Cassie and Serena excitedly got ready for the Yule Ball, sharing small talk with Martha and Katya occasionally, as they also prepared themselves for the ball. Serena constantly asked for Cassie's opinion on hairstyles and make up, nervous for meeting Benjimine. After much reassurance from Cassie, she had finally settled on curling her into loose waves, with a quarter pulled into a braid, a matching butterfly necklace and earrings, and shimmery eyeshadow, with nude lipstick, before finally slipping on her heels.
Cassie was having the same problem as last time, but this time the struggle was choosing her look. She wanted simple things for once. She looked over to see that Martha wearing an off the shoulder, green dress, with a green bow tied at her hip, sporting black heels, with a green underside and a silver snake running along the heel, as well as a green emerald necklace and green eyeshadow. Talk about Slytherin Pride.
However, Katya had opted out for a more discrete Slytherin look, with a small silver pendant with a green emerald to match her silk, paler green dress, silver sandal heels, and light, smoky eyeshadow.
Once Cassie had finished with herself, she turned, to be surprised with the expectant the looks of the girls. She shifted in her heels, slightly worried as none of them had uttered a word, but simply gawked. Maybe she hadn't picked wright? What if she had made a mess of this? That would just prove that she was incapable to dress herself for such events back home. However, her worry was put at ease, as Serena all but squealed and the other two cracked a smile.
"You look gorgeous!" Serena grinned.
"Just like a princess." Katya smiled, as Martha nodded begrudgingly.
It was quite surprising because the two had never been all that friendly before, only occasionally sparking up conversations during their years of being dorm mates.
"Really?" Cassie asked, finding herself flushing at the compliments. "I wouldn't really go as far as to say-"
Serena took her by the shoulders and turned her to look into the full length mirror. Cassie surveyed herself for the first time, with her outfit all put together. She was still absolutely in love with the lavender floor-length gown, that adorned a patterned bodice and a simple bow at the left hip. Her hair was in a simple loose messy bun, with some strands of curly hair hanging. She also had purple eyeshadow, with a little eyeliner and pink/nude lipstick. The purple and silver love heart necklace from her mother was hanging on her neck securely. Her patterned, light lavender heels were just the right height for her and felt comfortable enough to walk about in. She smiled happily. In her house, she was only allowed to wear greens and silver, with the exception of dark colours. She was never allowed to wear lavender, which was her favourite colour, so she was relishing in the freedom. Never once had she felt like a princess, not with the balls and dresses of the Malfoy Manor and parties, but right now, she truly felt like one.
"Wow." She breathed, with a smile.
She hadn't seen herself look so much like, well, herself.
"C'mon!" Serena squealed, excitedly. "Let's go."
Cassie smiled, knowing that Benjimine would be waiting outside of the Slytherin Common Room for Serena. The four left their dorm together, Serena trying not to trip in her shoes - the others had had plenty of practice. Katya and Martha waved goodbye as they left, but Katya stuck her head back in.
"There's someone here for you, Serena." And with a grin, she left.
Serena went from thrilled, to a pale chalk white. Suddenly, her excitement was replaced by her anxiety.
"Hey," Cassie smiled, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's going to be fine. You're going to be fine."
"What if I do something wrong?" She asked, turning to Cassie with a stricken face. "Oh Merlin, what if I stand on his feet? What i-"
"Serena," Cassie breathed a laugh. "Stop overthinking. Benjimine likes you for you. Just be yourself and have fun tonight."
She took a deep breath, before smiling. "Thank you, Cassie."
"You're welcome." She smiled.
"But what about you," She asked, suddenly serious. "I'm proud of you for going, even if you don't have a date, but isn't it mandatory for you to have one? To, you know, open the ball with?"
"Well," Cassie said. "Let's just say, I'm not exactly dateless."
"Wha-?"
"Run along now," Cassie said, smirking with a motherly tone. "Don't keep the boy waiting, have fun but not too much fun. Oh, and remember curfew."
"Alright, Mum." Serena rolled her eyes, fighting a grin. "See you there, Cassie."
"See you there, S." Cassie smiled, watching as Serena hesitantly pushed open the portrait door, before striding out with a smile.
"Cassie,"
She spun around to see Draco leaning against the arch leading to the boys dorms.
"Hey," She smiled.
"You look beautiful." He smiled, genuinely.
"Thank you, Draco." She smiled, before smirking. "You don't look so bad yourself."
"Thanks." He grinned.
"So, uh," She asked, noticing an absence. "Where's Pansy?"
"I told her I would meet her outside," He explained. "I was hoping to catch you beforehand."
"Oh," She smiled, rather confused. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," He smiled, sheepishly, as he walked towards her. It was only now that she noticed his hands which were held behind his back. "I just, erm, wanted to give you this."
She looked down to see a beautiful lavender rose clasped in his outstretched hand. She took it gently from his grasp and studied the flower.
"Draco," She breathed, smiling brightly. "It's beautiful."
"I know how much you love the colour, and I read that it's supposed to show a person's love and adoration towards another, and even symbolises royalty." He said, scratching his neck. "I just want you to know how much you mean to me, even though, I don't show it often, I do love you. And, I know you don't like the whole 'Pureblood Princess' thing, but you'll always be a princess in my eyes."
She smiled, blinking away the tears in her eyes, as she pulled Draco into a hug, mindful of the rose in her palm.
"Thank you, Draco." She smiled, kissing his cheek. "Now, off you pop and have some fun."
"Do you want me to wait?" He asked, hopeful.
"Sorry, Draco, I've gotta take this to my dorm and put it somewhere safe." She smiled, apologetically. "Plus, I don't want to keep you waiting. I'm sure you've got someone to stalk."
He turned bright red and left, muttering to himself as Cassie giggled.
Truthfully, she did have to take the rose to her room, but Pansy was too prejudiced that Cassie couldn't stand to be around the girl. Too many vile words fell from her mouth.
She reached her dorm and set the flower down on her bed, before grabbing her wand. She cast the enchantment that would preserve the rose and set it delicately on her bedside table for the time being. She smiled, before gathering the courage to leave again.
She walked through the halls, the chattering getting louder and louder as she got nearer. Her heart raced in her chest, as she peeked her head around the corner. At the bottom of the staircase, students upon students littered the hall. She scanned the crowd, only noticing a few familiar faces. She spotted the person she was looking for, as he stood a little away from the bottom of the stairs, with his friend and his date. She took a deep breath, before readying herself and walked out from behind the safety of the wall. She heard the muttering of some people, who had turned their heads at her arrival. She focussed on all of her practice, and prayed she didn't fall now of all times. She lifted the skirt of her dress, letting it skiff the stairs behind her, as the beads on her heels shined from the light.
"Wow." Alicia said, nudging Angelina, who looked in equal awe.
Fred and George turned to look at their entranced dates, before following their gazes and letting their own jaws drop.
Fred felt his breath catch in his throat at the sight of her - she looked ethereal. He found his eyes following her every step, becoming more flustered the closer she became to them.
"Cassie!" Angelina grinned, tackling the girl in a hug as she stepped off of the last step.
"Hey, Ange." She laughed, hugging the girl back.
"You look absolutely stunning." Alicia said, supressing a squeal.
"Thank you," Cassie smiled, feeling herself reddening at the compliment. "You two look gorgeous."
"Thanks!" The exclaimed in unison.
Angelina was wearing her purple dress, with her hair straightened, where as, Alicia had her blue floor-length dress on, with her hair styled down with some swept up into a cute bow shape.
"Well," Alicia said, discretely eyeing the boys lingering behind her. "Ange and I are going to go and try to find Lee and that Hufflepuff girl he's been obsessing over."
"Yeah," Angelina said, before beaming at her. "Good luck! You look great, C!"
"Thanks, Ange." She smiled, waving as the two disappeared into the crowd.
Cassie craned her neck, trying to spot the boy she had set eyes on earlier, but it was increasingly more difficult now that she was on the same floor. It wasn't until George spoke, that she even noticed their presence.
"Well, well, well," George grinned. "What do we have here?"
"Hey, Georgie," She smiled, before looking at his twin. "Fred."
"You sure clean up well." George smirked, as Fred looked at his feet, stealing glances at her.
"I could say the same about you," She laughed. "Although, it's not very often I get the opportunity to."
"Ah!" George said, placing his hand over his heart, just for dramatic. "You've hurt me, right here, Malfoy."
"Whatever, Weasley." She rolled her eyes, before twisting her head in different directions.
"Where's Cedric?" Fred spoke for the first time, noticing that she was alone, but appeared to be searching for someone. For him, his mind growled.
"He's with Cho." She responded, barely looking at him.
"Wait, why?" Fred asked, seeming taken aback.
"Um, because she's his date?" She said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"So, he isn't you date?" He asked, as George watched the tense exchange. Cassie shook her head, bewildered that he could think such a thing. "Then who is?"
"No one." She replied, as it was technically true.
She had an opening dance partner, not a date.
She watched, as his face contorted in numerous ways. She noted that he looked rather pained, but although she was concerned, a part of her way happy that he looked hurt, like she had been. She pushed those thoughts aside. She was mad at him, but she couldn't be unnecessary mean. She was not that type of person - it simply wasn't her nature.
"Excuse me," She said, politely, but stiffly to the twins. "I have to leave."
George nodded, frowning slightly at her formality.
"I told you, idiot" George said, looking at Fred once she had left.
Time had stopped the minute those words had left her mouth. It felt like someone had punched him in the gut, in fact, he wished that were the cause. Had he gotten things wrong? He shook his head. He had blatantly heard her except Cedric's invite. But then, why was he with Cho? Where was her date? He felt so confused, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions, the most prominent being - confusion and guilt.
Cassie weaved through the crowd, focussing on her objective rather than the look on Fred's face. What had happened between them? She didn't like what they had become. Friends, at a push. Not best friends. She smiled in relief, spotting the boy with brown hair and glasses.
"Harry!" She said, joining him and Ron, who stood with one of the Patil girls.
"Oh, hey, Cassie!" He smiled. "I was worried that you ditched me, for a moment there."
"Sorry," She smiled, apologetically. "I got held up, but I promise I wouldn't abandon you like that."
"Thanks, Cassie, I don't think I could face this stupid opening dance with anyone else." Harry admitted. "I'm glad you suggested it, to be honest, I was just surprised that you didn't have a date."
"Well, now we aren't pressured to find dates, since we can open the ball together and then enjoy the rest of the night with out friends." She smiled, but it faltered. "There was some, uh, complications."
Harry was about to reply, before Professor McGonagall started ushering them into the hall.
"Shall we?" Harry asked, offering his arm.
"We shall." She smiled, taking his arm.