Cast Aside

Cooking Conversations and Old Faces

Chapter 10

"Pass me that spoon, would you?"

Pausing his knife, George handed Hermione the spoon and went back to cutting potatoes. They were in his uncles' small kitchen preparing dinner for the four of them. Neither of the older men understood why they weren't using magic, but they preferred doing it the muggle way. It reminded Hermione of her parents and George found it relaxing. At least when they did it together.

"Here, taste this." He obediently opened his mouth. "Does it taste alright? Need anything?"

It was perfect, but he hummed in thought and looked pensive anyway. When she realized his game and crossed her arms with an amused glare, he laughed.

"It's perfect, obviously. You're as good at this as you are potions. Here, I've finished the potatoes."

She blushed a little as she helped him add his offering to the pot. "Yes well, all you have to do is follow the directions. Now we can leave it for a bit. There, I'm going upstairs. You'll remember to check it?"

He raised an exasperated brow and smiled at her. "Yes, I'll remember."

Once she was gone, he waved his wand at the dishes to set them washing and turned in time to see an amused looking Gideon watching him from the table. "What?"

Gideon shrugged, never dropping the grin. "I've been trying to decide for the last week what you two really are to each other. You've not said anything other than it wasn't our business..."

"It isn't."

"Yeah yeah, so you said. But I've not once seen you kiss her, even when you think you're alone. So I thought... must have just been part of the story you fed Dumbledore." He leaned across the table, his smile turning smug as he gestured at George. "But you two, whatever you have, you're closer than friends. You just... seem like you fit so well together. I can't figure out why you're not shagging for real. She's fit, and wicked smart. And I'm assuming she loved your family as much in the future as she does now. What's holding you back?"

George didn't want to have this conversation, not with himself and especially not with anyone else. Sighing heavily, he ran his hands through his hair and looked out the small window. "You're right, she is those things, and so much more. But... well Fred fancied her too. Told me in our sixth year at school. Git even kissed her once and never said anything."

"Hmm. Probably because he knew you fancied her too." Gideon looked much more sober when George glanced back at him. "If Fabian and I were both interested in the same bird, he'd probably bow out too rather than even tell me how he felt just to avoid conflict. Bloody noble idiot."

He tried to laugh but it came out raspy and choked. "Yea well, it doesn't matter now. I can't..." Scrubbing a hand down his face, he turned back to the stove and the quietly simmering pot.

He remembered when Fred had told him how he felt about Hermione. She had looked wonderful at the Yule Ball, but it hadn't taken fancy dress and enough sleekeazy's to drown a small child for George to notice her. The year before, when she'd already been running herself ragged with her time turner taking every possible course, he'd watched her spend time she didn't have to help Hagrid when no one else would. Hermione was beautiful at the ball, but he'd already known that. Not that her looks were all Fred was interested in, they were just what had turned his head.

The chair scraped across the floor as Gideon stood and slowly crossed the room to lean against the counter beside him. "You know... if you still have feelings for her, I can't say I know her well but she doesn't strike me as the cradle snatching type." George scoffed. "Fred, the Fred that kissed her once, he's gone. Don't lose her to a ghost, mate. He wouldn't want that, and I can't imagine she would either. "