A/N: I just want to thank you to those of you who have read this, reviewed and favorited this fanfic and me. Also, I want to apologize for taking sooo very long to publish the next installment. I am soooooo sorry. I have had it written for quite some time but, my life has been very hectic and it's hard to get on my computer at home long enough to type everything up.

But i do have some good news, if it makes you happy. I am almost finished and if I don't get kicked off the computer tonight I will have the rest of the chapters up for you guys (: I also have another HP fanfic in the making. It's a Next Generation, something not as dramatic...maybe a little but some humor and angst(you gotta love angst (: )...so please don't be too upset with me?

Anyway, enjoy (:

Chapter 4

I leave the bathroom and trace my steps to the courtyard.

…

The bitter cold of winter bites into my exposed skin as I walk out into the outside from the Yule Ball. The teachers made the courtyard so beautiful though, I had to come out and see it all. The dress I'm wearing isn't suitable for the outdoors, but I love everything about it. The color is an army green and the bone corset has a stitching of golden flowers, much like my wand. The silk skirt puffs around my legs as I sit down on the bench. It is truly a beautiful night, I think to myself as I look into the sky.

Going alone turned out to be not as I expected—a total bummer—I was actually having fun. I had asked the Patil twins if I could steal their dates, Ron and Harry, for two slow dances. Harry was bummed out because Cedric had asked Cho to the dance before he could, and Ron…well I'm not sure if he's jealous Hermione went with Victor or wounded because Hermione managed to get a date before he did, either way he needed some cheering up as well. I also danced with George, Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom. I danced the fast songs with some friends. And now I sit out in the courtyard. Why? Because I saw Fred dancing with Angelina. I knew the night had been going too smoothly. I had expertly dodged sight of Fred until that moment.

"Kyra?" A voice asks in front of me.

I look up in surprise to see Cho Chang standing there. She's very pretty, I can understand why Harry and Cedric fell for her.

"How can I help you Cho?" I ask.

"I know it's a little late for this, but I wanted to say I'm sorry about Cedric."

"Don't be." I smile. "We had our run him and me. I'm not blaming you for our break-up." I stand and put a hand on her shoulder. "He's a good guy, keep him. All I ask is that you two be happy, okay? Make him smile a lot."

She smiles and nods. "I will…you're a good person Kyra. Well. I better go back," she motions to the ball going on inside. "Thank you, you not being mad at me is a relief."

I nod and watch her go and then I take a seat back on the bench.

"You're a good person? What was she expecting me to do? Battle her to the death?" I look down at my lap and rub the kink in my neck.

I hear someone sigh and plop down next to me on the bench. "It's been awhile." The person says.

Fred?! I slowly lift my head up and look to the person next to me. Fred smiles and his blue-green eyes sparkle in the fairy lights.

"Yeah, it has." I force myself to say.

"Why is that, I wonder?"

I don't reply and just stare straight ahead at the castle.

"I also wonder why I have yet to receive a dance from you."

My heart thuds painfully in my chest and I take a shaky breath.

"You should get back to your date." I stand up and force a smile onto my face. "She's probably waiting for you." I turn to leave.

"When did you and Cedric break up?"

I stop in my tracks. "A week before you asked Angelina to the Yule Ball."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I felt his breath on my neck.

I shrug keeping my focus ahead. "Does it really matter? I wasn't heartbroken…I didn't need a shoulder to cry on. Besides, news travels fast around here I knew everyone would've found out eventually."

Fred turns me roughly around. "What about this?" he holds up his pinky. "Aren't we supposed to be best friends?"

Tears prick at the back of my eyes. "Yeah," I take his pinky with my own. "We're best friends. Always have been….always will be." I let go of his pinky and step out of his grip all the while thinking 'and nothing more' " It's late. I'm pretty tired. Goodnight."

I pick up the skirts of my gown and run away before he can say anything.

...

I dust the bench off and take a seat.

"I tried my best to look beautiful that night for you Fred. Did you know that?" I ask the air. "I looked for the perfect dress for hours. I chose green because you always said it was the perfect color for me. I wore the golden locket you gave me on my thirteenth birthday, not because it went along with the dress but, because you got it for me. I did it all for you Fred. Did you notice?"

"He noticed."

I jump up and spin around to face the intruder…Angelina. She looks rough with her hair in a distressed ponytail and her arm in a sling.

"He noticed, Kyra." She repeats and smiles nervously. "You didn't know but, I followed Fred out that night at the Yule Ball. When I saw you two talking, I knew it wasn't me he had eyes for. He fancied you all along. I don't know if he noticed you did it all for him, but he did notice how beautiful you were." Her smile is sad now. "I know it's a terrible memory, but think back to the third task and how he took care of you. He loved you back then, even if he thought you loved Cedric." She bows her head in "goodbye" and leaves.