"Lily, can you do my hair? I don't trust anyone else, and you're just amazing with hair," said Alice, dressed in a baggy sweatshirt and flannel pajama bottoms. The two friends, along with the other four girls in their dorm room, were getting ready for the dance. The night of the Christmas Ball.
"Of course, I'd be insulted if you let anyone else do your hair!" said Lily, stepping over to her friend, who was sitting in front of the commode and mirror that all the girls shared. She stood studying her friends hair for a minute, then looked back at the dress.
"I've got it! You need a sweptback look, neither completely up, nor completely down. I've got the perfect barrette to go with your dress. It's got blue sapphires on it that will match perfectly..." And with that, Lily set to work. Under her skilled hands, Alice's dark blonde hair was swept back into the barrette. She left Alice's bangs to frame her slightly round face. After adjusting them just so, she stepped back to study her handiwork. Satisfied, she handed a second mirror to Alice so her friend could see the back of her head.
"Oh, Lily, it's perfect! Now let me do yours."
"Okay," Lily said excitedly, sitting down on the stool Alice had just vacated.
"Lily, did you find a date after all?" asked Jessica, one of the other girls getting ready in the room.
"Yeah, I did," was the only answer she got. When she tried to find out who, Lily just closed her mouth, smiled, and shook her head.
"Hmm," said Alice, thinking. "What to do, what to do?..."
"Elegant, but, still me," said Lily, worried that Alice might go over the top.
"Yes, I think two side barrettes will do. You have any that'll match the dress?"
"Yeah, I do!" said Lily happily, walking over to her trunk to search for the two barrettes that had emeralds on them.
"Perfect!" said Alice, going back to work with the barrettes.
When Lily had done everyone's hair (she was the best, after all), Alice took out her bag of makeup.
"You first, Lily," she said with a devilish grin.
"Oh, alright. But go easy. I don't want to look fake or anything. Go for the natural look..." she said, trailing off, uncertain. She didn't usually wear any makeup, except maybe concealer and a little eye shadow.
"Trust me," said Alice confidently. Lily may have been a hair guru, but makeup was definitely Alice's department of expertise. She quickly opened her multitude of bags on the counter, then, selecting a brush and a pot of something gold, she set to work.
"Oh come on, Lily, come out already! We want to see how you look!" said Trish, one of the dorm girls. Everyone in their group of six knew Lily to not wear makeup, or anything too girly, so they were all desperate to see the transformation on their sister.
"Oh, alright," huffed Lily, opening the bathroom door. The girls were stunned. The gown was the perfect cut, elegant but young and fresh. Her hair, swept back on the sides, framed her face beautifully. And her face...Alice truly had a gift for these kinds of things. She had on gold eye shadow, which looked like it was part of her face, it blended so well. Her cheeks had the slightest tinge of pink, and her lips were a soft pink.
"What do you think?" she asked timidly.
"I think...I do bloody brilliant work," stated Alice, awestruck by the vision her friend had become.
"Shut up Alice. Your opinion doesn't count-you see me every day. Girls?"
"Stunning."
"Classy."
"Top-notch."
"First class."
"Breathtaking," breathed Trish, hardly daring to believe her eyes. "You are definitely going to blow your date into the next century with one look!"
"Oh stop it you guys. You're just over-exaggerating to make me feel better. I should rub this stupid makeup off-"
"NO!" five female voices shouted at once.
"Well, alright, if you insist," said Lily, rolling her eyes a little. "Well, no point standing around gaping at each other. Let's go downstairs." Nodding, four girls headed out the door to meet their dates. Alice and Lily hung back.
"You're really nervous, aren't you?" said Alice sympathetically.
"Yeah, I am. It's Potter for Merlin's sake," said Lily, sitting down on the edge of her bed.
"Lily, you'll be fine. You've mastered more hexes than an Auror! And Potter knows it, too. He won't try anything. And if you feel truly not okay, you can always come and find me!" reassured Alice.
"Thanks, Alice. You're a true sister to me," said Lily, touched by her friend's moving words.
"Come on Lils. Let's go meet the man of your dreams," said Alice, pulling Lily into a hug before ushering her out the dormitory door.
