Ordinary Muggle In An Extraordinary Predicament

“Tell me again why I have to wear this dress.” Erika told Fred when she got out of her room at the Burrow. She was wearing a long blue chiffon dress with white lace trimming the edges. Her hair was raised in a French knot and her face was glowing even with just the slightest trace of make-up.



“Why? You don’t like the dress?” Fred inquired as he marveled at how lovely she was when she was all dolled up.



Erika turned around to let him see that the dress he bought fitted her well. “It’s not that Fred. I love the dress, it’s just that I’m not used to dressing up so fancily. This must have caused you a lot of galleons.” She carefully donned her cloak and sighed.



He approached her and took her hand. “I’m glad to hear that you love the dress. I don’t always get to dote on you this much, let me do this once in a while. Besides, I want you to be the most beautiful girl at the party tonight.”



She made a face. “You know I’m not that beautiful Fred. A lot of pureblood witches will be there and they’re a lot prettier than I am. And I don’t want to attract the fury of Parkinson if I am indeed the most beautiful girl at her party.”



Fred chuckled, “I guess she would throw a fit if she sees someone prettier than her but that is her problem not yours.” He brought out the invitation for the party.



She looked up at him and sighed, “Don’t tell me that’s a portkey.”



He nodded sympathetically.



“Oh well, might as well get it over with.” She held one side of the invitation and closed her eyes as she waited for the portkey to send them to where the party was taking place.



“We’re here dear.” Fred whispered to her a little later.



Slowly she opened her eyes and frowned at the extravagance of the place. A house elf took their cloaks and Fred guided her inside the Parkinson’s Mansion. She looked at Fred and wondered for the nth time why Pansy Parkinson invited Fred and George to her party. She remembered that they never did get along while they were at Hogwarts even though they were in the higher year. She shook her head, but then again a lot of people didn’t get along with Pansy.



“A galleon for your thoughts.”



Erika gazed at him and smiled. “It’s nothing.”



“Relax. Everyone’s admiring how you look.”



She shook her head, “Fred, just because you think I’m beautiful doesn’t mean other people see me that way. For all you know they could be staring at me thinking how someone like me got into an event like this.”



“No darling. I can see how envious the witches around us are that you look so smashingly beautiful.” He gave her hand a squeeze and kissed her on the cheek. “I also see how jealous the wizards are of me because I am the one with you.”



“I’m glad you two finally arrived. I was beginning to think that you opted to skip this one.” George said as he approached them.



Erika smiled, “Hello George. You know Fred wouldn’t let you have all the fun here.”



“Wow Erika. You look smashing tonight!” George exclaimed as he stared at her.



“See, I was right.”



She blushed, “You two are just too much.”



“Wait, you were thinking that we went here just to play some prank on the snotty people?” Fred asked her with mirth in his eyes.



George shook his head, “Erika, we are adults now. We know how to behave in a formal event.”



The three were so engrossed in their own conversation that they didn’t notice Pansy approach them.



“I see you decided to bring a witch rather than that MudBlood girlfriend of yours in an event like this Fred. Really, she would’ve only felt out of place. I’m sure she’s not used to such opulence. Did you finally dump her?” She looked appraisingly at Erika and nodded her head, “Yes, I like this one. She has an elegance that girlfriend of yours could never dream to acquire even if you dress her up with all the fineries in the world. It looks like this girl is a pure blood. Strange though, I don’t recognize her at all.”



Erika looked at Fred and George as they tried not to laugh out loud. Parkinson didn’t recognize her and she complemented her! This was really something.



“Well, well, well, you clean up well for a Muggle.” A voice drawled from behind Pansy.



Pansy looked around and beamed when she saw Draco Malfoy walking towards them. “I’m glad you could come Draco.”



“I had nothing else to do.” He answered as he stared at Erika.



Erika rolled her eyes as she watched Pansy fawn upon Draco. “Come on, let’s move to someplace where it’s more comfortable.”



Fred leaned over to whisper in her ear, “I don’t know darling. I would like to get that kind of attention from you sometime.”



She raised an eyebrow. “Really Fred, you want me to do what she does? I suggest you get some other girl to do that.”



“Aw, come on darling. You know I was just kidding but it would be nice if you gave me that kind of attention once in a while.”



She kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll give you all the attention you want, just not in this type of company.”



He gave her a wide grin, “Promise?”



“Yeah, promise.”



George cleared his throat, “Do you mind?”



Erika laughed as she gave George a peck on the cheek. “I’m sorry George.”



“So tell me. Did you finally use a glamour spell on her Weasley?” A nasty voice asked from behind them.



They all turned around to face Malfoy and Pansy.



Fred held Erika possessively at the waist. “No Malfoy, we didn’t need to do the glamour spell. She’s beautiful just the way she is.”



“What? Are you saying that she’s that MudBlood girlfriend of yours?” Pansy asked in shock.



Erika smiled at her sweetly, “I’m confused darling. You keep referring to Fred’s Mudblood girlfriend. I didn’t know he had one, unless Fred and George are hiding something from me.”



“I’m referring to you Mudblood.”



She gave her a mock look of surprise, “I am? Correct me if I’m wrong darling but a Mudblood knows how to use magic and clearly I don’t. So you see, I can’t really fathom why you insist on calling me a Mudblood.”



“I’ll call you whatever bloody name I want to call you.”



“Well in that case darling then, why yes dear. I am Fred’s MudBlood girlfriend.” Fred and George winced when she said the word MudBlood for the nth time that night but she chose to ignore them. “I swear, if you were any slower you’d be going backwards.”



“Why you little…” she was about to slap Erika but quickly composed herself when she noticed that almost everyone was watching them. Slowly she dropped her hand to her side. “Remember, this is my party.” She warned under her breath.



“A party which we would gladly leave.” Erika looked at Fred and George who nodded their heads.



“I suggest you don’t let them leave Parkinson.” Malfoy spoke up before the three could walk away from them.



She sighed and quickly approached them. “I’m sorry,” she apologized through gritted teeth.



Erika looked a little surprised but Fred and George only smiled.



“What was that you said Parkinson?” George asked a little loud for the crowd near them to hear.



Pansy scowled and closed her eyes to compose herself. “I said I was sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”



George looked at Fred. “What do you say Fred? Should we forgive her?”



Fred shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know. What do you think Erika?”



Erika caught the mischievous look in the twin’s eyes and sighed. “Well, I guess that’ll do since it is her birthday today, though that really doesn’t give her the right to insult a guest.”



“I was right! When I saw how you looked when my brother escorted you back home I got a little worried that something like this might happen.” Erika heard a female voice that was very familiar say from behind her.



She turned around and hugged Ginny. “Where’s Harry?”



“I’m over here Erika,” Harry called.



She looked back and saw him standing beside Malfoy.



“Gin was right. You really are a vision to behold.”



Erika shook her head and approached him to give him a peck on the cheek. “Thank you Harry.”



“So this is where you guys are. Bloody hell Erika!” Ronald exclaimed beside Harry as he stared at Erika.



Hermione giggled as she approached Erika. “Ron, please close your mouth.”



Ronald nodded his head and closed his mouth.



“See, I think the guys didn’t expect you to be this beautiful.” Hermione whispered as she hugged Erika.



Erika gave Ron a peck on the cheek and shook her head when she noticed that he was blushing.



Fred approached her and entwined his fingers with hers.



“Why are you grinning Fred Weasley?”



“Nothing, I’m just proud of you darling.”



Hermione groaned, “Oh please, enough with the lovey-dovey thing. We’re in a formal event guys so you’ll have to reserve your sweetness to each other for later.”



Erika nodded her head and tore her gaze away from Fred. She caught Malfoy smirk and she raised an eyebrow. “What’s the matter Malfoy? Cat got your tongue?”



He sneered and left the group in a huff.



Ginny chuckled, “I’ve never seen anyone get under Draco’s skin Erika. How do you do it?”



She shrugged her shoulders, “It’s a skill, I guess.”



Fred pulled her closer to his body and leaned down to whisper to her ear, “Let’s stop talking about unpleasant matters and dance.”



Erika nodded her head as she let him lead her to the ballroom floor.



“You’re paying far too much attention to that Malfoy kid,” Fred whispered to her ear as they danced.



Erika scrunched up her nose in distaste, “If you’re going to be jealous of someone I suggest you pick someone worth being jealous of.”



“Who said I was jealous of him?”



“You act like it. Hmmm…don’t tell me you’re jealous of me. I didn’t know you liked Malfoy that much. Don’t worry, I’ll ease a little on the ferret.”



Fred gave her a weird look, “What in bloody hell are you on?”



Her face remained serious, “I understand you like him better than me. I’ll give way for you two, what matters is you’re happy even if it’s with another person.”



“What in Merlin’s beard are you talking about?” He suddenly stopped dancing. Other people were starting to look at them.



She embraced him and forced him to continue dancing. Confusion and annoyance was clear on his face and she couldn’t help but laugh at him. Erika pulled his head down so she could whisper on his ear, “I was just messing with you Fred.”



His serious expression changed into amusement. “You my love will pay dearly for that trick.”



Erika smirked, “I’d like to see you try.”



Fred gave out a deep chuckle and embraced her tightly when the song ended. “I will never tire of your company love.”



“Really?”



“You don’t believe me?” He led them to their friends we who were seated around on one table.



“You know I believe that change is constant and that what people might think of you now will eventually change.”



He pouted, “The difference is that I’ll love you more in the future.”



She indulged him with a smile and took a sip from the butterbeer in front of her.



“Butterbeer in an occasion like this Erika?” George taunted her when he noticed what she was drinking.



“What would you have me drink then? You know I get tipsy with just one glass of whatever alcoholic beverage.”



“Hmmm…I forgot about that.” He peered at her face and frowned, “Is something the matter?”



Erika had her eye closed and she was slightly wincing as she placed a hand near her heart. “It’s nothing, it’ll pass eventually. Just give me a few minutes.”



Fred clutched her other hand and she squeezed it to assure him that she was alright. He watched her worriedly, minutes passed by but she remained in that state. His eyes darted over to where Hermione was sitting to ask for a bit of help but she was busy observing other people in the ballroom floor. Erika shook her head as she too glanced at Hermione.



“This’ll pass, no need to worry any of them,” she said with a bit of difficulty.



He doubted what she said, instead of being okay it seemed to him that her condition was worsening. She was now breathing laboriously and she was slowly starting to haunch down on her seat. Fred stole a look at his twin who was watching them helplessly. Fred knew how much George adored Erika, hell everyone adored her. Slowly he felt her hand loosen its hold on his and she gave him a weak smile.



“I’m alright Fred. I’ll just go to the bathroom first to refresh myself.” She stood up and walked away from their table.



Ginny gave a pat on his brother’s back, “Don’t worry I’ll go with her.”



He gave his younger sister a grateful look. He hadn’t even noticed that Ginny was aware of Erika’s state. His eyes followed Erika, he knew she wasn’t alright. She didn’t want him to worry that’s why she was going to the bathroom. His eyes widened when he suddenly saw Erika collapse to the ground. “Erika!” he shouted as he rushed to her side. He was worried when he couldn’t find her lying on the spot where she had fallen. Fred looked around him wildly, his eyes roving as he searched for her. He felt a hand on his back and he turned to see Hermione.



“What happened Fred? Where’s Erika?”



“I don’t know Mione. We have to find her, she’s not feeling well. I saw her faint here.” He answered her a bit hysterically.



Ginny rushed in the crowd that was surrounding her brother and Hermione. “Fred!” She called to him quite breathlessly. She had been near Erika when she fainted but it was Malfoy who was the first one on her side and quickly apparated them to St. Mungo. Pausing for while before grabbing his brother’s arm, “I know where she is. Malfoy took her to St. Mungo’s, I came back here to inform you so that you can follow.”



Fred nodded his head and apparated to where Erika was.