The masquerade
Ginny was standing in front of her mirror, admiring herself.
She had used all evening getting ready for the Masquerade that was being held instead of the Yule ball, and she had to admit that her labour had turned out very nicely.
She wore a midnight blue modern corset that left her arms bare. The skirt was also midnight blue and fanned out beautifully under the corset. The bottom of the dress was lined with silver, as was the neckline, base and strings of her corset. Her red curls had been put up in an elegant twist, which made her look slightly older and sophisticated.
On the top of her head she had placed a rhinestone tiara that sparkled in the faint light of her dorm. Around her, girls were giggling while adding a final touch to their makeup.
Ginny reached for her mask and put it on. It was simple and the same colour as her dress, covering the upper part of her facial features, leaving mouth free to eat and drink.
Her best friend Sally Ann made her way over to her trying to stifle her giggles, but only succeeded when she saw Ginny. She gasped and stared at her not quite believing that this was her best friend Virginia Weasley. Ginny turned away from the mirror and asked Sally Ann,
"So, how do I look?"
"Oh Ginny you look absolutely gorgeous! No one is gonna recognise you." Said Sally
"Are you saying that I don't look gorgeous on everyday basis?" asked Ginny bringing her hands to her hips in mock hurt. Sally just ignored her.
"Come on Gin Gin, cant you see that right you look stunning right now? The boys are gonna be all over you." Ginny giggled as a mental image took form in her head, and blushed.
"Thanks Sally you look gorgeous to." Sally smiled and said.
"Well this is the first, last and only time you will ever see me in a dress. Its only because my mom insisted on me wearing a dress that I agreed."
"Yeah, right" Ginny replied "well it think its time." The two girls made their way down the staircase, out of the common room and down to the Great Hall.
Everywhere they looked there were girls chatting and giggling, and guys looking extremely uncomfortable.
The Great Hall had been decorated and looked absolutely stunning. The four house tables had been divided into several smaller ones and every table had room for about 12 people each. House banners were strung all around, making the hall look like an over coloured carnival. The sky outside was clear and you could see the stars shining silver against dark blue.
The students slowly began to fill in and when everyone was there Dumbledore rose to his feet. The hall went silent, all of the students hungry and eager to begin.
"I will make this quick, as I can see that you are all hungry. Now the schedule for today's masquerade is that first we eat," small cheers were heard from around the hall. Dumbledore chuckled and continued, "Then our very own band will strike up a few tunes and we will dance the night away." Loud cheers erupted again and Dumbledore raised his hands to regain the attention of the students.
"I must remind you all that this is a masquerade and you are not allowed to remove your masks until the clock strikes twelve. Now dig in."
The usual talk and squabble broke out as the food appeared. Talking about this and that. Ginny was sitting with Sally at one side and Ron on the other. On the other side of Ron sat Harry and then Hermione. Those were the only ones she recognized. Sally was eating like she hadn't eaten in weeks, but there was nothing unusual there, she always ate like that. Exactly like Ron. The food was delicious, as always. But today the house elves had done an exquisite job. She glanced around, eating her food quietly. Everyone seemed to have done a great job on his or her gown. She tried to put names on the faces that she saw, but only recognized Neville Longbottom, as he always had that aura of misfortune around him.
Dinner was over very fast, as everyone seemed to be very eager to get on with the night. Dumbledore stood up again and cleared his throat. People hushed and looked up at him, awaiting the next step of the night.
"Now, that we have eaten are hearts out, I would like you all to stand up and give an applause to our band." Everybody clapped as five boys stood up and made their way to the stage. They couldn't see who it was cause they had all masks on like everyone else. Dumbledore magiced the tables into the corners and the band started a fast tune.
Ginny was asked by a nice looking boy, that, as she later found out, couldn't dance.
Ginny had danced with about five different guys before she insisted that she had to go rest her feet. She slumped down in the nearest chair and sighed
'This isn't like I had imagined it to be.' She thought, 'I had imagined that I would dance with one guy, and one guy only, getting a new friend or maybe something more⦠oh well me and my fantasy's' at that moment a rose was pulled out from behind, and held a foot from her face. A clear voice said quietly into her ear,
"A beautiful rose for a beautiful girl."
She turned around in her seat, looking, stunned at the guy in front of her. He had stunning grey eyes, which looked like grey clouds and hair so light that it seemed to shimmer. A black cape was slung loosely around his shoulders, and underneath that he wore a dark blue shirt and black pants. She quickly looked away realizing that she had been staring.
"Umm sure" she said, standing up. He took her hand and pulled her out to the dance floor.
They danced through that song, and the next one, and the one after that. She wanted to call him something and decided on prince charming. Cause he really was charming and elegant not to mention a real gentleman. Every time another boy came and asked if she would dance he would step aside and let her chose. But every time she passed and danced along with her own prince charming. The clock ticked by unnoticed by most, and far to soon for many the clock struck twelve. Ginny suddenly got nervous; she had been in a trance all night long just gazing into prince charming's eyes. She looked around uncertain, rather wanting to dance some more then take her mask of, she sighed, rules were rules after all.
"I guess this is it" she said, and took her mask of, revealing her face.
A smile graced his features and he said, "I thought it was you Ginny"
"How did you know it was me?" she asked. He reached over and tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear.
"Your hair," he said, he took her hand and kissed it gracefully. When he stood up his mask was no longer on his face but in her hand. She stood there stunned. Not believing her eyes.
"Take my mask and do with it as you want, throw it out for all I care. But believe me when I say that I had a great time tonight" he left.
She looked down at the mask in her hand. To think, that she had danced all night with him. She sighed and saw Sally making her way over to her.
"So" she asked, "who was your prince charming?" Ginny looked at her. And said two words.
"Draco Malfoy"
