Callidora ☆ Fred Weasley

[chapter 91]

Yule Approaches

A couple of days before Christmas and the Yule Ball, the girls were tucked away in the library, buried under the last of their essays.

Parchment, books, and half-finished notes were scattered across the table.

Calli was finishing a particularly long piece for Transfiguration, her writing neat and controlled despite the exhaustion tugging at her.

Lucy was tapping her quill against the table in irritation.

Stella was already done.

Hermione sat with them, unusually quiet.

That, more than anything, caught Calli's attention.

Hermione looked up.

"I have a secret to tell you." She said.

That did it.

Lucy immediately leaned forward.

Stella closed her book.

Calli set her quill down, eyes sharpening with interest.

"Our lips are sealed." Calli said smoothly, mimicking a solemn tone.

Hermione hesitated then leaned in slightly.

"Viktor Krum has asked me to go to the ball with him."

She said it so quietly they almost didn't hear.

"That's wonderful, Hermione." Stella said, warmth in her voice.

Calli smiled, genuine and bright.

"That's brilliant."

Hermione flushed, ducking her head slightly.

"I..." She started, then faltered. "I do need help."

All three of them leaned in.

"What is it?" Lucy asked.

Hermione hesitated again, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Can you help me get ready for the ball?"

The girls just stared at her.

"Of course!" They all said at once.

Lucy clapped her hands together.

Stella already looked like she was planning something.

Calli leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

"Grab Harry's cloak." She whispered. "I'll sneak you into our dorms."

And just like that, a plan was formed.

After lunch on Christmas Day, the grounds were alive with noise.

Snow crunched under boots, laughter echoed across the courtyard, and a full-scale snowball fight had broken out near the edge of the lawn.