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Confessions of a Potter Princess VII
Late January
I could see the shadows of the lights dancing on the white curtain. Music blared through the speakers and the crowd tittered with conversation and anticipation. The tent is too hot, the lights too bright, the runway too slick, the makeup too garish, the hair too simple.
My heart pounds inside my chest and I can't talk. Every bit of poise and composure that had been instilled in me since birth is gone. My skinny arms are shaking and I'm completely terrified.
I dash to the bathroom as the five minutes till show time is announced by the director backstage. I push open the beige stall door and hurl into the porcelain toilet.
I can do this
I wash out my mouth in the shiny white sink and look at my reflection in the mirror. Yup, absolutely horrified
I can do this
I look down my hands gripping the sides of the sink and I breathe slowly in and out and subconsciously bite my lip. I shake off my nerves and look at my reflection again. This time I see a girl who knows what she's here for.
And I do, I'm about to put on a mind-blowing fashion show. I earned this, this was all my doing. This is something I created and wanted. I earned a spot on the coveted Friday of fashion week and the opening of the most highly revered design house in London, Burberry. Carlisle Rhodes had picked me out of all the other fashion novices to open his show. I push open the door of the women's bathroom and walk swiftly and surely through the tanned, gorgeous tangle of limbs and exquisite chiffon frocks.
"O.k. girls line it up its show time!" calls Rufus the director
"Charlotte come on!" Rufus calls to me.
I stand ready at the runway entrance to check the models. The lights focus toward the runway and the music changes tracks.
"Ok Lana Go!" I say after smoothing out a crease in the back of the blue sundress.
Lana Taylor, the American up-and-coming supermodel strutted down the runway. After a quick once-over each of the other models sashayed across the catwalk. Each piece swayed perfectly and I had never been as exhilarated as I felt now, seeing my creations float on down the runway, watching the faces of the spectators, and the flash of the cameras capturing this very moment.
Then came the finale. A stunning black chiffon ball gown, strapless with hand sewn detailing and small freshwater pearls across the bodice, the dress had required 157 hours of labor by my assistant tailors and I. I felt lighter than air when the gown received a standing ovation. I had attended enough shows with my mother to know that was truly the sign of a fabulous fashion show.
I walk out onto the runway at the end of the show as is customary and wave to my family and Rainier sitting in the front row. I notice several supermodels, royals, rockstars and actors and actresses as well as fashion editors and notable photographers in the crowd.
I laugh and grin uncontrollably as the spotlight turns on me and cameras flash continuously. I relish in the attention and crowd for just a bit more, then turn and walk backstage where the models are already changing for the Burberry show. Everyone applauds when they see me and as I step out of the tent into the frosty Westminster Park, I'm swarmed by photographers and reporters.
I was used to this considering I couldn't really go anywhere in the Wizarding world without being followed these days. But for once, these people didn't care that I am Harry Potter's daughter, they didn't care that I am dating quidditch superstar Rainier Malfoy, or that I am the sister of Caliber the quidditch playboy, Maxim the party animal and Jude the up-and-coming rockstar.
No, I had put on a stellar fashion show and these people were form Vogue, Elle, W and the Style network and countless other fashion medias. They cared about what I did out there, what my inspiration was, who my muse was. I was in the midst of answering questions and posing for pictures backstage, when I heard my name being called.
Charlotte, Charlotte!
Excuse me for one moment" I said to the reporters
It was Rufus. "Oh thanks god your still here! One of our models just had a horrid allergic reaction to something in the makeup while changing for the show. We need a fill-in!", he said all the while dragging me through the backstage.
"What do want me to do about it!" I said trying to tug my now throbbing arm which felt like it was about to fall off from his clenching grasp.
" Carlisle told me to find you! He needs you to model!
"WHAT! I don't know how to do this!"
"You'll be good just put on your model face"
"WHAT THE FUCK IS A MODEL FACE! Are you insane! Is he insane!"
"I prefer the term creative genius!" came the commanding voice of the illustrious Carlisle Rhodes, "Now come along we only have ten minutes!" he said sharply pushing me into a leather swivel chair in front of a makeup station. FRANCESCA! MALIN! He called out over the crazy fabric strewn room.
Two women laden with blowdryers, brushes, eyeshadow palettes, and tubes of lipstick literally attacked me. Immediately Malin pulled and combed and jabbed my long red locks with sharp pins I cried out in pain but was admonished by Francesca who was trying to smear my lips with pink gloss.
It was over as soon as it started thank god, and Carlisle smothered me in a mess of fabric which turned out to be a short lovely ladylike tweed dress. He made a few adjustments and before I know it I'm pushed into line behind a bunch of other twiggy young beauties.
I look at myself in a nearby mirror and I realize why Carlisle is as celebrated as he is. I look absolutely fabulous. I look like a model. There are only two other girls in front of me and psych myself up for this. This has been such an amazing day and I'm on such an amazing high right now I might as well enjoy this.
"Ok gorgeous Go!", Carlisle says with an encouraging little pat on my bum.
I giggle slightly before putting on my "model face" and strut my stuff. I walk down the runway doing my best to look confident and sexy and chic, taking the long high strides with my lips pursed and chin tilted personifying the perfect Burberry-tweed-British-snob. I pause for a moment and strike a pose imitating the familiar hand-on-hip stance I had seen on countless other runways. I felt like I was walking down the grand ballroom staircase at my seventeenth debutante ball again as the crowds eyes fixated on me. Cameras flashed and I could hear the tent whisper about this new girl.
"Is that the other designer?"
"What happened to the other model?"
"Finally another redhead"
"Look at those eyes"
"Those legs"
"That hair"
I turned to flounce back up the runway and caught the shocked looks of surprise of my family and friends.
As soon as I was backstage, I was swept up by Carlisle's assistants as I only had about thirty second to change into my next outfit. This again had to be custom tailored by Carlisle. I flounce down the catwalk again this time in chic little shorts and beautiful blouse, totally exhilarated by the blaring music and hyped-up crowd. This was so much fun! I couldn't believe it!
I had to walk again this time, in my final outfit: A little bikini in the signature plaid, darling espadrilles, and a posh handbag. It didn't even matter that the six inches of swimwear barely covered my shapely butt; I went out there and gave it my all though I couldn't help it when a small smile escaped my glossy lips as I posed for the cameras.
The show ended when Lana Taylor gave her finale in a stunning cream silk gown and I walked out in line with the other models. Carlisle went out to give his final bow with Lana. The crowd exploded in applause.
It was then I heard a shout in an unrecognizable American accent: We want Red! This prompted shouts from much of the other spectators: "Bring out Charlotte!" "Bring out the new girl!" "Where's Charlotte!"
I blushed embarrassed but pleased. Lana peeked behind the curtain and grabbed my hand. "Come on" she said smiling.
I stepped out back onto the stage and the crowd roared again I laughed bashfully and waved to the crowd. Lana grabbed me and we posed for a few more pictures.
Carlisle threw his arms around us and gave us each a one armed hugs
"Looks like fashion has found its new muses!" he said excitedly into our ears.
The three of us posed for one last picture with our arms around each other and bowed before walking off the stage.
I changed quickly into the jeans, stilettos and black halter top I had brought for the after party and pulled the pins out of my perfectly mussed chignon. My auburn hair fell around my narrow pale shoulders as I gathered up my purse to fight through the throng of models and media to get to the after-party at a old warehouse a few blocks away. It took me probably twenty minutes to walk from where I stood to the backstage exit and out onto the frosty Wesminster park. I had to of course pause for a few more pictures with Carlisle and Lana and some other models and answer a few questions though too.
I walked into the warehouse the music pumping deafeningly over the speakers and I tried to search my family and friends all the while smiling and waving to random people half of whom I didn't recognize. Finally I spotted the mess of black and ginger haired people as well as Delilah and Rainier. I forced my way through the hordes of impossibly beautiful people.
"Charlotte you were wonderful!", my mom said while kissing my cheeks.
"Princess really did you have to wear the bikini" my dad said while leaning down to kiss me on the cheek.
"You didn't tell me you were modeling!" exclaimed Delilah hugging me and hitting me at the same time
"You got a standing ovation, it was pretty wicked", Jude said mussing my hair
"You gotta invite me to more of these things I sat next to that brazilian lingerie model She's so freakin' hot!" Cal said in typical playboy fashion
"Congrats sis Now come on drinks all around!" Max said
"Actually we're going to get going the little ones are still with the sitter and we're too old for this kinda thing" my mom said kissing me goodbye
Yeah congrats again princess" my dad said hugging me
I smiled and everyone else went off to enjoy the party.
"You didn't say congratulations to me yet" I said smirking to Rainier as I placed my arms around his waist.
He smiled, "Well you were kind of busy, but now that I've got you all to myself-" and his lips were on mine in a searing kiss", Congratulations" he said against my lips.
I smiled back. "Come on lets go dance like crazy!"
"You go ahead, I'll go grab a drink" he said heading in the direction of the bar
"Fine, party pooper!" I called as he walked away
Two seconds later I was swept up by a Carlisle, who is both fabulously gay and devastatingly handsome, for a spin on the dance floor. We both dance the night away with models and famous friends.
A while later I join Rainier at the circular red velvet booth sitting in talking to a muggle popstar, Jude and some other people I knew were famous but didn't really know. Fortunately, he was sitting on the edge of the booth.
"Hey it's positively stifling in here, let's go outside for a while" I said to Rainier
He excuses himself from the table and we walk through the tall glass doors.
"Are you cold?" he says running his hands over my bare arms and back.
"No, it feels good out here, the dance floor was so hot"
We stood out on the stone walkway for a while, cuddling, looking out over the tumultuous London streets in silence, the sounds of the outrageous party raving inside blending in with car engines and voices of the street people.
"Do you think it could be like this always?" Rainier said suddenly
"Sure" I said nonchalantly not knowing what we were talking about.
"I'm serious, me, you, us, we-"
"-Charlotte!" a familiar voice calls out
"Jamison! You made it! Were you at the show!"
"Yeah, you and you my darling were absolutely fabulous! I mean really you rocked! You're the talk of the town."
"Thanks I never did get the chance to tell you how much I loved your show!"
"Yeah, thanks. So are you modeling now too?"
"No, that was really just on a whim, one of the models had like some weird makeup allergy and broke out in hives. I was just a fill-in. But it was fun, and you know you never know…"
"Well, you looked great up there. So is this the boyfriend?" Jamison said gesturing to where Rainier stood leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette.
"Yeah, Oh my god I can't believe I forgot" I tugged on Rainier's arm, "this is my boyfriend Rainier Malfoy" I said as Jamison and Rainier shook hands, "and this is Jamison Halliwell, he was the other student-designer chosen"
"Nice to meet you Rainier, Charlotte's told me a lot about you" Jamison said
Rainier just nodded silently and I could tell he couldn't wait till Jamison left.
"Well, congratulations again, the show was awesome, I'm going to head inside to the party." Jamison said hugging me goodbye
"Okay we'll probably head back in, in a little bit, don't do anything I wouldn't do" I called to his retreating back teasingly
"And what is that exactly" he said over his shoulder. I flipped him off and he just laughed going inside.
"So" I said as I turned back to Rainier bouncing on the balls of my feet eager to go back and dance, "what were you telling me again?"
"I just said that, I mean I was wondering-well"
"Yes…come on your all cold now lets go back inside get you a drink, warm ourselves up" I said smiling and playing with his hands trying to lighten what had become a slightly tense atmosphere.
"No, I-I don't need another drink, I just-no you go ahead, I'll catch a cab or apparate home or something", he said with a weird mix of distraction and distress on his face.
"Oh please don't- I'll go with you let me just go inside and grab my coat-" I said not really wanting to leave, but trying to figure out what was up with him.
"No, its fine this is your moment of glory right go-enjoy it" he said smiling half-heartedly already searching the hectic London streets for an available cab.
"Well, if you're sure, I guess I'll see you at home then" I said kissing him lightly on the lips excited at turning back to go dance the night away. I left him just as a cab stopped in front of him in his dashing Burberry suit.
Special thanks to
Princess gumdrops
Monks
Janepotter22
Catch me if u can
Sameopinkwinx
Rani singala
Queen of my own little world
Dizzy 2831
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