25. My Little Kitten - Part II: Where George still has his kitten, luring Hermione in closer with it.

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"Ever feel like your cat is judging you?"

Hermione couldn't stop the snort of laughter from the question.

"I'm serious!" he argued as he pointed to the small ball of white and brown that was perched on his shoulder. It seemed the kitten was interested in where his ear had gone, as she sniffed the hole where it should be.

"She's Crookshank's daughter, I wouldn't put it past her," Hermione said with a roll of her eyes. "And when are you going to name her?"

"I'll get around to it," he said defensively as the kitten rubbed against his cheek. Hermione watched as his face melted into pure glee at the kitten finding it ok that he wasn't whole; she turned away to hide a chuckle. He looked like a boy, not the successful business man he was.

"You and Fred never got pets," she thought out loud as she walked over with the cat's dinner. At the smell of fish, she bounded from George's shoulder to his knee. She sat there, deep golden eyes looking up expectantly.

"Nope, but what do you expect? Mum feared we'd kill it."

George grinned as Hermione handed the bowl over to him before sitting down; he put it between them. The cat jumped from his knee at the bowl, almost missing the landing from the lumpy cushion. George instantly reached out a hand to help her along.

"Seems like you got your first pet, then," Hermione said with a beaming smile.

"Yeah," George said, "She's brilliant. She got you into my flat, didn't she?"

Hermione blushed and looked away from his smirking face. When he had asked her for a little first-hand help she had been wary. In his letter he went on about how if she had Crookshanks for so long now (and kept him miraculously youthful, to the point of him procreating) she would be prime for advice.

"I never knew you were underhanded enough to use a cat to lure me in," Hermione said as she stroked a finger down the kitten's back.

"I'll do anything to get your attention," George said seriously.

He was staring at her intensely, like she was the only thing around. Hermione attempted to look away, but his hand rose and held her chin in place. She didn't resist as he leaned over his kitten to place a light kiss on her lips. He pulled away, waiting for permission.

Hermione gave it as she leaned forward for another kiss.

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"Oh my God. Oh my Merlin. Oh my Dumbledore!" Hermione quietly exclaimed, darting a look across to the redhead aside of her. She lifted the covers that hid anything past his midriff; she placed them back a moment later.

Definitely naked. Just like her.

It wasn't like she couldn't remember with clarity last night's activities (moans, bed springs squeaking and passionately yelled out first names) but it was still a shock to wake up to. She couldn't believe she had done something so intimate with her ex-boyfriend's brother. Granted, she should probably classify him as something else, seeing as they had had sex (multiple times) last night. Maybe George-I-cowgirl-fucked would be a better way to classify him.

Hermione buried her face in her hands. It wasn't like she regretted it, but she hadn't ever slept with anyone who invited her over for cat help.

Thinking of the kitten, Hermione looked up in horror to see that little thing looking up at her from the end of the bed. Her shining, golden eyes blinked at Hermione, and then across to a still snoring George. Hermione suddenly understood George's question yesterday afternoon. Without warning the cat opened its mouth and let out a loud meow something its size shouldn't be able to produce.

George immediately started, almost falling off the bed as he straightened. His chest dropped in relief as it was just his kitten sitting at the end, glancing between both humans.

"See? Judging us!" he laughed.

Hermione couldn't find it to laugh; she grabbed her pillow and muffled a scream in it.

"I know being woken by her is offsetting, but that's a tad dramatic," George said as he leaned over. Feeling his chest brush against her back, Hermione stiffened and turned in a wave of curls.

"I've already lost an ear, don't make me lose an eye," George commented as he gingerly rubbed his eyes, where her hair must have hit him. Regardless, a grin still played on his face.

Hermione tried to think of something to say. Seeing her face blank and confused, George sighed.

"Why are you looking at me like that? And why have you not said one word? I know it wasn't your voice I banged out of you last night-"

"How are you so calm?" Hermione groaned as she rubbed at her eyes. "I can't believe we..."

"Start believing. It was fantastic," he said as he wrapped his arms around her. Hermione squealed at the full body skin-on-skin sensation.

"George..."

"Don't you dare say you faked it," he said threateningly.

"No, of course not-"

"Than nothing else matters right now. All I want to do right now is enjoy the morning sun with my little kitten."

"Then excuse me-"

"By kitten I mean you," he growled as he nipped her ear lobe playfully.

Hermione laughed, and with that everything felt alright. Even though George had just declared his love-at-first-look only weeks ago, that they had just fallen into bed in a tangle of limbs and lips last night, and that right now she wanted nothing more than to stay in his arms. It was going to be work out.

"I wasn't the one purring last night," she said.

"Guilty as charged," George hummed.

Posted: 1.20.2012; Word Count: 950

A Parting Note: So I think for now this collection is going to be completed. I have more ideas/outlines, just no time to write them out right now. And there's other stories to update :) Hope you enjoyed it while it lasted!