his dark face smiled excitedly.

"Good evening, Lee." Hermione said, sounding surprised. I stood in front of the booth in shock unable to move. Had this really happened? Had mum hooked the girl I was in love with up with my second best friend? My heart hammered painfully against my chest as Hermione slid into the booth next to him, chatting animatedly. Lee and her were good friends, they had to be with all the time that they both spent with Fred and me.

"George?" Cho asked me curiously. I gave myself a mental shake and slid in next to Cho, cringing when she laid a hand on my shoulder. Lee was still talking with Hermione, waving his hands excitedly as he spoke. I listened to their conversation half heartedly, feeling more and more depressed.

I considered getting drunk again, but I didn't want Hermione to think I just got drunk all the time. She knew I didn't, but two nights in a row would be suspicious. I watched Hermione and Lee talk feeling more and more depressed. She was beautiful, painfully so. Her skin was soft and warm, she had curly hair, the bushiness of it suited her brilliantly, her eyes were the color of milk chocolate, and her lips were full and soft looking. I could spend hours looking at her, but it was beginning to look like I wouldn't have the chance. She was laughing at Lee's jokes, and smiling happily. She liked him, and seemed to be enjoying herself. I decided to try and think of a way to get out of the Cauldron, I couldn't take looking at her anymore. Starting tomorrow I was going to stop spending so much time with her. I couldn't take it anymore, it hurt too much to see her with other men.

"Here, Love." Lee said, handing her the salt with a smooth smile. I cringed internally and had to fight not to smack him. She turned towards him with an equally smooth smile.

"Thank you, Lee." She purred, leaning in towards him and taking the salt from his hands. Something inside of me snapped when she gave him a heart stopping smile and I felt myself standing. I stepped towards her and glared down at her, unable to hold myself back.

"May I talk to you for a minute?" I asked through gritted teeth. I didn't wait for her response, I grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the booth before she could say anything. I pulled her through the Cauldron and out into the alley that led to Diagon.

"George?" She questioned as I dropped her arm. A monster had risen up inside me and I couldn't quail it, couldn't fight it. I pushed her up against the alley wall and took a moment to look at her. Her eyes were wide and she looked surprised, but not worried. Her hair was fanned out against the wall in a beautiful flood of brown. Her lips were parted as she gasped for breath and I lost myself. I leaned forward and kissed her roughly, bracing myself with one hand on the wall, I wrapped my other hand around her waist, tugging her hips towards mine.

She stood frozen underneath me for a moment, and I began to feel terrible. I'd forced myself on her, and she would probably never talk to me again. Then she moved. She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling my face closer to hers as she dragged her fingers through my locks.

I moaned against her mouth and felt as though I could explode. She was kissing me back, pulling me against her with just as much force as I was pushing against her.

We broke the kiss a few long minutes later, breathing heavily and staring at each other in shock. I opened my mouth to speak, to apologize, but I didn't get a chance.

"So, I guess that's it for tonight's date, huh?" She asked, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at me through her lashes. "We'll have to think of something else we can do."

A smile lifted my lips as I looked down at her. "I'm sure I can think of something."

"Great ." She whispered before stretching up and claiming my lips in another kiss.