Chapter 64
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Rebekah was never that fond of Christmas to begin with. It was also what most of the school celebrated. She didn't have anything against it, she just never felt connected to it compared to Muggle Halloween. Yule Tide was a lot more her style with less festivities and more reflecting over what has happened over the last year and to think about what was to come.
The Magical connection between the holiday always sat better with the darker Houses and families. There were very few who celebrated Christmas in Slytherin, usually those of Muggle origin or with Muggle family members. No one would condemn them for their celebration, as long as they were respectful about Yule, they would be respectful about Christmas.
As the group grew older, they stopped giving each other gifts as often. They sent gifts on birthdays and that was about it.
She smiled as she read the letter Sirius sent her, and the two gifts.
Dear Cub,
It's Black tradition to give the next Heir of the House the symbol of the Family Line. I may not actually care for many of the traditions but this one is kinda special due to the fact that it'll keep you safe. Just put a drop of blood on the top of the box, it should open the lid.
The crest will turn into any type of jewelry, just envision it when holding it for the first time. If you lose it, it'll reappear where it should be.
I'm sorry but I won't be able to come visit next hogsmeade visit, these buffoons at the Ministry are trying to get me to pay taxes while I was in Azkaban. They're very persistent because if I were to pay the taxes as if I was working, they would be rich by the end of it.
Keep safe and don't curse (or stab!) anyone,
Padfoot.
Rebekah grinned as she felt the weight of the long butterfly blade in her hand, quickly flicking it open to reveal the blade. It wasn't just a simple mental like she expected, it was made from black tourmaline encased with enchanted glass, creating the knife blade to be black with a glossy shine from the unbreakable glass.
She pressed the small crest into the dark handle of the blade, branding the Black Family crest into the butterfly blade before linking it to be a charm on her bracelet.
It was such a pretty weapon just like her.
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As always, the girls were in Rebekah's room. They were getting ready for the Yule Ball that would start in a few hours. Sitting on the floor before the waters of the Black Lake in nothing but their undergarments and silk robes, the Durmstrang ship long moved to the other side of the lake, they painted each other's nails.
"I don't understand how you can do anything with them, Rebekah," Tracey asked as Rebekah slowly painted Tracey's nails a deep gold that went well with the brassy tone of her dress.
Rebekah drew out a hand, flexing her fingers as the shimmering plum nail polish made her inch long nails look brilliant. She smiled as she went back to finish Tracey's short nails that barely left the tip of her fingers. "Well, I've had these on since September. I'm used to them. I cut them off when I have Quidditch cause they're a hazard, but I use a growing potion to get them to return to their length."
"But they're crazy long!"
"I know,"
Rebekah's hair had to be grown out with potions to reach her back again. Right now, they were in Muggle style rollers piled on her head with a warming charm to keep her wanted curls better. After realising that for hair, Muggle styling equipment worked better than just spells, Rebekah had asked Aunt Petunia to buy a pack of hair rollers and send them over. Rebekah used a duplicating spell and made a couple more for Daphne who wanted wavy curls.
Pansy had opted to keep her black hair straight with a slight curl which was achieved with a spell. Tracey was having her natural hair so it didn't take much for her to get ready.
"Magic isn't always the solution," Rebekah said as she stood in the bathroom, lining her bottom eyelids in slight black but mostly silver-grey before finishing the eyeliner on her top lids. Mascara was applied next with a spell to keep them waterproof, and smudgeproof, and still keep a natural look to them with a glamorous tone. "If you can, do it Muggle style before trying Magical."
"Do mine," Pansy butted in and gave Rebekah the gel eyeliner.
"Sure."
As time went on, the girls went back to their own dorms to put on their dresses. Rebekah was a little busy trying to get her hair to sit properly to realise that she wasn't even dressed in her robe when the whole group came into her room.
All the boys wore three piece suits with an accenting robe thrown onto their shoulders. All of their ties matched their date's dress. Draco's blonde hair was slicked back and he looked smug. Theodore left his brown curls loose but combed. Blaise's hair was thick and close to his skin, so he didn't need to do anything with it.
Theodore matched Daphne with the blue hue of their tie and dress. Daphne was in a deep blue halterneck dress that went down into a mermaid style with a glittery trim. Her makeup reflected the dress beautifully with the shimmer of silver glitter.
Blaise was going with Tracey and the brass toned tie was gorgeous with his dark skin. Tracey's dress was silk and flowed off of her like water. There was a slit to one side that showed off her long legs.
And of course, Draco and Pansy were going together. Pansy's dress was pale pink in colour and matched Draco's tie and pocket square. The small silver and white accents of glitter and threading definitely showed everyone how rich they were. The dress was shorter than everyone else's, since it started at the knee at the front and made a trail down at the back to her ankles. The uneven hemline showed off Pansy's slightly deeper pink platform heels that held a silver finish on the bottom.
And Rebekah was standing there, dressed in only her brassiere, underwear and stockings.
"Oh, Merlin!" Theodore said, looking Rebekah down before looking away completely with a blush on his cheeks. "Why aren't you dressed yet?"
"I can't get into the dress alone," Rebekah rolled her eyes as she walked to the bed where her dress laid in its black bag. "Daphne, can you help me?"
"Why are you going into the bathroom?"
"It's strapless," Rebekah lifted the dress bag, "There's a built in bra. I don't care how close we all are. I am not walking topless before you all."
They snorted with a laugh.
It took a few minutes, and a lot of sucking in and moving her hair out of the way but Rebekah was in.
"Damn," Blaise said with a grin as Rebekah came out.
The dress was black and purple ombre in colour and made the red in her hair look otherworldly. The neckline was straight across, covering her ample chest completely as the back dipped down a little. It was held to her waist with a corset that kept her back straight. The satin skirt flowed from the inbuilt corset with a mix of a ball gown style and an A line style, creating beautiful waves of dark purple fabric at the bottom as Rebekah stood on her black heels with ease.
"Rebekah, your scar," Draco mentioned with concern.
The scar in question had been covered slightly in the same shade of silver that made her eyelids pop with glitter, it shimmered as she moved. Her makeup was simple; a smokey eye that consisted of red-purple base with a silver highlight but both glittered beautifully. Rebekah had lined her lips in a plum tone that was gorgeous, her smile popped.
Rebekah gripped the skirt of the dress, lifting it up as she walked towards them. "It's part of me and it's not going away. Besides, it's not like anyone doesn't know who I am already. This reminds them of who I am."
"You look very much like a true Heir of Magic," Pansy nudged Draco. Rebekah nodded, she wore the silver Slytherin crest on her left hip. Her Family ring sat on her finger just like it always did. Her bracelet of charms was there too, matching the pair of long chain earrings with a single purple gem at the stud.
She decided to not wear her Basilisk fang earrings, instead, they sat on her bracelet where they would be safe.
As Enyo wrapped herself around her neck, the little Dragon acted as a necklace and looped until her claws touched her tail, holding on easily.
The Slytherin common room was packed with darker colours of the spectrum. It was usually due to the fact that everyone wore colours that would match their own family life, and so it went into the darker side of the spectrum due to that fact alone.
Eventually Snape had ordered everyone who was to attend the ball to leave the common room. The Ball was going to begin soon and they needed to get ready to go in.
Rebekah stood to one side with her friends, they already were with their dates for the night. She'd find hers soon enough. The Ball wouldn't be opened for a few more minutes, letting them relax before she had to open with the dances. Enyo sat on her shoulder, curling around her neck like a loose necklace with a tail hooked around an arm.
"Miss Potter," Snape said, raising an eyebrow as she turned sharply from her group to face her Head of House. "I thought you would have tried to escape by now."
"Well," Rebekah grinned before gesturing to the dress. "I would have if it wasn't for this dress. I've told Emperor to stay entertained in my dorm. We don't need him running amok tonight."
"You best find your date for the evening," He said. "You do have a date, do you not, Miss Potter?"
"Of course, I do," Rebekah shrugged then began to smooth her dress out. "I may spend all of my time reading, but I still socialise."
"When the time suits you best," Snape narrowed his eyes at her knowing little smile. He dismissed her with a nod. "McGonagall will have everyone else go in before the Champions do."
She left with a soft nod and told her friends to not wait up. She still had to greet the other Champions and their dates.
The French Witch and the young British Witch exchanged kisses on the cheek in greeting.
"Little girl, you 'ook marvelous," Fleur smiled softly as the Dragon hung on her arm like a bicep bracelet. It looked beautiful even with the green colour contrasting against the silver of her dress.
"Thanks, blondie," She gestured to the silver silk gown Fleur wore. "Your dress looks amazing."
"I zink you 'ave ah admirer," Fleur winked and nodded towards where the Durmstrang boys stood, the younger of which was taking in Rebekah with a shocked but not surprised gaze and smile. "Good luck."
What did Fleur mean by Good Luck? Rebekah realised she didn't want to know when the older Witch winked again and giggled lightly before turning to her date, the Captain of the Ravenclaw team.
She made her way to the Durmtsrang pair.
"Rebekah!" Viktor said, taking her hand in his and kissing her ring like a gentleman. "You look good. Logan is very lucky boy to have you as date."
Viktor nudged Logan with a grin which Rebekah just rolled her eyes at.
"Thank you, Viktor. Now, where's your lovely date?"
"She is coming," Viktor said, his eyebrows furrowing in worry and concern.
"I'll go and see what's taking her so long. May I?" Rebekah gestured to Mixim as the little seal Familiar jumped into her hands. She cradled the animal near her stomach, holding him close and securely as she disappeared into an empty classroom.
She took out the Marauders' Map and looked to the Gryffindor Tower. When Rebekah couldn't find the Witch she was looking for, she trailed down until she caught the name of Hermione Granger pacing on one of the staircases.
Rebekah nodded to her friends as she quickly strutted up the stairs as Enyo hissed in her ear.
"Fear. Hatchling scared. Anxious." Enyo almost whispered as she crawled until her torso sat on Rebekah's right shoulder, tail still holding her to the Witch's neck. She breathed out a small flame, never letting it touch Rebekah but she felt the warmth. Rebekah stroked the bridge of Enyo's back.
"Hermione?" Rebekah said as she caught the sight of the pacing, periwinkle-clad Witch. "Are you coming down or not?"
"Oh, hello, Rebekah…" Hermione said as she paused in her pacing before continuing with a slightly heaving chest.
"What's wrong?"
"I-I-I don't know if I want to go down," She said with a fearful smile she tried to make look real.
"Viktor's waiting," Rebekah said back, gesturing downstairs.
"He is?" Hermione sounded exhausted and released a sound of relief. "I-I thought he was going to ditch me to go with one of the Beauxbaton Witches. He's so nice. They would love to have him as a date."
"Hermione," She said, quickly grasping the Witch's arms to keep her from pacing again. "This is Viktor's Familiar. You know what a Familiar is?" At Hermione's nod and confused face, Rebekah continued, "I asked Viktor if I could take him to you. This is Maxim and he looks quite fond of you."
As soon as Rebekah had touched Hermione, the little seal wiggled out of Rebekah's grip and jumped onto Hermione's shoulders. What was it with Familiars and loving hair? Maxim went straight to the side of her neck, nuzzling the area before barking softly as a piece of her updo came loose and he was able to play with it.
"A Familiar does not like to be touched without its Master's permission,"
"That's why Emperor hates people,"
Rebekah laughed. "No, he just takes after me in that respect. Now, come on. We have to open the ball."
They linked arms as they slowly descended to the bottom, their partners watching attentively.
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