„Celeste Zabini? You're kidding!"

„Nope." George said, grinning from ear to ear.

"But….but…" Oliver didn't seem able to say anything, he just stared at him.

"It's just not possible." Lee said shaking his head.

"Oh yeah it is." George said lightly.

"But how on earth did you get the courage to ask her?" Lee wanted to know.

"I didn't." George responded.

"Huh?" Oliver asked.

"She asked me."

"WHAT?"

"Yup."

"No way!"

"It's not fair!"

"I know it isn't. Still happened though."

"But.." Oliver sputtered but broke off. Clearly he was at a loss for words.

"Well, I'm supposed to meet her downstairs in ten minutes. I think I'll better get ready." George said and ran up to their dormitory, not able to remove the stupid grin from his face.

He entered the dormitory and walked towards his bed, when he noticed Fred standing at the window.

"What are you doing up here?" he asked.

Fred didn't answer. He just kept looking out of the window.

"Hello? Have you grown deaf?" George bellowed into his ear.

Fred turned and looked at his brother. He glared at him, his face red.

George instantly took a step back.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"What the matter is?" Fred yelled. "I'll tell you what's the matter, George!

You!"

"Me?"

"Yes, you!"

"Why?"

"Because you were the one who repeated what I said about the ball to Angelina!" Fred hissed.

"Oh bugger."

"That's right! Guess who just turned up, yelled at me in front of the entire Common Room and slapped me?"

"She slapped you?" George asked in disbelief.

"Yes, she did!" Fred said and George noticed that his right cheek was a darker red than the rest of his face.

"Why the hell did you have to tell her?" Fred bellowed.

"You try lying to Angelina when she's giving you her 'tell-me-the-truth-or-I'll-kick-you-in-the-nuts' look!" George retorted angrily.

Fred glared at his brother, but didn't respond.

"Okay." He suddenly said, deflating a little.

"Then I understand."

"Thank you. And I'm really sorry, but I still wanted to be able to walk upright for the rest of my life, you know?"

"I hear you." Fred mumbled, sitting down on his bed.

"So what happened after she slapped you?" George asked.

Fred sighed. He buried his face in his hands for a second, then fell back on his bed.

"She said I was the stupidest guy she'd ever come across, that she hoped I would die a most embarrassing death and that she would rip my throat out if I ever tried to talk to her again."

"She finished with you?" George exclaimed incredulously.

Fred, his face still in his hands, nodded.

"Because of that?"

Fred nodded again.

George sat down next to his brother.

"Are you alright?"

"No." it came muffled through his hands.

"Shit, Fred, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have told her. I'll talk to her right now."

"Don't bother. It won't help." Fred mumbled. He turned away from his brother, facing the wall.

George didn't know what to do. He had never seen his brother like this.

A few seconds ago he had only thought about boasting to Fred about his date and now…

"Did you manage to get a date, then?" Fred asked as if he had red his thoughts.

"Uh…yeah." George muttered.

"Really? Who?"

"Celeste Zabini."

Fred shot up and whirled around, staring at his brother.

"Celeste Zabini? Are you serious?" he gasped.

"Yeah. I was just getting out of the Great Hall when I bumped into her and she asked me."

"She asked you?"

"Yeah."

"You lucky bastard." Fred said, managing a weak grin.

"Yeah." George repeated, but he didn't sound very enthusiastic.

"You're not telling me you're not thrilled, are you?"

"No, no, of course I am." George snorted. "Who wouldn't? it's just that … this Angelina thing is all my fault!"

Fred sighed and looked at his feet.

"Whatever. I don't want to talk about it." He mumbled.

"But I do!" George yelled.

"Would you drop it already?" Fred snapped angrily.

"No!"

"George!" Fred roared, jumping to his feet.

"If you don't shut your mouth right now, I swear I'll punch you!"

George shut up.

At that moment there was a soft knock on the door and it opened.

Angelina peeked in.

George felt Fred stiffen next to him.

"Hey." Angelina said quietly, not looking at Fred.

"Hi." George said. Fred just stared at her.

"I was wondering… whether I could talk to Fred?" she said, barely audible.

"Sure." George said.

"Alone." She added looking at George pointedly.

"Oh! No problem!" George exclaimed and ran past her.

"I'll see you down at the ball!" he yelled over his shoulder before he slammed the door shut behind him.

As he ran down the stairs he realized that he had forgotten to even looked in the mirror, but nothing in the world would make him go in there now.

He quickly walked through the corridor, climbed through the portrait hole.

And then he stopped as if rooted to the spot.

He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Ah! Cliffhanger! Sorry everyone, it has to be! Please leave your guesses and reviews!