A/N: Thanks fot all the nice reviews and sorry for not updating sooner but I'm sick and I didn't really have the strength to write anything lately. Not to mention that I'm watching an anime I really like and I just have to finish watching it before I do any serious writing. Anyways I hope you like this chapter even though my best friend doesn't. Cheers :)

Chapter VI

Hermione quickly looked at the boys. She sighed with relief. There were still talking about quidditch. One look at Molly confirmed that she too, was too busy to hear Angelina's revelations. Ginny, however, wasn't.

"WHAT?!" Her eyes were as big as saucers. "How come I wasn't informed?" She smiled mischievously. "Sooo, have you two... you know?" Hermione looked at her outraged.

"Are you completely mad?! I'm his brother's wife!"

"Oh... Right"

"Look, Ginny, you mustn't tell anyone about this. It is very important that you keep this information secret." Hermione said frantically.God, how did I get into this mess??!! If Hermione's look could murder Angelina would've been dead by now.

"OK Hermione, sure, but... why?"

"Yes Hermione, why? I didn't know it was such a great deal..." Angelina tried to put her hand on Hermione's arm, but Hermione shook it off.

"Not a big deal? NOT. A. BIG. DEAL?!" Everyone in the room fell silent and looked at her. Oh, great. Now it's all my fault. Fuck. "Ginny, just don't tell anyone about this, ok?" With that, she apparated out of the house. Molly looked at the place Hermione was standing in not a second ago.

"What about the dinner?"

"What just happened here?" George was looking at Angelina and Ginny, waiting for them to answer the question. Angie started opening her mouth but Ginny stopped her. She's done enough...

"Angie might have said something." She sent a meaningful look at George, hoping that he'll understand without anyone else getting very suspicious.

He did.

"Ah, Angie! How many times did I tell you not to embarrass Hermione about her bookish attitude before, huh?" He winked at her .

"I'm sorry George it's just that I found it really weird that she'd bring a book with her to Christmas dinner, you know." Ah, she was so good at this! They kept up their false conversation until everyone got back to their business. When they did George jerked his head in the direction of the door. The girls took the hint and they went out of the house as quietly as possible.

"Ginny, I hope you understand how important it is that you keep this secret." He stared at his sister begging her not to ask any questions. Tough luck.

"But I don't get it! Why didn't you tell anyone? Do you actually have something to hide? Huh?!" Ginny almost succeeded at keeping her voice down. Almost. George rubbed the bridge of his nose trying to stay calm.

"Ginny, are you listening to yourself? Hermione's been living without her husband for the last month. Don't you see how improper that looks? For a married woman to live with a man that's not her husband. With a man who's her husband's brother. Don't you see?!"

"But... But we know you're not involved with her or anything... We know you're just helping her. It's not improper..."

"Yes Ginny, we know, but others don't. If this was to get out Hermione's reputation may suffer a big time."

"But we're family! We can tell mum, dad, Charlie, and Bill...! They won't tell anyone!"

"We can't risk too many people knowing. Besides, you may be accepting but mum and dad are really old fashioned. They wouldn't approve. Hell! They still think I'm living with Fred because they didn't allow him to move in with Angie before the wedding! Just promise you won't tell Ginny!"

"Ok George... I promise. Though I don't think that keeping such information from them is a good idea. Mum's bound to find out and I think the sooner the better."

"Maybe you're right, but I'm going to respect Hermione's wishes. Now... Tell mum I wasn't feeling too well, ok?" He started moving away from them...

"Where do you think you're going?" Angie finally decided to speak. George looked surprised at her question.

"Why, to Hermione of course. You can't seriously expect her to spend Christmas alone, can you?" He nodded to them and disapparated.

Hermione was sitting in the living room trying to calm her nerves. She was thinking of all possible consequences of the leak. In the worst scenario Mrs. Weasley disowns George and tells Ron where to find her.Nah... Mrs. Weasley would never do that... But there would have been a fair amount of shouting that's for sure... A loud crack woke her from her musings. To say she was surprised to see George would be an understatement. Shocked to death is more like it.

"What... What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the Burrow?" She sounded somehow resigned. She was slumped on the couch, her shoes scattered on the floor. Fireball was playing with one of them. Hermione didn't seem to notice. George sat on the opposite couch.

"Ginny won't tell anyone. Nobody knows what's going on. Relax." She looked down on the floor.

"I'm sorry..." George looked at her questioningly but she was still looking at the floor, fingering the lace of her skirt nervously. "It's my fault that you're here... When you should be spending Christmas with your family..."

"Hermione, I..."

"Don't. Just go back, please."

"No, I won't. I want to stay here. There's many of them there, having fun, while you're here, all alone. I'll stay with you. Besides, I'll cook us something with my new set." His eyes visibly lit up at the mere thought of his present. Hermione smiled at him. He was being a real sweetheart.

"I'll help you" She got up from the couch and followed him to the kitchen.

The supper was wonderful considering the fact that it took them only two hours to prepare it. George transfigured Hermione's coffee table into a normal dining table along with Christmas decorations and ornaments. Hermione charmed their fir to sing Christmas carols. The atmosphere was very Christmassy. They sat at the table and smiled at each other. Fireball was meowing at the tree and swatting it's baubles with her paws. Hermione took her spoon and started eating the blue goosoup.

"This is the best Christmas dinner I've had for a long time. Thank you and... Merry Christmas George."

"Merry Christmas Hermione."

They talked together about many things while listening to the silent carols coming from the fir. Hermione was getting little bit tipsy from the wine they've been drinking. She didn't hold her alcohol well. That didn't stop her from getting another glass though. And one more after that.

"Say George... do you dance?"

"Dance?" He looked at her incredulously.

"Yes George, dance, you know, move together into the rhythm of the music?" She tried keeping her eyes straight while imitating a dancing pose. Tipsy wasn't exactly the word George would use to describe her state.

"Um... I only remember the dance from the Yule Ball... vaguely." Where's she getting at?

"Marvellous!" She took her wand and charmed the fir to play a classical tone. She put it back on the table and sat staring at him. Am I supposed to do something? Maybe I shouldn't have let her drink so much. She's a weird drunk... "Well?"

"Well?"

"Are you goin' to ask me to dance or what?"

"Hermione, wha..." But he was interrupted by Hermione taking his hand and dragging him into the middle of the living-room. She faced him and placed his hand on her waist. He blushed slightly but she didn't seem to notice, she was already placing her other hand on his shoulder.

"C'mon Georgie, why dontcha loosen up a bit... I'm just tryin' to have a bit of fun."

"Georgie? Hermione, you're drunk, come on, let's get you back to the bed."

"Bed? My, my, aren't you quick? Let's dance for a bit first, then who knows..." She swayed her hips and pushed herself closer to him. He felt her warm bosom against his chest and subconsciously tightened his hold of her. Merlin, George what are you doing...She's drunk! She took it as an encouragement and moved her hand behind his neck, placing her head on his shoulder. Upon feeling her wild her tickling his chin he gave up and started moving with her. Be as it may... They twirled a few times and he was beginning to have fun despite worrying about her drunken state when he felt her lips on his neck.

"Hermione, what..." She stopped kissing his neck and instead he felt her warm breath under his ear. He stiffened.

"Shurrup" She started kissing his jaw and was getting closer to his lips when he turned his head in other direction.

"Hermione I really think you should stop, you're not yourself." He was beginning to get really scared. Dammit! I won't be able to hold back after she kisses me! I don't want to take advantage of her! It would be much easier if I wasn't attracted to her so... That's right George! You're attracted to her, she's not! She's just drunk, she'd never come onto you like that if she was thinking straight! Get a grip man! She was sucking his neck now and he felt a familiar tightening in his groin. He felt himself being pushed onto the couch. No, no, no, no, no! He mustered all self-restraint he had left up and took her by the shoulders. "Hermione you've taken this too far, you shou..."

Snore.

George let out a sigh. Thank Merlin! He sat on the couch for a few minutes breathing heavily. He felt really bad for letting this go so far. He should've stopped her right at the beginning when she asked him to dance. It was so unlike her. He should've seen something like this coming... But then again, would he really want to stop it from happening? Wouldn't it be nice to get what he wants for once in his life? But I don't want it to be like that! I want her to know what she's doing... I... I want her to actually want to do it...

After carrying her to her room he sat on the chair near her bed for a while, looking at her peaceful face. Will she even remember what happened? Would it be better if she remembered? She stirred in the bed. He took the blanket and covered her with it. She turned to her side and smiled in her sleep. He sighed and walked out of the room as quietly as he could, closing the door behind him silently. He leaned on her door and stared at the ceiling. What have I gotten myself into? I shouldn't feel this attraction.. Not while she still is Ron's wife...Merlin... What did I do? I let my brother's wife get drunk and behave like a slut. I can only hope that she doesn't remember it... So she can't blame me in the morning...But you are to blame George... You are...He walked into the living-room and sat on the couch. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep this night. He looked at the decorated table with the remains of their dinner. The candles were slowly dying out and the fir wasn't playing anymore. Fireball seemed to have lost interest in the baubles for she was sleeping quietly near the fireplace which was still cracking happily. He took his wand and doused the fire. He sat silently for a long time, wondering what he should do or whether he should do anything at all. He conjured a cup of cocoa and sipped it enjoying the feel of the warm liquid in his mouth. Fireball woke up at the lack of warmth coming from the fireplace. She stretched and walked over to George hopping on his knees. He stroked her back absently while she purred quietly. It was as if everything that was around him wanted to mock him with its peacefulness while he was in a state of deepest mental turmoil. Suddenly he heard a loud pop behind him. He turned around and his eyes landed on his younger sister.

"Ginny?"

"I brought your presents. I took Hermione's also. I convinced mum that even though I have absolutely no ideawhere she is, I would be the first person she'd ask about them if she wanted them."

"Ah... How... thoughtful..." He turned to his cup again and took a sip. "Just place them... wherever."

Ginny took a look around the place and noticed the table. She raised her eyebrow.

"For someone who was just having a dinner with a friend you sure know how to make a romantic atmosphere." George looked up.

"What are you talking about?"

"Candles, flowers, wine..."

"That means nothing."

Ginny placed the presents on the unoccupied couch. She glanced at her brother and sighed.

"Where is she?"

"Sleeping." Ginny noticed a half-empty cup of cocoa placed on the floor next to George's feet. She sighed again and smiled sadly at him though he couldn't see it with his head in his hands.

"You can't George." He looked at her questioningly. "You can't fall in love with her."

"Love? What are you talking about?" She shook her head sadly.

"Not yet." She disapparated before he could even utter another word.

Love? What the hell? I don't do love. Never did and don't intend to start now. Seriously Ginny... Love?

End of Chapter VI