I landed with a thud in a dark room. I switched on the light and began to pack my things. I had shrunk it all and was able to fit it all in my school trunk. I sat down on the floor, bored. I couldn't return to the Burrow. Not after what happened.
There was a knock on my door and I kept my wand out before opening it.
"What was the last thing I said to you?" I hissed.
"Don't you dare talk to me about not wanting to be married, because I have more than one motive not to be," he replied.
I opened my door and allowed him in, playing with the rings on my necklace as my eyes darted around the foliage outside my door to make sure no one was out there. Satisfied, I shut the door and looked at George.
"What are you doing here?"
"This," He said, and he grabbed my hand, getting down on one knee.
"George," I protested, trying to pull my hand away.
"It's inevitable. Just let me do this."
I sighed, but complied.
"Miss Hermione Jean Granger, I don't really know you. You're my brother's best friend. And well, I think we should get to know eachother better, so Hermione, will you do the honor of becoming my wife?" he asked. He opened a black velvet box and I saw a beautiful white diamond ring bordered by a red ruby and a golden stone. I looked at him.
"Yes, George," I gave a weak smile and he happily put the ring on my left ring finger.
"Now, is this everything?" he asked, grabbing my trunk. I nodded.
"Uh, yeah. That's all. I shrunk everything, of course. There's no way all my books would fit, but-"
"All your books? They're all in here?"
"Untracable extension charm also," I said shrugging. He rolled his eyes and grabbed my arm.
"Let's tell mum the good news," he said with a fake smile on his face.
He apparated with a click and I was outside of the garden at the Burrow a second later. I fixed my hair and rubbed under my eyes subconsciously. I knew I had red rimmed eyes. George led me inside and shouted.
"MUM!" he shouted.
"What, dear!" I heard Molly shout from the kitchen.
"Mum, I'd like you to meet Hermione, my fiancee."
Molly rolled her eyes, "You guys are going to be at eachother's throats by the end of the week."
"Couldn't agree more, Mrs. Weasley," I agreed.
George sighed, "Mum, come on."
"Fine, but I'm still placing anti-sex spells on your room."
I rolled my eyes, "No need. I wouldn't touch him with a ten meter pole."
George looked offended, but Molly acutally laughed. "I'll leave you two to it then, goodnight, dears!"
"Night, Mrs. Weasley," I said just as George called, "Night, Mum!"
George hauled me up the stairs and shut his bedroom door behind him. There was an empty bed, where Fred would have been. I saw George look at it sadly.
"You can sleep in Fred's old bed, if you want. I understand if you don't want to share a bed," George said, seeing me watching him.
I swallowed, "You sure? I mean, you won't. . . be mad or anything?"
"Nah. Fred would have probably forced us in the same bed," he chuckled. "Go ahead. Night."
Before I could reciprocate with a 'Night' he waved his wand, cutting the lights off, and pulled the blankets over his head. I sighed and sat down on the edge of Fred's bed. I watched George, to be sure he was asleep, before walking to my trunk. I pulled out a spell book and began reading.
"No-Fred! FRED!" The book fell to the floor. My eyes squinted at the clock. It was nearly midnight. George was thrashing about. "Fred! I told you not to go over by Percy! Fred! Wake up! FRED!"
I stood up and was immediately at George's side. I shook his shoulder, "George," I whispered. "George, wake up. It's just a nightmare. George-"
His eyes flew open and he sat up quickly, panting heavily. He looked at me and saw me just standing back patiently. "I was shouting again, wasn't I?" he asked quietly.
"It's only normal," I told him gently. "Especially after you witnessed what you did."
"You weren't asleep," he accused, his eyes flickering to the perfectly made bed.
I shook my head, "My nightmares are worse than I can handle. I was studying."
"For what? You aren't in school."
"I missed my seventh year, and I'm studying to take finals at the end of the year next year."
"You have a whole year for that."
I shrugged and sat back down in the corner, my books piled around me, sorted by topic. "We have to make a list," I stated.
"Right, the list," he grimmaced.
"We can do that in the morning. You should probably go back to sleep," I said, my eyes already scanning the page in front of me.
"Why not now? The sooner the better," he stated.
I sighed, "Fine. Let me start?" I pulled a piece of parchment from my trunk and a quill before writing down:
Dear Minister of Magic,
Concerning the marriage law, my fiancee, George Fabian Weasley, and I, Hermione Jean Granger, have named our deceased friends and family in the war. Considering that this includes Muggles as well, the list is as follows:
Harold Granger
Jane Granger
Lyla Granger
Nymphadora Tonks-Lupin
Remus John Lupin
Fred Gideon Weasley
Arthur Weasley
Collin Creevy
Albus Dumbledore
Sirius Black
Sincerely,
Hermione Jean Granger
George looked at me, "You put Sirius on there."
I nodded, folding it up, "I know. Sirius was our friend, and Dumbledore had written in his office that he had cleared Sirius of all charges before he had died. He was actually going to deliver the news when the Ministry Battle started."
"Oh," he said, looking at me. "Who's Lyla Granger?"
"My little sister," I sighed softly. "She was three."
"I didn't know you had a sister."
"I didn't want anyone to know," I replied, heading out the door and towards Pigwidgeon. "If they knew, I knew she would be targeted. I believe she was magical as well."
"How do you know?" George asked. I noticed he was following me. Pidwidgeon took my letter greedily, before flying off.
"She could make her hair grow back after Mum gave her an awful haircut. That was my first hint. She was two when that happened."
"Which is pretty early," George commented.
I nodded, "I know." I watched the bird disappear over the trees. "I'm going to bed."
Without waiting, I walked up the stairs to his room, and then transfigured my jeans and t-shirt into a flannel pajama bottom set with a tank top. George chose that moment to walk in and got in his bed.
"You don't snore, right?" He asked, getting into his bed.
I snorted, "I sure hope not."
I folded back the covers to Fred's bed and then got in. I knew how much this pained George to be giving up the one thing he had of George that wasn't touched. The bed. So I didn't want to complain, but I really didn't want to take it from him. I could hear George's soft snores and found myself falling asleep to them.
Second Chapter. Hope you enjoy! Read my other stories!
-Nastya