The time soon came for that oh-so-important family and friends social gathering that your parents have planned for months now, even though you never cared for them, at all. But, by some unnecessary reasoning, your parents persuaded you to come, despite you already having plans with the Weasley's.
Reluctantly, you slipped up the smooth zip to your silky apricot orange dress. Not many people could pull off this colour, but a little smug smile patrolled your mind, happy that you were one of the few to pull it off, making you more unique whenever there was a gathering. The dress happily sat just above your knees and was sleeveless, emphasising your feminine curves that you were thankful you gained during puberty, hoping to grow out of your boyish ways some day. Careful not to pinch your skin, the zip was dropped from your fingertips as it securely rested in place.
Your hair was flopped over one shoulder in a sea of waves, the other side held with small pale dusty pink rose clips, three in total, your ears held a matching set of studs. The silver shoes you wore were your Yule Ball shoes. They worked so well with your dress that you couldn't choose any other pair over them. Plus, you wanted to see if Fred noticed, counting the time that goes by before teasing him for not noticing. A small amused smile spread across your pale skin, your hand carefully gliding a soft light pink layer of gloss over your lips, nothing heavy of course but nice enough to give them a pearl shine. Your eyelashes were curved with a small amount of mascara and your eyes dusted with a soft brown, bringing out the colour of your eyes.
"I think I am ready," You said to yourself as you nodded, your head tilting to one side a little as you examined yourself in the full-body mirror.
A slim silver chain linked through your engagement ring, resting on your chest. You did want to wear it, really you did, but both you and Fred agreed that it would be best to not wear it for the time you spend here, in case anyone freaked out about it or made assumptions. Your once happy smile faded a little sadly as your eyes drifted over the sparkling ring. Just then, the once clear jewel began to change colour in front of your eyes slowly. It glistened beautifully. The colour had turned to a pale peach. You figured that this was due to you wearing both pale apricot and pink colours, causing the ring to mix the two together. The sad smile was wiped away instantly, replaced with a far brighter one.
"You're so clever, Fred." you sighed to yourself, your fingertips edged lightly around the silver. "I just wish that you would admit it." Fred and George knew that they weren't the smartest of wizards at Hogwarts, but they were so clever in their own ways. Boy, did the Slytherins have a field day when they found out about the school drop-outs. They teased them about their family name more and mocked their intelligence, calling them stupid and undeserving of magic.
But once they started their own business, it thrived so much in such a short amount of time. It was amazing. You were so proud of them both.
Your thoughts were soon interrupted by a few knocks on your door. Quickly, without falling over your heels, your hand grasped the handle and swung the door open, smiling greatly at the face looking back at you.
"Heya love," Fred greeted in his normal cheeky way. Fred wore a dashing black tux, white shirt and also his Yule Ball shoes. Your eyes blinked hard and heavily at the sight in front of you. It was strange seeing him dressed like this. But, a good strange. The sight captivated and had drawn you away from words. Seeing Fred dressed smartly was always a weird amusing sight, one which you will see again on your wedding day. This send butterflies straight from your heart down to your stomach. You wished that day would come sooner...
"You look beautiful," Fred muttered in awe, his cheeky grin remaining on his freckly cheeks. His eyes darted down to the ground swiftly, but then quickly returned back to yours. "Snap!"
"Um...what?" You chuckled, your eyebrow rising in amused confusion at his random outburst.
"Your shoes," he explained. "those are the ones you wore to the Yule Ball." Fred lifted one of his large feet into the air and pointed a finger back down to them, his childish grin dazzled his features. "Snap."
"Snap..." You repeated in whisper, smiling contently up at the now 'official' adult. Although he never acted like one.
Fred dropped his foot back to the ground and shrugged his shoulders freely. Quickly, he kissed your cheek softly, almost shyly too, as if this was a repeat of the night you shared together at the Yule Ball. He shrugged his shoulders sheepishly, his smile crooked as he spoke.
"You realise that mum is planning our wedding without us there..." Your mind pondered for a brief second and without a second longer you nodded, returning the smile.
"Yeah, I figured that would happen. Especially with Ginny there too."
The two of you laughed as you made your way downstairs, the gentle echoes bouncing off the walls. By the time you approached the larger gathering in the huge living room, bustling voices being thrown into the air over each other voice sounding.
Not long after conquering the last few steps, a snooty looking couple who looked a couple years older than the two of you began to approach.
"Fiona," Sneered the girl in a posh nasal voice. Her hair was black and straight that curtained most of her back with the long locks, her face and nose were pointed, her dark eyes were almost black in colour. Her date that accompanied her also had pointed sneered features, his hair was copper coloured and brushed over to one side, his eyes judging Fred that stood his ground beside you. "How good to see you once more." Fred's eyebrows dipped a little in frown.
'Once?' Fred questioned mentally, confused.
"Indeed," Agreed the taller man beside her. "What house were you planted in?"
"Well, mother did mention this to your mother, but I am a Gryffindor." You replied, trying not to grit your teeth as you could tell that they were mentally judging Fred thoroughly. The man blinked, as he sneered again nasally.
"Oh," he began. "I thought you'd follow your mother. Or your father."
"What houses were they?" Fred asked curiously, genuinely interested as he looked down at you.
"Mother was a Ravenclaw and father was a Slytherin."
"Shame really," sighed the nasal girl. "Oh well, I suppose that it is better than being a useless Hufflepuff."
"Ha! Indeed, my dear!" He bellowed a loud snobbish laugh. "The leftovers of the houses!"
"Worthless bunch, those lot. I don't even know why they were allowed into the school, there isn't anything special about a Hufflepuff!" She cackled in response.
You swore continuously in your mind at them. How dare they! Hufflepuff's are just as special as every other house and deserve to be there too!
"And what you?" You snapped back into reality and realised the snobbish man now spoke to Fred, his eyes stabbing through Fred's. "What house are you in?"
Fred paused, hesitated. He thought quick on his feet and thought it was best not to mention that he is a Hogwarts drop-out.
"Gryffindor, too."
"Oh," they both sneered again, this really started to annoy you. "Figured."
The night seemed to drag on longer than you thought and most of the people here really got on your nerves and grind your gears, you desperately tried not to shut them up with a spell that literally zips their lips together.
"No," Fred whispered softly in your ear, the warmth of his breath causing you to jump a little. Your eyes turned to meet his brown ones investigating yours, you grinned.
"What?"
"I know what you are thinking, I think I am a bad influence on you." You shrugged innocently.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, my dear Fred."
"You want to use the zip joke spell." He whispered, his lips curling mischievously. You snorted a little and tried to stifle it by digging your teeth into your lip. "Thought so."
Fred began to lean down to kiss you when suddenly, dark swarms of liquid shadows burst through the windows, shattering them as they forced their way through the barriers that blocked their way. Screams flooded the air as more and more of these liquid shadows swarmed into the room.
You could feel yourself being dragged by the hand by Fred to attempt to take cover, but you both were dragged to the ground forcefully, hiding behind one of the large leather armchairs.
"Sorry," your mother whispered, loud enough for you both to hear.
"Mother! What's going on-"
"Shh! No time to dawdle now." Screams continued to swarm around the room as well as thundering footsteps trying to run away from the bolts of light targeting them. "Death Eaters...have come."
"Wh-"
"Your father and I refused to join You-Know-Who as well as many others here tonight and it seems that he wasn't too pleased with our answer." She joked dryly with a half-hearted smile. Quickly, she kissed your forehead and stroked your cheek. You knew what was going to happen but prayed that it wouldn't. Tears began to form in your eyes and tears brimmed your mother's eyes too, her voice wobbling a little between words.
"Fred, take care of my daughter won't you?" Fred nodded instantly, his voice quiet.
"Of course I will." She smiled towards him.
"You would have been an amazing son-in-law." Both of your eyes widened as you and Fred glanced at each other briefly, stunned.
"H-how did you know?"
"Fiona, I may be blind sometimes as to what is happening in front of me, but I am not stupid." Her voice crackled as she smiled warmly to the two of you. She rested one hand on Fred's shoulder and one on yours gently, smiling once more before she leapt out from behind the chair, hoping that she could give enough time for you to escape with Fred safely.