A Beginning Note: Hello and welcome! This is going to be a collection of GeorgexHermione stories, each ranging from 100 to 1,000 words and independent of each other (unless noted otherwise). Overall these little writings are just me having fun. So obviously I do not own Harry Potter and happy reading!

01. That Festive Spirit: Where there are changes in colors and moods.

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Hermione looked away from the smiling face of Molly down to her food, feeling her stomach turn not from the delicious smells but from nerves.

She had been invited to attend the annual Burrow Christmas and she had accepted without a second thought, as her parents had decided for a non-white Christmas overseas. So it had either been come to the Burrow, full of life and food and exploding presents, or stay in her own small apartment, watching the crowds pass below with only Crookshanks to keep company.

So she had made the decision to come, forgetting that this time last year her and Ron had still been together. They had laughed just over there by the fireplace, as he had run his fingers along her sides. She had squealed in happiness, her egg nog spilling out on the cushions.

She took a breath and picked up her fork, determined not to let anything (even old heartbreak) bother her from the festivities.

"What're you doing?"

Hermione jumped at the voice and looked over to her side, where George was looking at her quizzically. Or, more specifically, looking down at her fork-wielding hand. She opened her mouth to ask what he was doing asking her such an open ended-question, but then he lifted a cracker in his hand.

When she stared blankly at it, he waggled his eyebrows before a wide smile slowly spread.

"Oh," she answered smartly as she looked around and saw that everyone else was holding their own crackers, mostly with great apprehension and worried glances to each other. Only Charlie looked unafraid. Hermione supposed working with Dragons made you a little less jumpy.

"Come on, open it with me," George said as he offered one end to her, "I made them myself you know. A limited-edition holiday edition for the shop."

Hermione looked back warily, but he was relentless in his grinning. Soon she sighed in submission.

"Time for adventure," George said as she finally grabbed hold.

They both pulled and there was an explosive snap, and then Hermione was laughing at a green-skinned George. He took one look at her as well before exploding into laughs, and she looked to see she was now a vibrant red.

"Look how well we go with each other," George said in glee as he brought her in for a close hug.

"I think your hair gives you more than enough red," Hermione answered, gathering a good laugh from Harry and Ginny nearby who had turned both turned a brilliant gold.

"No, you're definitely needed for me," George whispered in her ear as he gave her a strong squeeze around her shoulders.

Hermione was glad her entire self was already red, or else her face would be sticking out all too much from the heavy blush she felt creeping up.

She was also thankful when George turned to Percy, who had turned green as well, and commented the color looked good on him and that he should be the Grinch. "Not like it's not a big stretch for you, mate!"

Posted: 8.8.2011; Word Count: 510