How It Started

Chapter 23 - Fred Weasley

I sat waiting for George on the Gryfindoor common room couch, in all honesty I truly didn't understand the lengthy time it took for many people alike to get ready for the Yule ball. I instead had brushed my hair and teeth, gotten changed into the common black dress robes, I was lucky enough to get second hand from my uncle and matched them with some dress shoes, I was now done. I knew George was trying to put some product in his hair so instead I waited for him. Angelina had told me that she wanted to meet at the Ball rather than walk together, so as the gracious gentleman I was presenting myself to be I respected her wishes.

"Finally" I sighed turning my head around to see George coming out of the bathroom smiling, his hair was greasy and you could tell he was wearing just a little too much, I made sure to tell him with although all I got in return was an elbow to the ribs, maybe I should of stayed quiet. After Lee had finished getting ready and met us at the doorway, we were finally ready to leave, I on the other hand was ready to leave minutes before this.

As we approached the ball I could start to hear the subtle music playing, I had made sure to check the time before leaving the common room, we were exactly on time. It wasn't a surprise to see a lot of students arriving at the same time as us. I causally walked down the stairs making sure to not fall as I did so, I certainly didn't want to repeat the incident of second year.

Within moments of standing in the ball room, the music was gradually getting louder and louder, just as more students were arriving. By the time I scanned my eyes across the stairs until I spotted Angelina, she was walking down with a few of her friends, and almost all of the students had arrived. I waved at her and smiled, she in return smiled back.
"Hi" she said awkwardly as she approached me, I smiled at the awkwardness present
"Hey, you look great by the way" I slightly said raising my voice, the volume in the hall was already loud enough that in order to hear the person next to you, you needed to yell.
"Thank you, did you" Angelina started to say, she was cut off as she turned around to face the stairs, at first I didn't understand what she was looking at, that was until I viewed the stairs myself.

As per usual Selina Black was late, that was not uncommon but as she walked her eyes casted downward paying no attention to anything that was going on around her, merely listening and observing, I noticed she looked beautiful, even Malfoy who usually had an insult for everyone, even his so called friends couldn't find the words of insult. I smiled as she waved at me.

"Fred, Fred are you even listening, I said do you want to dance?" I was drawn back to where I was moments before, as Angelina spoke
"Right yes of course, it is a dance after all" I started to say, as I casually started walking downwards the somewhat full dance floor.

I was somewhat surprised at the choice of music being played, it was certainly different to the music that was played throughout the painfully long dancing lessons, those lessons of course had proven to be boring, well apart from one lesson where Ron had been tasked to dance with Mcgonagall. Speaking of Ron, I found myself on the verge of laughter as I saw the dress robes he was wearing. As the first offical dance, where the nominations for the games were to dance, I made sure to walk over to Ron, Angelina seemed fine with this as it appeared one of her friends was near Ron.

"Nice Robes" I snickered
"Oh bloody hell, I know they're bad I had nothing else, mum sent them" Ron said trying to explain the whole situation and why he was wearing what looked to be a clown suit.
"So you're telling me mum sent those, well I will never take the sweaters for granted again" With this comment, I couldn't help but fall into a fit of laughter. I eventually composed myself as Ron's face was glaring at me with the furious emotion of anger. I thought to myself that at this point I should take the hint and get back to dancing, leave Ron alone with his robes.

I hardly spoke to George all night, which was an odd occurrence, I glanced over to him a couple of times he looked as though he was having fun and that was a good thing, I enjoyed seeing him happy. Apart from Ron many of my other siblings seemed to be having quite a good time, in fact Ginny and Neville were quite the dancing partners they had practically perfected the art of the waltz and seemed to be dancing it effortlessly.

As the night went on, I noticed Selina Black dancing with Ron I was surprised by this, other than the robes of course it seemed odd, I had never known them to be friends, in fact I thought their groups had some rivalry which was very much public knowledge. I didn't bother asking what that was about instead tried to focus on having a good time and being in the moment of the ball, after all you only have a Yule ball once in your schooling years.

Unfortunately just like all good things the ball came to a crashing end, when several people started leaving and the once loud music came to a soft closing. Most of the decorations were starting to fall down by the time I left. I had said a nice goodbye to Angelina and found myself walking back to the common room alone. The Yule Ball night had been eventful and I was overall satisfied with what the night had brought me, I was looking forward to watching the final challenge game. It would be an interesting end of year, that was for sure.