Dancing Under the Stars

Chapter Fourteen

Bludger Babe, Quaffel Quarrels, and Snitch Snogs

          I didn't think I could cry that much. I didn't want to cry that much. We'd only been "going out" for a few weeks… I wasn't in love with him or anything, but… a deliberate plan against me and I didn't even see it. I didn't even see it. The words resounded in my mind as I thought about how I was so stupid to be so blind. So damn blind.

          George had been right. George Weasley, the twin of my boyfriend, had warned me about his own brother… warned me against Fred and I blew off George for my boyfriend of only one week at the time! How could I have not believed George? George had never lied. He was always the sensitive one of the two and I always knew that… why would I not see through the whole scheme?

          "Elyse –," There was a pause as the familiar voice spoke quietly, behind me. How long had I been sitting here? Five minutes… five hours?

          "How did you find me?" I turned around as another tear fell past my nose. I looked up to George Weasley, standing tall behind me, in his very elegant dress robes, obviously ready for the dance. That's when it hit me—the dance!

          "Well, this is where you came when you needed someone to talk to after Fred walked in on you kissing Harry, remember? I always did like the lake," He grinned a little and looked out over the deserted, still lake water.

          "Oh, George, I'm so sorry," I buried my already red face into my hands and cried. Immediately I felt a reassuring arm around my shoulders and I laid my head on his shoulder to cry.

          "Didn't think it would hurt this much, did you?" He looked down into my watering eyes. I shook my head. "It shouldn't. I wish I could take the pain away… I wish I could."

          "How did I not know, George?"

          He shrugged. "I tried to tell you…" He smiled a very sweet smile which made think not of Fred like it usually did, but of being with the very man I was sitting there with.

          "Deliberately—he wanted me to walk in on them… doing … god knows what!" I exclaimed, but this time I didn't cry, I laughed.

          George was surprised at my sudden chuckle and he looked at me curiously.

          "What's so funny?" He asked.

          "I'm laughing at how stupid and blind I can be," I wiped away the tears and sighed. "So stupid."

          "Well, you don't have to be so stupid from now on, you know. There is always room for change," He still had the serious look on his face, almost as if I was the only thing that matter to him at that exact moment in time.

          "Yeah, I guess… depends on the type of change you're talking about, George Weasley," Was I flirting with George Weasley? Of course! Why wouldn't I flirt with George? He had been there all along. There had been two things I had been wrong about: Fred … and George. Somehow, someway I had misinterpreted their actions… and what I thought of one was just like the other. George was the sensitive, sweet, sincere one, and Fred… well Fred wasn't anywhere near to any of George's characteristics. I was surprised I didn't feel bad for being attracted to someone else immediately, especially Fred's brother, but me and Fred's relationship hadn't been real in the first place! I had nothing to feel bad about and I dismissed all thoughts of Fred that were still lingering in my mind.

          "How about a change named George Weasley?" He smiled sheepishly at me again and I could sense at that moment he actually thought I might turn him down.

          "I think I can handle that change," I smiled up at him as his fingers delicately brushed away all of the remaining tears that had fallen down my cheeks. We were silent for the next ten minutes. Me on his shoulder, his finger tips through my long waves. From the silence, I heard a slow song being played from the Great Hall and I felt George's eyes fall upon my face. My eyes met his. I was in a rush of emotion.

          "We didn't get all dressed up for nothing, huh?" He smiled and stood up.

          "Are you calling us nothing?" I retorted, in a joking manner.

          "Oh, so where did this 'us' stuff come from, hmm?" He replied sarcastically, still playing with my hair. He offered his hand to help me up and I took it gratefully.

          "Fine then." I replied and pretended to turn around. He grabbed me quickly and turned me around so we were only inches apart. His lips met mine for the first time, yet again I did not know what to think. It was amazing. Unlike any before. Not like Fred's whose seemed almost unrealistic and Harry's… which was forced in the first place. This felt like the right time and place. For the first time, I found myself genuinely happy in that moment with the stars above, the calm lake, and the music drifting through the grounds from the castle dressed in formals in the arms of George Weasley.

          "That's what I mean by 'us'," I gave him a devilish grin, biting my lower lip which had some effect on him because he kissed me again.

          "I like the word 'us'," He paused as another song came on. "Would you like to dance, Elyse?" I continued to grin as I slipped my arms around his neck and his hands went to my waist.

          "Did I tell you, you look wonderful tonight?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively and I laughed giddily for the first time that night.

          "You just did," I turned pink, continuing to laugh.

          "Well, I mean it," I could have sworn he blushed, too, but I didn't want to embarrass him further by pointing it out. We swayed from side to side and kissed a few more times until the song came to an end.

          "Ready to face them?" He asked nodding at the castle which had light pouring from the great hall and Christmas decorations everywhere.

          "Yeah, I guess… We can't avoid it forever," I smiled again as he took my hand in his and we walked back to the castle. 

~THE END~

[Author's Note~~ Hehe, ended kind of quickly didn't it? Don't worry. If I get enough response, I'll write an epilogue! Hope you liked the story. I know I enjoyed writing it! PLEASE REVIEW! You can email with suggestions on other stories or stories you'd be interested in reading about. My next project to finish is 'My Story' … Go check it out! Don't forget to check out the already complete works of yours truly. Love you guys! 33 Hannah Holt]