Disclaimer: By now we should have established that I own nothing and will make no money from this story. If you want to give me money feel free though.

Rating: At the moment it's PG and I'll try my best to keep it that way. All the naughty stuff is skimmed over tastefully.

A/N: Ok I apologise if you're getting bored but there is some good stuff coming up. You never know I may even stick in a few cliffhangers. I'll shut up now and let you read.

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Chapter 6

Ginny, Sandy and Kaye managed to drag the crate all the way up to Madam Hooch. With this done they decided to return to the common room, there they played a few games of Exploding Snap. It wasn't until twenty minutes later that Ginny realised she still had the key to the broomshed. She went up to Angelina's but no one was in there. When she went back downstairs she noticed Katie sitting very close to Lee.

"Excuse me, Katie," she interrupted their whispered conversation.

"What's up, Ginny?"

"You haven't seen Angelina anywhere have you?"

"No, she hasn't come into the common room, we've been here the whole time. Usually she comes straight back after training though."

"Ok. Thanks."

Ginny then spotted Hermione, Harry and Ron enter the room. She hurried over to them.

"What's wrong, Ginny?"

"Have any of you seen Angelina lately?"

"No."

"We just saw George and Alicia walking around the lake but Angelina wasn't with them," Harry said.

So that meant Fred was the captured twin. Ginny suddenly got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Who usually puts the brooms away after practice?"

Ron looked at her strangely, "usually Angelina does it by herself but Fred stayed behind to help her today. Why?"

"Oh no," Ginny moaned and bolted out of Gryffindor Tower.

The three friends watched, with looks of utter confusion on their faces, as Ginny pushed Neville aside and leapt out of the portrait hole.

Harry then turned to Ron and said," I do believe your sister has lost her mind."

Ginny sprinted out of the castle and nearly ran into George and Alicia. She ignored their questions and kept running. She reached the shed totally out of breath.

"I'm back!" She panted. There was suddenly a lot of movement inside. At least they aren't dead, Ginny thought.

She slipped the key in the lock and turned it.

"NO! Don't! No!" Came the muffled yells from inside.

Ginny opened the door then froze on the spot. They certainly weren't dead. Fred and Angelina were both sitting on the floor and they were both minus their shirts.

"Ginny!" Angelina quickly grabbed her top and slipped it over herself to cover the white lace bra she was wearing.

Ginny noticed she had put it on inside out and backwards. She turned her gaze to her red-faced brother. Fred snatched up his shirt and in his rush to put it on he put his arm through the neck hole and tried to squeeze his head through the sleeve. As a result he got himself into a terrible tangle.

"Can you just wait outside for us?" Angelina giggled at Fred's predicament.

"It's not funny," a muffled voice insisted from the depths of the shirt.

Ginny gratefully obliged. This was now the second time she'd walked in on one of her brothers `entertaining' a girl. Ginny could hear a lot of yelling coming from inside the shed. She gulped nervously, Fred would be furious and Angelina wouldn't be too happy either. Ginny was sure she'd be sent back home. Tears welled in her eyes; she didn't want to leave Hogwarts.

Just then the pair emerged from the shed. Angelina had her top on the right way and Fred had all his body parts through the correct holes.

"Fred!" Ginny wrapped her arms her brother's middle.

"Ginny?" Fred was startled by his sister's sudden affection.

"You're my favourite brother!" She squeezed him.

"No I'm not, Ron is," Fred said uneasily. He didn't want the added pressure of being Ginny's favourite. After all, setting a good example wasn't his forte.

"You're my new favourite, just don't tell Dumbedore what I did. I don't want to be expelled."

"What? But Ginny we-"

"Shut up, Fred," Angelina quickly interrupted. "How about we do a deal with you, Ginny?"

"A deal?" She released her grip on Fred and wiped her eyes.

Fred caught on, "yeah, one that benefits us all."

"We won't tell Dumbledore if you promise not to tell anyone what you saw."

Ginny nodded eagerly.

"Good. So we accidentally locked ourselves in the broomshed and you found us having a pleasant conversation about the weather. Deal?" Fred offered his hand.

"Deal," Ginny shook it and smiled, "By the way, Ron's my favourite again."

Meanwhile...

"Maybe I shouldn't ask Roger. Then again there aren't many guys left..."

George sighed in annoyance. Alicia had been like this for the past ten minutes. One minute she didn't want to ask Davies then the next minute she did. George was getting frustrated.

"For Merlin's sake! Just ask him!"

"Yep. You're absolutely right, George. Best to get it over and done with."

"I think you're in luck too. Isn't that him sitting on the steps?"

Alicia squinted. Sure enough Roger was sitting on the front steps with the Head Girl Meenal. She suddenly felt very sick.

"Oh! I can't do it!" She turned to run for it but George grabbed her upper arm.

"Yes you can. Just go ask him. The worst he can say is no."

"Ok. I can do this. How do I look?" Alicia ran her hand through her curls.

"Gorgeous."

The word was out of his mouth before George could think. He expected Alicia to question him but she just smiled brightly.

"Well here goes nothing."

"I'll wait inside for you."

"I can't do it in front of Meenal though," Alicia straightened her robes.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of her."

The pair approached the steps that lead into Hogwarts. Meenal looked up from the parchment she was writing on.

"Hey you two. How are things?"

Alicia's voice had disappeared and all she could manage was a nod. Roger looked up briefly then went back to writing.

"We're fine thanks. Uh, could I have a talk to you inside Meenal?"

She gave George a surprised look then glanced at Alicia who was staring intently at Roger. Meenal appeared to have caught on. She followed George inside.

"Thanks," he said.

"That's ok. They'd make a cute couple. Well see ya later."

"Yeah, see ya."

Meenal left him standing in the Entrance by himself. Roger had his back to the castle so he didn't know George was still there. Alicia kept looking nervously at him. George nodded encouragingly.

"Hello Roger."

He stopped writing and raised his head, "hello, er...Spinner?"

"Spinnet."

"Right."

"Well I was-uh-hoping...I mean wondering...if you'd like to come to the Ball with me?"

George held his breath then Davies started laughing loudly. Alicia jumped in surprise.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Well I suppose you're pretty enough but aren't you a half blood?"

"Yeah. I get the best of both worlds," Alicia said proudly.

"Do you remember who I went with last year?"

"Fleur from Beauxbatons."

"Correct. Now do you seriously expect me to go with you after I went with her? You'd never live up to her."

George was speechless. He couldn't believe his ears.

"Well I...I."

"Don't worry there's no need to apologise. I'm expecting Meenal to ask me any day now. She won't live up to Fleur either but she's Head Girl and at least she pure blood."

George was really beginning to resent his disdainful tone.

Alicia just looked shocked, "but-"

"Won't take no for an answer will you? Listen sweetheart, I have a reputation to protect. I can't be seen with you."

George just stood there with his mouth hanging open. Alicia began to cry and Roger just laughed and continued writing. Before George could do anything Alicia ran past him in a flurry of tears and auburn curls.

George left Davies still chuckling to himself and he chased Alicia through the castle. He finally caught her as the Fat Lady swung open to admit them.

"Just leave me alone!"

She pushed him away and disappeared through the hole. George wasn't giving up; he followed her up to her room.

"Come on, Licia," he pleaded with her.

"Go away!" She slammed the door in his face and promptly locked it.

"What on earth is going on up here?" Hermione appeared behind George

Hermione thought it was best to leave them alone so she rejoined Ron and Harry in the common room.

"What was that all about?" Harry asked.

"I think they had a fight."

"George and Alicia? No way. They never fight. Are you sure it wasn't really Fred?"

"You know, Ron, I can tell them apart."

"So, Mione, have you asked anyone to the Ball yet?" Harry changed the subject to avoid another fight.

"Not yet. Have you two been asked yet?"

"No," they both answered immediately.

There was an awkward silence between the trio.

Finally Hermione spoke, "Harry, can I have a word with you in private."

"Sure," Harry practically leapt out of his chair. At least if he went with Hermione he'd be comfortable and more likely to enjoy himself. They left an angry looking Ron and headed to the back of the room.

Hermione took a deep breath, "Harry, I want to ask Ron to the Ball. Is that ok with you?"

Harry just stared at her, he hadn't been expecting that at all.

"Harry? Please say something," said Hermione, his silence had slightly alarmed her.

"Of course that's ok with me. That's great," Harry was genuinely happy for his friends.

"Whew," Hermione let out a sigh of relief.

"I'll just go by myself," Harry shrugged.

"You most certainly will not. If no one ends up asking you then Ron and I won't go together. We're The Three Musketeers, Harry. All for one and one for all."

Harry smiled gratefully, "thanks Hermione."

"No. Thank you," she threw her arms around his neck. Harry hugged her back and they broke apart just in time to see Ron stomping up the spiral staircase.

"I think someone's a little jealous."

"No time like the present I suppose," Hermione left Harry and headed for Ron's room. Her heart was thumping; she'd practiced this very moment over and over again. Now she found herself unable to remember the speech she had planned.

Probably best if I improvise anyway, she thought. With a trembling hand, she turned the handle.

"Go away!" Came the reply.

The rude individual refused to heed Ron's warning and the door opened. Ron sat up in surprise as Hermione entered his room.

"Hermione? You of all people should know that you're not allowed in here. You'll have to take points from yourself."

Ron watched in fascination as Hermione unpinned her Prefect badge and slipped it into her pocket. Ron had never seen her take it off before.

"I want to talk to you."

"Don't you mean gloat?" He shifted slightly as she joined him on his bed

"Gloat? What do I have to gloat about?"

"You got Harry, the famous wizard, to go to the Yule Ball with you."

"Oh, that, I wasn't asking Harry to the Ball."

"You weren't?" Ron's enthusiasm perked up.

"Of course not. Actually while we're on the subject..." Hermione paused, she didn't know quite how to put it. It had been much easier doing it with her reflection.

"What?" Ron prompted anxiously.

"Will you go to the Yule Ball with me? You don't have to. I mean if you don't want to you can-"

"Yes," he interrupted her. He'd waiting for this moment.

"Yes? As in yes?"

"How many other meanings do you know for yes?"

"Right. Uh, there is a slight catch though."

"Uh-oh," Ron's excitement wavered slightly.

"I told Harry that if he didn't get a date that we wouldn't go together so he wouldn't feel left out."

"Why would you promise something like that?"

"We're The Three Musketeers, Ron, we stick together."

"The Three Musketeers? Aren't they in a muggle rhyme? Doesn't an old lady chase them with a knife?"

Hermione gave him a strange look then she smiled, "Ron that's the Three Blind Mice."

"Oh," he blushed. Perhaps he should have taken Muggle Studies.

Hermione surveyed him silently then announced, "you're adorable when you blush."

Ron quickly became the same shade as his hair. He looked down and played with a loose thread on his robes.

"Ron?"

He looked up and was startled to find Hermione had moved closer to him. Before he had time to think she leaned in and caught his lips with hers. Ron made a noise that vaguely resembled the sound Crookshanks made when someone stepped on his tail. Hermione kept her eyes closed but Ron's were still wide open. Like Hermione this was his first 'substantial' kiss. He was getting comfortable and was actually starting to enjoy it when she broke their connection abruptly.

"What was that for?" Ron breathed.

"Carpe diem," she shrugged.

"Excuse me?"

"Never mind, it's a muggle saying. It means seize the day."

"Well carper dam then," he leaned in and kissed her again.

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A/N: I'm sorry to all the Roger Davies fans but I needed a bad guy. I probably should have thought of that before I shipped all the Slytherins off home. But that's quite typical of me, I don't plan ahead much. Please keep those reviews coming in! Ciao bambino!