"Want to go outside?" she asked him.
"Goe homework to do," he replied shortly, walking upstairs to the boy's dormitory. Rose thought it would sort itself out. Maybe he was angry at her for something. But no matter how hard Rsoe wracked her brains to think what she had done wrong, she didn't come up with anything. Tired and frustrated, she flung herself onto the nearest sofa and sat there, staring into the fireplace. She had to find out what was going on with him.
A week later and Rose was sitting in a chair in the common room, dreading to go on her date. "Oh, it's nice and hot outside!" said Dani, looking through the window. She winked at Rose. "Perfect weather for a date, eh, Rose?" Rose glared at her.
"Don't say that word. It just makes me more nervous!"
"Too bad. So... Annabelle told me to take you to to the empty room on the the fourth floor. She's going to do your hair and make- up." Dani jumped up and down. "And with my fab clothes, you'll look a million dollars! Not that you don't, already," she added. Rose looked down at her pyjamas and giggled.
"Well, hurry up and get dressed into some jeans and a top! I'll be waiting for you in the common room!" Dani flounced out of the dormitory leaving Rose to change.
"I'm feeling neurotic," admitted Rose to Dani as they left through the portrait hole.
"All you have to do is take deep breaths and think of something that makes you calm." Rose thought hard.
"Ah! Here we are!" sang Dani. Rapping her knuckles on the door, she said out loud, "Annie! We're here!" There were voices from inside the room, and then the door swung open to reveal a pretty girl with sun- kissed skin and long, wavy blonde hair up to her waist. Her eyes' were big and brown, famed with long lashes. She looked like something out of a fairytale book.
"Come in, come in," she said. Rose noticed the girl had a slight Italian accent in her voice. There were around four other girls' in the room who beamed as soon as Dani and Rose entered.
"Ah, so this is Rose," said on of the girls', looking at Rose's face intently. "She's pretty," she announced finally to Dani. "Just a little bit of work." Before Rose could day anything, the three girls' pulled her into a swivel chair that sat in front of a cupboard piled with clips and make up boxes.
"Oh no!" said Rose suddenly, trying to get out of the seat. She felt firm hands hold her down.
"Rosie, just relax!" said Dani calmly. "Everything's going to be fine. You'll look fab!"
"Dani, I've never put on make- up before!" said Rose, verging on the point of hysteria. "I've never done my hair before!"
"Then this will be the first time you have," said Dani, smiling widely.
"Ready, girls?" she called out to the girls' who were holding wands, sciscoors, clips and make-up in their hands.
"Ready!" they called out simultaneously, bearing down on Rose...
Rose was scared to look in the mirror. Scared to open her eyes'. Scared to see what she had turned into.
"Rose! Just look!" said Dani excitedly, pushing a mirror into Rose's hands. "You look brilliant!" Rose opened her eyes.' Her jaw dropped. It wasn't her. Or, at least, it didn't look look her.
Her hair was shiny and sleek, glinting when the light hit it and some of her hair was pulled back into a french plait while some strands dipped down the curve of her cheekbone elegantly. Her eyes were outlined, making her dark blue eues' glitter and the mascara made her eyelashes twice as long. The lipstick was a bright shade of red, a daring move to have it put on her face, but it blended well with the colour of her skin.
"Guys," she started, not taking her eyes' off the girl in the mirror, hardly daring to believe it was atually her. "I-"
"You look great," said Annabelle.
"I don't know...what to say."
"Say that you'll put these clothes on," said Dani, holding up a denim mini skirt with a dark blue halter neck top. "I didn't bring it here for nothing, you know." Rose laughed. Her anxiety frizzled away as she clutched the clothes in her hand.
"Oh my god! I don't know what to do! Or say!"
"Just be yourself," said Annabelle firmly.
"Don't crack lame jokes," added Dani.
"Don't pay for anything," added another one of the girls'.
"Don't mention any of your past boyfriends," added another one of the girls severely. Rose interrupted.
"I don't have any past boyfriends."
"Hmm..." said Annabelle. "You could use that to your advantage..."
"Galloping gargoyles!" said Dani all of a sudden, making the three jump. "Rose- look at the time!" Rose checked the time and yelped.
"Oh my god! He's going to meet me at the gate in ten minutes!"
"Well, let's quickly check into the Gryffondor common room!! See ya!" she said, waving her hand at the girls'.
"Bye!" they replied simultaneously.
"Quick, quick!" yelled Dani, pulling Rose along the corridor. They hurriedly ran up the stairs and in no less then five mintues, they arrived at Gryffindor tower, out of breath.
"Flubberworm," said Rose, cluctching a stich on her side.
"Indeed," said the fat lady. The portrait door swung open and the girls' walked inside. The common room was empty besides from James, Albus and Scorpious who were talking quite passionately about Quidditch. At the sound of the portrait door closing, James turned around and caught sight of Rose. He wolf whistled.
"Shut up, James!" said Rose angrily.
"Looking good, Rose," said Albus, grinning. Scorpious looked at Dani.
"Robert's looking for you," he said.
"Oh," said Dani, looking confused. "Well, then...I'd better get going... Good luck," she whispered to Rose as she passed her. Rose crossed her fingers behind her back. She needed all the luck she could get.
"So, what's your favourite subject?" asked Matt as he and Rose sipped butterbeer in the shop. 'The Three Broomsticks'. Rose still couldn't believe her luck. Her date was going spectacularly well. Matt was funny and caring. Rose never knew talking was this easy.
"Hmm...I guess I really enjoy Charms. And potions," she added as an afterthought. Matt made a face.
"Horrible! I like defence against the dark arts." Rose shuddered.
"You don't like it?" asked Matt, smiling.
"It's just so...dark."
"Yeah, I get what you mean..." said Matt, evidently thinking. "But it's really interesting once you get used to it."
"Hmmm..." said Rose, looking out of the window. She saw Hogwarts students running around, laughing, holding bags of sweets. She distinctly remembered the first time her, Albus and Scorpious visited Hogsmeade last year. Scorpious had tried to steal some sweets from Zonko's while Albus distracted the owner. The thought made her smile. How typical, thought Rose. I'm on a date and all I can think about is my friends. Rose felt lonely even though she was in a crowded room, sitting with a guy who couldn't seem to take his eyes' off her. Something was missing.