Loved Before Her Time

AN/ Told you they'd all be posted at once!

Disclaimer: Not mine!!

Chapter 11

Arm in arm, Lily and Hermione made their way across the castle grounds towards Hogsmeade, their purses heavy in their pockets. The Spring Ball was only a week away and Professor Dumbledore had announced an unscheduled Hogsmeade weekend in order for the students to purchase clothes for the ball. While third years and under were not permitted to attend the ball the third years were still allowed into the village and they were happy to at least get out of the castle grounds.

James and Remus were not as pleased. It was the weekend and they could get out of the castle (and not break the rules) and yet their girlfriends had decided to go off together and leave them. They couldn't understand why the girls had to go shopping on their own...for the entire day! While the guys only took half an hour to chose their dress suit they couldn't comprehend how the girls were planning to make a day of it.

The girls, however, knew how difficult their task was going to be. Both of them wanted to surprise their dates and they needed to look perfect. Hermione was just happy that Lily had agreed to help her find a dress! She knew she wasn't that good at the dressing up side of things and could only blame it on the fact that she had spent the last six years around two boys. She decided to overlook the fact that Lily had spent her time with the Marauders: at least she had someone else's opinion.

Reaching the village and deciding to get the important issue out of the way first they entered the dress shop - 'Rags to Riches'. Hermione didn't recognise the name from the future but as she looked around the shop she wished that it had been around - it would have made getting a dress for the Yule Ball ten times easier! She soon discovered that finding the perfect dress was harder than she first thought.

After an hour of looking through dresses she still had not found the right one that she loved but would also suit her shape. Lily was in the changing rooms trying on a dress that she had found as a shimmer from the far corner of the shop caught Hermione's eye. Inquisitively she went to see what had caused it. Pulling out the hanger, Hermione knew she was going to be trying this dress on. She tucked it behind her back as Lily came out of the fitting room.

Hermione knew with only a look at Lily that James' jaw was going to hit the floor as soon as he saw his girlfriend in the dress she was wearing. It blended perfectly with her eyes - the perfect shade of emerald green. While it fell to just above the knee it was also low-cut with a cross back finishing off the detail. Although it revealed a teasing amount of skin, Hermione was sure Lily would be comfortable in it while remaining modest and dignified.

"You are going to be dateless for this ball." the brunette stated as she started to sneak towards her own changing room. Worry instantly covered Lily's face.

"Why? Is it that bad? I don't have to buy it..." she asked, unsure. Hermione giggled.

"No - it's just that James is gonna drop dead when he catches sight of you in that! You look gorgeous!" A large grin swept across Lily's no longer worried features.

"Thanks..." she blushed as she re-entered the cubicle to change again. Hermione took this as her chance to try on the dress before showing the red-head. Hoping it would fit she closed the curtain of her own cubicle.

Five minutes later and Lily was waiting outside the cubicles for Hermione to show her a dress. Hearing the sound of a curtain being pulled back she received more of a shock than she had been expecting. Flowing down to the floor and hugging every curve of Hermione's body was a stunning halter-neck dress - such a pale blue that it was almost silver. Turning around, Hermione revealed the tantalising, almost non-existent back. The front, however, was modestly covered by a simple v-neck, making the dress all the more elegant. The silk material shimmered in the light as Hermione twirled.

Even without the look on Lily's face, or the soft 'wow' she uttered as she started, fixated by the dress, Hermione knew that this was what she would be wearing to the ball. Giving one more twirl she returned to the changing rooms before meeting Lily at the front of the store to pay for their finds.

Handing over the dress Hermione watched the face of the woman behind the counter as it lit up. She winked at Hermione before reaching under the desk and pulling out a shoe-box.

"Here, try these." she said, pushing them towards Hermione. "I've kept them in reserve for this dress because I thought they matched perfectly." Hermione slowly lifted the lid off the box. She gasped at the sight before her. Inside the box were the most exquisite pair of court shoes she had ever seen. Made from the same material as the dress, the shoes were exactly the same colour and also shimmered as the light hit them at different angles. Although the heel was slightly high for Hermione, she knew a good cushioning charm and therefore felt no regrets as she asked for the shoes to be boxed also. The woman was right: they were perfect.

Hermione was so pleased with her finds that she asked the woman is there were any shoes that would match Lily's dress, ignoring Lily's protests as she did so. Still smiling, the lady went into the back room before returning just a few seconds later with another box. Inside were a simple pair of emerald green strap up sandals but Lily immediately knew that they would go well with the dress. Seeing as the heel was only about two inches high (although being stiletto) Lily decided she wouldn't bother with a cushioning charm - she was used to heels anyway. Giving Hermione a look as if to say 'Well, you twisted my arm', she also accepted the shoes with a small smile to the woman.

After paying for their purchases the two girls lef thte shop and headed over to the Three Broomsticks for a Butterbeer. They didn't want to end their girly day so soon - they were having too much fun.

"Besides - " said Lily after they had sat down with their drinks. "Don't you think it's a bit too soon to put the boys out of their misery?"

AN/ So...what did you think of this chapter? Review!! The next chapters going to be the ball - you've almost reached the end of the story, just a few more chapters left!

Spellwrite x