The Yule Ball
Finally, the clock tolled three, signaling the end of classes for the day. All the girls ran out of their classrooms and back to their common rooms, trying to gain as much time to get ready as possible before the dance began. "Gotta go carrot top! I'll meet you before the ball starts!" You chorused behind you, jumping out of your seat and sprinting out of Charms with Angelina in a race back to the Gryffindor girls bathroom for vanity space. Watching you run with such enthusiasm made George's heart beat faster, merely tutting to himself as he took his time walking back to the common room.
Having barely made it to the common room after an onslaught of women running amuck in the castle, George entered to find his twin perched on the sofa with a wand in his hand producing miniature fireworks. "Amateur magic trick mate." George laughed, leaning on the side of the couch to tower over his brother. "You'd know all about that wouldn't you." Fred chuckled, extinguishing any remaining sparks in the air with a swish of his wand. After a long day of contemplation, George decided he needed to come clean and get some advice, his palms becoming clammy. "Fred I- I have something I need to talk to you about. In private..." He whispered the last part, giving his brother a faint look of urgency.
"Sure, lead the way." Fred shrugged, rising to follow his brother, albeit a little confused. Both twins exited the common room and rested on the balcony, though George was unable to stop himself from anxiously looking around to make sure nobody was about. "Right, don't be a git about this okay. And you are never ever to tell Ron or Ginny or even Ange about what I'm about to tell you." George reprimanded, pointing an extremely serious finger in Fred's face. "Calm down, what is it?" Fred slapped George's measly finger out of the way and leaned in, matching his hushed tone. Much to George's delight.
"I can't stop thinking about Y/N..." George sighed, head in hands, as he drooped against the banister. Fred only gave him a deadpan look, "You're not serious are you? We all know that." he sighed, crossing his arms in annoyance. "No you sod! I can't stop thinking about her, like that." George raised his eyebrows for the last part, unable to meet his brothers eyes. "I had to have a thirty minute cold shower yesterday and it's still giving me grief today..." George grumbled, his face beet red with shame.
Fred looked at him shell-shocked... For about five seconds until he burst out laughing. "YOU BLOODY GIT SHUT UP, IT'S NOT FUNNY!" George exploded, tackling Fred against the banister out of pure embarrassment. Fred continued bellowing, clutching his stomach to try stop the pain in his abdomen. Eventually the two both settled down, allowing Fred a chance to think more clearly. "First off mate, you're disgusting. Second, you know what you have to do, no shame in it. Besides, we go home tomorrow, can deal with things there." Fred giggled, patting his poor brother on the shoulder, as he grimaced to himself.
George stayed outside for ten minutes after that, trying to think of other ways to silence his teenage boy mind. To no avail, George walked back into the common room, heading upstairs to take a well-needed nap before getting ready for the ball.
Meanwhile, yourself, every other girl in school and even a few boys were busy primping and priming trying to look their Sunday Best for the ball. After wrestling eight other Gryffindor girls up the stairs, yourself and Angelina had managed to get a prime spot in the bathroom in front of the biggest mirror. The large bathroom felt like a porcelain palace, letting all the girls within live out a fairytale type of moment, the smell of crispy hair and a mixture of both cheap and expensive perfumes lacing the air. "Cressida! How are you doing your hair again?" Ange called out, not daring to move her eyes from the straightener in her hands.
"A french braid and I'm gonna pin my bangs back! You're just straightening it yeah?" Cressida, a girl in Angelina's potions class chimed back, also not moving her eyes from the intricate hairstyle she was wrangling. Angelina hollered back something representative of a yes. "What's Tonks doing?" The girl beside Cressida, chortled. "Curling my hair to put into a bun, I'm gonna tie it with a ribbon too later!" You called out, cautious of the curling iron currently very close to your scalp.
While in class today, George had offered you some more rocky road, reminding you of the Y/F/C ribbon you had kept from his last gift. In that moment, you decided that you'd wear it in your hair for the ball, an outward symbol of your feelings for George. Only yourself and the red-head would recognise it, but that made it feel even more special, something just for you two. Finally at five on the dot all of the girls had finished getting ready, and were heading out of their dorms to the ball.
George was pacing anxiously, fidgeting with the collar of his shirt, meanwhile Fred was doing about the same. Especially since yourself and Angelina were the only girls yet to file out of the dormitories. With a click clack of your heels, the pair of you held each other and very carefully made your way down the stairs. Angelina had chosen 5-inch heels to try and gain height on Fred, making her a hazard not only to herself but others.
As you emerged, the boys eyes immediately fell on the pair of you. Angelina was wearing a pale blue dress with gems sewn into the neckline, their bright shimmer beautifully complimenting her darker skin tone. Your dress was a (Y/F/C) floor length gown, with layers of chiffon flowing to the floor and an off the shoulder cowl neckline. You accessorised with the matching ribbon from the rocky road George bought you during your infirmary stay, tied and keeping your hair in an elegant high bun. Releasing yourself from Angelina's firm grip, you walked towards George, his pupils like crystal balls.
George could feel his heart beating out of his chest, his cheeks warming and suddenly he felt very self conscious of the way he'd done his hair. "H-Hi Y/N." he stuttered out, using a trembling hand to slick back his crimson locks. "Hi George," You smiled sweetly, taking in the smokey wooden smell of his cologne. "Shall we go then?" Snapping out of it, George extended his arm for you to take, ready to lead you down to the great hall. "We shall," you took his arm and made your way out of the common room.
With everybody else George was a flirt, a popular guy. And with everybody else you weren't anywhere near as kind or delicate. But when the two of you came together it was like the world became tipped on it's head. The rugged and assured George Weasley stumbling and stuttering over what to say for probably the first time in his oh-so rugged and assured life. It made your heart surge knowing the effect you could have on him, though that said, he felt the same way about you.
Reaching the final steps to the great hall, George slowed his pace, pulling you aside from the main stream of people. "Y/N, you look beautiful. Especially with that ribbon, wherever did you find it?" He grinned cheekily, his index finger gliding along your neck up to feel the soft fabric of the ribbon. "A boy brought it to me, with my favourite chocolate."
Cordial music begun playing from inside the great hall, signaling the entrance of the champions to start the yule ball. "George we need to get inside quickly!" Giggling you pulled George into the great hall just in time for the champions grand entrance. You slotted yourself and George into the little lane surrounding the Champions just in time to see Harry and Hermione walk by with their respective dates. "Hermione looks stunning." You whispered to George, tugging on his coat sleeve to get his attention. "The only girl I find stunning is you Y/N." He whispered, his lips grazing the shell of your ear. He'd never been so blatantly affectionate before, it was intoxicating.
In those few seconds it seemed the rest of the world dissapeared as you became acutely aware of George's body behind yours, one hand gently resting on the curve of your hip. When had things between you and George changed? And when had things between you and George... blossomed? It dawned on you how far the two of you had come, from bedroom fires to sweet whispers in hallways and his hands finding a home on your skin.
Quickly the procession, ended and the champions begun to dance, snapping you out of your epiphany. "Shall we, Tonks?" The ginger asked, taking you by the hand onto the dance floor and beginning a waltz. With his hand rested on your waist and your hands clasped together, the two of you begun dancing, just the way you had practiced in the infirmary.
You remembered how your heart surged that day as he told you he didn't even know the name of that girl who'd asked him to dance. And the way you had cried in his arms in a moment of self doubt. He was so caring, staying by your side and at your beckon and call while you were wounded. He took that same care now as he moved you through the motions of your long awaited dance together.
As he hoisted you into the air, George spun you both, the two of you smiling, incandescently happy. As the waltz concluded another slow song began to play and couples rotated on and off the dance floor, yourself and the red head being one of them. Walking off, you pulled George aside to a table in the corner. "What was all that about? During the procession?" You asked him as you both sat at the table, your heart feeling fragile as you tried to read him. "Roger Davies was ogling you, git." He puffed, giving a sour look to the ravenclaw out dancing with Fleur Delacour. Who knew your George had such a jealous streak? "So you didn't mean it?" You pouted jokingly, giving him puppy eyes for dramatic effect, even though your own insinuation was now beginning to sting.
"What? No, no of course not-" George floundered for the right thing to say as you pressed a hand to his forearm and begun giggling. "I'm kidding, I thought it was... sweet." Being extra-careful with your choice of words, your cheeks began to pink, the silence between you beginning to brew. "So are you excited to be having a Weasley Christmas?" The ginger boy mused, raising his eyebrows playfully.
In actuality: you had completely forgotten.
Two whole weeks with George, and his entire family. "Nervous actually. Very nervous, but at least Angelina will be there too." It gave you solace to know you wouldn't have to fumble through those social interactions alone. You got along with everyone and had always been a sociable girl but the family of your crush was something else entirely. "Merlin don't remind me, it's going to be a snog fest." George groaned into his palms, already dreading having to see his brother act all lovey dovey with his about-to-be girlfriend. Especially since George was still deciphering how you felt about him, despite the obviousness of it all to anyone else.
"No it won't, they're not even together yet." Looking over to the dance floor you watched as Fred and Angelina danced to a romantic and cheesy slow song, both giddy with teenage romance. "He's asking her tonight." George replied, looking up to gauge your reaction. "Ah... hence snogfest." Despite feeling happy for your best friend you couldn't help be a little annoyed that you would, in fact, now have to deal with those two being snuggled up all break long.
At seemingly the perfect moment, 'Do The Hipogriff' started playing, causing every student in the hall to mob the dance floor and distracting you from your future PDA filled Christmas. "Y/N let's go! I love this bloody song!" With childlike joy, George grabbed your wrist as you both ran to the dance floor. By using his tall stature he was able to get you both to the center of the dance floor. The throng of students pushed you right into George's chest as you danced and jumped to the song. Taking a moment, you looked up at him, watching the way his wild hair swayed and his grin widened as he moved. His eyes met yours and without a moment's notice he bent down and placed you on his shoulders, "Going up Tonks!" Gripping your thighs tightly he held you in place, giving you a view of all the students on the dance floor and the band on stage as you pumped your arms and chest in sync with the music. If it wasn't for the adrenaline in your system from being hoisted 6 feet into the air, you may have clocked George's iron hold onto your thighs and the warmth of his head against your core, though he certainly noticed...
Eventually the song ended and George returned you to the safety of the ground, though he may not have if it hadn't been for the look McGonagall gave him when she spotted you a ways away from the ground. The night went on and eventually students began filing out of the hall, many in tears notably. With only about seven couples left on the dance floor, only slow songs were playing to bring a gentle end to the evening. With two hands on the small of your back, and your palms resting on his chest, your handsome ball date held you close as you swayed in sync. "George," your eyes locked as you continued to rock slowly on the dance floor, "This has been the night of my life and... you don't know how happy I am that you're the one I got to spend it with..."
His pupils dilated and he could feel his heart rate rising as he stared back at you, "Uh- I-" George was struggling once again to find the perfect words he knew you deserved. "Ah fuck it." He whispered, grinning, he took one hand and held your cheek tenderly as he brought your lips together. His hold on your waist tightening as your mouths moved against each others softly, as you willed yourself to take a mental note of this moment.
Your palms felt the movement of his chest as he breathed, the slow rise and fall beneath them. His cologne and the smell of snow melded together, if they could sell winter in a bottle that would've been it. Wherever your bodies found themselves overlapping felt hot, like someone was trying to spark a fire inside you.
Finally the two of you pulled apart, a mess of pink cheeks and butterflies. "I'm bloody terrible at finding the words I want to say to you half the time, so I figured that would do the trick." George spoke quietly, his arms still wrapped around you as he pressed his forehead to your own. This time it was you who was speechless, just nodding along to his romantic sentiments while you tried to collect yourself. "Ready to get out of here?" George whispered, fingers intertwining with yours as another song started to play. "One more dance, I don't want tonight to be over just yet."
"As you wish." Repositioning his hand at your waist, you counted your steps together and let George lead you. The air between you had changed, far more certain now than when the night had started. Releasing his hand from your waist he spun you in time with the music, the chiffon on your dress fluttering in the snowflake filled air before falling at your ankles once more. The two of you moved as one as he led you through the ordeal, your feet in perfect sync as your heels clicked against stone. While dancing your eyes never left each others, both of you deeply engaged in the unspoken moment you were sharing through this dance. Both of you engrained the image of one another into your minds, yours to replay for the rest of your lives.
With the song coming to a close George spun you one final time, leading you into a dip and kicking your heel out into the air. George's arm supported your entire body, as the other controlled your thigh tentatively. Your faces inches apart once again as his orange locks tickled your cheeks from above, creating a curtain for just the two of you.
Gracefully he stood you both back upright, the two of you feeling bittersweet that the Yule Ball had to come to a close. "Ready to go?" George asked once more, your hands still clasped together. "Yeah, I am."
Holding the ginger boy's hand in yours, the two of you begun to exit the great hall, both just happy to be able to preserve such a beautiful memory of the Yule Ball, together.