To Crystal: Fine, the Pretty Reckless are good
To Alice: Fifteen finally
To Yuki: So sorry for spilling my drink at your house :S
To Kailah: "All hail daggering queen of the night!"
To Alyssa: My sister is not cute
To Davina: You are to never leave me to go Portugal ever again. Your wife has spoken.
Q: What would my life be like without you guys?
A: Very dull and very sane.
"Dawn!" I felt something sharp poke my ribs non-too gently and I groaned, rolling away to keep the last snippets of sleep I had left.
"Get up you lazy sallop. I want to go shopping, and since we're living in the middle of nowhere, we need to leave now if we want to make it to London before midnight."
Alice and her stupid patois, cursing me, as usual.
"It's only ten." I groaned, peaking one eye open at her, but wearily shut it again at the harshness of the light filling the room.
"Oh no." She shook her head. "Get up. Now. We've got half an hour till we leave, and if you're not ready, you'll be left behind."
I heard the door slam and winced, last night we had another all-nighter, and I was really feeling the rough effects.
Dad had come by later the previous night to drop off some money, along with everyone else's, so we all had agreed that we would go shopping for our uniform, while Molly picked up our other stuff in Diagon Alley.
The promise of shopping did, however, call me from my bed, having a quick shower and tugging on my clothes as I made my way to meet the rest in the kitchen.
"Morning," I mumbled, already snatching a piece of toast of Kailah.
"You look rough," Crystal commented, looking up from doing Davina's eye-make-up. "Yeah," Davina agreed, fighting not to blink. "Have you even brushed you hair?"
"Do it on the train." I mumbled, smiling a thanks at Molly for the coffee she had set in from of me.
"That's what you get you stupid fool." Alyssa said, shaking her head at me, as if it was my entire fault.
"Mmm,"
"Quiet the charmer, aren't you Dawn?" Kailah grinned at me.
When Molly wasn't looking, I stuck my middle finger up.
Charm that.
After the quite world of the Weasley's isolated home, London suddenly seemed too busy, too loud. But still, I couldn't help but feel the rush of coming home, warmth surrounded me like a familiar blanket, despite the slight breeze in the air.
Summer or no, this was England.
We changed to the underground to get the central line to Oxford Circus, where London's famous Oxford Street was waiting for us.
Armed with about two thousand pounds between us, we were ready.
Since the ever fickle fashion was drawing into it's autumn season, all it's summer rage was on sale, with beckoning promises of seventy percent off, three-for-two and the buy one get one half price, so, to say the least, it was packed.
We all broke off, searching for our own thing, Kailah, Davina and myself going to primark to get the cheapest things we could find. Alyssa and Alice took to new look and Yuki and Crystal went to topshop.
As per usual, Kailah and Davina were giggling over the bra section, holding up cute, small little things that wouldn't stand a chance against my fist, let alone my lady lumps.
I already had my uniform in mind, since Ginny had assured us that Hogwarts were quiet lenient with it's school wear, so long as you stuck to your house colours, school colours, and had a little dignity.
I already had five white blouses, one for every day of the week, two short black tube skirts, a green tartan mini (the last one, God is smiling down upon me), fishnets, patterned and plain black tights and knee high black socks.
Molly was getting us the cloaks, hats and ties; so really, we had a lot already covered.
Also, we were shopping for our formal dresses.
Once we paid, we met up for coffee and Alice was grinning at me. "Here's your late birthday present!" she squealed, shoving a bag into my hands.
"About time," I muttered, looking stern, but my frown melted the moment I looked into the bag.
"You said you wanted a leather jacket." Alice shrugged, nonchalant about my frozen expression of utter joy.
"Alice!" I screamed, throwing my arms around her before ripping the bag open to try the black leather jacket on.
It fitted perfectly, cut so that it emphasised my curves, along with silver zips. Then, I looked at the price tag.
"Sixty-nine quid?" I demanded at Alice, but she just waved her credit card at me, like that was all the answer I needed, in a way, it was.
After numerous hugs I gave Alice, I settled down to sip my steaming coffee, just as the holy topic of prom dresses came up.
"I seriously have to find a short black one," Crystal sighed, mentally preparing herself for the hunt ahead.
"With zips and shit," Yuki added.
"What's this? I'm off to the nearest bridal shop." We all looked at each other, than back at Alice.
"Yeah, you do that and we'll follow." Alyssa commented, looking as thought she was about to do the exact opposite.
"I say we split into groups. Yuki and Crystal, because you guys like the same stuff. I'll go with Alice, to make sure she doesn't turn up looking like bridezilla. Dawn, Kailah and Alyssa…?" Davina trailed off, brow raised.
"We'll be fine." I promised, thanking God that I had those two to help me.
"Yeah, sure darling." Kailah muttered, clearly not fooled.
We started talking about the pro's and con's about wearing a tiara when a thought began to draw on me. "Wait, we're shopping with Alyssa?"
"Haven't we already established this?" The girl in question demanded, giving me a look that clearly said that I was having a 'blonde' moment.
I stuck out my tongue. "Yeah, but, I sat next to you through out ICT. You know, when I spent all my lessons planning my wedding."
"Your sadness continues to surprise me," Alice muttered.
Sparing her a glare, I continued with my point. "Remember when I tried to find you a dress? It was always 'I like the top, but the bottom is urgh' or 'Look at, this stupid, monstrous creation. Even if I had a blind nun, who had hearing and learning problems, pick out my dress, it would look better than that.'"
Kailah grinned. "Did she really say that?"
"Oh wow, look at the time," Alice said suddenly. "Me and Davina better be going." The curvy St. Lucian grabbed our Portuguese Princess and hauled her out of her seat.
"You know," Crystal added, catching on. "Me and Yuki have a long search ahead of us, we should be going too."
"Judas's." I called back to the vastly retreating figures. Draining my coffee, I sighed. "C'mon, we'd better be going as well."
"!"
I paused from looking through the many dresses on the rack to look over at Alyssa, who just shook her head.
"Kailah." We both said at the same time, in the same amused, yet expected voice.
Just on queue Kailah appeared, her hands fluttering in a motion that was fanning herself. "Oh – My – God. Oh my God. OH MY GOD. OHMYGOD!"
I raised a brow. "Is Lil Wayne in the shop?" My tone sceptical
"Oh," Alyssa muttered. "I thought someone died." She sounded bored, but Kailah didn't seem to notice.
"I found it. My dress. It's purple. It's beautiful. I have to have it."
"Try it on then." I urged Kailah, who looked like she was literally about to die of happiness. The hyped St. Lucian nodded, racing off to the dressing rooms.
"See anything you like?" I asked Alyssa after a moment.
Making a frustrated sound, Alyssa shook her head. "No, they're all so…"
"Not you?" I supplied helpfully, peering over my shoulder at her.
"Yeah," she sounded relieved that I understood.
"Same. I'm actually thinking of making my own."
Alyssa started to crease.
"Hey!" I protested. "It's perfectly possible."
But that only made the Sierra Leone crack up even more.
"Hey guys!" Kailah reappeared at the worst possible moment, her deep brown eyes going wide as she saw a normally quite dignified Alyssa now on the floor, struggling to breathe as she imagined a dress I would have created on my own.
Through gasps, Alyssa managed to choke out the reason why she was clucking her sides, tears streaming down her face.
After a pause, Kailah assume the same state as Alyssa.
Friends, wonderful, aren't they?
When they finally recovered, and believe me, it took a while, we all regarded the purple dress that moulded itself on the slinky curves of Kailah.
"It's actually really nice," Alyssa commented.
"You say that with so much surprise." I mumbled as Kailah clapped her hands together, obviously happy with her find.
The dress in question was a rich purple silk, strapless and stopped mid-thigh. On the left hip, there was a starburst of twinkling diamonds twining out in little vines.
"You look beautiful," I reassured her, unable not to feel happy for her – she was going to break hearts, but then again, she and the rest of my girls always did.
Kailah paid and we left, trying a few shops here and there, but both Alyssa and me couldn't find anything that we liked.
We were on our way to regroup when I paused. "You guys go ahead," I told them. "I'll catch up with you in a while."
"You sure?" Kailah asked, looking uncertain about leaving me – I had a habit of getting lost.
"Yeah," I nodded, shooing them away.
When they were gone, I retraced my steps back to where I had seen one of those shops that were filled with all types of material.
"Erm, Hi." I smiled at the lady at the counter, "I want to make a dress."
"Right," the lady had the same look on her face that Alyssa and Kailah had once they realised I was serious. Did I have a massive tattoo on my forehead saying: Please, do not take me seriously?
Humouring me, the woman asked me a few questions: What style did I want, what cut, any certain designer did I admire?
"I want it to be um, short, silky green, and pretty."
I left the shop with a large roll of beautiful green silk, matching green and silver thread, needles, pins, a mannequin thingy that was my size and about a million books on dress templates and styles.
Altogether, in spent eight-four quid, not bad, if you think about it.
As I neared the rest, I saw many of their mouths drop. "Dawn, you were suppose to buy a dress, not a dancing partner." Alice nodded towards my mannequin.
"Shut up you." I retorted.
"So, you're really going to make this dress?" Davina eyed the bulging bag that I struggled to carry in my, uh, small arms.
"Yes," I sighed, feeling like I may as well record my answer, for all the times I'm going to have to be repeating myself.
They all sniggered, but didn't voice their obvious opinions, to which, I was grateful for, kind of anyway.
Alice, Kailah, Yuki and Crystal had found their dresses, alongside shoes and accessories, which left poor Alyssa and Davina to still search at a later date. Please note that I did not include myself, for I do not fall under either of the above categories. I have a dress, only I have to make it. No pressure.
After a light lunch (light being the operative word) the girls and me went to get our hair and nails done. For a while, we did encounter a snobby receptionist who insisted that we had an appointment. Luckily, Alyssa intervened and 'convinced' her that we could be squeezed in for a manicure, pedicure, eyebrow threading (waxing in my case – less painful) and a wash, cut and blow dry.
There is nothing better than being pampered with your friends, giggling over stupid stuff like my obsession with my Irish maths teacher or Alyssa's penchant for well-built guys and baby oil. It took me a while, but I finally choose between leopard print nails and hook-red. I went for the red. Feeling fabulous, the girls and I bored the over ground train that would take us back to the Burrow. By the time the train was pulling into the station, it was already dark; whatever heat of the day was now a cool breeze. I yawned, resting my head of Alyssa's shoulder, which, in turn, she put her head on mine. Somehow, Kailah had managed to worm her way into a small little huddle.
"We're penguins," She commented as she rested on the cushioned softness of Alyssa's chest.
"Can I be the baby egg?" I asked.
"You're defiantly small enough." Kailah agreed.
"And white enough." Alyssa added.
"Mmmmm." I commented, looking around with tired eyes. Alice's head was lying on Davina's lap, her dark curls soothingly being pushed away from her face. Yuki and Crystal had their hoods up, heads together as they shared headphones. From where I sat, I could hear the mutter of Yuki, her full lips pursing as she kissed her teeth. "I am not listening to that again."
There was a moan of frustration. "Why the fuck not?" Crystal demanded, her voice unnaturally loud against the silence in the carriage.
"Shhhhhh," Alice commented, not opening her eyes.
When it was out turn to get off, we were all reluctant to walk the next long miles to the small, rickety house that belonged to the Weasley's.
"Sure could use Dawn's peng-ting hubby and his broomstick 'round about now."
Yuki giggled. "It's like riding a broomstick!" she quoted from a book I lent her. Which was very, very dirty.
"Straddle up cow boy. We're goin' for a ride. YEEEH-HAAAAH!" I put on a southern drawl and tipped up my imaginary cowboy hat.
"Dawn, that's dirty." Kailah commented as we trekked through a field in the dark.
"Con, lolo mueh." I retorted in her native tongue. She turned to Alice. "See what happens when you teach her dirty words?"
Alice blinked, looking dazed for a moment before frowning. "What?" She pronounced the word with two syllables, dragging it out in her defensive confusion.
"You heard." Kailah replied ominously.
Please. Do not ask me how we managed to find our way back to the Borrow – I guess its one of those things you'll just never understand. Like the purpose of life or A-level math.
When we arrived in the cosy – albeit slightly cluttered – Burrow. I couldn't help by feel my body relaxing, you know, that feeling you get when you come home, like there's no need to worry – because for the moment, nothing bad can happen. I know, I know, its stupid, naïve and foolish to think that a mere building can protect you from the harsh realities of the world.
Like myself, the rest of the gang was tired, content with eating the large dinner that Mrs. Weasley had made for us and going to bed. Before we did so, the mothering redhead called us back.
"Girls." She smiled kindly at us, her worn face looked as tired as I felt. "Have you got your lessons list?