George, looking very pleased with himself, carefully slid out of his bed and managed to not awake the sleeping Hermione. He had to go get the shop ready for opening and make sure Verity was all set up for the day.
"Good morning Mr Weasley," Verity smiled at her boss, batting her eyelids slightly.
"Yes it is," George smiled. It suddenly hit him, that one issue about being involved with Hermione was that he couldn't brag about this conquest... Bragging was one of his favourite past times, on which his brother and he use to frequently do, well they did prior to Fred's relationship with Hermione. Although they didn't brag to Verity, she was quite often in the vicinity and overheard many of their conversations; she could be trusted not to tell anyone outside of the shop. Verity was also one of the trusted few that knew about Fred's trip away.
Verity had been hoping that Fred's absence would lead to more quality time with her favourite twin, but she had been mistaken, it had in fact been the opposite. A few times in the past when Fred had left early and she closed the shop alone with George they had ended up out back in the storeroom or on the register bench. She had even been up to once, but when Fred saw her sneaking out in the middle of the night he was not impressed. George tried to assure his brother truthfully when he was accused, "we are just fooling around." Fred had retaliated clearly not very impressed, "no what you are fooling around with is our company. I don't want you fucking our company George." "That rich coming from the guy who just hired his girlfriend of six weeks." Although Verity never found out exactly what was said she knew that Fred had said something as she had only seen George once since and he was a lot more cautious than usual. But now he was gone she had just assumed that he would be making the most of it.
"I have prepared all the sale stock for the weekend, there is enough stock to last us a month, although I think we need to raise the price of the patented day dream charm. We have received a lot of orders from Hogwarts for them," Verity informed her boss reading off a checklist she had written.
"I think we need to also get a few more of those funny cloaks made as well," George said as he started writing down some thoughts.
"Yes the one with 'Quidditch player?' on the front and on the back 'I'll show you a few moves on my broomstick' ones have been selling like mad, especially with the world cup coming up." Verity laughed flirting a bit more openly now, pretending to brush something off his shoulder, "it is very fun."
Filling the awkward silence Verity asked, "so what do you want to do about the patented day dream charm?"
"Leave it for now," George instructed, out of the corner of his eye he saw Verity cutely push a piece of hair behind her ear. George just ignored her; he knew that she would stop without reciprocation, "we will starve the market. Hermione has nearly finished a new improved one, we will probably bring it out the start of next month."
Verity was taking notes as George spoke, "you are so smart."
George once again ignored her; instead he tried to think of a job for Verity to do to keep her busy. "If you aren't doing anything Verity could you please go complete a stock take out in the storeroom, I saw a few kids trying to pinch some stuff last week. If you let me know how that goes I can look into security and see if we need any improvements."
"Sure, I will do that now," Verity smiled sweetly even though she was quite confused, as normally George would quite willingly to flirt back at least a little. Verity waved her wand and conjured a reasonably long scroll listing everything the store had in stock. Magical stock takes were quiet easy, she simply performed a counting enchantment and when she tapped an item it filled in the number of them on the scroll. George knew this when he assigned her the job but he also knew she would have trouble finding some of the stock, especially since of it was upstairs in the spare room and Fred's bedroom was now home to most of the spare sale stock.
"I will be back shortly," Verity informed George as she headed up the back stairs and into the twins flat. Once in the flat she climbed the second staircase up to Fred's room which she could barely get into as it had boxes of inventory stacked to the ceiling. Verity had never been in Fred's room before, although this hardly counted, like the spare room next door she could see any walls. The room was so packed with products she couldn't even make out his bed... Verity couldn't believe how successful the twins business was, after this weekend's sale this room would no longer be required for storage.
After finding everything she was looking for she stopped in the kitchen on her way out to grab a glass of water. Verity didn't even realise that she wasn't alone till Hermione walked out of the bathroom wearing only her underwear, "George you should have woken me up. I am just about to have a shower; I will be down at work in about half an hour."
Verity's jaw dropped and she stood with her body frozen, with her mouth now silently moving as she mimed swearing. Hermione's facial expression looked equally as surprised when she rounded the corner and saw Verity standing there.
"Oh God Verity, you surprised me," Hermione lied quickly trying to cover her tracks. "I was just getting ready for work."
Verity's look or horror had slowly turned into a suspicious smile, "I can see that."
"Oh right this," Hermione tried to casually laugh, wrapping her arms around her waist in an attempt of modesty, "Ginny had company last night and needed the flat to herself, so I stayed in Fred's room."
"You sleep in your underwear?" Verity asked doubtfully.
"No," Hermione said defensively, "I was just getting ready for a shower and I thought George was here so I just wanted to let him know that I was going to be a little late to work."
Hermione knew from the look on Verity's face that she didn't believe her, Verity finally spoke again, "so you slept in Fred's bed and there was no funny business with George?"
Hermione nodded, "yes." Something was nagging her in the back of her mind however, something about Fred's room had been mentioned the other day but she couldn't remember.
Verity laughed quietly before complimenting, "you are a pretty good liar."
"What makes you think I am lying?" Hermione asked coyly.
"Fred's room is covered, floor to ceiling, in stock at the moment." Verity smiled shaking her head.
Hermione looked scared, "please don't say anything." Hermione begged the short haired blonde, "I am going to tell him as soon as he gets back."
"It's okay Hermione, I won't say anything," Verity assured her.
"Isn't Verity latin for truth?"
"I prefer the selective truth. Although I must say I am quite surprised, George I expect this from, but the prim and proper Miss Granger. Not in a million years." Verity smiled honestly, although once noticing Hermione's ashamed facial expression she continued, "I'm sorry Hermione, please don't feel bad. I am not judging you, the opposite actually I have always wondered if Fred was any good in the sack, contrast is always good."
"You and George?" Hermione asked suddenly, she had had no idea. Fred had never mentioned anything.
"Oh it is nothing serious, we are both really busy with the shop and that, we just fool around after work... Well we use to, I guess I have you to thank for that." Verity said begrudgingly.
Hermione was a little taken back and when Verity noticed she quickly smiled, "Hermione don't worry, it is fine really. Fred will come back and things will probably just go back to normal.
"Thanks," Hermione said simply, "I'm going to have my shower and I will see you in the shop." She added awkwardly, they shared a small smile before Hermione turned on her heels and entered the bathroom.
Verity quickly made her way back down the stairs and into the shop, fixing her hair as she went. Just as she had left it the shop was dead quiet, all their customers were clearly saving up all their money for the upcoming weekends massive sale.
Verity joined George behind the counter, "you could have just told me. About Hermione I mean."
"How did you...?" George started before Verity cut him off. "I found Hermione in her underwear upstairs."
George looked half shocked half aroused by this declaration, Verity continued in a whisper, "don't worry Georgie. You know I can keep a secret."
George gave her a half smile and muttered a thanks, "are you right to look after the shop alone tomorrow?"
George knew that over the weekend he would have no chance to spend time with Hermione, as the shop would be chaotic, especially since there were only three of them at the moment. It turned out he was right, the shop made well over the averages months profits all within two days.
On the Monday following the hectic weekend George and Hermione both slept in till noon. Verity was also given the day off and the shop was closed. It had been a whole week since Fred had left, it was only seven more nights till his return. Waking up very refreshed at the sound of a bird outside, George rolled half way onto Hermione, kissing her while smiling he suggested, "breakfast."
Hermione reached up and pulled him into another kiss, he was smiling still, knowing this was short term he liked the fact that she wanted to make the most of their time together. "I will take that as a yes." He said climbing out of bed wearing only his boxers, he quickly put one a singlet. Leaning over the bed he kissed her cheek, "are you coming?"
"I will be there in a minute," she assured him. She stretched out under the covers of the bed yawning as she did so. Hermione hadn't felt so calm since Fred had left, she couldn't believe the normality of it, working with George all weekend and waking up to have breakfast with him. Hermione climbed out of bed wearing a long t-shirt and joined George in the kitchen, where he was standing next to the stove which had a pot full of eggs and an enchanted wooden spoon stirring them. Behind him freshly cooked toast was sitting in the toaster, she kissed George again before getting two plates out of the cupboard and piling the toast on them. "It smells great George."
Hermione passed him the plates of toast and George topped them with the scrambled eggs, the two then sat to eat their delicious smelling breakfast. "I have never worked so hard in my entire lift," George claimed, "why did we choose to have this sale while Fred was away."
"Because the sale was organised before Fred's trip and don't worry I am sure it will never happen again," Hermione said confidently, the store was way too busy for the three of them to manage.
"Agreed. Never happening again, although by the time Fred is back it will probably be time to release your new day dream charm." George said keenly, their last version had been a huge hit, but this new and improved one would certainly top that.
"I plan on finishing it off tomorrow actually, I only need to make a few finishing touches," Hermione said before cutting a piece of toast and eating it. She chewed and swallowed before continuing, "I was thinking, do you want to be Fred today?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"I mean spending time together outside of this flat or the shop, it is date night after all. We can make it date day," Hermione smiled.
They spent the next half an hour discussing their options for the afternoon after having their late breakfast. George magically did the dishes and put them away while Hermione watched smiling, both George and Fred mad excellent boyfriends. They were both so attentive and always put her first, she didn't want anything to change when Fred returned. She wasn't so native though, she knew things were going to go to pieces as soon as Fred returned.
Hermione returned the recently cleaned glasses to their cupboard above the fridge, George couldn't help but admire his perfect timing as he caught sight of Hermione's playful side.
"Are you wearing underwear?" He asked grinning before nibbling her neck with his hands now on the back of her thighs.
Whispering in his ear she replied seductively, "there is an easy way to find out."
George didn't need to be told twice, he slowly moved his hands up the back of her legs in zigzag pattern till he reached her bare arse. "Hermione Granger, what happen to that sweet little girl I met at Hogwarts?" George asked as he grabbed her arse firmly, causing Hermione to squeak slightly in surprise, and lifted her so she was now sitting on the edge of the counter top.
"I fell in love," Hermione responded simply, "twice." Hermione was thankful that George didn't see the tears that had formed in her eyes as he pulled down his boxers roughly, she couldn't believe her circumstances. It was not fair that she had met two such amazing men and probably wouldn't be able to have either of them. Hermione snapped out of it now George was now naked, carefully balancing her on the edge of the counter he hitched up her shirt, "I love you too," he moaned as he entered her.
Less than a week and Fred is back! Let me know what you guys think