I shrieked delightedly as Fred tried to trip me on the bottom step of the marble staircase. Of course, George caught me the second before I hit the ground.

"Watch your step there, Audra," he smirked, settling me back on my feet.

I just rolled my eyes, stepping lightly on his foot as I danced away.

"Oi! Angelina!" Fred called down the table as we sat down. He leaned forward to stare down the table. Angelina turned gracefully in her seat, her thick locks of ebony hair swaying. "You want 'a go to the ball with me?" he asked, grinning like only he and George could.

Angelina laughed a happy laugh. "Yeah, sure," she agreed, shaking her head with another laugh.

"There you go!" Fred said cheerily to Harry and Ron who both looked about ready to puke at the thought of asking a girl to the Yule Ball.

George slammed his palm against the table suddenly. "Audra, go with me!" he said, laughing like he was the biggest genius to ever exist.

I burst out laughing as well, sure that he had to be joking.

"Come on, you have to," he said, nudging me playfully. "How else would you get in? And it saves me the shame of being as tactless Fred!" He winked conspiratorially.

"That's not fair!" Harry cut across. "She's my sister! I should get dibs!"

Ron sat back, chuckling to himself. "Come on, Odge, you gotta go! It'll suck without you."

"Yeah without me falling and breaking something," I snorted. "Real entertaining."

"Yeah, Odge, please," Fred added, grinning as he sensed my discomfort. He knew I hated dancing more than anyone, since I had broken my ankle, and almost snapped his wrist during some of my first lessons.

"Please, Odge," George said imploringly. "I don't wanna dance and you won't make me. And the second we get in you can run off and play with whoever. You can't go with a professor anyway."

"George, I would love to," I said decidedly. "On one condition," I added as soon as he sighed with relief." His eyes grew wide. My conditions usually entailed entertaining and embarrassing jokes but this one was different. This one was for my brother's own good. "Harry has to ask Ginny."

George cocked his head to one side, than chuckled. "That's good. Harry, she's coming this way."

Harry gave me a strained look. I had caught his crush long before he even knew what his feelings were. Now that we both knew, well, I was doing him a big favor. I smiled sweetly, knowing that pained look was his thanks through his nerves. He had only been so scared when Severus had told us about the training where he was to be under the Imperious Curse and was to try to kill me.

We all turned to stare at Ginny as she approached the table with Pavarti Patil. They were laughing, Ginny's head upturned in a way that caught the light and looked like molten copper. She looked beautiful, and that was making Harry's nerves mount.

"Ginny! Over here!" George yelled, waving a hand. Ginny rolled her eyes at George, turning to say something to Pavarti, before plopping down in the seat beside Harry. I could have sworn he almost puked from nerves.

"Harry, are you alright?" she asked, pressing the back of her hand to his forehead.

"M'fine," he grunted, staring down at the table. "Whangoballwime?" he blurted in less than a breath.

"I'm sorry, Harry, I think I must've failed Gibberish," she apologized, smiling sweetly.

"Would you like to go to the ball with me?" he said, much more slowly this time, and only as if he was choking.

Ginny looked shocked, dropping her head as she blushed such a dark color, it could almost rival mine. "Harry, I would love to," she said, smiling almost shyly.

"Oh, that's okay," he sighed, looking down dejectedly. He obviously misheard. Then his face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Wait! Really?"

Ginny giggled softly. "Yes, Harry, really," she assured him. "I would love to."

"Well, I'm off," I smiled as I caught sight of Edward and Rosalie, entering the hall.

"Just a second," Ginny called, leaping up and looping her arm through my own. "Whatever you did, and don't you give me that look; I know you did something; thank you."

I smirked. "I have no idea what you mean!" I gasped, feigning horror. "I am seriously offended that you would even consider me interfering with fate!" I raced away, throwing myself into Edward's arms. He swung me up and in a circle, chuckling at my enthusiasm.

"I missed you, too," he laughed.

"Did you find anything good?" I asked, waving to Rose as she dashed away from us. She, Edward, Esme, and Carlisle had gone hunting for the past three days and the separation had taken a toll on Emmett's cheery personality. I watched with a smile on my face as he scooped her up, his face disappearing in her blonde waves.

"I would have brought you a present, but I figured it would be a little messy," he sighed, giving me a mischievous smile.

I laughed, hugging him tightly.

"So you're going to the ball with George?" he asked slyly, one eyebrow inched up his face.

I stared at him, incredulous. "Are you, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, jealous?" I gasped.

He grinned bashfully, staring at the ground as we walked around the castle. "No! Of course not!"

"Admit it!" I cried, a smile creeping onto my face. "Admit it! You're jealous!"

"No, I'm not!" he protested, vehemently.

I pecked his cheek, letting him twirl me in a graceful circle. "Don't worry," I giggled, patting his cheek. "I would be jealous, too if you were going with someone else."

"Who says I'm not?" he teased, flipping me so I was on his back, my arms around his neck as he gave me a piggyback ride.

I drew back slightly. "You aren't. Are you?"

"Now who's jealous?" he was picking on me. I pouted. "I'm not going with anyone, but Albus requested that my entire family be present. There will be plenty of Durmstrang and Beaux Baton students and all the more opportunities for someone to get to you and Harry."

I bit my lower lip nervously.

Edward noticed almost immediately, brushing his fingers over my lip. "Don't worry, Angel," he soothed. "We won't let anything happen to you, or Harry."

"I know," I smiled sadly. "I only wish there was no need."