Chapter Eighteen

It was a highly aggravated Crookshanks that sat curled up in the only free space on the bed he could find. The large feline glared fiercely in annoyance at his familiar with his tail twitching dangerously. The female biped seemed to have decided she needed to remove every single piece of clothing she owned from her closet and lay them all on her bed, greatly restricting the ginger cat's ability to get comfortable. Every time he attempted to stretch out, the bushy one would yell at him to get off her clothing. It was absurd really; leaving hair on her clothing was a sign of affection. It let other cats know she was taken. Stupid ungrateful human. Eventually Crookshanks gave up trying to get comfy and jumped down from the bed in pursuit of a better more spacious place to nap.

Hermione was ready to bang her head on a wall. She was expected at the Weasley's in twenty minutes and had yet to find an outfit acceptable enough to attend in. Nothing seemed right. The first two outfits seemed too grungy, the third seemed too formal and the fourth was far more suited for a court appearance than a family dinner. Should she go for jeans and a jumper or a warm dress and leggings? Dressing for dinner at the Burrow had never been this difficult before. Hermione had decided that this was all George's fault. If he hadn't of shown her such a good time last night she wouldn't feel the need to look nice for him today.

The bushy haired brunette barely resisted the urge to smack herself for how completely ludicrous that sounded.

Hermione glared at the clothing strung about her bed. She felt ridiculous. It was like being back in the dorm listening to Lavender and Pavarti go through their entire wardrobe debating on which outfit would catch the boys' eye the best. Hermione's problem was a little more complicated than just trying to get a date for Hogsmeade though. She hadn't told any of her friends about George taking her to dinner, and for the moment didn't really want to.

Just because last night had been one of the best evenings she'd had in ages and a very deep dark part of her brain hoped that there would be a second dinner in the near future, did not mean she wanted anyone knowing about it. If she overdressed Ginny would sniff out something was up in a heart beat. The frustrated witch shuddered at the thought of her friends' reactions. Harry and Ron would undoubtedly flip out and immediately become over protective big brothers, while Mrs. Weasley would probably just start planning a wedding. Despite it being her own brother, it was doubtful that Ginny would be able to resist the urge to harass her about whether or not they've slept together yet.

The blush that followed the mental image of a shirtless George didn't last long past Hermione's horrifying vision of Molly badgering her with questions about china patterns.

...~...~...

George observed his reflection in the mirror carefully. He'd taken a little longer getting ready this morning than usual and was pleased with the result. The prankster had never really cared much about his physical appearance; after all it was hard to improve upon perfection, but he found himself taking a little extra care to shave and dress this morning in hopes that his ensemble would meet with Hermione's approval. The black button down collared shirt was just formal enough to give a sophisticated balance to his dark blue jeans and boots. Running a quick dab of Sleekeazy for Men through his hair, George gave his reflection a thumbs up before darting out of the bathroom in search of his scarf and coat.

Pulling on his coat the ginger haired man tossed some floo powder into the orange flames. As the fire roared green George stepped forward into his fire place.

...~...~...

A familiar ripple went through Molly, alerting her that someone had just apparated within their wards. She set the bowl of boiled potatoes in her hands down before weaving her way through the sea of adults and children. It took a few moments before the elder witch was able to reach the front door. Molly was just wiping her hands on her apron when a gentle knock on the door sounded.

It was with a large smile that the graying woman pulled open the door. "Hermione!" she exclaimed as she pulled the younger witch into a bone crushing hug. "How are you, Dear? I'm so glad you could make it."

Hermione waited until Mrs. Weasley loosened her grip a bit before attempting to answer. One usually needed oxygen to speak.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Hermione smiled back.

"I'd have sent one of the boys to fetch you even if you had," she winked and opened the door further. "After all you are the woman of the hour."

Hermione followed Molly inside as she removed her coat. "Sorry?"

"George told us everything."

Hermione dropped her coat in horror. "He… he did?"

"Oh yes, and I couldn't be happier. You don't know what this means to him. To all of us really."

"Molly, I think you all might be getting ahead of yourself a bit," Hermione could feel her panic rising. Oh God how could he have just told them! Not that she ever told him not to tell them exactly but she had hoped he would have had some discretion. "It was just the one time, it'll probably never happen again."

"Oh pish posh, don't be so modest," Molly waved her off. "George has been going on all day about how incredible you were. I believe his exact words were 'blindingly brilliant'."

"He… he said that?" Hermione blushed as she leaned down to pick up her coat.

"Of course he did. Not that any of us needed a reminder how amazing you are of course," the elder witch smiled. "And as far as it never happening again, I highly doubt that. Those boys get in more legal trouble with that shop than its worth in my opinion. But it makes them happy and keeps food on their tables so who am I to argue with it? I'm just so glad they have you in their corner now. That Franklin fellow sounded like he was a stones throws away from St. Mungo's psychiatric ward."

Hermione nearly collapsed in relief. The case! She was talking about the case. Oh thank God. As the door was closed behind her Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. If she could just get to George before he told anyone everything would be fine.

A comforting warmth instantly filled her as Molly announced her arrival to the rest of the family. Hermione made a point in avoiding Harry's gaze as she made her rounds with greetings and hugs. Three year old James had just attached himself to her leg wanting a hug when she finally reached George through the crowd. She gave the toddler a giant hug and kiss before sending him scampering off to find his cousins.

"Glad you could make it," George smiled broadly at her.

"I doubt you're mother would let me miss it," she smiled back. "Um George, do you think we could talk privately for a moment?"

George nodded and they stepped out of the main sitting room before ducking down a near by hallway no one was occupying.

"Wanting to get me alone again so soon? Why Miss Granger, just what are your intentions with me?"

Hermione snorted a laugh and shook her head. "You're incorrigible."

"I prefer the term persistently charming," George ginned and leaned against the wall. "So since it's clear you don't have any unladylike objective for pulling me down this dark hallway, an offence to my pride I shall attempt to over look, what can I do for you?"

"It's about last night," she nervously chewed on her lip. "Do you think you could not mention it to anyone?"

"Ashamed of me already?" he teased.

Hermione clapped her hand over her mouth with an embarrassed gasp, "What? No! No, it's not that at all. I had a great time with you, really I did. I just don't want to deal with Ron and Harry right now. They're like the older brothers I never actually wanted when it comes to men and with all the stress I'm under at work, plus Harry's been hounding me, and Merlin knows your mother would hit the ceiling in a completely different way and I just…"

"Whoa, whoa, Hermione calm down," George put his hands on her shoulders to stop her rambling. "It's alright I was just kidding. I haven't said anything to anyone yet either. Contrary to popular belief, I do enjoy a bit of privacy as well."

The worked up witch nearly sank against the wall in relief. "Thank you, George."

"Besides," he took a step closer to her, effectively pinning her between himself and the wall. Hermione's cheeks burned scarlet as the ginger's sudden close proximity to herself and had to look up to be able to stare at anything but his chest. George tucked a lock of hair away from her face, pleased when he noticed her swallow hard. "I don't feel like sharing you with the world just yet."

Hermione opened her mouth to reply but all that really came out was a squeak. She was saved from having to formulate words by Molly declaring loudly that dinner was ready. George stepped back to allowed her the space to move back down the hallway.

"Oh and Hermione?" he said as they rounded the corner into the kitchen.

"Yes?"

"You look beautiful tonight," he whispered before bouncing off to help his mother set baskets of bread rolls on the table.

The already red woman turned a shade darker as she self consciously fingered the fabric of her jumper. In the end she had decided on the skinny jeans and lilac colored cashmere jumper Ginny and Lavender had given her for her birthday this year. Apparently it did in fact look as good on her as they had insisted. Hermione smiled as she found a seat.

Getting over twenty people organized around a table was not nearly as easy as it sounded. There were children running around, and Weasley boys arguing about who got to sit closest to the chicken. In the end though everyone found a place to sit and started to dig into the feast laid out before them.

Hermione's cheeks turned bright red again when George suddenly plopped down next to her, though it really shouldn't have surprised her as much as it did. It wouldn't have been so awkward but the gingered prat kept winking at every time he passed a bowl her way. Hermione was starting to feel that he had not taken their conversation very seriously. Eventually though she was able to get comfortable with his close presence and began enjoying the meal. Dinner would have been nearly prefect if it hadn't been Harry's attempts to pull her into conversation. Hermione knew what Harry wanted to talk about, and it was not happening, let alone at the Weasley's dinner table. The brunette witch just settled for ignoring her emerald eyed friend as much as possible with out it being obvious.

As everyone tucked into their second helpings, George and Fred began beating their goblets with forks.

"Oi! Shut it you lot!" Fred shouted over the roaring conversations as he stood up from his seat.

"Yeah, we have some important speaking to grace your ears with," George said, following his twin in standing.

"If it's not as important as this meal is tasty we don't care!" Bill shouted from the end of the table with a laugh.

"Looks like someone just earned their beloved children an extra Christmas box from Uncle Fred and Uncle George's store this year," Fred grinned wickedly down at his older brother.

Bill went pale for a moment, "I take it back!"

"Nope, sorry too late," Fred said casually. Bill groaned as Fleur muttered something to him in French and smacked him in the shoulder. "As my twin was saying, we have something important to say, don't we, Forge?"

"Indeed we do, Gred. We want to propose a toast to the lovely Miss Hermione Granger here," George turned and put a hand on Hermione's shoulder, the bright red tint of her cheeks making him smile.

"If you weren't listening to his Holiness's blathering on and on earlier, this lovely young witch has just saved our collective pranking backsides with her brilliant brain and apparently very sharp tongue," Fred was clearly enjoying helping his twin embarrass the already scarlet faced female.

Hermione for her part felt very embarrassed, but very flattered at the same time. She smiled warmly at both the twins.

"I know seriousness isn't really our thing, but Hermione, we really have no words to tell you how grateful we are for what you did not just us but our family as well," Fred put a loving hand on Angelina's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "By taking our case you literally saved our lives. I just hope the copious amount of gold we'll be depositing in your account soon with suffice as an adequate thank you."

Hermione burst into laughter and raised her own glass. "After what you two put me through? It's a start," she smiled and tipped her glass towards him.

"To Hermione!" George proclaimed with his cup held high.

"To Hermione!" boomed the rest of the room as everyone else raised their glasses in a toast as well.

The curly haired witch couldn't help but feel very touched at the moment. It'd wasn't often Hermione was some place where she felt safe enough to relax and let go in, but Fred and George had just reminded her why this house with this family was one of those places. The war had left a lot of scars, most of them not physical. Even Ron and Harry had found it difficult to find a safe haven in which they could just let every guard they had down at first. The Burrow had always been that one place for all of them where every wall and shield was able to come down and they could just feel safe for a little while. Hermione remembered in the days immediately following the war where all three of them would stay holed up in Ron's room huddled together for comfort. Molly must has sensed that they needed to be together then because she never once said anything about Hermione sleeping while sandwiched between the two boys.

A pair of kisses on both of her cheeks brought Hermione out of her thoughts and she laughed as Fred and George pulled away. George winked at her again causing Hermione to once more blush the shade of a tomato. At this rate she was going to end up permanently tinted red if she didn't get a handle on the blushing.

The evening wore on pleasantly enough and soon families with fast fading children were saying their good byes and giving hugs as they pulled on hats and coats. The crowd quickly wore down to just Ron, Harry, George and herself. Ginny had long since taken the boys home to bed and Lavender had fallen asleep on Ron's lap. When George excused himself to get another cup of cocoa, Harry turned to Hermione.

"Are we going to talk about it now or do we have to keep up the 'I'm not looking at you' game?" he asked flatly.

Hermione groaned inwardly. She had really hoped to avoid this conversation completely but it looked like the bespectacled git was just not going to let it go.

"Harry, we have talked about this a thousand times," she replied. "I am fine. If I honestly thought there was a problem I would have taken care of it a long time ago."

"How can you not think there is a problem?" he asked. "You put George into a bookcase, Sally said at least three times this past month she's had to wake you up at your desk because of the screaming, and Merlin knows what you're not telling us about when you're home."

"You can not tell me you don't still have nightmares, Harry," Hermione snorted angrily. "I don't see you hopping back onto Healer Conner's couch."

"I dealt with my problems and was able to move on."

"We all deal with our problems differently. You went to a therapist and talked them out. I…"

"Went once, freaked out then took up drinking and chugging dreamless sleep potions like pumpkin juice instead."

Hermione's temper finally snapped and she stood up from the chair she was sitting in. Her hair crackled with magic.

"You bleeding little hypocrite," she hissed. "You spent six months holed up at Grimmauld place drunk out of your mind on fire whiskey before Ginny kicked your arse back into the real world. I have never gotten to that level and how dare you imply such."

Harry ran a frustrated hand down his face, "That was then, this is now. A decade after everything and you're still having issues with it like it happened last week. I'm just trying to…"

"I know what you're trying to do, Harry," Hermione snapped. "But the difference now is that while you may think I need saving, I don't."

"Hermione, what this git is trying to get at is we're worried about you," Ron cut it before Harry could open his mouth again. "You know you mean everything to us and that we'd do anything to protect you. We just want to help."

"I don't need help, I need friends who respect my decisions," she glared venomously and stormed over to the coat rack.

"Where are you going?"

"Where else? Home to drink my crazies away with a copious amount of alcohol obviously," she snapped sarcastically as she began pulling her coat on.

"We're not done talking about this," Harry said following her to the coat rack.

Hermione didn't even think, her wand just instantly appeared in her hand and she pressed it lightly but threateningly to Harry's chest. Harry had the good sense to at least look intimidated.

"Now you listen to me, Harry Potter because I am not going to say this again. I neither need nor want your help on this matter. I am fine and if you keeping pushing me on this it will be a long time before I even choose to be in the same building as you let alone speak to you. So I am going to say this once more then you can pick whether you wish to still remain friends or not. Back. Off."

It was a very tense hush that fell in the room and it remained so until George came walking back in holding a tray full of mugs and whistling a Christmas carol. Almost immediately he stopped whistling and furrowed his brow as he looked between the three friends glaring at each other.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, noticing Hermione's stormy expression and her coat in hand.

"Everything's fine," she replied and stowed her wand quickly. "I was just leaving."

"What? Why?"

"Because I don't like being threatened," Hermione shot a glare at Harry. "Give Molly my thanks for dinner."

With that the furious witch turned on her heel and slammed the door shut behind her. George set the tray down and was across the room in three strides.

"What the bloody hell did you two thick heads do to upset her this time?" he glared and snatched his own coat off its peg before following Hermione outside.

Harry rubbed his eyes under his glasses warily. "Ginny's going to kill me."

"Violently," Ron muttered and reached for a mug of hot chocolate.

...~...~...

Hermione stormed away from the Burrow with hot angry tears spilling down her cheeks. There was just no stopping them this time. She was so livid right now she could barely see straight. There was no way she could apparate until she cleared her head some. A firm hand on her shoulder startled Hermione and she whipped around with her wand out.

A very surprised George put his hands up in defense. "Whoa there, 'Mione," he said gently. "Just me."

"I… I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to… to…" Hermione couldn't get the full sentence out before dissolving back into tears.

"Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong?" George frowned and stepped forward. "Are you alright?"

If George was surprised by having a wand pulled on him by a sobbing witch, he was even more surprised when the same witch threw her arms around his waist and buried her face in his shirt. Pushing aside the happiness of finally having a legitimate reason for Hermione to be pressed up against him, George wrapped his own arms around the distressed woman and hugged her tightly. After a moment he began murmuring soothing words into her ear and rubbing small circles in her back to calm her.

Hermione for her part was mortified at the completely lack of control over her emotions that she was displaying. For the moment though she didn't care enough to stop. In the morning she'd chock this impulsive move up to stress and a pathetic need to be hugged, but right now she couldn't find a single reason to do anything that would put an end to soft circles George was rubbing on her back. It was hard to deny that the warmth of his arms around her body and the comforting words he was whispering into her hair wasn't exactly what Hermione needed right now.

It was several more minutes before Hermione's sobs turned into quite sniffles. An involuntary shudder rippled through her and George suddenly realized how cold it was out here. It took most of his will power to pull away, but the red head stepped back just enough to look down at his tearful companion.

"Do you think you can apparate home with out splinching yourself?"

Hermione shook her head. George nodded in return and pulled her back to him chest.

"Hold tight," he whispered just before the couple disappeared with a crack.

TBC

A/N: Well I didn't get this one up as quickly as I had hoped but I guess it was quicker than my last update :) Mom is doing better though her stamina isn't nearly what it use to be. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers on our behalf. I am already pumped for the next chapter so keep your eyes peeling for it. And as always my lovelies. Read and Review!

~Chupip