Snow swirled around the frosted windows, the wind howling through the corridors, and the endless shrieking and chattering seemed to never end.

"You're taking him? What were you thinking?"

"I'm so jealous! Mum wouldn't buy me new ones -"

"Green is perfect with your eyes!"

"You can't just ask Cedric Diggory -"

"What about Lissy? I don't think she's been asked -"

It should have made Fred feel better that he wasn't alone in waiting. He might have been taunting his little brother about hanging around, but he only talked a big game.

In reality, he was starting to wish this stupid ball had never come up in the first place.

"Fred? Oy, Fred, wake up!"

Fred jumped as he looked over to see Lee Jordan and a face that matched his own perfectly staring intently at him. He plastered a grin on his face. "Binns, eh? I'm still asleep."

"You can do better than that! I'm ashamed to call you my brother," George said with a sigh of mock disappointment. "And here, after all these years, your game is slipping."

Lee clapped Fred's shoulder with a large hand. "Cut him some slack, George. The poor bastard looks like he's about to puke!"

Lee wasn't totally wrong, Fred thought. He shouldn't have wanted to. Really, he should have been fine. He'd known her for years. She'd come round the house. She'd spent most of the previous summer there. She'd more or less been brought in as another member of the family. He could talk to her. It was no big deal.

But it was.

She'd changed. She'd stopped, for the most part, of being such a know-it-all. She'd started to let herself relax. And while he still thought she was insane for trying to earn rights for house elves, if he was honest, he found it cute. The determination that was written all over her face. The sincere belief that she could make a change.

He was even catching himself watching her study during long nights in the common room. The way her forehead creased whenever she was taking notes. The way her eyes would sparkle when she was telling his oblivious brother and Harry about something she'd found in a book. The way she'd laugh. He loved making her laugh.

He'd been trying to do it more lately.

Fred stopped in his tracks as he reached the library. Looking at the other two, he waved at them. "I'm going to pop in here for a second."

It didn't take an explanation.

"Yeah, good luck on that," Lee said, a touch of doubt in his voice.

Gred hopped to attention and saluted his brother. "Go fight the good fight."

Fred nodded, nerves starting to hit, and cleared his throat. He could do this. If he could fly around on a broom hitting heavy bludgers around a pitch, he could ask one girl out.

He scanned the library as he closed the heavy door behind him. There was plenty of chattering still inside the library, but it was held to low whispers for fear of Madam Pince, the formidable librarian.

It didn't take long to find Hermione. She was sitting in the corner, books laid out around the table in front of her. He smiled as she pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, deep in concentration. Her eyes were squinty and her brow was furrowed.

Fred took a deep breath and walked toward her, being sure to try not to scare her. As he reached the table, he grabbed a chair, pulled it out, and let himself drop into the seat. Hermione looked up and Fred gave her a dazzling grin.

"Fred!" Hermione said, smiling. "What are you doing here? Please tell me Ron and Harry aren't at it aga-"

"I solemnly swear," Fred cut in, holding his hand up as a vow, "that they are only up to good."

Hermione smiled. "Oh good, because I have a mountain of work to do and I do not have time to be a referee." Her hair, frizzy under duress, looked soft, and all he wanted to do was push another piece behind her free ear. He wanted to reach out and press a hand to her cheek.

Instead, she cut him off.

"What brings you in here?"

He could have run. He easily could have said Ron needed help, or Harry, or even Ginny. But Hermione wasn't stupid - she and Ginny were friends; she'd know.

Instead, Fred took a deep breath to steady himself.

"I, ah, I was actually wondering," Fred said, trying not to stare into Hermione's eyes. It was look staring into molten chocolate. "I was wondering, if you'd be interested, I mean if you want, if you'd maybe, you know, possibly, want to go to the Yule Ball with me."

Hermione's face fell and so did Fred's stomach. Oh god, what had he done? What had he asked? What was he going to do?

"Fred..." Hermione frowned. He couldn't tell if she was actually upset or if she was irritate that he'd asked. "Oh, Fred, I'm so sorry. Someone's already asked me."

Fred nodded and jumped up from his seat, hoping to run away before his emotions betrayed him.

"Right, right, of course," he said quickly, trying not to look at her. "Yeah, I should have realized - well I mean it's late - of course you'd - yeah, no I understand. I'm sorry I -"

"Fred."

" - asked, it was stupid, if I'd have thought it - "

"Fred!"

He looked up, his cheeks reddening by the second, threatening to turn his head into what would resemble a turnip.

"I wish you'd asked me sooner," Hermione said quietly.

Fred's heart soared. It probably wasn't healthy, going from such a low low to an incredibly high high, but here he was. "I wish you'd asked me sooner." There was a chance. He still had a chance.

It wouldn't be today, but maybe it would be one day.

He wouldn't give up.