Nothing lasts forever.
Little by little, tick by tock, her certainty of what was real chipped away. Cho gave a weak attempt to ignore the feeling. Of course this was had to be, didn't it?
She had been waiting for the dance ball for years. She perfected her steps, practising daily in front of her gilt-framed mirror. She sat and endlessly tied her lustrous hair into as many styles she could possibly think of. At the end she chose a simple but classic bun, secured with two hair sticks. Pearls and diamonds sparkled at the end of the sticks. It was a gift from her mother, who Cho sorely missed. She received letters and presents from her every week.
Cho had made a dress, staying up through the midnight hours just to work on it. It took weeks to finish. It was the colour of the palest blue, made from silk she had bought in her homeland. It clung on to her curves and swept the floor behind her. From the waist down, it was cut open at the front to reveal a flimsy layer of black floral covered another layer of silk so white it would have made snow jealous. A wide black ribbon sash around her waist was there so she could proudly show off her figure.
"After all, it's good to show off sometimes,isn't it?" she'd giggle.
The day finally arrived. At sunset Cho fitted into her dress, asking Padma to zip up the back. She slipped on her shoes. She chose cotton flats, light blue and embroidered with flowers. No high heels, they will make her fall while she was dancing. Cho didn't really fancy a twisted ankle.
Her nerves quivered with anxiety. Her heart hammered with excitement. She rehearsed the dance steps in her mind, absent-mindedly tapping her nails on her jewellery box. A thought zapped to her brain. Pleased she remembered, she snapped the box open, smiled and gazed inside. So many chains, so many memories. A lot of them reminded her of her family. Many of long-lost friends. She saw one that caught her wandering eyes.
Dangling from a white gold chain finer than hair, was a crystal snowflake. It was her favourite necklace ever. It was given to her from Cedric.
Cedric. That name could set her off into a dreamy state. That name could calm her down when she was furious. That name made her shine with perfect happiness.
She glanced at her hourglass. Birds and butterflies flitted around her stomach as she realised it was time.
When she stepped slowly down the creaky spiral stairs her heart skipped a beat. There he was, her world, her knight. Instead of shining armour he wore a tailcoat appeared to be a bit stiff but he looked very attractive.
He shuffled around and spotted her. He greeted her by awkwardly holding up a hand.
But where's his smile?