Family and the Christmas Spirit

George stepped out of the bathroom he shared with George, Lee Jordan, Corey Crew, and Jason Pine a towel still wrapped around his waist. The others had all gone down to the Great Hall to await the start of the ball already. He was a little disappointed that Fred hadn't waited for him, but mentally shook himself. He knew that Fred would do whatever it was he felt like doing, as he had always done, and that Fred's mind would have to change on his own for any progress to be had so he focused on the upcoming night with the girl that he was quickly falling for.

He dried himself off, tossed the towel onto Lee's bed and pulled out his dress robes. Once he had gotten dressed he took his wand and the small corsage he had gotten for Mary and left Gryffindor tower. Mary had opted to meet him in the Great Hall instead of having him come 'round to get her, which he was a little relieved about. He didn't want all the girls of Ravenclaw to by elbowing to see him, George Weasley, take one of their fellow intellectually inclined housemates to the ball.

He searched the crowd as he descended the stairs. Harry and Ron were already lined up with Parvati and Padma Patil and George could tell from his brother's face that Hermione was already lined up with Viktor Krum. George couldn't help but smirk to himself as he watched Ron glare at the quidditch star. "That's what he gets for not asking her," George said quietly as he continued looking over the excited faces of the assembled students. He spotted Neville and Ginny in the corner and quirked one eyebrow. Not having seen his date he wandered over to where his younger sister was chatting with hers.

"'Lo Gin. Neville."

"Hello," Neville replied, looking nervous.

"Hey George. Where's Fred? I expected the two of you to show up together in a puff of orange smoke or something like that," Ginny said.

"He's with Angelina," George guessed. "And sometimes the surprise is that there is no surprise."

"There's always a surprise with you two," Ginny muttered.

"You have no idea," George said under his breath.

"What?"

"Oh. Nothing. Have you seen Mary Mounts?" George asked.

"No. Is that your date? She's very nice. A bit quiet for you, though, I would think," Neville told George.

Ginny waved her date's comments off. "You're here with her? Good. I haven't seen her though. You lost her already?"

"I haven't found her yet. We're meeting here."

"Ah. Well I suppose you don't have to look any longer now," Ginny told him, inclining her head toward the staircase. George turned around to see Mary adorned in a silky looking, form fitting turquoise gown. It swirled around her legs as she walked and dipped down between her breasts to give him a nice peek at her cleavage. Her hair was piled on top of her head in gentle ringlets and she had put on a little more makeup than normal. George was very pleased.

"Excuse me, I've got a girl to claim before some other bloke snags her," he told his sister and Neville. George pushed his way through the crowd until he got to where Mary was standing at the bottom of the stair case chatting with Luna Lovegood who was with Dean Thomas. "Hello," he greeted her companions before turning his attentions to her completely. "You look amazing," he told her.

"Thank you," she replied blushing a bit through her smile. "You clean up pretty well yourself."

He grinned. Then remembering the corsage pulled it out of his robes. "I thought you might like this," he said offering it to her.

"Thank you, George, it's lovely." She took the small white flower out of the case and slipped the ribbon over her wrist. "Would you mind tying it?" George was more than happy to oblige. Soon after George finished placing the flower on Mary's wrist the doors opened and the Triwizard Champions and their dates paraded into the Great Hall. George took Mary's hand and they moved with the throng into the hall as well.

The Great Hall was decorated beautifully and the ceiling reflected the perfect starry sky outside. People were gathering at tables to await the speech by Dumbledore and George settled into a chair beside Mary. They were joined a moment later by Angelina and Fred, much to George's surprise. The boys nodded to each other and Angelina, dressed up quite nicely in a light pink cocktail dress greeted Mary warmly. They exchanged compliments and George studied Fred's face. It was rare when he couldn't read the expression that Fred was putting forth, but much to his dismay this just happened to be one of those times.

The boys didn't talk much until after the champions and their dates began the first dance. The crowd clapped, happy to see the celebrations and Fred made a comment about Harry looking like an uncomfortable penguin with Parvati in his arms. George laughed and had to agree and the tension seemed to be broken.

The two couples joined the others pouring on to the dance floor as the Weird Sisters began playing their first set. The night was very enjoyable and things were back to the way they had been before George had started seeing Mary. Fred even carried out a conversation with her while George obliged Angelina with a dance. George was very pleased with the way things were going.

When the Great Hall was cleared out, Fred disappeared with Angelina and George walked Mary up to the Ravenclaw common room. He paused in the hallway before the one that held the sleeping area for Ravenclaws and pulled her face up to look at his. "Tonight was great!" he told her. "I hope you had as much fun as I did."

"Merlin, yes! Thank you for escorting me," She replied. He bent down and brushed his lips gently over hers. Then he pressed them to hers a little more. And then they were kissing gently, her arms wrapped around his shoulders and his around her waist. He traced her lips with his tongue and was pleasantly surprised when she parted them slightly, along him entrance. The two broke apart after a few moments to breathe and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

"I like you a lot, Mary," George told her softly.

"I like you too."

He kissed her softly again, then took her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers and walked her the rest of the way to the opening of her common room. "Tomorrow's Sunday so I don't have quidditch practice. Would you like to do something with me?" he asked her as the stopped before the entrance.

"I would like that a lot," she said with a smile. They shared another soft kiss and she slipped away. George's head was reeling. He was very happy with the evening. He hummed a tune, slightly off pitch, all the way up to Gryffindor Tower.