I Know The End {Fred Weasley, ACT I}

Chapter 32- The Yule Ball

December 24th, 1994. Christmas Eve. One day until the wretched Yule Ball.

"You did follow all the rules, right?" George whispered to Eleanor as they sat in the common room watching the snow fall outside the window. A white Christmas.

"Well, if I hadn't it would be a little late now, wouldn't it?" Eleanor sighed. "But yes, I did. Homemade Christmas presents for everybody."

Fred and George had proposed a budget for this year's Christmas presents – Zero. A zero-spending holiday. They wanted to save every Knut they had for the shop. It seemed odd to Eleanor that the twins would start budgeting the same year that they won all that money betting on the Quidditch World Cup, but she didn't say anything. Money is not a subject one should push.

"Good," George released a heavy sigh, "I was worried you would... you know..."

Eleanor turned her back to him slightly. Echoes of past fights filled the silence. She was content with sitting in the tension, but George was not one for awkward silences.

"You really don't have a date for tomorrow?"

That was much worse than silence.

"Nope."

George glanced around the empty room as though to ensure they were still alone. Most people had made an early night of it with the Yule Ball the next day. Beauty rest was essential for such an event but George and Eleanor weren't tired. They weren't entirely all that excited about the upcoming festivities.

"You're not sticking it to Fred by not going with anyone," George said bluntly, "the only person you're hurting is yourself."

"I'm not trying to stick anything to Fred," Eleanor mumbled, "I just don't particularly like any of my other options. I'd rather be lonely than in miserable company. Honestly, I don't want to go at all but Ron begged me to. I have no idea why he thinks I should go so badly."

George pondered her words as snow continued to swirl outside. "Why don't I just take you? We'll have fun, I promise."

Eleanor smiled and looked toward him for the first time during their conversation. "You have no idea how much I'd love that, George. But you already have a date and I'm not taking you away from Lee."

Montague was taking Eden Smith to the Yule Ball. Eleanor had a feeling George had wanted this dance to be what forced their relationship into the public eye, consequences be damned, but Montague didn't feel the same way. It boggled Eleanor that anyone would want to hide George away. George Weasley was a goddamn catch. Montague should have been proud to have somehow managed someone so out of his league. If he kept it up, Eleanor would bash his face in. Or shove his face into a toilet. Something juvenile and cruel to match his behavior.

"I don't think Lee would mind..." George's sentence trailed off.

Correction – Lee would most definitely mind. He'd matched their dress robes to a tee. Unlike Montague, Lee was very excited to have George on his arm for the night.

"We're only going as friends," George continued, "seeing as neither of us can go with who we really like. It works out."

"Why isn't Wood coming?" Eleanor asked.

"Is that even allowed? I don't know, either way he has Quidditch training, and you know Wood."

Eleanor snorted. "Quidditch practice on Christmas night?"

"No, training. His own training schedule. By himself. He's crazy, dude."

She missed that crazy dude. Not when she was getting a decent night sleep instead of flying through the rain at four in the morning, but at other times.