Obliviate || Fred Weasley (COMPLETE)

Underestimated

Christmas Eve. The night of the Yule Ball. I had been anticipating the night ever since it was announced. And here it is. Hitting me like a truck, and taking over the whole school. Tonight would be the night I would have the night of my life with Branimir, and tomorrow I would go home for a two week vacation to spend time with my parents.

I changed into a big, flowy, forest green gown, my hair as curly and vibrant as ever, in a beautiful up do, and Hermione having done an excellent job with my makeup. I slipped into my dark green heels and stepped out into the common room, which was filled only with the girls of our house, the boys having been requested not to see their dates until the ball. Kind of like how grooms should never see their bride until the wedding. Same concept.

All of the girls stopped talking as I exited the dorm, admiring the beauty of the dress I was in. I smiled, happy to see the reactions of everyone else to my dress.

"You look amazing, Elizabeth," Ginny commented. I smiled.

"Thank you," I replied.

I got so many more compliments from the other girls. Professor McGonagall stepped into the common room and announced that the ball would begin shortly. Everyone began to file out, finding their way downstairs to find their dates. I stayed towards the back, knowing there would be a lot of people rushing to get there first.

I slowly made my way down the steps near the Great Hall and spotted three familiar faces watching me. Branimir, Fred and George. Branimir was at the center of the bottom of the staircase, while the twins were peeking around a pillar that was placed as a corner. I focused mostly on the smile Branimir possessed, but couldn't help but notice that a tiny smile creeped up onto Fred's lips too.

I took Branimir's offered hand and linked arms with him. We walked into the Great Hall, which had been set up for the ball. Everyone waited for the four Tri-Wizard Tournament Champions to walk in with their dates and begin the Yule Ball.

Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang walked in, along with Fleur Delacour and Roger Davies, Viktor Krum and Hermione Granger, and finally, Harry Potter and Parvati Patil. They began to dance to the music, followed soon by Professor MacGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore. Next, Branimir and I decided to go. People clapped for us as we danced, and soon, the whole room was filled with dancing people, students and professors alike.

The whole night, Branimir and I danced and had a wonderful time. Halfway through the night, he went to go get us drinks. I walked over to a table and sat down. I smiled widely, loving that I was having an amazing time. Branimir returned with our drinks, and we talked for a while at the table. He said he was getting tired but he didn't want to ruin our time.

"No no no, go get some rest if you need it," I told him. "I'm sure my friends are around here somewhere."

"Are you sure?" Branimir said, followed by a small yawn.

"One hundred percent," I flashed a smile. With that, he kissed my hand lightly and wished me a good night and sweet dreams.

I sat around a while longer after he left, and soon enough, someone approached me and outstretched a hand, offering to dance. I looked up to see who it was.

"Will you give me a second chance? Please?" He asked sadly. Fred. "I know I can't expect total forgiveness for my ignorance, but can I at least try and make it up to you with a dance?"

I took his hand and stood up. "I suppose."

He smiled, which made me smile back. I loved that smile. It meant he was happy. Well, happier than normal. That was the smile he wore only when he was around me. A smile that was filled with love and adoration. It made me melt inside, it did it every single time.

A slower song came on, being the first song we were to dance to. He took my waist, and somehow it felt more natural than it did when Branimir had danced with me earlier that night. Halfway through the song, the silence residing between us lifted and broke away.

"I meant to thank you, you know," Fred said.

"What for?" I asked, making comfortable eye contact with him.

"For a lot of things, El," Fred replied. "For being an amazing friend to me for all these years. For helping me always find the good in everything, instead of the bad. For keeping me from failing my O.W.L.s," He joked. "But seriously, you have done too much for me that you didn't need to and didn't have to. But you did, and I'm thankful for that. And I'm thankful for when you told me why you thought I hated you."

"Why would you thank me for an argument?" I questioned. It didn't make any sense.

"Because you finally made me realize something. Something I knew a long time ago, but wouldn't come to my senses for because I thought I would have to repress it. I figured it would ruin our friendship, so I stopped spending so much time with you to keep myself from getting further into what I was feeling. But in reality, it only made me feel stronger towards you. I couldn't bare to live another second without you, so I went to talk to you. And it went downhill. Really downhill. But now we're here, dancing and having a good time with each other, as I had originally wanted and planned. And now that we're finally here, finally alone together, finally in a position where I can see your beautiful face, I can tell you the only thing that I can think of to say to you anymore. I love you, Elizabeth. Much more than I can describe. And no matter how you may respond, I just want you to know that it won't change my mind. I'm so in love with you that it is driving me crazy to not kiss you right now."

I smiled and said jokingly, "Then kiss me, you idiot."

With as much passion as he could possibly handle and then some, Fred pulled me as close to him as possible and kissed me as long and as good as ever.