I looked over my shoulder, again. I was waiting for outside transfiguration with Alica and Angelina, Frankie was preoccupied with Noah Coleman, her boyfriend of just over a week. She had got comfortable very fast with him and now everywhere I was to look now they were snogging.

Constantly snogging.

The worst part about it was I didn't whether I was annoyed or jealous. Whether I wanted them to get a room and shield me from their affection to each other or whether I wanted to have that kind of relationship... with someone.

I felt something lean over me and plop their head on my shoulder. "Caught you," Fred said just low enough so I could hear him.

"You know that could be us right." He carried on, to my disgust. I turned around and pushed him off me soft enough for no one to notice but strong enough for him not to come back.

"You nauseate me, Fred," I said looking him directly in the eye.

"And you make me feel alive again" He effortlessly retorted.

"Desperate"

"Beautiful"

"Arrogant"

"Sexy" Fred complimented me again. Alica and Angelina laughed quietly. I didn't know they were watching.

The door of the transfiguration classroom swung open saving me from that conversation which could've been much worse.

***

I was walking to potions with George and Lee, the first time all day Fred wasn't by my side.

"Please take him away" Lee Jordan begged. "It's constant moaning on about you all the time, just take him on a bloody date, will you. At night when I'm trying to sleep, he babbles on. He is up in the early hours of the morning reading Godric knows what and then continues to have enough energy to plan everything he does for you. For the love of Merlin please take him away."

And I just as I was about to reply Fred pops up from behind us

"Yes, I think that is a great idea, Benny." George and Lee roll their eyes.

"I have been looking for you everywhere, wanted to walk you to potions." Fred stared at me but the turned to George. "You know this would be a lot easier with the map, brother"

"What map?" I chime in.

"What an idiot. Here we go." George whispers under his breath.

"Uhhh... The map to our first date, I have it all planned out... very extensive of course." Fred bit his lower lip in a panicked way.

I'm confused.

"The answer is still no Freddie."

"

Every corner I turned Fred was there. He constantly brought me sunflowers and jumped up behind me. One time we were in Charms and Fred just had to announce to the class I was wearing lipgloss. I didn't find this amusing, contrary to the classes belief as they all chuckled quite a bit. Prof. Flitwick was just confused which as probably the best outcome possible. Every time I see Fred he asks me to have lunch with him or permission to take me on the next Hogsmeade trip.

I can't walk anywhere without him or get any peace and quiet.

The whole school knows about Fred's mission to get me to go out with him and it makes my life so much harder. I get pats on the back and cheers in the halls when they see us walking together. Some of the things Fred does are okay; like whispering compliments to me as I walk by or giving me CD's including songs that remind him of me but everything else makes me want Pertrificus Totalus him and lock him in a cupboard until Flich finds him.

***

As promised by Dumbledore the Yule Ball lessons commenced the week of his speech. I was beyond excited. I walked to class with my girls, avoiding Fred made it a lot easier to spend time with them because I had the excuse that if Fred were with the boys, I wouldn't be hanging out with them.

McGonagall appeared to be standing in front of a record player that attached to a rusted gold amplifier twice the size of the Professor. The floor was brown and dusted as if this room hadn't been used in years, benches were separated onto either side of the area. There was a big clear area in the middle directly in front of where McGonagall was perched.

I was given the rundown as we sat in groups of boys and girls on either side of the hall, I thought the idea of dance was one of the most exciting things at Hogwarts. I could barely sit still. I wanted to hear the music play. I wanted to learn the steps.

The rest of McGonagall speech was blurred a little as my mind was overtaken by the thoughts about my dress. Although I heard her come to a pause and listened to her next few words. McGonagall turned to the girls.

"Could I please have a volunteer?"

My hand shot up faster than lightning itself. Prof. McGonagall looked surprised but happy that someone was this eager. She pointed to me so I stood up and came to the centre of the room. I bit my cheek waiting eagerly for the next step. But instead of instructing me, she turned to the boys. Ron, Fred's younger brother, seemed to be laughing about something, probably making fun of this whole arrangement.

She shot her eyes directly at him and proceeded with her next words with complete harshness. "Mr Weasley, would you join me please?"

Ron looked terrified. But another voice cut off his protests.

"It would be my honour, Professor."

I looked up only to see Fred Weasley answering the Professors request.

He started making his way to the centre of the room to accompany me. Most people tried to suppress laughs I had finally figured out what I was going to volunteer for, the first dance. I should have been listening. Fred walked over to me with a sly smug look on his face.

"Although this wasn't the partner I had in mind Ms Benson I am sure you will make due. Please assume positions."

It was almost too easy for him.

But I wouldn't let him have the satisfaction of thinking I was wrapped around his finger. Because I wasn't. I was my own person. Always. There is nothing he could do or say that would change that. So instead of asking to sitting down or refusing to dance, I took the first step.

I put my hand on his shoulder. Locking eyes with him I held my hand out for Fred to take.

He took my hand and I felt my own blood pulse through my veins, from the tips of my fingers to my beating heart. Fred held my hand so gracefully so softly as he slipped his remaining hand around my waist. I tried not to show what was going on in my head on my face, but I couldn't help but feel swept away by him.

Fred's golden chocolate orbs stared into mine. If only he weren't... well Fred.

"Very good" McGonagall cleared her throat. The music started to play and I felt Fred focus his eyes on me, just me. "And a... 1, 2, 3, 4," McGonagall's counting faded as I focused on my dance partner. It was actually quite pleasant not having Fred yapping about one thing or other to convince me to go out with him, it was nice just to be. He danced well... on the other hand I couldn't stop stepping on his feet, he only laughed it off and kept going without missing a beat.

"Everyone, please form partners and join them."

I knew most people felt awkward about standing up and dancing but once a few boys asked some girls the others were quick to join. Soon I could hear many pairs of feet travelling across the room as we learned the choreography. Although most of my energy was focused on learning the dance however I couldn't help but feel a little happy about my current dance partner. Fred felt so strong when I touched his shoulders, and halfway through the class, my point was proven as we proceeded to lifts. Both his hands were now just above my hips as I jumped up and he fluttered me above his head and down to the ground swaying and stepping with ease.

We danced for longer and I seemed to be doing much better than when we started. I finally got to glance around the room to see who my friends partnered up with... let's see. Frankie was with Lee Jordan, suspected since most people knew Lee's preference was boys, so a safe choice for Frankie since she was taken by Noah. Angelina and Alica were with Toby and Connor. Toby was nice and I'm pretty sure Connor has a thing going on with some seventh year Slytherin. This was good I didn't want some random Gryffindor snaking their arms around the waists' of my friends. After an hour and half of a tiring rehearsal, we were finally dismissed. McGonagall was gone in a flick.

Most people rushed out back to their common room. I picked up my stuff and was ready to leave but was blocked by Fred.

"That was fun," Fred said rather casually. "But I'm really struggling, getting down that turn sequence." I knew there was a catch. "Maybe you can teach me sometime."I took a deep breath. Why did I want to say yes? Miranda snap out of it. An image of girl crumbling under Fred's words popped into my mind. He had previously taken her virginity the night before. Miranda, you do not want to be one of those girls.

"No thanks and if you ask me again the answer will still be no," I said with the most certainty I could muster.

"What the hell." Fred threw his arms up in the air almost in defeat.

"Excuse me?" I replied. This was unusual behaviour for him.

"What else do you want me to do? I'm serious" he half laughs of disparity "I give you flowers every day, I find love songs for you, I compliment you in every way possible. I am bending over backward for you and we haven't made any progress, like at all. What I supposed to do?" He was getting much angrier now

"Hmph... Maybe a marching band?" I joke.

"No. You know what? I give up, if you really won't give me a chance then I'm not going to try anymore" Fred shouted.

"Fine" I huff.

"Fine" he replied.

"Fuck you F-"

I could see the angry strewn across his face. Every time I would talk to him I would end with a 'fuck you Fred' as a tradition of ours. But this time it wasn't funny. I have never seen Fred shout before. But this must have been too much for him to take because the next words seemed to topple out of his mouth.

"-No fuck you, Miranda! FUCK YOU! I am so done."

Fred slammed the door on his way out of the room leaving me alone on a dusty bench in a damp old room.

_____________________________________________

❤️❤️