The Darkest of Roses
Chapter 28: The Perfect Dress
AuthorNotes: Hope you guys like. It's nothing too exciting or anything, but I at least updated, ya? Lol sorry my updates suck and are so far apart. I'm doing laundry now so hopefully I'll have at least one more update for you on this story! Please enjoy (and thanks for sticking with me!)
The Christmas ball was in about two weeks and Abigail still didn't have a dress. She had sent a letter to her mother to see if she'd mail her one, but she hasn't received a reply yet. It was worrying her beyond belief, but she tried to stay positive. There's nothing healthy about freaking out, pulling out your hair and worrying to the point where you'd induce a cardio attack. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror before grasping her wand, shoving it in her pocket and whisking out.
Today was a Hogsmeade trip and she was pretty excited. She had suckles and gold and planned to search for a dress. She just hoped she could find one; her mother was better at finding fashionable ball wear. She turned back and grabbed a hair tie, whipping her hair up into a ponytail as she headed out of the bedrooms.
Heading down the stairs, into the common room, she spotted Chelsea standing by the couch, rolling front and back on her feet. Abigail quieted her steps and tried to walk around, but the corner of Chelsea's eyes caught her and she spun around, a smile plastered on her face. "Abby, there you are!" she stated. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to Hogsmeade with me today. I heard you were riding solo."
"Yes, I am," Abigail stated, not wanting to say yes or no. She didn't want to be stuck with this girl all day. Her friend was a completely different person and Abigail couldn't decipher if she liked this sadistic Chelsea who would do better in the house she hated, Slytherin at this point.
"Well then there's no reason for you to say no. Let's go," Chelsea stated, grabbing Abigail's hand and leading her out of the common room with a purpose. Abigail glanced back and saw a different face staring at her, shocked. It was the face of Leon Williams. Abigail shyly smiled and waved at him, causing him to smile a bit and wave despite what had happened to him due to her. Abigail still felt horribly sorry for that but he avoided her like she was the black plague so she never had the time to apologize to him; she should've just let whoever beat him see her. Abigail had a thought about who it was, but didn't want to voice it now.
Abigail looked over at Chelsea with her curly blond hair bouncing on top of her head as she rushed with Abigail out of the common room and down the moving staircases, and finally into the great hall where Abigail had a hard time flushing about the predicament she was in. The entire school knew she and Chelsea had a slight falling out, so this would look odd and rumors would spread.
"I say we have a quick bite and then head down. I can't wait to see what type of ball gowns and dresses they'll have today," Chelsea stated, grinning over at Abigail as her hand was released finally. Abigail glanced around to see a couple of eyes staring over at her and Chelsea; Abigail flushed once more as she sat down to enjoy some breakfast. She'd go along with this and maybe she can get to Tim to do what Draco had asked her to do.
She had no idea why she was going through with it. It was bizarre and weird and she hated rumors. Everyone and their ancestors knew what had happened probably and that Abigail had broken up with Tim and her best friend since the first year. It wasn't a secret that's for sure. She took a sip of her drink as Chelsea started a conversation but her eyes drifted over to the Slytherin table to spot the familiar blond haired beauty that sat there, like a god. Abigail's heart jumped up into her chest, suffocation her like a vice. She swallowed hard and averted her eyes to her plate to continue eating, but eventually her eyes looked back over at Draco to see him smirking over in her direction.
Ho w is it that when their eyes connect like this, only their small world appears in the back of her eyes? As if nothing else on this shallow planet didn't matter anymore while she was captured in his mystifyingly beautiful eyes? Did anyone even notice when they were in this vortex? Or was everyone oblivious as much as they were, like magic…?
Abigail blinked, pulling out of the trance as someone sat next to her. She looked over to see Timothy Zachary sitting there. Her heart jumped out of her chest, up into her throat and closing her airway. She had no idea what to do. The familiar fear doubled up into her chest and she had a hard time from keeping her eyes from widening and her hands from gripping the edge of the table.
"I was hoping you'd allow Chelsea to bring you down here. I was hoping we could talk about going to the Christmas ball together," Tim stated, smiling dashingly. It sent icy down Abigail's throat, chilling her every bone. She couldn't speak as she opened her mouth, glancing away from him and staring over at Draco who was staring intently at her. But ever so slightly, he nodded his head. If she had blinked, she would've missed it.
"Uh, I…guess," Abigail answered weakly. Tim's face brightened up; she saw the egoism in his eyes light up and he looked over at Chelsea, smirking. Abigail couldn't help but notice how Chelsea looked defeated and thoroughly heartbroken. She didn't think anything of it; Draco was going to probably crush them both with whatever he was planning for Tim.
"I'll let you ladies go to Hogsmeade to reconnect, ok? I'll see you later, Abby baby," Tim stated, leaning over to kiss the side of her head. Abigail cringed a little and finished her plate of breakfast, feeling more disgusted than anything else. She would have to get a hideous dress to wear to the ball. It would have to be hideous beyond belief, and the color of vomit. Nobody likes the nasty color of vomit.
"You ready to head out?" Chelsea asked, glancing to her right. Abigail looked over to see that Draco and his posse had begun to leave as well. How did she not notice him getting up? Besides that, Abigail nodded and the two stood to head out of the great hall. She glanced back to see that Leon Williams had perked up, turkey-necking out of the crowd of eating students to watch her and Chelsea leave. That guy pops out of nowhere sometimes, Abigail thought as she followed Chelsea outdoors and to the carriages that waited for them.
She fished for her permission slip and handed it to professor McGonagall and headed down to the carriages with Chelsea, who picked the one in the front and jumped in. Abigail turned her head to the back to see other students were filing into the carriages as well; she almost wanted to wait for one of them that she knew would ride along the carriage with her and Chelsea. She wasn't too social anymore and she knew Chelsea would want to "catch up" on everything.
But no one even made a pass heading her way so she jumped up into the carriage, opposite of Chelsea. The carriage took off toward Hogsmeade the moment the door shut. Chelsea was smiling at her and finally said, "It's good to talk to you again. I've missed you." Abigail nodded, averting her eyes away from the creepy Cheshire grin that was spreading along Chelsea's face. "So what've you been up to, lately?"
"Just the normal stuff," Abigail answered, bluntly. She wasn't going to divulge her personal life with Chelsea anymore. She was demoted and no longer is worthy of Abigail's secrets.
"Are the rumors true, about you and Malfoy?" Chelsea asked. Abigail narrowed her eyes and looked over at her, already ticked off. Chelsea's face paled a little bit. "I only ask because I'm curious, and worried about your well-being. That's all." Abigail stayed quiet, shaking her head for a minute before looking out the window.
It wasn't long after that when the carriage slowed to a stop and Abigail exited, staring up at Hogsmeade. The whole scenery looked beautiful with the snow and the loads of people bundled up and making their rounds. Chelsea appeared next to her and the two walked forward, toward High street of Hogsmeade. The Three Broomsticks was on their right as they stood there and the road leading off toward the Shrieking Shack was to their left. "Fancy a butterbeer?" Chelsea asked. "My treat."
Well, it does sound goo d and she's buying, Abigail thought. "Yeah, it does sound good." The two headed over toward the small pub, pushing the door open and walking through the mass of people. Abigail couldn't remember if it's ever, in its life time, been slow. She's always seen it massively busy with students and other people, joining from faraway lands to catch up over a tall glass of butterbeer.
The two found a table and instantly ordered two butterbeers. While they waited for their drinks to arrive, Abigail glanced through the crowd at all the people. She didn't spot anyone close to her, as of yet. She and Chelsea were the first people to arrive at Hogsmeade via carriage from Hogwarts, so the students would be marching in any second.
About halfway finished through their butterbeers, Abigail noticed that familiar lost and dazed look on Chelsea in the midst of searching the crowds. She looked at her lost friend and waited. "I really have missed you as a friend, Abby," Chelsea stated.
"Well you've ruined that," Abigail stated, unable to contain herself. "We both know what you were up to and such so there's no use in pretending."
"He forced himself onto me, Abby. I swear it," Chelsea defended, panicked.
Abigail scoffed. "Yeah, all hundreds of times you and he were together," Abigail stated. "I'm not stupid so don't treat me like so." Abigail tightened her lips and chewed on the inside of her bottom lip faintly. Her mind was raging and her general appearance showed that. Her hands gripped the outside of her butterbeer mug and her back was hunched over a bit as her nostrils flared and her jaw locked. Chelsea frowned.
"I didn't say you were stupid."
"You don't have to say it for me to know that's what you're thinking and trying to pull off. I've known you for years, Chelsea and you're not creative enough to change abruptly so I can't read you. I can read you like a damn book," Abigail stated, coolly and calmly. She was hanging out with Draco too much to be able to sound so angry with a mellow tone of her voice. She watched as Chelsea's eyes widened a bit as her body shuddered. "I'm not the same since before you backstabbed me, Chelsea Andrews. I've morphed into someone who doesn't give a rat's ass about what you do in your spare time, or who for that matter. Go ahead. Do what makes you happy, I guess but know this, you and I will not be friends anytime soon. We are nothing but mere acquaintances." Abigail downed the rest of her butterbeer and focused her eyes on Chelsea who had tears lining the lids of her eyes.
"Thanks for the butterbeer. See you around, Chelsea," Abigail stated, standing and fishing into her pocket for some loose change. "For the tip." Abigail tossed the few galleons down on the table and headed out of the Three Broomsticks.
Her heart was thumping mad against her chest and she pushed her fingers against her chest, taking deep breaths to try to calm her heart. She was raging and she didn't want what just happened to ruin her Hogsmeade trip, especially when it's to find the vomit-colored dress she needed now, since she said yes to Tim's invite.
Abigail traveled down High street and toward Gladrags Wizardwear to see if she could find the perfect dress to wear to the Christmas ball. The bell rang as she headed inside, glancing around at all the people around her. There were a few girls filtering through the clothes racks and Abigail made her way to some of them, filtering through them and trying to find her vomit-colored dress.
The woman at the counter was flipping through one of the many magical magazines, chewing a piece of gum with an expression of non-caring. Abigail walked up to her and smiled, politely. "Hi, I have a weird request. I'm trying to find a dress in the color of…well, vomit." The woman froze and looked over at her, incredulously. Abigail blushed. "It's not my choice of color but I have some issues I want to be taken care of…"
"Hm, boyfriend issues. I understand. Those types of colors we don't have. We only sport natural and nice colors. However, you can grab a dress and simply change its color with a spell," the woman stated. Abigail nodded, discouraged. That was a lot more work than she wanted to do so she went back to filtering through the clothes and dresses. She could wear a suit to the ball that way she'd look like a dude and Tim would be embarrassed that way as well, but she didn't find any suitable suits she would wear. All of them were too classy and too nice looking.
A dress caught her eye though and she walked over, fingering the fabric. It had to be the most beautiful dress she's ever seen. It was an off-white color with a synched up top with intricate detail in the shapes of antique lacing patterns and it swept down in layers of fabric for the skirt half. It had a small layer of sheer fabric, showing the shadow of the white satin underneath. The outer layer of the skirt was a heavier type of fabric with an upside down V shape of large bushy roses of off-white fabric lining it. Abigail loved it and she couldn't help but take it off the rack and go the changing stalls; the woman behind the counter watched her, amused.
Abigail shut the door and tried the dress on. Amazingly, the dress fit like it was made for her. It hugged her curves and gave her hips a more luscious look to them. Abigail smiled, feeling like a goddess. She wished she was going with someone she liked so she could by this dress. It was fabulous and very comfortable. "I don't have to look like crap I guess," Abigail whispered. "I could outshine him and it work just the same way."
But when she looked at the price, her heart dropped. She didn't have that much on her and wouldn't be able to get it in a moment's notice since her mom or dad weren't responding back to her. She slowly peeled the dress from her skin and dressed in her clothes before heading out to hang it back up. She looked at it longingly before heading out of the shop with a thank you to the woman at the counter.
Abigail sighed. Guess I'm wearing an older dress, she thought as she made her way back to Honeydukes to pick up some well deserved sweets before heading back to Hogwarts.
