CHAPTER 9-DANCE, DANCE

Brooke rushed around all that night getting opinions on how she looked from almost every Gryffindor she could hunt down. She had already tried five different hairstyle and three different eye shadows but she couldn't find one she liked. Finally Angelina sat her down and did her hair and make-up for her and Brooke loved it, without question. She slipped on her gold heels last, not wanting to be in them any longer then she had to, then she walked down into the common room. Lee was talking with Fred and George and Brooke had to admit that he cleaned up nice.

He had his hair slicked back into a small ponytail and his black robes looked dashing on him.

"Why, don't you clean up nice," Brooke said, approaching him and the twins.

"I'd say the same but I always think you look nice," said Lee, and the twins made gagging noises.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yes."

Lee held out his arm and Brooke took it waving goodbye to the twins as her and Lee left the common room.

"I know it's kind of silly but I got you something," said Lee, reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a clear box with a corsage of yellow roses dressed up in gold.

"Lee, it's beautiful!" Brooke said, she held out her hand and Lee slipped the corsage over her wrist. "I knew there was more than one reason for agreeing to be your date."

"That's what I like to hear."

Brooke looped her arm through Lee's and they headed back down to the entrance hall then entered into the great hall. The tables had all been removed and a band was playing on the stage where the teachers usually sat. No one was dancing yet and Brooke figured it was because the Yule Ball hadn't yet started. She walked with Lee to a table and sat down next to him. Fred and Angelina arrived a few moments later followed by George and Katie, they all sat down next to Brooke and Lee, and Brooke began conversing with each. After a while the whole hall silenced and Brooke turned to see why, Dumbledore was standing on the stage directing the tri-wizard champions onto the dance floor with their dates.

"Hermione and Krum?" Brooke asked shocked.

"Yeah, you should have seen Ron when he found out," Fred said chuckling. Brooke flicked his ear.

"Be nice."

After a few moments other couples began flocking to the dance floor and to her immense surprise Lee pulled her to the dance floor. The song was at a fast pace so her and Lee just danced close together laughing. When a slow song came on Lee took her waist and hand like she had taught him and they danced back and forth. The song ended and they went to get some punch, Fred and George and their dates were at the punch table and Brooke walked over to them.

"Having fun?" she asked.

"Tons," said George, and Katie rolled her eyes. Brooke took the punch Lee offered her and sipped on it.

"You wouldn't mind if I asked Katie to dance, would you?" Lee whispered.

"Of course not," said Brooke. Lee walked over to Katie and they ended up on the dance floor dancing to a fast song. Fred and Angelina went next and Brooke ended up by George.

"Why did you come with Lee?" asked George.

"Cause he asked me," Brooke answered.

"That's the only reason?"

"Yep, we both got dates and we're friends so it made it easier."

A slow song began to play and Brooke heard George take a deep breath.

"Would you like to dance?" he asked.

"I would," answered Brooke, setting her drink down. George took her hand and guided her out onto the dance floor, she didn't know why but she wrapped her arms around his neck and George wrapped his arms around his waist. Her whole thing about this dance was it was to be used when wanting to get close to your date. Did she want to be close to George? She ended up drawing closer to him and resting her head against his chest, she liked the feeling of being in his arms. When the song ended she wished it hadn't, she didn't want to move but she did. When she looked up at George she began to feel warm and her thoughts clouded over again.

"I think I need some air," she said, and George walked with her outside to the courtyard. She looked up at the sky and felt herself begin to cool off, this feeling she had when she was around Fred and George was getting old, fast.

"Are you feeling better?" asked George.

"Yeah, lots."

"Brooke," George stepped closer to Brooke and turned her face up to look at his. "Did I tell you that I think you look beautiful tonight?"

"No....don't think mentioned it," Brooke said, clearly not speaking correctly.

"I never knew how gold flattered you and I've known you all my life."

"It happens."

"But I do know that white is your favorite color, cinnamon is your favorite smell, for some odd reason B is your favorite letter and Tuesday is your favorite day."

"They are?"

George smiled and then cupped Brooke's face in his hands before pressing his lips to hers and she lost her breath. She wrapped her arms around George and gripped his shirt in her hands. Then she realized what she was doing, she was kissing her best friend, hadn't she sworn not to do this? She released George and backed away from him.

"I'm sorry, I just, I can't," Brooke said, and a tear glistened down her cheek. She ran from George into the school and headed straight for Gryffindor common room. Before she got there though she saw Fred in the hallway.

"Brooke, are you okay?" he asked, rushing forward. Brooke broke down into tears and ran to Fred hugging him tightly; Fred was always there when she needed him.

"I'm fine, I just need a minute," Brooke said, she stopped the tears and then released Fred.

"What happened?"

"Nothing, I'm fine."

Fred reached out and wiped away the tears from Brooke's eyes.

"Come on, I'll take you to the common room," said Fred. He wrapped and arm around Brooke's shoulders and led her into the common room and onto one of the couches. She sat next to him on the couch and leaned against his shoulder, he kept an arm around her comfortingly and Brooke looked up at him and smiled.

"Where's Angelina?" she asked.

"Still at the dance," answered Fred.

"Why aren't you?"

"I didn't see a reason to stay anymore."

"Why not?"

"Cause you weren't there."

Brooke stopped smiling but before she had a chance to do much more Fred had pressed his lips to her softly giving her the opportunity to kiss back or pull away. She didn't understand why but she leaned into Fred kissing him a little rougher; she wrapped her arms around his neck and lay against him. Her thoughts were all jumbled; she didn't know what was wrong with her. Twice in one night she had been kissed and twice in one night she'd kissed back; twice in one night she kissed brother and twice in one night she knew she shouldn't have. She pulled herself from Fred and stood up.

"Fred, I can't do this, everything is wrong, this isn't what was supposed to happen," Brooke said randomly, she couldn't quite form a proper or completed thought in her head. "I have to go."

Brooke ran up the stairs and into her dormitory where she fell face forward onto her bed and wept nonstop into her pillow.