"Do you want blue or purple? Or pink? You'd look so cute in pink!" Elle was having so much fun with dressing me up. It was her inner Hufflepuff girlish attitude coming out at full blast.
"Um, purple. I love purple."
"Not pink?"
"Not pink. Purple." I laughed at us, "when did we become such stereotypical girls?"
"We deserve some selfish indulgence when we aren't studying our brains out or reading in the library."
Elle had a point there. All I ever did was read and paint and study, it was nice to do something entirely girly.
We were attempting to make my gown for the ball, whether we would succeed or not. I had no idea! Thankfully this thing called 'magic' exists. Thank Merlin, for magic!
Too soon the evening of the masquerade ball came, everyone was frantic in their seats at dinner. I was no exception.
"What are you so nervous about? The dress is finished, you have a mask, and you're going to have a ball!"
"Har har Elle. You crack me up," sarcasm drenched from my voice.
"But seriously, what are you so afraid of?"
"I'm afraid of being laughed at, being made a fool in front of everyone."
"You won't be a victim of some moron's prank in front of everyone, only in front of fifth, sixth, and seventh years."
"Thanks for the comfort, Eliza."
"That's what I'm here for. You'll be fine, Tara. You always have been, and always will be. Remember, people are stupid."
I laughed at that and she laughed with me. It's only your best friends that can bring comfort by teasing. The ones that are qualified to tease you.
"Let's get started Tara, changing your whole appearance can't be done in five minutes."
I laughed at her tactics and followed her up to her dormitory; it was thankfully empty. Carrying everything we stumbled to the vacant girls' bathroom on the fifth floor. No one would use it because they'd all be getting ready in their dorms, and I didn't want anyone to know it was me.
"Let's do this!" yelled Elle. She never ceases to humour me that girl.
"What first oh gracious master of feminine stuff?"
"First we wash your face! Then make up, then under garments, gown, hair, and mask."
I washed my face while Elle started on tossing through the articles of clothing, even while I brushed my teeth for a good five minutes.
"Done!"
"Now, put the under skirt and silk stockings on, along with this corset."
I abided the instructions, not very gracefully though.
"Ugh! Damn stockings! Work damn stockings-Ugh!"
Elle was laughing hysterically because I fell over while trying to put the bloody stockings on. It was rather funny. I threw a slipper at her.
"Don't hit the teacher!"
"Fine! God! I'm terrible at being a girl!"
"Aren't we all?"
We both laughed like hyenas! I couldn't remember a better time with Eliza in the six years I've known her since first year.
"Okay, now the corset. You put it on and I'll lace it and pull it tightly."
We somehow made it through that obstacle of womanhood; corsets are evil contraptions.
The make-up part wasn't so bad though, I wore the muggle contacts instead of my clunky glasses. I admit that I thought I had pretty hazel eyes, the eyeliner and mascara really did enhance my already huge eyes. And the purple dress made the green part of my eyes stand out.
We both ended up having Elle's grandmother send us an old dress of hers' to wear. It was absolutely gorgeous! (dress would look like this art/The-Lady-Amalthea-Gown-366406402 the artist is highly gifted in her field the gown is gorgeous.) Apparently this was Eliza's grandmother's gown she wore at the ball where she met her husband, which only made the dress that more special and beautiful with such a rich history.
After finally getting the clothes on, Eliza and I tugged and flattened and defrizzed my messy brown hair into a French twist. So many bobby pins and wizard hair spray was littered on my voluminous curls of death.
At long last I was ready to go with my hair set, dress fitted, and mask on.
"Wish me luck!"
"Of course, Cinderella!"