December 24th Snow

Joey stumbled after Fred, clutching her skirt with one hand and his hand with the other. The corridors of Hogwarts were dimly lit, and in the shadows, they passed several couples who were too preoccupied to notice them. Fred's destination was the Room of Requirement, and he was determined to get Joey there before anyone else could steal her attention. Her flushed cheeks and slightly tipsy demeanor had already attracted too many glances at the ball.

The Room of Requirement had transformed into exactly what Fred had envisioned: a cozy space with a crackling fireplace, plush sofas, a low coffee table laden with fruit and tea, and a large, inviting bed partially concealed by sheer curtains.

Joey flopped onto the bed, propping herself up with a pillow. "This bed is so soft, Fred. Come try it!" she said, her voice playful and her cheeks glowing.

Fred, unable to resist, sat beside her. "Joey," he said softly, his voice tinged with nervous excitement, "can I kiss you?"

Joey giggled, her eyes sparkling. "Since when do you ask? Just do it!"

Fred didn't need further encouragement. He leaned in, capturing her lips in a deep, lingering kiss. His hands roamed her back, fumbling with the straps of her dress. "This dress is beautiful," he murmured between kisses, "but it's a bit too complicated."

Joey laughed, her breath hitching as Fred's hands struggled with the intricate fastenings. "Maybe next time I'll wear something simpler," she teased.

Fred groaned in mock frustration, giving up on the straps and instead focusing on the soft skin of her neck. Joey's laughter faded into a soft gasp as his lips trailed lower. "Fred…" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Don't be afraid," Fred murmured, his voice soothing. "It's just me."

Joey's hands tangled in his hair as she surrendered to the moment, her body responding to his touch. The room was filled with the sound of their mingled breaths and the crackling of the fire. The night was young, and so were they.

---

The next morning, Joey woke to find Fred playing with a strand of her hair, his eyes soft and adoring. "Good morning, darling," he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Joey blushed, the memories of the previous night flooding back. Fred's hands began to wander again, and she swatted him away half-heartedly. "Stop it," she muttered, though her smile betrayed her.

Fred grinned, unrepentant. "You're irresistible."

After a lazy morning, they finally made their way to Hogsmeade, where they ran into George and Flami. Flami, ever the thoughtful friend, had brought bread and butter from breakfast, which Joey devoured gratefully.

"You're a lifesaver," Joey said between bites.

Fred, meanwhile, was eyeing George. "Did you bring anything for me?"

George shrugged. "I thought you'd had enough to eat."

Fred rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his grin. Joey, ever generous, shared her bread with him.

As they wandered through Hogsmeade, they noticed an unusual number of adults lingering around, likely Ministry officials keeping an eye on the Triwizard Tournament. But their attention was soon drawn to a familiar figure: Professor Lupin, followed closely by Tonks.

"What's going on there?" George asked, intrigued.

"Let's follow them," Joey suggested, her curiosity piqued.

The four of them trailed Lupin and Tonks discreetly, eventually finding them in a heated conversation near the Shrieking Shack. Fred held Joey back, signaling for silence. George, ever the inventor, pulled out a small cockroach and set it on the ground. The insect scurried toward the couple, and George handed out tiny earpieces.

"This is my latest invention," George whispered. "The 'Eavesdropping Cockroach.' It's a Muggle bug transformed."

Joey put on her earpiece and immediately heard Tonks' voice, clear as day. "Why do you keep avoiding me?" she was saying, her tone filled with hurt.

Lupin's voice was hesitant. "Tonks, your mission isn't to follow me."

"I know, but I've been to see Moody. He's fine under Kreacher's care. But I'm not fine, Remus. You've been avoiding me since that night!"

Lupin sighed. "I'm sorry. That night was a mistake. I shouldn't have—"

"Why didn't you call me Nymphadora? You called me that all night, and I didn't mind!"

"Tonks… I'm too old for you. And your uncle and I are friends. This… this shouldn't have happened."

There was a pause, and then Tonks dropped the bombshell. "I'm pregnant."

Lupin's voice was a mix of shock and disbelief. "What?"

The eavesdroppers nearly fell over in surprise. Joey's eyes widened, and she exchanged stunned looks with Fred, George, and Flami. This was far more dramatic than they'd expected.

"Well," George said, breaking the silence, "that's one way to start the day."

Joey couldn't help but laugh, though her cheeks were still flushed from the revelation. "I guess we'll have to keep an eye on this… situation."

Fred wrapped an arm around her shoulders, grinning. "Let's leave them to it. We've got our own adventures to focus on."

As they walked away, Joey leaned into Fred, her heart full. The day was just beginning, and she couldn't wait to see what else it had in store.