One and only ; George Weasley

21

"The Yule ball has been a tradition of the tri-wizard tournament since its inception. On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests gather in the Great Hall for well mannered frivolity. As representatives of the host school, I expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward, and I mean this literally because the Yule ball is first and foremost... a dance."

We were all gathered in the assembly room. Every Gryffindor student there is. We were all standing to either side there was, some were sitting on benches and some were standing behind the benches.

I was standing up with George and Fred while Kathleen sat down in front of us.

McGongall stood in the middle of the room since she was leading this whole thing. The boys in the room groaned after her speech while the girls tended to listen more.

"Silence." Professor McGonagall spoke. "The house of Godrick Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizard world for nearly ten centuries. I will not have you in the course of a single evening besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons."

"Try saying that five times faster." George whispered to Fred and both boys tried it, sounding absolutely ridiculous.

"Now—" McGonagall continued. "To dance is to let the body breathe, inside every girl a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight."

"Something's about to burst out of Hilary." I heard Ron whisper to Seamus as they sat close to where we were standing. "But I don't think it's a swan."

"Inside every boy—" McGonagall spoke, looking directly at Ron. "A lordly lion prepared to prance. Mr Weasley, will you join me?"

She grabbed Ron and pulled him up to join her on the floor.

"Now, place your right hand on my waist."

"Where?" Ron's fragile voice asked, his eyes big.

"My waist." McGonagall continued and as he put his hand on her waist, there came a few wolf whistles from people around the room but especially from George and Fred. I held a hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing.

"Now bend your arm." Professor McGonagall told him. "Mr Filch..."

Filch started the music, watching the scene while moving to the rhythm.

"One two three, one two three, one two three." McGonagall guide Ron through the dance and I couldn't help but feel bad for him and how embarrassed he was.

"Boys." Harry called and looked at George and Fred. Both of them leaned past me and down to listen. "You're never gonna let him forget this, are you?"

"Never." They said in unison and Harry chuckled, going back to watching the dancing while the boys stood up straight again.

"Everybody come together." McGonagall called and immediately most girls started approaching the guys.

"May I have this dance, madam?" George asked me, holding out his hand as he bowed. While bowing, he looked up from under his eyelashes, the hint of a playful smirk on his lips.

"It would be my pleasure, sir." I played along as I curtsied, placing my hand in his.

"You two are so wicked." It came from Fred and I stuck out my tongue at him before letting George guide me to the dance floor.

George swung me around before placing a hand on my waist, holding my hand with the other and I laughed, smiling up at him while placing my free hand on his shoulder.

"Did you watch how McGonagall did it?" I asked. "You're the guy. You're expected to be leading this thing."

"I think we'll manage."

The whole dancing lesson was spent with George and I not knowing how to dance. McGonagall had to come and correct something all the time. Either we had to stand straighter or else we weren't close enough. Then we were too close and then we weren't taking big enough steps.

"Do you have something to wear for the ball?" I asked, when we were starting to learn this. George picked me up in rhythm with everyone else, turning around and put me down before we continued.

"I do." He told me. "Do you?"

"Mum sent me a dress." I smiled. "It's beautiful."

"I bet it is." He smiled back. "If it's not, it will be with you wearing it."