Hermione was frozen in front of the burrow's front door. She had called the meeting of the Order of the Phoenix but she was not yet ready to face George. He was clearly still upset with her and she had never been any good with confrontation. And to top it off she was worried about how the others would react to her news and proposition. It wouldn't be easy news to swallow.

Suddenly the door opened and the source of her anxiety was in front of her.

"Hello Hermione." George said, smiling at her

"George." Hermione said simply, not moving from the place

"Were you planning on coming in to the meeting that you've called?" He asked with a coy grin on his face. He leaned his slight frame against the doorway and stared down at her.

"Eventually. I had to prepare myself first."

"Prepare for what?" George reached through the doorway and gently grabbed Hermione's arm, tugging her through the doorway.

"Seeing you... George, you haven't spoken to me since..." She trailed off.

"I know; I'm very sorry Mione. It's not that I didn't want to talk to you, I just needed to process everything that happened. I assume that's the reason for calling this meeting?"

"Yes. I've also developed a theory of how and why this has happened."

"Well, we best join the others. Everyone's already here."

George amiably guided Hermione into the kitchen where the rest of the order was sitting at the dining table silently. They looked apprehensive. Order meetings after the war tended to be social gatherings rather than the usual somber affair, but Hermione's call had implied trouble of some sort.

"Ms. Granger." McGonagall greeted her first, gesturing at the empty chairs for her and George. They complied and seated themselves next to Harry and Ginny.

Hermione took out her research from her handbag carefully. It was an odd feeling to be leading the meeting. A far cry from the days of extendable ears listening at the door, she thought to herself. Turning to face the group she took a deep breath and launched into an explanation of why she'd called the meeting.

"I have some startling news. Some of those we lost in the war are still with us. Not in their usual forms but as ghosts. They're at Hogwarts currently. I discovered this a few months ago when one of them approached me in the library. At first I thought it was an isolated incident and for some time I appeared to be correct. However, recently we have found two others. It's difficult to determine whether there are others still but regardless this is a concerning development." Hermione finished her opening statement.

The news didn't quite land the way she'd assumed it would. There was some surprise, maybe, but no one seemed concerned.

"Hermione, sometimes witches and wizards come back as ghosts, you know this. Some of us do not go bravely to death." Kingsley sounded almost disappointed in whoever had become a ghost.

"That's not fair, you can't understand people's reasons," Ginny defended.

Molly voiced the question on everyone's mind. "Well, who are they?"

"Remus, Tonks, and Fred." Hermione said, glancing especially at Molly to gauge her reaction.

"That can't be." Kingsley said, standing up. "That can't be possible. Are you absolutely sure Herm-"

"Of course she's sure! It's bloody Hermione! I didn't see Remus and Tonks but I did see my brother. He's a ghost. I'm not sure how, or why, but it's true. I'm sure Hermione here's got an idea of what's causing all of this." George declared.

Hermione's heart soared as George rushed to her defense. She felt the courage to continue on.

"See, they didn't mean to become ghosts. None of them wanted to be. You knew them; you must believe that." This news, at least, seemed to comfort the group, even if it left them more confused. No one could believe that any order member would have chosen life as a ghost. "And as a matter of fact I do have one theory. Since discovering there are multiple new ghosts I have been doing some research in the Hogwarts library and have found an interesting passage about a spector charm used in the Middle Ages."

"Give us the short version Hermione." Ron piped up.

George shot Ron a nasty glare at his comment.

"Well essentially the spell was created to keep couples together if one died prematurely. The caster would place the spell on their beloved and it would keep their form as a ghost until the caster died. However, in the last hundred years it's been used for a different purpose."

"Such as?" Percy inquired.

"To sustain people in a perpetual state of suffering. One example listed in the book was of a woman who had been sustained this way that maintained the sickness she carried in life. She was quite miserable for the entirety of her lover's life."

"They're suffering - Remus, Tonks, and Fred?" Ginny looked very concerned.

"Well, they aren't happy, but they don't seem to be suffering too terribly. They're in the room of requirement now and seem to be well equipped there. They're lonely and confused, but not in physical pain. Remus hasn't been transforming, thank Merlin."

Arthur spoke up. "So what are you suggesting now Hermione? What are we to do?"

"I guess we have to find the caster and, well, kill him or her." The plan sounded hopeless and saying it out loud again dampened her confidence, but she knew it had to be done . "Then the ghosts can really and finally die and be at peace."

"What? Kill Fred? Remus and Tonks? Just when they've come back to us? What are you saying, Hermione? I haven't even seen my baby yet" an angry tear slipped down Molly's face

"But they aren't really back, are they," Harry said, somberly. "They can never live a full life again. Keeping them in this state is only prolonging the inevitable."

The room was filled with a tense hush.

"Hermione, I'm disappointed that you did not come to me first. As Hogwarts headmistress, and as your friend, I would have liked to know about our castle's new residents." Mcgonagall was stern, but there was a slight smirk underneath her scolding. "That being said, you have seldom been wrong in your decision-making, however unconventional. I propose that our next step be to meet with Tonks, Remus, and Fred. We can meet in my office at Hogwarts. I will send you a time for this meeting once we are back at the castle. Is there anything else anyone would like to address before I adjourn this meeting?"

No one brought anything forth.

"Then this meeting is adjourned."

"I've made supper for everyone if you'd like to stay. It's not much but there is french onion soup and bread with a chocolate cake for dessert," Molly announced.

The order members seemed eager to discuss the news and everyone stayed for dinner.

After dinner the order split up, each wandering to their own nooks and crannies to continue the conversations from dinner. Hermione found herself being led to the back garden by George.

"I'm still mad about you not telling me right away." George began. His voice was sincere, but gentle. He brushed a piece of hair out of Hermione's face.

"Is that so? Well I'm mad at you too." She wrapped her arms around him, thrilled to be close to him again. She nuzzled her face into her favorite spot in the crook of his neck, taking in his familiar scent.

The two remained there for a while, not saying anything, just relishing in each other's presence. But eventually Hermione broke away.

"Wait, George; we have to actually talk."

George sighed. "I know. I'm sorry for being such a ponce. I should have talked to you sooner."

"Yes. And I should have told you sooner. I just didn't know how to tell you. I thought that I should wait until I figured out how what had happened to him. I always think I'm doing the right thing by trying to protect people, but sometimes it just makes things worse. I'm sorry."

"You got that one right, Hermione! But it's okay. I like you anyway." George planted a kiss on her cheek. "Little know it all."

George bent down and captured her mouth again. Hermione playfully bat his arm and gently pushed him back.

Hermione laughed. "George."

"Yes?" He asked

"We haven't finished discussing this."

"Well then, by all means proceed, my dear." He said, bowing deeply before her. She smiled and rolled her eyes at his antics.

"Well, I don't really know how to say this, except that I really felt like our relationship was going somewhere before you stopped talking to me, and now I don't know where that leaves us. Communication is vital in a successful...whatever this is... and if you, or I, can just ignore the other person for weeks at a time, we're back to where we started, at the beginning of the year. I like kissing you and holding you and everything," Hermione blushed as George waggled his eyebrows at her. "But I guess I want more stability."

George sobered at this. "So you don't want to see me anymore?"

Hermione's heart dropped.

"No! No. I just want us to define what we are to each other. I want to know that we're able to work through problems instead of running away. Am I worth all of the frustrations?."

"Of course you are. I'm bloody lucky to have you. You're smart and kind and care entirely too much for people and things that don't appreciate all that you do for them."

"Well what are we then? Are you my boyfriend?" Hermione asked awkwardly. "God I sound like my students. I don't know how to talk about this; I'm sorry. Ron and I never had to have this conversation so I'm out of practice."

"Yes and you're my girlfriend. Let's sneak out of class together and snog in a broom closet. There's a rather large one on the fifth floor that would be just the right size for the two of us."