Sapphira POV

First thing in the morning I cut my first class and went out to Black Lake to draw. Art was my escape from the world I lived in. My blue-hinted silver eyes scanned over the water, hoping for a spark of inspiration. Suddenly, a golden fish jumped up out of the water before falling back in. I smiled and began to sketch. Mountains, a sunrise, the lake, schools of golden fish shining in the morning sun as they hopped out of the water; a second a air, of freedom. Something I'd never be able to experience.

My eyes snapped up from my drawing at the sound of footsteps. River was walking toward me, a sneaky smile on her face. I rolled up my parchment and put it away, along with my quill. She sat down beside me and flipped her unstraightened hair out of her face.

"What'd you do?" I asked. She gave me an innocent look.

"What makes you think I did anything? Maybe I just want to sit and chat with my best friend!" She acted hurt. I chuckled.

"River, your eyes are pink. They only turn pink when you've done something secret or exiting, now give!" I grinned. Unknown to most, River Nerez was a metamorphmagus. She was good at keeping her hair it's usual midnight blue color, but her eyes were a different story. Over the past four years I've picked up on which colors mean which emotions; I can read her like a book now. She pouted her pale lips, which were unusually bare. Lipstick was a necessity in her perspective.

"Fine, you got me. Blaise is gonna ask you to the Yule Ball." She blurted. I raised my eyebrows skeptically.

"You didn't threaten him, did you?"

"Me?" Her hand flew to her chest in a mock offense. "Never." I gave her a look. She shook her head and laughed. "But seriously, no, I didn't threaten him. He's genuinely interested. Plus, he said he won't have anyone else to hang out with; Draco is going with Pansy and you know how she is." I rolled my eyes, nodding. Parkinson was a bitch. Correction: a clingy, annoying bitch. I was a bitch, too, but not the same kind of bitch as her. I was just rude, deceptive, and, well, a model Slytherin. River and I decided to skim off the rest of the day's classes and sneak to Hogsmeade for dresses. No students inhabited the village at the moment, although a few adult witches and wizards did. We went straight to Gladrag's Wizardwear for our clothes. The little store held a huge variety of fashion, pastels to neons, gowns to short party dresses. River refused to let me wear a plain black dress, "too dull" so I settled on black with white lace patterns scattered across it. It was floor length and sleeveless, but it came with a top part that covered my shoulders and left spaces on my back exposed still. With it I got four inch black heels, increasing my height to 5'4. As an accessory I bought a pair of gloves that almost reached my elbows. They were laced up the side, and at the hand, lacey white fabric flowed out to my knuckles.

River's dress was much more eloquent than mine. It was strapless and dark blue, only a shade or so lighter than her hair. It was tight at the top and flowed down at her waist until it touched the ground. Silver snowflake-like designs on the top and bottom half. It hugged all her curves nicely, and I suddenly wondered who she would be going with. Knowing her, she had a date. As I contemplated the possible candidates, River also picked out a crystal blue necklace to match. I had a necklace as well, a magic diamond clad snake that wrapped itself tightly around my neck and tucked it's head through a loop in it's tail. The ruby eyes glowed, to my surprise, and at the wave of my wand it would move as if to strike.

Us being complicated shoppers, River and I weren't back at school until dinner. After dropping off our things in the dormitory, we went to the Great Hall. All eyes were on us, as we were the late arrivals to another great feast in honor of the Triwizard Tournament. I scoffed happily as people glared at Potter; even his red head best friend wouldn't talk to him. Soon the feast was finished, and overly-stuffed students made their way back to their common rooms. Sometimes it just felt like Dumbledore's main goal is to fatten us all up or something, because all the food put on the table course after course is ridiculous. In the common room, I was approached by Blaise, who promptly asked me if I wanted to go to the Yule Ball with him. Very blunt, that boy was. Not really in a bad way, either. Instead of asking me stupid questions or fumbling over his words like most boys, he was calm and straight-forward. So I said yes. He smiled and nodded slightly. Then the prince arrived, waltzing in like he owned the place; and oh, how I detested it! Immediately, he came up to me.

"So, Fleur," He sneered, "are you going to the ball? I'm sure Potter would be pleased to accompany you, seeing as how he can't get a date, either." I clenched my jaw. Even though he thought I had a crush on Potter first year, he soon realized that I absolutely hated the boy. Which is precisely why he continued to tease me with it.

I regained my calm. Calm was my weapon. "Actually, Malfoy, I do have a date. And it isn't Potter." I begin. "You, on the other hand..." I glanced around him to Pansy, then whispered, "I'm not sure she counts as a real date. More like one of those tiny, useless, annoying, little pug dogs that have big ugly noses and just give you the urge to kick 'em." Pansy's scowl deepened. "Oh look, it's growling now!" That's when she jumped at me. The bitch tackled me. But I was easily able to roll on top of her and press my elbow into her neck, cutting off her air. Who needs wands, this was much more satisfying. I lowered my face near hers and whispered one word: "Bitch." Then I got up and walked up the stairs like I didn't almost kill somebody. There was silence in the common room as no one was completely sure how to react to that scene. I just hopped onto my bed and laughed to myself.

I love being me.


A/N Like the little fight scene? haha sorry not much happens in this chapter :)