Unexpected flame | Fred Weasley (short story)

November 1995 | The Gryffindor party

Believe it or not, but Gryffindors were known to have great parties. And, unlike Slytherin, they weren't too strict about who could enter the party. Everyone was welcomed, as long as they didn't damage their common room or picked fights - which was a basic rule.

Music blasted as Juliet danced with Luna, showing the blonde more modern moves. Ginny, on her end, was looking for Harry, thinking the small bit of alcohol she drank would be enough to ask the Chosen One to dance with her.

''Has any of you seen Harry?'' she asked, stumbling over to two girls with alcohol on her breath.

Juliet spotted him in a corner of the common room, looking at Cho Chung the way Ginny wished he was looking at her. ''I saw him going that way with Ron,'' she said, pointing in the opposite direction. ''Perhaps they went to get drinks.''

''If you see him, tell him I'm looking for him, okay?''

On that, she disappeared in the crowd.

''Should we tell her about Cho?'' Juliet nodded at the fellow Ravenclaw sitting with Marietta Edgecombe on a couch.

Luna followed her friend's gaze. ''Unless there's a possibility Cho and Harry might get together, I say no.''

Luna was right. Why crush Ginny's hopes when nothing was even close to be official? As far as Juliet knew, Cho was still hung on Cedric - his tragic loss still fairly recent - and grieving. She had seen her crying in front of his memorial by Hufflepuff's common room last week and she didn't look like she was ready to move on to another boyfriend anytime soon. Sorry harry.

''Do you think there is a chance that Harry might like Ginny back?''

''Perhaps. For now, I think he sees her more as his best friend's little sister than a love interest.''

''Hopefully he'll open his eyes and see how amazing she is.''

''Hopefully,'' Juliet agreed.

Over Luna' shoulder, Juliet caught sight of Fred who was looking rather hot in his button up with the first top buttons undone. It was a nice change from the sweaters. He was laughing with Lee Jordan and some other friends, a red cup on his right hand.

''Until summer is over,'' they had agreed, back in her bedroom at Grimmauld Place as Fred slipped her cami over her head, hands caressing the newly uncovered skin.

Back then, it had seemed to be a good agreement, but two month had passed since Juliet had last had a taste of the redhead's lips and she was craving him.

''I'm gonna get more beer. Would you like anything?'' Juliet asked, hoping Luna would say no so she didn't have to actually get beer. Juliet didn't really want beer. She just needed an excuse to wander away and go talk to Fred.

Luna declined her offer and kept dancing. She twirled on herself while making odd fly catching movements with her hands. Juliet shook her head. She really was one of a kind.

Juliet smoothed down her dress before walking over to the twins.

''Hey, Black,'' George greeted, seeing her approaching their way. ''Having fun at our party?''

Upon hearing her name, Fred had turned around, feeling his stomach tighten as she stopped before them. His eyes went up and down, from her sparkling eyes and lightly flushed cheeks to the thin straps on her shoulders, exposing a lot of skin up there. There was no denying, she looked hot.

''Very much,'' she replied with a grin. Around them, colorful lights were flashing in the room from some muggle device someone had brought, giving it a club-like ambiance. ''Ravenclaws have parties too, but nothing like this.''