A/N: Ok, thanks so so much for the reviews .

I really loved them

And you…of course!

So we are slowly but steadily reaching the end of this story

What I mean is that there are two or three chapters left…maybe four we'll see

So don't hesitate to review!

I own nothing of it

Harry Potter is all J. K. R.'s

Enjoy!

Chapter 7:

I cannot believe what I am doing at the moment. And I bet neither can you.

I mean everyone who knows me, and when I say knows me I mean really knows me, as in the heartless me, would be totally gaping at me now.

Cause dear, people, I , Rose Weasley am right at this very moment picking out a dress for a Ball. Not for me of course.

There is still some dignity left in me you know…

The dress is for Nelia Goyle. My new friend. Yes, yes you heard right. I said friend.

So what if I said I don't make friends? What if I said love doesn't exist? What if I said Malfoy is a messed-up bastard?

Reality has once more managed to prove me wrong.

Cause, Nelia since last week really feels like a friend. And I still stay awake at night thinking of that kiss I shared with Air.

Not to mention that by now the whole Slytherin knows about Cinderella, cause apparently Malfoy cannot keep his mouth shut about it. He keeps saying they will all see it. The truth in Cinderella.

So, yeah…

Speaking about changes.

But change is not always bad is it? Air, says that I became heartless because it made things easier , so what does it matter if I turn back nice cause at the moment that is the best?

I know, I know, people don't switch attitudes like that. And somehow it doesn't feel like I'm being nice because it makes stuff easier. Somehow it feels right to be good again.

I give up. I am confused.

"Rose, I can't possibly wear that dress." Oh, right. Nelia. In case you were wondering. We are at the moment searching my closet for a dress.

My initial idea was of course buying one for her but apparently her family is not so well off. That's why she's been wearing her father's uniform and still carries his books.

You see I have found a lot about Nelia during this last week.

She's been living with her dad for the past twelve years cause her mother left them when Nelia was still five and this is totally taking its toll on her.

She never had a female opinion. Or a female piece of clothing for that matter. Nobody spoke to her about make-up and how babies come to be. It is sad actually.

So I decided to help her out. So I am giving her a hand with school work she has missed. Turns out all I have to do is read things out loud and she's got no problem understanding.

Also, I am letting her borrow one of my dresses for tonight's Ball. Which is proving to be rather time consuming for me. That girl really thinks she is hideous. As a result she refuses to put anything on that doesn't look just like a bathing-robe.

And she's getting on my nerves.

"Nelia, I swear if you continue acting that way I'm gonna hex you again and this time I won't regret it. I see her blush a little.

"I'm sorry. You're right. I'm acting all nuts. But you see this is not for me. People like me are not supposed to go to Balls. Especially with the Albus Potter." I sigh. Believe it or not Nelia is one those people who instead of gaining confidence as time passes they lose the one they already had.

"Oh, just drop it. Al is not a god or something. He's rather stupid actually. And since when is there a rule as to who attends Balls." I put my hands on hips. I didn't know only cool, pretty, happy, committed people are accepted in dances.

"I-I…" See? One again my cleverness leaves everyone speechless.

"So try it on!" I command. She stares at me for a minute and then nods.

After a while I see a beautiful almost stunning girl ('almost' cause you know I'm a girl) coming out of the bathroom where five minutes ago my new friend Nelia got in to dress up.

I gape at her evidently. Who would have thought that this shabby-looking, clumsy girl would clean up that nicely in a dress? Well, surely not me. Though, don't get me wrong, I already knew she was much prettier than she let on.

But in a sky blue, long, strapless dress she can only be described as fabulous. I smile at her a bright smile, like one of those I recently found out I had in my list of smiles, and nod.

"It is awesome." I comment after taking one more look at her. She ventures a look at the mirror and gasps.

"I do look nice!" She admits, thankfully.

"Yes, you do." I agree. "But now we need to do something with this mess of a hair you've got." I take out my wand and take a deep breath.

It takes me a whole hour but I do manage to disentangle her hair and make them look neat and silky lying on her shoulders. Then I step back and take in the results. I really do wonders.

Finally I make up my mind. This dress ought to be worn with a bun. A low messy bun. With some bits popping out in disarray from it and two curls falling on her forehead. Marvelous.

After that I proceed to her face. She has very nice characteristic, though maybe not so special, but they sure give her a kind and sweet air. I use some black eyeliner and mascara. A tad silver eye shadow that makes her dark brown eyes look strangely elegant and some lip-gloss.

I've created a miracle!

Nelia moves her eyes back and forth between me and the mirror in shock.

"I look like a princess!" She finally mouths speechless. Princess? Oh, come on…I would have been just fine without this little romantic comment on my back…

"You look like Nelia." I clear out, denying falling into the princess-trap.

"Thank you so much Rose! I think that maybe now I won't make a total fool of myself." And just like that the I-am-hideous Nelia is back on the track! So much for making her look gorgeous.

"Nelia! Cut it out. Al will probably feel like the luckiest person on earth for having you as his date." She looks a little sad at that.

"Rose…I think I should free him from that obligation." She whispers. Obligation?! The guy has been wishing for a date like this since forever.

"I mean, I heard Peter Anders saying Al probably lost some bet with a total pervert to end up with me. And those are his words!" I narrow my eyes. That guy's a total jerk. I once considered him for a heartless but even then I found him too mean.

"Anders is a prat and Al was just thrilled to take you to the Ball." She raises a hopeful eye at me.

"Really?" Yeah!

"Oh, crap!" I suddenly exclaim. "We're so late." Nelia mimics my worried expression only ten times more vividly.

"Al will be waiting!" Then a new thought seems to pop up in her head and she turns to look at me.

"Rose! You didn't get dressed up." Oh! Right. Well, so what?

"Then I should probably stay here." I suggest hopefully.

"No! No way! You have to come. I promised I'll meet him there and there's no chance I'm going there alone." I don't really blame her you know. Facing the monsters on her own.

"Just give me a second." I mutter and rush to my trunk. A moment later I dig out of it an emerald green short halter dress with black patterns and a pair of black plain sandals. Now I know what you're thinking.

You can't go like that in the Ball.

Well, to that I have only one thing to say.

Yes, people. Yes, I can. Ha!

I've already told you, I don't give a shit about this thing. I'm just going there for support.

I put on some black eyeliner and a bit of lip gloss and I sort out my hair. I leave them down, curly as usual. I don't have time for this.

"Ready!" I say and start doing a happy dance. But I don't get to finish it cause Nelia, here, grabs my wrist and drags me to the Great Hall.

oOo

Hmm…

The Great Hall does look better like that. Clear summer night's sky, full of falling stars and some blue-silver ribbons on the windows and walls. All in all a nice presentation. The tables are removed to give space for the dancers to prove themselves worthy of the occasion. Merlin!

I look around for Al and realize that Nelia is doing the same.

Yet what I hear makes me forget about Al at once.

If at the moment I had one galleon for every guy who's checking out Nelia, I'd be a millionaire.

I hear whispers like 'Who's the hot brunette?' and 'Is that Nelia Goyle?' or even worst 'Hello gorgeous!'. Poor Al will have to fight hard for her after all.

"Rose, I think they're making fun of me." She mumbles from next to me. I sigh for the millionth time today.

"Are you alone tonight, sweetheart?" Sweetheart? Oh, come on! Couldn't he find a better pick-up line.

Nelia looks incredulously at the seventh-year who has just asked her to dance. However I spot Al a few meters away and push her towards him.

"She's taken." I mutter at the chest-nut haired guy who leaves disappointed.

Then I take one look at my new friend and cousin finally meeting.

I smile at myself as I hear a voice from behind me whispering.

"Good job, Miss 'fairy-godmother'." Malfoy.

Needless to say of course that once again my words lack their usual bitterness when I say his name.

"So…that is the truth in Cinderella huh?" I wonder out loud. He was right after all. I see it now.

Nelia, Albus…yes. Quite like Cinderella actually. Nelia is the little servant who's turned into a princess and Al is the prince…hehehe

"Ten points to Gryffindor." He jokes and I laugh. "I told you I would finally find it." Yes he did.

oOo

Nelia's POV

Ok, that was it.

He's gonna see me, freak out and run. Why did I listen to Rose? Everything would have been ok, had I stuck to the plan and stayed away from this Ball.

Oh, Merlin! Oh, Merlin!

"Ne- Nelia?" OH, MERLIN!

"Hi. Sorry for keeping you waiting." I whisper timidly.

I cast one eye at Al , who is at the moment trying to collect his jaw from the floor. He- is he…? Blushing? Nah… No way.

"It's- it's ok. Never mind that. You look…beautiful." He stammers and now it is my turn to blush. Remind me again how did I end up going to the Ball with Albus Potter? The best guy in this place. The most handsome too.

Oh, right, his cousin made him.

"Thank you. You look great too." I try. Of course that was a silly comment cause he always looks great.

"The question is how long I will keep looking that way. Cause you know every guy in this room is glaring daggers at me." I giggle a bit at this. His words make me tickle. Is that normal?

"Rose was right. You're such a cry-baby." He laughs and catches my hand gently. I feel something moving inside me. A euphoric sensation.

"Am not!" He pouts and I chuckle. Who would have thought that I would fee so comfortable around him?

"Ok, ok." I raise my hands up in the air defeated. He chuckles too.

However a second later he gets all serious again.

"Let's dance." He offers me his hand and I take it. Yes, it is as soft as I thought.

He catches my waist and pulls me to him. Close yet not close enough. I'm glad about it. I think I was gonna faint if he came one inch closer to me.

He appears to know what he is doing. We swift slowly on the dance floor and I rest my hands on his shoulders.

"I'm acting stupid." He announces looking down at me. Excuse me?! He is acting stupid? And what am I doing here?

"No!" I exclaim ridiculously.

"Yes." He insists and then looks away from me. "But you see I'm not used to accompanying such pretty, clever girls." He is making fun of me!

I cannot believe I trusted him. There is no way he is saying all those crap for real. I narrow my eyes at him and stop moving.

"You're making fun of me." I whisper. It hurts. It bloody aches. Why, oh why did I ever consider coming here?

Al is staring at me taken aback. Yeah, sure…

"I am not! How could you think…?" What? Oh, he just can't tell where to stop playing does he?

"No! How could you think that I would believe you if you said all those things?" He tries to approach me but I shove him away with a force I never knew I had. "You think I can't tell when you're lying? I bloody own a mirror alright?" I can't take this pain anymore.

I turn my back at him and run away from the Great Hall. I feel more than see him following me and I pace up. Damn those heels.

I sneak out quickly hoping that he won't think of checking out side the castle. The cold wind hits my face and I feel tears rolling.

"Nelia!" So much for not finding me outside the castle. I won't acknowledge him. I won't , I won't.

"Nelia! I wasn't lying!" He shouts at me and in his voice I spot the same pain I recognized in mines. Could he…? Could it be that he is honest?

"What?" I ask trying to sound intimidating. He stops almost crushing on me.

"I wasn't lying when I said you look pretty and…" I see. Maybe indeed, I do look nice. Maybe he saw something nice in me now.

"Ok, so I look good tonight. Big deal! Everyone would look better with such a great dress and a perfect make-up. The point is…" I feel tears returning to my eyes but I make no motion to stop them.

"The point is after tonight I will probably be looking like a troll again. So quit liking me before tomorrow comes and you regret it dearly." I take a big breath and he gasps.

"You seriously thought the only reason I like you is because you look incredible tonight? Wait- more than that did you actually thought I started liking you today?" Erm…what? What does that supposed to mean?

Al starts laughing.

"Merlin's pants Nelia, I've been in love with your disturbed antics since first-year." In- in love? With me?

"You might call yourself a troll but I always stopped and stared as you passed by me. And I never found one girl who has prettier eyes than you." Now it's my time to gasp. This cannot be! I must be dreaming!

"But-but you never said anything." Not one sign. Ok, fine he always treated me kindly and talked to me nicely helping me out with homework but…

Merlin, I am so stupid!

"Cause I thought you were into my brother." Into James?! Hahahaha. Ok, I'm laughing now.

"James? That's ridiculous." I exclaim still laughing. He blushes.

"Yeah…I guess it was. I dunno. The thing is…" He catches my waist like and pulls me closer. However this time there is no gape between us. I feel electrocuted.

"I'm nuts for you. I'm sorry if I offend you or something but I can't help it. And it's not because of the dress or the make-up." Then what is it about? I know I shouldn't protest , I mean I am only the luckiest person ever, but I wonder…

"Remember that fist we met back in first year? When everyone was looking shocked at me for getting shorted in Slytherin?" I nod. It must have been really hard for him. Hearing all those prats going on about him being 'not even close as smart and brave as his dad' or 'a shame to his Gryffindor family'. I for one thing never found it weird he got Slytherin. He was clever and nice but all about mischief, even back then you could tell. Plus he is such a cry-baby.

"Well, you didn't laugh. You didn't judge me. You never did. You just came over and introduced yourself. Said it was a pleasure meeting me. Me as in Albus , not as in Harry Potter's son." I smile at him. I had no idea it mattered so much to him.

"Since then I knew I liked you. I knew you could really see me. Even if your hair was messed up and the uniform you had was ten times your size." I raise a hand to his face and touch his cheek. I have no idea when I got so bold about this. It's just like Rose says. I just need to get started.

He smiles at me and leans down. I feel him kissing me softly in the mouth and I gasp. It feels so nice. I move my hand from his face to his black hair and mess them a bit.

I sense him holding me in his hands and deepen the kiss. He is a really good kisser. That I must admit. Not that I am that much of an expert in those stuff but you can just tell.

I feel my bun loosening and he whispers in my ear. "I love you." I shiver and crush my lips on his. "Me too" I reply ranting.

Some twenty minutes pass before we get the chance to utter the next couple of words. The two of us being…somewhat busy.

"Did you seriously mean it?" Al asks finally still shocked like that.

"I did. I've been in love with you for Merlin knows how long." I confess and snuggle against him.

"And Scorp said you fancied James!" Scoprius lied? Why?

"Why?" I ask. Not that it really matters now, but I always thought Scorpius was an ok person…

"Something about protecting me from getting hurt." I smile. No, the blonde is still a nice guy, he's just stupid like his mate.

"He was just being, silly." I intervene refusing to let two friends fight over me.

"Silly?" I laugh at Al's frowning face.

"Yes, silly like you." I add playfully and he leans to kiss me once more.

"Am I silly?" He asks and I nod. It is rather hard to insult him –even if joking- after he has given me a kiss like that.

"What did you say?" He kisses me again more passionately this time.

"I said you're silly." I whisper helplessly.

"Oh! Really?" Oh, no, no, no. Please! I try to escape his kisses and his tickling but I fail. Damn him and his strength.

"I –will-not stop- until- agh- you take-that- back." Al says between chuckles and tickles that make us both end up on the ground.

"Ok, I take it back." I finally exclaim as he is lying on the lawn next to me, his arm still on my waist.

I turn and fall on top of him. "Merlin! I did not know you could be stupid like this." His eyes widen in surprise at my betrayal. My fake promise to stop teasing him.

"You will be the end of me Nelia." He laughs trying to kiss me as I try to tickle him.

Guess who wins in the end.

Him.

A/N: Ok so there wasn't much Scoprius/Rose in this one

However I just had to get Al and Nelia together didn't I?

So do you see now the truth in Cinderella?

In case you were wondering next chapter will be the Ball on Rose's POV so lots of Scoptius there

Tell me what you think!

Review!

Kisses

See ya soon

Sarah