Hiya, just wanted to explain that I've changed the timeline a little bit. The yuleball is technically on Christmas Eve, however I've changed it for this story to the last day before winter break.
This is purely because I want to write a few chapters about Christmas at the burrow lol and I don't wanna wait till 5th year really.
Anyways, if you're reading and enjoying please leave a comment letting me know!!!!!! xoxo
Clara POV:
-Day of Yuleball!!
The girls and I woke up super early, we could barely sleep last night for excitement (and admittedly nerves) about the ball.
Not only was the Yuleball finally here, but it also meant that tomorrow would be the first day of Christmas break and I was sooooo excited to go back to the burrow. I love Christmas at the Weasleys, I wouldn't miss it for the world.
We all quickly threw on some plain clothes and our robes, but before we could leave for breakfast Ophelia told us that there was something we needed to know:
"phee if you're pregnant, it is not sleeping in the dorm with us" said Jade
"I am not pregnant!" Ophelia exclaimed, launching a pillow at Jade "it's something else" she said
"Please tell me you haven't tried to hex Hermione in her sleep so you can go to the ball with Viktor?" I chuckled
" Well, I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about doing that but no... it is about the ball though" she shuffled her feet a bit
"well?" Jade and I asked impatiently
"I'm going with George" she huffed
"No way, are you actually?" Jade laughed
"yes. I mean, he practically begged me and I'd rather put up with him for the night than go alone so..."
"Does Fred know?" I asked nervously
"I assume George is telling him about now, it was all very last minute" Ophelia said, smoothing over her robes "oh Merlins sake Clara don't look so nervous, Fred is obviously still gonna go with you"
"You reckon so?" I asked, I had total butterflies in my stomach
"Yes. Obviously. He did smell your perfume in that amortentia in Hogsmeade after all" Ophelia responded bluntly
"what if he's changed his mind?" I questioned
"Oh I HIGHLY doubt that" Jade said with absolute confidence, I raised my eyebrow at her
"what? Didn't you hear? Fred turned down like 8 girls for the ball. He said no to that Gryffindor Angelina and Oliver told me he even said no to Fleur Delacour! Fleur Delacour Clara!" she shouted as she shook me by my shoulders
I couldn't help but beam.
Maybe Fred really did fancy me. Maybe he did want to be more than friends. Maybe this wasn't all in my imagination.
Walking to breakfast, my head was full of giddy thoughts of Fred and I let the happiness and warmth from them consume me completely.
I was stopped at the entrance to the hall though, by Adrian Pucey of all people. Adrian was in my year and he was on the quidditch team with Jade but I hadn't had more than 3 or 4 conversations with him.
"Hey Clara, how are you?" he asked kindly
"I'm good thanks, excited about tonight really, aren't you?" I replied
"Yeah... yeah I am but um well, I know it's last minute and all but I'd probably be a lot more excited if maybe you wanted to go together" he asked as he scratched the back of his head nervously
Where has this come from?
"Oh- I um, I'm really sorry Adrian but I'm going with Fred" I wanted to smile when I said that, I liked the sound of it- but I managed to control myself
"ah"
"I'm really sorry-"
"Don't worry about it Clara, I just always thought you were a pretty girl and you seem really nice too. I know we haven't talked much but when you used to come to quidditch practice a lot to watch Jade, I had a massive crush on you" he laughed nervously
"Oh well, I'm flattered but..." I trailed off
I didn't really quite know what to say- but I'm going with my best friend,who I am now desperately in love with he just doesn't know it?
"I really liked watching quidditch practice actually" yep that's it Clar just change the subject.
"Oh, yeah" he shuffled awkwardly "you should stop by again, we've got a great team this year and Jades obviously a great captain. I think we could win this year you know"
"Yeah definitely!" I tried to muster up some fake enthusiasm, of course I'd like to win this year but just as I said that I saw Fred and George out the corner of my eye walking into the great hall and my mind was immediately with Fred and no longer this conversation
"anyways, I should get going... um have a great time tonight" I said, no longer being able to stand the awkward tension
"yeah thanks... you too Clara"
I barely heard his response I walked away that quickly. I went over to the Slytherin table to eat quickly and tell the girls about Adrian.
I caught a glimpse of Fred at the Gryffindor table and suddenly the butterflies were back and I have a feeling they weren't going to be going away.