Christmas day, 1993
*George's POV*
I sat alone at the Yule Ball.
Couples swung past me to the upbeat song blaring through the great hall. I still couldn't believe Dumbledore had booked The Weird Sisters.
I spotted a surprisingly nice looking Hermione Granger, dancing happily with none other than Viktor Krum.
I couldn't help but wonder what Ron thought of his Quidditch hero now. It would have been a laugh had I not been in the same boat.
As if reading my thoughts, Fred and Angelina spun into view.
Fred and Angelina. Just the idea of it twisted my chest in an anger I'd never thought I could feel in relation to my own twin brother.
I shook the thought from my mind.
I was being stupid really.
It had always been a bit of a joke between Fred, Lee and I, going after Angelina. Partly because she was gorgeous and partly because it annoyed the living hell out of her. Best case she would roll her eyes at us, worst case she'd jinx our Beater's bats to thwack us over the head for hours on end. Then somehow, in the midst of all that, I started to like her for real.
I was all prepared to ask her to the Yule Ball. I just needed the perfect way to do it. Maybe I could spell it out with those fireworks me and Fred have been working on, if only we could work out the kinks…
But Fred asked her instead. He told me he was going to just when I was about to tell him my plans to do just the same. I supposed I could have told him I liked her, like really proper liked her, but what if he did too? Sure, he hadn't told me so, but I hadn't told him either. I think this was the first time we had ever not told each other something.
Fred had urged me to ask one of the other girls, Katie or Alicia, but I still didn't want to go with anyone but her.
And now I was stuck with nothing to do but watch them dance around crazily, having the time of their lives. Dancing their way towards me, actually…
"I need to use the loo." Fred announced as he reached me, loud enough that two Beauxbaton girls at the next table turned their noses up in disgust. "Take care of my date would ya?"
Fred nudged Angelina toward me and took off. She extended her hand to me and I took it, making our way out to the dance floor.
I had every intention of picking up their eccentric dance where it had left off, but the music swelled to a stop, and Myron Wagtail's speaking voice echoed through the hall:
"This one's going out to all the lovers out there. Hold each other tight, and keep each other warm."
Angelina blushed slightly, question in her eyes as they met mine. I was certain I had turned a much more noticeable shade of red.
"…And dance your final dance
This is your final chance…"
We awkwardly fumbled into a slow dance position, avoiding eye contact as we did so.
"…To hold the one you love
You know you've waited long enough…"
She grinned as we began to sway, and suddenly it wasn't awkward at all.
"…So, believe
That magic works
Don't be afraid
Of being hurt…"
Everything was perfect, just in that moment. For a second I forgot that Fred had asked her first.
"…Don't let this magic die
The answer's there
Oh, just look in her eyes…"
"I was going to ask you…" I began in a whisper, knowing it was a bad idea. She was here with Fred, my brother, my twin, my best friend, but I couldn't let this moment go by without telling her.
"I would have said yes." She replied, so quietly that I wasn't sure it really happened.
"…And make your final move
Don't be scared, she wants you to…"
We continued to sway silently, looking into each other's eyes.
I was hit with the sudden, overwhelming need to kiss her.
"…Yeah, it's hard, you must be brave
Don't let this moment slip away…"
I might have leaned in. She might have too. I might have done it, had Fred not suddenly shown up in my peripheral vision.
I coughed loudly, and leaped back from Angelina. I could almost hear the loud crack of our sudden romantic atmosphere breaking.
I pushed her towards him, perhaps more forcefully than I had meant to as she stumbled in her heels.
"She's all yours mate."
"…And don't believe that magic can die
No, no, no, this magic can't die…"
I quickly walked off, forcing myself not to look back. In case she had resumed our dance with him. In case our perfect moment meant nothing.
"…So dance your final dance
Cause this is your final chance"
Okay, so that turned into a songfic XD
I knew what I wanted to happen, but I got hit with writers block. I decided to listen to some of the songs played at the Yule Ball and the lyrics were just too perfect :D
The song is Magic Works from the Goblet of Fire soundtrack if you didn't know. I'd recommend listing to it along with this chapter. You can watch it on youtube here: /watch?v=OBPGJ0daqWg
The song Fred and Angelina were dancing to at the start very well could have been Do the Hippogriff, which you can watch the music video for if you really want to get into it: /watch?v=9tNUAumvfzg