? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? STEPPING, I'M STOMPING, I'M ALL GONE. ? ? ????? ?? ?? ????????????? ????
this book has been fully re-edited and its original name being "his destructive little wildfire" but as it was cre...
"and for merlin's sake, stop throwing yourself at him!"
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xi. jealousy, jealousy
THE DECISION WAS UNANIMOUS, AND BEFORE LONG, they were all in motion. The elegance of the Yule Ball was exchanged for something more relaxed and, frankly, much more comfortable. The girls slipped out of their beautiful, yet painfully constricting dresses and heels, opting instead for casual attire that allowed for a bit more freedom—sneakers instead of stilettos, t-shirts instead of corsets.
As if it were any other night, they prepared to sneak out after curfew. With practiced stealth, they moved quietly through the corridors, the familiar thrill of breaking the rules tingling in their veins. The castle was silent, save for the distant echo of their footsteps on the stone floors, and the occasional flicker of torchlight that illuminated their path.
Deleine, with George by her side, led the way with the girls as they navigated their route to the Gryffindor common room. The air was thick with anticipation, and the whisper of suppressed laughter filled the gaps in the quiet. It was the sort of night that made Hogwarts feel truly alive, where every shadow seemed to hold a secret, and every corner promised adventure.
As they approached the portrait of the Fat Lady, they stifled their giggles, knowing that the real challenge lay in gaining entry without attracting too much attention. George stepped forward, whispering the password, and the portrait swung open with a creak. They slipped inside, greeted by the warm, golden glow of the Gryffindor common room.
The room was abuzz with energy, slightly different to the serene atmosphere of the Yule Ball. The music thrummed in the background, and students mingled in small groups, talking and laughing, their faces lit with the carefree joy that only a night like this could bring. The after-party was in full swing, and the mischievous gleam in Fred and George's eyes suggested that this was just the beginning.
Fred clapped George on the shoulder as soon as they stepped inside, his grin wider than anything. It seemed that in the brief time, they had been gone, Fred had developed quite the fondness for firewhisky. Deleine wasn't surprised, though—judging by the lively atmosphere, everyone had found something to indulge in. Before she could even protest, the boys whisked George away, leaving her standing there with Cassia and Indigo.
"They've just hijacked my date," Deleine remarked, pointing in the direction George had been dragged off to. Cassia and Indigo couldn't help but laugh, the sound mingling with the general hum of the party, before they looped their arms through hers and pulled her in the opposite direction.
The girls made a beeline for the drinks table. Deleine was handed a cup, though she only took a cautious sip, feeling the warm burn of the liquor on her tongue. It wasn't long before they found themselves on the sidelines with Fred's date, Angelina, observing the chaos unfolding in the room.
