It took them both a few days to fall back into the comfortable pattern they had once had.

George gained the habit of staring guiltily across the dinnertable while she sipped her tea. He softly flinched every time she touched him, apologizing when he eyes widened and lips parted to form her own apology. And while he longed to hold her in his sleep, he couldn't bring himself to pull her into his arms without feeling like an imposter.

Hannah was fairing no better. While reading the paper she would glance at George, if only to check that he wasn't glaring at her. She jumped whenever he walked into the room, worried that the accusations would soon follow. Every time she considered doing something nice she fretted, worried that he would look and see an off brand Fred wandering around their kitchen. And god, she wished he would hold her in his sleep, it was so terribly difficult to sleep without his arms holding her tight.

It had been a week since Hannah had come home, and they were eating dinner. She was trying to read the paper, but the feeling of George's guilty eyes left her illiterate. Finally, in exhaustion, she slammed the paper down on the table and marched into the bathroom. She was going to fix this, she had to fix this, or damn it she was going to go crazy. After a quick pep talk that mostly involved deep breaths between each wave of panic, she returned to the kitchen.

"George, we're going out."

"What?"

"I'm not kidding, we're going to go out, meet friends, and get absolutely plastered. I don't care who you invite, but we're going out before one of us explodes."

"Hannah, I don't-."

"Tell me going nowhere but work and here have not driven you crazy, and we won't. Tell me that the tension in this room isn't killing you, and we won't." She tapped her foot on the floor as she waited for his response, and the grin she had missed so much spread across his face.

"Only if you wear the black dress." She grinned and practically leaped over the table as she hugged him, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips before dashing towards the bathroom to get ready. With a smile that almost felt foreign he pulled out a pair of clean pants and shirt before ringing up Ron and Hermione.

To say Ron was surprised was an understatement but they quickly agreed.

"Draco will probably be there," George warned and there was a pause on the other end of the line. He could hear hushed whispers on the other end of the line, most likely a small argument between Ron and Hermione.

"I'll behave," he said before pausing, surely waiting for Hermione to leave before adding, "as long as he does." George chuckled and promised he would, praying that he was right. He hung up after telling Ron to meet them out front of the shop in half an hour.

"Mind if I use the phone, handsome?" came a soft purr from behind him, and when he turned, he remembered why he liked that dress so much. He kissed her before handing her the landline. "I want to invite Draco and Sloane, if that's okay?"

"You said invite friends." She grinned before dialing the phone.

"Hey, Sloane?" she began, pausing as her friend rattled on, full of bubbly excitement, "Yeah, yeah of course. Hey, get ready for a night out, grab Draco, and meet us outside George's store in half an hour." George could hear the squeal from where he was standing a few feet away. Hannah held the phone away from ear as she said goodbye, hanging up as the squeals ended. George leaned against the kitchen table, watching as Hannah practically burst with excitement. She stared at him for a moment before shuffling closer with a sly grin.

"What?" he asked but she didn't say anything, only moved closer until she was positioned between his legs. She blinked innocently before guiding his lips down to hers with a gentle hand. He melted into her touch, hands reaching down to pull her closer. His fingers slid beneath the hem of her little, black dress. She grinned; biting is lip softly before pulling away.

"We should go," she whispered, and he sent her a playful glare.

"So that's your game?" he asked with a laugh and she shrugged, looking as innocent as the day she was born.

"Shall we?" she asked, offering her arm. He took it and with a resounding crack they arrived in front of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

Ron and Hermione were already there, locking up just as they arrived. Hannah unlatched herself from George and instantly began gushing over Hermione's dress. It was a beautiful purple, and while it only sat an inch above her knee, its tight fit still managed to make her look absolutely sensual. She had straightened her hair, and Hannah couldn't help but notice Ron's inability to take his eyes off his beloved girlfriend.

No, it seemed she was something more, something that came with a shiny diamond ring.

"You're engaged!" Hannah squealed, grasping Hermione's hand with uncontained excitement. George glanced at Ron in surprise, who only shrugged. "Since when?"

"A couple weeks ago," Hermione admitted, and Hannah faltered, the grin on her face dropping as she realized.

"Oh dear, we didn't. I'm so sorry," she muttered. Her own lovers spat had gotten in the way of such happy news, but Hermione wasn't hearing any of her guilt.

"Hannah, I would much rather share it now that we can all be happy," she promised, taking Hannah's hands within her own and smiling. Hannah bit her lip, not quite sure how to proceed. Much to her relief, a loud crack interrupted her worries. Sloane and Draco arrived, arm in arm, and Sloane, ever the reporter, noticed the brilliant diamond right away.

"Engaged?" she squealed, and Hermione nodded, a little surprised at this stranger's excitement.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Hannah laughed, "Hermione, this is Sloane Richards, a dear friend of mine. Sloane, this Hermione Granger."

"Oh, I think I've read your articles," Hermione admitted, "I appreciate your attention to facts." But Sloane was too busy vibrating with excitement.

"You're the Hermione Granger, as in war hero, brightest witch of your age, punched Draco Malfoy in the nose, Hermione Granger," Hermione giggled at the last of the accomplishments and Sloane beamed before glancing from Hermione to Ron who was standing awkwardly beside George. "And you're Ron Weasley, my god Hannah, you didn't tell me celebrities were going to be here, I would have dressed up more."

"You look beautiful," Draco said before possessively taking her by the waist.

"He flatters me," she laughed throwing an arm around his shoulders, "But on a more serious note, I need a drink, the Prophet has laid permanent residence inside my ass." Ron choked and Hermione blushed at her statement, but the rest nodded in agreement.

"There's a bar next door," George offered, and they all nodded in agreement before walking the few feet down the pavement. The girls instantly grouped up, gossiping about something or another while the boys were left in the back, awkwardly watching their girlfriends.

The bar was dimly lit with soft purple lightbulbs. Sloane quickly offered to by the drinks before dragging Draco with her towards the bar.

"Well, she's a lively one," Ron chuckled, narrowly avoiding Hermione's elbow, "I'm just saying."

"I think she's lovely, from the rumors I've heard around the office she's who you want if the Prophet's going to interview you. Sticks to the facts, absolutely thrashes anyone who dares to report false information."

"Oh come off it, you just like her because she's the one who got Rita Skeeter sacked," Ron drawled and Hermione blushed. Hannah sidled into George's side as she watched the fiancés bicker across the table.

Sloane and Draco returned with six bottles of the bars strongest fire whiskey, and it wasn't before long when they were as thrashed as they had intended. All six were howling with drunken laughter as George told a story about Ron when he had first developed a crush on Hermione.

"He practiced in front of the mirror for months, months I'm telling you!"

"She's a frightening woman," Ron defended through hysterics, which only made the rest of the group laugh harder. "Not that it matters, I got her, and you're all invited to the wedding," he announced.

Laughter continued to reigned at their little table, and it wasn't until Sloane and Draco had disappeared for a solid ten minutes when Ron noticed they were missing. "Where'd those two go?" he asked, causing Hannah and Hermione to burst into laughter.

"They're in the bathroom," Hannah whispered through giggles and Ron scrunched up his nose.

"They're completely unhinged," he said, causing the group to burst into laughter once more.

"I wouldn't mind doing that," George whispered into Hannah's ear, relishing in the sight of the blush that crept up her cheeks. She snuggled closer into his arm with a grin. She was going to respond before she noticed Ron earning a playful slap for making the same suggestion. Hermione was still dying of laughter, but it was clear she was not shagging in some dirty bathroom.

When Sloane and Draco returned, both significantly more ruffled than when they had left, George let out a whistle. Sloane bowed and Draco smirked, still buttoning his shirt. Draco ordered their fifth round of drinks and they downed them with ease. The laughter continued for another half an hour when Hermione suddenly stood, announcing she had to use the loo, asking Hannah and Sloane if they'd like to join her. They all stood and Ron, in his drunken stupor began to protest.

"Sloane, if you shag my girlfriend I'll have to fight you," he yelled, sending the girls away giggling. He dropped back into his seat and shook his head as he took another swig of Fire whiskey.

George wasn't sure if Ron was worried or not.

"Hey, listen Draco," Ron slurred, his mind quickly falling away from bathroom shenanigans. "I'm sorry about the gala, sometimes I'm just a bigoted fuck," he announced, and Draco shifted uncomfortably. "I mean, we've all been there, judging for family, but damn, I think I just wanted to punch you." He got a laugh out of that.

"Well, you succeeded," Draco responded coolly, and George nudged him, silently begging for Hannah's sake that he would accept the apology. "It's behind me, let bygones be bygones." It seemed he had read George's mind. The boys settled into drunk silence. Draco and George chuckling when Ron tipped forward and began snoring.

The girls returned from the bathroom, laughing at Ron's snores as they settled back into their chairs. Pleasant conversation continued around the sleeping lump, but it wasn't long before the rest began to feel the lethargic effects of the liquor.

Quickly paying their tab, the couples stepped into the street. Ron and Hermione walked down the street, laughing all the way as Ron kept trying to grab Hermione's ass, while singing drinking songs he had learned from one of his older brothers. Sloane and Draco were even handsier, hands never leaving the other as they waved a slurred goodbye and apparating back home. George offered his hand to Hannah, glancing at her when she didn't take it.

"Were you serious about that bathroom?" she whispered nervously, and he nodded, grinning all the while. Suddenly, with a grin to match his she dragged him back inside and towards the bathroom. He locked the door behind them, setting her on the sink as he slid her dress to her waist. She fiddled with his belt before tossing it to the floor and unbuttoning his pants.

A knock on the door froze them both as they tried to silence their laughter. The handle jiggled before the person disappeared, and then they were jumping each other once more. He slid into her, thumbing the sensitive bud that resided above her entrance. She covered her mouth as she tried to silence her moans, but it wasn't doing much. She leaned back into the grimy mirror, reaching for anything to steady her as he thrust into her.

"Fuck," he growled in pleasure and frustration. It was the first time they had had sex in weeks, and he was already close. He tried to hold off, think of anything to keep his release away, but it was an exercise in futility. She was too warm, too soft, and too inviting. The rhythm of his hips stuttered, and she was crying out, nails digging into his shoulders as she came. He followed quickly after, grateful for the release.

They pressed sweaty foreheads together as they giggled, ignoring the annoyed demands to be let into the restroom.

"I think he wants to get in," she whispered breathlessly.

"He's awfully impatient, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is."

"I think we'll leave it locked," George said with a grin before apparating them back to his apartment.

"George!" She playfully slapped him, and George shrugged.

"He's a wizard, he'll figure it out." She laughed before yanking him towards the bed and crashing into the covers for round two, and as many rounds as it took to make up for lost time.