Hidden Within The Stars | Enemies to Lovers | Fred Weasley x Fem Reader

Chapter Thirty-One

The start of December brought wind and sleet to Hogwarts. Drafty though the castle always was in winter, Y/n was glad of its fires and thick walls every time she passed the Durmstrang ship on the lake, which was pitching in the high winds, its black sails billowing against the dark skies. She thought the Beauxbatons caravan was likely to be pretty chilly too.

"Bailey! Weasley! Will you pay attention?" Professor McGonagall's irritated voice cracked like a whip through the Transfiguration class on Thursday, and Y/n and Fred both jumped and looked up. It was the end of the lesson; they had finished their work; the guinea fowl they had been changing into guinea pigs had been shut away in a large cage on Professor McGonagall's desk (Phoebe's still had feathers); they had copied down their homework from the blackboard ("Describe in detail, with examples, how Transforming Spells must be adapted when performing Cross-Species Switches").

The bell was due to ring at any moment, and Y/n and Fred, who had been having a sword fight with a couple of his and George's fake wands at the back of the class, looked up, Y/n holding a tin parrot and Fred, a rubber haddock.

"Now that Potter and Weasley have been kind enough to act their age," said Professor McGonagall, with an angry look at the pair of them as the head of Fred's haddock drooped and fell silently to the floor — Y/n's parrot's beak had severed it moments before — "I have something to say to you all. The Yule Ball is approaching — a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above — although you may invite a younger student if you wish —"

A Ravenclaw girl let out a shrill giggle. Her friend nudged her hard in the ribs, her face working furiously as she too fought not to giggle. Professor McGonagall ignored them, which Fred thought was distinctly unfair, as she had just told off him and Y/n.

"Dress robes will be worn," Professor McGonagall continued, "and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. Now then —" Professor McGonagall stared deliberately around the class. "The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to — er — let our hair down," she said, in a disapproving voice. The girl giggled harder than ever, with her hand pressed hard against her mouth to stifle the sound. Y/n could see what was funny this time: Professor McGonagall, with her hair in a tight bun, looked as though she had never let her hair down in any sense.

"But that does NOT mean," Professor McGonagall went on, "that we will be relaxing the standards of behavior we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way."

The bell rang, and there was the usual scuffle of activity as everyone packed their bags and swung them onto their shoulders. Professor McGonagall called above the noise, "Bailey — a word, if you please."

Assuming this had something to do with her tin parrot beak, Y/n proceeded gloomily to the teacher's desk. Professor McGonagall waited until the rest of the class had gone, and then said,

"Bailey, the champions and their partners —"

"What partners, Professor?" asked Y/n, a puzzled expression forming on her face.

"Your partners for the Yule Ball, Bailey," she said.

"Your dance partners." Y/n's insides seemed to curl up and shrivel but danced at the idea of spending a night with Fred.

"Dance partners?" She felt herself going red. "I don't dance well," She said quickly.

"Oh yes, you do," said Professor McGonagall irritably. "That's what I'm telling you. Traditionally, the champions and their partners open the ball."