Chapter 14
This was it. The night of the ball. The night where every guy is meant to feel like he just drank Felix Felicis. The night where every girl is supposed to feel like a princess.
Fred didn't feel that way though. He didn't feel lucky at all. He was going with the pauper because he'd lost his princess.
Lily was lying awake in her bed. She had been for a while now. It was the day of the ball.
She should've been excited. But she wasn't. She should've been bursting at the seams with joy, but she wasn't.
She didn't have Fred. That's why. She /was/ going with a prince, but he wasn't her knight in shining armour.
Eleven hours until the ball. Lily was out of bed and listening to Tina plan her night with Draco. Leigh and Cassidy were mocking it of course.
Lily was off in her own little daydream world. A world where she was going to the ball with Fred. Where they danced all night, and talked, and he was a complete gentleman, and at the end of the night, he told her how much he loved her and kissed her goodnight.
Eleven hours until the ball.
Fred was already dreading the thought of watching Brady with Lily. Watching Brady be so close to her and not being able to do anything because he pushed her away.
He had been only blaming this on her pride, but his played a big part in it too. Okay, yeah, he wanted people to know about he and Lily. But is that so bad?
What Lily did was worse. She let all her pride get in the way. She didn't want people finding out in case they told her father, who would Avada Kedavra Fred on the spot.
That's when it dawned on him.
"She did nothing wrong," he whispered, mentally slapping himself.
Nine hours until the ball.
There was even more excitement now. Lily, Leigh and Cassidy skipped lunch. Well, Lily did, she couldn't bear seeing Fred. It would be hard enough tonight. Cass and Leigh stayed with her, Tina couldn't miss seeing Draco.
Nine hours until the ball.
"Fred? Coming to lunch?" George asked happily. Fred shook his head. George gestured or the others to go on without him. Angelina didn't. She sat next to Fred. She ran a hand through his hair. For a moment he forgot who it was and thought it was Lily. He snapped back to reality.
"Ange, can you please, leave?" He asked trying to be polite. She left with an offended look n her face.
"What's up Freddie?" George asked.
"Its...its Lily," he confessed.
"I've noticed she's been a bit...elsewhere, lately," George said.
"Well, er, you see, Lily and I are - /were/ - kind of seeing each other, in secret. She was trying to protect me, from her mum and dad and her friends. But I asked her to the ball and she said no and we got in a fight and well, you know the rest,"
"So if you still love her, why'd you ask Ange?"
"Because, I knew Ange liked me, and Lily was there and I just wanted to hurt her,"
"Well you've hurt both of 'em now you prat,"
"I know, I never meant to,"
"So you still want Lily?" George asked, coming up with a plan. Fred sighed.
"Mate, I'm past wanting her. I need her,"
Six hours until the ball.
Lily paced up and down the dorm. She was not at all looking forward to the ball. She had to spend the whole night watching Fred dance with Angelina, while she was dancing with Brady.
She wanted to get Fred back. She was /going/ to get Fred back.
Six hours until the ball.
George had convinced Angelina to go with him instead, filling her in on Lily and Fred. Fred didn't know this, of course, but was soon to find out.
"Fred," George said loudly, walking in with Angelina.
"Hey guys," he said, with no cheer at all.
"Fred," Ange said in a caring tone, "why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"That you're in love with Lily. I guess I should've guessed,"
"I'm sorry Ange, I didn't mean to use you-"
"Fred its fine!" she grinned, "I'm going with George now anyway,"
Fred became a little happier.
Three hours until the ball.
Lily was sitting cross-legged on Cassidy's bed. Cassidy was brushing her hair. Tina was braiding Leigh's hair on her bed. The girls were all chatting away, even Lily, about the upcoming event.
"Hey Lil?" Tina asked.
"Yeah," she replied.
"How do you tell the difference between Fred and George?"
"Their eyes," she said, not even realising she was smiling.
"Aren't their eyes the same colour?"
"Yeah, but it's the look in their eyes they get when they see me. George looks at me like a little sister, someone he fights with. But Fred," she sighed dreamily, "Fred gets a twinkle in his eye, he's always looked at me differently, we've only recently realised it, but he looks at me with love, he always has. He sees me as someone he fights for,"
"He's a lucky guy Lil," Cass said.
They switched positions when Leigh's and Lily's hair was done. Lily got started on Cassidy's makeup. She used natural colours to go with her mauve dress. Leigh was using a pink palette for Tina. They did their hair after makeup, and then switched again. Cass did Lily's makeup. She used liquid eyeliner and did a little flick at the edges of Lily's eyes and put scarlet lipstick on Lily's perfectly curved lips. Tina put lots of sparkles on Leigh's eyes and lips.
When they all got dressed, it was the first time they got to see Lily's dress properly. Up until now, it'd stayed in the box. It was a strapless velvety, crimson red dress that flowed to the floor.
"Whoa!" Tina gushed.
"You look amazing!" Leigh squealed.
"Fred's gonna lose it!" Cassidy said excitedly.
That was the plan.
Three hours until the ball.
Fred showered and got ready in his deep maroon dress robes. It made his hair look a little redder, but he knew Lily loved his red hair.
He wanted to apologise to her, but he didn't think he would get a chance to because she was going with Hankins. Fred thought about not going at all. That would be easier. He wouldn't have to face her. He wouldn't have to see her dancing with him. But even though they weren't together, would be unhappy if he didn't show up.
He gave himself a small pep talk and set off towards the ball.
It was time.