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That night the common room was buzzing with even more excitement, the schools had shown up and dazzled the students with amazingly choreographed routines at dinner, and the judge was revealed. I admit I was confused when all I saw was an ornately designed chalice, but it made sense that the choice would be left to a nonbiased magical object. People tended to be unreliable, easily fooled.
But the atmosphere in the dorm was heavier.
Angelina went straight to bed after eating, never looking at me or at anybody for very long. By the time I made it upstairs after the party she was in bed and didn't answer when I called her name. I slid under the covers, and watched her breathe.
How could I have missed her crush on Fred?
This was a question that ran through my head all night, plaguing my thoughts until I finally fell asleep and forgot about the problems of the world and the excitement. My dreams were comprised of pumpkin juice and coffee, a familiar ginger smiling at me with twinkling eyes.
I was awake before the sun was up. An unusual occurrence, and one that wasn't even remotely welcomed. I managed to get back to sleep but only for a few minutes since Barney caught on to my change in breathing patterns and demanded to be fed.
"You've trained me well you little git." I grumbled, dumping his treats on the bed and trudging to the shower.
I took my time with every task, soaking in the hot water and letting it relax my muscles that I hadn't even realized were tensed up. The scent of cinnamon from my body wash was intoxicating, and I stood under the shower head until my knees were weak.
I'd already had an outfit picked out, dark brown leggings, an oversized forest green sweater that reached just below my bum, and brown riding boots. I left my hair down with extra product, not willing to take a chance, and left the bathrooms only to be greeted by wide awake dorm mates and sunshine. Time really flies when you're unwinding.
I looked around for Angelina but she wasn't in her bed or in the dorms, she can't avoid me forever and when she slips up or calms down well have to talk this out.
Giving up on the search, I abandoned the dorms and the gryffendor common rooms all together and made my way to the fruit portrait for my morning coffee, a routine that was most likely going to become habitual, when I felt goosebumps crawl up my spine like spiders.
I looked ahead of me and from the wild hair, whirling mechanical eye and limp I recognized Mad Eyed Moody, the newest Defense Against The Dark Arts professor. The man gave me the creeps, even with all the amazing stories of his victories and battles I couldn't bring myself to be near him for long. He simply seemed to look through me as he passed by, grumbling under his breathe. When I rounded the corner and he was no where in sight I was finally able to release the breathe id been holding in.
"Seen a ghost?" Came the voice of none other than Alexander Diotrephes.
"Damn you scared me." I exclaimed, reaching a hand to my chest having stopped dead in my tracks at his voice.
"You wound me." He drawled, leaning on the wall and watching me with amusement.
I mimicked his actions, the cool touch of the wall not helping with the goosebump situation.
"You'll survive." I sighed, looking around at the empty corridor, not a shocking sight considering it was a weekend and before ten.
"You're awfully distracted today." He remarked, raising an eyebrow and running a hand through his dark blonde hair.
"I have a lot going on, can't seem to focus." I admitted, tracing circles on the ground with my toe.
"Fortunately for you I have nothing but time, tell me about it." He demanded in a bored voice.
"Why do you care?" I asked, I got that we were even but this was rather nice of him.
"I feel I owe you. Plus you seem like a good person to have as a friend, or at least an ally considering you know my dirty little secret." He reasoned, displaying his Slytherin "charm" for me.
"Well that makes sense."
"So are you going to let me help or should I find somebody more entertaining?"
"You're so impatient. I guess if I had to sum up everything, I finally got a date with the guy I've been crushing on for years, only to find out that my best friend liked him too and now she won't talk to me. And I'm beyond nervous for the date since I don't know if he's just being nice or if he's actually into me, I don't want to mess it up either way." I hadn't realized how stressed Id been until I finally got everything out in the open, and the tightness in my chest eased up.
"Oh so the taller twin finally asked you out? If I had to watch you two sneak those lovesick stares at each other's backs anymore I was going to retch." He replied.
"You knew?" I squeaked as my stomach somersaulted.
"I'm not an idiot, granted I only noticed after I heard the tall one, Fred is it? Tell his brother about you a year ago. Don't look at me like that, I barely remembered that the conversation happened let alone what exactly was said. If you want to know how he feels just take him aside during the date and lay one on him. As for your friend, you snooze you lose and shell just have to get over it. Other fish in the sea, etc etc." Alexander explained, maintaining a bored tone the entire time that wasn't betrayed by the exasperated look in his chocolate brown eyes.
"Things don't work that easily, I have to talk to her about it. And I can't just kiss him!" I whispered shrilly, suddenly paranoid somebody would overhear us.
"Yes you can. It's easy. Just push your lips against lips and go from there."
"I'm going to ignore that." I grumbled, as the murmur of voices reached our ears. Looking behind me I saw a small crowd of Durmstrang guys walking towards us, practically oozing with gorgeousness.
I watched in awe as they walked by, as I noticed one of the guys look over and immediately look at alexander, his eyes quickly widening and going back to normal within a split second. I could feel Alexander tense beside me, and I looked between them, suddenly feeling some familiar chemistry brewing.
The Durmstrang guy, with short black hair, tan skin and silver eyes only looked away when the crowd turned the corner and disappeared.
"Well that was something, you should talk to that guy." I said with a grin, nudging him with my elbow.
"It's not that simple, and he may not be gay. He probably thought I was your boyfriend or something." He answered with an eye roll, not meeting my stare.
"Oh come on it can't hurt, and he was beautiful! That needs to be investigated." I protested.
"Fine, I'll get friendly with him. If you snog your man in Hogsmeade today." He said, pushing away from the wall and staring down at me with a Cheshire grin.
I could feel my cheeks warm and eyes widen in shock. But I thought about it, and if it meant finding out if Fred liked me then why not? I certainly never held back on my dates with Oliver, id kissed him first too.
"Deal." I grunted, holding out my hand and looking up at him challengingly.
"So formal, but deal." He said with a grin, shaking my hand firmly as he pulled me in and whispered in my ear, "Better make it a good one."
Well if I wasn't nervous before I certainly was now.
After my encounter with Alexander id been too nervous to possibly run into Fred at the kitchens so I wandered around aimlessly until it was time to meet up in the courtyard to go to the village.
I shuffled outside and inhaled the crisp autumn air, the smell of leaves and pine filling my nose and and calming my nerves.
I spotted Fred leaning against a short stone wall, his hair flying in the light wind and getting in his eyes repeatedly. He was wearing a familiar green and brown flannel and brown trousers. I grinned at the fact wed essentially coordinated outfits without even trying, this had to be a good omen.
He looked up and saw me, smiling with a wave as he got up and jogged over.
"You look lovely as always Gracey, though I must say I'm flattered you chose me as your style icon today. It's never too late to cultivate an eye for fashion." He exclaimed with flourish, slightly out of breathe from his brief run.
"Freddy you know I've always admired your sense of style." I joked, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach that threatened to multiply any moment.
"I can't blame you there, it amazes me that I haven't been picked up by an agency yet. Ready to go my dear?" he said, extending his arm to me with a raised eyebrow, and I noted his voice jumped an octave at the last syllable.
"Of course sir." I answered, linking my arm with his as we headed out to the road and down to the village.
We talked as normal the entire way, laughing and joking like nothing was different. We reached the town and immediately decided to check out Zonkos, as Fred briefly mentioned something about product research. We were almost there when I looked around and saw multiple sets of eyes on us when I realized how this must look. We were alone, without George, arms linked and grinning at secret jokes. This was sure to be all over the school by tomorrow.
I couldn't bring myself to remove my arm, even as we wormed our way through the crowds of the beloved prank store we stayed intertwined. Either with linked arms or by holding hands, as he'd pull me close every time he found something interesting, explaining the genius behind it or openly wondering how it worked.
I'd always held a certain fascination for the twin's pranks and all the cool inventions they came up with to pull them off. They were truly brilliant when they focused and their more intensive jokes were simply masterpieces when they were set off.
I could listen to Fred all day, which is essentially what happened. We finally noticed how thin the crowd was when we took that as our cue to leave and go for a drink at the three broom sticks for butterbeer.
We were brought to a secluded corner booth in the back of the pub and two butter beers placed in front of us when we finally seemed to run out of things to say. I quietly sipped on my drink, enjoying the silence, when I sneaked a look over to Fred and saw him staring into his drink, clearly in deep thought over something. I'd give almost anything to get a look inside his head.
FREDS POV
Everything had gone better than I'd hoped or planned for, I finally found a good time to ask her on a date, I somehow picked a matching outfit, she'd been laughing all day, but now I had no idea what to do. Do I ask her on another date? Do I kiss her?
Why is she so quiet? I haven't had this much time to think all day, I can't possibly have messed up so quickly and not noticed. Did she want to go to Madame Puddifoots? Merlin I hope not.
I cringed at the thought of the sickly pink café with its overly sweet coffee drinks. The few times previous dates had dragged me in their still lingered in the back of my mind like a pungent after taste. I knew Grace fancied the place though, I'd seen her there before with her friends and she always spoke about something called a butterbeer cappuccino that could only be found there. It was the only flavored coffee she genuinely liked. Shit I hope I hadn't messed up picking this place.
Okay, focus. Ask her on another date now while things are still going well.
I looked up into a pair of twinkling blue eyes, and felt my breathe hitch my throat. She was looking at me intensely, smiling at me for something I couldn't figure out. Her newly long hair looked soft and touchable, and on instinct I reached out and grabbed a thick strand watching it float between my fingers and back into place. Looking up I took a breath and leaned forward, I was going to have to ask before I got distracted again, but I was cut off. And I didn't mind.
GRACES POV
I could barely move when I felt Fred run his hand through my hair as he leaned forward, intently focusing on what he was doing. Whatever that was.
He looked up at me, smiling with such sincerity I could feel the butterflies multiply. This was going to be a moment that I hoped to remember forever, and I didn't want either of us to ruin it by talking, so I did the only thing I could think of, and leaned forward planting my left hand on the space between us on the seat as I grabbed his hand my right and kissed him the way I'd been dreaming of since I cared to remember.
WOOT WOOT we've made it all the way to chapter ten, so far so good! Hope you guys enjoyed this teaser of what's to come. Remember to review and favorite and follow so I know to continue this story in the direction I'm taking it. And just so I update period.
Have a good weekend