Cerulean - Fred Weasley

Chapter 15 - The yule ball

Despite being more of a Halloween person, Simone could help but get swept up in the boom of Hogwarts Christmas. She usually went home for the holidays, spending Christmas with her father in their small London flat. she, like most of the Hogwarts population, had decided to stay over the holidays to attend the yule ball. 

Hogwarts was full of the kind of hectic joy that made Simone wish she had had siblings: wizarding chess tournaments in the Ravenclaw common room, dung bomb scented corridors, suits of armour singing Christmas carols. Fred and George had taken to infecting every house table with their concoction of canary creams. The first few times were funny, but now people began to be distrustful of all foods for fear of avian transformation. 

Simone awoke very suddenly to the sounds of laughter. Groaning, she rolled over to check her watch. "It's barely 7:00 you wankers, let me sleep"

"Get your lazy ass up Simone, it's Christmas" Replied Ruth.

She sat up with a start to see all four of her dorm mates ripping open presents. Excited, she shimmied over to the foot of her bed to grab her own. "Open mine!" squealed Sophie. 

Seizing a light blue package, Simone ripped off the paper to reveal a pair of bludger decorated socks. "Thanks, Soph," Simone said, smiling at her friend. 

Along with the socks, she had gotten a copy of quidditch throughout the ages from Roger, a large bag of chocolate frogs from Ruth, a beautiful Jane Austen book from Cedric, and dozen cream tarts from Fred and George that she made a note to never eat. Her last present was the smallest: a tiny package wrapped in old copies of the daily prophet. she carefully removed the paper and opened the small velvet box to reveal a delicate silver locket and a folded-up note. 

Dear Simone, 

This necklace is a family heirloom, passed on through the women in our family. I gave it to your mother when we first started dating, and she put a terrible picture of me inside. Now that you're of age, I'd like to pass it on to you. Perhaps you can wear it tonight to the yule ball. 

love from dad.

Setting the note down, she carefully picked up the locket and opened it. Inside was a picture of her mother, she was laughing, her hair was blowing in the wind, and she was cradling a small baby. Simone wiped a stray tear with her sleeve and carefully fasten the locket around her neck. 

Christmas day passed in a flurry of activity. Enough breakfast to send each of them into a coma, a game of gobstones with Roger in the common room, then outside to go sledding.  Cheeks ruddy and fingers numb, Simone slipped away around four.  darting into the common room to grab her robes and hair supplies. She and Hermione had agreed to get ready together in moaning myrtles bathroom. She arrived to find Fred and George in the corner, having what appeared to be an intense conversation. 

"What are you two doing?" She asked.

They spun around. George looked strained. "Nothing. Just checking on the potions."

"You're going to need to clear out of here soon, I need to get ready for the ball" 

"Err, well fine," said Fred.

"What were you two just talking about?" she asked suspiciously. 

"Nothing... see you around Shacklebolt" They both hurried out, slamming the door behind them. 

"That was odd," Simone said to no one in particular. 

A few minutes later, Hermione arrived, carrying a large garment bag. They started on their hair first, Simone showed the younger girl how to coat it with Sleakeazy to tame her curls.