George's mood this morning could only be described as sullen. He was storming around the shop like a rain cloud and Ron was avoiding him. George barked at Ron to get more Love Potions; they were out of them for the third time today.
George maintained, rather fiercely, that his attitude had nothing to do with the fact that today was Valentine's Day. The store was even more packed than usual, particularly the corner housing the witches' products. If one more giggling girl flounced to the counter and hit on him, George was going to scream.
His patience with the gaggle of gossiping girls was quickly wearing thin. He was three seconds away from throwing them all out. But the thought of all the business they were bringing him kept that desire in check. But that didn't mean he couldn't be angry.
Ron had asked him if his bitter disposition was because he was single. He had told the little it off, perhaps a bit too harshly because Ron was not speaking to him now, short of grunts of acknowledgement every few minutes. He would have to make it up to him, George thought, but he was still in too sour of a mood.
His outlook on the day did not change when Hermione arrived clutching a large box of Honeyduke's chocolate and presented it to Ron, who somehow managed to conjure a bouquet out of thin air. George nearly threw up as they kissed. He never took Ron to be the sappy type. He supposed it had something to do with how long he and Hermione had tiptoed around each other. Normally he would be happy for his brother. Today he longed to hit him soundly about the head with that stupid bouquet.
"Happy Valentine's Day, George!" Hermione shouted happily over the din of the customers. Ron gave her a poorly disguised look, presumably to warn her about George's mood. She shrugged it off.
"Same to you, Hermione," George worked hard to keep the sigh out of his voice.
"Got a date for tonight?" she asked. Ron, sensing the impending storm, quickly scooted off to help a young witch locate something.
"No. Don't feel much like going out," he grunted.
"Oh. I thought perhaps you and Angelina would be going out tonight." George mentally cursed Hermione's perceptiveness.
"We're just friends," he said a bit too quickly. "And besides, she has a date tonight." And there was the real reason he was so down today. Hermione seemed to sense this.
"Ah, I forgot. With who?" George knew that Hermione knew exactly with whom, but he allowed her to pry.
"Some bloke from her dance class. A tight-wearing git I expect." Hermione laughed.
"She did mention that. She said he asked her ages ago, and she wasn't paying proper attention to him and said yes without really listening. She was trying to find an excuse but he had reservations and everything. He's a Muggle, I think."
This did not improve George's mood. "If she wanted an excuse, she could have just gone somewhere with me." Hermione gave him a rather reproving look.
"Really George, you only asked her yesterday. That's a little last minute, don't you think?" George didn't answer but had to admit that her point was a good one. "I really do think she would rather go out with you. But if you really do think you're just friends…" she began to walk away under the pretense of going to find Ron.
"Hermione, if you're going to be my future sister-in-law, you're going to have to stop holding out on me," George called after her amusedly. She turned around, grinning.
"All right, George. I do know something. But I have a question for you before I tell you," she looked serious.
"Fine," George said lightly.
"What are you going to do if I tell you?" A little girl jostled by and they were forced to put their conversation on hold as George rang her up.
"What do you mean?" he asked a few minutes later.
"I mean," she leaned in, "are you going to tell Angelina how you feel about her?" George opened his mouth to protest but she cut him off. "Oh, come off of it George. It's obvious you have feelings for her. Everyone else may have been too drunk to notice that the two of you were gone for an hour on New Year's, but I was not."
George had to marvel at her. He laughed.
"Fair enough. But what makes you think that I'm not going to do anything about it?"
Hermione smiled. "The Weasley track record," she said matter-of-factly.
"What?" George's laughter had intensified at the term.
"Well, with the exception of Bill and Fred, the rest of you take ages to work the courage up to ask someone out." George protested but she fired back, ticking them off on her fingers as she spoke. "Harry and Ginny, that only took what? Five years? Ron and I, that took nearly seven. And then Percy and that witch down at the ministry, he still hasn't asked her out and it's obvious she fancies him. Shall I go on?"
George smiled. "Who says I fall into the same category as Ron? And that took so long partly because of you, by the way, thought I won't pretend Ron wasn't an idiot about it." Hermione smiled, but soon sobered.
"Because I know you and you're likely feeling guilty," George's smile fell, "You are, don't deny it." Hermione said, spotting his look. "But the fact of the matter is that she cares a great deal about you. And I think you feel the same. Besides, she and Fred only dated a few months, and it wasn't all that serious-"
"But they still dated," he interrupted her. "And what kind of brother would I be if-" this time Hermione interrupted him.
"You'd be a damn bit happier with her. And you know full well that Fred wouldn't care if you got together, even if he were still here. In fact, I always thought he broke up with her to clear the way for you."
George looked down. "Still, I don't feel comfortable just going for her like that."
"Then why did you ask her out?" Hermione arched her brows, knowing that she had him trapped. George remained silent. "If you want her, George, you need to go get her. Before she starts thinking you don't care at all and you lose her," Hermione said gently. "Is she here?" she asked.
"No. I gave her the day off today." He couldn't stand to look at her all day and know that later that night she was going off with some other guy.
"Well then, I suggest that you think about what I said and act sooner rather than later. It's no fun, you know, waiting for someone you like to ask you out." She looked fondly back at Ron who was grinning at her and coming over to them. George nodded, not wanting to say anything in front of his brother.
"Feeling better then, George?" Ron asked when George watched him kiss his fiancée without complaint.
"Shut it, you, before I have you reorganize the back room" Ron's smile fell a bit. George took pity. "Get out of here. I can't stand to watch you turn into a sissy anymore. I'll see you tomorrow." Ron scowled a bit at the insult, but happily took off the rest of the day.
George spent the next few hours holding down the fort and contemplating what Hermione had said. She was a bright girl, best to take her advice. He sighed. That was easier said than done. He needed to decide how badly he wanted Angelina and whether or not it was worth the disapproval of his friends and family. A sudden, terrible mental image of her with her lips pressed to some other man flashed in his mind's eye. His mind was made up.
He just hoped Hermione knew what she was talking about.
A/N: Please review!
