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Chapter Seventy-four

Araminta was just painting her toenails when she heard a knock on her door. "Come in," she called.

The door opened to admit Professor Severus Snape. He made sure that no one was looking and came inside. "Hi," he said, twisting his hands together. "I need some help." He turned sideways, and Araminta could see that his pregnancy was showing when he pulled his cloak aside. "I can't think of a costume that would cover this up, and since you're sort of a clotheshorse, I thought, well, maybe..."

"I'd be happy to help." Araminta beamed and put her nail polish to the side. "Hmm, it should probably be something loose and comfortable."

"Can it be a seated costume? My feet are killing me," Snape complained.

Araminta giggled. "Sit down for now, then, but later you'll want to dance anyway."

Araminta rummaged through her closet until she found what she wanted: a sequined vest and bowtie that had obviously been a leftover from the Hogwarts jazz choir days. The last occupant of the room had either been involved in a whole lot of activities or Araminta owned a Closet of Requirement.

"That's so icky!" Snape exclaimed.

"Just wait a second." Araminta buttoned the vest over his round belly and put the bow tie around his neck. She added white powder to his face and slicked his hair back. With a little bit of red lipstick and some light purple eyeshadow around his eyes, he looked like Dracula! "Ta da!" Araminta let him look in the mirror.

Snape turned his head from side to side. "Perhaps this could work. Thank you, Araminta."

"Anytime," she replied.

Not two minutes after Snape left, there was another knock at the door. Araminta sighed; she hadn't gotten any nail polish on yet. She swore that if there had been a phone it would have rung because she reached for the bottle. "Yes?"

Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode slipped into Araminta's room. "I'm sorry, I lied to you before. I don't have a costume for the Quidditch Ball!" Pansy looked like she was going to burst into tears. Millicent patted her on the back.

"I think I might be able to help both of you." Araminta dug around in the closet until she came up with two costumes. The first was spotted spandex and had a little hood and an eye mask.

"This will be perfect for you," said Araminta as she handed it to Pansy.

Pansy looked at the costume dubiously. "What is it?"

"A giraffe," said Araminta. She whispered, "An animal that shows a lot of neck. Hint, hint."

"Do you have any others?" Millicent asked.

Araminta looked through the closet one more time. Nothing jumped out at her, but at the last second she spotted something at the back. "Well, you could be a nun."

Millicent tried the costume on, and it fit, so Araminta and Pansy helped her make an eye mask for herself. Once Millicent and Pansy were dressed, they thanked Araminta profusely and left.

A bell chimed far away and distant.

"Oh no!" Araminta cried out in horror. The ball was beginning and she wasn't anywhere close to being ready! She dove headfirst into her red satin gown and moved her arms like a contortionist to get it laced up just right. She pulled on her black fishnet stockings and gave up trying to get the wig on at all; instead, she put a spell on her hair to make it the right color. She added gloves and a mask and a pair of strappy heels, then picked up her skirts in both hands and ran for the Great Hall. She didn't want to miss this for anything!

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