Thank you to all of you who reviewed the last chapter and have been waiting for me to update. Your patience must be like that of an old, old wise man! I'm sorry for taking so long with this. I have exams! But here you go anyway, the fifth chapter, read, enjoy and review! Love to you all.

A N G E L I N A

After a few good songs, I stop and let myself drop to the floor, leaning against the chest of draws I put my hair behind my ears and try to stop my head from spinning. Fred quickly follows suite, he grins at me and purposely drops himself into my lap as if he doesn't way a tone.

"Fred!" I complain, but he doesn't listen--as if he ever does-- and pulls his jumper back over his head to cover his half naked body, then flings an arm comfortably around my shoulders. I'm not going to say I was upset that he decided to put his clothes back on but…

Lee and Katie seemed to have the same idea, and come to join us in the middle of the room. George and Alicia are on my bed.

To be quite frank, I'm pretty glad Lee and Katie have stopped whatever they were doing in the corner of the room. It was disturbing me a little. George flicks his wand again and the music stops. I think it's cute how he's snuggled up to Alicia to try and make her feel comfortable, I just wish it was on her own bed. I'll spring on her the moment the boys have left.

With himself still on my lap, Fred adjusts a little and ruffles in his pockets, pulling out a long blue box. "Anyone want a smoke?" He asks.

I almost choke on my saliva. "Fred, when did you start smoking?" I begin to ramble. Had so much changed over the holidays? "You know it's not good for you-"

"Shut up Angelina." He stops me and I frown. He laughs at the look on my face and retrieves a thin white stick from the packet. "Why would I start a stupid habit like that? I'm sexy enough as it is without having to smoke to gain attention. Right?" He snorts at his own arrogance and I'm starting to wonder whether he can tell I kind-of-slightly-only-a-little-bit like him. Only a little bit! I mean it! Fred annoys me doesn't he? "Like I could afford to anyway. I nicked 'em for the occasion. A one off see?"

Katie shrugs as if she couldn't care less why he had the cigarettes and reaches for him to give her one. She shakes it like and expert and the end lights up automatically. "Who'd you steal 'em from?" She asks, her voice slightly slurred.

Fred chuckles. "That asshole Montague." He shakes his own cigarette and it lights up too.

Scooting a little in my lap, he hands one to everybody in the room--including me. I shake the cigarette myself, and curiously watch it light.

"Thought we could try them all together." Fred continues. "Like a toast, to how we Gryffindors will always kick Slytherin ass."

George claps. "Here here!" Then courageously sticks the cigarette into his mouth, inhales, and bursts into a fit of coughs, his eyes bulging out of his head as smoke escapes from his lips. It was so unattractive, I catch myself thinking. "It tastes like shit!" George yells, wiping his tongue on his sleeve.

Fred takes his arm from around my shoulder and leans his head back instead, he inspects the instrument caught between his fingers and asks, "Really?"

George looks like he's struggling to catch his breath. "Yes, you fool." he coughs.

It serves him right I'd say. What would he go and do a thing like that for? If I've learned a lesson from this experience, it would be never be the first person to try anything. Who knows what it might do to you? It already looks like its killing George.

"So how comes I always see Montague sneaking these things?" This comes from me.

Lee chortles. "He's a shit himself right? Wouldn't matter if he sucked on stuff that tasted like it." We all laugh, and one by one everyone try's out their cigarette. I look down at my own rather curiously. My head is saying to me, if I take this there's a possibility of me getting somehow addicted and killing myself off before I can have cute little babies with the man of my dreams. However, my head is also saying that if I don't do this, I'll get it in the neck for at least a month, and I'm not known for backing out on things that can be treated remotely as wild behaviour. Damn the complications of life! I put the cigarette in my mouth…

To say it tasted like shit, George was making a HUGE understatement. I'm one of the first to start coughing, great puffs of smoke evacuating my mouth and nostrils as my lungs try to purify themselves.

I shake the cigarette and throw it disgustedly into the middle of the room, lifting slightly to grab my drink off the chest of draws and take a quick gulp, trying to rid myself of the bitter after taste. The things I do to please people! My head feels a little light…

"You're right." Fred throws his own cigarette into the middle of the room then laughs "I guess that means Montague's off the list for all you lovely ladies."

I giggle, Alicia shakes her head in disbelief and Katie's eyes grow into saucers. She's looking at him as if he's said the most disturbing thing. What did the boys know about any list? They're clueless when it comes to the great puzzle that is the female mind.

"What do you mean, off the list." Katie gasps "Montague doesn't leave the list. Right 'Leesh, Angie?" She looks over to us for reassurance and I respond with a shrug. Montague's probably the fittest guy I've ever met, tall, dark hair and eyes, with really pale skin that seems to suit him well, but that's all really.

I couldn't class Montague on my level as I'm sure he wouldn't me. Damn, I'm not even sure he knows I exist, let alone come to Hogwarts and play chaser in the Quidditch team that always manages to kick Slytherin ass. Montague has this thing about not acknowledging anyone but those who he classes as important, which mainly consist of his "cronies" or anyone he's currently beating the shit out of. You know the lot, Warrington -another fit one, who knows it and seems to always get what he wants from a girl (or so the stories say), and Marcus -I wont even go there.

Apparently any girl whose ever got eye contact from Montague has almost died with shock. Of course I wouldn't know what it felt like, but I've taken time out to look myself. He has such dark eyes, they make him look like he's always in deep thought, and when he does look at you, it must feel like he can see into your soul. But none of that really matters to me, Montague always manages to look over my head, but I heard it felt something like the latter.

"Even if there was a list, and someone somehow managed to rub his name off it, he would still be on it." Says Alicia, completely oblivious to the scolding looks George is currently shooting at her.

"Can we not discuss Montague?" I ask, and the boys shake their heads with such enthusiasm it makes me laugh.

"Then what else is there?" Katie asks through a mouthful of yet more sweets.

I shake my head at her and smile. "I have a joke."

They all nod for me to continue, so I do; clearing my throat, I let out the first one that comes to mind. "What did the left leg say to the right leg?"

Alicia shrugs, George makes a clueless gesture, Lee roles his eyes -I've told him this one before- and Katie sucks up the last of her snake. Fred turns to look at me and gestures for me to continue. "Go on then, what did the left leg say to the right?"

I roll my eyes for effect. "Are none of you even going to guess?" They all shake their heads so I go on anyway, grinning even before I've given the punch line: "That one in the middle thinks he's hard."

They all laugh and Fred's grinning at me from ear to ear. "I wonder how he managed to get so hard." He jokes, and I swat him lightly on the arm, a cheeky smirk making its way across his lips.

It's Lee who speaks up next. "Fine," He says "Seen as I've listened to that one so many times before," I attempt to look offended "I've got one." He clears his throat and says boldly "How many men does it take to open a Butter Beer?" Everyone shakes their head and prompt him to continue. I don't like the smile that's suddenly crept onto his face "None" he says "- it should be open when she brings it to you!"

It takes a while for us girls to get it, but when we do Katie whacks Lee around the head with her Fire Whisky and I chuck my crisps at him. Alicia narrows her eyes dangerously.

Fred and George don't help, they're laughing as if it was the funniest thing in the world. George comments: "Nice one mate!" And Alicia gives his ears a painful twist.

These guys are so sexist.

"That was rude Lee!" Says Alicia, and I feel Fred chuckle slightly from my lap. "I personally would hand him the bottle opener."

"No way." Katie jumps in. "He can get them both himself the lazy twat!"

I can see Lee's trying hard not to laugh. "Girls! Calm down will you it was just a joke."

"Well it wasn't funny." Says Alicia.

"I thought it was." Says George, who only receives more abuse, this time it's a horribly hard slap around the back of his head for giving her an answer she wasn't expecting. I swear those guys are too cute. If they don't grow old together and get married and have seven kids like it seems to always happens in the Weasley gene then I will be able to put my hands up and say I'm defeated. Voldermort defiantly wasn't just high on cocaine, he was sincerely a jackass who really did have the power to kill us all.

I shouldn't be so sceptical about the whole Dark Lord theory, but even Wizards add that little extra into a newspaper to get more people to read it.

I yawn and Alicia looks happy to see me do it. She doesn't want the guys in our room anymore, I can tell from the look on her face. Either she's disappointed that George hasn't declared his undying love for her yet, or maybe she's just as beat as I am.

"Oh look guys, Angie's tired, looks like you'll have to leave." She smiles sweetly and Katie giggles, probably catching on as well.

I stifle down a second yawn. "Hey! Don't blame me. You're the one who wants them out."

She shrugs. "Yeah you're right." She turns to George who jumps at the volume of her voice. "Get out before I throw you out!"

The boys get to their feet and head over to the door. Before they leave George turns around and says "Don't dream about us tonight girls."

Alicia doesn't look impressed. "We wont," She mutters "who do we usually have the sexiest dreams about ladies?"

Katie and I snicker. "Oh Montague!" We chorus, and Alicia shuts the dormitory door, a wicked smile plastered on her face.

Five minutes ago it was Transfiguration, a lesson I'm usually less than excited to get to these terrible weekday mornings. I always tend to feel really sleepy, but am so intimidated by the little squinty eyes behind McGonagall's glasses that I manage to stay awake. I sleep in Potions or Herbology instead. Charms is too interesting to miss.

So anyway, today I can truly say that I enjoyed Transfiguration without having to actually complete one of the tasks (I'm failing so miserably in that lesson). I was just sitting there, minding my own business as usual, my hand holding up my head in case I dared myself to fall asleep, and my fingers doodling my name in the corner of my Transfiguration text book when Alicia grabbed me by the collar and screamed in my ear: "We're having a Yule Ball!"

My first initial thoughts were: What the hell does the school think they're playing at? How do they expect me to find a date from here till Christmas? IT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME!

My eyes grew wide with horror and I think poor Alicia thought I was excited. She started giggling and clapping her hands together in the most girly fashion. I smiled, but inside I couldn't help but scream. I was doomed to be a dateless wonder.

If we were going to have a Yule Ball, it would probably be the biggest event of the year (after the TriWizard Tournament of course). Who would take me? Would I have to stoop so low as to ask myself? Would I go alone? How much would a dress cost? I'm poor enough as it is, would I have to loose weight? Do I have a fat ass? Are my boobs to big, too small? Are my hips too wide? Why was I panicking about it? This wasn't like me, to panic over whether a boy liked me or not, it's completely insane and new to my poor innocent mind. Why was I starting to threat?

I stopped about fifteen minutes ago. Panicking I mean, right now I'm actually pretty excited about the whole idea. I mean imagine it, a Yule Ball? Dumbledor must really be out to impress, we never have this sort of thing! The downfall to this whole tribulation (big word I know, it means misfortune, and it's all Hermione's doing)? I'm going to have to find something to wear, and from what I've experienced the small space of time I've been living on this earth, is that ball gowns don't come cheap. I'm not exactly poor, but I don't like going around spending money that I don't necessarily have. I'm a cheapskate and proud of it. One day when I have enough money, I'll let myself splash out a little on worthless necessities. I've already started to save, splashing out is something I do rarely, but I love to do it when I get the chance.

Now I'm on my way down to lunch, Alicia completely rushed off to rejoice the news with Katie because she complained I look too long to gather my things. Nice.

I listen to the conversations of those passing by and nothing I over hear isn't about the Yule Ball. One girl walking past is complaining about the fact that only fourth years and above can attend, with the exception that any younger years are asked to go by the elders. She's saying that she's hoping Roger Davies will ask her…I snicker. In her dreams! Roger Davies has the world of female oestrogen laying at his feet, the chances of her getting asked to the ball by him is one in a million. I feel for her naivety.

Before I turn the corridor to the Grand Staircase, my ears prick up at the sound of someone calling my name. "Johnson!" Someone exclaims, so I turn to look, and my eyes find Caesar Warrington. I stare at him quizzically. He's leaning against the wall, a single finger beckoning me over. What does he think I am, a dog? Behind him is Montague, who is staring at me really really uncomfortably. I wonder for a while what Caesar might want, but in place of going over to him I decide to play brave Gryffindor and give him the finger instead.

I turn down the corridor to the Grand Staircase, a small smile on my face. I question myself as to why Caesar didn't even bother to retaliate when I hear him call my name again: "Johnson," He calls "I'm talking to you."

I take a deep breath and keep on walking, I can hear him following me. "Go to hell Caesar." I huff, and my face begins heat up.

I hear him growl - I'm guessing it's to control his temper - and before long I'm grabbed by the hood of my robes and forced against a nearby wall. What did he think he was playing at? Caesar puts both his hands either side of my head and Montague steps up behind him. We're being given funny stares by passers by, and fellow Gryffindors are giving me disgusted glares. How must this look?

"What do you want Caesar?" I demand.

His lips set into a grin and he dares himself to take a step closer. I can't move. "You never gave me the chance to speak to you." He begins to explain.

"I was in a hurry." I lie, my eyes occasionally flicker to Montague.

Warrington laughs. "It didn't look like that to me-"

"Well then you obviously misunderstood the situation." I say "You could see I was going somewhere and you decided to stop me. Pure Slytherin cock-up."

He clears his throat, ignoring all I just said. "Well I need to talk to you." He laughs a little and his head tilts forwards, fair brown hair falling into Slytherin green eyes. I don't trust him.

My arms fold themselves protectively over my chest and I raise a curious eyebrow. "You've never had to before."

He leans in a little closer and I try not to notice, his voice lowers considerably as he utters. "Well there's never been a Yule Ball before has there?"

My heart does a funny flip-flop and my eyes bulge out of my head, what was he getting at? He cornered me for THIS? What happened to Slytherin pride? There's a long pause before anyone says anything. Caesar's watching my every move, trying to some up everything I do. He doesn't blink. Just watches me.

"Well?" He asks after the silence.

I urge myself to say something, but my lips can't seem to issue a sound. Was Caesar asking me to the ball after only five minutes of the school knowing? Was this some kind of dirty joke to get me all dressed up and excited so that he could drop me the night of the ball with some pretty Slytherin hanging on his arm, and why was Montague looking at me as if he could read my mind? Maybe he could?

"Caesar…" I begin, "is this some kind of joke because really it's not funny."

His face drops slightly. "Did I say it was a joke?" I don't like his tone.

"No but-"

"But what?" His eyes seem to blaze. "It's either yes or no Johnson it's not rocket science."

This guy has a really short temper. . . "You don't need to be so rude!" I sneer. "We were just told about the stupid thing five minutes ago! I haven't even had time to-"

"It's yes or no Johnson!" He scoffs.

"Don't shout at me Caesar!" I whisper loudly "People are watching."

He glances for a moment at the prying eyes of fellow students who quickly flee the moment they capture his attention. Then he turns quickly back to me. "Yes, or no." He says simply.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes, readying myself for the threats to issue from his mouth. "No." I declare, and peep out at him cautiously through one eye.

His face twists slightly, as if he couldn't believe what I just said. The green of Caesars eyes blaze dangerously at me, then, without another word he stalks off, and disappears quickly around the corner, his robes flaying out behind him.

I sigh, then shake my head and look up at Montague, who's still standing there, just creepily watching me with those dark, dark eyes. I wonder what he wants when the eyes do something I never thought I'd see, ever in my whole entire life. They crinkle slightly at the edges, and his lips break into a wide grin. Montague was smiling at me!

He gives a little chuckle then pulls out a familiar blue box from his pocket, and takes from it a long white stick. He shakes it and puts it in his mouth, then blows out the smoke so professionally it hits me right in the face. I cough and start to fan the fumes away when he finally speaks: "He was so sure you'd say yes." is all he says, then casually ambles away, leaving me standing there like a fool, coughing into my sleeve.

Today, I can easily say, has been a weird, weird day.

I bend down to pick up my bag which had fallen during mine and Caesars little 'brawl', and head quickly down the stairs to the Great Hall.

I spot the gang sitting at their usual place on the Gryffindor table. When I walk over the girls are in heavy conversation about the Yule Ball, and the boys look like they're trying not to listen. Why should they have to worry themselves about asking someone to the ball right now? They had plenty of time, but I'm sure the girls have already started to hint. The guys were pretty miffed at the fact that they had to be the ones to ask in the first place.

"Why should it be us when it's the girls who are getting giggly about it." I had heard George mutter during Transfiguration. "If they want us to go with them, they should be the ones to ask." No one else seemed to have heard him apart from Fred and Lee, who both nodded in agreement. I had felt slightly sorry for them until I saw Marietta Edgecombe giggling with one of her friends in the corner of the room and less than subtly pointing over at Fred. My eyes had squinted dangerously, she'd better not dare. . .

I sit myself beside Katie, and in front of Alicia who is across the table from me.

"You smell like smoke Ange." Katie says, and Fred sees this as an opening to talk about anything but the Yule Ball. During lessons he had looked a little bit like he might vomit at the thought of having to ask a girl to attend a dance with him. "Anything but! PLEASE anything but that!" His face had seemed to cry, and he sunk miserably into his chair. It was adorable to watch, but I had to peel myself away because I found I was staring.

Fred sniggers. "Angelina I thought you said the habit was disgusting and that I shouldn't have brought them? What've you been doing to smell like smoke pookey?"

I narrow my eyes at him "I've been with Montague." I announce, and they all look so shocked I figure I should give them the full account before they have a heart attack wondering what I could have possibly been doing alone with Thaddeus Montague. "Don't worry it's nothing." I say, biting into a small piece of buttered bread "I just got stopped on the way down here by Warrington, and Montague was with him. Caesar asked me if I wanted to go to the ball with him."

They all froze. The food fell out of Lee's mouth, and Alicia's knife somehow fell out of her firm grasp. I don't like the way they all look. Either they're shocked that I was the first to be asked--what was so surprising about that?--or flabbergasted (Hermione!) that it was a Slytherin who asked me. Either way I find it a little offensive the way they're all gawking at me.

I find myself sniggering a little, I bet Alicia wishes she'd stayed with me now huh? It's her who thinks Warrington's hot not me.

Fred looks as if someone's just kicked him up the balls. I don't think he thought anyone would have asked me, or at least not so quickly. I try to hide my amusement.

"Warrington just asked you to the ball?" Says Katie, and I nod. We all look behind us towards the Slytherin table and miraculously Warrington, Flint and Montague are just sitting themselves down, Caesar is shooting me a look coated in such loath that my heart feels for him for a single second. Then I get over it. Montague gives me a little greeting nod that I'm sure everyone saw by the gasp Alicia just did, and Marcus looks a little confused. I turn back to my friends, who are all now looking at me again apart from Fred, who seems to be staring someone out over at the Slytherin table.

Katie jumps up from her seat and orders me to get up. "We have some serious things to talk about." Is all she explains.

"But I've hardly eaten!" I complain, listening to the rumbling in my stomach and trying to coo it back down. Katie only shrugs.

"Bring it with you Ange, we've got to chat ASAP." She winks at me and wiggles her nose in Fred's direction.

When I start to get up Fred looks over at me, I can't read the expression on his face but I can clearly interpret it isn't a happy one.

"What's so important that you have to go off to talk about it?" He asks, his sea blue eyes giving me the evilest of glares.

Katie seems to be in a hurry because she answers before I can think of something to say. "It's just as important as when you guys go off to talk joke shop. Care to give us some time alone? Thanks. Come on Angelina!" She grabs me by the arm and starts dragging me down the Great Hall, I have to scurry to keep up.

"Wait for me!" I hear Alicia call, and she's quickly at my side with her own plate of food held in on hand and her bag flung hastily over her shoulder.

"Fred looks seething!" She whispers to me, and we all laugh. That special connection we seem to have is sending us all the same signals. I'm just glad I don't have to say anything at all.