"Miss Bones," A squeaky voice that I immediately recognized as coming from Professor Flickwit sounded from the common room, "Would someone get Miss Bones? She has a visitor in the great hall."
"A visitor?" I wondered who that would be. I was already dressed in the constricting clothing from Luna, ready to make my way to the iciness of the great lake. A constant companion to my misery.
Change of plans I suppose. I thought unhappily as I headed down the white moving staircases. As I entered the Great Hall, I saw a dark wizard in purple robes, reading the latest copy of the Daily Prophet.
"Uncle Kingsley!" I shouted, dashing across the distance between us. A real smile curving on my face.
"Hello Little Minnow," He grinned, standing while tossing the newspaper carelessly to the floor before pulling me into a warm hug of the highest order. He pressed a tender kiss on my brow. "Miss me?"
"So much!" I sighed, not even bothering to hide it. He was a warm balm on a sick day, an antidote to all the poison I had ingested these past months.
"I have a surprise for you that I believe, you just might enjoy. That is if you're not, as they say, 'too cool' to hang out with an old curmudgeon like me."
"Please Uncle, you are no curmudgeon. "
"I noticed you didn't deny the 'old' statement."
I tittered, he always noticed my snark.
"Wait a minute," he began, frowning, gesturing to all of me. "But I bought you new clothing this year, and two sizes too big! Just how much have you grown these past months? I can never keep up with all this. You must tell me when you need clothing, Sylver!"
"They aren't mine, I know they are a bit too small- I'm just borrowing them, honest! Sorry, I kinda ruined my clothing in an accident in Potions, doxycide you know." I lied through my teeth. I didn't need to give him any reason to pull me from Hogwarts again.
"All of them at once?"
"Uhhh…" I didn't think that lie through. I had no follow up whatsoever.
He watched me suspiciously, as though he could see through my façade, "Are you sure there is nothing you need to tell me? Everything is going ok?"
"Yes, of course." I nodded quickly.
He looked as though he didn't quite believe me, but he discontinued his line of questioning.
"We'll have to depart from Hogsmeade to begin our quest. And we will need to stop at Madam Malkin's for new clothing of course and then-"
"Is that where this surprise is? Diagon Alley?" I questioned, walking in his stride as we exited out onto the cobblestone road, passing by Zonkos and Honeydukes. Just a little farther out to the forest where we would apparate away.
"Oh, you can't expect me to spill the Berties Bott's Beans that easily . Patience Sylver. Patience. Ready?" He held out his hand.
"Never," I smiled in spite of it. I took it and we vanished from the greenery into the bustling scenery of Diagon Alley. The shops were all covered with heavy snow from a recent storm. Several bewitched brooms were aggressively sweeping the heaps of snow towards the brick alleyways. The warm smell of heated butter beer and cinnamon hot chocolate from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour filled my nose. I inhaled deeply. Kingsley seemed to detect the delicious scent as well, for he immediately went over to their stall, ordering two large hot butterbeers, tossing several knuts on the stand.
"Thank you." I said, grabbing the warm mug, sipping the delicious warmth, "Florean always has the best."
"You're most welcome. I for one, can never get enough of this. Now come! Let's head over to Malkins for those robes." Arm in arm we departed, sipping and chatting about all of the new things I had learned at Hogwarts. I told him about my progress in potions, my private lessons with Professor Snape, brewing fifth year OWL potions already. I had even managed an exceeds expectations in Defense against the Dark Arts, not to mention an 'acceptable' in Transfiguration- my toughest subject.
Not even an hour later, I found myself walking out with six whole new outfits, three new robes, and several pairs of shoes including a stunning pair of glass slippers that were oddly soft on the inside. My arms were full to the brim with misshapen boxes and bags.
"Pommy!" Kingsley called.
With a loud crack, our House elf appeared with a deep bow.
"Master Kingsley, whats do you have need of - oh- But waits-, Madam Sylver is here as well! Wonderfuls to see you!" She squeaked excitedly.
"Good to see you too Pommy- and how many times must I ask you to call me just Sylver- we are friends aren't we?"
"At least once mores, as always mistress." She chirped, her thin lips pulling back to reveal her pearly teeth in a wide grin.
"Would you please take these to Sylver's room at Hogwarts? They'll need to be laundered first of course. Afterwards, you can take the night off if you'd like."
"But of course sirs! Mistresses Sylver, I'll takes those now!"
"Be careful, they are a bit heavy Pommy." I carefully released the massive stack of boxes into the elf's toothpick thin arms. She wobbled briefly, before vanishing with a loud crack.
"Bless her-" Kingsley intoned, "I don't know how I'd get on without that elf."
"Neither would I- you are rather hopeless at chores Uncle."
"Oi!" He elbowed me playfully in the ribs.
"EEEK! You know that tickles!"
"Serves you right." He arched his eyebrow knowingly, "And now, let's head over to our final destination."
He led me down the glowing cobblestones by the more high-end stores in Diagon Alley. We passed an enchanted jewelry store and several exclusive boutiques.
"Are you sure we are in the right place? These shops are outrageously expensive." I asked doubtfully, eyeballing the large glittering jeweled necklaces twirling in the iced windows.
"Quite sure." He said, stopping outside of the most ornate shop I had ever seen: Twilfitt and Tatting's. Colorful stained glass windows filled the high pointed arches around the shop. Several glowing signs that looked as though they were filled with moonstones read 'Finest Robes and Custom Dressmaking' and 'Luxury for the Discerning Witch and Wizard.' Near the large glass doors was a poster of a witch of uncommon beauty, spinning in a wedding dress that resembled the poof of a cloud.
"You can't be serious, this is one of the most expensive shops in Diagon Alley! What business do we have-"
"I may *ahem* have custom ordered you a dress for the ball. It's not every day you have a masquerade is it?" He coughed, highly amused at my reaction.
"You didn't!" I exclaimed, staggering into the shop, overwhelmed by the colorful dresses and dashing robes as we entered. We were immediately greeted by a thin blonde woman with a sharp pair of red glasses that complimented her black dress.
"Mr. Shacklebolt, I presume you've arrived to pick up your order sir?" She all but simpered.
"But of course Miss Twilfitt." He took her hand in his and pressed a flirtatious kiss to her inner wrist while winking, causing her to giggle rather loudly. I stifled a laugh with a well placed sneeze.
"This is my niece," he continued, gesturing to me, "She'll need to try it on, make sure it fits correctly. As for the mask- I thought she might want to pick her own out."
"Come with me sweetie." She turned, crooking her finger at me, "I'll get you sorted. You'll fall in love with this dress, and that's a promise! It's going to do wonders with your bone structure!"
She guided me into a large red felted changing room with an ornate gold mirror (definitely worth more than 100 galleons) where she made me remove my clothes. She flicked her wand, summoning the most stunning dress I had ever seen in my life. It was as though someone had captured the twinkling stars from the sky and had sown them into the silvery silk. Thick strands of the diamonds snaked from the single sleeve of the silvery dress all the way down to the bell flourish of the bottom. The dress was only slightly longer than my knees and hugged my waist tightly before swirling out into an endless halo of light.
"Yes, perhaps a bit tighter at the waist- and the top, let's break it up a bit, more o think than a straight line. The hem is perfect, no changes needed there-" She said once I had finished dressing. An enchanted tape measure stretched around me furiously, as if trying to keep up with all of her minute observations. With a loopy wand movement, I felt all the changes she had spoken take effect, the center tightened while the fabric near my breast receded into a perfect v, exposing just the slightest bit of cleavage.
I refused to look at myself in the mirror as we left, I didn't know if I could handle looking at it just yet- I felt unworthy of such a beautiful dress. Still, I walked out, twirling in front of Kingsley who nodded in approval clapping his hands.
"Stunning." He plainly remarked.
"It matches the exact shade of her eyes I think. You were right- she's one of the few who could pull off this color." Miss Twilfitt sighed contentedly, "I'm very pleased, very pleased indeed. Kingsley, you simply must have her come model for me sometime- she be quite the poster girl if I could just-"
"No thank you." I blushed. That was the last thing I needed at this point in my life. Another way for the girls to continue tormenting me.
"No need to dismiss the idea so readily- give it a couple of years before you decide. Now for a mask I think. I have several selections I believe would pair quite nicely with this dress."
She conjured a black rectangular box that floated before me. There was a lacy white one that reminded me of a cat, two black ones that appeared to be some type of panther. At the very end of the row, my gaze paused on an intricate metal weaving that resembled a swan's feathering. I gulped, it looked as though it were the most expensive of the group.
"I suppose the white cat one would work." I said after heavy consideration.
"You suppose? Please don't worry about price- not this time anyway- this is a gift. Please choose the one you like best." Kingsley quipped.
"If you are sure Uncle." I paused, "The silver one then please."
"Excellent choice!"
