Novus Orbis | Fred Weasley x Insert | ON HIATUS

Chapter 26 - The Yule Ball

Tensions are high as Christmas Eve continues to approach, and Ron comes in while they're relaxing in the common room the last evening before Christmas break begins, ushered by his sister and a bunch of other girls, all shushing him and telling him it'll be alright.

"What's happened to you?" Harry asks, from where he mopes on the couch with the golden egg in his lap. Y/n, George, and Fred look up from where they're relaxing by the fire as well, discussing the possible outcomes of their letter to Ludo Bagman.

"He just asked Fleur Delacour out," Ginny explains, as Potter hurries over to crouch down in front of the now-seated boy.

"What did she say?" Harry asks.

"No, of course," Ginny says, patting her brother on the back.

"I don't know what made me do it!" Ron gasps. "What was I playing at? There were people–all around–I've gone mad–everyone watching! I was just walking past her in the entrance hall–she was standing there talking to Diggory–and it sort of came over me–and I asked her!"

"Actually, he sort of screamed at her," Ginny says. "It was rather frightening." Ron puts his face in his hands.

"She looked at me like I was a sea slug or something. Didn't even answer. And then–I dunno–I just sort of came to my senses and ran for it."

"She's part veela," Harry says. "You were right–her grandmother was one. It wasn't your fault, I bet you just walked past when she was turning on the old charm for Diggory and got a blast of it–but she was wasting her time, anyway–he's going with Cho Chang." Ron looks up at his best friend. "I asked her to go today," Harry continues. "She told me."

"This is mad," Ron says. "We're the only ones left who haven't got anyone–well, except Neville. Hey-guess who he asked? Hermione!"

"What?" Harry asks.

"Yeah, I know!" Ron says, starting to laugh. "He told me after Potions! Said she's always been really nice, helping him out with work and stuff–but she told him she was already going with someone. Ha! As if! She just didn't want to go with Neville...I mean, who would?"

"Don't laugh!" Ginny scolds, annoyed. Just then, the portrait door opens and Hermione comes climbing in through the hole.

"Why weren't you two at dinner?" She asks.

"Because–oh shut up laughing, you two–because they've both just been turned down by the girls they asked to the ball!" Ginny says.

Both boys are immediately silenced.

"Thanks a bunch, Ginny," Ron says sourly. Y/n and the twins can't help but laugh. Hermione deserves to know–after the way he treated her in the Great Hall the other day. Ron glares at them, too.

"All the good-looking ones taken, Ron?" Hermione says loftily. "Eloise Midgen starting to look quite pretty now, is she? Well, I'm sure you'll find someone somewhere who'll have you."

Ron stares up at her.

"Well, if you'd just admit that  you lied twice about having someone to go with, you could come with one of us!" He argues.

"No, I can't," Hermione snaps, face going quite red, "because I wasn't lying! I'm already going with someone else!"

"No, you're not!" Ron says. "You just said that to get rid of Neville and me!"

"Oh, did I?" Says Hermione, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Just because it's taken three years for you to notice, Ron, doesn't mean no one else has spotted that I'm a girl!"