QL Prophet's Friendly Face. Pride, beater 2.

Written for: Viola

Prompt: George/Hermione (Hermione pranking George).

Word Count: 1480

Beta'ed by: CypressWand, CupCakeyyy

Hermione walked down the isles of Weasleys Wizards Wheezes and casually looked at the products on the shelves. It had just reopened after the death of Fred many months ago. Harry and Ron offered to help and she found herself pulled into the shop the day it reopened.

Even though she and Ron realised that they weren't right for each other after the war had ended, they remained friends. Hormones were a curious thing.

The shop had closed merely minutes ago and there were still customers at the till who were keeping George and Harry very busy while Ron was ushering the other customers out and keeping anybody else from entering.

Finally, everybody was gone. "Hermione, are you planning on buying that?" George asked with a smirk.

Hermione looked at the shelf beside her and noticed she was standing by smoke bombs. "And what would I need a smoke bomb for?"

George shrugged. "Yeah, you don't have it in you to be sneaky."

Ron let out a big laugh and Harry smiled.

Hermione couldn't think of a response but saw the glimmer of who George used to be. He was a lot sombre but still there. "Maybe you'll find out how sneaky I can be."

"Challenge accepted," George replied.

"Leave Hermione out of the challenges," Ron said.

George winked at her, and with an amused shake of the head, Hermione walked towards the exit. "See you all later. Great reopening."

"Bye Hermione," they all chorused.

Over the next few days, Hermione couldn't stop thinking about the 'challenge' that George had accepted. Did he accept to be pranked by Hermione? Or was he planning on pranking her when she was unaware?

In the end, she visited his shop to ask him. Things were a bit calmer but it was still one of the busiest shops on the street - maybe even the busiest. Either way, she located him quickly and waited for him to finish with a customer.

"Hello there," he greeted with a cheeky smile.

How he managed to always make her smile with his greetings, she did not know. "What did you mean by challenge accepted?"

George chuckled. "Thinking about me, are you? I'm flattered."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Just want to make sure you're not planning to throw goo over me at your family's next get together."

"Your hair is safe from goo," he responded with a flirty wink. "Though, I would be interested to see if you have what it takes to catch me off guard."

"You want me to throw goo over you?"

George moved away from the counter, letting somebody she knew as an old Hogwarts student take over. He jumped up to the same platform she was on. "Where's the fun in that?" he asked rhetorically. "Are you ready for a challenge, Hermione?"

The seventeen-year-old thought about his words. "While I should really be reading up for year seven of Hogwarts, I do have a couple of weeks. What's the challenge?"

His grin grew. "Between now and you returning to Hogwarts, you have to prank me. However, you cannot use anything which already exists. Nothing you can buy here or a common pranking spell. And I can't see it coming."

Hermione listened carefully to how he worded things. She couldn't help but wonder if he had rehearsed that. "What do I get out of it if I win?"

"What do you want?"

"I want for you to do me a favour," she responded unsure of it.

George nodded. "Deal. And if you don't manage." He paused as she looked at him nervous. "You have to agree to go on a date with me."

Hermione's eyes grew like saucers. She had not expected that. He was still smiling but it was clear to tell that he was nervously awaiting her response. If she agreed to the challenge, then she was evidently agreeing that she'd be willing to go on a date with him. However, if she rejected it, that might stump out any chance of going on a date with him. Did she even want to go on a date with him? Would that be weird? Was this all a prank?

She had helped take down Voldemort, why was this such a scary thought. "Deal," she decided. "But I wouldn't get your robes out yet."

With that, she turned and strode out of the shop. Her heart was beating triple the speed it usually would.

Had she really just done that?

Part of her was tempted to simply let him win - which was a scary thought alone - but the challenge itself was intriguing.

Hermione spent the next nine days coming up with ideas before it suddenly sprung on her. A smile crossed her face as she planned to get everything ready. She had taken the decision to act alone and not get anybody to help her.

Two days later, everything was put in place. Thankfully, she had already been invited to the burrow, so she had no need to plan that part.

George and she constantly exchanged looks. It had been eleven days since she agreed to the challenge, and only three days until she would be off to Hogwarts for her final year.

"What's with you and George?" Ginny whispered.

Hermione looked at her. "Just some challenge he set me."

Ginny gave her an amused look. "We need a girls' day."

That made Hermione laugh. She wasn't sure where Ginny's mind had gone but found it hilarious for no reason. "I'm sure we'll have loads of them when we get back to Hogwarts."

"So, what's the challenge?"

Hermione was proud of Ginny's restraint. A whole ten seconds before she inquired. "You'll find out."

Bill stood up, having been the first to finish his meal. "Time to show you all how to fly."

All the Weasley quickly followed suit - A whole Weasley family get together always included some sort of flying match and Hermione had counted on it.

She didn't follow immediately, deciding to finish her food first and walking out with Fleur.

"It's a lovely day," Fleur commented conversationally.

Hermione smiled as the beams of sun hit her face. "That is it."

Seconds after, and before either of the girls had a chance to continue conversing, George's broom started to throw out a range of colour glitter.

The ginger-haired man laughed at the display, doing a few laps in an attempt to cover as many of his relatives in glitter too. He flew down to Hermione, hovering a meter away from her. "Okay, I didn't see that coming. Usually, the prank is against the person, but I admire your creativity."

The rest of the attendants were looking over curiously, all still having a bit of a chuckle.

Hermione nodded. "What makes you think this was me?"

George visibly paused for a second; it was as if he hadn't considered that option but then simply grinned at her. "Who else would it be?"

With a laugh, unable to keep herself together, she nodded and held out her hand to shake his. "I'm glad you liked it."

His smile suddenly went as he looked down at his broom in utter disbelief.

"What's wrong, Georgie? Stuck?" Hermione teased.

She heard a gasp followed by a loud thunder of laughter as everybody came to realise that George was indeed stuck to his broom and even more funnily - it had been Hermione who had done it.

Hermione had received a mountain load of congratulations. This was an achievement she had never imagined taking part in.

Everything calmed down when the Weasley's match continued and once George's sticking charm wore off after a few minutes. She hadn't wanted anything lasting too long - just in case.

Later that evening, Hermione found George out in the garden attempting to clean his broom from the glitter. "It might take a while for that to come off," she commented as she sat next to him.

"Two pranks in one?" he questioned with a weird look on his face; it was a mixture of impressed and happy, but also sad.

"I spent a long time thinking about how I could get the prank-master," she replied, earning a bit more of a smile from him. Deciding to just go for what was on her mind, she ignored his sadness - there were many reasons he could have that emotion, and she had an idea. After all, it wasn't long since he had lost his twin. "Might not be the right time… but ready to know what the favour is?"

George sent her a curious look. "You prank me, and now you want your favour." He laughed as he shook his head. "Go on then, what is it?"

Hermione hesitated. "I'm going back to Hogwarts soon and I need some more quills and ink. Could you accompany me shopping tomorrow?"

"Only if you let me buy you dinner."

"Lunch."

"Deal."

"Deal."

The End