A/N: The late update was due to the incoming exam week. xD Also, since Wille is very awkward, I tried so hard to put her in character as I wrote this.
Thank you again to those who commented and placed this in their favorites, also for adding me in their favorite authors list. Now, I'm typing this in a rush, so, I cannot really expand on how happy I feel.
Chapter 14:
"Are we going to do this or not?"
After escaping a valley of snowballs thrown by the Weasleys and Harry, Hermione dragged Wille with her towards the Hufflepuff common room so that she could get her dress before bringing her to the Gryffindor common room, where Hermione was brandishing her wand that reminded her so much of Mrs. Weasley.
She shifted in her seat with nervous vertigo, staring at the mirror with her usual bout of uncertainty. "I trust you, but, I honestly don't trust the pointy stick you're waving like a knight."
"Trust me," Hermione said, murmuring a reverting spell of some sort, "You'll love this."
Instantly, the spell worked its wonders. Wille felt her scalp burning as strands of hair slowly elongated from her dead roots. The once dried purple hair was slowly turning to her natural dark hair that cascaded in waves.
At Hermione's desired length, she murmured the dispelling enchantment that halted the growth up to her back just near her breasts. Staring at the mirror, it reminded her of how she looked before the death of her parents.
"Wow," Wille stared at her image, speechless.
Hermione just hummed softly and proceeded to mess with her hair. She added a few potions ("They're for slickening after-effects I bought in Hogsmeade during the trip," Hermione said proudly) and dabbed her with makeup. Though Wille didn't trust much of Hermione's skills, unsure about it since she never once wore makeup in front of her, she enjoyed the feeling of the foundation on her face, the eye shadow gliding along her eyes with the eyeliner, the feeling of the powder puff on her cheeks and the gentle feel of lip tint.
"If you make me look like Frankenstein," she warned, "I will haunt you forever."
"Oh, look in the mirror," Hermione chastised her.
Wille counted in her head.
Yurika one, yurika two, yurika three, here I come!
Her eyes landed on a girl with a gentle hint of pink on her cheeks. The natural eye shadow that Hermione placed complemented her skin, as did her current pink lips. The hair, which was intricately styled in a bun at the back, had a few fringes hanging to make her look like a runaway Queen Elizabeth II.
"Oh – wow," she opened her mouth in amazement.
She quickly changed into her chosen gown. A black, backless cocktail dress made up of intricately woven lace. The neckline was silk with a sweetheart shape. The sleeves, if you call them that, was an off-shoulder sleeve that elongated with a see-through cloth of black. Her skirt hugged her until around her knees that slowly widened and swayed as she walked. Her heels were made of charcoal grey that Hermione charmed to make sure she didn't trip over.
"You sure this will last until midnight?" she joked.
Hermione let out a laugh. "Trust me. You'll do great."
Hermione finished her own touch and looked twice as amazing as she did. Her pinkish gown was a marvel to look at. Hers has a square neckline with see through sleeves that reached around her upper arm. The skirt would trail slightly behind her as she walked by. Her hair, which she straightened out a bit, was tied also into an intricate bun of her choosing, slightly different from Wille's own. Diamond studs littered her hair delicately, making her look dazzling enough as it is. She donned on a slight pink tint of eye shadow and a glossy pink lip-gloss that complimented her contoured cheeks very well.
When both were finished, they preceded together down towards the great hall.
For the first time in her life, Wille was not stared at because of her disfigured leg. No, the moment she stepped foot into the great hall, eyes turned towards her and Hermione.
Both girls were looking for their partners, with Wille muttering, "Is this where I get the big reveal now?"
Hermione couldn't answer, for Victor Krum swooped in and gave Hermione a smile that made him look even more handsome than he already was. Well, if being handsome was considered a crime, Victor Krum would have been in jail by then, Azkaban or not.
"Hermione, you lucky bitch," she teased while her best friend was still within earshot.
Hermione threw her a look of mocking glare before sliding off with her partner.
Oh, now she has some stories to tell Hermione's future kids! Wille could already imagine being old, sitting near the fireplace as she whispered darkly, "Once upon a time, there was a Witch who was smart enough to snatch herself a lucky Seeker…"
Nervously, the moment her heels made steady stepping sounds, eyes turned and looked at her. Some were gaping with utter confusion until they recognize the daydreaming expression on her face, others were of envy at the magic Hermione managed to perform on her while others were of stout admiration. Even Mustang's mouth was hanging when he turned from his position near the hall's gates, where he was busy in greeting and playing host with the students.
Funnily though, his gaping expression turned into a scowl within ten seconds, evidently hinting her about 'dressing appropriately'.She knew that she was so going to get scolded later…or tomorrow…or next week…depending on the idiot's mood, apparently.
It was then that Rumen approached her in his dark grey garbs. He, too, enchanted his hair to grow. It was like a maw hawk without the bald part underneath. He styled it to one side of his head, giving a modern twist to his hairstyle.
"Hey, Rumen," she greeted with a very giddy smile.
Rumen took her hand and kissed it. "You look lovely, Mizz Leyr,"
She grinned wider. "Please, call me Wille. It's what everyone calls me."
Rumen gave her an appreciative smile as he tucked her gently at his side. Without further ado, both proceeded towards the dining hall, where Mustang gave them a warning glare.
"Keep it PG-13," he commented off-handedly.
"Zat provezzor ov yours seemed very strict," Rumen mused.
Wille frowned slightly. "He's Colonel Roy Mustang – a State Alchemist in Ametris," she explained at his confused face. "He was my guardian when I was young, and he still seemed to be taking that job quite seriously."
"Is it becauz of zat leg of yours?" he asked sadly.
She couldn't help but smile at his kindness and pity. "It was all in the past. I'm happy, anyways. I wouldn't have met him and his assistant if it weren't for my accident."
Inside the dining hall of the school, everything seemed to have reached a stage where the teachers were trying to impress their guests. It seemed to have worked in her opinion. She was impressed herself. There were lights floating in the air and ice sculptures that were beautifully crafted. Instead of long tables, replacing them were small circular ones, each drabbed in white and blue cloth. The Christmas trees were also alighted with ice-like coating that made her sigh in awe.
She also noticed how everyone faced her, too. Even Draco Malfoy couldn't seem to say anything about her and Pansy Parkinson threw a glare at her direction. With a snobbish expression, she threw her own sneer at them.
Gotta love Hermione for her skills.
"Zey vill be danzing already," Rumen commented.
"It's tradition, right?" she frowned slightly. She looked around and wondered where Hermione and Harry were, being that Hermione was with a champion and Harry was the designated champion. She already spotted Ginny, dressed in a cute baby blue dress with Neville Longbottom, a black haired boy in Harry's year.
The lighting slowly dimmed. Everyone formed a line for the champions to enter while keeping the center of the hall open for the dancers.
"Hey," Ron said behind her.
She turned with a smile. "Hey," and nearly frowned at the girl beside him. She was one of the Patil twins, if memory served her correctly, her olive skin and Hindu dress telling her something. She just couldn't remember the name, which irked her.
the champions soon entered, led by the highly esteemed Minerva McGonagall (whom Wille still feels a taste of bitter resentment at the Transfiguration homework that piled up in her room), whom she thought were all really well-dressed to impress. First came Krum, his arm under Hermione's, and then Fleur Delacour and a Roger Davies, whom she thought was a snotty git, followed by Cedric Diggory and an adorable Cho Chang in her silvery blue Chinese dress with Harry and the other Patil twin not far behind.
Throughout the entire ball, Wille had fun for the first time in her life, with the only downside that Mustang made sure she was not snogging her handsome partner. With Rumen's quiet charisma, he asked her simple questions involving her life before and during Hogwarts, which she found quite flattering. Being her, she omitted some information about her life, but gave half-truths that wouldn't be questioned.
"Vat's your favorite color?" Rumen asked.
She smiled back. "Purple. It was one of the reasons why I dyed my hair that way." Although the purple color was not completely missed, she admitted to herself dolefully.
The questions continued, some sentimental, others funny. Rumen was mostly laughing at how Wille described her worst subject ("They say you can never go wrong with Potions, but, this lady doth protests much and would tell you, 'With Alchemy, too.'"), her best subject ("Apparently, it is Transfiguration, though, my heart would forever be Charms.") and favorite subject ("I think that would be lunch, if you consider eating a subject," she frowned).
"Mine iz red," he commented. Then, he asked again, "Vat is your relashonzip wiz Harry Potter?"
"He's my best friend," she stated guardedly, "Why do you ask?"
Rumen shrugged. "I've noticed how you zeemed to ve very close to him."
If Wille was not mistaken in her overly dense state of emotion, she was sensing a bit of jealousy over her relationship with Harry.
"I've been best friends with him for years," she said softly. "He and the others – Ron and Hermione, that is – saved me from being bullied by Malfoy. He's the blonde one who always brags about how rich and powerful his family is, being Purebloods."
"You mean zat boy who keepz on looking at you?"
Wille turned her attention towards the said boy, noticing how his glare was more intense than usual.
Turning back to Rumen, she said sheepishly, "I may or may not have played a prank against him, turning his hair pink a few moments ago."
Rumen chuckled slightly.
The rest of the night, Wille and Rumen exchanged other stories – him about Dumstrang and her about the Muggle world. She explained about how Muggles communicate via telephone, how mailing services worked and other things while Rumen listened with such fascination.
The night ended faster than she expected. Rumen accompanied her to her dorm, bidding her a good night. He kissed her on the forehead, which she blushed at quite a lot before someone cleared his throat behind her. She turned her eyes at the person who maliciously interrupted her happy time and was about to show the person a thing or two until she recognized the rake in front of her.
"You gotta be kidding me right now," she muttered under her breath.
Mustang stared at her with his 'I'm waiting' look.
Rumen greeted her good night and bowed slightly in acknowledgment of the professor in front of him. When he was out of earshot, Mustang practically gave her a mind-ending talk.
"Okay, Lark," he began seriously, "when a man and a woman –"
"Eep! Nope, shut up!" she said frantically, covering his mouth with her hands, heading directly to the magical barrel that hid her dorm room.
Mustang held her by the back of her dress casually as he untangled her hands from his face, sighing. "Now, Lark, you are a growing woman. And, considering how you have no family to talk to you about this sensitive issue, it is my duty as your guardian to do so."
She manically stated, "Um…Mrs. Weasley beat you to it months ago! Please, let me go!"
"But –"
"Look, Corporal Flirt," she stated mechanically. "I don't know if I should tell you this, considering you're not family and all, but, I'm a virgin." Her cheeks reddened at that information she just gave out.
Mustang, on the other hand, raised his eyebrows. "Is that an invitation?"
She growled loudly, "For goodness's sakes, I wouldn't randomly sleep with anyone unlike you, okay?" She started stomping her foot on the ground in frustration. "Gods, you're frustratingly annoying!"
Mustang raised his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just making sure you're going to stay safe, like wear a con –"
She covered her ears and went towards the barrel, pleadingly saying, "I'm ready, please hurry, and make it quick!"
Mustang chuckled as the barrel asked for the password.
"Fireworks!" she yelled.
The barrel opened instantly as she dashed into the common room, only to smack herself against a hard wall, which, much to her embarrassment, was actually none other than Cedric Diggory.
"Ouchie," she flinched, rubbing her bottom.
"Are you alright, Wille?" he asked kindly, chuckling at her flustered expression.
Realizing how she was actually holding her breath, she released it and slumped to the ground.
"Your date couldn't have gone that bad," Cedric began to theorize, "so, it was probably something else. I'm also sure it was not the food, because, you were practically eating a lot a while ago, from the little stains on your skirt."
Wille spoke shakily, "Mustang was giving me the talk."
Cedric's eyebrows shot up. "Beg your pardon? The talk?"
Wille shook her head. "You know. The talk talk. The talk that every kid that undergoes puberty hears from their parents, the talk that kills one's innocence, the talk that practically makes you want to unhear things but couldn't."
Upon realization, Cedric let out a hearty laugh that made her pout.
"Why would he do that?" he said between laughs.
Wille huffed in annoyance. "He assumed that because I am fourteen and am dancing with a guy meant that I was going to do the nasty with him."
Cedric settled beside her with a contemplating expression. "Maybe he's just looking out for you. He seemed pretty anxious the entire time you were dancing with the Dumstrang student. Kept a close eye on you, that one did."
Raking her hair, which messed up the neatly done bun Hermione helped her with, Cedric took a seat beside her as he assumed the big brother role for Wille.
"Do I look like a child to you?" she asked.
Cedric raised an eyebrow at that.
"Okay," she piped hastily, her voice raising a few octaves. "Don't answer that."
"He just wants you to be careful," Cedric shrugged.
She raised her head to meet him eye level. "I am careful."
Cedric nodded. Ruffling her already messy hair, Cedric followed it with patting her on the shoulder with a simple advice. "Don't think about it too much."
1.1.1.
After opening her presents (Modern Theories of Alchemy by Eugène Léon Canseliet from Edward; a pair of silver gloves from Hermione; Chuddley Cannons figurine from Ron that zoomed around the room for the first few minutes before she decided packing it up; A new set of chocolates from Harry, which she happily gobbled up due to her innate 'cravings'; a new silver sweater from Mrs. Weasley; Zonko's stuff from the twins; A Japanese-German dictionary from Sonata; An unsigned emerald necklace that nearly made her faint, which she ignored; an everlasting rose from Rumen), she proceeded to meet up with Hermione and the others. She became surprised meeting only Hermione and Harry near Hagrid's hut, who explained to her the reason for the redhead's absence.
Wille had to sit through the entire hour of the day listening to Hermione rant about the 'I-hate-Ron' tirade. Apparently, during the Yule Ball, Ron had the gall to call out that Hermione was fraternizing with the enemies by dancing with Krum, making Hermione cry out her tears and lash out at him and Harry. Luckily (on Hermione's case), Wille silently latched on the judgment that Ron had a serious case of green monster jealousy, which she confirmed silently while nudging an oblivious enough Harry, who, for some strange reason, was forgiving.
She asked him out of curiosity, anyways. It was out of earshot from Hermione as she went to the library ("She devours books like nobody's business," Wille muttered darkly).
"Ron was being a total git," Harry amended as both continued to walk around the Quidditch pitch. With Harry dressed in a red woolly scarf Wille bought with the courtesy of Mustang ("You are thief, you know that, right?" Mustang sighed as he handed her money) and her wearing army boots Mustang bought for her, both were comfortably talking about anything to catch up.
"I really think it was a nasty case of green eyed monsters," Wille intoned.
Harry gave her a confused expression, making her roll her eyes.
"He's so jealous, Harry," she elaborated with a huff at Harry's naivety of the situation. "I mean, you gotta admit that Hermione is pretty hot, and she's brainy. What type of guy wouldn't want to go out with her?"
"Malfoy, apparently," he snorted.
I shrugged. "Besides him, dummy." She crossed her arms over her chest before adding, "He's a pretty weird git. Verachtenswert, to be precise, meaning despicable in German."
Harry laughed with entertainment clear in his eyes. "Your insults are getting a bit of a slack here, Wille. Mind telling me if we're in elementary?"
She punched him lightly on the shoulder.
"Wilhelmina~"
Wille flinched at the voice of Sonata, who was barreling towards them.
Both she and Harry groaned.
She turned around with an irate expression on her face. "That's not my name."
Sonata just grinned. Turning to Harry, she brightened up a notch before saying, "Hey, Hermione's looking for you. And," Sonata grabbed Wille's arm, "I need to borrow my best friend first before I continue lending her to you, okay?"
She was pulled away before Harry could say anything.
"That was rude," Wille hissed.
Sonata shrugged. "You love me. Besides, we need to meet up with Louisa."
Wille's expression instantly turned cold as they entered the castle doors. "Why?"
"Because –"
A scream engulfed the corridor they were walking through, cutting Sonata's sentence. The two, curious as they were despite being Hufflepuffs, rushed quickly to where the scream was coming from, running as fast as they could to be greeted with a sight that rendered Sonata to faint on the ground.
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