The Language of Flowers | Fred Weasley

18: G L A D I O L U S-ready; armed

Joanna and I couldn't help our excitement as we made our way back to the Gryffindor common room to put our books down. We had finally finished our last class before the weekend, meaning that tomorrow we'd get to go to Hogsmeade.

I had never been more excited to go to Hogsmeade. Everyone was planning on getting their outfit for the recently announced Yule Ball tomorrow, and I was no different. Despite not having a date yet, it didn't mean that one wasn't coming soon. I just had to look at the situation positively.

"Joanna!" I turned around to see Luke, the Hufflepuff Joanna had a big fat crush on, making his way towards us. When Joanna saw him, her smile was replaced by a slightly nervous look. As Luke got closer, I noticed the small bundle of flowers in his hand. They could barely be called flowers, they were more like glorified weeds. It was a thoughtful sentiment though, I immediately knew what was about to happen.

I took a step away from Joanna. I was just here as support. I didn't want to interrupt their moment. "Oh hello Luke," Joanna smiled nervously, her eyes flitting between Luke and the flowers in his hand.

"Do you have a date to the ball yet?" Luke asked. He was completely out of breath from running from who knows where to get to us. This whole situation was so adorable it made me want to scream of joy.

"No, not yet." Joanna blushed, glancing at me. I gave her a cheeky smile and winked. Joanna has been crushing on Luke for close to two months now and it wasn't too often that she liked somebody. I was not surprised in the least that Luke liked her back, but that didn't stop me from smiling like an idiot. Joanna was going to freak out after this.

"Would you maybe want to go with me?" Luke inquired, rubbing the back of his neck. I tried to shrink further into the wall. I was interrupting such a private thing, it was strange.

Joanna lets out a soft laugh before nodding her head. "Yeah, I guess." She replied shyly. Oh I was going to tease her so much about this later. I'm surprised she didn't burst out with her reply. She's been waiting for this ever since McGonagall had told her about the Yule Ball.

"Alright. It's a date then, yeah? I guess I'll see you around." Luke smiled. He handed Joanna his little bundle of flowers before making his way back in the direction of the Hufflepuff common room, or so I presumed.

Joanna stood shell-shocked, her eyes on the flowers in her hand.

"Merlin's beard. Merlin's beard! I got a date for the Yule Ball!" Joanna began to squeal, grabbing me and twirling me around the hallway.

"Calm down, Jo!" I laughed, holding tightly to my books. She swung me away from her, continuing to dance around the hallway.

"It's really happening! Did that really happen?"

"Yes that happened, Jo. I'm not surprised at all." I smirked, forcing Joanna to walk towards the Gryffindor common room.

"I mean, I felt like he might have liked me a little bit but now? Now I know. Or maybe he wants to get to know me." Joanna rambles, biting her lip nervously.

"Either way, he's your date and you guys can get to know each other better. It's going to work out great. Plus, you get to pick out your dress tomorrow, remember?"

"My dress! I completely forgot! Ellie, now I have a reason to get my dress!" Joanna smiled.

I smiled back, though the smile didn't quite meet my eyes.

I was happy for her, but now I was the only one without a date. Adhera and Pierre were going to the ball together, Katie with Cormac McLaggen, and Maria was going with a nice Durmstrang boy named Anton. Joanna had a reason to go dress shopping tomorrow, I really didn't. I need to get a date soon. My options were becoming more and more narrow, and I needed to stop being so picky.