Summers at The Burrow - Fred Weasley

Chapter Fifty-six - Papers and Parchment

i woke up this morning and got ready for the day making sure to wash off the stench of the previous days activities. the stench of dragon and smoke did not go well together especially when they were mixed in with the smell of a sweaty unbathed teenager. i showered off and got into my uniform then fixed my hair and did my makeup. after that i gathered my books and looked at the clock to see that i had a good thirty minutes of breakfast left. it was a good thing i didn't take an eternity to get ready or else i would have missed it and since i didn't really get the chance to eat much yesterday i was starving.

i rushed out of the dorm and and to the great hall sitting down between Fred and Lee. i piled food onto my plate and was about to take a bite when i felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Your Chloe Black, Right?" a small first year asked.

"yes." i replied indifferently.

"you did really awesome yesterday and i was wondering if-"

"she's five years older than you, mate." Fred said shaking the boy off.

"what if that was not what he was going to ask." i said as i turned to Fred with raised eyebrows at his outburst.

"i heard him and his little friends over there. its a group of first years all the way to third years. they aren't allowed to go to the Yule Ball unless their fourth and up so they decided to take their chances on you first." he explained in a whisper.

"well that's stupid." i said.

"precisely." he replied.

i went back to eating and was unbothered for the rest of the meal thankfully. we had to run to transfiguration first thing after breakfast was over and as we walked through the halls and the courtyards we were subjected to hearing dozens of conversations about how i had the highest score out of everyone or that i had the fastest time and came out without a scratch on me. honestly, the story was a bore once i heard it for the hundredth time and i was beginning to not believe it by the amount it had been rumored about at twisted in everyone's words.

the one thing that did catch my attention was a group of seventh years and i almost wanted to thank them for making fun of me instead of praising my for the task. they went on about how i was walking around like nothing even happened but that was really the only way for me to downplay the whole thing. the best way to shut down rumors or stories being told about yourself was to downplay it.

when i entered transfiguration everyone was standing up along the walls of the classroom and the twins, Lee and i just carefully joined Angelina and Alicia around the circle as McGonagall stood in the center.

"now that all of us are gathered here i have an announcement. each head of house will be hosting a dance lesson this afternoon during break period for the Yule Ball. it is not required but i highly suggest you attend your respective practice locations because if you aren't going to go to learn you can at least go to watch your head of house teach others how to dance and make a fool out of your peers." she said making many snicker. 

"As for you, Chloe, you will be required along with the other champions to open the ball for everyone and therefore it is mandatory to find yourself a date whilst everyone is still available. as for the reason i am having you all stand around the room and not in your seats. there has been a change in the seating arrangements." she continued. the change consisted of moving Fred and i to the very back of the classroom. you would think that would be a dumb thing to do but if we did not come here to learn we would have dropped the class like we had so many others. she moved us to the back because she did not want people to gossip about me every time they saw me. it had already become a problem and so i was now in the back so that i could enter and exit silently and quickly as well as stay out of most peoples sight for her lesson. i appreciated her consideration to also allow Fred to continue to sit next to me even though that and us being in the back was a recipe for chaos and laughter.