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CHAPTER 5
It took me exactly three days to decide that I was in fact daring enough to ask Fred Weasley out. However the thought of having made that decision alone made me feel so accomplished that actually doing it felt like overkill. Every time I saw him in the hallway or in the Great Hall I'd feel a proud smile tugging at the corners of my mouth, knowing for myself that I was that daring kind of person who'd ask the boy she liked to a ball.
It was therefor a mistake to tell Mathilda about my decision, who told Aurora and Marietta as well. It was Sunday and the very last rays of sunshine leftover from the late summer were warming up the winter afternoon and every self-respecting student was hanging around on the grounds, opening up their collars and unwinding their scarfs from around their necks (more than that would've simply been too cold) to bathe in that weak November sunshine.
Looking over the grassy slopes surrounding the castle I could see that the student populace had been mixing with the foreign students more and more. Specks of blue and dark brown were intermingled with the black Hogwarts robes.
'You tell us that you're going to do it, but every time you see him you cower behind me like usual.' Mathilda said to me and I looked up from my day dreaming, unbothered by Mathilda. 'Mathilda, I'll do it, don't worry.' I said, feeling confident by my own bravado. Slightly misplaced.
Mathilda didn't buy it at all. 'Just think about it..' she said, trying to reason with me. 'If you wait too long, he's going to be taken already. He's a popular guy, not bad looking, funny; you've got to get there early.' Mathilda told me and although she had good points, I was feeling too good to let it get to me. 'Don't worry, Tilda.' I just repeated once again. Mathilda groaned.
Aurora changed the subject, looking over the grounds as I did a minute ago. 'Maybe we should try and talk to some of the foreign students.' She said. 'The Beauxbatons students sit at our table most of the time, so it shouldn't be too difficult.' She added and Mathilda was sufficiently interested in this new conversational topic that she left the Fred-Weasley-problem for what it was for the moment.
'Definitely.' She agreed. 'But-' said Aurora '-they're all older, of age already for Merlin's sake!' Aurora complained. 'I'm far too shy to talk to a bunch of seventeen year olds.' She said and Mathilda rolled her eyes.
'To be honest with you guys, I've been talking to a couple of them already.' She said and we both looked at her with interest. 'Mentally I've been calling them pre-interviews because I'm picking out the best ones to hang out with us.' She added and Aurora and I both burst out laughing. 'It hardly works that way, Mathilda.' Aurora said and I nodded at that, pinking a joyful tear out of my eye. Mathilda huffed indignantly. 'I do it in the best interest of you two. Who of you is going to talk to them then? And find a cooler one when they turn out to be disappointing?' She asked and although I pointed out that you couldn't just trade in people when you didn't like someone enough, we both got her point. 'You are boasting that you are going to ask someone, that's all I'm saying.' Mathilda muttered at me as she put her Potions book back into her bag and stood up, picking some grass from her woolly tights.
'Sorry Mathilda! We are grateful!' Aurora yelled after her as she walked towards the castle and Mathilda just waved, without turning around and I chuckled at that.
Mathilda was right though. We were already halfway through December when nerves started getting to me again. Around me more and more students were asked or were asking others to go the Yule Ball and it made me more and more aware that there was a deadline to my happy feeling. I couldn't simply make it last forever.
'Adrian has threatened not to ask me to the dance.' Mathilda said over dinner the week before the last Hogsmeade weekend before Christmas. Christmas! I had to seriously work on getting some decent presents in Hogsmeade coming weekend. In his last letter Aidan had "let slip" that he had bought mum and dad couple-robes that he had ordered in from Korea especially. Mum and dad were surprisingly youthfully romantic, owning matching socks and having the same colour money purses and as I read his letter I groaned at how perfect his present was for them. I wasn't great at figuring out presents for others.
'Why would he do that?' Aurora asked Mathilda. I focussed back onto the conversation. 'Well, to be more precise, he said he wouldn't ask me to the dance if I didn't come to Hogsmeade with him this weekend.' She replied and I moaned in annoyance. 'Hasn't this gone far enough already, Tilda?' I asked but she ignored me.
'Why don't you just go Hogsmeade with him then?' Asked Aurora and Mathilda huffed at the thought. 'I won't be blackmailed!' She simply exclaimed. 'But now you won't be able to go to the dance with him.' Aurora said. Mathilda waved her fork at Aurora, her mouth stuffed with food. 'It's all bluff, Rory. He's still going to ask me.' She said. I don't know how she knew that.
However that weekend she went with us to Hogsmeade as promised. She had a surprise in stock for Aurora and me though.
When we left the Ravenclaw common room to get signed off by Filch before leaving for Hogsmeade, she had sprinted ahead telling us that she'd meet us in the Entrance Hall. Aurora and I did as she told us, patiently waiting for our friend until said friend showed up with two in blue huddled Beauxbatons students. They were wearing hats and scarfs obscured the lower part of their faces and they stuck out their in leather gloved up hands for us to shake.
Aurora and I shot each other a look, ignoring Mathilda's triumphant grin.
As expected was Hogsmeade filled with Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students. Mathilda was behind me and Aurora, talking to the two Beauxbatons students who were tagging along with us. 'She didn't even ask if we were okay with it.' Muttered Aurora annoyed. I shrugged. 'She told me that the event is all about international cooperation so we should at least do this.' I said, remembering the short conversation earlier that week, at the time not knowing it applied to this particular weekend. I looked back when Mathilda and the two boys laughed loudly. 'But,' I added as I turned back 'she later also said that it's good to have a holiday address for when we want to visit the continent.'
Because it was cold we decided to warm up with some hot butterbeer first and we went to the Three Broomsticks before it got too busy for us to fit. We were just in time and we got the last table. After we got our butterbeer we sat back, enjoying the heat of the mug in our hands. For the first time since we left the castle I took a good look at the two boys. Outside there wasn't much of them to see anyway as they were wrapped in their scarfs and woolly hats. Now we were inside I once again decided that Mathilda knew how to pick 'm because they were obviously handsome lads. One of them was blonde and blue eyed and he was fairly tall and the other was dark in hair, skin and eyes and was shorter than his friend.
Aurora decided to break the ice as Mathilda looked at us stubbornly as if she was daring us to speak. 'I'm Aurora by the way.' She said, offering her hand for them to shake, not counting the awkward and hurried "Hi's" in the Entrance Hall earlier. The dark haired one took her hand though and planted a gentle kiss on it. 'I'm Tadeo.' He said in a broken accent, making Aurora flush bright red. His mate laughed and slapped his back. 'Don't mind him.' He said in what seemed to be a German accent. 'He's from Spain, he can't help it.' He told us and we grinned involuntarily. 'I'm Robin, from Germany.' he shook our hands and I introduced myself as well.
'It's interesting that you've got so many nationalities within one school.' Aurora commented and Robin shrugged. 'Don't you as well though? Every young wizard and witch from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland goes to Hogwarts. That's quite a meltingpot don't you think!' He said and we nodded at his point. 'We never saw it that way, but I suppose you're right.' I conceded.
'Your English is very good too!' Aurora said admiringly. 'I wish I knew another language.' She added dreamily. 'They don't teach languages at Hogwarts?' Robin asked surprised. We all shook our heads. 'That's absurd!' He exclaimed. Tadeo didn't seem to fully follow the conversation in English and Robin turned to him for a moment to quip a quick French explanation at him. Tadeo looked surprised. 'Dat ees ridiculosth!' He said in his strong accent. 'Ridiculous.' Robin corrected him but then he turned back to us. 'Languages are so important! They are not only useful for international cooperation but they also broaden your horizon!' He said.
'What language do they teach in?' Mathilda asked. Robin smiled. 'Well, the school's located in France so the lessons are in French but from year one we have English and German too. Then from year three on we have, what do you call them, electives?' We all nodded 'We have electives which include a couple more languages, not just European languages. Although you can drop all languages after fifth year if you choose to do so, but most people keep a couple.' He said. 'I want to be a translator when I leave school, so I took a lot of languages.' He explained and Aurora was obviously taken with the boy. 'That's really fascinating! Maybe you could teach me some?' She asked and he told her he happily would.
Tadeo's English was less fluent but still developed enough to be able to have simple conversation with him. His parents were goblin-corn farmers in Spain, twenty-five miles north of Barcelona. He was looking to take over the family business when he left school, as his parents were getting too old to run the day to day proceedings.
It was far more interesting than I could've imagined to hear what life was like in other parts of the world. We were reluctant to tell much about our own lives at first, wanting to hear more about theirs, but the two of them insisted that they were very interested and in the end we all gave in. Mathilda told about her father's job managing the Oxford branch of 2nd Hand Brooms, second biggest in the country after the one in Diagon Alley. Aurora told them how her mother drew and charmed illustrations for children's books (most famously The Story of the Toad Who Used To Be a Wizard) and her father worked at the Ministry's Department of Retail and Gastronomy Regulations and I told them about my mum's job as a journalist for the country's leading newspaper and my dad's bookshop.
'Are you going to take over your padre's bookshop?' Tadeo asked and I shrugged. 'I like helping out in the summers but I want to work for the Ministry of Magic when I leave school.' I said. My friends agreed with my words. 'I wouldn't want to work for a family business.' Mathilda said. I used to have a part time job at my dad's store but I really didn't like it. I got a job at the competitor's store instead and liked it much better.' She said and Robin laughed, explaining it to Tadeo in rapid French right after, after which Tadeo also laughed.
Despite our annoyance at the beginning we had to thank Mathilda after we said goodbye to Robin and Tadeo because we ended up having a really great time. The boys had even helped me pick out presents for my dad and Aidan (a book that was translated out of German, that Robin swore was amazing, for dad and an album of the Weird Sisters for Aidan).
As we walked back up to the Ravenclaw tower we were raving about our day while Mathilda let the enthusiasm wash over her with a pleased grin on her face. 'I think you got along especially well with Robin though, didn't you Rory?' Asked Mathilda later and Aurora smiled sheepishly. 'Well, he did promise to owl me about some language lessons.' She said shyly and Mathilda clapped her hands. 'Now, you can go to the dance with Robin and if the whole Fred Weasley story ends up not working out as expected because Cecilia is not going to ask him till two days after the Yule Ball, she can go with Tadeo.' She said and although I protested it did remind me that I had to ask Fred soon.
However, every time I saw him he was with his friends and his brother, always laughing and joking and my stomach would turn itself over every time I tried to focus on walking in his direction, having his eyes on me as I tried to get the words over my lips. No, that was too terrible, I couldn't get myself to do it, I'd only embarrass myself. But that was not acceptable to Mathilda.
'There he is!' Hissed Mathilda as we stood in the hallway, waiting for professor Moody to open up the classroom for Defence Against the Dark Arts. I looked at him from the corners of my eyes, holding my books to my chest. 'What of it?' I asked annoyed. Mathilda shook my shoulder. 'Ask him now!' She ordered and I said 'no' with a snort. 'Now!' She repeated and I said 'No!' Again. Mathilda put her hands around her mouth as if creating a megaphone and yelled 'Fred!'
My face went pale as I whipped my head around to see Fred Weasley look up from the conversation he was having with his housemates, questioningly. As I was turned away from her, Mathilda quickly shoved me in my back towards him. 'She's got something to ask you.' She called.
I couldn't believe she was doing this to me. Not only Fred had looked up, but nearly the whole corridor had craned their necks to see who was humiliating themselves publicly. But it was too late to back out now. I took a step forward and then another, until I was standing in front of Fred Weasley, staring up at his tall frame (and his mercilessly blue eyes!). 'Yeah, I was wondering if I could, well you know, ask something..' I muttered. I could feel my cheeks burning with such a heath that you could practically bake an egg on it.
'Uhm, sure, guys could you give us a second?' Fred said, the last part directed at his friends who shrugged and went to stand a couple of feet away. Fred gave me an encouraging smile and I tried to ignore the fact that it was in fact him standing in front of me. 'Sorry to have to ask but what was your name again?' He asked. Not exactly good for my confidence but I obliged. 'Cecilia Wiggleswade but my friends call me Cecil a lot.' I almost whispered, so soft did I speak. His grin widened a bit as he said 'Nice to meet you Cecil!' and I blanked as I was overwhelmed by his gorgeous happy face but then I told myself that it couldn't go on like this any longer. This was the furthest I had ever come with him; might as well come a little further. And then, when I thought that my heart was just going to give out as it was beating so fast, I managed to spit out; 'Would you go to the Yule Ball with me?'
I was amazed by myself, so amazed that for a moment I didn't even realize his answer.
'Oh, well, I'm sorry, I'm already going with somebody else.' Fred said. My heart fell as I looked at his, to be quite frank, astonished face. 'I would, but you know..' He said, trailing off. He tried to cheer me up though. 'But you're a pretty enough! And smart judging by your house! You'll find yourself a date, no doubt!' He said. I felt too empty to even get flustered by his compliments. I opened my mouth, closed it again and then opened it again. 'It's quite alright.' I said eventually. 'I was just dared to ask you. I'm actually going with someone else as well.' I said. I could hardly believe I actually said that. Fred thought it was funny too. 'Oh really?' He asked, a sceptical grin on his face. It made my heart flutter painfully so.
'Yes, he asked me a while back already.' I lied. He nodded sceptically. 'Well, he's a lucky fellow, have fun at the dance.' Fred said, walking backwards, back to his brother and friends. 'I will!' I called after him as he turned around. I turned around myself, feeling my forehead with the back of my hand. I had to be red as a tomato. I was going to look so silly and childish when I showed up to the Yule Ball without a date.
I quickly asked Mathilda if she could ask Tadeo if he had a date already (I was so flustered that I didn't get mad at her or take note of her sheepishly given apologies – I just wanted to move on quickly). Tadeo wasn't available anymore though. Apparently he had asked some girl from Durmstrang. I was mortified. It was bad enough that I had worked up all that courage and then be turned down, but to have to suffer the humiliation of being caught in a lie by the same person was too much. I tried to tell myself, as I sat through my classes, that he wouldn't even notice if I'd show up without a date; he wasn't going to notice me at the Ball, let alone my non-existent date but I couldn't quite believe myself enough and kept going what if he does notice me?
I was in luck though. Not two days later a Hufflepuff boy called Felix Smythwick asked me to go with him. He had stumbled over his words a bit but when he finally got the question over his lips I quickly agreed. I wouldn't look like a fool after all!
Mathilda said I could do better than Felix but I didn't know if that was true. But even if it was, I don't think I could possibly muster up the courage to ask anyone else to go with me. But I didn't mind. Of course, I would've liked to have gone with Fred but at least I had a date and Felix was nice enough – I didn't really know him well at all, despite sharing a couple of classes with him. He was a tall boy, a bit skinny in a lanky sort of way and straw-yellow hair framed his freckled face. He was a bit shy and nervous, but I was both of those as well so I didn't think it would be fair of me to complain. I was just glad that I wouldn't be going alone; I'd had to just take in stride that my date wasn't nearly as amazing as the boy I had hoped to go with.
Mathilda ended up being asked by exactly the boy she had been going after, Mr Slytherin chaser Adrian Pucey. I was never quite sure how Mathilda did it but she had a way of catching the attention of exactly those people whose attention she wanted. His threats did seem to be a bluff like she said they were. And this time she said yes to him.
As the Yule Ball drew closer the excitement around the school grew. In the common room Roger Davies was gloating that he was going with the Beauxbaton champion Fleur Delacour, the beautiful part-veela girl. I knew Aurora was a bit disappointed. Mathilda didn't know because she wasn't very perceptive (I wouldn't ever tell her this but it was because she a bit self-involved) but Aurora had a little crush on Roger. However it wasn't a severe crush and after she took a deep breath she picked herself back up and asked Robin the Beauxbatons student who was glad to go with, saying that she was, and I quote 'beautiful and a treasure to have on my arm that night'. Have you ever noticed that people who don't have English as their native English, speak way prettier English than those who do? It's probably because their English knowledge comes almost exclusively from media and if you read a lot of classic novels and listen to a lot of poetical lyrics, you're going to use a different language than the regular 1990's English teenager.
In the fifth year girl dormitory there was a lot of excitement for Cho as well who would obviously be going with her boyfriend Cedric Diggory, the Hogwarts champion from Huffepuff. Mathilda was unsurprisingly unhappy about it, Cho being the girlfriend of the handsome Triward Tournament champion, making snide remarks from her own bed as we all listened eagerly to Cho's story on how Cedric asked her to the Yule Ball. 'What's the big deal anyway, he's her boyfriend so of course they're going to go together!' She remarked but Aurora simply shushed her impatiently.
It was also a time at which all girls started taking critical looks at their dress robes and then an equally critical look at the list of rules and dress codes that was hung on the common room notice board. Of course it had said we needed dress robes on our list of requirements along our books and Potions materials at the beginning of the year, but most hadn't taken it awfully serious, not knowing the occasion, so we hadn't protested our parents quite as hard as we perhaps should've had when parents opted for cheaper and more modest options amongst clothing shops and catalogues. The dress robes I had brought were the same that I had worn to my aunt Tamora's wedding (a marriage that lasted not even two months I might add), two years ago and which my mum had let refitted.
As we were hanging around in the dormitory, Mathilda had made me take my dress robes out. 'They aren't so bad.' She commented as she held them up in front of me. The colour is good for you and you don't have any weird frilliness going on, like mine.' She sighed as she looked at her own dress robes, that were laid spread out on her bed. She was right, mine weren't that bad. They were a pale blue and looked fairly mature considering that I was thirteen when we bought them (thanks to a good tailoring job by Madam Malkin).
Mathilda's dress robes on the other hand, despite Mathilda getting nearly everything her dad could possibly give her, were horrid. Her dad was pretty much obsessed with keeping her "his little girl", that obsession resulting in the pink frilliness they call Mathilda's dress robes.
Luckily did Marietta know a lot about tailoring charms (she wanted to be a clothing designer herself one day) and she helped us with our dress robes. At the end did even Mathilda's dress robes look positively lovely, still pink but in a more flattering cut and the puffy sleeves reduced to spaghetti straps. Mathilda was pleased. 'I think the pink will work in my favour; I've gone with a very hard and mature front when dealing with Adrian over the past months and I think the girly pink will contrast that nicely.' She explained to me. I couldn't think of a better response than rolling my eyes. I didn't know how to explain to Mathilda that her idea of interacting with people (men in particular) was warped and frankly ridiculous. The conversation, a conversation involving the difficult subjects of her father, her absent mother and her shying away from intimacy, had to come one day, I knew that, but I didn't want it to be any time soon, not knowing what it would do to our friendship, despite my good intentions.
My dress robes had also improved. It didn't need much work luckily but as I had them on, looking in the mirror as Marietta was sitting behind me trying to spell on some ribbon to line my sleeves, I felt prettier than I had felt in a long time.
On Christmas Eve, the night before the Ball, I got a letter from my parents, written in my mother's handwriting.
Dear Cecilia,
Your dad and I miss you more than you can possibly understand. Normally we get to have you for Christmas at least, but now not even that. I still don't understand why they couldn't have that stupid Yule Ball before the holidays. That way you could come home without missing anything.
However, we understand that you want to attend the Ball (you don't get to go to balls every day, right? Maybe you're old enough to accompany me to work functions once in a while, if you want; you also get to wear dress robes and it really isn't all old people, I promise!) and hope you'll have fun. We also hope you'll like your Christmas presents.
I was just wondering (and I know your dad is too secretly), if any boy has asked you? I heard from Mathilda's dad that she's going to the dance with a boy from Slytherin (he's on the Quidditch team he said!). Tell her congratulations from me and that Slytherin is the best house obviously – having produced wonderful specimen like both me and your aunt Tamora. Okay, alright, maybe just me. Don't tell her I said that!
As I mention my sister, maybe you should know that Tamora has once again mentioned the word "wedding". I don't know how serious it is this time but I'm bracing myself for the news in advance. It's some poor lad from Liverpool who has gotten it in his head to fall for her. Where the last one was a rich unicorn breeder, he is now the assistant in a pet shop; you can't say she's discriminatory, can you? She'll marry anyone.
Now I'm done with bashing my sister (I love your dad but I can't really go to him with this; his Hufflepuff instincts are far too strong and instead of just agreeing with whatever I said so I can unload, he'll try and reason it out and tell me I'm not being fair – normally I'd go to Tamora, a fellow Slytherin to complain about these things, but I don't think she'd take it kindly if I said these things to her).
Now, honey, we wish you a merry Christmas. You'll probably get another letter from us before New Year's. Aidan is home for Christmas (unlike you he didn't insist on going to some fancy ball – perhaps he loves us more) and he says hi too and that you'll get another letter from him soon as well. Tell Mathilda merry Christmas from us (she knows how I absolutely adore her) and your other dorm mates as well.
Lots of love from your loving parents,
Wendela and August
I was once again astonished by how much my mother and Mathilda were alike as I put my the letter down. 'Merry Christmas from my parents!' I called out to the dormitory. Everyone mumbled a sloppy merry Christmas back as they were busy with their own things. Cho was painting her toe nails to match her dress robes for the day after, Marietta was sitting cross legged on her bed, trying not to crack the facial mask that she had put on. Aurora was reading the notes she had made the day before as she had studied French in the library yesterday with Robin – she hadn't said much about it despite Mathilda's incessant questions, but it was clear that the two were getting along well. Mathilda had shut down her night light and had curled herself under the blankets, eyes closed. I knew she wasn't sleeping though because she always slept with her mouth wide open.
We soon all followed her example though, until lastly Aurora also turned in.
The next morning I woke up from Mathilda's excited shrieks. 'Merry Christmas, merry Christmas!' She yelled through the dormitory. In first year this was a point of much arguments but over the years we had gotten used to the annoyance that was Mathilda's "liveliness" in the morning. I groggily opened my eyes and saw Mathilda sit on her knees at the foot of her bed, going through her presents. She looked up at my yawn. 'Merry Christmas Cecil!' She called happily. 'Thanks!' She added as she held up my present to her. She ripped off the paper eagerly and found the book on pre-Founders myths I had bought her inside. Her smile widened. 'I can't believe you remembered! I wanted this so bad but totally forgot about it!' She said. I sat up, slightly more awake and I saw the other girls do the same, rubbing their eyes. 'I pretty much bought it the moment you mentioned it Tilda.' I said and she laughed.
She went on to her other presents and I too scooted toward the end of my bed to look at the mountain of presents. I had never before spent Christmas at Hogwarts so I was surprised to find them there.
I had gotten some very good presents. A couple of books and trinkets from extended family (and a nice drawing from my 7 year old cousin), a very pretty scarf and hat and a new cauldron from my parents and two tickets to go to the L'Opera Magica next summer from Aidan (who said in his card that he was coming too but that the extra ticket was for Mathilda, or anyone else I'd like to bring I presume – although I would indeed probably bring Mathilda). Mathilda had chipped together with Aurora to buy me a new pair of earrings that they intended me to wear tonight. Cho and Marietta had both gotten me my favourite sweets (Austrian slugger slushes) and they laughed when they saw they had both gotten me the same thing. I didn't mind though because I could never have enough of them. I had gotten a way too generous 20 galleon gift certificate to Flourish and Blotts from Mathilda's dad with a card with it saying: Thank you sweetheart for being a wonderful friend to my daughter. I went into sports so I'm afraid I don't know much about books other than that you like them a lot; that's why I figured you'd be better off picking some out for yourself. Merry Christmas! Kind regards, Lars Goodfellow.
'Goodness, why does your dad always give me so much money!' I most often got gift certificates from Mr Goodfellow, whether it was on Christmas or my birthday. '20 galleons could get me 15 books easily! Who gives someone so many books, no matter the occasion?' I asked Mathilda and she shrugged uninterestedly. 'He likes you.' She only said, tearing off the wrapping paper of another gift. 'Could you thank your dad from me though?' I asked Mathilda. 'If you thank your mum for me.' Mathilda answered, showing me the pretty black headband she had gotten from my parents. She threw the card to me. 'We heard from your dad that you'd be wearing a pink dress to the Ball so to make that cake a little less sweet, a nice headband to bring it all together. Are you coming to visit in the summer? Merry Christmas from my husband and me. PS: wear that cute black choker necklace I know you have! It will look enchanting!
'That necklace would indeed look good! Especially with your new headband!' I said and Mathilda nodded with a smile. 'Your mum's right once again.' She agreed. As much as my mother adored Mathilda, Mathilda adored my mum right back. It was just her and her dad at home but she visited us often and she and mum got along extraordinarily well.
After we were done opening all of our presents, we went down to the Great Hall with our entire dormitory to all have Christmas breakfast together. After it was time to lock ourselves back up in our dormitory so we could get ready for the Yule Ball. 'I'm meeting Adrian down in the Entrance Hall at seven forty-five tonight. What did you and that Hufflepuff kid agree on?' She asked. 'The same as you. He said he'd be waiting.' I said, not feeling overly excited about my date with Felix Smythwick despite it being my first proper date (that "date" two summers ago with the boy down the street from us that Mathilda had arranged I didn't count – it lasted about half an hour until he ditched me to go play Quidditch with his friends). He was nice though so I was determined to not make him feel my reservations about the evening.
I looked outside the window of our dormitory, seeing the grounds laid out beautifully in glimmering snow, almost lighting up in the dark as it was indeed getting dark already, late in the afternoon as it now was. It had snowed a week or so ago and everything was covered, including the carriage of the Beauxbatons and the ship of Durmstrang. In the distance I could even make out Hagrid's hut, appearing as a snowy hill. Behind me were Marietta doing Cho's hair and Mathilda doing Aurora's hair. I was patiently waiting my turn, not feeling hurried. We still had hours. Although.. It were just mere hours till the Yule Ball. And suddenly I did start to feel a little nervous.
For those interested: 20 Galleons are about 100 pounds real money. Mathilda's dad is a bit of a spender XD
Next chapter is the Yule Ball! I hope I'll get some reviews on this ;)