Chapter 6 Choosing Outfits For The Ball.
The day before Halloween which was a Friday Professor Dumbledore made an announcement at breakfast, "Tomorrow is the Halloween ball and so therefore lessons are cancelled today. You may use the time today and tomorrow to go to Hogesmeade to find outfits for the ball and to prepare yourselves in any way possible". A great babble of excitement broke out, and soon Hermione and her friends had arranged to go shopping together. "Lets all get evening dresses or ball gowns", cried Lavender, "and tiaras", added Ginny excitedly, "and new shoes", exclaimed Luna. "We've just got to have new handbags", put in Susan "and new jewellery, well except for Hermione – her new Jewellery is gorgeous", finished Molly. The girls ate their breakfast and then headed into Hogesmeade where they spent the day shopping. Firstly they headed into Debut where they looked at lots of dresses before each choosing one. Two hours later each of the girls had a dress to wear.
Meanwhile Harry, Ron, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Justin, Ernie, Terry, Anthony, and Michael were in Moss Bros. hiring tuxedo's. Each boy's waistcoats, bow-ties, and sashes were different colours to co-ordinate with the girls dresses. Harry had phoned Parvati on her mobile and asked what colour each girl was wearing. The boys each then bought a pair of black leather loafers (shoes) with a sliver bar across the front, and by lunchtime were done.
The girls on the other hand were shopping all day – they each bought shoes and handbags to match their dresses. They then bought jewellery to co-ordinate with their outfits, although Hermione only bought earrings as she was going to wear the necklace and bracelet from Draco to the ball. The other girls bought necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Hermiones earrings were 18 carrot gold and diamond studs. Once they had finished shopping the girls headed back to Hogworts for a girlie evening to prepare themselves for the Halloween ball the next day.
When All the girls arrived back at Hogworts Hermione said, "right girlies we deserve an evening of pampering ourselves, meet me in the Gryffindor common room in 10 minutes – bring towels, hair-curlers, manicure and pedicure kits, body, hand and foot lotions, shampoo, foot-spas, chocolate and sweets". "What's a foot-spa ?", asked Ginny, and a couple of other purebloods. "A foot-spa is something that Muggles put their feet into to massage and relax them", explained Hermione, "sound's great", said Ginny. "Ok, 'Mione see you in 10", said the girls in unison and they headed off to their dormitories to collect their beauty products.
On the way to Gryffindor Tower Hermione heard her name being called softly, "Hermione, Hermione", she knew the voice at once. It was Draco, "Draco", she cried hugging him. "I can't be long the girls are coming to Gryffindor Tower for a girlie evening of pampering and beautifying in preparation for the ball tomorrow". "You don't need beautifying 'Mione", said Draco "so you can spend time with me instead", he continued, "I've missed you today darling, did you have a nice time shopping? did you get an outfit for the ball ?". "Oh it was fabulous, and yes I got an outfit", "oh, I can't wait to see it", said Draco with a grin on his face as his eyes lit up. "Well your have to wait until tommorrow night", "well what colour is it then ?" , he asked. "It's err pink, baby pink", was Hermione's answer, and with that she kissed him and sped back to Gryffindor Tower as fast as fast as she could.
Hermione arrived back at Gryffindor Tower just before her friends from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw showed up. She used the summoning charm to summon her beauty kit, foot-spa, hairstyling kit, some towels, and some chocolate to the Gryffindor common room. "Accio beauty kit, foot-spa, hair kit, towels and chocolate" said Hermione waving her wand lazily. About a minute later each item came zooming through the air narrowly avoiding Ron, Harry and Seamus, "careful 'Mione", they muttered. "Bloody hell Hermione what's all that for?" asked Seamus, "oh the girls and I are having an evening of pampering and beautifying ourselves for the ball tomorrow", "and you need all that?" questioned Ron. "Well these are for our hands and nails", said Hermione indicating the hand and nail kit, nail varnishes, and manicure kits. "This is for our hair" (the shampoo and hair styling kit). " This is for the body in general", (body lotion). " These are for our faces", (face masks, cleanser, toner and moisturiser). "These are for our feet", (pedicure kit, foot-spa, and foot lotion). "These are for our legs" (waxing strips), "and the chocolate is here because no girlie evening would be complete without it". "Oh God, does that mean we have to put up with you lot giggling all evening" queried Harry, "not if you don't want to – go someplace else if you don't like it" said Ginny fiercely. "All we need now is some music", said Parvati. "No problem", said Hermione, "accio CD player", she said flicking her wand again, "musika, de muscik, music", she muttered and the sounds of Westlife filled the air.
Just then there was a knock on the common room door Lavender answered it and let in Luna, Lisa, Padma, Sally – Anne, Mandy, Susan, Hannah, and Molly, who were all laden down with beauty kits, hair kits, foot-spas, towels, chocolate and sweets. "Help us with this lot please", said Molly who was struggling with her stuff. Harry, Dean, Neville, Seamus, Ron, Hermione, Lavender, Parvati and Ginny rushed to help Molly and the other girls with their things. They then set up their beauty products and settled into the comfy chairs by the Gryffindor fire. The Gryffindor girls then sat on large bean bags and Hermione filled out several dishes with the chocolate and sweets. They began by applying face packs, and then they begun to work on their feet. They all talked and giggled as they pampered themselves.
3 hours later at 11 o'clock Susan yawned, "well I think I'll go back to the Hufflepuff common room and head for bed now, I'm so tired". The other Hufflepuff girls agreed that they should also go to bed. They thanked Hermione for a wonderful day and evening and headed back to the Hufflepuff Basement. Once they had gone the Ravenclaw girls decided that they too ought to return to Ravenclaw Tower and head for bed. They thanked the Gryffindor girls, told them they would see them tomorrow, and headed for Ravenclaw Tower. Ginny collected up her belongings and announced that she too was turning in for the night, "night girlies", she called as headed up the stairs. Soon Hermione and the rest of the Gryffindor girls had gone to bed, to get some beauty sleep for the ball the next day.
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