Study Breaks

Chapter One

It was actually quiet in the Gryffindor common room. Hermione couldn't believe her luck. For once she wasn't going to have to cart all of her books to the library just so that she could get some studying done in peace. Now if only the weather would stay good all week, she wouldn't be bothered by the Quidditch-mad Weasley twins or Harry and Ron with their violent and voluble games of chess. The boys would be out flying themselves dizzy, leaving her in peace and quiet to catch up on her studies. She settled her books in convenient piles around her chair and pulled out a fresh roll of parchment. It was time to get ahead in Arithmancy.

Crash! Hermione's quill left a large series of inkblots across her calculations as the door behind her slammed into the wall. She sighed and reached for a scrap of parchment to blot with.
"Hey Hermione! Why aren't you out enjoying the day? It's the first decent weather in weeks."
She looked up to see George Weasley leaning on the back of her chair. Great. If he was coming in the rest wouldn't be far behind. So much for a nice afternoon of school work.
"Actually, George, I am enjoying the day, and the weather. Its the first chance I've had to get some work done without ducking flying 'practice bludgers' or smashed up bits of wizard chess pieces. And I'd really like to keep enjoying it, if you don't mind."
"Oh, I don't mind at all. Just came in to get a break. Captain's decided that we have to take advantage of the weather by doing extra drills. Finally let up and now I just need to collapse."
"So the others aren't going to be coming in? Or should I expect a loud recap of the whole practice session in about twenty minutes?"
"Nah, most people seemed to be heading for the lake, and I think Fred was planning on leading a raid on the kitchen to get a picnic together."
"Good. If you don't mind, I'd like to get back to my Arithmancy now."
With that she turned back to her papers and dismissed him. George stared at her, amused. Hermione was quite the one for studying. It was tiring just watching her spend that many hours with books. Although he was going to have to crack a few books if he was going to pass his history of Magic NEWT. Shame that the most boring subject on earth was also the only one he couldn't breeze through without thought. Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, even Herbology. Now those were easy, fun even, but when Binns started droning on about the centaur rights act of whatever-whatsis George could literally feel the glaze growing over his eyes. Glaze growing over his eyes... hmmm... now that could make for an interesting trick... some kind of special drops that could make your eyes go weird colours or something. He'd have to talk to Fred. But right now he had to think about History of Magic. Or rather, he had to think about a way to pass the stupid exam.
He looked over at Hermione. Of course. The answer was right in front of his face, with it's nose buried deeply in the most incredibly boring looking book George had ever seen. Who better to get him through history of magic than the only person ever to read Hogwarts: A History?
"Hermione?" he said quietly
"Hmm... What?" Her head came up from the book just enough to make eye contact.
"I was, um," George stuttered suddenly. She was pretty intimidating when she glared like that. Ron was right, he thought, she can be scary, but brilliant, which was the whole point. "Uh.. I was wondering if you could help me with my History of Magic exam. I know its a couple years beyond what you're doing, but I, uh, figured you'd probably, um, know it already?"
Hermione stared at him for a moment. He could feel himself turning red around the ears. This was ridiculous.
"Sorry. Stupid idea. I just, uh.. Never mind." George stood up, turning to head to the dormitory stairs.
"No, no..." she said, stopping him in his tracks. "I, uh.. Sure. I'll help you. I mean it is more advanced material than I'm doing, but I'll do my best."
"Thanks Hermione. Um, would it be all right if I brought my stuff down now? Or are you too busy? Cuz we can do it later. Y'know, whenever..."
He was babbling, which was really odd. There was definitely something about her stare that completely threw him. This was getting stupid.
Hermione looked up at George. His ears were turning red, just like Ron's did when he was nervous or embarrassed. It was kind of cute, actually. Which was an odd thought, since she never really thought Ron's ear-blushing was cute. And now he was starting to really blush. She must be staring. What was getting into her?
"Uh, no, right now's fine. I was just reading ahead, so I can put that off, I mean its not necessary."
"Okay then. Well, um, let me run up and get my books. I'll just be a minute."
George headed for the stairs at a near sprint. He had to get his brain back. Obviously practice had taken more out of him than he thought. This was Hermione, Ron's friend, the one Ron had a crush on. For all he knew, it was mutual and Hermione just thought of him as Ron's older brother. He had to just get a grip on himself and stop acting like a dolt. George climbed the rest of the stairs to his room chanting 'It's Just Hermione' to himself.
Hermione stared after George as he practically ran from the room. She shook her head. Obviously Arithmancy had messed with her brain. It was just George, Ron's big brother. Not someone to get all flustered about. She started packing up her books into piles for later reference, leaving the history of magic texts separate. Yes, she thought to herself, this was just her friends brother asking her to help with his studying. Not a big deal, she repeated, nothing to get flustered about.

When the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team and its fans came piling into the common room a couple hours later, they found Hermione and George sitting in front of a pile of books nearly two feet high, with a circle of discarded parchment at their feet.
"Wow," said Ron. "I don't think I've ever seen George in the same room with that many books."
George shot him a glare, then rubbed his eyes as he unfolded his body from the couch.
"Actually, little brother, I don't think I ever want to see this many books again." He turned to Hermione "Is it my imagination or does the writing get smaller as the books get older?"
She smiled up at him, and several interested pairs of eyes noticed that they smiled at each other for a little longer than was necessary as she took his hand to help her to stand.
"So," George looked over at his twin "how was your picnic?"
"Well," Fred replied, as several people started to laugh, "I managed to get into the kitchen, and snagged a whole bunch of boxes of stuff. But when I got back to the lake, we found out I'd taken the food for someone's deathday feast. Ugh. So no picnic. And I have a feeling these clothes going to smell like rotten cabbage for weeks. Good thing these are your spare robes I'm wearing."
He dodged around George's furious lunge and headed up the stairs, laughing. Ron and Harry had moved the pile of books to one side of the table and were setting up a chess board. George looked over at Hermione.
"Well, looks like our study session is done for today. What do you say about another few hours tomorrow? I think I might actually be starting to get some of this."
"Sure," she said. "I'll be here studying again, so just come find me after practice."
"Great." He smiled at her, then collected his books and papers and headed up to the dormitory.
Before Hermione could get settled with her Arithmancy books, Parvati and Lavender sat themselves on the arms of her chair.
"What?" she asked, as they smiled down at her with knowing looks.
"A study date with George" crooned Parvati.
"Mmm... you two looked mighty cozy on the couch together," added Lavender. "Is there anything we should know?"
"No, of course not? Why should there be?" Hermione could hear herself sounding defensive, but this pair's known love of all things girly and romantic put her on edge.
"Well, I for one would love to spend an afternoon snuggled on a couch with one of the Weasley twins." Lavender said.
"We were not snuggling!"
"Okay, sure Hermione. But I think they looked awfully close, didn't you Lavender?" Parvati asked across Hermione's head.
"He certainly wasn't just looking at you like a study buddy," she said, turning back to Hermione. "And he was such a gentleman, helping you up."
"You two have to stop reading those teen romances," Hermione responded. "They're rotting out your brains."
"Whatever you say, Hermione." Lavender didn't seem at all offended. "But even you have to admit that he's pretty cute, if you like the mischievous type."
"Well I don't! And if you don't mind, some of us have more important things to do than chatter about boys."
"Fine, we're going. But don't blame us if you miss out on your chance."
The two girls got up and moved towards the stairs. Harry looked over at Hermione.
"C'mon Mione, ignore them. If they don't have anything to gossip about, they'll just make it up. They don't really mean anything by it."
"Yeah," chimed in Ron. "As if there was anything happening there. I mean, you and my brother. Too funny."
"Exactly." Hermione shook her head. "How silly. We were just studying."
She looked down at the book in front of her. Just studying. That was all there was too it.

As he entered the boys dormitory, George looked up to see two pairs of very curious eyes focused on him.
"What?"
Lee Jordon smirked. "Making the moves on Hermione, huh? I know the old one about opposites attracting, but the book worm?"
"I wasn't making moves on her. I was just studying."
Fred and Lee laughed.
"Studying," Fred gasped out. "Now that's one I haven't heard before. Why on earth were you studying, brother dear?"
"Well, maybe you actually believe you're going to breeze through all your NEWTs, brother dear, but I am man enough to admit that History of Magic will be my downfall. And I'm determined to let you and Ron be the Weasleys with the fewest NEWTs."
"Whatever you say, George," Fred unconsciously echoed Lavender. "But I'm looking forward to saying 'I told you so' when you come to your senses."
"And here I always thought that Ron was the Weasley for her," Lee added.
"Would you two shut up!" George threw his books down beside his bed. "We were just studying. There was nothing else going on. As far as I'm concerned, Ron can be her Weasley, or Percy or Charlie or even you, Fred. I'm not interested in her that way. Okay?!?"
"Wow. Okay George. Calm down. We were just teasing." Fred was looking at his twin nervously.
"Yeah, man. It was all in fun, okay. No harm, no foul," said Lee, placatingly.
George flopped down on his bed with a sigh.
"It's cool, guys. Sorry I overreacted. I guess I'm just so tired I'm getting crazy. I'm going catch a nap before dinner."
The other boys turned to leave the room.
"Oh, and Fred," George called out. "Those robes you borrowed, I stole them from your drawers. Guess you're gonna have to do some extra laundry tonight."