It had been seven days since my late night adventure with George, and we hadn't had any alone time since. I hated this! I was constantly having to sit by George, but I couldn't touch him, hold him, kiss him. Darn it, I wanted to smother him but Mrs. Weasley had come down even harder on me since we'd snuck out, and she was constantly keeping her eyes on me. It was maddening.
Now though, that was the least of my worries. Moody, who had taken over running the Order since Dumbledore's death, had called an emergency meeting for tonight, and nearly everyone was attending. Everyone including Ron and myself. We all gathered into the living room of the Burrow, the adults taking the chairs and everyone else sitting on the floor. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Hagrid, Remus, Tonks, Sirius, Kingsley, Bill, Fleur, Fletcher, Fred, George, Ron, and myself were all here.I was sitting in between George and Ron, feeling extremely nervous.
"I've called you all together tonight because there have been some changes to the plan to picking up Potter." Moody barked out, causing me to jump and scoot in closer to George. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer, warming me up and calming me down.
"We're going to pick him up this Sunday night, but it won't be the aurors. It'll be all of us." He growled out. Everyone grew perfectly still, he now had our complete attention. "Fourteen of us are going to get him. We're going to fly him out, but we're not going to be ourselves. We'll have seven Harry's flying out of Little Whinging.
"We'll use polyjuice potion to change six of us into Harry, and then we'll fly out, separated into pairs, and head for different safe houses. We'll then meet back here by the use of port keys." He stopped and looked at all of us, letting his eye linger over each of us.
"Now, we're not going to make any of you do anything, we need 12 volunteers, I'm one."
I took a deep breath, looking down at my lap as I thought of everything that had happened to me in the last six years. I'd been attacked by a three headed dog, mauled by a troll, attacked by a basilisk, tricked by a rat, hunted by a werewolf, fought in two battles, and illegally tortured. Nearly none of it would have happened if I hadn't known Harry.
If I hadn't known Harry though, I never would have known what it was like to have a true friend. A friend I could tell anything, a friend I could trust to do anything for me. I wouldn't have the best boyfriend in the world. I wouldn't have been able to defend myself in a battle. I wouldn't realize that there was indeed something worth fighting for. Having finished my inner dialogue I lifted my head and looked around the room. there were only two hands not raised.
I didn't raise my hand.
I already had, the minute he asked. I hadn't even hesitated. I couldn't, Harry was my best friend, and I'd do anything for him. Honestly, I'd probably risk my life for everyone in this room. Some of them I already had.
"Good, good." Moody said, looking at all of us. "Okay, pairs," he barked. "Arthur, Remus, Bill, Hagrid, Kingsley, Tonks, and myself will all be leads. Fred!" He growled, causing Fred and George to sit up even straighter. "You'll be with Arthur. George," I felt myself grow tense at the sound of his name. "You'll be with Remus." George nodded at Remus, looking relieved. "Hermione, your with Kingsley; Ron, and Tonks; Fleur with Bill; Sirius with me. Harry will be riding with Hagrid. Questions?"
Hands went up all over the place, and a long series of questions followed. By the end of it, we knew every detail of the plan. It was well after midnight before we were finished though.
"Can I talk to you really quick?" George asked, pulling me away from the leaving Order members. I nodded my head yes, like I ever would have told him no. He pulled me into the kitchen before pulling me into a hidden space beneath the stairs. George laid his hands on my shoulders, a odd look on his face.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice wavering with worry. I hated seeing George look anything but happy, anything but a smile looked foreign on his face. He stared at me, the odd look still on his face, before he raised his hand from my shoulder and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Hermione," he whispered, his voice constricted, "I love you." He choked before pulling me into a crushing hug. I held onto him, pressing my cheek against his chest.
"I love you too George." I said softly, meaning it more than ever.
"I'll see you tomorrow at dinner." He said, pulling back and looking down at me. I nodded my head, staring at him with wide eyes. Then, without thought, I leaned forward and closed the distance between our faces, claiming his lips in a kiss. George returned it with just as much desire, pushing me up against the wall and pressing his body flush against mine. He deepened the kiss, making me light headed at the feel of his need for me. I held him tighter, running my hand through his hair as he continued to kiss me hard. I needed air, and badly, but I couldn't stop the kiss, I didn't want to. George was the one who finally did, pulling away from me before moving to kiss my neck.
"George?" I questioned, moaning slightly as he peppered kiss along my neck. I was confused, I was enjoying the kiss but I was worried about his actions. George rarely lost his cool control with me, with anyone, but he definitely had now and that worried me.
"I'm sorry." He whispered, pulling away and looking down at me ashamed. Sorry? I hadn't meant to convene that message at all, I was anything but sorry.
"Don't be, Love." I said simply. "What's wrong? You're worried about something." I said, running my hand along his cheek. He swallowed deeply at the contact.
"no-nothing." He lied, but I decided not to press him. He'd tell me when he was ready.
"Where am I going to put everybody?" Mrs. Weasley questioned, looking around the kitchen in dismay. It was July 26th, tomorrow we'd go pick up Harry. Tonight though, everyone who was picking him up was staying here, and there was no where near enough room. George, Fred, Ron, Ginny, and myself were in the kitchen with a frazzled Mrs. Weasley, trying to figure out how we would house all these extra people.
"Why don't we just sleep in the living room?" Fred finally asked.
"Huh?" Mrs. Weasley inquired, turning from the stove to Fred. "The living room?"
"Yeah, George, Ron, Ginny, Hermione and myself can bring down some blankets and just stay in there. That way Remus and Tonks can have our old room, Kingsley can have Percy's room, Moody can have Ginny's room, Sirius can use Ron's room, and Hagrid's sleeping outside so everyone's covered." He explained, making it sound easy and obvious. It was a good idea, and could be loads of fun.
Mrs. Weasley eyed her son critically, going over the arrangement in her mind. Apparently she couldn't find any problems with it because she nodded her head in agreement. So it was decided, the adults could have the bedrooms, and the rest of us would have a sleepover in the living room. Sounded like a lot of fun to me. It might help me deal with the nerves I felt about tomorrow. Ginny and I ran upstairs to grab our blankets and change into our pajamas. Mine consisted of soft, worn, cotton shorts and a old t shirt that had an advertisement for droobles blowing gum on the front. We grabbed an extra set of clothes for tomorrow and then left our room, leaving it for Moody's use.
We met the rest of the boys downstairs throwing our blankets and pillows into the pile they had made.
"Okay," Mrs. Weasley said, walking into the room with a tray of hot chocolate. "I want you all to go to sleep at a respectable time. You have a lot to do tomorrow and I don't want you all too tired to do anything." She eyed George and me critically for a moment, sending another silent message. Don't do anything in front of my baby she seemed to be saying. I nodded my head, putting on my best innocent expression.
"Very well, have fun and sleep tight." She said, walking out of the room before heading for the stairs. We all watched her leave in silence.
"Who's up for a game of exploding snap?" Fred asked, a huge grin on his face once she reached the stairs. We all smiled and joined in the game. When we finally decided to turn in for the night, it was growing dangerously near one. We laid all about the room. Ginny took the couch, while Ron took the other. Fred and George both lay on the floor, transfiguring two pillows into fluffy mattress. I debated where I should sleep for a moment before scooting my own transfigured pillow over to George. He smiled softly when I scooted over to him, turning on his side so he could face me.
"Would you mind braiding my hair?" I asked softly, feeling silly. He probably didn't want to, probably didn't even know how.
A huge grin stole across his features and he sat up. He pulled me so that I was sitting in between his legs and fingered my hair gently. I leaned my head back into his touch, surprised at just how good it felt to have him touch my hair like this. He gently braided it, using such tender care not to pull my hair that it made me marvel. I hadn't known such large calloused hands could be so soft and delicate. He finished the braid and gently laid it on my shoulder, moving to give my neck a swift kiss, causing me to moan lightly. Everyone else was already asleep, so it was just the two of us, still, I didn't want to wake anyone up by being too loud.
I turned around and fixed my pillow, laying it right next to his. He lay back down, indicating that I should do the same. I laid down facing him, staring at his eyes, trying to memorize every detail of him. He stared at me, his eyes tender and soft.
"I' m scared." I finally admitted, whispering my confession so that only he could hear it. He smiled softly and brought his arm up to my face, gently tracing the contours of my jaw with his long fingers.
"I know, I am too." He whispered, his voice soft and barely there. Even so, the sound of it still caused me to feel calmer. He allowed his hand to trail down my cheek, across my neck and down my arm, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. I'd have given anything to be alone with him in that moment just so that I could kiss him senseless. We were laying about a foot apart, I was too scared to close the gap between us, I didn't want him to think I was too forward. He must have sensed my hesitation though because he wrapped his arm around my waist and tugged me nearer, keeping his eyes locked firmly on mine. When we were pressed next to each other I still laid perfectly still, unsure what to do.
"Just relax." George said, wrapping his arm more securely around my waist. I listened to him and let myself relax into his hold. I left one hand pressed flat against his chest and moved the other one across his waist, marveling at how strong and secure he felt even now. I fell asleep leaning into him, feeling safe and warm.
I woke up early the next day, feeling deliciously warm. I was lying on my side facing in the opposite direction I had last night. A warm arm was draped over my waist, and his hand was splayed across my stomach . He was pulling me into his chest and I didn't mind at all. I held his arm in my hand, running my fingers along his. I felt him stir behind me and smiled softly, turning to look over my shoulder at him. He was blinking away his sleepiness, smiling at me. I turned around in his loose hold, running one hand up his chest while I draped the other one across his waist.
"Sleep well?" I asked quietly, marveling that he could look so handsome even after having just woken up. He nodded his head, letting his eyes run around the room. apparently satisfied with what he found he returned his gaze to mine.
"Ready for today?" he asked softly, running his hand up and down my arm. I nodded my head slowly, I was as ready as I would ever be. Who knew what today would bring, I just hoped we all would make it away safe. I couldn't imagine losing anyone who was coming, they were all my friends, all far too important to me to lose. I'd just have to make sure that we all came home safely. We'd have a celebration tonight, celebrating the fact that Voldemort hadn't been able to keep us from saving Harry.