The days passed quickly and before I knew it, it was the day before Valentine's day. I had nothing planned and according to Lily and her Witch Weekly collection that was unacceptable and a message for disaster.
"Do you even know what you're going to wear, Rose?" Lily said a note of disbelief still in her voice. This was about the third question she had asked me and the answer to the ones that had come before it had been a big fat no.
"No," I said timidly keeping my eyes focused on the duel in front of us. Hufflepuff vs. Gryffindor. A boy head over heels in crush for Lily begged her to come and witness his wicked Bogey Bat hex. Lily had dragged me to the Transfiguration Courtyard with her so we could have a girl talk.
"Merlin, are you even planning to show up at all?" Lily exclaimed. "Did you ask Scorp?"
"Ask him what?" I replied, dumbfounded. I thought I was after gaining some intelligent about the girl world but clearly, I had none. It would be better for me to stick to the books in the Library, straight-forward and logical.
"Whether it casual or formal?" Lily sighed.
"It's clearly casual, Lily."
"He could show up in dress robes for all you know. His family's pretty chic so I wouldn't be surprised by it."
"I've never seen him in dress robes in my life. He told me, in a letter, that they were really uncomfortable and itchy. He's not going to break them out now."
"You never know. And you don't want to be standing in a ratty cloak while he's all glammed up."
"I don't think he'll mind."
"But you will, Rose, stop trying to hide it. You would die inside if that happened."
"Lily, I would laugh."
Lily pretended she didn't hear me and continued her interrogation, "Did you ask Scorp his preference?" I gave her a confused look and she clarified, "In clothing for you. A dress, a skirt?"
"It's freezing outside."
"That's what heating charms were invented for. Oh, but can he have preferences? I doubt he has seen you in either."
I looked pointedly at my school skirt.
"What do you think this is?"
"A bulky cloth that in no way represents a skirt," Lily remarked eying my skirt like it was a flobberworm. "I think a festive little-"
"Little?"
"-Valentine's themed dress would be cute. You look really girly in dresses. I've come prepared with backup Valentine's dresses because no offence, Rose, but I know you didn't bring a dress to Hogwarts."
I shook my head trying to shake off the fact that Lily was spot on.
"I forgot. And Hogwarts is a school. It's not like I dyingly need anything but my uniform robes."
"Shush, you're melting my brain," Lily said clapping her hands over her ears. "We have one day." She smoothed back her straight red hair. "But I will make this happen no matter if we have to stay up all night and empty dad's vault in Gringotts."
"I admire your commitment, Lily, but I don't think a pink dress is going to make me stunning."
Lily missed my point entirely. She smiled at me. Her eyes darted from my forehead to my chin and everywhere in between taking in all of my different features. She pulled out a sparkling pink notebook from her robe pocket and a matching self-inking quill and started jotting down a list. I moved in to see what she was writing. She quickly turned away from me hiding the contents of the notebook with her hair.
"Sorry," Lily said. "But I want it to be a surprise! I want you to cry when you see yourself in the mirror at the end of this. On second thought, not cry, that would ruin your makeup."
"Makeup?" I exclaimed touching my bare freckled skin. I had a sudden vision of it glowing orange with foundation.
"Did you read any of the Witch Weekly's I lent you? Nevermind. I don't think a pink dress would be ideal, but don't worry I have ruby, crimson, scarlet, blush,-"
"Red? I'm guessing. I would have to see all these shades to believe they exist."
"Let's do it then! We don't have a second to lose." Lily said jumping up from the bench. She waved across to a boy nearby who was cleaning his wand obsessively with a rag waiting for his turn to duel.
"Sorry, Clive, we have to go. It's a fashion emergency! Break a wand!"
"You're sure you can't stay? I'm going to break out the Bat-Bogey hex."
"I'll see you at Hogsmeade, perhaps you can show me then," Lily said making a sweeping motion with her robes as she marched out of the Transfiguration Courtyard trusting me to follow. "Rose, go to your dorm and stay there. I'll meet you there. Get Abby. I've always admired her energy."
"Are you even allowed in Ravenclaw tower?"
Lily laughed. Then she grinned knowingly at me, "Allowed? That word is not in my vocabulary. I've been inside of all the common rooms. Except for Slytherin, of course, I heard it smells like a swamp and there are no lights except for a few dusty candles. You know all about that, Rosie, don't you? I bet he's sneaked you in more times than I can count."
I shook my head laughing at the absurdity of going to the Slytherin quarters. Even though I would've liked to see for myself if it was as murky as Lily was describing it. Scorpius had told me once that it suffocating in there. 'Too much green, too little light, and too many pricks.' He had said and ended it. He was far more interested in hearing what the inside of Ravenclaw tower looked like.
"That would be just begging to get caught."
"Aw, you didn't deny it. I'm sure dad could give you a loan of his invisibility cloak. It is a worthy cause."
"Scorpius and I aren't that kind of couple. I thought James had the cloak." I wondered about the whereabouts of the invisibility cloak. I wished my dad had an invisibility cloak. All the possibilities! But all we have was a deluminator which I'm pretty sure dad sat on and broke.
Lily thought for a second.
"Maybe. I have to ask them the next time I write." Lily rolled her eyes, "One of these days we're going to lose it. What are we doing? Time is running out! Go to your dorm!" Lily called out skipping down the corridor away.
Author's Note: Short and sweet... but a filler for something...
