Ch Five: The Magical Ball And The Curious Day After
"You can look now," Leniera told Maliegha, who sat there staring at her with a blank expression. Leniera had spent an hour and a half on Maliegha's hair, and a good twenty minutes doing her make-up. And Maliegha just sat there, gapping at Leniera, not having uttered a single word, any of graditute in particular. "Fine," Leniera barked. "Don't look. I have to go get ready. I brought a dress for you; I doubted you had anything decent. Do try not to muss your hair or your make-up. I had to work extremely hard to make you look good. What a shame it would be if I had wasted my time and energy." And without another word, Leniera marched out the door.
Maliegha remained frozen on the flat stool, which had grown rather uncomfortable after all that time. She stood staring into space until that voice in the back of her mind, the one that had told her to forgive Leniera, yelled, "Just look already!" The three words echoed in Maliegha's head as she stumbled over to the mirror. Her eyes were shut, though not clenched to tightly in fear she would "muss her hair or make- up" as Lenie had put it. Slowly she opened her eyes, her heart skipping several beats. The moment she saw herself, Maliegha eyes widened and her jaw dropped in shock.
"Stupid, ungrateful git!" Lenie mumbled as she added the finishing touches to her look. "I spend an hour and a half on her stupid hair, 'Oh no! My hair is blonde! The world is ending'," Lenie mimicked in a squeaky voice. "And her damn make-up, does that spoiled princess know how difficult it was to make her look good? And top of it all, I loaned her one of my favorite dresses. And all that prat could do was burn an ungrateful hole in me with her damn eyes. No, it's my fault; never expect manners from a Malfoy." Lenie stopped her rant and looked herself over in the mirror. She had chosen an off-the-shoulder dress colored such a pale shade of blue that it could pass for white. The skirt portion flared out a little and stopped several inches before the knee. Her hair fell to her shoulders in loose curls. "Perfect!" Lenie proclaimed. Slipping on her silver pumps, Leniera left her dormitory.
After several moments, Maliegha regained her composure and took a good look at herself. Her hair was sleeked back in an eloquent twist, several short curls hanging loosely along her face. It appeared to be a soft brown color, instead of the strawberry blonde it had become that morning. Her face was a natural but flawless cream color, her lips were paled with a gentle rose, but her rich, chocolate eyes stood out amongst it all. Maliegha looked away and her attention turned to the dress Leniera had brought for her. She strolled over to the bed, unzipped the flimsy, black bag it was concealed in, and pulled out a straight, spagetti strap dress that was angled at the bottom. Violent shades of dark blue and purple consumed the dress. Maliegha slipped it on and began making her way to the Great Hall.
The committee had decided to meet at 6:30, accompanied by their dates, should they have one, to act as a welcoming for the rest of the school. The rest of the school was expected to arrive between 6:45 and 7:30 (for those students who were always late.) By the time Maliegha Malfoy entered everyone else was present and she had a shrewd idea that was late. "Sorry," she mumbled as she took up her place between Evans Riley, Head Boy, and Marc Deven, her date. "Am I late?" Maliegha glanced around at a group of bewildered faces, and a devious smirk which belonged to none other than Leniera Granger.
"Who are you?" Her own best friend inquired. Lenie let out a laugh and recieved a vicious glare from Leah. Leah Link was one of the toughest students in school, including the hardy seventh year "men", and not someone you wanted to cross. "Maliegha?" murmured Deven in a soft undertone. Mal flashed him a quick smile before turning on Leah. "Thanks Leah, that's so reasurring. You don't even recognize your own best friend." Leah looked stunned. "So how's everything here?" Mal conintued. "The decorations look perfect. I see the band's setting up, which is good. How about food? All those details are in perfect order I hope?" Maliegha glances around and discovered their confused expressions were now ones of shock and amazement. It took several minuets and a smack to the head for anyone to answer. "Yeah." Evans Riley stated after Lenie brought him back to reality. To Mal's relief the rest of the students began to arrive and she was no longer being gaped at like a three-headed alien.
"W-wow, Mal. You look... wow!" was all Deven was capable of saying. "Um, thank you, I think. You don't look too bad yourself," Mal replied, flashing her brilliant smile that was rarely seen.
The ball was about halfway over when Maliegha took a seat next to her enemy; their dates off getting drinks. (They were seated at the same table since Lenie went with the Head Boy and Mal was Head Girl.) "I just wanted to tell you, thanks. But this doesn't mean that were like best friends now."
"Of course, because six years mean nothing to a person," Lenie snapped angrily. "I just have a knack for helping desperate, pathetic people who are in such a dire need of my help. Clearly you were one of them." And at that Leniera stalked off, leaving a dazed Mal all alone.
The ball ended several hours later, having been a major success. The students who had attended trudged up the stairs, their feet weary from the night of dancing. They said their "goodnights" to their dates and by 12:30 the whole castle was silent.
Winter break had finally arrived and for possibly the first time ever, only six students had remained- Leniera Granger, Paisly, a Fourth Year Ravenclaw, and Paige, a First Year, Hufflepuff, (the Everett sisters who had been raised in a muggle orphanage and preferred to not return there during the Winter Holiday) and the Three Malfoy children- and as Professor Dumbledore had done one year nearly two decades ago, she had the students and staff all seated at one table. The six students were seated on the left end, the Malfoys were in a row facing the Everett sisters and Leniera Granger. It was an unbelievable coincidence that there were two students from the same three years.
Christmas dinner was halfway over when little Paige Everett finally spoke up. "There's something…" was all she said, as she pointed to the ceiling, but it was enough to grab the attention of the other five students. "Mal, what is that?" questioned a confused Braiden as he gazed up at a mysterious figure. "Its an owl," stated Leniera carelessly, her attention reverting to the food. "Two owls," corrected Maliegha with a smirk.
In deed, two owls had flown in the Great Hall and were soaring high above the single table that was occupied. It was a strange sight because a single package was tied between them. The owls dropped it several from the foot of the table, and Nora Malfoy, who was sitting on the end, went to pick it up. She stooped down and read the outside of the package, She suddenly dropped it with a squeal. Nora clenched her eyes shut as she stood up, her hands shaking as she lifted the package once more. Opening her eyes in the slightly as possible, Nora read the package again. "Nora, what's it say?" Hermione Granger asked, who had rushed over to the distraught girl. Nora noticed the Headmistress' daughter had come over her left and her own brother and sister on her right. She turned to them, and with still trembling fingers she positioned the package so the four could easily read it.
'Dearest Leniera and Darling Maliegha, The Single Table, The Great Hall, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, England.
The contents of this package can ONLY be viewed in the presence of Miss Leniera and Miss Maliegha. If anyone else is present OR if both Leniera and Maliegha are not present, the contenets of this package will NOT be accessable.'
"Mother, why is there a package addressed to me AND Maliegha?" Inquired Leniera.
"First off, it's Maliegha and me," Hermione stated. "And second, I don't…" For the first time ever, Lenie saw her mother lose her focus. "Mum, Mum are you alright?" fretted Lenie. "Professor Granger?" asked Nora. Hermione Granger, however, didn't answer.
Sensing trouble, Minerva McGonagall swooped in and beckoned Lenie, Mal, and Nora out of the Great Hall, as she grabbed Hermione Granger's wrist and pulled her along. Professor McGonagall led them into a small chamber off the Entrance Hall.
"Professor what's wrong with her?" asked Lenie, unable to keep the worry and fear out of her tone.
"It's just shock Leniera, she'll be alright. Though I do need to see what the package says," answered Professor McGonagall. Nora handed it over. "No wonder she's so distraught. I better get her to the hospital wing. Poppy will have her normal in no time. Now why don't you three go back and Enjoy the Christmas dinner?" They nodded as the Professors left the room. The three students followed, but not before Maliegha was able to grab the peculiar package. "I want to know what's in it. Come on Granger, we're going to my room," Mal said.
"Go somewhere with you? How do I know this isn't a trick? You're bound to have something up your sleeve," retorted Lenie, the memories of the dance fresh in her mind.
"This is no trick, at least not of mine. You saw what the package did to your mother. Lucky," Lenie, and Nora stared at her. Then Mal stepped inside the Head's common room. "You coming?"
"I'll probably regret this." replied Lenie but she entered the room all the same.
"You guys shouldn't open it," insisted Nora. "What if it has dark magic or-" "Nora I'm seventeen, I can take care of myself. Don't worry about me. I'll see you Later." And at that she closed the portrait in her own sister's face.
Maliegha walked upstairs, with Lenie close at her heel. When they reached her room, Mal kicked off her shoes and sat crossed-legged on her bed. "Accio," she mumbled, and a squishy black arm chair flew next to the bed. Lenie sat down on it. Maliegha slowly and gently unwrapped the package, careful not to rip the wrappings. After several seconds, a flat, black box was revealed. With a look at Lenie, Mal opened it. Inside we're assorted papers and files. The top paper was an Article from the Dailey Prophet. She read it over and told Lenie, "It's about the end of Voldemorts first war. Whoa its from over thirty-five years ago."
Mal was about to go digging through the pile when Lenie stopped her. "There's a note, I think we should read that first." Lenie detatched a white enevlope from the inside lid of the box. She slit open the back and reads it aloud. "Dearest Leniera and Darling Maliegha, I am aware of the enmity that has formed between the two of you. As two of the most intelligent students of your year, I am a bit disappointed that you didn't see the connection between the two you. But before you discover the connection, you need to learn more about the past. That is the past of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. You will see them how they were throughout Hogwarts, and how they behaved. You will also learn about Harry Potter and his battles with Voldemort. I should warn you, the information you are to obtain, the secrets you are to learn were never meant to be known. The party's in question are masters at secret keeping and I am advising you two to follow in suit. DO NOT TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS LETTER, OR THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE. NOT NORA, BRAIDEN, OR DRACO MALFOY AND NOT HERMIONE GRANGER. You should expect more packages of the like in the coming future."
Maliegha and Leniera's eyes met, both greatly confused by the whole situation. They just sat, staring at one another until Leniera, broke away, her eyes adverting to the contents of the package. Both girls filtered through the papers, occasionally coming to something they had wanted to look over. Leniera picked out a thick envelope with the Hogwarts Seal. Opening it up, she revealed an old looking letter, her fingers trembling in the slightest. "Dear Miss Granger," Her shaky voice said. "I know times are tough, with everything you lost, but it is June the Twenty-First. You were to commute back to Hogwarts for your N.E.W.T's and it is vital you come at once. The ministry and the examiners will allow you to compensate the missed examinations, only if you arrive at Hogwarts in the next Twenty-Four hours…" Leniera couldn't finish reading it. "Maybe we should stop for now," suggested Maliegha. Lenie nodded and left the room at once.