A/N: The last chapter took a long time to write, sorry about that. I re-wrote it about five times until I like it, and then re-wrote it again. I am trying to get this one out a bit faster… Apologies to all! Nevertheless, don't let that stop you from reviewing (it gives me satisfaction to know someone, somewhere is reading this and enjoying it.) Oh yes, and to KimberlyGrace, I use 'Mio' because that is what my friends' writing name is. I pronounce it 'Me-oh', not like, 'My-Oh', just clearing that up…
Chapter XIII: Balls and Brawls
A week later, Ginny, Hermione, and the rest of the cast of "Sleeping Beauty" were walking around Hogsmeade, granted a day of rest before the big day. It was a chilly winter afternoon, and Ginny, Alicia, Angelina, Katie, and Hermione were all looking for their dresses for the Winter Ball.
"Oh!" exclaimed Ginny. "Let's go in here!" She pointed to a very elegant, but not-so-costly shop. The girls turned, stomped their feet on the rug, and entered. Inside was a little set-up of dresses and a few dressing rooms. "Odd," thought Hermione. "It looked a lot bigger from outside."
A plump, middle-aged witch waddled up to them. She took one look at them, and whistled. Before anyone could say anything, the girls were being pulled in different directions. "See you in a bit!" Ginny called, giggling.
Hermione was pulled into a small room with a little stage, five floor length mirrors, a mini computer (with printer) and a little witch.
"Stand on the platform, dear." the witch asked.
Hermione stood on the platform while the witch took measurements. After about five minutes, the little witch took all of the measurement she had gathered and with her wand tapped the computer. Hermione, still standing on the platform, asked Maddie (at least, that's what her nametag said) why she was still standing on the platform, and where the dresses were. Maddie just smiled. "Coming right up!" she called.
There was a bright light, and Hermione tingled all over. When the light faded, Hermione found herself clad in a floor length strapless dark red satin dress with rhinestones glued onto the top and down the side. Hermione gaped at herself in the mirror.
"How did you…"
Maddie just smiled. "Would you like to see how your friends are coming along?" She pressed a button on the computer, and four of the five mirrors turned into video screens, featuring Ginny, Alicia, Angelina, and Katie. The fifth one was of herself.
"Oh Mione!" squealed Angelina. Angelina, herself, was dressed in a cinder black spaghetti strap dress, with a criss-cross back that came to the floor.
Alicia was clad in a deep blue, mid-evil style dress that separated right under her bust line and flowed out to the sides.
Ginny was dressed in a very modest, foamy green dress that fit her perfectly everywhere and v-ed out down the center. "Oh you guys look so nice!" she marveled.
"You really think so?" asked Hermione and Angelina, synchronized.
Ginny giggled. "Yes, why would I say it if I didn't mean it?"
"Guys, does this dress make me look fat?" asked Katie.
"Oh come on, Katie. You are like, the skinniest kid ever. Like you would look fat in a dress!" Alicia snapped. "Now me on the other hand…"
"Oh gosh, Cia." said Angelina, rolling her eyes. "Seriously, I weigh as much as both of you!"
The girls began to laugh, and for the next half an hour they argued about who looked the best, and who was the fattest.
After that, they purchased their dresses, and went to the Leaky Cauldron for some butter beer. Ron and Parvarti were already there, snogging in a corner. Angelina rolled her eyes in disgust, and led the girls to a table near the back of the pub. After they had ordered (Butterbeers all around), they began to talk about who was doing who's hair, who was going to do their nails, and who was going to be in charge of make-up.
Halfway through their Butterbeers, Fred Harry, and George, along with Lee Jordan, walked though the door.
"Hide me." whimpered Alicia. "George has been pretty much stalking me for the past week. I turned around in the hallway the other day, and he almost ran smack into me!"
"Same here." chorused Katie and Angelina. "Only with Fred and Lee." added Katie. Ginny just looked glumly into her bottle.
"So Hermione," asked Ginny, suspiciously, changing the subject. "You never said who your date was."
"Well, see…" Hermione began, but was interrupted when Ron stormed over, Parvarti clutching his arm.
"Granger." he snarled. "I just wanted to let you know, that you only have three days left, and that's counting today." He poked his cane at her. "Remember our little bet, Granger."
Angelina made a grab for his cane. With a whack, Ron smacked her across the jaw. Alicia darted for his legs, and Katie quickly hexed Parvarti into a squirrel. Everyone else (besides the Hogwarts cast) was too drunk to notice, or just didn't care. It was all over before anyone said anything though.
When the dust cleared, Angelina was lying with her head in the lap of Ginny, spitting blood. Alicia had managed to whip out some judo moves on Ron, who was currently being turned into a pretzel with his own cane, and Parvarti was running around the pub, chattering in that cute chipmunk sort of way.
Hermione was now standing over Ron, wand at the ready. "If you ever, ever hurt one of these girls ever again," she threatened. "I will curse you into an oblivion where you are fed monkey poop every day and have to prance around in a tutu." she spat at him. Ron started to charge at her when George and Lee stepped in.
"Touch her, Ronnie-kins, and mother will here all about this." George threatened.
"She already will." said Fred, who now was at Angelina's side. "Let's go guys."
Fred went to pick up Angelina, who now appeared to be slightly recovering from her injury.
"No, it's ok, really." she stuttered, swaying as she stood. Then suddenly she fainted. Fred caught her, mumbled something that sounded like 'girls' and the rest of the girls, accompanied by Lee, George and the others, and headed back to Hogwarts.
A/N: Sorry… I just had to end it with a bang… next chapter will probably be the play. Therefore, we're looking at hopefully less than twenty chapters. But good news! I have two new stories that I'm already writing, so I'll b ready when I finish this one!! As always, read and review!!