Disclaimer: I don't own any Harry Potter characters but if I had enough
money I'd try to buy them from JK. Like she's ever sell them anyway.
A/N: Wow! Chapter 14 already! It seems like only yesterday I started my fan fiction account. Usually it takes me ages to write a story. For some reason I haven't experienced any writers block at all during this story. Weird.
Sorry to digress. As I promised this chapter features other couples. Of course there will still be some G/A though! I failed to find another character for Harry so I guess its Harry/Ginny. You don't like them? Skip that part then.
Special thanks to Meredith for her help with this chapter!
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Chapter 14
It was Christmas day at Hogwarts and Hermione was woken by Lavender and Parvati giggling, shrieking and tearing wrapping paper.
Hermione wanted to sleep but the lure of presents was just too strong. She threw off her covers and crawled to the end of her bed. At the foot of it lay at least seven colourful packages.
"Merry Christmas, Mione!" The girls said brightly.
"Merry Christmas," she smiled.
Hermione grabbed the present on top and ripped the wrapping off in one swipe. It was a book from her grandmother. She smiled, it was Little Women. Of course her grandmother had no idea that her presents were forwarded to Hogwarts or that Hermione was used to reading slightly more unusual books. Still, Hermione liked muggle literature.
"What did you get?" Parvati enquired.
"A book," Hermione held it up.
"Of course," Lavender rolled her eyes.
"Well what did you get from Seamus?"
"These," she held up a pair of love heart earrings.
"I thought you already had three pairs of them?"
"Five pairs actually but it's the thought that counts."
"What about you Parvati? What did Dean get you?"
"To tell you the truth…I'm not sure," Parvati held up a shirt that Hermione recognised as a football jersey.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh, she didn't know the team colours but assumed it was West Ham.
"So what did Ron get you?"
"Don't know yet."
Hermione unwrapped the rest of her presents. She ended up with five books from various relatives, fudge and a knitted jumper with a cat on it from Mrs. Weasley and wizard money from her parents.
She grabbed her presents for Ron and Harry from under her bed and exited the room just as Seamus and Dean were entering.
"Parvati adores the present you got her," she couldn't help telling Dean.
The corridor was full of boys trying to enter the girls' rooms. Hermione knew she should have stopped them but it was Christmas after all.
She received many greetings as she padded bare foot through the common room towards the boys' stairs. There had never been so many people at Hogwarts over Christmas and the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. The students had already began to count down the hours to the Yule Ball.
Not watching where she was going, Hermione nearly ran into the Weasley twins and Lee. They peered down at her suspiciously.
"Let me guess, mum knitted that for you," George gestured to the jumper she had pulled over her pajamas.
"Yeah, it's even got a cat on it."
"That's a cat?" Lee peered closer. "It looks more like a hamster."
"Looks like a bird to me," Fred added.
Hermione sighed and brushed past them. They walked off laughing and she knocked on the fifth year's door.
"Come in Hermione!" Came the reply.
She turned the handle with some difficulty and entered. Harry was sitting on Ron's bed and the two were eating chocolate frogs.
"How did you know it was me?" Hermione asked as she dumped their presents on Harry's bed.
"Just a hunch," Harry smiled.
Ron stared at Hermione and his eyes widened in horror.
"Oh no! Did mum knit you a jumper?"
"Yeah, isn't it sweet?" Hermione gushed.
Sweet wasn't the word Ron would use. More like embarrassing.
"I got one too," Harry showed Hermione. His had a picture of a wizard's hat on it.
"Your mum wrote me a very nice note too."
Ron nearly died of humiliation. "What did it say?"
"Can't tell you. Women's business. Anyway, boys, here are your presents," she handed them over.
They ripped the paper off eagerly.
"Cool!" Harry examined the thick book full of Quidditch plays.
"I thought it might come in handy when you become Gryffindor team captain."
"Thanks a lot," he jumped up and hugged her.
Ron got a gift voucher for Honeydukes. His eyes glazed over as he imagined all the sweets he could buy.
"Thanks," Ron said as Hermione sat beside him.
"Here's yours."
She opened Harry's one first. It was a book (what a surprise) on how to pass the N.E.W.T.S without stressing. She laughed and kissed him on the cheek.
"Here you go. I wasn't quite sure what to get you so Ginny helped. I hope you like it," Ron said nervously. He had never put so much thought into a gift before.
Hermione eagerly tore the pink tissue paper. It was another book, but this one was different to all the other ones she had received. It was a navy blue diary with a tiny silver lock.
"It's beautiful," she breathed as she tried to pry it open.
"You might need this," Ron dropped a tiny silver key into her hand.
She smiled at him and unlocked the diary. Inside he had written a dedication.
Hermione,
I hope you don't already have a diary. Ginny says she doesn't think you do. You had better write lots about me in here. It better be nice as well.
Lots of love,
Ron.
"I love it," she grabbed the front of Ron's shirt and pulled him towards her. She pecked him lightly on the lips and Harry coughed loudly.
"I would have bought you five if I knew you were going to thank me like that," Ron blushed.
"Don't diaries normally come with two keys?" Harry said absent-mindedly as he watched Krum perform a flawless Wronski Feint. (A/N: They have two keys where I come from anyway!)
"Yeah, Harry's right. There is supposed to be another key, where is it Ron?"
"I'm not sure what you're talking about," Ron said nervously.
"Ronald Weasley! Give me the key right now," Hermione held her open hand out to him.
"Fine," he reached under his pillow and pulled out the second tiny key. "I wasn't going to use it or anything."
Meanwhile…
Alicia, Angelina and Katie had just finished opening their presents when there was a knock on the door.
"It's probably the guys," Angelina went and unlocked the door.
"Lucky we changed," Katie nudged Alicia.
The girls had the presence of mind to change into their clothes. The boys obviously didn't have the same thought. They entered still wearing their boxer shorts. All three of them were wearing Weasley jumpers.
"Merry Christmas!" They chorused.
"Merry Christmas."
"So where are our presents?" Fred peered around the room.
"You get straight to the point don't you," Alicia stood up and went to her wardrobe where the presents were hidden.
"But there's only two presents?" Fred watched Alicia carry them back to her bed.
"Chill out. All three of us put our money together and we got you and George this," Alicia handed Fred a large present wrapped in blue paper.
Everyone crowded onto Alicia's bed and looked on. Fred ripped the paper and a large book fell onto the bed in front of him.
"It's just a book," Fred said, rather disappointed.
"It's not just any book."
George flipped it over. The title in gold letters read 'The Beaters Bible'.
"Wicked!" The twins both exclaimed.
"It's so cute when you do that," Angelina giggled.
"What?" They both asked.
"When you say the same thing at the same time like that."
"It's not cute," they both insisted in unison.
"Sorry guys but it is pretty cute," Alicia said.
"It's not!" The twins yelled.
The girls collapsed into giggles. The boys looked on with frowns then began to laugh as well.
"Thanks for the book anyway," George said once he'd calmed down.
"Yeah, we've wanted it for ages."
"This is from all three of us," Katie handed the last present to Lee.
It was another book and he gave the same reaction as Fred until he saw the title. It was the book he had wanted, 'The Ultimate Guide to Quidditch Commentating.'
"Thanks girls! This is just what I wanted! Apparently it even has a thesaurus in the back. I really need to come up with some new words. You can only use excellent, superb and brilliant so many times before-" Lee suddenly stopped when he became aware of everyone staring at him.
"You finished?" George asked.
"Sorry," Lee said, but he wasn't really.
"Now your turn girls. This is from me, buttercup," Fred opened his fist with a flourish.
All the girls oohed and aahed. It was a gorgeous silver bracelet. Angelina hadn't been expecting jewelry from him. Fred didn't seem like the jewelry kind of guy.
"It's beautiful!" Angelina pounced on Fred. He fell back on Alicia's bed.
The group waited for them to stop snogging but it appeared there was no end in sight.
"We haven't got all day. Here you go Kat," Lee dangled an identical bracelet in front of her. Her face lit up and he dropped it into her outstretched hand.
"Ooh, it's a charm bracelet," she examined the tiny charms that hung from it.
"The star is from Fred and the flower is from George," Lee explained.
"Thanks boys," Katie grinned and Lee helped her put the bracelet on.
Angelina rolled off Fred and checked her own bracelet.
"Who gave me the broomstick?"
"That was me," George said.
"Very cute, so the butterfly is from Lee. This is a good idea. Who came up with it?" Angelina asked. The whole thing didn't seem like something the boys would think of.
"Hermione and Ginny gave us a hand," Fred admitted.
"Lucky last. Stick out your arm Leesh."
"I wonder what it is? Do you think it could be a bracelet?" Angelina laughed.
Sure enough George fastened a familiar silver bracelet around her wrist. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek then looked at her charms.
"The crescent moon is from me," Lee said.
"And the teddy bear is from you Fred?" Alicia asked skeptically.
"Yeah, I was going to get you a love heart but George wouldn't let me. I hope you like it anyway."
"It's gorgeous," she kissed him then Lee on the cheek.
"Guess what your mum gave Alicia!" Katie said excitedly.
"Oh no. I don't want to know," George moaned.
"It's not that bad. It's a photo."
Alicia went and grabbed it off her dressing table. She showed it to everyone.
"I remember this!" Fred said immediately.
It was a picture of Alicia and George throwing mud at each other, they were only about eight years old. The youngsters were running around and flinging mud at each other
"Yeah, there was that big storm then when it finished we went outside and covered ourselves in mud. Mum had a fit," George recalled with a laugh.
"We had fun when we were little but we got into so much trouble," Alicia giggled.
"You? Alicia Spinnet in trouble?" Katie raised a suspicious eyebrow.
"When you grow up with the Weasley twins misbehaviour kind of rubs off on you. Unlike them I grew out of it though."
"We'd love to sit here and entertain you with tales of our youth but we have to go down to breakfast," Fred stood up.
"You might want to put on some clothes before you go anywhere," Angelina eyed his boxer shorts.
"Good idea. We'll meet you in the common room in ten minutes."
The boys left and the girls compared bracelets.
"They can be sweethearts when they want to be," Angelina sighed.
Alicia and Katie had to agree.
Back in the common room…
Harry and Ginny were waiting for Ron and Hermione to appear so they could go down for breakfast. They were taking their time though.
Ginny had something to give Harry though. She had made him a Christmas present but was too afraid to give it to him.
"What are you holding in your lap?" Harry asked curiously.
"It's just a present."
"For who?"
What could she say now? She had desperately tried to get over her crush but he just seemed to get cuter and sweeter every time she saw him. She was supposed to be a Gryffindor so where was her bravery now? Ginny took a deep breath.
"It's actually for you."
"Oh. You didn't have to get me anything."
"It's nothing special, just a little something I made," She handed the box to him.
"If I had known you were getting me something I would have got you something," Harry pulled the lid off the box and removed the tissue paper.
"That's ok. I was bored so I quickly made something," Ginny lied. It had taken her over two hours to perfect.
"Wow, Gin," Harry gingerly picked up the model of a Snitch.
It was about the size of a real Snitch. It was made out of wood and Ginny had spray painted it gold. She even glued on tiny velvet wings.
"It's nothing really," Ginny blushed. She had even tried to bewitch it so it hovered but she had some difficulty and ended up making the first one explode.
"It's great," he examined it from every angle.
Harry had not been expecting anything from Ginny; she'd never got him a present before. Recently, for no particular reason, he found himself noting how nice Ginny smelt and how pretty she looked. He quickly dismissed the feelings though. She was Ron's little sister and it would be too weird. Then again…
"Merry Christmas!"
Harry jumped in surprise and looked up from the Snitch. It was Alicia, Angelina and Katie. He carefully lowered his present back into the box and replaced the lid.
"You two make the cutest couple," Alicia smiled at Harry and Ginny.
"We're not a couple," Harry said quickly.
"You're not? But I thought you were going to the dance together," said Angelina, slightly confused.
"I think I'll go see what's keeping Ron and Hermione," Ginny leapt out of her seat and fled up the stairs.
"We're only going as friends though," he explained to the girls.
"Oh."
The girls sat around him and he felt extremely uncomfortable. He didn't know how long he'd be able to keep his feelings hidden. Harry didn't want to tell Hermione because she was friends with Ginny and he didn't want to tell Ron for obvious reasons.
"I actually need some advice," he said quietly so no one else would hear him.
"Advice? Angelina's good with advice," Katie said.
"No I'm not, Alicia's better. She the whole compassionate thing going."
"What's up?" Alicia asked him.
"It's about Ginny. I think I might like her as more than a friend but I'm not sure."
"Well how do you feel when you see her? Do you get goosebumps ever?"
"Yeah. My heart jumps too."
"Do you get a funny feeling around this region?" Alicia poked him in the stomach.
"I get butterflies the size of cows."
"You're smitten Mr. Potter," she informed him.
"So what do I do now?"
"Tonight would be the best time to make your move," Angelina said.
"But how do I do it?"
"That's the tricky part. We'll give you some tips after lunch."
Fred, George and Lee came downstairs and the girls left with them. Harry had never really gone to them for advice before but he figured it was his only choice. Besides, they were older and more experienced and Alicia probably knew some Weasley insights.
Harry went upstairs and put his present on his bed. Hermione, Ron and Ginny were waiting down stairs for him. Harry blushed the slightest at the sight of Ginny and Ron eyed him suspiciously.
Later that afternoon…
(A/N: Yes, I know I'm jumping really far but I'm getting bored.)
Harry walked out of the seventh year girl's room totally enlightened to the feminine psyche. He met George, Fred and Lee coming up the stairs.
"Who were you visiting?" Fred asked him.
"Your girlfriend," Harry smirked.
"Excuse me? MY girlfriend?"
"All of your girlfriends actually. By the way they wanted me to tell you not to bother them because they're getting ready for the Ball."
"But it's only four o'clock and it doesn't start until seven."
"They're girls, Lee, what do you expect?"
Harry just left them standing there confused and went to meet his friends in the common room. Feeling much more at ease now he sat beside Ginny.
"Did you hear, Harry? Dumbledore got the Demented Donkeys to play at the dance tonight," she said excitedly.
"The what?"
"The Demented Donkeys. They're a really cool band," Ron explained.
"But why are they called the Demented Donkeys?" Hermione asked.
"Well they're Animagi but they only ever learnt how to half change into donkeys so they look like demented donkeys."
Hermione just nodded. She always thought Kiss were the weirdest band in the world.
"I better go and get ready," Ginny stood up and so did Hermione.
"But it's so early."
"Well I want to straighten my hair again. See you in a few hours boys."
Harry and Ron played chess and exploding snap and finally at six they went upstairs to get ready. Fred and George had kept their promise and bought Ron new dress robes. Much to his disgust they were maroon but he contented himself with the fact they were lace free.
With only twenty minutes to the Yule Ball Fred, George and Lee were waiting in the common room for their dates. Fred and Lee were sitting calmly on a red lounge suite and George was pacing nervously in front of the fireplace.
"I'm noticing a pattern," Fred whispered to Lee, "he looks at his watch, touches his hair, glances at the stairs then straightens his robes."
They watched on with fascination as George did exactly what Fred had described.
"He's lost his mind," Lee whispered.
"I heard that!" George stopped pacing briefly.
"Just relax for a minute," Fred advised.
"I can't relax. If this night isn't perfect then I have no chance with Alicia."
"She doesn't care if it's not perfect, she likes you no matter what."
"She may like me now but I'll screw something up and she'll end up hating me. I just know it."
"Be optimistic, George," Lee said.
"Don't you have the Weasley charm?" Fred demanded.
"I do but it doesn't like to show itself too often."
"Well you only have to remember to compliment her a lot and you'll be fine," Lee assured him.
"How do I compliment her? Tell her she looks pretty?"
Fred and Lee looked at each other. The poor guy had no idea really.
"You might want to try something a little more creative like stunning or-"
"Exquisite or-"
"Ravishing."
"Ravishing? I'll sound like a prat!" George stressed.
"Trust me, girls love that stuff," Fred slapped his brother on the shoulder.
"Speaking of girls…" Lee nodded towards the stairs.
Angelina came down first. She was wearing burgundy robes and her silky brown hair hung around her shoulders.
"You look exquisite, buttercup," Fred held out his hand.
"Thank you, Fred, and you don't look to bad yourself."
Next was Katie. She was wearing lilac robes and her blonde hair was half up in a bun with silver chopsticks through it.
"You look absolutely stunning Kat," Lee grabbed her hand and twirled her around.
"Thanks," she giggled.
George looked up expectantly for Alicia. She was hanging back and trying to calm herself down. The last thing she needed was to trip down the stairs. She took a few deep breaths and descended slowly.
George's breath caught in his chest. He'd never seen her so dressed up. He didn't even think it was possible for her to look any prettier. Her robes were sky blue and her hair was up in a messy bun. George loved the way random curls hung down and tiny flowers were stuck in the bun
She walked right up to him and smiled expectantly.
"Er…you look nice."
Fred kicked him in the back of the leg.
"Uh…I meant ravishing. You look ravishing," he nodded approvingly.
"Ravishing?" Alicia snorted.
"Is that wrong?" George looked hurt.
"No. I just didn't think it was in your vocabulary. Sorry to laugh but Fred and Lee told you to say it didn't they."
"Yeah, but I think I'll come up with my own compliments from now on," he offered his arm out and she looped hers around it.
"Let's go then."
"That's the last time I listen to you two," George said as they walked into the packed entrance hall.
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A/N: So there you go. Not my best chapter. A little rushed but I'm tired and I have a headache and I have to go to school. The next chapter will be all about the Yule Ball. It will be long so I'm warning you now. We'll also get to find out how Roger Davies got into Ravenclaw not Slytherin. I know all the Ginny/Harry stuff happened quickly but I wasn't planning on putting them together at all so please bare with me. Please *yawn* review. Now I have to go to school!
A/N: Wow! Chapter 14 already! It seems like only yesterday I started my fan fiction account. Usually it takes me ages to write a story. For some reason I haven't experienced any writers block at all during this story. Weird.
Sorry to digress. As I promised this chapter features other couples. Of course there will still be some G/A though! I failed to find another character for Harry so I guess its Harry/Ginny. You don't like them? Skip that part then.
Special thanks to Meredith for her help with this chapter!
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Chapter 14
It was Christmas day at Hogwarts and Hermione was woken by Lavender and Parvati giggling, shrieking and tearing wrapping paper.
Hermione wanted to sleep but the lure of presents was just too strong. She threw off her covers and crawled to the end of her bed. At the foot of it lay at least seven colourful packages.
"Merry Christmas, Mione!" The girls said brightly.
"Merry Christmas," she smiled.
Hermione grabbed the present on top and ripped the wrapping off in one swipe. It was a book from her grandmother. She smiled, it was Little Women. Of course her grandmother had no idea that her presents were forwarded to Hogwarts or that Hermione was used to reading slightly more unusual books. Still, Hermione liked muggle literature.
"What did you get?" Parvati enquired.
"A book," Hermione held it up.
"Of course," Lavender rolled her eyes.
"Well what did you get from Seamus?"
"These," she held up a pair of love heart earrings.
"I thought you already had three pairs of them?"
"Five pairs actually but it's the thought that counts."
"What about you Parvati? What did Dean get you?"
"To tell you the truth…I'm not sure," Parvati held up a shirt that Hermione recognised as a football jersey.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh, she didn't know the team colours but assumed it was West Ham.
"So what did Ron get you?"
"Don't know yet."
Hermione unwrapped the rest of her presents. She ended up with five books from various relatives, fudge and a knitted jumper with a cat on it from Mrs. Weasley and wizard money from her parents.
She grabbed her presents for Ron and Harry from under her bed and exited the room just as Seamus and Dean were entering.
"Parvati adores the present you got her," she couldn't help telling Dean.
The corridor was full of boys trying to enter the girls' rooms. Hermione knew she should have stopped them but it was Christmas after all.
She received many greetings as she padded bare foot through the common room towards the boys' stairs. There had never been so many people at Hogwarts over Christmas and the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. The students had already began to count down the hours to the Yule Ball.
Not watching where she was going, Hermione nearly ran into the Weasley twins and Lee. They peered down at her suspiciously.
"Let me guess, mum knitted that for you," George gestured to the jumper she had pulled over her pajamas.
"Yeah, it's even got a cat on it."
"That's a cat?" Lee peered closer. "It looks more like a hamster."
"Looks like a bird to me," Fred added.
Hermione sighed and brushed past them. They walked off laughing and she knocked on the fifth year's door.
"Come in Hermione!" Came the reply.
She turned the handle with some difficulty and entered. Harry was sitting on Ron's bed and the two were eating chocolate frogs.
"How did you know it was me?" Hermione asked as she dumped their presents on Harry's bed.
"Just a hunch," Harry smiled.
Ron stared at Hermione and his eyes widened in horror.
"Oh no! Did mum knit you a jumper?"
"Yeah, isn't it sweet?" Hermione gushed.
Sweet wasn't the word Ron would use. More like embarrassing.
"I got one too," Harry showed Hermione. His had a picture of a wizard's hat on it.
"Your mum wrote me a very nice note too."
Ron nearly died of humiliation. "What did it say?"
"Can't tell you. Women's business. Anyway, boys, here are your presents," she handed them over.
They ripped the paper off eagerly.
"Cool!" Harry examined the thick book full of Quidditch plays.
"I thought it might come in handy when you become Gryffindor team captain."
"Thanks a lot," he jumped up and hugged her.
Ron got a gift voucher for Honeydukes. His eyes glazed over as he imagined all the sweets he could buy.
"Thanks," Ron said as Hermione sat beside him.
"Here's yours."
She opened Harry's one first. It was a book (what a surprise) on how to pass the N.E.W.T.S without stressing. She laughed and kissed him on the cheek.
"Here you go. I wasn't quite sure what to get you so Ginny helped. I hope you like it," Ron said nervously. He had never put so much thought into a gift before.
Hermione eagerly tore the pink tissue paper. It was another book, but this one was different to all the other ones she had received. It was a navy blue diary with a tiny silver lock.
"It's beautiful," she breathed as she tried to pry it open.
"You might need this," Ron dropped a tiny silver key into her hand.
She smiled at him and unlocked the diary. Inside he had written a dedication.
Hermione,
I hope you don't already have a diary. Ginny says she doesn't think you do. You had better write lots about me in here. It better be nice as well.
Lots of love,
Ron.
"I love it," she grabbed the front of Ron's shirt and pulled him towards her. She pecked him lightly on the lips and Harry coughed loudly.
"I would have bought you five if I knew you were going to thank me like that," Ron blushed.
"Don't diaries normally come with two keys?" Harry said absent-mindedly as he watched Krum perform a flawless Wronski Feint. (A/N: They have two keys where I come from anyway!)
"Yeah, Harry's right. There is supposed to be another key, where is it Ron?"
"I'm not sure what you're talking about," Ron said nervously.
"Ronald Weasley! Give me the key right now," Hermione held her open hand out to him.
"Fine," he reached under his pillow and pulled out the second tiny key. "I wasn't going to use it or anything."
Meanwhile…
Alicia, Angelina and Katie had just finished opening their presents when there was a knock on the door.
"It's probably the guys," Angelina went and unlocked the door.
"Lucky we changed," Katie nudged Alicia.
The girls had the presence of mind to change into their clothes. The boys obviously didn't have the same thought. They entered still wearing their boxer shorts. All three of them were wearing Weasley jumpers.
"Merry Christmas!" They chorused.
"Merry Christmas."
"So where are our presents?" Fred peered around the room.
"You get straight to the point don't you," Alicia stood up and went to her wardrobe where the presents were hidden.
"But there's only two presents?" Fred watched Alicia carry them back to her bed.
"Chill out. All three of us put our money together and we got you and George this," Alicia handed Fred a large present wrapped in blue paper.
Everyone crowded onto Alicia's bed and looked on. Fred ripped the paper and a large book fell onto the bed in front of him.
"It's just a book," Fred said, rather disappointed.
"It's not just any book."
George flipped it over. The title in gold letters read 'The Beaters Bible'.
"Wicked!" The twins both exclaimed.
"It's so cute when you do that," Angelina giggled.
"What?" They both asked.
"When you say the same thing at the same time like that."
"It's not cute," they both insisted in unison.
"Sorry guys but it is pretty cute," Alicia said.
"It's not!" The twins yelled.
The girls collapsed into giggles. The boys looked on with frowns then began to laugh as well.
"Thanks for the book anyway," George said once he'd calmed down.
"Yeah, we've wanted it for ages."
"This is from all three of us," Katie handed the last present to Lee.
It was another book and he gave the same reaction as Fred until he saw the title. It was the book he had wanted, 'The Ultimate Guide to Quidditch Commentating.'
"Thanks girls! This is just what I wanted! Apparently it even has a thesaurus in the back. I really need to come up with some new words. You can only use excellent, superb and brilliant so many times before-" Lee suddenly stopped when he became aware of everyone staring at him.
"You finished?" George asked.
"Sorry," Lee said, but he wasn't really.
"Now your turn girls. This is from me, buttercup," Fred opened his fist with a flourish.
All the girls oohed and aahed. It was a gorgeous silver bracelet. Angelina hadn't been expecting jewelry from him. Fred didn't seem like the jewelry kind of guy.
"It's beautiful!" Angelina pounced on Fred. He fell back on Alicia's bed.
The group waited for them to stop snogging but it appeared there was no end in sight.
"We haven't got all day. Here you go Kat," Lee dangled an identical bracelet in front of her. Her face lit up and he dropped it into her outstretched hand.
"Ooh, it's a charm bracelet," she examined the tiny charms that hung from it.
"The star is from Fred and the flower is from George," Lee explained.
"Thanks boys," Katie grinned and Lee helped her put the bracelet on.
Angelina rolled off Fred and checked her own bracelet.
"Who gave me the broomstick?"
"That was me," George said.
"Very cute, so the butterfly is from Lee. This is a good idea. Who came up with it?" Angelina asked. The whole thing didn't seem like something the boys would think of.
"Hermione and Ginny gave us a hand," Fred admitted.
"Lucky last. Stick out your arm Leesh."
"I wonder what it is? Do you think it could be a bracelet?" Angelina laughed.
Sure enough George fastened a familiar silver bracelet around her wrist. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek then looked at her charms.
"The crescent moon is from me," Lee said.
"And the teddy bear is from you Fred?" Alicia asked skeptically.
"Yeah, I was going to get you a love heart but George wouldn't let me. I hope you like it anyway."
"It's gorgeous," she kissed him then Lee on the cheek.
"Guess what your mum gave Alicia!" Katie said excitedly.
"Oh no. I don't want to know," George moaned.
"It's not that bad. It's a photo."
Alicia went and grabbed it off her dressing table. She showed it to everyone.
"I remember this!" Fred said immediately.
It was a picture of Alicia and George throwing mud at each other, they were only about eight years old. The youngsters were running around and flinging mud at each other
"Yeah, there was that big storm then when it finished we went outside and covered ourselves in mud. Mum had a fit," George recalled with a laugh.
"We had fun when we were little but we got into so much trouble," Alicia giggled.
"You? Alicia Spinnet in trouble?" Katie raised a suspicious eyebrow.
"When you grow up with the Weasley twins misbehaviour kind of rubs off on you. Unlike them I grew out of it though."
"We'd love to sit here and entertain you with tales of our youth but we have to go down to breakfast," Fred stood up.
"You might want to put on some clothes before you go anywhere," Angelina eyed his boxer shorts.
"Good idea. We'll meet you in the common room in ten minutes."
The boys left and the girls compared bracelets.
"They can be sweethearts when they want to be," Angelina sighed.
Alicia and Katie had to agree.
Back in the common room…
Harry and Ginny were waiting for Ron and Hermione to appear so they could go down for breakfast. They were taking their time though.
Ginny had something to give Harry though. She had made him a Christmas present but was too afraid to give it to him.
"What are you holding in your lap?" Harry asked curiously.
"It's just a present."
"For who?"
What could she say now? She had desperately tried to get over her crush but he just seemed to get cuter and sweeter every time she saw him. She was supposed to be a Gryffindor so where was her bravery now? Ginny took a deep breath.
"It's actually for you."
"Oh. You didn't have to get me anything."
"It's nothing special, just a little something I made," She handed the box to him.
"If I had known you were getting me something I would have got you something," Harry pulled the lid off the box and removed the tissue paper.
"That's ok. I was bored so I quickly made something," Ginny lied. It had taken her over two hours to perfect.
"Wow, Gin," Harry gingerly picked up the model of a Snitch.
It was about the size of a real Snitch. It was made out of wood and Ginny had spray painted it gold. She even glued on tiny velvet wings.
"It's nothing really," Ginny blushed. She had even tried to bewitch it so it hovered but she had some difficulty and ended up making the first one explode.
"It's great," he examined it from every angle.
Harry had not been expecting anything from Ginny; she'd never got him a present before. Recently, for no particular reason, he found himself noting how nice Ginny smelt and how pretty she looked. He quickly dismissed the feelings though. She was Ron's little sister and it would be too weird. Then again…
"Merry Christmas!"
Harry jumped in surprise and looked up from the Snitch. It was Alicia, Angelina and Katie. He carefully lowered his present back into the box and replaced the lid.
"You two make the cutest couple," Alicia smiled at Harry and Ginny.
"We're not a couple," Harry said quickly.
"You're not? But I thought you were going to the dance together," said Angelina, slightly confused.
"I think I'll go see what's keeping Ron and Hermione," Ginny leapt out of her seat and fled up the stairs.
"We're only going as friends though," he explained to the girls.
"Oh."
The girls sat around him and he felt extremely uncomfortable. He didn't know how long he'd be able to keep his feelings hidden. Harry didn't want to tell Hermione because she was friends with Ginny and he didn't want to tell Ron for obvious reasons.
"I actually need some advice," he said quietly so no one else would hear him.
"Advice? Angelina's good with advice," Katie said.
"No I'm not, Alicia's better. She the whole compassionate thing going."
"What's up?" Alicia asked him.
"It's about Ginny. I think I might like her as more than a friend but I'm not sure."
"Well how do you feel when you see her? Do you get goosebumps ever?"
"Yeah. My heart jumps too."
"Do you get a funny feeling around this region?" Alicia poked him in the stomach.
"I get butterflies the size of cows."
"You're smitten Mr. Potter," she informed him.
"So what do I do now?"
"Tonight would be the best time to make your move," Angelina said.
"But how do I do it?"
"That's the tricky part. We'll give you some tips after lunch."
Fred, George and Lee came downstairs and the girls left with them. Harry had never really gone to them for advice before but he figured it was his only choice. Besides, they were older and more experienced and Alicia probably knew some Weasley insights.
Harry went upstairs and put his present on his bed. Hermione, Ron and Ginny were waiting down stairs for him. Harry blushed the slightest at the sight of Ginny and Ron eyed him suspiciously.
Later that afternoon…
(A/N: Yes, I know I'm jumping really far but I'm getting bored.)
Harry walked out of the seventh year girl's room totally enlightened to the feminine psyche. He met George, Fred and Lee coming up the stairs.
"Who were you visiting?" Fred asked him.
"Your girlfriend," Harry smirked.
"Excuse me? MY girlfriend?"
"All of your girlfriends actually. By the way they wanted me to tell you not to bother them because they're getting ready for the Ball."
"But it's only four o'clock and it doesn't start until seven."
"They're girls, Lee, what do you expect?"
Harry just left them standing there confused and went to meet his friends in the common room. Feeling much more at ease now he sat beside Ginny.
"Did you hear, Harry? Dumbledore got the Demented Donkeys to play at the dance tonight," she said excitedly.
"The what?"
"The Demented Donkeys. They're a really cool band," Ron explained.
"But why are they called the Demented Donkeys?" Hermione asked.
"Well they're Animagi but they only ever learnt how to half change into donkeys so they look like demented donkeys."
Hermione just nodded. She always thought Kiss were the weirdest band in the world.
"I better go and get ready," Ginny stood up and so did Hermione.
"But it's so early."
"Well I want to straighten my hair again. See you in a few hours boys."
Harry and Ron played chess and exploding snap and finally at six they went upstairs to get ready. Fred and George had kept their promise and bought Ron new dress robes. Much to his disgust they were maroon but he contented himself with the fact they were lace free.
With only twenty minutes to the Yule Ball Fred, George and Lee were waiting in the common room for their dates. Fred and Lee were sitting calmly on a red lounge suite and George was pacing nervously in front of the fireplace.
"I'm noticing a pattern," Fred whispered to Lee, "he looks at his watch, touches his hair, glances at the stairs then straightens his robes."
They watched on with fascination as George did exactly what Fred had described.
"He's lost his mind," Lee whispered.
"I heard that!" George stopped pacing briefly.
"Just relax for a minute," Fred advised.
"I can't relax. If this night isn't perfect then I have no chance with Alicia."
"She doesn't care if it's not perfect, she likes you no matter what."
"She may like me now but I'll screw something up and she'll end up hating me. I just know it."
"Be optimistic, George," Lee said.
"Don't you have the Weasley charm?" Fred demanded.
"I do but it doesn't like to show itself too often."
"Well you only have to remember to compliment her a lot and you'll be fine," Lee assured him.
"How do I compliment her? Tell her she looks pretty?"
Fred and Lee looked at each other. The poor guy had no idea really.
"You might want to try something a little more creative like stunning or-"
"Exquisite or-"
"Ravishing."
"Ravishing? I'll sound like a prat!" George stressed.
"Trust me, girls love that stuff," Fred slapped his brother on the shoulder.
"Speaking of girls…" Lee nodded towards the stairs.
Angelina came down first. She was wearing burgundy robes and her silky brown hair hung around her shoulders.
"You look exquisite, buttercup," Fred held out his hand.
"Thank you, Fred, and you don't look to bad yourself."
Next was Katie. She was wearing lilac robes and her blonde hair was half up in a bun with silver chopsticks through it.
"You look absolutely stunning Kat," Lee grabbed her hand and twirled her around.
"Thanks," she giggled.
George looked up expectantly for Alicia. She was hanging back and trying to calm herself down. The last thing she needed was to trip down the stairs. She took a few deep breaths and descended slowly.
George's breath caught in his chest. He'd never seen her so dressed up. He didn't even think it was possible for her to look any prettier. Her robes were sky blue and her hair was up in a messy bun. George loved the way random curls hung down and tiny flowers were stuck in the bun
She walked right up to him and smiled expectantly.
"Er…you look nice."
Fred kicked him in the back of the leg.
"Uh…I meant ravishing. You look ravishing," he nodded approvingly.
"Ravishing?" Alicia snorted.
"Is that wrong?" George looked hurt.
"No. I just didn't think it was in your vocabulary. Sorry to laugh but Fred and Lee told you to say it didn't they."
"Yeah, but I think I'll come up with my own compliments from now on," he offered his arm out and she looped hers around it.
"Let's go then."
"That's the last time I listen to you two," George said as they walked into the packed entrance hall.
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A/N: So there you go. Not my best chapter. A little rushed but I'm tired and I have a headache and I have to go to school. The next chapter will be all about the Yule Ball. It will be long so I'm warning you now. We'll also get to find out how Roger Davies got into Ravenclaw not Slytherin. I know all the Ginny/Harry stuff happened quickly but I wasn't planning on putting them together at all so please bare with me. Please *yawn* review. Now I have to go to school!