Okay, so this jumps to fourth year at the Yule Ball... I've decided that I'm only doing snippets from certain years. Like for the fourth year, it's going to be just this one post... If you have any questions about what's happened or what they've been up to, you're more than welcome to ask So, on to the post And I have a feeling you will all enjoy it quite much Enjoy!


CHAPTER SIX: Forever and Always
Summer drifted by quickly for Emily. She hung out with Hermione a few times. She spent the night with Ginny on occasion. Sirius dropped by from time to time, but would never linger long for fear of getting caught. Fred would come over and they would take walks and talk. The rest of the summer holiday zipped by in a flash and before she knew it, Emily wound right back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Even the school year seemed to pass quickly. And in what seemed like a blink of an eye, she was at the Yule Ball, accompanied by Fred Weasley. Emily was wearing a dark turquoise dress, which looked magnificent against her red hair and pale skin. The color brought out her eyes too. It was a ball gown style dress, fluffing out at the waist. The silver beading around her bust and waist was in a beautiful swirling pattern. It reminded her of wind, moving against her dress.

Fred and his date were standing off to the side of the Yule Ball by the punch bowl. “It’s now or never, Ems. Everyone is leaving, including you know who,” Fred said. Emily looked at him, quite aggravated.

“What do you want me to do? Run up there and make a fool of myself?” she asked angrily. They had had conversations over this topic almost every day. She knew that she was being stubborn about confronting George with her feelings, but she still wouldn’t change that. Over the summer, she thought about the day she told him that people kept coming in their way. It was a memory she dwelled on. If only she hadn’t been foolish and let Angelina win, then she would be George’s date, not Angelina.

“You won’t make a fool of yourself, Ems! You’re a genius at the guitar and your voice is amazing!” Fred put his hands on her shoulders. “I believe in you,” he whispered. Emily looked up into his eyes. He was her best friend, and she knew he wouldn’t tell her she could do this if she really couldn’t. She glanced around the room. Ron, Hermione, and Harry had left quite a while ago. There weren’t very many people left. Near the center, she saw Ginny and Neville dancing, and towards the door, George and Angelina were starting to leave.

Impulsively, acting on adrenaline and something else she couldn’t quite place, Emily ran toward the stage, picked up her guitar that Fred had summoned a while ago, and made for the microphone.

“Wait!” she yelled into it, staring at George. He clambered to a stop and stared at her. Angelina tugged on his arm, but he shook her off.

“I want to go,” she whispered into George’s ear. She glared at Emily.

“Then go, nobody’s stopping you,” he told her, not taking his eyes off of Emily.

Emily gulped. The band had stopped playing and every eye in the room was staring at her, except for Angelina, who was more like glaring at her.

“Truth is I gave my heart away a long time ago, my whole heart, and I never really got it back. I, er, heard these songs on the radio, and they made me think of a certain somebody. You know who you are,” Emily said shakily into the microphone.

Emily strummed the strings on her guitar to warm them up. She hadn’t played her guitar in over a year. And it wasn’t exactly like riding a bike. She looked up at Angelina, catching her eye, and then she grinned.

“I’m stupid
I’m useless
I can’t do anything right”

Emily looked up to find every eye. Fred winked at her and Ginny smiled reassuringly.

“According to you
I’m difficult
Hard to please
Forever changing my mind
I’m a mess in a dress
Can’t show up on time
Even if it would save my life
According to you
According to you”

Staring at Angelina, Emily grinned. Angelina narrowed her eyes and gave Emily a death glare. After all, this song was partially for Angelina. All those times that Emily held her tongue and didn’t respond to her insults were over. Emily was ready to speak her mind, and this song was helping her get her point across. Emily turned to look at George for the next verse. His body subconsciously moved closer to the stage. He was so close, yet so far.

“But according to him
I’m beautiful, incredible
He can’t get me out of his head
According to him
I’m funny, irresistible
Everything he ever wanted
Everything is opposite
I don’t feel like stopping it
So, baby, tell me what I got to lose
He’s in to me for everything I’m not
According to you”

George grinned at her, and she went as far as to wink at him. His smile widened, and the corner of her mouth turned up.

“According to you
I’m boring
I’m moody
You can’t take me any place
According to you
I suck at telling jokes ‘cause I always give it away
I’m the girl with the worst attention span
You’re the boy who puts up with it
According to you
According to you

But according to him
I’m beautiful, incredible
He can’t get me out of his head
According to him
I’m funny, irresistible
Everything he ever wanted
Everything is opposite
I don’t feel like stopping it
So, baby, tell me what I got to lose
He’s into me for everything I’m not
According to you

I need to feel appreciated
Like I’m not hated
Oh, no
Why can’t you see me through his eyes?
It’s too bad you’re making me decide

According to me
You’re stupid
You’re useless
You can’t do anything right

But according to him
I’m beautiful, incredible
He can’t get me out of his head
According to him
I’m funny, irresistible
Everything he ever wanted
Everything is opposite
I don’t feel like stopping it
Baby, tell me what I got to lose
He’s into me for everything I’m not
According to you
According to you

According to you
I’m stupid
I’m useless
I can’t do anything right”

Emily stopped strumming her guitar and looked up. Angelina looked furious, which was to be expected. Angelina knew that Emily was directing that one to her. Fred and Ginny wolf whistled while everyone clapped loudly. Emily smiled and then looked at George.

“This one is for you,” she whispered into the microphone. “Let the lyrics whisper to your heart.” Emily took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her fingertips found the strings easily.

“This time, this place
Misused, mistakes
Too long, too late—
Who was I to make you wait?
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there’s just one left
‘Cause you know
You know, you know”

Emily opened her eyes and stared at George. His eyes were on her and they were never leaving. She knew and so did he. They were soul mates, and from now on, they would be together Forever and Always.

“That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you’ll be with me
And you’ll never go
Stop breathing if
I don’t see you anymore”

George let one lone tear escape and then he started walking toward the side of the stage, where the steps are, never looking away from his Ems.

“On my knees, I’ll ask
Last chance for one last dance
‘Cause with you, I’d withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I’d give it all
I’d give for us
Give anything but I won’t give up
‘Cause you know
You know, you know—”

George walked slowly up the stairs towards Emily. Her eyes held fast to him as he drew steadily closer. He was getting closer and closer to her. But she never stopped singing their song.

“So far away
Been for away for far too long
So far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know—”

But George was no longer far away. He was right there in her reach. She kept playing, her body completely facing him. Her head was tilted toward the microphone.

“I wanted
I wanted you to stay
‘Cause I needed
I need to hear you say
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you
For being far away for far too long
So keep breathing
‘Cause I’m not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me, and never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me, and never let me go”

Emily stepped away from the microphone and gently took her guitar off of her shoulder. She looked up at George, into his soft, brown eyes. He wasn’t going anywhere. He took a half step forward and cupped her cheek in his hand.

“You’ve been far away for far too long, Ems,” George whispered.

Emily sighed, closing her eyes at his touch. He gently wiped away her tears. “I’ve loved you all along,” she whispered, opening her eyes slowly. “Forever,” she said.

“And Always,” he finished. * “There are many combinations of words I could say, but I will tell you one thing—we’re better together,” George whispered.

Emily smiled. * “If taking my breath away were a sport, then, baby, you’d be undefeated,” Emily whispered, smiling widely. George grinned. “What’s meant to be will always find its way. I guess your brother was right after all,” Emily grinned.

“Did you have doubts?” Fred shouted from the dance floor. Fred and Ginny laughed loudly and others joined in. Emily and George didn’t take their eyes off of each other.

“What are you waiting for, Georgie? * Wash me in your love, soak me in your stare, and hang me up to dry in the warmth of your smile,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. His hands clutched tightly to her waist, never wanting to let her go.

“Yeah, what are you waiting for?” Fred shouted.

“KISS HER!” Fred and Ginny yelled at the same time.

Emily giggled and George chuckled. “Well, if you insist,” George said. And so he did.

George kissed her as if he had never kissed her before. He kissed her as if their lives depended on it. And she kissed him back the exact same way. There was no pulling away, no leaving. They clung to each other, their bodies like puzzle pieces. They fit perfectly together. His silky lips caressed hers, and the feeling made every butterfly ever made erupt inside of her. Her stomach was doing somersaults. Her heart beat violently against her chest, and she felt the urgency of his lips.

All around them, those left at the dance were erupting into applause and yelling. But they didn’t break apart; they stayed right where they were supposed to be, in each other’s arms, together. George smiled against her lips, and she smiled back, but she refused to let his lips part from hers just yet. Her hand moved up his neck and knotted into his hair. Her other hand clung to his shirt, and it would take much force for them to pry it away from him now. George pushed the small of her back closer to him, making them even closer together.

He parted his lips from hers only long enough to murmur, “I love you.”

“Forever and Always,” she whispered. And then his lips were back on hers.

Emily's Prom Dress
*Hehe, you guys finally win According to You is by Orianthi and Far Away is by Nickelback. Every place where there is an * before a sentence is a quote from Bumper Stickers on Facebook. The quote "The truth is I gave my heart away a long time ago, my whole heart, and I never really got it back" is said by Reese Witherspoon in the movie Sweet Home Alabama. Oh, and I know that the whole "Forever and Always" thing is on mine and Abi's story for Emily and Draco, but I had it down for Emily and George first, and then it just kind of meshed well with Abi's, so I'm using it for both