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“I’ll tell them soon, I promise. ” Gemma Farley whispered to her lover. George Weasley looked at her with both understanding and sadness in his eyes before leaving the abandoned classroom they had chosen to meet in. Gemma knows that he hates keeping stuff from his twin, Fred, but she just wasn't ready to tell anyone yet.
Her and George met after a Quidditch match a few years back and decided to keep their relationship a secret. Now in her last year and George's sixth, their relationship is still a secret. She felt terrible looking into George's eyes and seeing his insecurities lie in them as the secretive nature of their relationship started to affect him more and more. Sighing, she gathered her things and left the abandoned classroom as well. He always left before her so they wouldn't raise suspicions. Hogwarts students gossip about anything and anyone. If someone saw a Gryffindor and a Slytherin leave an abandoned classroom together, it'd spread through the school like a wildfire; both hers and George's reputation would be ruined!
Gemma pulled a mirror out of her school bag and checked her makeup to make sure it was presentable. Her and her friends were going to meet up in Hogsmeade for tea in thirty minutes and it was unlike her to be late. Gemma quickly went down to the Slytherin dungeons to grab her scarf and winter robe, as it had been snowing nonstop all week, and left for Hogsmeade. Walking outside instantly made her feel as though she had been hit with an ice spell. Because it was -10 degrees out today she had used a heating charm on her winter robes beforehand. While walking towards Hogsmeade, she couldn't help but think about hers and George's relationship. They've been together for two years now and nobody other than them knows. Gemma's never been good at keeping secrets, and this has been the hardest one to keep by far!
She wants to tell others, she really does! It's just that neither her family nor her friends would approve of their relationship. While yes, he was a Pureblood; he was also a Weasley. If only the Weasleys hadn't become Blood-traitors, then her and George could be together free of judgement. Oh, how Gemma longs to be able to hold George's hand in public without worrying that someone would see them.
As she stepped closer and closer to the doors of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, she remembered something. The Yule Ball's happening in a few weeks and both of them don't have dates yet. She-- she's a tad bit afraid to be frank but she knows she could do it, she's a Slytherin after all and Slytherins never back down from a challenge.
Entering Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, Gemma spotted her friends. Portia Parkinson-- Pansy's cousin, Nora Rowle, and Henrietta Burke. "Gemma!" Portia waved her over. "You're a tad bit early-- like always-- Melinoë hasn't even arrived yet. "
Gemma took a seat next to Portia and listened as Henrietta told them about the latest gossip involving Daphne Greengrass asking Theodore Nott to Yule Ball.
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Gemma could do this. All she has to do is ask George Weasley to the Yule Ball, easy peasy right? Gemma wrote a quick note to George.
-Jem
Meet me on top of the Astronomy tower at Midnight.
It was short and simple. They used code names so neither his twin or other dormmate wouldn't see her name and attempt to find every Gemma in the school and interrogate each and every single one until they found the one that was dating George. Gemma knows that there's a fifth year Ravenclaw named Gemma and if that situation was to ever happen . . . she'd probably have to bribe her.
Giving the note to her owl, she sent it off and laid down on her bed. She didn't have Potions until 12:30 so she had time to just rest for a bit. She placed the back of her hand against her forehead and sighed nervously. What if George didn't want to go to the Yule Ball with her? "Don't be silly, he does want to go with you, " Gemma muttered to herself silently, "He's brought it up a few times after all ."
Ever since the Yule Ball was announced George has been offering to take her but she's kept denying him. She's just worried about someone unwanted seeing them together. Both their families wouldn't approve of their relationship and that worries her. Gemma loves her family, she truly does, and if the choice was between George and her family . . . she honestly doesn't know who she'll choose.
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Once the clock read 11:50, she snuck out of bed using a Silencing Charm and tiptoed her way out of the Slytherin common room. Gemma reached the top of the Astronomy towers stairs in only seven minutes and prepped herself. Behind this door was George Weasley, her lover, her supposed-to-be enemy, her soulmate. She could do this, she knows she could. Slowly turning the doorknob Gemma opened the door. Her legs felt like jelly and she could hardly breathe. There standing close to the edge was George.
George smiled at her the moment she shut the door. Walking towards him, she placed her arms around his neck and kissed him. It was short and soft and she pulled away slowly. "George . . . " she muttered against his lips, "You arrived early for once. " George giggled and kissed her. This time the kiss was rough. He lightly bit her bottom lip and she parted them allowing him to explore her mouth. After a few minutes she pulled away, albeit hesitantly.
Gemma smiled softly, "Making out isn't the reason why I asked you here. " Amused, she booped him on the nose playfully before continuing, "I'm here to--" You can do this Gemma, just ask him.
"--ask you to the Yule Ball; if you're willing to go with me of course. "
There was a pregnant pause as he just stared at her for what felt like hours and just as she was starting to feel as though this was a bad idea, he smiled widely and loudly proclaimed, "Yes, I'll go with you! I've been asking you for weeks. I don't care what others think, Gem, O just want to be with you. "
Even though Gemma had expected this answer it still surprised her. She wasn't the prettiest girl nor was she the funniest and she sure as hell wasn't the smartest but despite all those things, he still said yes. She felt tears build up in the corners of her eyes as George kissed her. They spilled down her face as he gently brushed them away. "I don't know why b-but I had this sinking feeling that you'd say no, I-I knew you wouldn't but I was still worried. " Gemma said with the biggest smile on her face. Her private tutors had trained her stutter out of her when she was younger but here it was again, reappearing slightly.
"I'd never say no to you, especially if it's about this. " George said, lightly caressing her face. Seeing the amount of love in his eyes for her (her!) made her feel warm and comfortable. She couldn't believe that just a few hours ago she had been willing to choose her family over him. Now, looking into his adoring eyes, she realized that she'd do anything for him, whether that was a good realization or not, it was still the truth.
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Gemma adjusted the neckline of her Silver-blue maxi dress and straightened out the sleeves. She knows that the dress will be ruined by the end of the night but she doesn't care. She puts her blonde hair into a perfect braid and adds the hair clips he had bought her a long time ago into it. A few of them were snakes but the rest of them were gems. Sapphires, garnets, rubies, etc.. She knows they aren't cheap so she wears them every chance she gets. Once she was sure her dress was perfect she put on her white heels and applied another layer of lipstick before leaving her dorm room.
"You look great, Gem. " Henrietta complemented her, "I'm sure whoever your date is will fall flat on his arse after seeing you. "
Gemma laughed as she hugged Henrietta and watched her join her Durmstrang date, Leonid something. Heading towards the Great Hall, where the Yule Ball was being held, she spotted George waiting for her at the bottom of the staircase, his twin was off talking with the Gryffindor chaser, Angelina Johnson. Slowly ascending down the stairs she called out his name, "George! I'm up here. "
He looked up towards her and turned bright red. He didn't fall on his arse sadly but the look on his face made up for that entirely. Pure unfiltered love and adoration was painted all over his face. Looking into his gorgeous brown eyes made her nearly fall on her arse instead. Hooking her arm with his and ignoring all the gasps and whispers, she asked him, "You ready?"
"Readier than I ever been, Gem. "