Disclaimer: I do not own anything, any and all influences from other books/stories belong to their prospective owners, and I just twist them to make it fit!

A/N: Sorry! This took far too long to post! The fact that it was HP weekend on ABC Family really helped! But here it is, a bit more character development in this one. Enjoy!

Chapter 9: Saved A Wretch Like Me

"Having a soft heart in a cruel world is courage, not weakness." –Unknown.

Ginny always had a knack for reading people. Even when she was younger, she knew when the tension between her brothers were brewing, before they even realized they were sore at each other. The longer she knew someone, the more she could pick up when something was off, or about to happen. It helped keep her sanity and safety when the twins were up to no good. Hermione, though, was always a little more difficult to read. She had this ability to hide her emotions as if she just closed a book she was reading. It was also entirely possible that when Hermione felt so strongly about something, she would let you now outright. Maybe it was because she was a muggle, she had the ability to hide her magic better than purebloods.

Lately though, Ginny started to notice something. The glances across the dinner table, whispers on the stairs. It seemed inevitable, taking up residence in a household where testosterone reigned supreme. But with the brother Ginny least likely expected. She never understood why people thought Hermione and Ron would make a great match, they were as volatile as a volcanic eruption. She could see Hermione finding Charlie a more suitable match, with their love for magical creatures. But, George, that took her while to fully understand.

So Ginny stayed quiet and studied the pair. She watched as George began to smile more, laugh more, even study theories alongside her as she did her work. Hermione seemed like a good influence on her older brother. So it was on this night, that Ginny went on the attack.

Her frizzy haired friend was already dressed for bed, propped up with her pillows on her bed reading an ancient looking book on pureblood laws. Ginny hung her robe on the back of her door and went to her nightstand for her hairbrush. She watched as Hermione rubbed her eyes and readjusted her glasses. She was tired, yet refused to stop for the night until she reached her acquired page. Ginny flipped her hair to the front of her shoulder to begin brushing.

"I know your little secret." She said as she worked out a tangle.

She watched as a small Malfoy-like smirk appeared at the corners of her mouth. She placed her finger in between the binding of the book, closed it, and removed her glasses.

"Which one?" Hermione asked as she turned towards her friend.

The brush froze halfway down her long auburn hair. Ginny thought she had the upper hand on this conversation, but two little words, took her by surprise. Ginny hated being taken by surprise.

"The one about you and George. What other ones are you keeping?"

"I'd hardly call that a secret. We haven't really been hiding the fact that we're interested in each other. We're just being…cautious. Neither of us is really sure if we're in a place where we can handle something serious right now. Between re-writing laws, and George getting his business back in the spotlight, we're just taking it slow."

"You're afraid to hurt him." Ginny stated as she put the brush on her comforter.

"Heart break is the last thing he needs." Hermione nodded.

"George has a fractured heart, but I think you're enough to help glue back a few pieces. I can see the changes in him. His drive to develop new items for the shop, the way he carries himself, even that mischievous twinkle is back. You're helping." Ginny explained.

"That was the plan." The smirk appeared on her face again, and Ginny still could not get a read on it.

Hermione reached for her glasses to place them on her bedside table and placed a bookmark in her book.

"You didn't answer my other question." Ginny said as she watched her friend tuck under her blankets.

"A girl as to keep a few secrets to herself." Hermione answered as she rolled away from her friend. "Good night, Ginny."

Another book closed.

Even in the wizarding world, workers were required to take personal days. It was in this manner that Hermione found herself in the middle of Diagon Alley instead of in her office pouring over ancient tomes on the obligation to keep the wizarding family lines pure, by way of arranged marriages.

November had arrived, and so did the ever dreary weather. It was cold, raining, and only a fool would choose this day to do their errands. But, Hermione was invited to a free hot meal this afternoon with the jokester. So she quickly made her way towards the shop, the bottom of her pants growing more and more wet with each step.

The shop stood out even on the gloomiest of days. Ever inviting, and intriguing to the most casual passerby. As she approached the shop's front steps, she noticed that George had taken his displays outside. All along the awning above the stairs, hung different sized icicles. She recognized them instantly. They were the ones he created by combing the Never Melts and the flame from the Never Dark lanterns. She watched as the rain water ran down the sides of the ice, giving it a melting look, but she knew in reality, they were doing the complete opposite. She reached up to close her umbrella and walked towards the door. As she reached the top step she noticed the temperature difference, instead of feeling cold and damp, she felt cozy and dry. It was as if the bottom of her pants weren't soaked to the top of her ankle. It was then that she looked down and saw that in fact, they were dry. George had combined a drying spell in with the ice.

As she entered the shop, she noticed that they too were feeling the effects of bad weather. There was only a hand full of customers milling about. Verity was reading the latest Witch Weekly behind the counter. As Hermione approached she could make out the cover picture and title.

Exclusive Interview with Draco Malfoy:

On his own, developing businesses both large and small.

Can he redeem himself?

'On his own, with the money from his inheritance no doubt. Git.' Hermione thought as she stared at the picture. It was when Verity cleared her throat that she noticed the witch had been waiting for her to speak.

"Sorry." She mumbled. "I was wondering if…"

"He's in the back." Verity interrupted and pointed to the door in the back corner.

"Thanks."

Hermione made her way between a row of cauldrons of sweets for the skiving snack boxes. She wasn't sure if she should knock, or just enter. It would probably be safer to knock, as the last time she opened something from the twins, she found herself sporting a black eye.

She gave the door a few soft raps with her knuckles and glanced around the shop to see if anyone noticed her. She waited a few seconds in mild anxiety, debating if she should try again with more force, when the door suddenly opened. She was surprised to see George in just a grey sweater and jeans. You would hardly ever see him in the shop without an obnoxious colored three piece suit.

"Hey. Come on back. I was just cleaning up." George said as he opened the door wider.

If George was cleaning anything in the back, he was make an awfully slow go at it. There were notebooks scattered amongst the tables, cauldrons stacked up waiting to be washed, ingredient bottles scattered.

"Would you like some help?" she asked.

"Nah. If there's one thing mum taught us how to do, it was a proper cleaning spell. Take a seat, I'll be ready in a moment." George pulled out a cleared stool for her and began to make his way around the workshop.

She glanced over at one of his notebooks, scratches and drawings that she could barely make out. One looked oddly like a snowman and a list of ingredients along the column. She was going to turn the page of the book, when it suddenly closed and levitated towards the shelf to her left. She looked up at George, who was shaking his head at her.

"Just can't get your nose out of a book, even on your day off." He smiled.

"Apparently not." Hermione nervously adjusted her collar to hide her blush, but in her habit ran her hand across the scar that resided there.

George approached her stool and lifted her chin to get a better look at it.

"The battle?" he asked, not recalling anyone getting that close to her to inflict such a precise wound.

Hermione shook her head, she brushed her jacket off her shoulders to allow access to her shirt.

"It was when we were held captive at Malfoy Manor. We were trying to escape and Bellatrix had a hold of me. She forced Harry and Ron to drop their wands or else…well." She pointed at the scar. "Luckily Dobby came to our rescue. This wound wasn't that serious, it just didn't heal nicely."

"That one wasn't serious, was there another that was?" George asked.

Hermione took a deep breath.

"Do you remember when you and Fred opened the shop, and we came in during the summer?" she countered.

George nodded. "Yes, Ron wanted stuff for free, we gave Harry some Peruvian Darkness Powder, and you…complimented us on our daydream charm."

"Do you remember my black eye?" She asked. "You gave me a cream for it. Do you think it'll work on scars?"

Hermione pushed the sleeve of her shirt up and rotated her wrist to allow George to see.

"The same knife she held to my throat, did this as well. This one caused me to loss quite a bit of blood. Fleur did all she could to make it heal properly. But as you can see, it's still quite noticeable."

George took her wrist in his hand and ran his thumb over the raised letters on her arm. Such an ugly word on a pretty witch. He raised her hand up to his mouth and kissed her palm.

"Mum actually concocted a serum for my ear. But it was used on a fresh wound. I don't know about older scars. Let me play around with it a bit." He explained as he readjusted her sleeve.

Hermione smiled and thanked him.

"Still hungry?" he asked.

"Famished, actually." She answered.