Author's Note: I have wanted to write this chapter since the beginning. I hope you love it!

Chapter 12: Explosion

The first week of December arrived, and with it brought the promises of Christmas and for Kaylee, her 17th birthday. Kaylee had a December 27th birthday, much to her dislike. Being born two days after one of the biggest holidays of the year just took away much of the enjoyment of celebrating her birthday. Too often, her family gave her birthmas presents as she liked to call them. She didn't mind really, but she did mind that sometimes her birthday would go completely unnoted. However, this year she would finally be of age.

Thoughts of Christmas and her birthday was even pushed from Kaylee's mind when they got an announcement after Charms class. Professor Flitwick kept them a few extra minutes to explain why they needed formal wear.

"The Yule Ball is a traditional event in the Triwizard Tournament," Flitwick had said. "It will be held on Christmas in the Great Hall. Fourth years and up are encouraged to attend, and may invite someone younger if they wish. Dress code is formal wear which means dress robes for the gents and evening gowns for the ladies. I'm sure I do not need to remind you to uphold the values and behavior expected of you, according to the House of Rowena Ravenclaw."

Instantly, all the girls started gossiping eagerly. A formal event like this had never occurred at Hogwarts, at least not while they were there. Soon, it was the only thing the school could talk about. Girls began giggling like mad whenever a group of boys passed by them. Kaylee only wanted to go with one boy, but she was not about to ask him. She still had to tell him how she felt about him, and she didn't think it was wise to confess undying love, be rejected, then have to survive an evening dancing romantically with George. If he would even go with her.

George was putting off asking anyone to the ball. Truthfully, he wasn't one for fancy parties, but he knew he'd have to ask someone soon. Fred had no problem getting a date. They were sitting in the Gryffindor common room one evening, talking to Harry, Ron, and Hermione when Fred got his date.

"So…you lot got dates for the ball, yet?" Fred had asked Ron.

"Nope," Ron replied.

"Well, you'd better hurry up mate, or all the good ones will be gone," Fred remarked.

"Who're you going with then?" Ron asked him.

"Angelina," Fred said grinning.

"What?!" Ron had said, shocked. "You've already asked her?"

"Hmm.. Good point." Fred said. He turned his head and called loudly across the common room "Oy! Angelina!"

Angelina, who had been talking to Alicia near the fire, looked over to where Fred was sitting.

"What?" she called.

"Want to come to the ball with me?" Fred asked loudly, without a hint of embarrassment.

"All right then," Angelina grinned at him, and continued to talk to Alicia like nothing had happened.

"There you go. Piece of cake," Fred said grinning at Ron and Harry.

"What about you then?" Harry asked George.

"I haven't asked anyone yet. Guess I had better," George replied.

"Well you can take Kaylee. She still doesn't have a date," Ron said.

"How do you know that?" George asked.

"She told me. I think she's hoping a certain someone will ask her," Hermione said giving George a pointed look.

"Probably that bloke Jason Samuels," George grumbled, thinking once again of the date Kaylee had gone on. He had refused to ask her about it, but had been pleased to see there hadn't been a second date, as far as he could tell.

Hermione shook her head at him. "Really George, how can you be so blind?" But she refused to say anymore, and quickly rose and left for bed.

On December 15th, Kaylee was sure George was never going to ask her and she had accepted she would go alone. A good snow had finally covered the grounds, making Hogwarts look like it was covered in thick white frosting. Fred, George, Kaylee, and Lee decided to take advantage of this weather. They bundled up and went outside, quickly engaging in a snow fueled war.

Harry, Ron, Ginny, and even Hermione had joined them about halfway through. By the time they got cold enough to return inside, everyone was dripping wet and laughing. They all went up to Gryffindor common room to warm up by the fire, even Kaylee. This wasn't the first time Fred and George had snuck Kaylee into their common room. At first, the Gryffindors had looked at the girl in the Ravenclaw outfit, sitting in the Gryffindor common room. Soon enough, she had become a regular visitor, and no one even turned their heads anymore. Of course, Kayle had gotten into trouble a few times when she had forgotten the time and left Gryffindor tower too late in the evening. Professor McGonagle had caught her and scolded her for being in a different house common room so late. Nowadays, Kaylee tried to make a point of remembering to leave early enough so she would have time to get back to her own common room before curfew.

Ron was annoying Hermione, trying to get her to tell him who she was going to the ball with. Hermione refused to tell him, but she had told Kaylee that Viktor Krum had asked her. Kaylee grinned over at her, knowingly.

"What, she told you?" Ron asked, incredulously.

"Yes, but don't even waste your time trying to get it out of me Ronald. It's not going to happen," Kaylee said.

"Who are you going with then?" Ron asked.

"Me, myself and I," Kaylee said with a shrug.

"You're not going with Jason Samuels?" Fred asked.

"Course not. Why would you think that?" Kaylee asked confused.

"Well you went on a date with him I figured you were a couple now," said Fred.

"I forgot, I never told you about that. I'd say my first date didn't go so well. I uhh, ditched him halfway through," Kaylee said, a bit embarrassed.

"Why would you do that?" George asked, stunned by this news.

"Let's just say, my heart wasn't in it," Kaylee replied.

"That means he's a terrible snogger," Fred said laughing at her.

"No, he kissed just fine. I just kind of realized I didn't want to kiss him again," Kaylee said grinning at Fred.

"You kissed him?!" George said, going pale.

"Well yeah. Just the one time," Kaylee told him, wondering why he sounded so angry. "Then I told him I didn't want to be his girlfriend, and I left."

"So what, you snog random blokes and if their kissing isn't up to par, you ditch them?" George spit out.

"Random blokes? Your acting like I've been snogging the whole school," Kaylee said outraged.

"Have you?" George asked, his voice dripping with venom.

"Of course not! How can you ask something like that?!" Kaylee yelled, jumping to her feet.

"Well how should I know? You went and snogged the first bloke that showed interest! I thought you had better taste than that," George exclaimed, getting to his feet as well.

"Who I kiss is none of your business, George!"

"I thought you had more class! I thought you were waiting for the right bloke!" George continued.

"Don't you dare lecture me about waiting, George Weasley! I've spent the better part of 4 years waiting!"

"You've fancied Jason Samuels for 4 years!?" George asked, going red in the face.

"No, you idiot. I've spent the last 4 years waiting for you! I've spent the last 4 years waiting for you to show any kind of interest in me! Do you know what it's like, having to put on a face everyday so you're best friend doesn't see that you're in love with them? Knowing that they don't feel the same way about you, yet you can't stop thinking about them? I haven't slept properly in about 4 years now because when I do I keep dreaming of you!" Kaylee knew she should stop, but now she had started, she couldn't. She was so angry with him. She continued to yell at him through the tears that were falling fast now.

"This year, I finally convinced myself to try and move on. I went on a date, I had my first kiss, but you ruined that too! I left him because the whole time I was kissing him, I could only think of you! I'll probably spend the rest of my life waiting on you to fall in love with me! So don't you dare lecture me on waiting, George Weasley! I am the bloody Master at waiting!"

Silence filled the common room. Kaylee hadn't meant to start a scene, yet everyone was staring at them. Ron's mouth was even hanging open. George stood before her looking like he didn't know whether to continue yelling, or throw up.

"You fancy me?" George finally managed to croak out.

"You are the biggest idiot I've ever met!" Kaylee said stepping forward.

"Yeah? Well –" but George's words were cut short. Kaylee was kissing him.

Kaylee had imagined her first kiss with George thousands of times, but she had never imagined she would be crying when it finally happened. She had to make him understand. Nearly 4 years of repressed emotions spilled out of her, channeled in her kiss. She kissed him with all the passion she held inside her, desperate for him to understand just how deep her love for him was.

Finally the realization of what she was doing hit her like a brick wall. She stepped back, horrified she had just kissed her best friend. There was no going back now. George stood frozen, as if he had been hit with the full body bind curse. Kaylee looked around the room and noticed every single eye was upon her. Fred was looking at her with a surprised grin on his face, Ron's mouth was still hanging open, Hermione looked piteous, Harry looked confused. It was too much for Kaylee. She ran for it. She didn't stop running until she reached her bed.

Back in Gryffindor common room, George was still frozen.

"George. Earth to George!" Fred called, shaking his brother.

"What just happened?" George asked weakly.

"Kaylee finally exploded," Ginny said. She had been watching the scene with amazement from the corner. "I've been expecting this to happen for a while now."

"What?" George asked, clearly baffled.

"Come on, I'll explain everything," Ginny said, taking George's hand and leading him out of the portrait hole.