By the time we got back to the castle I had gotten over my endless desire for a date to the ball. It suddenly didn't matter because after some thought, I realized I'm too young to care anyhow. I had three more years until graduation, so why worry now?
I let Leo get back to his friends while I roamed the halls to find something to do. Everyone was at Hogsmeade still, so I was alone with the 2nd and 1st years. There were occasional 3rd years hanging about. One caught my attention easily. It was Luna, again. I waved at her just to be friendly, but much to my surprise-she walked up to me.
"Hello, Marvota." She smiled and looked straight into my green eyes with her gleaming grey eyes. I blinked a few times before I had something to say.
"Hi, Luna. ..Er, how did you know my name?" I truely was curious; we had never met before.
She shrugged and replied easily, "I've heard a few rumours about you, is all."
Wow, what a way to be noticed. What kind of rumors, though? "Oh...what...did you hear?" I rose my eyebrows.
She smiled sweetly and twirled her messy locks. "They were mostly about your friendliness towards other houses and how you're a disappointment to the 'Malfoy' name."
Oh, I've heard that one a hundred times. Everyone disapproves besides mother and Draco (father is father, if you know what I mean). The fact that I'm actually a Riddle is what loosens up the rule for me on the subject. Anywhoo...
"So, why aren't you at Hogsmeade?" Luna thought about my question for a moment when she finally answered.
"Dad never signed my permission form." I looked at her sadly, and nodded. She still smiled, though. "It's alright, though. More time to explore the castle." she chirped happily.
"Marvota!" I heard someone call. To my utter surprise it was Harry. I rose an eyebrow and turned back to Luna.
"Ehh, I've got to go. Talk to you later." I waved and watched her skip off. If only everyone could be that happy. Harry came to my side looking rather dreadful.
In fact, he looked like someone just ripped out his heart and stomped on it. Not wanting to cause any more pain I smiled at him rather than glare lazilly as usual. "Hello, Harry."
"Hey." He returned the smile curtly and bit his lip as he took a moment to think. I shifted anxiously. We were friends, but I preferred to keep distance ever since I found out the 'news'. "Would you..." he paused and looked up, "like to go to the ball...-cough-...with me?"
My eyes instantly brightened, but I didn't want to look like a fool. So, I calmly replied. "Of course!" Wait, why did I choose those words? Stupid stupid...
He looked much happier after this and stopped slouching. But, now I had to look up at him thanks to height difference. Yay... "Great!" he rushed around me, "I'll see you then!"
And, just like that-he was gone. It took a second for everything to register in my brain. Did I just agree to go to the ball with Harry Potter? Oh, boy. My brother was going to kill.
I spent the next couple of days avoiding my brother in case of questions. In fact, I was avoiding everybody. Luna, though, always caught me and decided she'd tag along in whatever I was doing. Truthfully, I was okay with it. We were Ravenclaw hearted, so it wasn't hard at all to talk to her.
After a long day of helping Luna search for Migfisheis (no explanation, really) I was free to ready for the ball.
The Slytherin common room was actually chaotic for once. Instead of the cold-bitter silence I was usually welcomed with, I rushed straight into the loudest crowd of squeeling girls. I pranced up the stairs and into my dorm. Pansy was already fancied up with her hair pulled into a beautiful updo. The other girls were fretting with every little ribbon or bow trying to look spectacular. I shut the curtains of my bed and squirmed myself back into the purple dress I had bought the other day.
I tried pulling my hair up into a neat bun, but it kept falling. I grumbled and clipped my hair ontop of my hair as I rushed hurriedly out of the common room. I wrapped my robe around me and pulled the hood up to hide myself. It was about an hour before the ball, so not too many people were out of their rooms yet. I climbed many flights of stairs and followed the familiar path to the Gryffindor tower. Where the door was supposed to be, was the usual portrait of a rather large lady. "UAAAAGH!" I screeched. I hadn't realized how desperate I was to look good for the ball. My whole mind was being controlled by inner-princessness. I paced the hall for a moment and sat defeated in front of the portrait who was eyeing me with amusement. 'Har har' I glared at her, wishing if I stared hard enough a burn would appear.
"Who's that?" someone whispered behind me.
"I think it's a Slytherin." both mumbled to each other about my presence. I whipped my head around wanting to shout angrily, but bit my lip and watched the two Gryffindors pass me.
"Hey, do you think you could tell Leo that he's needed, nooow?" Wait, how would they know which Leo I was talking about? Crud. Both sort of laughed at me and left me there as they disappeared behind the portrait. I jumped up and took a nearby bench. A few minutes later, three guys stepped out of the room. All three of them saw me, but only one recognized me. "Leo!" I grinned as I spotted him.
The other two questionally called out, "Yes?"
"No, that Leo." I pointed to my best friend. They both glanced at each other and left. Leo (mine) came and sat next to me.
"A girl came in and yelled 'Any Leo's here, you're needed outside!'." I rolled my eyes. Of course, those brave-ass Gryffindors had to make things difficult. "You look like you're in a muck." he announced. Muck?
"Why, yes. Let's point out how horrible I look right now." I snapped. "No, instead how 'bout you help me with my damn hair?" he smirked at me. "PLEASE!"
It took sneaking into the girl's bathroom to get everything done. I helped him as well with his robes and whatnot as he pinned my hair. He made weird white beads grow in my hair. I was in no place to argue, but it looked funny. When we were both done with each other we stared at the other through the mirrors. I could tell he was going to ask me a question, and I knew what it was.
"I'm going with Harry Potter." I turned and stared up at my tall friend, waiting for a response.
Suddenly he looked concerned. "I've noticed you've been really uncomfortable since the Hogsmeade trip."
I nodded and leaned against the sink. "Wouldn't that be a great headline! You-Know-Who's daughter keeps her friends close and her enemies closer." I winked sarcastically at 'closer'. Leo tilted his head knowingly at me.
"Nobody knows you're his daughter, though." This did occur to me, but it was scary anyhow. I scratched at my left arm while we rested in the abandoned bathroom.
"What's that on your arm?" Leo pointed out the darkened patch on my arm. I stared down at it, noticing that it had gotten worse.
"A million tiny-little freckles."I remarked and held it out for him to see. He grabbed it gradually and traced it with his finger. "I'll have it checked out, later." I tugged my arm away and grabbed for his. He linked with me as we strode from the bathroom into the now bustling hallway.
When we made it to the Great Hall, there Harry was-standing with his best friend who was wearing sickening dress robes. Leo unhooked our arms as he ran to meet his date (and their two cover girl friends).
"Hi, Harry." I stood a couple feet from him as he stared in awe. It made me a little uncomfortable, but I got through it once McGonagall found us.
"Potter, are you and your partner ready?" I rose an eyebrow at him and he shrugged just as confused as I was.
"What? Ready for what?"
It was then that I found out that I was going to dance with Harry; dance with Harry in front of everybody.
(UAGH! Sorry it took so long. First finals week came up, then I got really sick. Anywhoo, it's kind of hard for me to write in first person. I might switch this to third person. Let me know if that's a good idea or not! Also, if you're wondering what Marv's dress and hair look like-the links are right here:
i00.(dot)com/photo/v1/341563748/beautiful_feather_prom_ (replace the (dot) with a period)
wedding-emily(dot)