Celeste got to the Burrow just in time to see Hermione coming out of her house, a book in her hands, walking towards the Burrow.
Celeste smiled and picked her pace, shouting out.
"Hermione!"
Hermione looked up from the book she was opening and smiled at her as she walked over.
Hermione was a sweet girl Celeste first met in the market place with her mother getting some flowers. They hit it off from there.
She was quite beautiful as well. With nice tan skin and bushy but curly brown hair and chocolate brown eyes.
"Celeste! So good to see you!"
"You too Hermione! Did you hear about the ball?!?"
Hermione nodded eagerly.
"Oh yes I did! I can't believe! My parents are so happy they get to see the inside of the palace! I hope I get to see the library though…"
Celeste laughed. Hermione would always be Hermione.
"Of course, tomorrow I have to go with mum to the market to pick out some materials. Mum wants to add some designs to a gown she's been making for quite a while. She's quite ecstatic for her work to be on display tomorrow night. She said I'd look the envy of everyone or something."
She rolled her eyes and Celeste sighed ruefully.
"Well, I have to make mine too… Petunia isn't about to waste her money on me after all."
Hermione growled.
"Oh that woman! What is she expecting, her children to suddenly win the heart of the prince? ugh! Even I know that's impossible, when one looks like a pig in a wig and the other like a mix of a giraffe and a ostrich."
Celeste smiled, nodding her head. She'd always felt that way about the twins ever since she saw them and the only person she ever told those nicknames was just Hermione.
They opened the door into the Burrow and the place was bustling with activities.
Second hand materials and clothes littered the living room as Ginny whined at the gown she had on. It was bright brown and unflattering on her.
"Mommm… the prince won't like this one! It clashes with my hair a lot!"
She whined and Molly nodded.
"Of course dear, we can't take any chances after all… the prince will surely fall in love with you after we complete our master piece! I'm sure of this!"
Ginny nodded smugly and Hermione and Celeste exchange looks.
"Mrs Weasley, good to see you again!"
The 2 red heads turn to Hermione and Celeste and grimaced abit.
"Ah, girls… Ron should be home soon, why don't you go to the backyard hm?"
And they went back to looking at materials.
"I'm sure we can live without eggs and milk for a week and use the sickles to get some beads for you, not that we can tell Arthur that of course…"
The 2 girls sighed as they entered the backyard.
Molly and Ginny were something else.
Obsessed with being rich and Ginny marrying some noble. They were like another version of the Dursleys.
Ginny had been brainwashed ever since she was just a kid that she'd marry a noble or the prince. Molly would always read her bedtime stories of some knight in shining armor saving her from creatures, robbers and so on.
Ginny though, was a jealous little brat.
Jealous of Hermione being the only child and her parents having more money than the Weasleys and jealous of Celeste's beauty.
Oh yes. Celeste was a beautiful young woman. Fairest in the land if one wanted to be honest. With her snow white skin, midnight black wavy hair and aristocratic features from her father, her emerald green doe shaped eyes from her mother and maternal grandfather, she was a beauty to be reckoned with.
"Honestly, Ginny is so full of herself!"
Hermione huffed as they sat in the grass under the shade of a tree.
Celeste smiled.
"Its all Mrs. weasleys fault you know"
"Yes I know, but Ginny should use her senses! She's 18 for Christ's sake! Not to forget that cute apprentice of the bread maker Colin Creevey, poor boy has had it for her since we've been kids!"
Celeste nodded, feeling disappointed in Ginny. Someone is showing real interest in her and she's ignoring her in favor of her imaginary prince or something.
"Heard anything from Luna, Hermione?"
She shook her head.
"Not at all, but something tells me she'll wear something…eye-catching to the ball!"
The 2 girls giggle at the talk of their friend who loved being in the clouds.
Just then, Ron came through the door and towards them.
"Hey mates! How's it going?"
Hermione pursed her lip in anger and Celeste forced a smile on her face.
Honestly, can't Ron see that Hermione had a thing for him?? And he keeps calling her mate! Like she's some male! Celeste didn't mind him doing that for her, but Hermione was another case entirely!
"Hey Ron? Where were you anyways?"
He smirked.
"Oh, just with the Lady Brown. She needed my help with… something."
Hermione frowned in disapproval and Celeste sighed.
The Lady Brown was Lavender Brown from a semi noble family just 2 streets down. She had 3 brothers and was the last born and spoilt beyond reasoning.
Ron worked as one of their gardeners but the reason why Celeste sighed was because of how immoral Miss Brown and Ron were being.
"Ron… you know if they find out what you've been doing with their daughter, there will be hell to pay! Being unfaithful before marriage for a girl, especially a noble one like her voids marriage contracts they try to plan with other noble houses! This is still a bad idea I'm telling you! Stop this before its too late Ron!"
Celeste chided him but he rolled his eyes.
"Like I care… she knew what she was getting herself into when she came on me. That girl is a demon I tell you!"
Hermione growled.
"Well if you get her pregnant it's your bloody fault!"
"Pregnant?! Please! Like that could happen! She'll just blame it on her intended, some noble called Anthony Goldstein… that name's so fake sounding. One of those noble prats I'm sure…"
"She has an intended??"
Hermione screeched out.
"Shh… don't shout out mate! What the hell! And what if she does? Its not like he does anything… says he's too noble"
Hermione seemed to want to say something but Celeste cut her off. If anything happened, it was all Ron's fault and they'd do nothing to help him.
He brought this on himself after all! They'd warned him after he started this nonsense about a year ago.
The thing about Ron was, he hated coming from a poor family and he always made sure everyone knew it. Always made sure everyone one knew he was going to make it and be rich. But he was one lazy git!
"So Ron, following your parents to the ball?"
"Hell yes! Heard there will be noble maidens coming… maybe if I could catch one of those fishes I'd be out of this hell hole forever."
The two girls sighed. Ron had honestly changed over the years and not for good.
It was like, the 2 youngest siblings were the worst sort.
"I do hope Ginny snatches the prince though… we'll be hooked for life!"
Hermione huffed, not wanting to hear him anymore and stood up.
"Well, we'll see you later Ron. Celeste has to follow me to the market, I have some errands to run."
The night ran smoothly but painfully for Celeste, she was too tired to think of doing anything and just went straight to bed.
Next day- Ball
The next morning came quickly and she did her morning routine, quickly serving the Dursleys and rushing back to her room with the mice.
She rushed into one of her lockers and brought out an old-fashioned but cute looking emerald gown.
"Isnt it lovely?! It was my mothers!"
She gushed as she twirled it around before wearing it on a mannequin. Jaq stepped forward.
"Its pretty Celeste, but its old"
"Hm, yes it may be a little old-fashioned… but, I'll fix it!"
"How?"
Gus asked her.
"Well I guess I'll shorten this side, maybe I'll need a sash and maybe make some—"
She was cut off by the call of her name.
"CELESTE! CELESTE COME THIS INSTANT!"
Celeste huffed angrily.
"Oh what do they want now! Guess my dress will just have to wait"
She sighed.
"CELESTE!!"
"All right, all right, I'm coming!"
She stood up and sighed, walking out of her room.
The mice staring sadly after her.
"I don't think Celeste will be going to the Ball guys"
Jaq sighed and the others looked at him.
"Why?"
"Don't you see how those awful twins kept shouting her name? They'll give her lots and lots of chores to do and she won't be able to make her clothes!"
They all sighed pityingly before Mary squealed and jumped happily.
"But we can do it for her!"
The other mice looked at her curiously as she continued to smile and rub her hands in a scheming manner.
Whenever she thought she was through with a chore and finally had the free time to make her clothes, the twins or Petunia would call her.
She had chores throughout the day non-stop and in her heart, she knew she'd never go to the ball. The Dursleys had won this time again.
It was finally evening time and the carriage they'd ordered had arrived. The ball was starting at exactly 8:30 and it was already 7:30. The girls and their mother came out looking dressed.
But Celeste thought the twins looked ridiculous in the colors though...
They both wore bright pink fluffy ball gowns that definitely didn't help their figures.
As they came out of their mothers room with her. Abigail stroke a pose.
"Oh I look so beautiful! The envy of the whole town I will be!"
She gushed and Charlotte snorted.
"Now when people will be staring at me"
Petunia then turned to see Celeste by the spiral staircase, a broom in her hand, staring forlornly at the 3 of them.
She smirked before putting on a fake concerned voice and walking up to Celeste.
"Why Celeste, you're not going child?"
Celeste cleared her throat before nodding, trying to clear her eyes of the tears about to escape them.
"I'm not going"
"Not going? Oh what a shame. But of course there will be other times and—"
"Yes, goodnight."
And she turned and walked up the stairs, sniffing and cleaning her eyes as she entered her room. She walked to her open window, showing the white castle up at the hill. Looking so close yet so far from her.
She sighed.
"Oh well… what's a royal ball anyways… I suppose it'll be frightfully dull… and boring… and… and completely… Oh! Completely wonderful! I'm sure all my friends will have so much fun! Maybe Hermione will be able to sneak out to look for the library and—"
She got cut off as her lamp put on and she stared at the mannequin in shock.
"SURPRISE!"
The mice all shouted as she stared in shock at her completed gown. She rushed to it beaming happily as she grabbed it.
"Oh my! It looks beautiful! I can't believe you guys did it for me! Oh, thank you!..."
She smiled gratefully.
"Now remember, when you're presented to the prince…you must remember to—"
"Wait!"
Petunia got cut off as she and her daughters turned and gasped in shock as they saw Celeste rush down the stairs in a beautiful emerald green dress, smiling at them.
It was quite simple, but that worked in her favor as it flowed beautifully around her figure, down to the ground, accentuating her well.
"Please! Wait for me! Isn't it lovely? Do you like it? Do you think it'll do?"
She said as she twirled around, the green necklace swinging about.
The twins gasped and flared jealously.
"Mother! She can't!"
"You wouldn't…"
"Oh no! You can't let her!"
Petunia stopped them.
"Girls! Please…"
She silenced them.
"After all… we did make a bargain, didn't we, Celeste?"
Celeste smiled happily. Oh she was going to the Ball!!!
"And I never go back on my bargains"
Petunia said, walking closer to Celeste and Celeste immediately knew something was up.
"How very clever… this beads, they give it just the right touch. Don't you think so Abigail? "
"No! I don't think they—"
She stopped mid sentence to stare more closely at the necklace while Celeste took a step back consciously.
"WHY YOU LITTLE THIEF! THEY'RE MY BEADS! YOU GIVE THEM HERE!"
She dragged it from Celeste's neck and the string cut, making the tiny beads fall to the ground in pieces.
Charlotte then noticed something else.
"And look! That's my sash! Wearing my sash! The nerve!"
She walked closer and Celeste begged her.
"Oh no, please dont—"
But Charlotte tore the sash from her waist, giving the gown a tear on her waist.
The girls then used the opportunity to continue tearing apart the gown. The clothes was soon in disarray and once Petunia was satisfied, told her girls to stop.
"Why you thief!"
"Kitchen wench!"
"Potter head!"
"You ungrateful little…"
"Girls… that's quite enough… hurry along now both of you… I won't let you upset yourselves"
The girls huffed at Celeste and smirked at each other before turning and walking outside. Petunia turned and stared at a shell shocked Celeste.
"Goodnight…"
As soon as the door closed, Celeste burst into sobs, running out the back doors and into the backyard falling to the ground and putting her head on a bench and crying her heart out.
She had never asked for much from the Dursleys. She didn't even ask for a dress!
She had just wanted to see how a ball would be. She had tried to get along with them oh yes she did, she tried to be friends with them, get out of their way, obey Petunia. But it still made no difference!
She'd dreamed of seeing the castle, of going to the Ball, but her dreams had failed her again!
"I just… I can't believe anymore…"
She sobbed out as the other mice stared at her, Mary and 2 other females mice, cleaning tears from their eyes with small hankies.
She heard a small pop but decided to ignore it.
"Oh, but you don't really mean that child!"
A voice sounded.
"Oh but I do—"
She stopped herself and turned alarmed at who she was talking to.
"Behind you"
She heard the voice again and quickly stood up, turning to stare at an old woman. Not that old though. A brown hair with steaks of grey in a tight bun, wearing emerald green cloak and smiling at her kindly.
"Ah… you are beautiful my dear… your father's hair color and aristocratic features and your mother's eyes"
"You knew my parents??"
"Why yes I did… I used to watch over your mother but when they died, bless their soul, I made sure to watch you as well. Now, come on! The Ball's about to start!"
Celeste's eyes widened at that. Ball?
"Ball?"
"Why yes my dear, why do you think I'm here? To turn a stick into a needle? No! I'm here to make sure you get your wish and you don't stop believing! Yes my dear! You're going to the ball! Now… first, I need a pumpkin."
"A pumpkin?."
"Why yes my dear. Transfiguration is my talent I have to say, among my peers, I am one of the best, of course the only one who surpasses me is a dear friend but he is quite unhinged—ah! There it is!"
She brought out a wand! And fired at the pumpkin and it transfigured into a beautiful gold carriage. Celeste gasped in wonder as she walked towards it, the other animals and mice behind her suspicious.
"Oh it's wonderful!"
Celeste gushed as she rushed around it, daintily moving her fingers along intricate gold designs. This was a carriage for a Royal!
"Yes, isn't it? Now, with an elegant coach like that, of course, we'll simply have to have... uh...mice!"
"Uh... uh... mice?"
Gus muttered nervously, shifting back and looking for a way to escape from the crazy magic granny but she smiled and turned to him.
"Oh, this really is nice. Why, we'll have a coach-and-four when we're through."
McGonagall waved her stick at the 4 mouse and they transformed into magnificent snow white well taken care of horses. One thing though, was that there were only 3 horses she could see.
She frowned.
"Merciful Merlin! I thought there were 4 of you?! Was it a trick of the light?!"
Just then, she noticed Gus hastily sneaking out of the backyard and she huffed.
"Oh no you don't! You should learn to respect your elders you know!"
Just then, Crookshanks who had been watching it all apprehensively licked his lips in hunger when McGonagall sent a mild hex to him and he yowled, running away. Then she changed Gus into the final horse.
Celeste had to cover her laugh. It was quite a funny sight after all.
"Hmpf! Serves him right, I'd say. Now... um... where were we? Oh, goodness, yes. You can't go to the ball without... um... a horse!"
Celeste frowned.
"Another one? But we already have 4 perfectly fine ones!"
She said, waving her hands and gesturing to the 4 recently transfigured horses that were preening at themselves.
McGonagall chuckled.
"Not exactly what you're expecting child."
She turned to buckbeak the horse who was napping nearby. Her wand in her hand.
"He may be a horse dearie, but tonight, for a change, he'll handle the reins... and sit in the driver's seat too. For instead of a horse, why the coachman, of course."
And just like that, she transfigured him as well into a coachman dressed in all white and gold uniform.
"Well, that does it, I guess. Except for-- oh, yes, the finishing touch... and that's you. Yes, Padfoot, that's right! You'll be footman tonight."
She transfigured the huge black dog into the footman and then nodded, smiling at all her finished work.
"Well, well, hop in, my dear. We can't waste time."
McGonagall said, ushering Celeste into the carriage but Celeste stopped.
"But, wait I'm not dress—"
"Now, now, now... don't try to thank me."
"Oh, I wasn't-- I mean... I do, but... but don't you think my dress needs some—"
McGonagall smiled and nodded amusedly.
"Yes, it's lovely, dear. Lov-- Good heavens, child! You can't go in that."
McGonagall gasped at her state and Celeste sighed in relief. Yes! Finally a beautiful gown and she could go to the ball! Maybe even see Hermione too! She wasn't too keen on seeing Ron though.
The Weasley family and her were now suddenly growing apart. Well, she had nothing against the twins, nor Bill and Charlie. Percy, the village librarian's assistant was too much of a prat for her to be friends with.
McGonagall waved her wand around her, a measurement tape appearing out of thin air and circling around Celeste who stared at it in wonder. Magic was absolutely real!
"Now, uh.. lets see, dear. Your size... and the shade of your eyes... Uh-hmm. Something simple, but daring too. Oh, just Ieave it to me! What a gown this will be!"
She waved her wand once more and the wand began emitting a beautiful glow and after a few seconds, Celeste gasped at the gown she was now wearing. For it was a glorious sight!
She was now dressed in a beautiful flowy sky blue gown.
It was off the shoulders, twirling from her waist down the ground. It was slightly glittering and sparkling and held such an elegance to it's silkiness that it definitely drew attention.
Celeste smiled as she twirled around in awe and the gown seemed to move otherworldly. She turned and beamed at her fairy godmother.
"Oh, it's a beautiful dress! Did you ever see such a beautiful dress? And Iook, glass slippers. This is Iike a dream, a wonderful dream come true!"
McGonagall nodded, smiling indulgently at Celeste before remembering something.
"Yes, dear girl, but like all dreams, well, I'm afraid this can't last forever. Transfiguration, fickle thing it is, whatever you change will revert back to it's original form one way or the other. I'm afraid You'll only have until midnight and then—"
Celeste nodded rapidly, getting even more excited than ever.
"Midnight? That is certainly more than enough godmother! Thank you so much!"
"Oh, now, now just a minute. You must understand, my dear. On the stroke of twelve, the spell will be broken, and everything will be as it was before."
Celeste frowned before nodding. This… gift was more than she could have ever hoped for. Then she remembered something.
"Oh, I understand, but... it's more than I ever hoped for. But, fairy godmother… the Dursley family will be there! Won't they recognize me?"
McGonagall waved her wand.
"Oh no they won't, I placed a charm on your person. Those who might cause a ruckus or lead to your identity being released won't be able to recognize you, only this niggling feeling that they've seen you somewhere before."
"Oh thank you so much!"
"Bless you, my child. I-- Goodness me! It's getting Iate! Hurry up, dear. The ball can't wait. Have a good time, dance, laugh! Now, off you go."
Celeste happily waved her fairy godmother bye who popped away.
Celeste smiled as she relaxed in the golden carriage. She was actually going to the ball! This was really her dream come true! Oh she couldn't wait to see her friends!
But with that charm placed on her, she really and truly hoped at least Hermione would know her. Or maybe even Luna.
She'd already accepted deep down that the Weasley family wouldn't be able to.
Some of them weren't bad of course, but they're a family, of course they'd say who she was if they knew.
Feeling absolutely giddy, Celeste Potter couldn't wait to get to the castle.