Disclaimer: don't own, don't profit, don't dance.
Author's Note: Becoming an adult is hard. I've had a rough go of it, losing myself in a relationship that ended in heartbreak, dropping out of college, getting a full time job (with benefits!), dealing with crazy anxiety attacks and hard times in general. Moving out of your parents can be hard too… But here it is, and I'm already in works on the sequel! I thank you all for sticking this out with me!
Evie, Erin, Ginny and Hermione said goodbye to Jane on the fifth floor and continued up to the seventh floor and Gryffindor Tower. Ginny grabbed her dress robes and joined the other's in the fourth year dormitory to get ready. Their first priority was to fix Hermione's hair into a sleek knot at the back of her head. Hermione pulled out a bottle of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion from her trunk. Evie looked at her friend, confusion etched on her face.
"It's like hair gel, de-frizz and hair spray all in one." explained Hermione.
"I love magic!" smiled Evie.
Erin, who was better with hair than any of the other girls worked the potion into Hermione's hair and twisted it into a knot that stayed in place with out pins or clips. Hermione looked in the mirror and gasped.
"My hair isn't bushy or frizzy!" she admired.
Evie's hair was still short, thanks to Malfoy's poorly aimed sparks, so she just pulled the front of her hair back and held it in place with a snowflake hair clip. Ginny curled her hair and pulled it back and off to the side so it lay over her left shoulder. Erin left her hair as it always was, declaring she didn't see the point in impressing someone who had only asked her that morning.
"Come on, Erin. Just because you aren't going with who you wanted, doesn't mean you shouldn't put forth any effort!" said Ginny as everyone dressed into their robes.
"I happen to be putting forth effort!" Erin defended.
Erin did look spectacular in her sparkly silver dress robes. They were silky and floaty and reminded Evie of snow falling at midnight. Hermione looked gorgeous in her floaty periwinkle robes; while Ginny was wearing the moss green robes Mrs. Weasley had originally picked for Evie who was wearing robes of deep midnight, which made her eyes look even more like her father's.
"Well, I should head out to the Durmstrang ship now, it's nearly eight o'clock now." Hermione said standing up. "How do I look?"
"You look perfect." Said Evie.
Erin, Evie, Ginny and Hermione went down to the common room and Hermione left through the portrait hole so she could meet Viktor. So far the only people in the common room were other girls. Angelina was smiling excitedly, wearing her corsage and Evie wondered where George was.
Before long the boys started to file into the common room and found their dates. Evie noticed George was mysteriously missing. She walked over to her brother who was looking quite handsome in his bottle green robes.
"Harry, you look great! Stop fidgeting!" she said, swatting his hands away from his robes.
"Easy for you to say! Yours look nice and soft! Mine are itchy!" he whined.
"Harry, you'll do fine. You only have to slow dance for one song." She told him as she smoothed his robes around his shoulders. "Now go tell Parvati she looks nice."
She was watching him go with Ron and compliment Parvati when a pair of arms snaked around her waist and pulled her backward.
"Don't you look nice." A voice whispered in her ear.
Evie turned around in his arms and her breath caught in her throat. Fred looked very dapper in his midnight dress robes, and unlike most of the boys he wasn't fidgeting or pulling on them.
"You look amazing." She said, looking him up and down.
"You ready to go down?" he asked.
"Yes"
They walked down to the entrance hall hand in hand. She was so excited she forgot to ask where George was, but her question was answered when she saw him wearing robes of deep purple holding a bouquet of snap dragons and orchids that matched the corsage on Angelina's wrist. Evie watched in pleasant surprise as Angelina rushed forward and kissed George full on the lips.
"I think someone likes their surprise." She said to Fred.
"It's like I'm watching myself kiss someone else! I'll have to ask George if…" he said as he started to walk towards George and Angelina.
"Not right now you won't!" she said grabbing his arm.
"Champions! Over here please!" called McGonagall.
The four champions and their dates stood by the doors to the Great Hall while everyone else filed in and took their seats. A hundred smaller tables replaced the four house tables that usually filled the hall. The walls glittered silver, garland and mistletoe hung from the ceiling which was snowing glitter down on them. Each table sat twelve people, Evie and Fred sat at one near the front with George, Angelina, Erin and her date Justin, Ginny, Neville, Jane and her date Terry, and Ron and Padma. Everyone took their seats and watched the Champions walk in.
"Who's that with Krum?" Padma asked.
"That's Hermione!" exclaimed Angelina.
"Blimey." said Fred and George.
"Do you think she could get me Krum's autograph?" piped Ron.
They all looked at Ron and shook their heads. The Champions took their seats at the head table and everyone else followed suit. At the tables, on top of the silver plates, were menus, but Evie could find no waiter in sight. She wasn't the only person confused, all around the Great hall students and staff alike were staring at the menus blankly until Dumbledore set the example and ordered pork chops which magically appeared on his plate. Following his example people started shouting out orders to their empty plates.
"Lamb chops!" she said.
The friends ate in rapt silence, for the house-elves had really out done themselves. Soon everyone was done eating and the hall broke out into chatter again. Dumbledore stood, raised his arms and said,
"Please stand!"
Once everyone was on their feet he waved his wand and all the tables disappeared, leaving them room to dance. A flick and a small stage appeared with drums, guitars, a lute, cello and bagpipes littering it. Evie watched in excitement as a group of men trooped onto the stage.
The champions went out to start the dancing and Harry looked as though he was going to be sick. They'd only been dancing for a few seconds when other people started dancing as well.
"Care to dance?" said Fred, offering her his arm.
"Yes, I would." She said as they walked out onto the dance floor. "But I don't really know what I'm doing."
"Mum taught all of us, don't worry." He said putting his arm around her waist and grabbing her hand.
While most couples were simply rotating on the spot to the beat of the music, Fred had them waltzing in no time. She was surprised at how smoothly he guided her, she felt like the ballerina she'd wanted to be growing up. Aunt Petunia had always said she was too oafish to dance, but here she was gliding across the floor to the sound of bagpipes. The song ended and Evie felt the disappointment rush through her as Fred pulled away and the Weird Sister's struck a faster tempo.
"Let's sit down…" she mumbled nervously.
"Oh, no. We're dancing. Don't worry about anyone else, just dance." He told her before dancing so lively that she had to stifle a giggle. She soon followed his lead and was having the time of her life. She turned out to be much better at this form of dancing than Fred who was causing people to back away in fear. But she loved that he didn't care, as long as she'd known him he'd never cared about what people thought of him, though everyone loved him anyway.
The song ended and Evie felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to find Fred's older brother Percy looking quite put out.
"Could you please stick to waltzing? You're embarrassing me." He said simply.
Fred wrapped his arms around Evie's waist and pulled her close before answering, "No, this is a ball and we've come to dance!"
"And I thought Evie would be a good influence on you." He sniggered before walking away towards Ron and Harry.
"He's such a prat! And Mum always talks about him like he's a perfect angel." seethed Fred.
"Then let's not think about him. I mean every family has its bad seed. Punch?" she said.
"Or Bagman! Where's George?!" he asked excited, having spotted Ludo standing nervously on the other side of the hall.
They found George and Angelina rather quickly by the large birth people gave them due to their dancing. Evie wondered slightly if that was what she and Fred had looked like before deciding it didn't matter.
"George, I've spotted Bagman!" Fred shouted over the music.
The three of them left Angelina to dance with her friends Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnett and headed straight for Bagman and cornered him.
"Hello Ludo." said George.
"We still don't have our money Bagman." said Fred calmly.
"Boys, boys, boys." He laughed uneasily. "I only took that wager because I was sure you'd lose…. You're too young to gamble anyway! I keep telling you…"
"Mr. Bagman," Evie smiled at him. "Surely a man of your standing wouldn't want it to get out that you are defaulting on your debts. What would the Minister think of such irresponsibility from a department head?"
"I….you can't…. the money…." He stammered. "Who would believe you three anyway? You're children! Try blackmailing me again and I'll get the Ministry involved. How embarrassing that will be for your Father."
And with that Ludo Bagman walked away, leaving the three of them standing at the edge of the dance floor.
"Now we'll never get out money!" growled Fred.
"Mum's not going to be happy about this." said George.
"Look, I'll spot you the money incase your Mum gets suspicious." said Evie.
"Evie, we can't do that." George said.
"I'd expect you to pay me back." She assured them.
"In that case…." started George.
"We accept!" finished Fred.
Evie admired their drive to succeed on their own, and knew it would be the reason they'd make it, that and their incredible brilliance when it came to pranks. They were about to go find Angelina and clear a huge portion of the dance floor when Argus Filch came limping towards them holding a very frightened Mrs. Norris, whose tail was smoking.
"Look what you've done to my cat!" he screamed at them.
"We didn't do that!" returned Evie. "We've been here since the ball started!"
"Although, we wish we could take credit for this one, right Fred?"
"Right George."
"Then who set my cat on fire!?" wailed the caretaker.
The music stopped and Dumbledore joined them.
"Argus, why don't we discuss this outside and let the students enjoy the ball?"
But just as Filch agreed, Peeves came swooping in through the wide open doors. He danced his way to the stage and took over a microphone. At least that was the only thing Evie could describe it as. It was shaped like a bullhorn, but was tiny, and attached to a stand.
"Does the Filch-y man enjoy his present?" he cackled.
"Peeves! You were told not to attend tonight's festivities!" Professor McGonagall called out.
"Was told no entry while doors were guarded by the Filch-y man!" he said in a sing-song voice.
"Well, Argus, I think we know who burned Mrs. Norris." He said, stifling a chuckle.
Professor McGonagall rushed the stage in an attempt to shoo the poltergeist, but Peeves just flew up into the air, taking the microphone with him, screaming profanities left and right.
"He is quite creative." Evie whispered to the twins.
Peeves flew right above Fleur Delacour and pretended to spit on her head, causing her to shriek and run for cover. He then flew over to where Evie and the twins were standing next to Dumbledore and Filch.
"The Weasley boy and the Potter girl! You should really be more discreet-"
"PEEVES!" boomed the Bloody Baron.
Peeves flinched at the sound of the only person who could control him.
"Yes, Baron?"
"Leave this ball at once."
And without another sound, he flew straight through the floor followed by the Baron. The lead singer of the Weird Sisters conjured a new microphone,
"Thank you Peeves for that little intermission! Now who wants some MUSIC?!" he screamed.
After a few more songs everything calmed down and Fred led Evie out to the rose garden outside. The fairies in the bushes lit up the winding pathways beautifully and kept them warm. There were couples everywhere; she wasn't surprised at all to see Fleur and Rodger snogging on a bench. They set off to find the fountain they heard in the distance, running along the pathways hand in hand. They stopped dead in their tracks at the sound of a gravely familiar voice.
"I don't see what your ruckus is about, Igor." It said.
"Hide." Fred and Evie said together.
They ducked around a corner and into some of the bushes to listen.
"How can you pretend this isn't happening?" came the voice of Karkaroff, the voices and footsteps coming closer. "Mine's been getting clearer for months, hasn't yours? I am concerned, Severus…"
"Then flee," replied Snape briskly. "Flee and I will make your excuses. I, on the other hand, will remain at Hogwarts as I have for the last thirteen years."
Evie and Fred stood still and silent as they heard someone blast open the bushes further down.
"Ten points from Ravenclaw, Fawcett!"
"Should we stay here, or head towards the fountain?" Fred asked.
"Fountain. We don't want to be caught by Snape right now." She said sneaking out of the bushes and walking away from the voices that chilled her to the bone. She would think about this again later, but now she was going to enjoy a romantic walk in the garden with her boyfriend. They had been walking for about five minutes when they found the fountain, but it was already occupied with two large figures.
"Looks like Hagrid had my idea as well." Fred laughed.
"And what idea is that?" she asked, raising one eyebrow.
"To sweep his date off her feet in a romantic garden on Christmas." He beamed. "But I guess I can still do this."
He picked her up bridal style, literally sweeping her off her feet.
"How about we dance instead?" he asked, carrying her to an open space away from the fountain so as not to over hear the conversation going on at the fountain. He put her down and began to waltz again, causing Evie to laugh.
"There's no music." She said.
Just as the words left her mouth the sweetest sound filled the air; the fairies were singing. She laughed, but allowed herself to be spun and turned in the rose garden as the fairies supplied tune after tune. They didn't even hear their potions master walk up behind them.
"Potter, Weasley." He spat.
The two jumped as his voice cut through the music, which then stopped all together.
"Yes, Professor?" asked Fred.
"What are you doing?" he asked thickly.
"Dancing, what does it look like we're doing?" said Evie.
"It looks like your still outside when the ball has been over for forty minutes." He sneered. "I think 50 points and a detention are in order."
"That's not fair! We had no idea the ball was over!" shouted Fred.
Snape was about to retort when an enchanting chuckle sounded behind them. Snape turned to reveal Dumbledore, eyes twinkling in the moonlight, the fairy lights reflecting off his half-moon glasses, a wide smile playing on his lips.
"Now, Severus," he said, putting his hand on the shoulder of the younger Professor's black robes. "The fairies song causes you to lose track of time. I assume Mr. Weasley just wanted to impress Ms. Potter and the fairies got a little over zealous.
"Oh to be young and in love again…" he said, his eyes had a far off look in them for a moment before snapping back to reality. "Move along to your dormitory!"
The two made their way out of the winding maze of rose bushes and into the castle. They were halfway to the tower when Evie yawned loudly.
"Tired?" asked Fred.
"Maybe." She dodged.
"Climb on, I'll piggy back you the rest of the way." He told her.
She smiled and climbed on to his back and soon they were running through the halls, laughing off the shouts from the sleeping portraits lining the walls.
When they finally crawled through the portrait hole they found Ron and Erin shouting at each other.
"Well, if you didn't enjoy having your date leave you for someone else, you know what the solution is, don't you?" screamed Erin.
"Oh, yeah? What's that?!" countered Ron.
"Next time there's a ball ask me instead of making a fool of yourself asking some stuck up French bitch, and then going an idiot like Padma!"
Ron stiffened and mouthed silent words as Erin stomped her way to the girl's dormitory. Once she was out of sight Ron fell into one of the over sized arm chairs and looked to his brother.
"Well…just… missed the bloody point, she did." He said.
"Course she did, Ron." Fred chuckled as he pat his younger brother on the shoulder.