Unceremoniously

Time Passing

The two stepped into the floo and disappeared from view, travelling to the flat Hermione had never been to. They stepped out and George rubbed his neck, looking sheepish.

"Sorry about that back there. Ron really knows how to wind me up" He chuckled, before leading them to the large red couch. Hermione took in the room. It was small, and screamed Gryffindor. Red and gold lined the room, in furniture and paintings on the wall. Hermione sucked in a breath when she realized that they were Muggle paintings and that they didn't move. George noticed and again looked shy.

"Me and Fred went to a market in Muggle London a while back, found these there. Nice aren't they?" He gestured to the landscapes that covered the walls. Hermione gave him a smile.

"I love them. Your flat really shows your true colours. Definitely Gryffindors living here" She smirked and George let out a bark of laughter that made her feel light. He had a nice laugh, she thought.

"It's small, but we find it cozy. Usually it's just me and Fred, sometimes Lee and Angelina. Blimey, is that the time? Guess we can discuss everything tomorrow. Shower? Ouch! Okay just bed then" He covered his head as Hermione smacked him a second time that day. She glared at him and he pulled them to their feet. He led her through the kitchen to the hallway that showed two bedrooms. They stood beside the one on the left.

"Uh right, I'll give you a better tour tomorrow, but for now... I suppose I'll show you the man cave" He breathed out, opening the door. Hermione was surprised by how tidy it was. Books neatly on the shelves lining the walls, his bed was made, and the window was filled with green plants. It looked a lot like the room she had at her parent's house before she had obliviated them. Her heart panged at the thought of her parents. George had been talking but she hadn't heard him.

"What? Sorry" Hermione smiled, feeling awkward. Ron's room looked like a crash site compared to this. Garbage everywhere, smelling of sweaty boy from all the dirty uniforms he refused to wash. She scrunched her face at the memory.

"I was thinking we could just transfigure you a bed for tonight and then we can figure out something else tomorrow yeah?" He asked, moving to push the chair by the window beside his bed. She nodded and pulled out her wand, quickly creating a second bed. They pushed it beside his, but Hermione was sure to leave as much space between them as she could. George noticed but said nothing. Hermione looked down at her rumpled clothes, ones she had been wearing for what must have been two months. They were the ones she had transfigured into after she had woken in the hospital. Her nose scrunched in disgust and she almost regretted the shower she refused. Almost. She quickly realized there was no way to get her arm into another shirt sleeve. She could only transfigure clothes, which didn't clean them just change their appearance. George noticed too, his face twisted in disgust.

"Well this is quite a pickle. Lots of clothes, not sure how to get them on" He rubbed the back of his neck. Hermione noticed he did that when he was working through something in his head. They sat side by side on his bed, looking at their hands. Hermione used her free hand to touch her other one, magic zapping back and forth. George's voice startled her out of her focus.

"What if we try to let go? I tried when you were asleep but nothing happened. Maybe because we are both awake, it'll work? I'm nervous that it might affect our magic, but clearly we need to do something?" He said, sounding unsure of himself. Hermione felt tense. But he was right, they couldn't just stay in dirty clothes. They turned closer, until their knees were touching and Hermione stifled a smile. She pulled their hands into the space between them, and gave him a determined look. She slowly pulled their fingers apart, and the magic sparked between their separated fingers. They continued, and the magic grew stronger. Hermione felt the pull from George's magic, and the room started to spin. George pulled his hand further from Hermione's and the magic became overwhelming.