Hello everyone!
I hope the wait wasn't too much of a torture after last chapter... haha!
Thank you for the feedback - I'm sorry I'm making you guys suffer :)
Anyways - this one is short, and there isn't a lot of action, but I still hope you enjoy it.
Don't forget to review ! It always motivates me to publish quicker !
Enjoy xx

wildest dreams
VOLUME I

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I usually spent my Sundays in the library, trying to get ahead of work – but I was too tired to do anything when I woke up the next day. All the joy I had felt from the idea of my uncle coming had disappeared. I only felt hollow. I stayed in bed until everyone was gone, ignoring Angelina softly calling my name. She told me she and Alicia were to Hogsmeade to find her a dress – but I really wasn't in the mood, so I pretended to still be sleeping. I waited until it was past eleven to get dressed – I ate breakfast almost by myself in the Great Hall, and went out for a walk, hoping the fresh air would do me some good.

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, making the small amount of snow on the ground shine brightly. I sat down next to the lake, looking at the breath-taking scenery around me. I would miss Hogwarts when I would leave it. I only had a year and a half left, after all. The future felt blurry – I knew where I was going, but so many things that I had previously been certain of suddenly didn't seem so certain anymore. I hated the feeling.

I had tried so hard to hide my feelings, just so I wouldn't lose George's friendship – but it seemed that I had lost it anyway. I knew I was being dramatic, and that if I was half the Gryffindor the Sorting Hat thought I was, I would just confront him again and try to make things right. But I felt like a coward. I was scared. I was so bloody scared.

When I got back inside, there was a package with a letter attached to it waiting for me in the Common Room. The room was very quiet, as everyone was either at Hogsmeade or enjoying the weather – so there was no one to disturb me. I opened the letter – it was from my uncle.

Dear Addy,

I hope this reaches you in time. By now Dumbledore has probably told you the big news – we're coming at Hogwarts to play at the Yule Ball ! We're very excited – I can't wait to see you.

I hope everything is going well from you at Hogwarts. I know you have a lot on your plate – don't forget to take some time for you. I know you will succeed in everything you want to do. I know nobody more talented and more determined than you.

I know you weren't very excited about the idea of shopping for a dress – so here's a little something that might help. I hope you like it – I picked your favorite color.

I'll see you very soon.

Take care.

Myron

I smiled – the letter really warmed my heart. I carefully opened the package, curious to see what it was. I noticed the color first – a dark, deep burgundy – exactly my favorite color. I pulled out the dress from the package, admiring it like a treasure. I liked everything about it – the draping, the soft tissue, the one shoulder strap – everything. My uncle really knew me well. I went upstairs to try it on. It fit me perfectly. I then carefully hanged it beside my bed, to make sure it wouldn't get wrinkled. I was excited to wear it, but thinking about the ball brought back the memories of the previous night, and it all suddenly got a little bittersweet.

I was quietly reading next to the fireplace, later that day, when Angelina and Alicia came back from Hogsmeade. I noticed that Angelina was carrying a big bag.

"Hey" I smiled as they sat down.

"Hey, how are you feeling ?" asked Angelina.

"I'm okay. Why ?"

"Well…" she hesitated.

"Fred told us that you had a fight with George" quietly said Alicia.

"Oh."

I hadn't expected the news to travel so fast – but I probably should've had.

"We met him outside Zonko. Apparently, George has been in a foul mood all day" she added.

I didn't know if that made me happy or even more sad.

"Is there anything we can do ?" asked Angelina.

"It's not that big of a deal" I said, shaking my head. "I'm fine. I just needed some time alone."

They nodded, still looking concerned. I didn't want them to be – I just wanted to think about something else. I smiled, pointing at the bag at Angelina's feet.

"What is in there ?"

"Oh, it's just –"

"Is it your dress ?" I asked with enthusiasm.

"Yeah" she answered with a small smile.

"Show me !"

She carefully took it out of the bag and laid it on her – I already knew it would suit her perfectly. It was a dark purple, and matched her skin and her eyes.

"She looks stunning in it" said Alicia.

"I'm sure" I said. "I know a certain ginger that will drool all over you all night."

"Oh, don't exaggerate."

"I'm not !"

We were laughing, admiring Angelina's dress, when Fred, George and Lee came in. Fred and Lee immediately came towards us, but George just stood next to the doorway, his eyes meeting mine. I quickly looked away to stare at the flames in the fireplace. My heart was suddenly beating really, really fast. I only half-listened to Angelina telling Fred how he couldn't see her dress before the ball – and him starting to develop theories on what it looked like. When I finally gathered the courage to look back, he was gone.

"Oi, Addy. Addy !"

I suddenly realized that someone was calling my name. I turned to Fred, eyebrows raised.

"Sorry, Fred. What is it ?"

"Blimey, what's up with everyone today ?" sighed Lee.

"Lee, Addy's upset" said Angelina. "Could you please show a little –"

"I'm not upset" I said, cutting her off. "What is it, Fred ?"

"I got you this at Honeydukes. Thought it might make you feel better."

He was handing me a box of Pumpkin Pasties – I smiled as I took it.

"Thanks."

"You should really talk to George, you know. You can't just leave it like that. I'm just saying."

"I know" I nodded.

He then quickly changed the subject, asking Lee about his date to the ball. I listened quietly, eating my Pasties, and went to bed early.

The days that followed were probably my worst at Hogwarts – not only did I feel grim and tired, but I also didn't see or talked to George at all. We avoided each other like the plague, and that resulted in me being alone most of the time. Sometimes, Fred would come and keep me company, and Angelina often went with me to the library, but I still felt isolated. Plus, the teachers didn't let the coming holidays stop them – Snape was being harder on us than ever, and I had a full essay due in Muggle Studies on the last day of classes.

As the Yule Ball got closer, I started getting more and more anxious. I wasn't sure even sure I would go anymore – perhaps I would just get my uncle and his band, lead them to where they needed to be and watch the concert from backstage like I always did. The whole idea of dressing up and going dancing seemed odd to me, as the last few days had been awkward with everyone. I certainly didn't want to ruin the mood for anyone.

I was trying to study in the library on a Sunday night when I saw Hermione walk towards me.

"Hi" she said, smiling softly. "Can I sit down ?"

"Of course" I replied.

I moved my books to one side one of the table so that she could put down hers. She sat down, eyebrows raised.

"It's just – I'm usually alone here on Sunday nights. So when I saw you – I thought it would be nice not to sit by myself for once" she explained.

"I'm glad you didn't. It will be nice to have some company."

She smiled.

"What are you working on ?" she asked.

"Muggle Studies. It's an essay on the British monarchy… And I can't understand a thing about it, if I'm being honest."

"I can help you, if you want. I know a little about it."

"That'd be great ! I mean – if you don't mind, of course !"

"I don't."

She then helped me figure out some details about the topic that I wasn't sure of. It turned out that when Hermione said she knew 'a little' about something, she actually knew a lot. I was very grateful for her help, and gave her a hand with her History of Magic assignment in return. It was starting to get really late when we both finished our work. We closed our books, and started walking back to the Common Room, talking about the Tournament and Hermione sharing her worries about the OWLS.

"You'll be fine, Hermione" I smiled. "If I can do it, you certainly can."

"I'm mostly worried about Defense Against the Dark Arts, you know. I'm not very good at it – not like Harry is."

"Some people are just natural at certain things. But believe me, you have nothing to worry about. DADA was quite easy – even Fred and George, who didn't study at all, got Exceed Expectations – so did Lee, if I remember well."

She nodded, looking slightly relieved. I was glad to be able to make her feel better – I wish I had had someone to do that last year.

"Speaking of Fred and George – I got to say, it's rare to see you without them."

"Yeah – yeah, I guess you're right" I said faintly.

"Is everything all right ?" she asked, frowning.

It was probably very obvious – I had never been very good at hiding my feelings. And Hermione was very intuitive. Sometimes I wondered why she hadn't been put in Ravenclaw.

"Yeah, it's just – a silly fight, you know. Nothing bad."

"What happened ?"

I hesitated. It wasn't that I didn't trust Hermione – I just wasn't sure if I wanted to talk about it.

"You don't have to talk about it" she quickly added. "It's just – you look like you could use an ear."

I smiled, nodding. She was right – maybe it would make me feel better. I told her about how I had fought with George, carefully excluding that it had all happened because I fancied him a little bit more than I would've liked. But Hermione, of course, figured it all out.

"I'm not very skilled in this area – but, to me, it sounds like you should just talk to him. You obviously both have a lot of things to say to each other."

"What do you mean ?"

"That you like each other."

I blushed furiously, but didn't deny it. Hermione laughed softly.

"I mean – what other explanation is there ?" she continued. "You're just both very stubborn –"

"Hey !" I said playfully.

"- not in a bad way" she added, blushing. "But you are. And you are both scared that admitting your feelings to the other will ruin your friendship – when it obviously won't."

"I'm not sure I'm ready to admit that, though" I said miserably.

"I understand. I do" she nodded.

I frowned, and wanted to ask about it, but she quickly added something, preventing me from doing so.

"But you should at least talk to him. Explain yourself."

I nodded – she was right. As we entered the Common Room, I hugged her warmly.

"Thank you, Hermione. I don't know why I didn't come to you in the first place."

"I'm there if you need me. Oh, and good luck for your essay !"

"Good luck for yours ! And thanks again."

She turned to join Harry, who was sitting quietly by the fire, and I ran upstairs to go to bed, my mind buzzing with activity – sleep wouldn't come easy.