Black and White

12

"You're really going to the ball with Fred Weasley?" Evelyn asks in disbelief as she straightens my short hair. "I mean, yeah, he's crazy, but honestly? You're so much younger than him!"

"He's like a big brother to me, Ev," I answer, laughing. "It's not like we're dating."

"Whatever, Lucida," she smirks.

"Hey, I've gotta ask," I say seriously, "why are you suddenly being, you know, friendly-ish?"

Evelyn sighs. "You can't tell the other girls," she tells me. "Anyway, I saw how you reacted when Moody showed us the Cruciatus Curse. I've never seen it before, but I could tell you had. My mum uses the Imperious on my older brother when he doesn't listen. So, I guess I kind of felt a connection between us. Anyway, Sirius Black isn't quite as bad as Bellatrix Lestrange, from what I hear about her."

"Tell me about it," I snort. "She's awful. But Lucius Malfoy can be worse, when he wants to be. Who's your mum?"

"Alecto Carrow," Evelyn says flatly. "When my dad left, she chose to take back her maiden name. That's why my last name is Turley."

I nod in understanding. "Well, thank you for helping me get ready," I smile.

I meet Hermione on the way down to the ball and we agree to walk in together. She's wearing a gorgeous purple dress.

"You look beautiful, Lucy," she tells me.

"Not as beautiful as you," I compliment back. "Victor's going to love it!"

I jokingly take her arm as we descend the stairs leading to the ballroom. As we reach the bottom, Fred and Victor come up to us.

"It would seem our dates have stolen each other," Victor chuckles.

"Yeah, sorry," I grin. "Mione's all mine."

"Then I guess I'll dance with Victor," Fred says, acting offended. He offers his arm to Victor, who laughs and gently takes Hermione away from me.

"Enjoy the ball, friends," he tells Fred and I.

Fred smiles and offers me his arm. I take it, and he leads me to the edge of the dance floor, where the champions and their dates are about to start the dancing. I almost laugh at Parvati having to remind Harry to take her waist. Once other people join in the dancing, Fred pulls me onto the floor. We twirl and spin for what feels like an eternity. Even when the rock band starts, Fred insists on twirling me between his crazy dance moves.

Then, towards the end of the night, Fred and I catch sight of Ron and Hermione arguing. It looks bad.

"Go, make sure Hermione is alright," Fred tells me. "I'll go talk to the bloody git."

"Hey, that bloody git is learning from you and your other brothers," I remind Fred. "Choose your words wisely. Also... thank you for tonight. I had fun."

I walk towards Hermione, but I'm approached by Victor, instead.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asks me. "I'll fix it, just tell me what I did."

"You didn't do anything," I tell the tall young man. "One of her best friends, he's kind of an idiot, but he was jealous and it looks like he said something he shouldn't have. I'll talk to her."

"Thank you," Victor says. "And, please, tell her that I am grateful she came with me."

I smile and nod, before going to sit by Hermione. I don't ask her what's wrong. Instead, I just put an arm around her shoulders.

"You going to be ok, Mione?" I ask.

She hesitates, but nods. "I just don't know what's gotten into Ron, lately."