CHAPTER XV:
beauty wrapped in a bow

( December 1994 )

THE NIGHT OF THE YULE BALL HAD FINALLY ARRIVED AND EVERYONE ATTENDING WAS EXCITED AS EVER. Ginger was in awe of the way her gowned looked since she hadn't taken a look at the thing completely.

      It was an angelic periwinkle with silver details all around it, stars and things had been laced within the details to add more personality to the dress which made Ginger adore it even more, and the back of it had a monochrome ribbon to lace it up like a corset. The shape had been so simple yet so perfect for Ginger she truly did end up knocking over things on her bedside table.

The time for her to begin heading to the Great Hall was nearing closer and closer as she continued to get herself ready. She used her wand to tie up her hair in just the way she wanted to and to put little hairpieces to have her hair match her dress with silver details in it. She would've used her hands to make it more simple but her mindset of being adamant on looking presentable had overthrown all logic in her mind for the last two hours.

"Ginger!" a voice from outside of her dorm called her. She recognized the voice belonging to Alex and smiled to herself opening the door for him having her eyes meet a boy dressed in classy dress robes. His jaw dropped at the sight of her in her gown, in all his five years of knowing the girl he had never seen her dressed up like she had been let alone in a dress like the one she wore.

      She stared at his awestruck expression with amusement gracing her freckled face and closed the door behind her. "Close your mouth, you might get moths flying in," she giggled stepping down the steps that lead to her dorm.

Alex quickly followed suddenly feeling protective of his friend no matter if she was older, "if that ginger hurts you I will drown him," he threatened.

"I realize our group has a reputation for threatening to drown people," she shrugged. He nodded his head thinking about her words for a moment.

      "Perhaps we do."

      THE STROLL TO THE GREAT HALL WAS SHORT-LIVED AFTER CEDRIC HAD MET UP WITH GINGER AND ALEXANDER HALFWAY THROUGH. The music from the ball had pounded deeply within Ginger's chest as they neared and she couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. She couldn't exactly explain why she had been feeling that way though. She and George were friends, nothing more. So why had she been feeling this way?

Cedric leaned down a bit to Gingers ear level so she could hear him, "if Weasley tries anything he's dead." She laughed loudly at the threat but it hadn't been as loud as it usually was due to the music drowning her voice out.

"I'll remember that." She knew George wouldn't do anything, she trusted him even though they hadn't known each other for over a year.

"I've got to go find Alice," Alexander spoke loudly so his friends could hear. They both nodded letting him go meet his French date.

"That's probably my cue to go find Cho," Cedric said to Ginger as though he was hesitant to leave her.

      "If you don't go, I will," she pushed him away. She was then left by herself to enter the Great Hall.

      Her legs carried her to the grand doors of the entrance as the clicking of her periwinkle shoes had been completely muted by the sounds around her. Though her knees felt like jello beneath her she continued and graced the event with her presence. Students all around laughed with each other while others began to flood into the Great Hall which had been turned into a ballroom. Ginger bent her neck up to stare at the blue-tinted room that had seemed to match with her gown perfectly.

Across the room, George stood laughing with his friends and brother awaiting the arrival of his date. Half of his hair had been tied back and put into a braid on the back of his head, the hairstyle had only been kept together by magic because of how much he had been messing with it. Angelina Johnson had swatted his hands away multiple times in the past twenty minutes since they arrived since she had been the one to do his hair in the first place.

"Bloody hell, George! If you keep messing with it it's going to become undone before you even see her, and if that happens I won't be redoing it," she scolded crossing her arms over her chest.

"Hey, if it makes you feel any better, Angie, it won't come out before she sees him," Lee defended. They all furrowed their eyebrows at his words. He rolled his eyes then placed a hand on George's shoulder and used the other to point past the boy. The group turned in the direction of his finger and George suddenly became at a loss for words as he nearly melted like ice cream in his spot.

      There she stood, examining her surroundings and searching for familiar faces among the crowds of people. Then her eyes landed on him. They held eye contact for a moment as she took in his appearance with his hair tied back and dress robes fitting him perfectly.

      "Mate, if you don't go talk to her, I will." Lee gave George a light push in the direction of the girl he had been crushing on for months, whether he knew it or not.

      They both began walking to each other deciding they would meet in the middle.

      Once they reached each other she smiled widely at his appearance, especially his hair deeply admiring it. "Well, aren't you a pretty boy tonight, Georgie?" she teased looking at his hair. He became self-conscious of the way it looked and quickly ran his hands through his hair to avoid getting any more attention towards it. In the distance, Angelina scoffed beside Fred while Fred only shook his head and chuckled.

      Ginger frowned at the action. "It looked stupid, didn't it? I told Angie it was too much-"

"No, George, I loved it! I was admiring it," she glanced at his fiery hair. "Did you maybe do that for me?" she teased.

Putting aside the feeling of his insides beating against his ribs, he used his hand to flip his hair behind his back. "Well, of course, Moon. Lots of yelling and groaning went into doing that," he pointed at his now tousled mane.

Her face heated up slightly but she ignored it, "if so much went into it, why'd you take it out?" she leaned against the closest table to them.

"Was afraid you didn't like it.." he looked away from her to avoid his ears turning any redder than they had already been.

      She sighed, "George Weasley, your hair is one the things I most admire about you," she assured. His eyes remained on her with a smile on his freckled face listening to every word she spoke.

      "Oh yeah?"

      "Yes." She nodded. "Want me to put it back for you?" she asked raising her hands already but not quite doing anything yet waiting for his answer. He happily nodded and took a seat in a chair so she wouldn't have to stand on the tips of her shoes because of their height difference.

      He smiled to himself just enjoying their time together as she tied it back almost identically to how it was before.

      He then stood and offered his arm to her to guide her to the dance floor. The music played a soft melody as they began waltzing. "Care to tell me the other things about me that are so admirable to you?" he spun her out and back into his chest.

      She giggled, "Well I can't do that."

      "Why not?"

      "I wouldn't want your perfectly shaped head to get any bigger," she laughed as he continued to dance with her.

      "Oh, so you've got jokes now, do you?" he raised his eyebrows with his Cheshire grin.

      She nodded in agreement to his words, "I mean it's only fair for your date to have her own jokes."

      "I suppose so." He shrugged then unexpectedly dipped her. She yelped being only a foot away from the floor as she grasped onto his coat.

      He brought her back into his chest with a smirk as she gulped recovering from the sudden action. "Oh, you're hilarious."

      "Yes, I'm very aware."