A/N: Ok so this chapter is kind of unexpected because I didn't intend to write it... it just happened. Anyway, I really liked it and decided to post it because it's so aww. :3 Hope you like. Thanks for my beta without whom you'd have to put up with stupid grammar mistakes I tend to make when I'm inattentive. Anyway, I feel better so more chapters to come . Thanks for all the reviews and I hope you'll stick with me to the end even if the action is slow and the lurve refuses to come. Even though you may find this chapter quite romantic, I know I do. :)

Chapter VIII

After Fred and George tried punching Ron into signing the papers he warded his house against any unwanted visitors. Now the only way to contact him was by an owl. Not that he returned the letters... Hermione was beginning to lose hope. Her situation was really dreadful. The hunt for job was rather uneventful. She hoped that maybe there will be some new posts after the New Year's Eve, but until then she had no money of her own, no chance of making Ron sign the papers and no way of starting her life anew. She didn't know what she would have done if not for George. He did a really great deed by allowing her to stay at his house. He probably didn't expect that I'll be infringing on his privacy for over a month when he made the offer though...He has proven himself to be a great friend to her over the time they've been living together. Not once did he complain about her presence, not once did he even hint that he wanted her out. A great friend indeed. She really appreciated his concern and the fact that he was... so different from Ron. He knew how to comfort her, how to make her laugh, how to cook. He didn't nudge her about the job either. He didn't want any payment whatsoever for the flat. She'd pay him anyway after she found a suitable job, but it was really comforting... knowing that she didn't have to fear being kicked out any minute because of the rent, or rather the lack thereof.

New Year was slowly approaching and suddenly she found herself going through her wardrobe in look for a suitable dress. She didn't own anything even remotely acceptable. And I can't even buy anything... They don't sell dresses for 2 Knuts... Argh, what am I thinking?! You're a witch Hermione, you're a witch. Now, take your wand and make a good use of it. She took her least favourite set of robes from the wardrobe and placed it on the bed. She looked at it with slight distaste and swished her wand two times. The dull black robes shortened slightly and became more fitting. She stabbed the sleeves and they disappeared. She muttered a quiet incantation and the neckline lowered visibly. Little black dress... Not entirely what she had in mind. I'll have to make it more... brash. She moved her wand in a wavy motion and suddenly a mass of various frills appeared at the bottom part of the dress. She whipped her wand again and golden and magenta sequins appeared on the frills and on the neckline border. We're getting there... Just one more... Touch. She smiled manically and twirled her wand in her fingers. She muttered a rather complicated incantation and the dress was covered in black brocade which gave her a slight glow. She placed her wand on the desk and took the dress into her hands. The fabric was soft and smooth.Now that's what I was talking about.She smiled to herself and hung the dress in her wardrobe. For some reason, she really wanted to look nice tomorrow. She figured that if she greeted the New Year properly than maybe, just maybe, everything would turn out alright.

"Oh come on! Where are you taking me? Why the blindfold?" Hermione groped around trying to steady herself as her foot bumped into a stair. George saw her struggle and took her hand in his, leading her upwards.

"My, my, aren't you an impatient one? You'll see. I promise you'll love it." He turned his head to smile at her but then remembered she couldn't see him.

They reached the top of the stairs and Hermione heard the door creak. Suddenly a cool night air hit her face and she heard the sounds of the city somewhere below. George was now standing on her right side and he gave her a little push with his left hand to make her take a step forward. He closed the door behind them and turned to stand directly behind her. She felt the blindfold being untied and soon her vision was no longer obscured. She was greeted with a wonderful sight. They were now on the roof of the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. There was a blanket and a bottle of champagne with two long glasses in the middle. The roofs of the nearby buildings were empty and the lights of London were glistening in the dark night. She could hear people laughing on the street below and the loud meowing of cats few roofs away. She looked up into the cloudless sky and stared at the shimmering stars, letting the overwhelming atmosphere of the night embrace her... Suddenly she felt a wave of something warm, akin to liquid, flow down her body. She looked at George questioningly.

"A heating charm. It may be nice now... But it still is winter you know." He smiled at her and cast the charm over himself as well. He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her to the blanket. They sat down and he poured them the champagne. They sat cross-legged and stared into the sky sipping their drinks slowly.

Hermione sighed mentally. Here she was, in the middle of the most romantic place ever with a guy that was barely older than her that she could do nothing with. Why did George do this? Why was he being so sweet, when she couldn't do anything in return, when she couldn't do what she normally would do if she found herself in a situation like this? Why was he teasing her so? Why was he trying to be the exact opposite of everything Ron ever was? Or maybe he wasn't trying... Maybe that's really him. He's been nothing short of perfect for the whole time she'd been here. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. His face was illuminated by the moonlight, his blue eyes reflecting the stars he was appreciating. His ginger hair fell loosely around his face. She noticed how his freckles stood out against his overly pale skin. A small smile graced his lips which opened slightly when he sipped his champagne. Oh George...How could I ever think you're not handsome?

"Do I have something on my face?"

"Huh?" Hermione woke up from her trance and felt heat rise to her face.

"You've been staring."

"Ugh... I'm sorry. No you don't... have anything. I just... spaced out for a bit. I'm sorry."

"Hey, that's alright... You've got a lot on your mind lately. But don't think about it now, just relax, the night's beautiful" He looked at her with his sparkling eyes and smiled. She felt herself blush even more. Hey! What's with the reaction! You've been living with the guy for almost two months and now you suddenly blush when he smiles at you? What's wrong with you? Must be the champagne... "Let's welcome the New Year without thinking about this one." He clinked the rim of his glass to hers and leaned against the wall closing his eyes.

"George?"

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you." He opened his eyes and looked at her intensively. "I... Everything that you've done for me... It's indescribable... You have no idea how grateful I am. I don't know where I would be right now if... if you haven't found me that day in November. You gave me a place to stay and so much more... for nothing in exchange... You must be the most selfless person apart from Harry I know... I... I'm really glad to be here. Mostly because I got to know you... The real you... Not the prankster-you I've known from Hogwarts. Your kindness... It's overwhelming. You're a great friend." She wasn't looking at him having instead chosen to stare a hole through her fingernails.

He stared at her. She looked really beautiful today. Her hair was falling down her back in waves. She must've used some charm to control the crazy bushiness she had to deal with everyday. Her dress was hugging her frame nicely and it was the first time he saw her wearing make-up. It wasn't much but it brought out her eyes nicely. And here she was, looking stunning, thanking him for what he considered to be perfectly normal and expecting him to restrain himself from jumping her right there? Unbelievable.

"You're making me blush. Overwhelming kindness? Potterish selflessness? I did what everyone would've done in my place." He said quietly.

She fingered her blouse nervously.

"I wish..." She whispered. "I wish things were different..." He knew exactly what she was talking about. He wished he could kiss her right there and tell her to forget Ron and screw the world but he knew he couldn't... Instead he just placed his hand on hers and smiled sadly.

"I know."

They heard loud counting somewhere not far off.

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

"Make a wish."

3

"You too."

2

His fingers gripped hers tightly.

1

Fireworks exploded around them. On the right, where Diagon Alley was, they saw millions of Fred and George's creations being fired off. A mass of wild, colourful animals was making its way towards them. The garish procession was being led by a huge, neon tiger, followed by a pair of vivid rabbits and a lively giraffe. Hermione watched in awe as the animals jumped, roared and ran around them, making her feel as if she was on the set of The Lion King. Three colourful puppies were playing with each other on a nearby roof. The procession moved away and they could appreciate the other fireworks. Hermione saw the muggle ones on the other side of Thames. George made some comment about them being totally unimpressive, but she disagreed with him. Maybe they weren't as extraordinary as the living ones, but to her, they were still magical. They brought out her childhood memories. Watching them every year with her parents. She'll never have that chance again. They were in Australia, happily unaware of the magical world. George asked her once why she didn't bring back their memory. The truth was she couldn't... Not when she saw how content they were with their lives, how there was no worry on their faces, even now with Voldemort gone they would've worried about her being alone in a world they had no idea about, in a world they couldn't help her in, in a world they didn't belong to. It was for the better. She still kept track on them. She knew that they had adopted a little girl a year ago. She was happy for them. They had their own magic-free lives and she had her own problems-full one. She sighed. George was still holding her hand and she laid her head on his arm. Maybe it wasn't so bad.

Hermione woke up with a start when she felt something licking her face. She opened her eyes to see one of the neighbourhood cats tongue on her eyeball. She sat up, shooed the animal away and looked around. She was sitting on a blanket, and George was lying next to her, snoring quietly. The heating charm was slowly wearing off and she was beginning to feel cold. The empty bottle of wine was knocked over and the cat she shooed away was now licking the thread happily. Hermione sighed.

"Goodbye dream..." She whispered.

She noticed her hair has gotten wild over the night. She tried to tame it with her hand when she found something wet and sticky on the top of her head. She brought her hand to her eyes and identified the substance as bird poop. She sighed in defeat.

"Welcome life..."

She muttered a quick scourgify on herself and proceeded to wake her companion. She shook his shoulder but he just turned to his side and continued sleeping.

"Hey... Wake up. It's 2004 today."

"Hmmm?"

"Wake up or you're going to freeze."

"J'st a sec..."

"Not a second more. Come on, get up." He stood up unwillingly but smiled when he saw her.

"Hello bush-girl." She smacked him on the arm.

"Prat."

It seemed that everything was back to normal.

4

Make a wish...

3

You too...

2

1

I wish for this to become my reality.

End of Chapter VIII