Fred trudged back to the common room, still picking out bits of trifle within patches of his scruffy red hair. He frowned at the sticky piece of kiwi that was deeply squished in a chunk of his fringe as he pulled it out and flicked it down to the ground. Alongside him was his very happy brother, George, who found this extraordinarily hilarious.
"Oh cheer up, Freddy," Beamed the boy who had to try and stifle his laughter. "It's not too bad. Besides, you finally found out what everyone was talking about for the past few hours."
"Yeah, well, I just got lucky, didn't I?" Fred grunted. George shrugged.
"Ah, well. You win some, ya lose some."
"What did I win?" Fred asked, "Tell me George, what did I win?"
"Well, er, nothing really." George rubbed the back of his neck and looked away off in another direction, feeling that the conversation had gotten a tiny bit awkward. "You lost a friend, I guess."
"Woo," Fred grumbled as he stomped his feet hard against the ground below him for the rest of the journey back to Gryffindor tower. He could feel the burn of embarrassment engrave into his freckly face and spread all over his pale skin. He could still hear the faintest of sniggers from passing by students, especially the Slytherins, who didn't hold back when insulting the poor boy, getting a extra bonus laugh from their groups that it was a Weasley too.
"Nice face, Weasley!" They cackled and howled in laughter, pointing and pulling the most foulest of faces towards the trifle-head. Fred just simply narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded in response before ignoring them completely. Silence was the only thing that was drifting in Fred and George's presence; Fred had a face of guilt that saddened him down to the very bone, and George was just too afraid to make anymore jokes about this moment, or any jokes about yours and Fred's friendship hanging on a thin piece of thread that looked as if it would snap at any unsuspecting moment.
As they proceeded into the common room, Fred had instantly spotted you accompanied by his younger sister in comfort, even though it looked as if you were alright you usually bottled up your feelings because you didn't like to make a fuss (even though you have your verbal fights with Malfoy, which he always loses unless you really could not be bothered that day). He swallowed the large dry lump that grazed its way down his throat as Ginny glared at him a little, her head shook lightly back and forth in disappointment in her brother's behaviour. She was quite mature for her age, but she sometimes has her mad girly moments. Fred cautiously edges his way around the walls of the room, taking hiding behind each student he passed even though he was a whole lot taller over the majority of the students that chatted contently to one another. But to Fred's dismay, Ginny came striding over to her brother with a face like roaring thunder, leaving you to talk to a merry looking Lavender.
"I hope you're happy," she spat a little as she folded her arms and glared right up at her tall, lanky brother who looked down at her with wide, frightened eyes; as if she was going to bite his ankles any time now. "You know that she's upset about the whole Oliver issue!"
"No, I didn't!" Fred whispered loudly, defending himself.
"Yes, you did!" she hissed in a quieter voice, her eyes narrowing.
"No, I didn't!" Fred repeated, standing his ground and thinking that he had a right to speak up and defend himself. "No one tells me anything these days,"
"Oh, gee, I wonder why?!" she huffed.
"Look, Ginny-"
"Stay out of it George!"
"Ok!" George didn't have to be told twice. He told a small step back with his hands risen high above his shoulders but not too high to retrieve any attention from the other Gryffindors. Ginny turned her scowling fierce eyes back to Fred and pointed out a finger up at him, barely reaching his face at all.
"Look, if you ruin this Christmas for her too I swear down that you will suffer worse than any of the three unforgivable curses. In fact, make that four, because you're one of them!" And with that, she spun round with her red hair flicking her in the face as she turned and travelled back to where you were with a lightened smile and breath. Fred stood there, silent. He couldn't believe that he was now frightened of his little sister, who was far shorter and innocent than he was.
"Blimey, someone's got their knickers in a twist!" George sniggered. Fred gulped once he had gained movement an then rushed up the stairs of the boys dormitory, having George following him with cackles of mischievous laughter that rung constantly between the reddening ears of Fred.
Christmas was getting closer, as was the Yule Ball, which all the girls were bustling and swooning over whilst the boys were confused and scared to even approach the girls to ask them. Quite a lot of the girls you knew had dates already. Lavender was going with Seamus, Molly was going with Cedric, Hermione was going with Victor (you were one of the people that Hermione trusted enough to tell who she was going with), even Ginny was asked by the shy, clumsy Neville who turned as bright as a beetroot when she agreed to go with him. To be honest, you weren't particularly in the mood for a ball filled with dancing and formal-wear, or to go out anywhere really.
The Ball was now only less than a week away and you still haven't got a date. You had been asked by a couple of boys and even Draco asked weirdly, but you rejected him by joining Molly in a double face cake wipe on his face, both double-chocolate. A good face-cake moment always cheered you up a little, especially if it's Malfoy. Seven days turned to six, six days turned to five, five days turned into four; four days until the big dance and you still hadn't gotten a dress or a date which Ginny was not happy with.
"Fiona," she began, her voice was as stern and concerned as her expression during revision class (which was open for all years). "You have to find a date for the Ball!"
"I don't really want to go to be honest, Ginny." you sighed as you copied down some Potions work from a large book that Snape had given to you to revise from.
"Has anyone asked you?"
"Yes,"
"Who?"
"I've told you already, Ginny." you said in a lowered whisper as Snape patrolled by in that slow yet intimidating walk of his that allowed his long black robes to flow like waves in the air behind him. Once he had passed, Ginny began to fuss again.
"Look, come dress shopping with me? Mum has sent me some money for a dress and I want to help find you one too." she asked with a whine of plead.
"I'll go with you, but there is no guarantee that I will be getting one too, ok?"
"Fine," she sighed, returning back to her notes. Further down the long dark wooden table was Ron whispering to Fred and George across from him.
"Who you going with then?" The two twins shrugged in time, both of the faces held looks of puzzle and uncertainty. George knew who Fred wanted to go with, it was as clear as a sooty black cat against fresh white snow; but he also knew that Fred was too scared to ask her, seeing as he had pissed her off earlier and wasn't sure if she had forgiven him yet for it or not. George began to scribble down on a spare piece of torn parchment with a nosey Fred watching him.
"What're you doing?"
"Writing."
"Duh," said Fred with a snort. Once George had finished writing, Fred took a sneak peek at it and read: Will you go to the ball with me? Fred grinned.
"Who're you asking?" But just before George was about to scrunch up the piece of parchment in a ball and throw it across the table, Professor Snape swiped it out of the lanky teenager's hand and stuck his long beaky nose against it as he read. He frowned and he screwed it up in his hand.
"I'd appreciate it if you kept your little love notes outside of class, Mr Weasley." Ron, Harry and Fred desperately tried to not laugh at the face of George. George waited for Snape to bugger off else where before he rose to his feet and sighed.
"Right then, guess I'll have to do this myself."
"Oh? Who're you asking?" Ron whispered across the table, curious to know.
"Fiona." stated George, smirking down at a shocked looking Fred.
"You will do no such thing!" he whispered loudly.
"Why not?" said George, teasing his brother. He wasn't actually going to ask you, he was only doing this to push Fred into cracking.
"Because... because...!" Fred stuttered, trying to create an answer for George's question. George tutted and pretended to turn and look as if he was about to leave to ask before a panicked looking Fred shot up like a bullet from his seat and yelled at the top of his lungs. "FIONA! WILL YOU GO TO THE BALL WITH ME?!" The whole room fell absolutely silent as they looked up at Fred and then followed over to stare at you and to see what your reaction would be. You were stunned, speechless as you saw everyone's eyes, including Snape's, were fixed on you. You stared over at the bright face of a nervous looking Fred, his long red hair shamed by the redness of his cheeks.
"WEASLEY!" roared Snape from the other side of the large classroom, his black eyes shining with rage and disgust. "How DARE you disturb this class! Leave, this instantly! And you will be receiving one hour detention in my office this afternoon!"
"B-but...! But sir-"
"NOW! Before I increase the time, which by all means, I am being very generous with your punishment. So, if I hear another single complaint from you Weasley, you'll wish you've never been born with that tongue of yours!" The whole room grew pale with fear whenever Snape yelled at a student. You watched the tall red-head walk off with a face leaking embarrassment and a look as if his head was naming him idiot of the year.
