He knew that night was going to be painful, but he could never have imagined the pain that he felt when he saw her run out of the Great Hall. It was as if, somehow, every bone, every organ, every cell inside of his body was pulling him towards her. It was as if nothing else in the world mattered, except for her in that moment. As if his entire world was suddenly drained of the light it was just filled to the brim with. As if all of the air had suddenly left the room. As if he hadn't had anything to drink in months. As if time stopped. As if in that moment, he wanted, no, needed to be by her side.

He was torn between running after her, and running after his idiot brother, when he was suddenly brought back to reality by a hand on his arm. Everything that had just disappeared suddenly came crashing back down into place.

"You know, she's a very brave girl," a soft voice mumbled from beside him.

He looked towards his date quizzically, trying to put the thoughts of an upset Hermione out of his mind as quickly as possible. He fumbled to get words out of his mouth. "I don't…."

Angelina quickly held up a hand, as if to stop the words midair. "Fred, you don't need to pretend. I've seen you looking at her all night." She looked around them briefly, checking that nobody cared if they disappeared into the night, and then tugged gently on his arm to lead him out of the ball.

He hesitated for a moment and then followed her lead. Turning out of the castle, they found a quiet bench to sit on. Sitting down on the bench, he buried his head in his hands. "I messed up, 'Lina." He felt as if he could be sick, but instead he started telling her everything. From finding the bushy haired girl in the library, to comforting her when she was crying, to their late night escapades. When he finally got to Krum asking her to the dance, he couldn't bring himself to say it. "I-I don't know what to do…"

Angelina couldn't help but smile at the distraught boy in front of her. "You know, I was surprised when you asked me to the dance."

He looked up at her through his fingers, with one eyebrow raised. "You were?"

She nodded and continued. "I know that you and I aren't as close as you and George, or you and Lee, maybe. But, I do consider us to be rather good friends, wouldn't you? So, I did happen to notice your attention taken up recently by a certain girl. Drifting while we were studying, eyes always finding her. I thought she might have had you entirely enamoured of her. Until you decided to ask me to the ball, that is." She watched as the boy slowly sat up, still shaking his head.

"But I didn't…" He began, and she held up her hand yet again to stop him.

"I know you didn't. But I noticed, Fred. I want you to know that I noticed because I am your friend, and that's all I want us to be. But I also think that as your friend, I should let you know… She didn't take her eyes off of you either."

His jaw nearly dropped and he shot up out of his seat, torn again. That bottomless pulling was suddenly inside of his chest again, tugging him somewhere unknown. Should he find her? Where could she be? What would he say? How could he face her after this?

Angelina watched as the wheels turned in his mind. She offered a breathy laugh and stood up beside him. Standing on her toes, she kissed his cheek gently. "I'm here if you need anything, Fred. But I think right now, you know what you should do." She turned on her heel and left him there, as the lights from the castle began to fade.

And suddenly, he was running, as fast as his legs would carry him. Up, up, up the endless staircases that the castle was offering to him. Through twists and turns, until he finally found what he was looking for. He pushed open the large wooden door, his arms suddenly feeling like lead weights.

"Hermione?"