Disclaimer – Anything you recognise is J.K.Rs.
If anyone had been asked to make a bet on who Victoire Weasly would go to the end of term ball with, the smart sickles, including hers, would have been on Frank Parry the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. It was therefore completely mortifying that Mark Turnbull from the Duelling Club had cornered her in the library and asked her instead.
Victoire's first desire was to tell him that no she was going with Frank, wasn't it obvious? The slight problem was that he hadn't actually asked her yet.
"I'm really sorry Mark", she said her brain working over time in the face of his disappointed expression, "but it's not you, I'm, I'm well, just not thinking about going with anyone".
"You're going by yourself?"
"Yes", at this rate, unless Parry got a move on.
"But you're a girl".
"Yes, but I am perfectly capable of opening doors and getting drinks for myself", her voice got slightly louder than was considered proper for a lady, but really he was being dense about this. Mark looked inclined to argue, big honest brow furrowing slightly, so she carried on at speed.
"Besides I thought you were going to ask Harriet Bell".
"Harry? Go to the Ball? With me? Why would you think that?"
Why indeed? If truth were told it had been Victoire's ultimate plan for the happiness of her favourite dorm mate, and Mark's fellow member of the Duelling Club. Poor Harriet was a bit boyish, she swore with them and could drink as much as they could and was quite big boned which meant she needed someone taller than her, who would complement her dark colouring. Mark Turnbull and his six foot of passably handsome muscle had seemed perfect, and because Harriet was far too clueless to think of making her own arrangements Victoire had decided to take care of it for her. After all what were friends for? She had wasted no time in befriending Mark and had spent many precious minutes watching him duel and going to Hogsmeade with him, and oh…. Yes, she could see how that would look to an outsider, but they had spent all their time talking about Harriet, and she had been at the meetings more to cheer her on than him, and now Mark's brow furrows were deepening with rapidity.
"You've been using me haven't you?" He said slowly, almost thoughtfully.
"No, not at all".
"Yes you have, to make Parry jealous".
"Really it's not like that, I thought you liked Harriet, I thought…."
"Bloody girls, honestly", he swept his books into his bag and clomped off scattering a flock of first years in his wake. Victoire rolled her eyes and returned to her original table where she sat down with as much grace as her sunken spirits would allow.
"That's a no then?" Harriet was twirling her wand between her fingers, one foot resting on her opposite knee. If she just tried to act feminine then they wouldn't be in this mess, Victoire let the uncharitable thought flit across her mind and then silenced it. It wasn't Harriet's fault. Not really. It was bloody Mark's fault for being such a…well, a prat.
"He asked me", Victoire said dejectedly, "I'm so sorry".
"You?" Harriet's wand slipped but the moment of shock was quickly gone as she burst out laughing, "that backfired then".
"I'm so sorry".
"Well you are the one who's part Veela, I suppose the big goon couldn't help himself given the choice of you or me".
"Do you forgive me?"
Harriet frowned, "sure, it would have been nice though", her gaze drifted off wistfully, "but maybe if I'm quick Lewis Burns will still have me, aye?"
"Um" Victoire said politically. Lewis Burns was short, and had ginger hair, completely unlike hers, which was strawberry blonde by anyone's standards. He also played Gobstones, he didn't even play very well which meant more often then not he was followed by a lingering smell.
"Hmm", Harriet seemed to be giving this some serious thought, and before Victoire could rush in and save her friend from the greatest social disaster of her life she said:
"See you guys later then" and stomped off in boots that were really far too manly.
Victoire sighed at the first years who split and reformed as her friend passed among them, "they would have been so good together".
"What makes you think that?"
Teddy Lupin didn't lower his book, hadn't bothered to lower it through the entire episode, which had started with Mark's stuttered proposal and ended with an awkward discussion that had seemed to captivate everyone else who was supposedly studying.
"They complement each other physically", she said, "obviously".
Teddy chuckled to himself causing Victoire to lean across the table and pull down the book so she could see his face, or at least the one that he was wearing today. Not that the face itself changed much, but it was currently crowned with short turquoise hair and eyes that were purple, they clashed dreadfully.
"And they fight all the time," Victoire stated confidently now she had eye contact, "that's a sure sign they like each other".
"Of course they fight, they both belong to the Duelling Club", he reached for the book, which she pulled deftly out of his reach.
"You know what I mean, it's a sure sign of sexual tension".
This time his laugh was so loud it made the recently re grouped first years jump, "Oh come on Vics, I mean we fight all the time".
"No we don't", she put on her best expression of mock horror and he took the opportunity to reclaim his book, settling back behind it like it was a comfy pair of slippers.
"We're doing it now", he said quietly.
"This is friendly banter".
He raised his eyebrows; she could just see them over the pages, causing his forehead to crease. It was a well-known expression of disbelief that Victoire had learnt not to argue with, or banter with in this case.
"Alright then, well look at Owens and Fitzherbert, I was right about them", out of courtesy she kept the smugness in her voice to a minimum.
"Everyone knew they liked each other, they're just both as shy as a couple of nifflers, it was only a matter of time".
"You are not giving my part in their current bliss full credit".
"You shouted her interest across the common room, they couldn't have got out of it then even if they'd wanted to".
He tried to return to his book and Victoire put out a hand to keep it lowered, "I don't know why you muck about with yourself so much", she snapped feeling he fully deserved to be taken down a peg or two, or three, for being so bloody clever and quite possibly right, "for someone who doesn't like to be noticed blue hair isn't really the right way to go".
"It's turquoise", he said dryly "you of all people should realise that and stop changing the subject".
"And I know you've been morphing your height since the third year when you had that growth spurt".
That was better, made him take her seriously for once.
"Harriet may be happy to be one of your charity cases Vics" his voice just a little bit too cold, "but I can look after myself".
She glared at him and he raised his eyebrows pointedly before bringing the book up between them causing Victoire to make an undignified huffing sound. Of all the bloody rude…she sat back in her chair, eyes roving the library for something else of interest. She settled finally on the pale shadow of Louise Dench, who had just slipped in hugging the shelves until they led her to a seat in the corner. "I bet she's someone who wishes they could change their appearance", Victoire hissed.
Teddy remained behind his book; Victoire's dislike for the younger Hufflepuff was notorious. It was probably something to do with the fact that the girl was unassuming and quiet, but more likely that she had spent some of the previous year liasing with Frank Parry in broom cupboards after Victoire had turned him down because he'd been covered in sweat from the Quidditch Pitch at the time and had got mud all over her new jumper.
"She would probably like to be able to hide from you", he said, but his words were drowned out by the boisterous arrival of the Quidditch Captain, himself.
"I see Dench is reading up on glamour charms", he said plonking himself next to Victoire who suddenly had eyes for no one else. Teddy, who had emerged slightly from behind his book, snorted and retreated so he didn't have to witness the mating ritual.
"I'm not surprised", Victoire said, "she has such ugly freckles".
"You have freckles", Teddy muttered, "you get them when you blush".
Victoire shot the spine of the book a glare that nearly caused it to burst into flames.
"I'm sure Victoire's freckles are charming", Parry oozed pleasantly.
"Really Teddy, if you aren't going to be helpful you can go away", Victoire tossed her hair majestically. Teddy lowered his book, rolled his eyes, which were now orange and gathered his belongings with exaggerated effort before walking straight through the now quite distressed first years and making himself comfortable opposite Louise so she was no longer in Victoire's sight line. Victoire huffed at his chivalry and then allowed herself to be distracted by Parry whispering in her ear.
A/N
Sorry for a long chapter with lots going on. If you spot any mistakes let me know. I'm not very good with apostrophes. Thought about making it a Yule Ball initially but didn't seem right without a Triwizard Tournament to go with it.