A/N: Hermione/George ship. Written for a contest at The Third Corridor. Please enjoy. :)

Brighter

"And if it all ends today

Well, I'll still say

That you shine brighter than anyone..."

-'Brighter' - Paramore

Chapter 1: A New Job

"Ugh! Bloody packing tape!" Hermione yelled and kicked at a box on her bedroom floor. She was quite a sight to be seen. Her normally bushy brown hair was being it's bushy self, but she had bits of Styrofoam stuck in it. Her jeans and t-shirt had bits of packing tape stuck to them. She took a step back and jumped when she stepped on some bubble wrap. Her entire room was in upheaval as she was packing her things for her move to America. She sighed and flopped down on her bed, which was partially covered with books. She stared at the ceiling. Moving to America was about the last thing she though she'd be doing after the war ended. But, a wizarding school had contacted her and asked her to fill the Transfiguration position, and she could hardly refuse. It had always been in her nature to teach, and the salary was very good. Breaking the news to her friends was hard. Ron whimpered like a small child, and Harry had looked disappointed. Ginny was ecstatic for her friend, though, and that made Hermione feel a little better. She had promised to write of course, and she'd floo in at any chance she got.

She absentmindedly picked a piece of tape off her leg and sat up. She had promised herself she'd do the packing the muggle way, but it was becoming way too tiring. She waved her wand and her things packed themselves. When it was finished, she shrunk all her boxes and put them in her purse. Nodding in satisfaction, she ran to take a shower and get ready to attend her last dinner at the Weasley's before she moved. She turned on the water and stepped in, letting the hot water soothe her aching muscles. She vowed she'd never try to do anything the muggle way ever again as long as she didn't have to. She washed her hair, and began to think about how much she would miss all her friends. Ron and Harry she'd miss the most, seeing as they were attached at the hips ever since their first year at Hogwarts. Ginny had also become a very close friend, and the only real female friend that Hermione had. And then there was Molly and Arthur, who were like surrogate parents to her. She'd miss Molly's cooking, and Arthur's interest in everything muggle.

And then there was the twins. They had infuriated her all though school, with their disregard for rules, and their testing of their products on helpless first years. Being a prefect was not easy with them around, and Ron was no help, seeing as they were his brothers, and they weren't afraid to pummel him if need be. To this day, Fred still drove her crazy, but something had changed in George. He wasn't as annoying to her. She couldn't seem to figure out why, but he was always the first to apologize and try and make things right again. Fred took the mickey out of him every time he did, and yet he ignored his twin and would always grin at her. She shook her head and rinsed the shampoo out of her hair. What was she thinking about really? This was George Weasley, prankster extraordinaire.

After she finished with her shower, she got dressed and dried her hair with her wand. Making sure everything was in order, she concentrated on the Burrow's living room and closed her eyes. With a soft pop, she appeared there, to find Ron and Harry playing wizards chess.

"Oh, do you boys do ANYTHING else lately?" She groaned and sat down next to Harry.

"Nope." Ron replied, poking his tongue out the corner of his mouth in concentration.

Harry grinned. "It's the only thing we're good at, besides Quidditch."

"And fighting dark wizards!" Ginny chimed in from the doorway. Hermione looked up and smiled at her friend.

"Hello, Gin."

"Hello, Hermione. Mum wants to know if you'll help in the kitchen."

"Gladly." Hermione stood up and followed Ginny into the kitchen, where they found Molly waving her wand at the potatoes, making them peel themselves.

"Oh, good Hermione, I hope I saved you from a boring game of wizards chess." Molly Weasley smiled at her almost daughter.

Hermione grinned. "How'd I know that was a ploy to save me? Thank Mrs. Weasley."

"Oh, anytime dear. So, are you excited about your new job?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes. I think a change of scenery will be nice. Although, I'll miss you all so much!"

Ginny sighed. "Once again, I'll have no girls to talk to. Well, besides Luna, and we all know how hard a normal conversation with her can be."

The three women laughed at this.

"Oy, what's so funny then?" said a voice from the doorway.

"Yeah, we haven't said anything to make anyone laugh." said another voice, almost identical to the first.

"Well, you didn't have to. All we had to do was think of your faces." Hermione shot back.

"Oooh...Granger's getting quite sharp in her years." Fred came over and patted the top of her head.

"Oh, Hermione, you wound me." George walked over, holding a hand to his heart. He pretended to collapse and fell on the floor next to her, his tongue hanging out of his mouth.

Hermione shook her head at them. "You two are impossible."

'That turns you on, don't it?" Fred wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"Oh yes, Fred. Oh baby." Hermione dead-panned, rolling her eyes.

"Fred! Don't speak to a lady like that!" Molly yelled at her son. "Honestly, in front of your own mum!"

"Sorry, Mum." Fred grumbled.

George chuckled. "Oh Fred, I told you to learn when to keep your mouth shut." He stood up from the floor and brushed himself off.

Fred shot his brother a dirty look. "Piss off."

"Fred!"

"Sorry Mum." Fred shuffled out the back door with a scowl on his face.

Hermione stifled a giggle. "Good idea. He should get out of here before he opens his mouth again."

George nodded. "I bet those were his thoughts exactly. Let me go check on him though, he's probably crying in the shed or something." He rolled his eyes and bounded out the door.

Hermione sighed inwardly. Yes, they were still infuriating. Especially Fred. But there was something about George that she just couldn't shake. She hoped she wasn't going mental. Probably wouldn't be a good idea to be shaping young minds when you're completely nutters. She shook her head and brought herself back into the conversation in the kitchen, although part of her mind kept drifting to a certain twin.